Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gallows Eve ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )
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GALLOWS EVE (chapter 6)by DRLThe courtroom was filled to capacity, and Heero frowned as he looked across at the spectators seated in the public gallery. They were like ghouls, all of them. Ghouls feasting on dead flesh - or potentially dead flesh in this case. They were all here to watch Duo Maxwell sentenced to death. Not a one of them was on his side, not really, and Heero was sure that they would all consider it a good day's entertainment if at the end of it all they were to see the judge don the black cap and pass sentence of death. All were eager to hear the chillingly fateful words -
"… it is my duty to pass upon you the sentence of the law - that you be taken from hence to the place from whence you came, and from there to a place of execution, and that you there be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and that your body be afterwards buried within the precincts of the prison in which you shall have been last confined after your conviction. And may the Lord have mercy on your soul. "
Heero shuddered as he was uncomfortably reminded of the ancient Romans and their love of entertainment spectacles that culminated in human death. The women spared Duo a modicum of sympathy because of his looks ('it'll be a great shame of course, such a handsome face, and did you ever see such a head of hair...') , but the men were dead against him for much the same reason ('deserves everything he gets, shooting a fellow in the back like that. The blackguard needn't think he can fool everybody with those good looks either.') They were all here to see him go down and the atmosphere in the courtroom was heavy with anticipation. There was, however, one face that Heero would have been glad to see in the public gallery, one belonging to a person on whom the whole case hinged, but at this time that particular face was absent. He was not unduly concerned, however, since even now Trowa was on the case. The detective had never let him down in the past, and Heero did not believe that he was about to start now. Everything would come out right - he was sure of it. He looked across at the young man he hoped also shared his confidence.
Duo Maxwell sat in the centre of the dock, looking paler and thinner than he had at the first trial, but just as confident and just as defiant. Across the distance from the dock to the public gallery his slight figure and waist-length braid made him look pathetically young, as if it were a child in the dock rather than a grown man, despite the sharp business suit he wore, and the show of judicial force in the body of a burly police constable stationed at the entrance to the dock lest the prisoner make a break for freedom, seemed excessive. As Heero looked across at him, Maxwell turned his head and their eyes locked. A smile spread slowly across the prisoner's face, lighting up his features, a smile that carried with it hope and determination. Heero returned the smile. The court rose as the learned judge entered and was seated, then the re-trial of The Crown v Maxwell began.
At first, things went pretty much as they had at the first trial. The early witnesses all gave expert testimony, in luridly graphic and bafflingly technical detail, confirming that that Zechs Merquise was indeed dead and what had caused his death. Then the prosecution put forward their case against Duo Maxwell. Again, all was much as it had been at the first trial. Witnesses were called and gave evidence about Zechs Merquise and Duo, their relationship and their subsequent break-up. Wufei Chang, once again representing the defendant, made a competent of perfunctory cross-examination of each witness, but gained no great advantage as a result of his efforts.
The re-trial continued along much the same lines as the first, until the prosecution called Joe Knight, a fellow resident in the same block of flats where the ill-fated couple had made their home. Knight, a benignly-featured and mild-mannered man of some sixty years old, gave his evidence with candour, tinged with a hint of diffidence. With a straight back and clear, unwavering voice, he again told the court how he was quite possibly the first on the scene after the murder after, whilst watching television, he heard a violent quarrel coming from the couple's apartment. Shortly afterwards he heard the fatal shots and went out to investigate. On reaching the scene he saw Zechs Merquise lying on the floor and Duo Maxwell running away. The old man's evidence was lucid, entirely plausible and completely damning for the defendant. Having completed his examination-in-chief, Nigel Lynchwood, Q.C., counsel for the prosecution, looked across at the judge with a look of smug complacency and confirmed that he had no further questions for the witness. He then sat down and looked across at his opponent, a self-satisfied smirk playing about his lips. Wufei Chang rose slowly to his feet to begin his cross-examination. He smiled kindly at the witness.
“I just have one or two questions to put to you Mr Knight; I won't detain you too long.”
“Thank-you sir.” The witness stared across at the wigged and robed barrister with an open, guileless gaze, eager to be of assistance. Wufei, hands on the lapels of his robe, took a deep breath and began his cross examination.
