i_moderate Witnesses, take the stand (OPEN)
With the opening statements out of the way, the judge took a deep breath and decided to proceed. He knew it wasn't going to go very well, already it had started going badly. Jack Napier was all too glad to be here, and the amount of people who had showed up were only making it worse.
Sensationalism at it's best.
"We will hear from the witnesses. One at a time, please, and no interruptions from the others in the room. Each lawyer will have their time with the witnesses. Please, let's just try to do this in an orderly way."
McRiley sat back in his chair, tired already. Wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Mr. Dent, your witness."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/15/2006 15:20:30
"I call to the stand Miss Maxine Gibbons."
From: i_assist Date: 06/15/2006 16:15:35
Had they discussed witness order? Suddenly Max couldn't remember, though she was sure it was probably in the list of things they'd gone over and she'd probably nodded and gulped when Mr. Dent told her she'd be going first.
Max got up and moved around Babs. The older woman mouthed 'good luck' as she walked by.
The walk up would have been fine, except she had to walk by Mr. Murdock and Jack. She just didn't look, continued her walk to the witness stand, and up the two steps into the little box. Her feet only barely touched the ground when she sat down in the chair.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god?"
"I do," Max said hand on the Bible.
"Thank you Miss. Gibbons, hats off in the courtroom please. Mr. Dent, you may proceed."
Max scowled and pulled off her hat.
From: i_jest Date: 06/15/2006 16:28:44
Jack sat up straighter. He'd known there'd be witnesses, but how could he have known they would have brought the wonderful pink girl to him!
Except...
Where was that pink?
He nearly stood in his chair. "MAXY! Oh! Maxybaby! There you are, darling. How lovely to see you again. I'm so sad to see that you don't have the pink hair anymore. It looked much better than this does. What were they doing? Trying to make you look like less of a freak? So you wouldn't have anything in common with meeeee? Bahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Jack fell back into his chair and continued to laugh.
Snicker. "Not pink." Snort.
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 16:11:59
Dent's left hand involuntarily curled into a fist as Jack's laughter filled the courtroom. He had to make an effort to unclench it as he prepared to approach the stand. It was always the left, he thought to himself. Sinister.
He was back to his placid self by the time he reached the podium.
"Miss Gibbons, please tell us a little about yourself. Your name, where you go to school ... what you'd like to do with your life?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 16:51:33
Max was simply trying to be placid. That wasn't helping her stop the shaking though, that had started when Jack's laughter picked up. She fingered her hair again, twirling a piece around her finger and trying to resist the urge to chew nervously.
When Mr. Dent adressed her she was still shaking, and it was quite an effort to remember the answers to such simple questions.
"Um... Maxine Louise Gibbons, but everyone calls me Max. I go to the Institute... I'm about to graduate. And, er, I'm gonna study computer science in college. I think."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 18:49:27
Harvey feigned some mild surprise for show. "Computer Science - that must be pretty difficult at times, mustn't it? Not really a curriculum many people could just coast through."
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 18:54:25
"I coast," Max said with a slight shrug. She'd sworn to tell the truth and that was it. She was smart and computers were one subject she innately understood. "It's not too hard. I take some of the classes now."
What this had to do with anything, she didn't know. She was blanking on the briefing again, just answering the questions blindly.
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 19:12:54
"So this comes easily to you. Would you consider your skill at writing and editing computer programs an indicator that you posess above-average intelligence?"
Harvey's eyes flitted briefly to the judge to see if the man understood what Harvey was doing. Establishing the character of this witness was important to his case for a couple of reasons - she had the most contact with Jack of any surviving victim, and other witnesses and experts may have already been paid off by the city to favor the defense in their testimony.
He had no evidence that there was any tampering with the justice system, of course, but something nagged at him. He suspected that this might not turn out to be the open-and-shut case most people claimed it would be, in spite of having two of the City's most trustworthy attorneys involved.
From: i_object Date: 06/19/2006 19:26:16 Matt stood a little from his chair, raising his hand. "Objection, your Honor. I think these questions need to be established better for the jury." He sat back down, balancing his cane against his chair arm.
