I walked side by side with Mr. Benjamin as we entered the courtroom. I had reassured him that we will leave this courthouse successful this afternoon and we will. Nigel hadn't gotten around calling me back but I still had witnesses who were convinced that Matthew Benjamin would not kill his best friend.
I looked across the room and there he was sitting down looking all confident. He was wearing his regular black suit and was currently going through his files.
Mr. Benjamin seemed to notice him too, so he said, "He looked like he's good at this."
I nod. Seth was good at everything. "But I'm better." I turn to look at my client. "Mr. Benjamin, you need to have confidence in yourself. You know you didn't kill Harrison so there is no need to be afraid."
"I don't have an alibi."
"You don't need an alibi to win a case." Even though having an alibi strengthens the case of winning a case they are many other things that can let a person win as well. I pat him on the shoulder, "Everything is going to be okay."
We took a seat over at our side of the court and waited patiently for the arrival of the judge. I tried to keep my eyes on the documents that were in front of me and not at the man on the opposite side of the court.
It was tempting but I couldn't let Mr. Benjamin think that I was intimated by Seth because I wasn't.
Just attracted to him.
"All rise." The bailiff said and when everyone obeyed, he continued. "102 District Court is now in Session. Honourable Judge Brown presiding."
Judge Brown came from the back, his face expressionless as usual. When he took a seat he said, "Thank you, you may be seated."
Everyone in the courtroom followed the judge's order and sat down. "Court is now in session. We call B2 2783 the state of New York versus Matthew Benjamin, is now in Session."
I offered Mr. Benjamin a small smile. We will win this case.
We must.
"Is the prosecution ready?" Judge Brown says as he looked over at Seth's side of the court.
Seth stood from his seat and answered, "Yes, Your Honor." Then sat back down.
Judge Brown then looked over my side and asked, "Is the Defense ready?"
Standing from my seat I looked straight at the Judge, "Yes. Your Honor."
"We will now hear Opening Statements from the Prosecution."
Seth stood saying, "Thank you, Your Honor. Your Honor, today you will hear adding evidence how Matthew Benjamin, the defendant of this case killed his business partner, Harrison Samuel. We will provide evidence that proves his guiltiness and Your Honor that's why we ask for a verdict of guilty. Thank You."
If there was one thing about Seth that drew me to him was his way of words and his way to woo people with them.
"Thank you, Counsel. Would the defence like to give their opening now or would they like to defer until the prosecution have rested their case?"
I stood up quickly saying, "We'd like to give our opening statement now Your Honor."
Judge Brown gesture for me to start so I did. "Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the court, today I am representing Matthew Benjamin." I moved from my seat and went in front of the jury. "My client is being accused of killing his best friend of 29 years. The friends shared a strong relationship even to Mr. Samuel last breath. Now the murder weapon was founded in my client's backyard and they founded the weapon because someone 'anonymously' called the police and tell them where it was. Now let's be frank if my client did indeed kill Harrison Samuel why would plant the murder weapon in his own home and second why would call to report that they know it was there in the first place? Immediately after the body was founded. The only thing my client is guilty of is loving Harrison and that's we ask for a verdict of not guilty. Thank you."
Some of the juries tried to maintain a straight face while I was talking but I could see that words got to them and because of that I walked back to seat with a smug look on my face.
"Thank you, Counsel. Would the prosecutor please call their first witness to the stand."
I looked around wondering who Seth had chosen to be his witnesses.
"Thank you, Your Honor. The prosecution would like to Bethel Taylor to the stand." Seth announced. I frowned since I had no idea who the hell Bethel Taylor was. I turn to look at Mr. Benjamin and he wore the same expression as I did.
"Bethel Taylor please take the stand."
A man in his late forties started to make his way to the stand. I turn back at Mr. Benjamin and he whispered to me, "A worker."
I nod. What possible evidence could this worker have against my client?
"Mr. Taylor before you sit, can you please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you, God?"
The gruff voice of the older man answered, "I do."
"Please be seated."
Seth stood from his head and walked over to the witness. "Mr. Taylor please introduce yourself."
"My name is Bethel Taylor and I've worked for Benjamin's Shipping as one of their Accountants for five years."
"Mr. Taylor can you describe the relationship between your bosses?" Seth asked. He looked calm like he was worried about anything. But that's Seth for you. He worries about nothing.
But he better starts worrying now because he's gonna lose this case.
"Their best of friends. Sometimes they have their disagreements but nothing serious."
"I see. Mr. Taylor can you tell me about the night of the murder." I frowned as I looked at Seth and his witness. From what I heard at the station, they were no witnesses to the murder so what did this Taylor man know about anything? I waited keenly for his response.
"Well when I was leaving, I saw Mr. Benjamin car in the parking lot."
I turn to look at Mr. Benjamin, but his attention was on Ms. Taylor and what he had to say. I should stop this before it gets out of hand. "Objection, Your Honour."
Judge Brown shot me a sour look then said, "Overruled, please continue."
Seth turn to the jury then turn back at Mr. Taylor and asked. "What time were you leaving the office Mr. Taylor."
"I usually leave work at 10 pm."
Seth smiled at Mr. Taylor. "No further question."
"Would the defence like to cross?"
I stood from my seat and tug down my skirt. "Yes. Your Honour."
