Chapter 77: Chapter 77
Chapter 78: jail
The next day, At the courthouse
At 1pm at the courtroom, the place was all heated up as both lawyers kept defending their parties.
“ Your honour,my client here, Miss Chantal Bentley, was assaulted by Mr Caleb Anthony over here and there is evidence to top it up, ” the lawyer Jason hired for Chantal said.
He was one of the top notch lawyers in New York and he had never lost a case in his whole career. It wasn't an easy task to hire a lawyer like him in the dime moment,but luckily Jason used his family connection to get him here today.
The judge and jury both went through the papers and they whispered softly to themselves.
Lawyer Lawson smiled knowingly,that they had an upper hand currently in the case “ not just that your honour, my client here Miss Chantal was forced to work for Mr Anthony who abducted her younger brother”
“ Objection my Lord, ” lawyer Downs said with a frown.
“ objection sustained ” the judge said.
“ Your Honor, they can't just make baseless accusations with no proof. I mean what right do they have to call my client a rapist ” layer downs said.
“ Your honour, the kid is just six, and is still traumatised by the incident, that's why he isn't present” lawyer Lawson's said.
“ Your honour, I would like to ask Miss Chantal Bentley a few questions, ” lawyer Downs said.
The judge nodded and lawyer downs proceeded “ so Miss Bentley, what is your relationship with Caleb Anthony?” he asked.
“ We met at my hometown in Sedona…….”
“no,no,no. That's not the question,what is your relationship with Mr Anthony I mean who is he to you ” he asked.
Chantal shook her head “ i…..I he used me and forced me ……..”
Lawyer Downs laughed “ you see your honour,the lady has shown everyone here today that she has nothing to do with my client. She must have been paid to come here "
Chantal shook her head ” his lying your honour, Caleb here forced me to tear Isabella and Jason apart, and I had tried but it didn't work and he suddenly called me over only to take advantage of me, you see all this scars on my body he was the one who beat me up “ Chantal said with a hoarse voice.
” Your honour,these people aren't serious, first of all she might have been truly assaulted and beaten up and am certain that it wasn't done by my client, secondly they claimed her younger brother was abducted and he isn't here. Your honour, I hope these few points of my will bring Justice for my client Mr Caleb Anthony“ lawyer downs said.
” Do you have anything to say or show us?“ the judge asked lawyer Lawson.
” Yes, your honour,“ he replied.
He brought out a USB drive and inserted it, and the voice recording of Caleb and Chantal started playing. All the people present gasp from shock.
” Your honour, a forensic voice comparison test was conducted and it is positive,“ he said as he brought out a piece of paper.
Lawyer Downs' expression turned ugly immediately and one could tell that he had become nervous.
” Do you have anything else to show the court before we make the final verdict? “ the judge asked.
” yes your honour “ he nodded and played a video of Isabella and Caleb at the club.
Everyone watched the video and it stopped before they went to the room upstairs.
” your honour, you can see that Mr Caleb Anthony is indeed capable of rape from the clip we just watched “ Mr Lawson added.
” Your honour, I would like to call Miss Isabella Andrew to the witness box “ Lawyer Downs said and the judge nodded.
Isabella glanced at Jason before proceeding to the witness box after taking an oath to say nothing but the truth, lawyer downs began.
” So Miss Isabella, can you tell us your relationship with Mr Caleb Anthony“ lawyer Downs asked.
” We are a thing of the past, “ Isabella said unceremoniously.
” Can you give the court a more straightforward answer, “ lawyer Downs said.
” his my ex boyfriend“ she said while inadvertently rolling her eyes.
” Were you the one who called him over to the club? “ lawyer Downs asked.
” Yes, “ she replied.
” Why so? “ lawyer downs asked with a smirk.
” because I needed someone to talk to,“ she said.
” Why him of all the people you know ?“ lawyer Downs asked.
Isabella sigh loudly ” look I called him over so I could get more evidence from him. “ she said.
” That's all your honour,“ lawyer Downs said.