Matt figured out what Dent was doing, but he wasn't so sure the jury was following along. But he definitely didn't like how Max was being questioned - especially with her pulse doing the cha-cha like that. The girl was scared. If she didn't know why Dent was asking these questions, then she wouldn't be able to give proper testimony.
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 19:31:08
Max made a face at the question when the question was first posed. It was one thing saying she was good with computers, it was another thing to just go bragging about how smart she was.
But then the objection, and she held a little hope.
...A little hope that was dashed when the judge spoke from above her. "Sustained. Mr. Dent please explain your reasoning to the jury before continuing with the questioning."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 19:41:08
"My apologies, your honor," Dent smiled humbly at the judge. "I'm merely establishing the character of the witness. I know that Miss Gibbons is a bright, trustworthy young woman because I've met her, but the jury has not. I'll get on with it, then."
He paused a moment, eyes down, and sighed. He turned to look at Max.
"Miss Gibbons, I'd like to ask you about your previous encounters with a Mister Jack Napier. I understand this may be difficult for you, but I believe your testimony as a witness may be the most important to this case. Could you describe for the court your first encounter with the accused?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 19:57:38
Oh, joy. The part she'd most been looking forward to. The part that was bound to make her shake even more. But not cry. She was determined not to do that at any point during this trial.
Max swung her feet back and forth underneath her chair and she looked to the side of the courtroom that Jack wasn't sitting on. She felt remarkably small.
"I was walking home from the hotel down by the park, because I'd been visiting Jesse, my boyfriend. I was going back up to Wayne Manor on the hill and I got to around Second and Parker, that intersection over there, and that's where I saw Jack sitting on a dumpster.
"He jumped down, sort of wanted to talk to me but only about my hair and he didn't want to let me go by. So I tried to get around him, and then he grabbed me and dragged me into one of the alleys, and um... yeah. Talked a lot about my hair, and said that I was gonna make the perfect present for one of his friends, Delly."
Deep breath here, as she reminded herself very sternly to stare away from Jack. And from that man with the weird hat. She suspected, though it disturbed her even more, that he was the man from the mall.
They were probably both enjoying watching her squirm. And not in the way Jesse usually did. "He was talking about tying me up, and about... scarification." Max shuddered involuntarily. "I said no, and then he decided we were going to play a game where I found another present for Delly, but everytime I made a suggestion he didn't like he was gonna smash my head into the brick wall. Erm... I don't really remember a lot after that except for that we played his game and I almost ended up dying. I don't even remember what I suggested to him."
Max glanced back over at Mr. Dent nervously, her hand moving up to her hair. She brushed it away from the right side of her face. "Those're some of the scars."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 20:10:40
Harvey looked at the scars himself and shook his head a bit in sympathy.
"Did Mr. Napier appear to be in his right mind? I mean, did he exhibit any behavior that would suggest he didn't have complete control over what he was doing? Talking to people who weren't there, referring to you as a different person, signs of drug use?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 20:17:02
"No, not really. He just called me Pink and Maxine. He kinda really liked my name," she stuck in. How much of a help that would be, she had no clue. "I thought he knew what he was doing, all control like and everything... it's the kind of thing he always does."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 20:18:42
"Would you describe any other encounters you have had with this man?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 20:25:56
"There was just one other one. Um... Jesse and I met him one day when we were walking over to his apartment. He tried to grab me again, but Jesse um..." Max paused, trying to think of a not too incriminating way to say this. There really wasn't a great one.
"Jesse sort of beat him up for me, and then we left. But it was totally self defense." She knew that was a lawyer term, and possibly the right one. "It was. If he hadn't, I'd be with Jack right now."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 20:45:56
The left corner of Harvey's mouth curled in a half-smile when he heard of Jack's defeat, but covered it with his hand.
"And yet, even after being beaten by Jesse, even after being locked away in Arkham, even in the *middle of his own court hearing*," Harvey here pointed accusingly at Jack, "he continues to mock our society by taunting you, me, even his own counsel, and wasting the juror's time with violent outbursts. Tell me, Max ... can you forsee any way this man could become a productive member of society? One who will never again hurt another person such as yourself?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 20:50:28
Max shook her head, giving her honest opinion. "No. I don't really. He's never reformed or anything. He goes to jail, breaks out, attacks more people." It was the same worry she'd been expressing to Babs and Jesse. Jack would break out and try to kill her for saying something like that.