”Mr Knight, your flat is beneath that of the defendant and his former lover, is that correct?"
“Yes sir, mine is directly below theirs, sir.”
“Now, on the night in question, you say you heard the sound of a violent quarrel coming from Mr Maxwell's flat?”
“Yes sir.”
“How did you know?”
“I beg pardon sir?” The witness's helpful smile faltered and he frowned a little.
“How did you know that the quarrel you heard was coming from the flat above?”
“I… I could hear them sir.” Joe Knight stammered. The barrister still smiled benignly at him, but the old man's brows drew together as for the first time he caught an inkling that he was not going to be afforded the smooth ride he had hitherto been granted.
“Yes, I acknowledge that you heard sounds of a quarrel, but I would like you to tell the court how you knew that the quarrel was coming from the flat above. You see Mr Knight, I have been to the flat above yours, and to one or two of the others in your block, and conducted some, shall we say `experiments', and is it not true that, while it is quite possible to hear a quarrel coming from one of the neighbouring flats as you claim, it is not easy to discern exactly which flat the sounds are coming from? The sound carries through the walls and floor in such a way that they could just as easily be coming from above as below, or indeed from one of the apartments on either side, depending on which room you happened to be in, is that not so?”
“Yes sir, but…”
“Thank-you, Mr Knight. So, back to my original question - how did you know that the sounds were coming from the flat above?”
“I… I just assumed, sir.”
“You. Just. Assumed.” Wufei repeated slowly, punctuating each word. “So in truth, you had no real reason to believe that the voices you heard were coming from the flat above did you, Mr Knight? After all, you have already told the court that you were not able to recognise either the voices or what was said, and you also said that the couple were not particularly querulous. In fact, you said that you had only heard them quarrel once before, and that was on the day Zechs Merquise left the flat for good. Only once in the two years that they lived there. That hardly seems a sound basis for your assumption, does it?” Joe Knight gapped wordlessly, but before he could rally, Wufei ploughed on. “Now let's talk about the gunshots you claim to have heard. You say you heard them while watching television, is that not so?”
“Yes sir.” The old man was wary now, and his answers were somewhat hesitant.
“Can you speak up please Mr Knight, I don't think the jury heard you.”
“I said yes sir.” Joe Knight raised his voice, but an unmistakable note of hostility had tinged his reply.
“Tell me Mr Knight, how is your hearing?” Joe Knight hesitated before replying, as though considering his words. Then he spoke.
“It's alright sir, but when you get to my age…”
“Is it not true that you have a significant loss of hearing in both ears, and in fact…” Here Wufei dropped his voice to a lower volume, suiting the action to his following words, “If I was to drop my voice to this level, you would have difficulty hearing me?” Joe Knight craned his neck forward.
“Beg pardon sir…” He said automatically, then quickly straightened as he realised what his actions had just confirmed. Wufei Chang looked significantly at the jury.
“You all heard me did you not, ladies and gentlemen of the jury…?” There was a general murmur of ascent from the jury box, with several heads nodding in confirmation. Wufei swung round and rounded on the old man in the witness box, his voice stern and accusatory. “... and yet you claim to have heard the report of a gun fired on the floor below while watching television, a television which no doubt had the sound turned up to an exceptionally high volume, due to your failing hearing.” At this point Nigel Lynchwood rose abruptly to his feet.
“I object, My Lord,” He said, addressing his remarks to the bench, “My learned friend is badgering this witness. Mr Knight is not the one on trial here.” Mr Justice Everslade made a contemplative moue.
“Perhaps he is a little,” He agreed, “But nevertheless, I think Mr Chang should be allowed to continue with his line of questioning. Mr Chang,” The judge turned to that gentleman, “You may continue with your questions, but please moderate your tone.”
“If your lordship pleases… ” Wufei bowed respectfully in the direction of the bench, while at the same time affording his opponent a triumphant glance. “Now Mr Knight,” He looked back to the man in the witness box, the benevolent smile back on his face, “You say you were watching a film on the television when you heard the shots.”
“Yes sir.” Joe Knight was still a little cautious, aware of his previous blunders and on his guard against further such slips.
“A good film, was it?”