I walked over to Mr. Taylor and smiled. It was a tactic I used with older male witnesses. "Mr. Taylor you said I've been working at Benjamin shipping for five years, is that correct?"
He nodded, "Yes."
I smiled. "So how many times over the past years since you've worked for the company have you ever seen Mr. Benjamin's car in the parking lot."
"Many times. Sometimes I'd leave seeing both Mr. Samuels and Benjamin's car."
I nodded, "So how many cars did you leave in the parking lot that night?"
He thought about the question then answered, "Just one, Mr. Benjamin's"
"Ever since you've worked for the company have you ever seen Ms. Benjamin and Mr. Samuels share cars." I had no idea where exactly I was going with these questions, but I just needed them to come off Mr. Benjamin's case.
"Objection, Your Honour," Seth shouted out.
"Overruled." Judge Brown responded sending him the same sour look he gave me. I guess he wasn't up for any of that in his courtroom today.
"You can answer the question Mr. Taylor." I said with a small smile.
"Yes, they shared cars all the time. They would drive together to and from work."
I nodded, "And would they use each other's car?"
"Yes."
I moved away from Mr. Taylor and stayed in the middle so I could get a good look at the witness and the jury.
"So, you're telling me that you only so one car that night and there is a fifty-fifty per cent chance that it wasn't Mr. Benjamin who was driving it but his best friend and the victim Harrison Samuels?"
"Yes."
I smiled at his answer. "No further question."
I turned and walked back to my seat not forgiving to flash Seth a smirk.
"Would the council like to redirect?" Judge Brown asked Seth.
"No, Your Honour." I smiled at his words. Maybe this was his way of giving in.
Not such a great lawyer, now are you Seth.
"Mr. Taylor, you may step down."
"Does the prosecution have any more witness to call?"
"No, Your Honor. The Prosecution rests."
I looked at Seth. I guess your cases is not as strong as you think.
"Will the defence call their first witness to the stand please."
"The defence would like to call Grace Benjamin to the stand."
Grace went to the stand and her rights were read to her and Judge Brown told her to sit. Now the ball was in my court entirely.
"Mrs. Benjamin, can you please introduce yourself to the court?"
She nodded then begun, "My name is Grace Benjamin and I've been married to Matthew Benjamin for eighteen years next month."
"Thank you. Can you give us a brief description of your husband and Mr. Harrison relationship?"
She gave a small smile. "They were best friends since college. They were like brothers nothing could separate them somethings Matthew would spend hours at Harrison house and vice versa."
"Mrs. Benjamin. I suspect since you and your husband have been together for almost two decades you should be able to answer one vital question, do you think your husband is capable of murder especially murdering his best friend, his brother?" In a case like this emotional appeal to the jury was sometimes the only way to go.
Grace shook her head. "Matthew is a lot of things but he's not a murderer. He doesn't want to kill flies for god sakes! No, he would never kill anyone. Especially not Harrison Samuels."
I smiled then look across at my client as he smiled at his wife. "No further questions."
"Does the prosecutor want to cross?" Judge Brown asked.
Seth quickly stood up from his seat. "Yes. Your Honour." Seth walked over to Grace and queried, "How long have you known Mr. Harrison?"
"Ever since Matthew and I started dating which would be about nineteen years ago."
Seth mumbled something that only he could understand, "And how long out of that nineteen years have you and Harrison Samuels been sleeping together?"
That was the question that no one expected. Many persons in the court started to whisper and talk. I look across from my client who was looking at his wife shaking his head. I looked at her as well and she was looking and him with regret.
Oh boy! This shit just got real.
"Order in the court!" Judge Brown said as he banged his gavel on the stand.
When everyone stopped whispering, I stood up, "Objection, Your Honor." I knew he was going deny my attempt, but I had to try. If she answered that question, then God knows what will happen.
Judge Brown gave me the look as if to say, "Really?"
I sighed when he said, "Overruled. Answer the question Mrs. Benjamin."
I looked at the older lady as she is about to confess her infidelity."
"Three and a half years."
I heard a gasp from the man beside me.
I looked at him with Pity.
He loved his wife and she was cheating on him for three years with his best friends.
Now that's rough.
"No further questions."
"Does the defence have any more witnesses to call?" Judge Brown went on like he didn't just witness a woman ripping her husband's heart out. I guess he was used to seeing all these dramas take place in court.
"No, Your Honor."
"We will now hear the closing statements on the behalf of the state."
Seth's partner stood from her seat and said, "Your Honor, today we have enough proof to show that Matthew Benjamin is indeed guilty of killing his best friend and business partner Harrison Samuel. Matthew Benjamin's wife was cheating on him with his best friend. This gives us a motive as to why he'd want to kill his best friend. The knife was found in his backyard that should be evidence enough to put him behind bars. We ask for your verdict of guilty. Thank you." The redhead took her place back at Seth side and I was immediately jealous. Why didn't I notice her until now?
That's because you were too busy staring at Seth Parker.
"Thank you, counsel. Defence please give your closing."
I stood looking at Judge Brown with confidence, "Your Honor, the Prosecution has failed to prove that my client is guilty. Your Honor the prosecution did present facts but none of those facts can prove anything. It was pretty obvious by the look on my client's face that he didn't know his wife was unfaithful. Thus, he had no reason to kill his best friend. This, my client, is not guilty.
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