From: i_jest Date: 06/19/2006 21:06:30
"HAHAHAHAHA." Jack was laughing so hard he was near tears. "You're so serious, Maxiepants! Lighten up! You know all I want to do is play!"
He planted his elbow on the table and his chin in his hands.
"It was fish, by the way, Max. Fish. Your suggestion was fish."
From: i_prosecute Date: 06/19/2006 21:17:55
Harvey turned once more to Jack, mouth open in preparation for a furious retort, but he stopped himself. Seething, he returned to his table, saying "Prosecution rests."
From: i_moderate Date: 06/19/2006 21:21:41
The judge pounded for silence.
"ENOUGH!" He roared at Jack. He watched the wirey little bastard quiet, but not calm down.
"Defense, your witness."
Judge McRiley was extremely agitated, and it wasn't going to get any better.
From: i_object Date: 06/19/2006 21:29:46
Matt took a deep breath before standing. He was just short of slugging his client. However, he contained his frustration and emitted a calm demeanor. There was no sense making Max more nervous than she already was. Stepping forward, in front of the table, his cane extended, he faced Max on the bench after nodding to the judge.
"Thank you, your Honor. Miss Gibbons, could you please state for the court the time frame for Mr. Napier's attacks on you? How long ago did this occur?"
rom: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 21:35:34
Her heart had defintely jumped a few beats at Jack's last outburst. It didn't matter how sing-songy he sounded, it was still threatening and she was still scared.
It was nice to be able to concentrate on Mr. Murdock now, instead of Mr. Dent.
"February," Max said immediately. That much she remembered. If not exact dates. "The first week of February. I missed a bunch of school leading into March."
From: i_object Date: 06/19/2006 21:50:03
"So that would place this attack prior to the Arkham incident. Correct?" He'd just wanted to clear that up. Make sure everyone was on the same page. Matt took a few steps closer towards the witness stand to close the gap between himself and the witness. It was less impersonal, especially when working with a younger witness.
"Now, you will have to help me out on this, Miss Gibbons. I was not aware of any unique qualities, but you mentioned Mr. Napier emphasized your hair during the altercation. Can you please clarify why so much emphasis was placed on it?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/19/2006 22:01:34
"Yeah, that's right," Max nodded. Jack had spread the crazy out over a few months.
"Unique...? Oh, right. Yeah." She stumbled just a little over the last question for little reason other than nervousness. "Um, usually my hair's pink, not brown. This's my natural color. But, Jack really liked the pink. I'm not really sure why though. It could just be because his hair's naturaly green. I d'know. He just likes weird, er... unnatural, things."
From: i_object Date: 06/19/2006 22:16:02
That was an interesting revelation. It probably would have helped Matt out some to know a little more about his client and witnesses before the trial. But the case had come up so quickly, he had overlooked it. He was asking this not only for his own sake, but also the jury's. Some of the questions might seem redundant.
"Did you recolor your hair recently?" Matt was assuming, by what Max had said, that her hair wasn't pink any more. "Would you say it's a trend for most teenagers these days to color their hair in various shades other than natural colors?"
From: i_assist Date: 06/20/2006 10:23:40
"Mr. Dent and Miss. Pezzini suggested I go back to my natural color for the trial, so I did. I'll dye it back when this is over." As soon as the verdict was read, she'd decided.
"I haven't seen a lot of other kids here with really unnatural colors like this, and back home people used to think I was a member of the Jo-- of a local gang." The Jokerz were the last thing she wanted to bring up in front of Jack. He'd have a feild day with it.
Max looked back at Mr. Murdock. "I just do it 'cause I like it pink. No other reason."
From: i_object Date: 06/20/2006 11:16:52
Matt nodded.
Moving on to the next question... "You mentioned Mr. Napier referring to someone named 'Delly' during his attack. Could you identify this 'Delly' if you had to? Was that party present during the attack?"
Matt had a sneaking suspicion he knew who 'Delly' was. Delirium had been in the list of his own witnesses, but he doubted she was in the courtroom yet. Jack would have surely made a fuss.
