Trial by Blood by WILLIAM BERNHARDT

Author:WILLIAM BERNHARDT
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: legal thriller, legal thriller free, legal thriller series, legal series like john, legal thriller thaddeus, courtroom thriller
Publisher: Babylon Books
Published: 2019-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Dan huddled around the kitchen table with Garrett and Jimmy. The mood was dark and their expressions were grim. Garrett was not noodling on his keyboard and Jimmy was not playing with his action figures, so he knew they felt the ominous mood just as profoundly as he did. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a trial feeling less sure of myself. Or of my case.”

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Garrett said. “I know the hours you’ve been pulling. You’ve left no stone unturned.”

“And yet, there are still so many unturned stones. I’ve been over all the evidence provided by the prosecution, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more. Something important we don’t know.”

“The prosecution has to produce all exculpatory evidence,” Jimmy reminded him. “I’ve talked to Shawna and my other pals at the courthouse. She doesn’t think the DA is up to anything sneaky.”

“And yet we know he’s bringing in a ringer to prosecute. That’s another problem. I don’t even know who my opponent is yet.”

“The word on the street is that Belasco is tired of being beaten in the courtroom by you. I think there was some concern that...you and Jazlyn are getting too chummy. When the prosecutor and the defense counsel start attending the same birthday parties...”

“We don’t have to pretend to be hostile to do our jobs properly.”

Jimmy raised his hands defensively. “Hey, don’t kill the messenger. I’m just suggesting a possible reason for hiring an outside prosecutor. Belasco wants to win.”

“Have you had a chance to review my witness outlines?” Garrett asked.

“Repeatedly. You did the usual fantastic job I’ve come to depend upon.”

“I predict the prosecution will come on strong. They almost have to, given the circumstances. They don’t have a body. They’re only guessing about how the murder was committed.”

“When witnesses come on strong, when they stick to their guns despite all evidence to the contrary, jurors stop believing them.” A light bulb flashed in his brain. “Oh hell. Judge Smulders asked for trial briefs. Why would he do that?”

Jimmy shrugged. “Because he has no idea what he’s doing.”

“Probably heard the phrase ‘trial brief’ and thought it sounded cool. Has no idea what a waste of time they are.”

“Only a waste of time if you have to write them. In his case, anything might help.”

“That babe-in-the-woods is not remotely ready to preside over a death case.”

“Have you considered filing a complaint?” Garrett asked. “Ask the chief judge to appoint someone else?”

“And make an enemy for life? Possibly several?”

“Better than letting our client be executed because the judge is incompetent.”

“I think that’s a bad idea,” Jimmy said. “In the first place, I don’t think it would work. You’d just end up with a trial judge who thinks you don’t like him, so he constantly rules against you. In the second place, it looks like you’re running scared.”

“We are running scared.”

“But we don’t want it to show, right?”

He frowned but acquiesced. “I suppose I can carve out some time tonight to write the brief.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.