“Oh yes sir, it was. John Wayne - I like him sir.” Knight relaxed slightly.
“Yes, I'm rather partial to Mr Wayne myself.” Wufei said pleasantly. “It was a John Wayne western, was it not?” Joe Knight nodded enthusiastically. “Please answer so that the jury can hear, Mr Knight.”
“Sorry sir. Yes, it was a western.”
“And you say you er, `heard' the shots at around nine thirty, that is, half an hour into the film, which began at exactly nine o'clock, is that so?
“Yes sir.”
“I too have watched this film Mr Knight, and I was interested to notice that at around thirty minutes into the film, give or take a few minutes, there is a… what do they call it… a `shoot-out' scene, where the protagonists fire their weapons repeatedly at each other. Usher, could we play the scene to the jury?”
The court usher walked across to where a large, plasma television screen was erected against a wall. A DVD player stood on a small table beneath the screen. He took up a remote control device, depressed a button, and the screen flared into life as the opening credits of the film Joe Knight had been watching rolled by.
“Members of the jury,” Wufei Chang said as the twelve men and women watched the screen with interest, “You will notice the time code in the top left-hand corner of the screen. This shows you the time elapsed since the start of the film. Usher, please advance the film until the counter shows thirty minutes. As interested as I'm sure the jury are in the work of Mr Wayne, I doubt whether His Lordship would appreciate his courtroom being turned into a picturehouse.”
A restrained titter of amusement ran around the room as the usher did as he was bid. Sure enough, when the counter read 31 minutes and 22 seconds, a shoot-out between two warring cowboy factions erupted, and the room resounded with the sound of gunfire. When the gun-battle was over the screen counter read 35 minutes 10 seconds.
“Thank-you.” Wufei nodded briefly at the court usher, who halted the playback on the screen with the press of another button. “So, members of the jury,” The barrister turned to the jury box, “I leave it to you to decide whether a man who admits that he is hard of hearing could, in amongst what you have just seen and heard,” Here he gestured eloquently in the direction of the now inert plasma screen, “Pick out two shots fired in the same building, and know exactly where those shots were fired, bearing in mind the fact that sound travels through the building in such a way that it is difficult to say where any particular sound has come from.” The jury looked doubtfully from the man in the witness box to the plasma screen, then back again. “In fact,” Chang turned to face the bench, seeking to reinforce the grain doubt he had sown in the minds of the jury, “My Lord, I request an adjournment so that the jury can be taken to Mr Knights flat to experience the phenomenon for themselves.”
“My Lord…” Nigel Lynchwood was on his feet in an instant, but the judge silenced him with a glare.
“Alright Mr Chang.” The judge decreed, “I am inclined to give you your head, since the points you have raised are certainly interesting. The defendant is on trial for his life, and it is incumbent upon me to afford the defence every opportunity to put forward its case. We will meet back here at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. This court is adjourned.”
“All rise!” Cried the usher as the judge left the court.
As the court officials, jury and public filed out of the various exits, Heero Yuy left his seat and descended to where Wufei Chang stood, briskly collecting his various papers and thrusting them into his neat leather folio case.
“Well done Chang, that was masterfully done.” He said, giving the lawyer an appreciative slap on the back. The two men fell into step together as they left the room.
“Well,” The other man replied, “You wanted some extra time, and an adjournment is as good a way as any of giving it to you, although you've only got a matter of hours. You'd better use it well because I doubt whether I will be able to get another. The judge is on my side for now, but that may change at any time.”
“Don't worry,” Heero said levelly, “Trowa and Quatre are on the case. They will get him here.”
The court reconvened the next day at the time set by the judge, with Joe Knight once again in the witness box. The old man looked nervous and pale and Wufei Chang felt a pang of regret as he thought of what he would soon have to do. His client's life depended upon his actions this day, however, so he hardened his heart and steeled himself. It was highly irregular for a `whitewig' barrister as he was, to be representing a defendant in a capital case as lead counsel, rather than as a junior. Ordinarily, lead counsel would have been an experienced `silk', a Q.C., as was his opponent Nigel Lynchwood and Wufei would have been his junior, taking notes and asking questions only under the direction of his learned leader. Wufei was briefed as leading counsel only due to his association with Heero Yuy, and that gentleman's considerable influence with Duo Maxwell's solicitor, and he was determined to prove that his friend's trust had not been misplaced. Feeling the immense pressure of his situation, he took a deep breath and re-opened his cross-examination.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” He said, smiling up at the jury box, “Yesterday you saw for yourselves how extremely difficult it would have been for Mr Knight to have heard the fatal shots, far less for him to have discerned where they had come from. However, this is what he would have you believe he did, and it is for you to decide whether his evidence is the truth or not. Now, Mr Knight,” He turned to the old man, “You say you ran upstairs after you heard the shots. Why?”