From: i_assist Date: 06/20/2006 14:18:27
Max had no real idea what Delly looked like. Babs had described her vaguely when she'd explained to her what had happened with Jake, but that was it. Something about fish and butterflies had come up in the description. Max had just given Babs a weird look after that.
She shook her head. "We've never met. I just know her sister, sort of. Delly wasn't there either time I saw Jack."
From: i_object Date: 06/20/2006 15:03:16
Time to wrap things up. There were a few other questions Matt had in mind, but they wouldn't help his client (not that the goal of all this was to help Jack.) Besides, Matt had to do all of this from memory, without pre-written notes.
"The prosecution asked you if you thought Mr. Napier was a productive member of society, to which you answered 'No'. How many clinically insane people do you encounter in your everyday activities, Miss Gibbons?" He paused until she finished her answer. "You are only a high school student, correct? Not being a psychologist, do you believe that you could accurately deem when Mr. Napier is in periods of mental coherence and when he is not?"
Matt hated appearing like the bad guy, asking questions that poked holes in the direct examination, but he had to show the jury that Max wasn't an expert witness to answer a question like the last one Dent asked. Her testimony on whether Jack was a productive member of society wasn't very viable, even if Matt agreed with her answer.
From: i_assist Date: 06/20/2006 16:44:46
If there was one thing Max knew, it was insane people. But, no, she wasn't a doctor or any sort of expert. It was just her so-called after school activities that have her the knowledge Matt was asking her about. But she couldn't very well give that away.
So she simply shook her head, frowning. She didn't like bragging about her smarts, but she wasn't too fond of playing dumb either. "No... um, probably not. I'm just saying I think he's pretty much past help. But, no, 'm not a psychologist."
From: i_object Date: 06/20/2006 18:57:54
"Thank you, Miss Gibbons. No further questioning, Your Honor."
Turning back to towards the table, Matt counted the five steps back to the corner, his cane ahead of him. Then, running his hand along the edge of the table top, followed it around to his chair. As long as Jack hadn't done anything to it...like moved it out of the way and put a woopie cushion on the seat...
From: i_moderate Date: 06/20/2006 19:33:12
"Thank you." The judge looked at both lawyers, loathe to call up another witness, loathe to continue this. He sighed.
"Call your next witness, Mr. Dent."
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 19:48:38
"Excuse me, your highness." Jack said, standing and stepping around the table they'd had him sitting at. He straightened his clothes and tried to pretend to be dignified.
"I would like to speak on my own behalf. It seems clear to me that Matty here isn't going to let me have a word. So much for calling the accused to the stand to testfy, eh?"
He strutted forward, eyeing the judge.
From: i_moderate Date: 06/20/2006 19:53:22
He really did not get paid enough for this. McRiely sighed, resisting rubbing the bridge of his nose. He was almost tempted to call a recess, just to avoid having to put up with this nonsense.
"Fine... fine." Finally he pointed to the witnesses chair. "What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Napier?"
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 19:55:45
Jack turned and lifted his brows at his lawyer. Take that, Mr. SmartyMclawyerpants!
With a saunter, he moved to the witness stand and sat himself down. Automatically he raised his right hand.
"I swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, on penalty of restrained and beaten with a jump rope by the Judge."
From: i_object Date: 06/20/2006 20:06:57
This could probably be considered the lowest point in Matt Murdock's career as a lawyer.
Frustrated and exhausted from having to wrangle this maniac, Matt sat back in his chair with a heavy sigh. He pulled his glasses off his face (something he never usually did in public) and placed his index finger against his temple, propping his elbow on the arm of the chair. They'd only gotten one witness in and now the courtroom was a three-ring circus again.
If the idiot wanted to get himself in deeper, more power to him.
From: i_moderate Date: 06/20/2006 20:11:42
McRiely motioned for the balif to step back from Jack after he'd taken that very peculiar oath. When it became apparent that the defendant's lawyer really did not want to encourage this by actually asking him questions, he simply gestured at Jack and then nearly held his breath, expecting the worst.
"You may proceed, with the reminder that the jury will take anything you say here under consideration unless I specifically tell them to strike it from the record."
