Chapter Twenty Seven

Courtroom scene - The People vs. Lawson.

Court Clerk:

All rise! The Court of the State of NewYork is now in session, the Honourable Judge Harper presiding.

Judge:

Please be seated, call the case.

Court Clerk:

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

Judge:

Counsel, are you ready?

Prosecutor:

Ready, your honor.

Defense Attorney:

Ready, your honour.

Witness: Beatrice is called.

Prosecutor :

The people called Beatrice Williams.

Court Clerk:

Miss Beatrice Williams, please come forward.

(Beatrice walks to the witness stand)

Court Clerk:

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Beatrice:

I do.

Court Clerk:

You may be seated.

(Prosecutor questions Beatrice)

Please state your name for the record.

Beatrice:

My name is Beatrice Williams.

Prosecutor:

Miss Beatrice, where do you work?

Beatrice:

I presently work at Rachel's studio.

Prosecutor:

Were you present at the studio on the day of the incident?

Beatrice:

Yes, I was at the studio.

Prosecutor:

 Do you know the defendant, Lawson Webmar?

Beatrice:

Yes, I know him very well, I used to work for him at Lawson's group before he dismissed me.

Prosecutor:

Let's focus on that day. What happened.

Beatrice:

Rachel was in her office with Aaron when I was told someone had come asking for her. When she stepped out, I saw it was her husband Lawson.

Prosecutor:

What happened next?

Beatrice:

They started arguing. It wasn't calm, it was intense. Then Aaron came out of the office.

Prosecutor:

Do you see Aaron in court today?

Beatrice:

Yes, he’s sorted right there(point to where he sits)

Prosecutor:

Let the record reflect that the witness identified the victim. Continue

Beatrice:

When Aaron came out and saw it was her husband, he turned to go back inside, that's when Lawson said something like, “So this is the man keeping you, you slept in his house right?”

Prosecutor:

What did Lawson do after that?

Beatrice:

He suddenly punched Aaron hard unaware, then he started hitting him continuously.

Prosecutor:

What was Aaron doing at that moment 

Beatrice:

He tried to defend himself, but Lawson overpowered him.

Prosecutor:

What happened to Aaron?

Beatrice:

He started bleeding from his mouth badly and then passed out.

(Murmurs in the courtroom).

Judge:

Order in the court.

Prosecutor:

What did the defendant do after Aaron passed out?

Beatrice:

Rachel asked him to help carry him to the hospital, but he left. He didn't help.

Prosecutor:

What did you and the others do

Beatrice: 

We rushed Aaron to the hospital.

Prosecutor:

Thank you, no more questions.

Defence Questions Beatrice 

Defence Attorney:

Miss Williams, you said the defendant dismissed you from your previous job, correct?

Beatrice:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

So you were fired by him?

Beatrice:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

And now you work for his wife?

Beatrice:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

Would it be fair to say you might have negative feelings towards the defendant?

Beatrice:

No, I'm here to tell the truth.

Defense Attorney:

Are you certain he didn't do or say anything to provoke my client?

Beatrice:

I didn't see him do anything.

Defense Attorney:

But you were not standing right next to them, were you?

Beatrice:

No, but I could see clearly.

Defence Attorney:

The situation was heated, correct?

Beatrice:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

People were arguing, emotions were high?

Beatrice:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

So it's possible you didn't catch every single detail.

Beatrice:

I saw enough.

Defence Attorney:

Enough to assume, perhaps?

Prosecutor:

Objection my lord.

Judge:

Sustained, Rephrase.

Defence Attorney:

No further questions.

Judge

Judge:

The witness may step down.

As Beatrice walks past Lawson, he stares at her coldly and she avoids his eyes.

Prosecutor Calls Aaron The Victim

Prosecutor:

The people called Aaron Cole to the stand.

Court Clerk:

Mr Aaron Cole, please come forward.

Aaron walks slowly as everyone watches. He is still recovering.

Court Clerk:

Raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Aaron:

I do.

Court Clerk:

You may be seated.