“I wanted to see whether anyone was hurt sir.”
“Tell the court exactly what you did, from the time you heard the shots.”
“Well sir, I heard the shots, and they sounded just like gunshots to me, so I got up from my armchair - I like to sit in an armchair to watch the telly `cos the sofa's too soft on my…, well…” Mr Knight grew delicately pink as the court chuckled indulgently at the old man's revelation. “I got up from my armchair,” He continued when silence had fallen once again, “Ran out the front door and up the stairs to the next floor.”
“When you say ran…”
“Well I didn't exactly run sir, not at my age, but I walked quickly. I hurried, you understand sir?”
“Yes Mr Knight, I think we understand. Now, I would like you to help me with a little exercise. When I say the word `Go', I want you to replay the scene in your mind, from the moment you heard the shots to the time you emerged from the stairwell into the corridor above. Will you do that for me?”
“Of course, sir. Do you want me to tell you what I'm doin' as I go?”
“There is no need for commentary unless you want to give it, but I need you to clearly indicate when you have reached the landing and are in sight of the murder scene by clearly saying the word `Now'. Do you understand what you have to do?”
Joe Knight confirmed that he did, and the lawyer drew a stopwatch from within his robes and began the exercise. Joe Knight preferred not to comment on his progress, but sat with eyes tightly clenched as he replayed the scene in his mind's-eye. Eventually he rent the deathly silence in the room with a resounding `NOW'
“Thank-you for that, Mr Knight.” Wufei turned to the jury box. “Twenty two seconds, members of the jury.”
He summoned the usher with a gesture, handed the watch to him, bent to give a whispered instruction, then straightened. The usher took the watch, carried it over to the jury box and handed it to the nearest juror. The twelve jury members passed the watch between them, satisfying themselves as to the time displayed, before handing it back. As the watch circulated, Wufei continued his cross-examination.
“That is a most impressive time, Mr Knight. I have to say that I performed the same exercise at the locus in quo, that is, at the scene of the event, and I couldn't get it to take less than twelve seconds, and I am possibly a little nimbler than you are on the stairs. However, Duo Maxwell's front door is only a few feet away from where the body was found. He states that he heard the shots only three or four seconds after he had closed the door on Zechs Merquise. He then threw open the door, ran out into the corridor, approached the body, knelt beside it for only a fraction of a second, saw the gun and ran back into his flat to call the police. Even allowing for the slowest reactions and movements on the part of the defendant, it is difficult for me to get this sequence of events to take more than seven seconds, from the throwing open of the door to the stepping back into the flat, at which time he would have been out of sight of anyone entering the corridor from the stairwell. The defendant states that after calling the police he never left his apartment, never stepped back out into the corridor, for fear of contaminating the scene. His work as a detective fiction writer taught him at least that much. Therefore, Mr Knight, I wonder whether you can account for the apparent discrepancy between the timings that we seem to have here, because for the life of me I cannot see how you can have seen the defendant running away, if it took you twenty two seconds and me twelve seconds from hearing the shots to arrival at the murder scene. It simply is not possible, if it only took him seven seconds. Surely you would have arrived on the scene well after Mr Maxwell had returned to his apartment. Can you offer any explanation for this apparent anomaly?” Joe Knight's mumbled response was lost as he uttered it. The judge was leaning forward, listening to the exchange with deep interest.
“Please speak up, Mr Knight.” He snapped impatiently.
“No, sir, I can't.” The old man repeated glumly. Wufei ploughed on relentlessly.
“There is a door between the stairwell and the corridor where the murder occurred, is there not?” He asked.
“Yes there is sir.” The witness replied loudly.
