𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒
𝙰𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙸 𝙽𝙴'𝚉𝙸𝙰𝙷 𝙲𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁
𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙶𝙾, 𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙾𝙸𝚂

Armani's father had took the flight down to Chicago after all of the evidence of racism had been carefully placed together. They had footage of the incident, recordings of racial slurs found on the internet, files of complaints, and an witness so there was no way they were going to lose. Raseem and LJ had one more day in the hospital and Armani hated to leave his side, but however, it was court day and she needed Justice for her son.

Armani's hips swayed as she walked into the court house capturing the attention of the jury and all who were inside. She wore a black knee length dress that hugged her curves, an matching pressed and ironed blazer, and red bottom heels. Her makeup consisted of a natural beat and some matching red lip stick and her hair was slicked into a low bun. She held a mug on her face as she glanced to the right of her and saw the entire police department staring at her in awe. Their mouths dropped when her father followed behind her as her lawyer, wearing a pressed Armani suit with his tie neatly tucked and shined Hermes dress shoes. The two looked like an expensive pair and she could sense that her and her father's appearance intimidated the police department. She glanced over at their lawyer who began to sweat bullets noticing who her father was, the best lawyer in New York with approximately an 85 percentage of wins under his belt. She noticed his unkept hair and cowardly demeanor and smirked as she took a seat awaiting the judge.

Kaori and Savior were both back with Kamala while the two attended court to do what they needed to do. Nasir soon walked in capturing attention as he graced their eyes in his Dolce and Gabbana suit and Valentino dress shoes. He held the meanest look on his face as his eyes met Officer James and sat beside his wife to wait for the trial to begin.

Armani had attended many court dates with her father as a child so this kind of thing was not intimidating to her. However Nasir, couldn't help but to feel nervous knowing how whites rode for their own. Apart of him felt scared that there was a chance of them losing, while another felt it was impossible seeing the look on the police departments lawyer's face.

With the help of her father and his connections with the press, the Carters had practically obliterated the reputation of James and his family. They attacked the kids, the grandparents, and all who connected with James on a personal level. They attacked his values as a man and even had the video of him screaming racial slurs at a kid leak all over twitter. The video a lot had over 100k tweets and it was still counting, Armani had kept her promised and destroyed his name and she wasn't planning on stopping there.

The bailiff came into the room shortly after the judge and turned to everyone in the court room.

"All rise." Said the bailiff, he waited for everyone to stand before he moved on to say the next thing. "Department one is now in session. Judge Michelle presiding. Please be seats."

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of The Carters versus Roger. Are both sides ready?"

"Ready for the Carters, Your Honor."

"Ready for the defense, Your Honor."

"Will the clerk please swear in the jury?" Judge Michelle asked.

The clerk turned to the jury and gave them instructions on what to do before they repeated what was needed of them,

"The first thing that happens in a trial is called opening statements. This is when each attorney can tell the jury what evidence they will present during the trial. The Carter's lawyer goes first and the defendants goes next."

"Your honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury; my client would like to sue for attempted murder, assault, hate crime, emotional distress, excessive force, and lastly defamation of character. The defendant has attempted to murder my client's son who is a black male boy, which leads us to believe that this was an hate crime and an attempted murder. These video footages will show that there were multiple occasions where this man has not only been racist towards other black males, but the force he used on my clients son. The evidences along with the many many files of complaints will prove to you that the defendant is guilty." Armani's father stated.

"U-uh y-your Honor and ladies and g-gentlemen of the jury: under the law my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. During this client you will hear no real evidence nor see real evidence to support the accusations of a hate crime. You will come to know the truth, and that truth is that my client Roger is no racist nor no executioner. My client is not guilty."

"Bullshit." Armani mumbled under her breath.

"After the opening statements, witnesses are called to testify about what they know about the case. Sometimes the attorneys want to show physical things like a weapon, photograph, or video to the jury. These things are called exhibits. The jury may only consider and exhibit if the judge admits the exhibit into evidence when they meet to decide whether the defendant if guilty or not guilty."

"The prosecution may call it's first witness."

"The Defendant calls the witness of the incident."

Armani looked back at Jamarcus who sat beside his mother nervous as could be and teary eyed as the Bailiff came and brought him to the witness stand.

"Please Stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in this case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do." Jamarcus said confidently.

"Please state your first and last name."

"Jamarcus Murphy."

"Please spell your last name for the record." The reporters say.

"Jamarcus where do you work?"

"I work at Finish Line in the mall."

"What mall?"

"Water Tower Place."

"And you were off the day of the incident-- December 10th correct?"

"Yes I had that whole weekend off."

"Why were you off?"

"Objection! This has nothing to do with the case."

"Defendant get to the point."

"You claim you were there the day of the incident, so is there any details of the incident that you may have lied about?"

"No..why would I lie...I'm the one with the evidence against you people." Jamarcus mean mugged.

"May we ask to see this evidence?"

"No...you can see it when they play it on the screen." Jamarcus said making the defedant's judge furrow his eyebrows.

"Thank you, I have no further questions."

"Is this the only witness of that day?" Judge Michelle asked.

"Yes Your Honor, seeing that the defendant finds joy in putting children in hospital beds." Armani's father said.

