Freedom and Justice: A Legal Thriller (Tex Hunter Legal Thriller Series Book 7) by Peter O'Mahoney

Author:Peter O'Mahoney [O'Mahoney, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roam Free Publishing
Published: 2021-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

AS HUNTER waited at the elevators near the back of the foyer in the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, his body was filled with nerves. He felt sick to his stomach, his hands were shaking, and his jaw was clenched tight.

“725 ILCS 5/122-1?” A voice called out to the side of him. “That’s what you’re going to file under?”

Hunter turned and saw Michelle Law, one of the lead prosecutors with the State’s Attorney Department. She was dressed perfectly, with not a strand of her black hair out of place. Her suit was creaseless, and her make-up was flawless. She looked healthy, a soft glow surrounding her as she approached.

“How would you know that?” Hunter questioned. “I haven’t filed the motion yet.”

“We’re waiting for it. We were made aware that you were going to file today,” Law admitted. “But there’s a problem with your motion. 725 ILCS 5/122-1 is limited to six months after the trial date, not thirty-six years. I think you’ve miscalculated there, Hunter.”

“It’s six months,” Hunter paused for a moment, “unless the death penalty was imposed as a sentence.”

“Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2003 and hasn’t executed anyone since 1999.” Law ran her hand over her straight hair. “And your father had his death penalty sentence transferred to eight consecutive life sentences.”

“However, the death penalty was imposed as a sentence on this case.”

Law looked at him, speechless. It took her a few moments to process the information, stunned that Hunter had the upper hand.

“Ok. Sure. Nice. The legislation applies to Alfred Hunter,” she whispered. “And you’ll argue that new information has been found, and there’s no culpable negligence on your behalf.”

Hunter nodded.

“I’ll give it to you, Hunter,” she shook her head as she spoke. “You’ve managed to find the one paragraph in the law that will give your father the best chance at further post-conviction relief, but even still, I must warn you—it won’t be easy. We’ll fight you on every step of this case.”

“I expected nothing less.”

“And I don’t think I need to tell you what our tactic will be.”

“To file constant motions to keep pushing this case out past two crucial dates? Yes, I’m prepared for that. First, you want the case to be pushed out past the date when the mayoral election campaign ends. The second,” Hunter paused and drew a breath. “The second target date will be to try and see it pushed back past my father’s death.”

“You have to know that he’s not far away from the end. That’s common knowledge. This petition could spend a year in the system, and, well, there’s no guarantee this will make it to an evidentiary hearing. Even if you win that hearing, it could be another year before his retrial, so he won’t ever see a day of freedom. This isn’t personal—this is the justice system, and this is the way it works. That’s why you should take the deal that Mayor Quinn is offering. Make life comfortable for your father. Let him stay in the nicest hospital room, with the nicest view and the nicest nurse.

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