“When you reached this door, please tell the jury what you did.” Knight frowned in confusion.
“I opened it and went through it, sir.”
“How did you go through it Mr Knight?” The lawyer asked, “Did you burst through in a rush, or did you stop and come through slowly?”
“I burst through in a rush sir. As I said, I thought someone might be hurt.”
“Quite so. But did it not occur to you that the gunman might still be around? Indeed, you might well have been in great peril of your own life. I myself am well trained in defensive combat techniques but I would still hesitate to enter a scene where I had good reason to believe a gunman might be lurking. You yourself have mentioned your advancing years several times today, but in spite of this, you rushed headlong into a corridor where you had just recently heard gunfire? Joe Knight hesitated, then stuck his chin out defiantly.
“Yes sir that is exactly what I did.” Wufei Chang turned to the jury box.
“Members of the jury, I would be inclined to say that anyone who made such a statement was one of three things - either incredibly brave, unbelievably stupid, or a barefaced liar. It is up to you to decide which of these applies to Mr Knight.” He turned back to the witness with a glance towards the bench. It was time for the morning recess, but the judge seemed so engrossed in the proceedings that recess seemed the last thing on his mind, so Wufei continued his questioning. “When you emerged onto the landing and saw Mr Maxwell running back into his flat, what did you then do?”
“I went back down to my flat to call the police sir.”
“You turned immediately and went back down the stairs?”
“Yes sir.”
“You didn't perhaps enter the corridor and approach the body?”
“No sir.”
“Were you not curious to see who it was or what had happened?”
“I could see who it was sir, `cos of his hair and the colour of his coat. I'd seen him wear that coat before sir, and the gentleman had very light-coloured hair - long and light-coloured, like the person lying in the corridor. I knew exactly who it was sir, I didn't need to see no closer. I'd `eard the shots too so I knew what `ad `appened right enough.”
“Do you know first aid, Mr Knight?”
“Yes sir.” Knight's reply was hesitant and his gaze shifted uncomfortably.
“In fact, were you not a volunteer member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade for many years, even progressing to the level of instructor?” Knight mumbled his reply yet again, but after a swift glance up at the bench, he repeated the response at a higher volume without further prompting.
“Yes sir,”
“In that case Mr Knight, I find myself confused. You state that you placed your own life in considerable peril by bursting in on a scene where you had good reason to believe that a shooting had just taken place and where a gunman might still be lurking, just in case there might be a casualty who needed help, but when you did find just such a casualty, you turned and fled the scene without even checking to see whether the victim was still alive and not yet beyond aid. And you a fully qualified advanced first aider.” Knight failed to make any statement, and the lawyer turned to the jury. “Members of the jury, I beg you to consider well this strangely illogical behaviour of Mr Knight.” At this point the judge finally called the morning recess and the court rose.
When the court re-convened thirty minutes later, Wufei changed his line of questioning.
“Are you married, Mr Knight?” The prosecuting barrister shot to his feet.
“Objection, My Lord. The witness's marital status has no bearing on this case.” The judge sighed heavily.
“Prima facie, you would appear to be correct Mr Lychwood. Mr Chang…?” He turned to the Chinese lawyer.
“My Lord,” Wufei rejoined with some asperity, “If My Learned Friend would sit down and allow me to continue, he will soon see exactly what bearing this line of questioning has on the case.”
“Very well,” The judge said resignedly, “I'm going to allow you to continue but if this appears to go nowhere, I shall call a halt. I have indulged you thus far Mr Chang, but don't push me too far.” He turned to the witness. “Mr Knight, please answer the question.” Nigel Lynchwood sank back into his seat, his face as grey as a storm cloud.
“No, sir, I've never married.” Joe Knight said, responding to the earlier question.
“Do you have any children?” Wufei asked. Lynchwood shot up again.
“My Lord…” But the judge quelled him with an icy glare.
“Mr Lynchwood,” He said sepulchrally, “I believe I have already given a ruling on this point, now kindly sit down!” The chagrined lawyer gave a curt bow in the direction of the bench and resumed his seat with poorly-concealed ill-grace.
“Mr Knight...?” Wufei prompted.
“I told you, I've never married.” Joe Knight's cheeks flushed, and he squirmed uncomfortably.
