Chapter 87: Chapter 87

I left the courtroom to freshen up and then wander the halls aimlessly stretching my legs. I was just around a corner when I bumped into Michael. “Isa!” he whispers, “Don’t be scared, I need to talk to you, can we go somewhere? Please?”

“No!”

“I believed everything you said to me and when I found out what you did I was unhinged. Please, let me make it up to you. Don’t destroy what we have over one incident that I swear will never happen again.”

“We have nothing. There’s no going back.”

“You don’t mean it,” he says solemnly. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

I hear Scott’s steps before I see him coming in our direction, “So what do we have here? Is he threatening you?” Scott sneers.

“I’ll tell you later,” I tell Scott.

“Now,” he insists. “Why the fuck are you talking to him? Don’t you remember why you’re here and what he put you through? How much more of this shit are you willing to take?” Scott berates.

I look at Scott, “He was apologizing.”

“You’re still with him?” Michael questions.

Coach Tammy watches as the two men converse with one another, while Justin is filming us. Tammy looks at his watch and says, “It's time to go back.” The clerk stands and says, “The Honorable Judge David presiding. Please rise.” Everyone stands until the judge sits down and motions that we can sit, too.

Judge David speaks, “Would the defense like to call its first witness?”

“Yes, your Honor, we would like to call Scott Brandon to the stand.” Scott is sworn in.

“Please state your relationship to the accused.”

“Employer.” He is glaring daggers at Michael.

“Were you aware that your actions at the Village could be taped at any time?”

“Yes.”

“Were you in a relationship with Ms. Moyes when you were at the Village?”

“No, not officially but I was actively pursuing her.”

“Were you aware she was dating Mr. Anderson?”

“Yes.”

“Did you kiss Ms. Moyes the night before she was assaulted?”

“Yes.”

“Did you have intercourse with Ms. Moyes the night before Mr. Anderson arrived?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you, that will be all.”

The judge looks over at the prosecutor. "Would you like to cross-examine?"

“I’ll pass,” he says.

Judge David glances at Scott, “You may step down. Is there anyone else you would like to call?"

“No, your Honor, the defense rests. I would like to submit as evidence articles written about Mr. Michael Anderson and what he has done for his community. He's been a tremendous financial contributor. I would additionally like to submit written letters of character references from Mr. Michael Anderson’s family and friends.”

The clerk takes all the defense lawyer's evidence for the jury to review when deliberating. Judge David announces that the court would reconvene at 8:00 tomorrow morning. We head back to the Village in the white limousine. Nobody speaks in the car, and when we get out, we all go our separate ways. I thought Tammy and Justin were afraid to say anything and Scott was simply too angry to speak.

The next morning Judge David says, “Let's continue with closing arguments. Prosecutor:”

The prosecutor stands up next to me before the judge can utter his full name. He starts pacing, making eye contact with each of the jurors. “Ms. Moyes did not consent to have her cheek almost broken, being given a black eye, and forced to have sexual relations, including oral. You can see her struggling, trying to get away from the defendant on tape. He gags her, for God's sake!

“What she did before all of this heinousness took place is completely irrelevant. No woman asks for this kind of brutality, causes it nor deserves it. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have daughters, wives, granddaughters, nieces, sisters, think of any one of them when you render your verdict. Men even as reputable as Mr. Anderson need to know this behavior is not acceptable. You give a voice to any female who has been or will be brutalized. Thank you.”

“Defense:”

Defense paces and looks at the jurors for dramatic effect. “Ms. Moyes and Mr. Anderson were in a relationship at the time of this unfortunate incident. Ms. Moyes admitted she was unfaithful to Mr. Anderson and it was evident she suffered no remorse over her indiscretion. She was also aware she could be videotaped at any time and she continued to carry on with Mr. Brandon thereby provoking my client's anger in this single, isolated incident.” “I agree that no woman ever asks for that kind of brutality and forced sex, but Ms. Moyes is no martyr for meek and mute women. No, she pushed Mr. Anderson's buttons until he had no other choice than to act uncharacteristically. I would also like to remind the jury, that under oath in the police interview, she said that relations on the day in question between Mr. Anderson and Ms. Moyes were consensual.

“My client is exceedingly remorseful for what he did but putting him in jail will not benefit society as much as putting him to work in our community. Let him do his penance on the outside, should he be found guilty, that is. Thank you.”

After instructions are given, Judge David dismisses the jurors to deliberate. Both sides sit outside the courtroom not uttering a word. It takes merely twenty minutes for a verdict to be reached.

The clerk ushers the people back to their seats and announces the arrival of the judge back to the courtroom. “The Honorable Judge David presides. Please stand.”

After he takes his seat, everyone sits down. Michael is asked to remain standing. The judge faces the jury. “Has a verdict been reached on the charge of sexual assault causing bodily harm, what say you?”

The jury spokesperson stands facing the court, “Guilty.” The judge makes a note in his ledger.

The jury spokesperson remains to stand and adds, “The jury asks that the court consider extensive community service over jail time, as we all feel it is an isolated incident that he is truly remorseful for.”

Judge David looks like he was considering what we said. “I will take that under advisement regarding sentencing.”

Judge David leaves the courtroom to deliberate. When he comes back he addresses the court. “I have considered all parties' requests. I will follow the jury's advice and sentence Mr. Anderson to one hundred and fifty hours of community service at the Red Cross in Lagos. Additionally, I am fining you two hundred thousand for the pain and suffering he’s caused Ms. Moyes, which will be donated to women's shelters in her name across Owerri. The court is adjourned.”

The gavel slams down and the room is buzzing. Michael smiles but not victoriously as one would expect, it was more of relief. Justin shuts off the camera and we drive back to the Village in silence for the second day in a row.