i_moderate Prelimenary Hearing for Jack Napier
"Oh God! don't send me to th' chair! Don'tcha do it! I won't do it again, I promise! Okay, well. So that's not true.... I did it out of love! Love, don'tcha hear me!"
The sharp crack of the gavel got Jack quiet. The room was filled with a thick impatience.
"Mr. Napier. This is the hearing to decide when your case will go to court. There isn't even a jury here. Your lawyer isn't even present. I would advise you to sit still and just wait."
"Yes, your majesty." Jack grumbled and sank into his seat.
"It has been well advised that you don't get released on your own recognizance, and further advised that you shouldn't be left in anybody else's custody. So you will remain contained until the date of your trial."
Jack stood quickly again. "WHAT!"
Another banging from the judge. "Sit down Mr. Napier. You will remain a charge of the city until your trial. I have decided and I will hear nothing else about it."
Jack grumbled again and sat down heavily. This wasn't really going the way that good ol' Harv had said it would. Where was the sensationalism? Where was the crowd?
There was a long bout of silence and then the judge spoke again. "We will set your court date as June the 10th. It should give both sides plenty of time to gather their information and prepare. I will preside, and we shall get you a jury of your peers."
One bang of the gavel and it was settled.
"Please rise." The bailiff called as the judge himself stood and left the room.
From there, Jack was taken downstairs to a cell. It was one of only four. Generally people were kept at the jail, but this was a special case. Nobody wanted to risk what Jack might do in general population. He was handed a pillow and sheets for his little cot along with a roll of toilet paper, toothbrush and paste. He'd be there a little over a month.