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 20:17:06
"But of course." Jack faced the jury to talk to them specifically. "You see. All I was doing was having a little fun. I think everybody should have a little fun. And I saw Maxine and I thought 'hey, there's a girl who really knows how to have fun!' So I decided I'd try to talk to her. But she was a very rude girl and didn't feel much like talking."
Jacks face changed a little. From happy to troubled. "I believe she called me names. I think she may have started making fun of me. I... I can't quite remember. She was so cruel. I was just trying to ask her what I should get my dearest friend Delly as a gift, and ... and she was so horrible, your majesty! I have very nearly completely blocked the entire encounter out of my mind because it was so hurtful."
He pulled out a pink and purple striped handkercheif and dabbed at his eyes with it.
"And then when I sent my helper, Sally," Jack waved the square of cloth at his friend, "To try and reconsile, she rebuffed him. She was so horrible to him too. I just told him to tell her that I wanted a hug. To make up. I don't like fighting with my friends."
From: i_assist Date: 06/20/2006 20:32:34
"That's not true!"
It wasn't until much of the courtroom and the jury were staring at her, that Max realised she'd said that outloud, with great vigor, and that she was standing up, brushing hair out of her eyes angrily.
"It's not true. I didn't do anything. He grabbed me and he was on me and he was trying to--" Max was cut off mid sentence when Babs grabbed her arm and pulled her back down into her seat.
She turned to Babs, nearly glaring at the woman. "Do you hear him? He--"
"Max... Maxine. You can't do that, alright? We know, anyone who's listened to anything said here knows, that Jack's lying. Just," Babs put a hand on the back of Max's hair comfortingly. "Calm down, alright? We all hate it, but you have to calm down."
Perhaps it was because the words were coming from Babs, who'd had to deal with more crap from Jack than any of them, that Max took a breath and stopped. She sat back in her seat with a huff, but at least it was a quiet huff.
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 20:34:47
Jack looked at the judge. "Do you see how very mean she is, sir? Do you see? It was an outburst just like that that caused this whole thing."
He dabbed at his eyes again.
"And that Barbra Gordon, she's no better. She's a horrible flirt and a tease. She promises things but never follows through with them. I had to end our friendship because I couldn't take how much pain she caused."
From: i_assist Date: 06/20/2006 20:48:03
McRiely didn't respond to Jack's question and Max just fumed.
Oh, this was ridiculous. Was she expected to keep her mouth shut through all of this? Max looked from Babs to Bruce and then Back at Jesse before turning around and crossing her arms. All she wanted was for one of them to get up and shout something, then she could.
Babs' hands were clenched, but that was the only reaction she was going to get. The woman was well schooled in keeping her emotions in, especially in situations like this.
She looked up at Jack, staring straight at him for the first time during the trial. If Max'd been one for cursing, a giant "fuck you" would have been in order, but her look said it all.
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 20:51:35
"She's unstable, sir. She provoked me into the altercation and then started telling everybody that it was my fault. That I had just done it because I wanted to."
Jack shook his head.
"Heartless." He sobbed. "They're all so cruel! All of them! The whole lot of them! They all think they're so high and mighty just because they live with Bruce Wayne or have some association with him! I know who Bruce Wayne really is! I know the things he does!"
From: i_seeall Date: 06/20/2006 20:59:29
"Damnit." Babs on the other hand, had no problem with cursing. She tried not to as Oracle, but here, as a slight mix of the two, she couldn't help it.
Her hand clenched down, fingers squeezing into her leg as she watched Jack.
"Mr. Napier, you're going to have to stay on topics that are actually in relation to the trial. Miss. Gibbons and Miss. Gordon's place of residence are not in question here. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?"
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 21:03:42
"Okay." Jack hid his face from the judge by pretending to wipe away tears and gave an extra evil grin.
I know who you all are. He mouthed at her.
"The only thing I have to add, sir, is that the entire Arkham thing got way out of control. One moment I'm just trying to take over, and the next thing I know, I've set a whole stack of bodies on fire. I have no idea where that came from. And I mean, really. That had to smell really bad."