Prosecutor Questions Aaron.

Prosecutor:

State your name.

Aaron:

Aaron Cole

Prosecutor:

Mr Cole, do you know the defendant, Lawson Webmar?

Aaron:

I didn't know him personally… I only knew he was Rachel's husband.

Prosecutor:

Let us talk about the day of the incident. Where were you?

Aaron:

I was in Rachel's studio, in her office.

Prosecutor:

What happened when you stepped outside?

Aaron:

I saw Rachel arguing with her husband, I didn't want to interfere, so I turned to go back inside.

Prosecutor:

Did anything happen as you turned away?

Aaron:

Yes, he said something like, “So you are the one she is staying with”. Before I could even respond, he hit me.

Prosecutor:

What did he do exactly?

Aaron:

He punched me in the face, then kept hitting, I wanted to defend myself but he overpowered me because he kept me unaware.

Prosecutor:

What happened after that?

Aaron 

I started bleeding, I felt dizzy, then everything went black.

Prosecutor:

Do you remember anything after that?

Aaron:

No, I woke up in the hospital.

Prosecutor:

How did this incident affect you?

Aaron:

I had injuries to my face, and I still couldn't walk properly, it was painful.

Prosecutor 

Thank you, no further questions.

Defence Questions Aaron.

Defence Attorney:

Mr Cole, you said you didn't interfere. But you were staying with Rachel, right?

Aaron:

Yes, as a friend.

Defence Attorney 

Were you involved in a personal situation between a husband and a wife?

Aaron:

I wasn't involved in their argument.

Defence Attorney:

But you understood the situation could upset her husband?

Aaron:

That doesn't justify what he did to me.

Defence Attorney:

Please just answer the questions, did you say anything to the defendant before he hit you?

Aaron:

No

Defence Attorney:

Nothing at all.

Aaron:

No

Defence Attorney:

You expect this court to believe you said absolutely nothing?

Prosecutor:

Objection, argumentative.

Judge:

Sustained.

Defence Attorney:

No further questions.

Prosecutor Calls The Doctor.

Prosecutor:

Doctor, what is your profession?

Doctor:

I am an emergency physician.

Prosecutor:

Did you treat Aaron Cole?

Doctor:

Yes, I did.

Prosecutor:

What condition was he in?

Doctor:

He had facial trauma, significant bleeding from the mouth, and signs of concussion.

Prosecutor:

Were these injuries serious?

Doctor:

Yes, they were consistent with repeated blunt force (blows) to the face.

Prosecutor:

Could such injuries occur from a single punch?

Doctor:

Unlikely, it suggests multiple strikes.

Prosecutor:

Thank you, no further questions.

Defence Questions Doctor 

Defence Attorney:

Doctor, you were not present at the scene, correct?

Doctor:

Yes

Defence Attorney:

So you cannot say exactly how the injuries occur.

Doctor:

Only that they are consistent with repeated blows.

Defence Attorney:

But not who caused them.

Doctor:

No 

Defence Attorney:

No more questions.

Judge:

Defence you may proceed.

Defence Attorney:

The defence calls Lawson Webmar.

He walks to the stand and tension increases in the courtroom.

Defence Attorney:

Mr Webmar, why were you at the studio that day?

Lawson:

I want to talk to my wife.

Defence Attorney:

What happened when you saw Aaron?

Lawson:

I was angry, I thought he was interfering in my marriage.

Defence Attorney:

Did you intend to seriously harm him?

Lawson:

No, I lost control.

Prosecutor Attacks 

Prosecutor:

You “lost control” and punched him repeatedly

tedly?

Lawson:

Yes

Prosecutor:

Even after he fell?

Lawson:

I… I don't remember clearly.

Prosecutor:

But you remember enough to run away, correct?

(Silence)

Lawson:

Yes.

Prosecutor:

No further questions.

Judge:

 (Serious tone) After hearing both parties, namely the prosecutor and the defence counsel, this court will reserve judgment. The matter is adjourned until next week for a decision.

Court Clerk:

Court