” Your honour, you can see from the footage that Miss Andrew here didn't react feircely with the way Mr Caleb Anthony was touching her, which means they are having a secret affair. I heard Mr Jason Harrison and Miss Isabella Andrew are in a type of arranged marriage stuff and there's no love affair between them “ lawyer downs said with a mischievous smirk.
” That's a lie “ Isabella couldn't take it any longer.
” Your honour, we just needed more evidence to present in court. That was the reason I went to meet Caleb at the club and Jason and I are very much happy with each other and there's no such third party“ Isabella said.
” You can go back to your seat, Miss Andrew, “ lawyer Downs said before she spoiled his show.
” Your honour, if you may allow me, I would also like to ask Mr Caleb Anthony some questions “ lawyer Lawson said.
The judge nodded and Caleb came to the witness box after swearing to say nothing but the truth.
” So Mr Caleb Anthony, we all know that Mrs Andrew is your ex-girlfriend. So how did you two break up?“ he asked.
Caleb pressed his lips and remained silent for a while ”i…..I she caught me cheating on her “ he said embarrassingly.
” In what way? Can you be more specific?“ he asked.
”i….I..was being intimate with another girl, “ he said, lowering his gaze.
Without delay,Caleb's words caused an uproar in the courtroom.
Mr and Mrs Anthony who were present expressions fell instantly and it was replaced with a look of shame as the people who were around started whispering among themselves.
Jason turned and looked at Isabella, he knew Caleb was her ex but he didn't know how and what made them break up.
” Isabella you never……..“ Jason said and Bella cut him off.
” Please don't ask me about it, “ she said in a low tone.
”uhmm“ he said softly even though he was feeling extremely hurt.
He could detect the pain and sadness in her eyes regardless of the way she was trying to conceal it. A saying suddenly came to his mind, ”there's no love like the first“ he guessed it was though she might still be having feelings for Caleb and maybe that was the main reason she always contradicts getting intimate with him.
”That's it your honour, I hope these few points of mine will bring Justice for my client Miss Chantal Bentley“ lawyer Lawson said.
After the judge asked both parties if they had anything else to say but silence filled the entire courtroom.
After reaching a decision, the jury notifies the bailiff, who notifies the judge.
After some time the judge cleared his throat ” the court has come to a conclusion…….“
” wait! “ they heard a voice and the judge paused.
Everyone's gaze travelled to the door and Emily walked in ” I would like to testify “ she said.
The judge nodded indicating that he had given her his consent.
She proceeded to the witness box, after taking an oath lawyer downs glared at her ” who are you Miss?“ he asked.
” I'm Emily Anthony, Caleb's younger sister “she said.
” What would you like to tell us? “ lawyer Lawson asked.
She glanced at her parents who were staring back at her before saying ” ever since my brother and I moved to New York his main aim was to get Isabella back either hook or crook. He was ready to go to any length to have her and he had once asked me to help but I turned him down and I guess that's why he used Chantal to carry out his plans by abducting her younger brother “ she said.
Lawyer Lawson nodded with satisfaction ” do you have anything else to add“ he asked.
” Yes, my brother stopped by my place this morning before coming to the court and I ran across these pictures of an abducted child on his cellphone, “ Emily said.
The phone was taken from her and the judge and jury took a look and they all inscribed something down.
” Your honour, that's a lie, “ Caleb yelled from his seat.
” Silence, if you have anything to say then go to the witness box“ the bailiff said.
” Thank you, Miss Emily, you can go take your seat, “ lawyer Lawson said.
” the court will announce the verdict now, we hereby find Caleb Anthony guilty of the crime“ the jury said
”under Article 120(a), UCMJ, any person who commits an act of sexual intercourse, by force and without consent, is guilty of rape;
Caleb Anthony is thus sentenced to six years in prisonment. Thank you, jury, for your service today“ the judge announced.
The cops immediately handcuffed Caleb, while lawyer Downs' face looked like he had swallowed urine.
” fuck!! Mom, dad, do something “ Caleb yelled as they took him away and only the echoes of his voice could be heard as it sounded further and further away.