Chapter Twenty Eight

I met Lawson in the hallway talking to his lawyer, I had to wait for him to be through with the lawyer before approaching him.

“Hi Lawson, how have you been? I hope you are good? Just take it easy with yourself everything will be alright”. I didn't even know what to say to him.

“ I am fine as you can see, I am exactly where you and your friends wanted me to be. Thanks to you guys”. He left hurriedly.

While I watched Lawson disappear into thin air, I noticed my phone ringing.

“ Hi Mom, long time, how have you been?”.

“ I don't need your greetings, tell me what I am hearing is a lie, how do you do such a thing to your husband?” She blasted me.

“ Mom, I didn't do anything. He caused the problem for himself so let him deal with it. He beat Aaron up and he charged him to court, how is that my business?”

“ What is Aaron doing in your studio, your Dad warned you about that guy but you wouldn't listen, you told us it's not what we were thinking, see what you caused now”.

“ Why do you like to blame me for everything, can't I choose to be friends with Aaron? I am not a baby please”. I hung up the call.

I couldn't help it, I had to call my Dad. Let's see if he will blame me also.

“Dad, how are you faring? Dad, are you aware of what Lawson got himself into?” I want to hear what he will say.

“ What he got himself into or what you caused? If you had listened to us that day and gone back to him or better still followed us home, all of this would not have happened. But you chose to do what's in your mind.” I can't believe what I just heard him say. A family should always have each other's backs, but my own family will never do that for me.

I continued to go to my workplace every day and ran my business without any problems. I followed Aaron to the hospital once for a proper check-up, and was told he was okay now.

It's finally the Court Day, after the judge settled down 

Court Clerk:

The people of the State of New York versus Lawson Webmar, charged with assault in the second degree.

Judge:

Counsel, you may proceed with your closing arguments. Prosecution first.

Prosecutor’s Closing Argument

Prosecutor (rises, walks slowly toward the judge):

Ladies and gentlemen,

This case is not complicated.

You have heard from Beatrice, an eyewitness with a clear account. You heard from Aaron, the victim, who stood before you and told you exactly what happened. And you heard from a medical professional who confirmed the severity of those injuries.

All of their testimonies point to one undeniable truth:

 The defendant, Lawson Webmar, chose violence.

Not self-defense.

Not confusion.

Not an accident.

Violence.

He confronted his wife. He saw Aaron. And instead of walking away, instead of speaking like a reasonable person, he attacked.

You heard Aaron tell you he did not fight back.

You heard Beatrice tell you the defendant kept hitting him.

You heard the doctor explain that those injuries were not from a single blow.

And what did the defendant do afterward?

Did he help?

Did he call for help?

No, he ran away.

That is not the action of someone who made a mistake.

That is the action of someone who knew exactly what he had done.

The defense wants you to focus on emotions—jealousy, anger, assumptions. But emotions do not excuse assault. In this court, we are governed by the law, not by rage.

No matter what the defendant believed—

He had no right to lay his hands on another human being.

The evidence is clear. The testimony is consistent. The truth is undeniable.

We ask you to find the defendant Guilty.

Thank you.

Defense Attorney’s Closing Argument.

Defense Attorney (stands calmly, measured tone):

Ladies and gentlemen,

The prosecution wants you to believe this is a simple case.

But it is not.

Because real life is not simple. People are not perfect. And situations, especially those involving marriage, emotion, and betrayal are rarely as clear as they seem.

Let’s take a closer look.

Yes, there was an argument.

Yes, there was a confrontation.

And yes, my client acted in a moment of intense emotion.

But the question before you is not whether something happened.

The question is, has the prosecution proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that this was a deliberate criminal assault?

Look carefully at the witnesses.

Beatrice—

a former employee who was dismissed by my client. Now working for his wife.

Can we completely ignore the possibility of bias?

Aaron—

a man deeply involved in a personal situation between a husband and wife.

Are we certain we heard the full story of what was said at that moment?

And even the doctor could not tell you who caused those injuries or exactly how they occurred.

What we have is a heated, emotional confrontation.

A husband, already in distress, walks into a situation that confirms his worst fears.

At that moment, he reacted.

Not with planning.

Not with the intent to cause serious harm.

But as a human being overwhelmed by emotion.

That does not make his actions right.

But it does mean this case is not as clear-cut as the prosecution suggests.

And in this courtroom, “not clear” means something very important.

It means reasonable doubt.

If there is doubt, real, reasonable doubt

Then the law requires only one outcome.

My client pleads guilty based on emotion.

Judge:

This court has carefully reviewed the testimony of the witnesses, the medical evidence, and the arguments presented by both counsel.

The testimony of the eyewitness, Beatrice, was clear and consistent.

The victim, Aaron Cole, provided a credible account of the events.

The medical evidence supports the conclusion that the injuries sustained were the result of multiple blows.

The defendant, Lawson Webmar, admitted to hitting the victim countless times, claiming he acted out of anger. However, anger does not justify violence.

This court finds that the defendant intentionally caused physical injury to another person.

Judge:

The court finds you guilty of assault in the third degree. However, the court has considered the circumstances, your lack of prior record, and the fact that you have expressed remorse.

This court believes a custodial sentence is not necessary.

Sentence

Judge (firmly):

 You are sentenced to:

3 years probation, Completion of an anger management program,

Payment of restitution to Aaron Cole for his medical expenses

And a fine payable to the court

Judge (looking directly at Lawson):

Let me be clear, this is your opportunity to correct your behavior.

If you violate these terms, you may face imprisonment.

(I exhale in relief. Aaron remains calm, but satisfied).

Court Clerk:

All rise. Court.