The Judge by Farin Powell

Author:Farin Powell [Powell, Farin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781491796931
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2016-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Judge Bowen invited Amanda and Detective Manfredi to dinner to review the first day of the trial. Amanda was not happy with her opening statement. “I was interrupted several times, and I forgot some significant issues I had planned to discuss,” she said.

“Ms. Perkins, the prosecutor unintentionally helped your case by interrupting you so many times,” said Judge Bowen.

“How do you know? You’re my witness; you’re not supposed to be in the courtroom.”

“Your secretary, Molly, gave us all the details. She also told us some of the jurors really seemed angry at the prosecutor.”

“He tried to tell the jury he had a strong case—he was the boss in that courtroom. How did that help me?”

“Ms. Perkins, he started with the victim’s death, but you started from the beginning,” Judge Bowen said. “The jury was listening to an incredible story, and every time he interrupted you, they felt deprived of hearing what had actually happened. They sensed Gray was trying to hide something from them.”

“Judge Bowen is right,” Manfredi said, nodding.

“Imagine you’re watching an interesting play,” Judge Bowen continued. “And the director jumps to the stage and interrupts the play several times because he doesn’t like the way the story is unfolding, or he doesn’t like the way the actors are portraying the characters. Ms. Perkins, you know well that the jury doesn’t understand the evidentiary rules, so every time the prosecutor interrupted you, he only made the jury angry.”

“I don’t know what Judge McNeil thinks about today’s proceedings,” Amanda said.

“I went to the detention center to say good-bye,” Judge Bowen said. “He was very pleased with your performance.”

“Judge Bowen, I wish you didn’t have to go back to Washington so soon. I could use your advice,” Amanda said.

“I have to go back, but let me know when the defense case starts. I’ll be here.”

“What’s happening with Keshan Walker’s murder case?” Aristo asked Judge Bowen.

“We’ll start the trial next month. Keshan’s attorney is confident that she will win the case.”

“Good for her,” Amanda said. “I wish I had that much confidence.”

“Look, for the first day, you scored a lot,” Manfredi said. “First, you had a strong opening statement. Then with your cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses, you established that the judge had been kidnapped. Witnesses also testified that there was a hole in the backyard, as you described in your opening statement. The jury saw the pictures of the house, the judge’s windowless room, his laptop, cell phone, and attaché. Your cross-examination also proved that Leroy and two other kidnappers lived there.”

***

Back in the hotel, after a glass of wine, Amanda seemed more relaxed. Aristo gave her a backrub and whispered in her ear, “You’re gonna win this case.”

“I wish I could believe that.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll talk to the crime-scene people to see whether Leroy had a gun on him.”

“I asked the prosecutor in my discovery request. He said no.”

“I’m gonna find out whether he hid it in his car, and if the car was near him, you can tell the jury that the gun was readily available to him.

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