Chapter 86: Chapter 86
The chattering buzz and the sound of cameras eventually deaden as the courtroom doors begin to close. My heart is bursting through my chest. Michael passes by me holding me captive with his stare. I can feel Scott’s eyes on me as well. He stops at my table and mouths words to me that he thinks Scott can’t see. “I’m so sorry.”
Scott sees him because he stands up challenging Michael, “Fuck the hell off!”
He went to reach for him but Coach Tammy and the prosecutor struggle to hold him back.
The prosecutor is overtly pissed at Scott, and he vehemently hissed, “Sit back down!”
The clerk comes into the courtroom at the worst possible time asking everyone to stand for the honorable Judge David. Once settled, he looks at all of us and responds, “Please, be seated.”
The prosecutor glances back at Scott and seethes, “If you do that again, I’ll throw you out of here personally.”
The judge offered a reintroduction of sorts and then asks the clerk to seat the jury. Twelve of Michael’s apparent peers walk into the courtroom and take their perspective seats close to where I’m sitting. They all stare at me, making me feel as though I’m a specimen of some sort, on display.
The prosecutors announce, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today to determine if Isabella Brandon consented to be physically abused and having sexual intercourse with the defendant, Michael Anderson. You will be listening to testimony, seeing videotaped evidence, and viewing pictures to help you determine the answer. I will like to forewarn you that the content is very disturbing and graphic. I also thank you for your time and objectivity.”
The defense’s opening, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I too would like to thank you for your service today. I am here to argue that Ms. Moyes intentionally upset Mr. Anderson, which led to his uncharacteristically irrational behavior.”
“Before this event, he was a reputable man, contributing to his community in many ways. I will argue that Mr. Brandon and Ms. Moyes’ behavior triggered a blind rage in which Mr. Anderson was incapable of controlling at the time. Ms. Moyes additionally admitted to the police during their interview, that the sexual relations were consensual. Thank you.”
Judge David nodded at the prosecutor. “Please call your first witness.” “If it’s okay with the courts, I’d first like to show the tape and photo are depicting the harm Michael Anderson did to Isabella Moyes. The photographs of me were given to the jury to be passed around and then tacked onto a board for the courtroom to see. Next, the video is played facing the jurors with the sound on. It echoed through the court. Shocked, pale expressions plague the jurors' faces. I begin feeling sick to my stomach and spend the majority of the time trying to keep my breakfast down and wiping away my tears.
The prosecutor’s lip turns up. Indeed, he seems satisfied with the result. I’m traumatized at this point. Michael is then called to the stand. He stands with pride and dignity, and he strolls to the stand to be sworn in. He describes himself as a fan, my employer, and my fiancé. The prosecutor said, “It sounds more like stalking,” under his breath so the jury can hear.
The defense objects and it’s sustained. The prosecutor glares at him saying, “Stick to the evidence, strike that from the testimony.” Then asks Michael if I initiated sex on the day in question. He is honest and said that I didn’t. He admits to gagging me, and that I was trying to fight him off. He says that he hit me. It all seemed so black and white. The prosecutor then asks, “Did she deserve it?”
Michael pauses before answering, “No. she didn’t.”
The defense starts to cross examining Michael, “Were you in love with Ms. Moyes?”
“Yes,” he says without pause. “Are you still in love with her?” “Yes.”
“Did she tell you she was in a relationship with Scott Brandon, her ex-husband?”
“No, she said that relationship was over, she was engaged to me.” “So you believed her?”
“Yes.”
“Was she in love with you?”
“You have to ask her that question.”
“What happened the night before you flew in to see her?” “I saw her kiss Mr. Brandon on one of the videotapes.” “Did Ms. Moyes know she was being videotaped?” “Yes.”
“And she still kissed him?” “Yes.”
“Is that why you flew in to see her?” “Yes, among other reasons.”
“How was she dressed when you found her?” “She was naked in bed.”
“Is that an anomaly worth mentioning? Did Ms. Moyes always sleep that way?”
“I don’t know, although I suspected she didn’t.”
“Did she admit to you that she slept with her ex-husband?”
“Yes, she did; she said that there wasn’t anything that could have kept her away from him.”
“Thank you, that will be all.”
“Would you like to call your next witness?” Judge David inquires.
The prosecutor looks at Isabella questioningly and she shrugs. “I’d like to call Isabella Moyes to the stand.” I drag my suddenly heavy body off the chair from where I was sitting and walk to the front of the courtroom where I’m sworn in.
“Please state your name and relationship to the accused.”
“Isabella Moyes. I was engaged to Mr. Anderson and he was also my employer.”
“Did you consent to have sex with him on the day in question?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did you try to fight off his sexual advances?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Thank you. That's all, your honor.”
The judge turns to the defense lawyer, “Would you like to cross-examine?”
“Yes, your Honor.”
“Were you in love with Mr. Anderson?”
I look over at Michael and then Scott and I respond with heartfelt honesty, “Yes, I thought so, or at least I was enamored.”
“Had you had intercourse with Mr. Anderson on more than one occasion?”
“Yes,” I look at him for a few more seconds. Our eyes meet for a second time.
“Would you say that intercourse with Mr. Anderson was unusually rough with him or more on the gentle side?” “Rough,” I blush with humility.
“So we should assume, you like that?”
“Yes.”