The court process moved really slow until finally it began to get interesting again. Armani's father called on the defendant to come to the stand making everyone look nervously at Officer James.

"Under the bill of rights, a person who is accused of a crime cannot be forced to testify at their own criminal trial. In our trial today, the defendant had decided to testify. The prosecution cannot force the defendant to testify. If the defendant chooses to testify, the prosecution is allowed to question the defendant."

"Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case now before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God."

"I do." Officer James said.

"He lying already!" LJ's mother yelled making everyone look at her.

"Please state your name."

"Roger James."

"You may be seated."

"Please spell your last name for the record." the reporter says again.

"Roger, where were you in the morning on December 10th?" Armani's father asked.

"I was at the basketball court on Shai Heights." Officer James says.

"And you saw three black males at this said basketball court correct?" Armani's father asked.

"Yes..."

"Were they doing anything out of the ordinary?"

"No but they looked suspicious..." Officer James said making his lawyer begin to chew on his lip in nervousness. His suit was stained with sweat and his laces on his dress shoes were untied.

"Suspicious because they're black?"

"Ye-No! Of course not, they just seemed out of place."

"Seemed out of place how? What were they doing wrong that made you suspicious of them?"

"Nothing...playing ball and fooling around." He mumbled.

"The jury cannot hear you Mr.James."

"I said playing ball and fooling around..."

"So playing ball and fooling around while black has become a thing huh Roger?"

"Of course not." He mumbled.

"So why did you feel the need to disturb these boys if you say they've done nothing wrong."

"I've gotten a call saying that there was disturbance in the neighborhood." He said.

"Really? And your first guess was three black kids in a ball park minding their business? Is that why there was no one to help that lady that had died in her home around that morning?"

"Uhhh.."

"So let me get this straight, you left your vehicle to disturb and harass these boys, you attempted to accuse these boys of a crime they hadn't committed, and when they resisted your first instinct was to shoot?" Armani's father questioned.

"No...I felt threatened."

"Yes it was!" Jamarcus yelled out. "You tried to kill my friends!"

"So you claim no but yet you still pulled a gun correct? Why didn't you reach for something less lethal such as your tasor? you couldn't take on three 16 year old 140 pound boys on your own?"

"No that is not the case."

"Then why'd you do it?"

"I don't know."

"Yes you do know, why'd you do it?"

"I just said I don't know!" He yelled.

"Yes you do know, either you say it right here or I'll play the evidence surveillance and let them hear." Armani's father pressed on.

The court was dead silent as they listened to the battle amongst the Carters and the police department.

"I don't know why I shot them, I panicked!"

"No you do know why and you wanna know how I know? Because your gun is place on the back of your belt which approximately takes about 6 seconds to pull. Your taser gun is placed approximately to the right of you and takes approximately three seconds to pull. You pulled a gun because you intended to murder those boys."

"No I didn't!"

"So why'd you do it then Roger?" Armani's father asked.

"How many times do I have to say I don't know!"

"You do know, this will be my last time asking."

"Objection! He's leading!" The defendant yelled.

"Overruled. This is getting good." Judge Michelle said.

"Why'd you do it Roger?" He asked.

"Because..."

"Because what?"

"Because I'm a racist! I fucking hate those nigger babies!" He yelled out shocking himself and the court.

"There you have it." Armani's father turned towards the court. "And to support what the defendant has just admitted to, here is the clip."

The TV was brought in and the tape was placed inside. The court turned and watched the tape which consisted of racial slurs, taunting, and evidence of assault and excessive force. The video followed by a scream from Jamarcus and gunshots making the jury wince.

"Is that all the questions for the Carters?" Judge Michelle asked.

"Yes Your Honor."

"The defendant is excused. Does the defendant rest?" She asked.

"Y-yes your honor." Says the defendant's lawyers sounding as if he was ready to cry.

"All of the evidence has now been presented. At this time, the judge will tell you the law you must apply in what are the jury instructions. Listen very carefully to the three things the judge will tell you that prosecution must prove."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am now going to read to you the law that you must follow in deciding this case. To prove the crime charged against the defendant, the prosecution must prove all of these things to you: first, that the defendant had committed a hate crime, had used excessive force, caused emotional distress, and committed an assault. If each of you believe that the prosecution proved all these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty. But if you believe the prosecution did not prove any one of these things beyond a reasonable doubt then you must find the defendant not guilty. Proof beyond a reasonable amount does not mean beyond all possible doubt. It means that you must consider all of the evidence and that you are very sure that the charge is true."

Armani's father and the defendant both made their final arguments before finally it was left to the jury.

"Members of the jury have you reached a verdict?"

"Yes your honor." The jury spokesman says.

"You may read the verdict." Judge Michelle finally says.

"Your Honor, the members of the jury finds the defendant guilty."

"Members of the Jury, this court dismisses you and thanks you for a job well done." Judge Michelle passes the sentence of the verdict and looks up at Roger. "You will serve approximately 50 years to life on an account of first degree attempted murder, use of excessive force, emotional distress, and a hate crime." She slams the gavel making Armani break down in tears along with Nasir, while Officer James life begins to fall apart as they hand cuff him and force him to stand.

"This court is adjourned."

"All rise."

_______________

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