From: i_moderate Date: 06/20/2006 21:14:52
Something was going one between Jack and the Gordon woman, a dynamic McRiely wasn't aware of. But Jack was very obviously trying to tell her something. He just couldn't tell what.
"So, you do admit to trying to take over Arkham Asylum, then?" He asked instead, focusing on that helpful tidbit.
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 21:22:05
"Pft. Of course I do. That place is mine." Jack's eyes rolled to the judge.
"Can't hurt me any more to admit to that, can it? I already told the Officer McHotpants over there that I did it. I even offered to let her hit me over the head if she liked, but she refused."
He shrugged a little.
Then waved his arms madly around and pulled at his hair. "oooOooOoOOOooh! I'm a crazy man!"
From: i_moderate Date: 06/20/2006 21:36:58
That was it.
"Mr. Napier." The gavel rang down. "Unless you have anything else of value to add to these proceedings I'm going to ask you to step down."
From: i_jest Date: 06/20/2006 21:37:56
"Fine, fine."
Jack stood up and took a bow. He bowed to the jury and then the judge and then the room.
And then went back to his seat and patted Matt sharply on the back.
From: i_object Date: 06/20/2006 21:46:47
Matt jumped in his seat when he felt the pat on his back. Angrily, he shoved his sunglasses back on.
"Are you done?" he quietly asked his client, a Daredevil tone slipping into his voice.
He wasn't worried about hiding frustration now. From the sound of it, half the courtroom was about to go into cardiac arrest from high blood pressure.
From: i_moderate Date: 06/23/2006 09:37:04
Miriam the stenographer passed the balif a packet of advil, which the baliff in turn handed up to McRiley.
One was only supposed to take a single of the little pink pills, but he took them both. And followed with a large swig of water. "Mr. Murdock, I believe we're on to you. Witness please, before anyone else gets any ideas."
From: i_object Date: 06/23/2006 09:56:57
Matt cleared his throat and stood up again. "The defense would like to call Doctor Stephen Strange to the stand."
If this was the same Strange he knew, then they could all be in for a few more surprises...
From: i_estrange Date: 06/23/2006 10:05:06
Dr. Strange, protector of dimensional realms and such that he was, hadn't actually been physically present at the trial, but he'd carefully watched every moment since it began. Deep within the refuge of his Sanctum Sanctorum, that is, and through the viewing portal of a crystal ball. Yes, he knew it was a cliche sorceror thing for him to do, but it was also the most convenient method of keeping an eye on events in other locations.
When he was called to the stand, however, which was much earlier than he had presumed, he was required to make a more formidable presence. There was a moment of silence in the court room where a number of watchers were glancing about awaiting for the new witness to arrive, when a foggy purple haze began to cloud over the witness chair.
After the smoke had passed, Dr. Strange could be seen sitting in the seat in astral form. It was a presence he was most comfortable with. He looked to the judge and nodded.
"Good Afternoon. I apologize for my tardiness."
Because a few seconds could be a lifetime for some superheroes.
From: i_object Date: 06/23/2006 10:11:48
For a minute, Matt couldn't find Strange anywhere in the room. But from the gasps that rustled through the audience, he had an idea of what was going on.
Matt hated it when the Strange he knew did this. There was no locating the guy by heartbeat, or voice for that matter. The astral form did something to the sound waves and it all sounded like one big echo to Matt. It was very disorienting. At least Matt knew he could direct his questions towards the witness stand. He was positive on the location of that.
But if this didn't help the "crazy" plea, then nothing would...
He waited until the Doctor was sworn in before he began his direct examination.
"Dr. Strange, could you please state for the Court your area of study and expertise?"
From: i_estrange Date: 06/23/2006 10:18:45
Dr. Strange was a professional in every aspect of his life. When he sat at the witness stand, albeit not exactly present, his posture was straight and official. And provided you believed in all of the crazy mystical aspects of his existence, his word was hard not to believe.
He cleared his throat.
"My name is Dr. Stephen Strange. I currently operate as the universe's Sorceror Supreme, acting as the Guardian of the Gates between all worlds and dimensions, both light and dark. I have a medical degree specializing in surgery, both intensive and cosmetic, but I am retired. I am also an authority on the supernatural and the occult."
All in all, very strange. But he made it sound so natural.