“Did you like it this time?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did you tell Mr. Anderson you slept with your ex-husband to make him angry with you?”
“No, he asked if I slept with Scott.”
“Were you aware you were being videotaped?”
“Yes.”
“Did you have intercourse with Mr. Brandon the night before you had intercourse with Mr. Anderson knowing he could see the tapes at any time?”
“No. I didn’t think Mr. Anderson would see the videotape of Mr. Brandon and myself.”
“But you knew the rooms were being recorded.”
“The lights were off,” I explain.
“Were the lights off when you were kissing Mr. Brandon before intercourse that night?”
“No, they were not.”
“Did you want Mr. Anderson to see you with Mr. Brandon?
“No, I did not.”
“Had Mr. Anderson ever been violent towards you on any other occasion?”
“No, he hasn’t.” I look back at Scott. He wears a somber expression; his eyes are dark and unreadable.
“Thank you, that will be all.”
The judge breaks up the oppressive tension in the courtroom. “Would you like to call your next witness?”
“I’d like to call Mr. Tammy to the stand.” Coach stands from his seat and walks to the stand where he is sworn in.
“Please state for the jury how you know Isabella Brandon.”
“I was her former coach and now I’m her coworker.”
“Did you witness the attack on the day in question?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did you see her after the attack?”
“Yes.”
“How did she look?”
“Terrible, her face was swollen and bleeding, and she was terrified.”
“Was Mr. Anderson present at the time?”
“No.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tammy. That will be all.”
The judge looked at the defense attorney and says, "You may cross-examine if you wish.” He gets up from his chair and paces in the front of the courtroom.
“What is your relationship with Mr. Anderson?”
“He’s my employer.”
“Has he ever disrespected you, treated you rudely, or exhibited a propensity towards physical violence in any way?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen him act in any of those ways to other people, or in particular Ms. Moyes?”
“No.”
“Thank you, you may step down.”
“Would you like to call your next witness?”
“The prosecution would like to call Officer Sam to the stand.” The officer is sworn in.
“You interviewed Ms. Moyes immediately after she was sexually assaulted, is that correct?”
“Objection,” interjected the Defense. “It hasn’t been proven she was sexually assaulted versus consensual.”
The judge responds, “Sustained. Please rephrase the question.”
“After the 911 call, you went to the hospital to question the alleged victim, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“Did Ms. Moyes say she consented to intercourse with Mr. Anderson?”
“Yes, she did.” The entire courtroom except for Scott and those involved with the case, gasp.
“Did you believe her?”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you believe her?”
“She seemed scared like she was threatened or under duress.”
“Thank you, that will be all.”
The judge looks over at Michael’s table.
“Would the defense like to cross-examine Officer Sam?”
“Yes, your Honor.”
“Did you see Mr. Anderson assault Ms. Moyes?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did Ms. Moyes say the intercourse and events leading up to it were consensual?”
“Yes, she did.”
“Did you decide to pursue the case at the time?”
“No, we did not.”
“Thank you, Officer Sam, that will be all.”
The judge looks at them. “Would the prosecution like to call their next witness?”
“Yes, your Honor, we would like to call the forensic expert to the stand who investigated this case.” A strange-looking man I have never seen before is sworn in. The prosecution paces in front of him.
“Please state your name and profession.”
“My name is Smith. I am a forensics expert.”
“Was there any evidence of a struggle found in your investigation of this case?”
“Yes, there was.”
“How so?”
“There were traces of skin and/or hair found under the victim's fingernails also slight tears and traces of ejaculate in the lining of the vagina. She also presented with slight bruising around both wrists and the back of her neck. Her eye was swollen shut and her cheek was swollen.”
“Did the traces of skin and hair belong to Mr. Anderson?”
“Yes, For the most part.”
“Thank you, that will be all.”
“Would the defense like to cross-examine?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“You said there was evidence of a struggle, is that correct?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Could excessively passionate intercourse the way Ms. Moyes testified to engaging in, similar to sexual dominance, bring forth the same kind of evidence?”
He stops and thinks for a second. “I suppose it could.”
“You said the traces of skin and hair predominantly belonged to Mr. Anderson, is that correct?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Were there other traces that didn’t belong to him?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, that will be all.”
The judge looks at the prosecution again. “Are there any more witnesses you would like to call?”
“Yes, your Honor, the prosecution calls Dr. William Carson to the stand.” Dr. Carson gets sworn in. He smiles at me and I return his gesture.
“Did you interview Ms. Moyes after the assault?”
“Yes, I did a month or so later.”
“Can you please explain to the jury the meaning of 'formed,' Dr. Carson?”
“When people are kept in hospital involuntarily because they are considered a danger to themselves or others.”
“How would you describe Ms. Brandon ’s frame of mind during your interviews?”
“She was disturbed.”
“Thank you, Dr. Carson. The prosecution rests, your Honor.”
“Would the defense like to cross-examine?”
“No, your Honor.”
“Okay then, we’ll take an hour lunch and reconvene at 1:30.” The clerk stands up. “All rise,” and the judge leaves the room.
Coach Tammy insightfully walks straight over to Scott and pulls him from the courtroom before he can get to Michael or me. The prosecutor looks in my direction and says, “Your testimony weakened our case.” He is visibly angry. “I’ll see you back here in an hour.”
“Then you shouldn’t have put me on the stand,” I spit.