“Come now Mr Knight, we are all men and women of the world here.” The Chinese lawyer gestured expansively. “We all know that the one does not necessarily mean the other. Do you have any children?” The old man's eyes strayed towards the public gallery, then he squared his shoulders.
“Yes sir, I have one son.” He declared proudly. “'e grew up with his mother and `er people, but `e's my son right enough, and I'm that proud of `im.”
“And what is your son's name?”
“'is name is James Shadwell.” There was an audible gasp of surprise from the dock, and all eyes turned towards the defendant. Duo Maxwell stared back, a look of utter disbelief on his handsome features.
“Ah, I see that at least my client has realised the significance of Mr Knight's startling revelation.” Wufei Chang said with considerable relish. “Now please tell the court what your son does for a living.” Joe Knight shot an apologetic look towards the public gallery, then answered.
“'e's Steward and Private Secretary to a landed gentleman sir.”
“And the name of that gentleman?”
“'is Excellency Treize Khushrenada.” An excited murmur hummed through the room as people began to realise that some thing significant was being revealed, although most were as yet unaware exactly what that something was.
“Are you aware that the block of flats that you and the defendant live in is part of the Khushrenada estate? That makes Treize Khushrenada your landlord.”
“Yes, I know that sir.”
“And did you know that Treize Khushrenada and Zechs Merquise were friends - very special friends? In fact, they were lovers - did you know that Mr Knight?”
“Yes sir, I knew that.” Wufei's momentum faltered. He was about to do something that his pupil master, the man who taught him everything he knew, would happily crucify him for even contemplating. He was about to ask a question to which he did not already know the answer. He closed his eyes, whispered a brief prayer, opened his eyes and spoke.
“Zechs Merquise was a known adventurer and was rather free with his favours. Did you know that he had had a brief affair with your son?” Joe Knight's eyes slipped closed, then opened again before he replied with quiet dignity.
“Yes sir, I knew that.” Wufei silently thanked the gods. He drew himself up, and uttered his next statement in a stern, stentorian voice.
“Mr Knight, I put it to you that the evidence you have given to this court has been nothing but a tissue of lies. You fed the court a story that was frankly ridiculous in its incredulity, about having heard the shots while watching television, then come upon the scene and seen Duo Maxwell running away.” Wufei's voice increased in both pitch and intensity.
“I put it to you that it was you who, having obtained a copy of the new key for Duo Maxwell's flat from your son, who of course had free access to it, entered Mr Maxwell's flat and removed the gun. The couple made no secret of its purchase, and your son was sure to have known of it. He could have passed the information on to you at any time, and also told you where to find it. You then waited for Mr Merquise in the hall - your son could have told you about the appointment - the deceased certainly discussed it with Treize Khushrenada, his closest friend. When Zechs Merquise left the flat, you cold-bloodedly shot him dead, in revenge for having used and then discarded your son. You then hid in stairwell vestibule and watched through the glazing of the door as Duo Maxwell came out of his flat, saw his lover dead, then ran back inside to raise the alarm.” The lawyer swung dramatically round to face the jury.
“That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is when he saw Duo Maxwell running away, not as he came up the stairs to investigate, as he would have you all believe.” He turned back to the witness, who was gaping wordlessly, and shaking his head in vehement denial. He was breathing deeply and seemed to be having trouble articulating.
“I can scarcely find the words to tell you how contemptible I find you, Mr Knight.” Wufei said, with cold asperity. “Not only have you killed a man in cold blood, you deliberately perjured yourself in order to pin the guilt for your cowardly crime on to an innocent man.”
“…no, n…no…” Joe Knight finally managed to stammer, but his attention was not on the lawyer, but instead his gaze was fixed upon the public gallery, where a young man had risen to his feet. “No Jim!” The old man cried, a hand extended imploringly towards the jury box. The whole court was transfixed by the drama that was unfolding, not even the judge was moved to call the proceedings to order.
“Leave him alone,” The young man cried, “Stop haranguing him. He didn`t do anything. It was me - I shot Zechs Merquise.” In the midst of the furore that this statement caused, Wufei Chang turned to the judge's bench.
“My lord, I move that this case be dismissed.”