From: i_object Date: 06/23/2006 10:30:28
Sarcastically, Matt was sure the jury was following all that. Those poor people...they might need shrinks themselves when this case was all over.
"Doctor, I have in my notes that you were given the opportunity to examine my client. What was your first impression upon examining him?"
From: i_estrange Date: 06/23/2006 10:44:42
"For the record, I would first like to express to the jury that I am not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, and that I was both confused and perturbed that the City chose me for the role of examining the defendent's mental capacities."
That was something he learned in medical school. The consequences of one's actions were always existent. It was best to be wary, so as to avoid more lawsuits.
"Because of this, my examinations were limited by both my own medical knowledge and the mystical capabilities allotted to me. I first conducted a verbal examination, wherein I spoke with Mr. Napier myself and had him fill out one of the basic psychological bubble tests. Where certain answers correspond with certain aspects of the brain and an individual's response to the outside world."
Strange waved his hands and a three dimensional image of Jack's skull, top cut off to expose the brain, each area marked for exhibit, appeared before the court.
"Mr. Napier, albeit scoring rather high on intelligence ratios, showed to be rather sporadic in his answers in both the sociological and psychological functioning areas. Leading me to believe either he is very adept at cheating the test, or he honestly is, for lack of a better phrase, insane."
Was he getting off topic? He tended to do that. He took a deep breath and turned the holographic image of Jack's brain so that certain areas lit up.
"There also seems to be some peculiar disconnection in his neurosynapses, possibly due to an extremely traumatic period of stress or torment early in his life."
From: i_object Date: 06/23/2006 10:53:31
Matt appreciated the explanation. He had no idea Strange had even produced a holographic image. He pressed on with the questions.
"Doctor, can you establish, following this examination, whether Mr. Napier follows patterns of regular insanity? That is to say, is it constant? Or does it come and go?"
From: i_estrange Date: 06/23/2006 11:01:11
Strange had to pause for a moment to consider this query.
"Insanity, in itself, is a very difficult state of mind to be constantly within. Most people who fall into that category are unable to accomplish basic mental and physical tasks because of their dilemma. Mr. Napier can still dress himself, brush his teeth, and probably drive a car. Still, as a whole, I would say that yes, Mr. Napier does follow some of the patterns of individuals with acute mental deficiencies, but he does have moments of lucidity which lead me to believe that he is capable of having sporadic moments outside of his so-called insanity."
He took a breath and paused again.
"That considered, whether or not he is insane according to the aspects of the reasoning he is on trial is for all of you to decide. There is no doubt in my mind that he has experienced some very tragic break in psychosis over the years, but as for being certifiable? I cannot say."
From: i_object Date: 06/23/2006 11:24:38
"One moment, sir." Matt paused in his questioning. Turning to the defense table, he pulled one of his books of notes towards him. The books were laid out in a specific order so he could find them quickly.
He was really stalling for time, trying to figure out what to ask next. Strange's answers, in a way, were helping his case. Yet, on the other hand, they weren't. Matt wasn't getting excited too quickly.
Running his finger over the braille, Matt leaned his cane against the table with his free hand and picked up the spiral-bound book. He turned back to face the witness stand.
"When you examined Mr. Napier, Dr. Strange, were you given any lists of medications he was on? Did you uncover any evidence of drug abuse or even illegal drugs?" Matt was countering one of Dent's questions to Max. If the jury was following along, they might still have that question in their mind and he needed Strange to (hopefully) clear it up.
From: i_estrange Date: 06/23/2006 22:11:43
Again, another pause. Strange did his best not to focus on anyone else in the room. Only on Matt. That wasn't too difficult. His astral form allowed for such narrow distinctions if necessary. He just didn't want to have his answer biased by something he might see. Instead, he tried to focus so he could remember.
And then there was separating personal opinion from fact. Did he think Jack was insane? No. He thought he was psychotic. Viciously psychotic. Did he need to be locked up? No, he probably needed to be trapped in a dimension with the Hairy Horqs of Hargoth.
"I was unaware of any type of prescribed medication that Mr. Napier may have been on. And, as for illegal substance abuse, I also have no knowledge. Nor would I presume to guess what he may or may not have been on, were that the case. Like I said, that's not my area of expertise, and this entire ordeal left me with little preparation."
