Castle Shima

Me: Aw frig. Look at this email. It basically opens up a can of "Ken-Shut-The-Hell-Up!"
-- From a conversation at work

::: Tower View :::
The Best Defense
By the time the Respondant's lawyers got around to presenting their case, the trial had already dragged on for several days. And we were looking for more of the same.

This time around, the witnesses were a hell of alot more humourous, if not interesting.

The Brother: This man made sure we knew he was proud to be testifying on the behalf of his brother, Ronnie. The Respondant's lawyer, Fleschmann, made sure that we heard how he saw the estranged girlfriend and victim #1, Sheila, assault Ronnie whenever they were drunk or high. He even noted an incident when Sheila hit his girlfriend "while we was at this here Monster Truck Pull a few years back".

He would be very proud to support Ronnie once he got out of jail. Apparently he had no idea what Ronnie had done.

So here was this large chested, thick necked redneck, being brought to tears by a much smaller, almost minute, female lawyer as she showed every single wound photographed on Sheila, asking the brother what kind of injury it was. He was almost completely broken down by the time she was finished thru all the pictures of the second known victim, Denise.

By that time, he was so soft-spoken that the State attorney had to keep asking him to speak up.

The Brother's Girlfriend: She was the victim of one Sheila's drunken rages because, as she put it, A few years ago, we were having a special night out. We had gone up to the Monster Truck Pull and she was there. At the end, I had gone to the bathroom and Sheila done starting hitting on my man, touching him, putting her arms around him and such. Well, I told her that she wasnt going to disrespect me like that. So she headbutted me in the nose. She totally ruined a good evening..."

Ronnie's First Son: Apparently, the just turned 18 year old was a mix of hip hop, hillybilly. The boy's pants were hanging of his arse and he walked as if he was just too cool to be there. Then when he talked, we all wondered if he was high. I had to laugh when he was asked if he ever witnessed an act of violence from Shiela: "When I was younger, my uncle and his girlfriend took me out to the Monster Truck Pull for a family night out and such..."

My mind was racing. Are we sensing a pattern here?!

The Friend: I can understand bringing out as many character witnesses as possble to show Shiela in a different light, but this one only hurt the cause. I could only snicker when this witness came in because I and a couple of other jurors had seen him in the hallway. They didnt believe me when I said this man was a witness because of the way he acted towards the family. They wouldnt believe me, but now here he was, wobbling in as another guest of the State. In leg and arm shackles.

This witness was a resident of a prison across the state, but was brought in for his testimony. When asked to raise his right hand for the oath, he could only raise his hand above his waist since his wrists and ankles were restrained by the chains.

At least he wasnt at the monster truck pull...

The Father: Now here was a man in denial. "I own a glass business that Ronnie worked at when he was a youngun. He'll work there again. He'll live with me until he gets himself settled with a new apartment for him and that woman he met while he was in jail. I'll watch over my boy and make sure he dont get into any more trouble. My family will support Ronnie through this whole thing."

When the State attorney said "But sir, wasnt Ronnie living with you when he was arrested and convicted for his crimes?", the best he could reply was "Well now we cant keep an eye on him twenty fours a day."

The Uncle: Another man in denial, but with a twist. When asked to introduce himself to the jury, he stated "My name is Elmo J. I own the Elmo J Furniture company. I've been living here for all my life. When my dear departed wife passed, I went on and married her sister, Bobbi Jo, and we have been together for twenty years. We are here to support Ronnie and to show that we care for him."

When the State attorney asked about money that had been given to Denise prior to her testimony, he replied "I didnt give her any money whatsoever. But I do believe my wife did. Something about parking tickets.."

The Aunt: This woman was scary. She reminded me of an evil Aunt Bea from Mayberry and that she would have no issues with shooting you in order to get her way. When she was asked about Denise, the second victim, she claimed not to really know her that well.

Then when the topic of money given to her, she stated matter of factly "Well the girl done called us up, begging for help because she was about to go to jail for some unpaid parking tickets. Since we own a furniture store, we are well-to-do. As a good Christian woman, I knew we could afford it so I done give her the money she needed for them tickets."

Then, the State attorney noted that Denise didnt have parking tickets on her record. Denise didnt even have a speeding ticket.

"Well thats what she told me. I had no reason to think otherwise."

Right. Of course not.

The Good Doctor: This expert witness was a clinical psychologist and its no wonder the State wanted to get in as many psychologists in as possible. This doctor, Cectes, was really knowledgeable. He had performed tests on Ronnie to check for brain damage as well as sexual abnormality.

When asked about his fees, he replied "Well, I only charge $500 an hour..." Only?!?!

After all the work and research he discussed, Cectes made a pretty profound statement: "At no point during the attacks did the Respondant become sexually aroused. He never stalked any prey in order to meet some sexual need. His victims were always women he dated. They may have had sex after the attacks, but it wasnt about power, punishment, or fulfillment, but rather anger. The Respondant had drinking and drug issues which increased his anger and in turn he would take it out on the women he was with. That makes him a domestic batterer, not a sexual predator. He may be a bad person, but being a son of bitch isnt a crime in America. Being a domestic abuser is criminal and Ronnie has completed his jail time for that. If the State wishes to incarcerate him again, then it should be for the right reason, not as a sexual predator."

That would come into play on the final day...
To Be Continued
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::: Out In The Yard :::
Second Life can actually make you money. And just like in real life, you have several companies screwing over the consumers.
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::: Background Noise :::
Digging In The Dirt by Peter Gabriel

I'm digging in the dirt
Stay with me
I need someone
I'm digging in the dirt
Finding the places I got hurt
Open up the places I got hurt

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* But I'm a creep
* I'm a weirdo
* What the hell am I doing here?
* I dont belong here
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