From: i_object Date: 06/24/2006 06:19:42
Perhaps Strange had been a poor choice of witness. Normally, each side chose their witnesses. Strange hadn't been on Matt's list (and little did Matt know that Dr. Strange was even in the City until the witness list appeared on his desk.) While Matt knew he was doing his best, Strange simply wasn't very much help. He was the wrong kind of doctor, for either side of the gauntlet.
With a sigh, Matt closed the heavy braille notebook in his hand. "Thank you for your time, Dr. Strange. Your Honor, no further questioning."
From: i_estrange Date: 06/24/2006 06:36:24
Dr. Strange nodded. He didn't need to hear Matt's sigh in order to know that there was a severe disappointment. Still, there was nothing he could do about it. Truth of the matter was, if he wanted, he could have probably settled this entire trial under a mystical council and it would have been done in a matter of minutes. But there were responsibilities that came with powers, and in matters of law, things were best left as they were.
Unless of course the fate of the universe was involved.
He moved as though to stand, and then paused. His attention went to the judge.
"I know it may be irregular, but I did have a previous encounter with Mr. Napier before this trial that might prove to be essential to the case."
When no one moved to stop him from speaking, he continued.
"The first time I met Mr. Napier he was completely obsessed with the idea of changing his face. Almost to the point of distress and tears. He would frequently plead to me to reconstruct his features so that he wouldn't look the way he does. I explained to him the dangers of me performing such a surgery after my accident, but his desperation was very strong. In my history of cosmetic surgery, the majority of people who demand an obvious physical change with their body is due to a certain mental inability to deal with their selves and the world in which they exist. They think that changing their appearance might change who they are."
Was that insane? Well, he would never let anyone take a knife to his face, even if it was horribly disfigured.
"Should I be needed for anymore questioning, just call."
A cloud of purple swirled around the witness seat and in a sparkling blink he was gone.
From: i_moderate Date: 06/24/2006 16:50:11
"Thank you, Mr--" McRiley did not get the words out before Strange disappeared in swirls of purple smoke.
Certainly, he had been one of the more interesting witnesses this judge had seen in all his years on the bench. Vanishing in clouds and sparkles was a new one. But then, this was a most unusual trial to begin with.
Glancing once more at the now empty witness stand, McRiley shook his head and then turned back to the two opposing attornies. By his notes, that had been the last person meant to be called to the stand.
"Gentlemen? Closing Statements? Mr. Murdock, if you will."
From: i_object Date: 06/24/2006 17:40:52
It's almost over...it's almost over... Matt kept telling himself. He was exhausted - more exhausted that most trials he took part in. Usually they were somewhat invigorating. Sometimes they were a rush of adrenaline - which usually meant he'd be in red leather by night. This one was not only physically exhausting, but emotionally as well.
Pausing to take a drink of water, Matt took the floor once again.
"I hope the testimonies and, uh...events of today will help you all to reach an appropriate decision concerning Mr. Napier. Whether he should receive punishment or further treatment in a high security location - that is up to you. Between outbursts and inappropriate behavior, Mr. Napier has clearly demonstrated that he is not of sound mind.
"The prosecution's aim to show that he was of sound mind during the course of the crime Mr. Napier committed was possibly supported through the testimony of Dr. Strange. A criminal mind, however, is a sick mind. Mens rea is needed in any criminal case. This is certainly a criminal case - without question. People's lives were lost at the hands of this man and he has harmed many others in the past." Matt paused briefly, turning his ear in the direction of Max and Ms. Gordon. "Mr. Napier's behavior, as demonstrated today, is irregluar and, while not hindering him from preforming daily tasks, it does ostracize him from society. Yet murder and crimes against humanity should ostracize a person as well because they are a harm to the community.
"I ask you all to recall my opening statement. Remember that justice is blind. But it does listen to everything to form an unbiased and unadulterated opinon. Thank you."
Matt had half a mind to walk straight out of the courtroom, but he didn't. Pulling out his chair, back at the defense table, he sat down hard. He was in a foul mood now. Nothing would make him happier than to go home.