Chapter 79: A Man's Plea

 This went on for a while. Maurice built a strong case while the brothers did their best to defend their client since they knew that his life literally lied on their hands. If they lost this case, it was almost certain that Magraff would not even be considered for a jail term. His only way out of this if found guilty was by death. After a while, the court declared a ten minute break just to calm the nerves and for the people to take a breather.

Stakes were high as the judges together with the jury needed some time off to process the information and evidence that was presented in front of them. In such a case, any decisions that would be made would not be viable for an appeal. Their only way was to make sure that whatever they device, it should be final.

Alpha looked for Jason who was still in the courtroom standing at the back.

"You know you shouldn't be seen around me that much" Jason said as soon as Alpha approached him

"You shouldn't worry that much" Alpha responded as he came closer and stood by him

"Well in a short while people are going to wonder why the CEO of LA Associates is standing with a mere rookie instead of the two brothers who are carrying his whole company on their shoulders" Jason added on

" I'll get to them in a while, I just need to ask you two things" Alpha went on as he eyed Jason curiously 

"I'm listening"

"I heard that there might have been an attack on a prisoner's transport a few minutes ago,are you involved in it?"

" Even if I was involved in it, it doesn't inconvenience you or you company in any way "

" I'll just take that as a maybe"

" What's your second question? " Jason enquired

" Do you think that we'll win? " Alpha asked in a more serious tone looking deep into Jason's eyes as if he expected to dig out some answers from his soul. Jason looked back at him and maintained his steady breathing. He didn't flinch, neither did his lips shake like that of a man who was approached with reality. Unfazed, he looked at Alpha and said in what sounded cynical and composed.

"If you are asking whether the judges and jury will favour is on this, my answer would be no. For I have no power in influencing their decision. If you're asking me whether we will win because of the evidence that we gathered, my answer would be yes. I did justice to my name as the Ghost of Europe.

But I need you to also understand that a win is never guaranteed, but a loss is also a possibility in this realm. "

" Are you saying we are going to loose? "

" I didn't say that, but I said it was possible. Just to clarify some things, if we suffer a loss today, it would be the first ever off the record loss to me as the Ghost of Europe " Jason said blankly before he took in a deep breath and looked at Loki who was standing across the room talking to the mayor," but who is to say that such a loss is a loss? " He asked in a way that caught Alpha's attention

The question stirred up something inside Alpha. He wasn't sure what Jason meant but there was no way he was walking out of that conversation without getting to the bottom of it

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked

" I mean, what is a win and what is a loss? We could both have the same goal but the interpretation of these two words could be different according to our end game. They don't know that I'm the Ghost of Europe, so if Magraff gets sentenced it will never be known that I lost a case. We can still win the case, but what next? What happens after we fix a pothole in the middle of the road and ignore the bridge that's being eaten away with rot and decay. But what if they actually win? Did you ask yourself what they would try to do next and get away with it? " With every words that came from Jason's mouth, he didn't shift his gaze from Loki

"I need to know whether we're on the same side and have the same agenda" Alpha told him as he stood between Jason and Loki, blocking his view. Jason looked deep into his eyes and simple smiled,

"I believe it's about time you get to the brothers" Jason said before he walked away

Alpha could not help but get a weird feeling that Jason was always up to something and even though Jason knew how big this case was, Alpha knew that Jason would try as much as possible to make sure that however this case turns out, it would benefit him more

The break wasn't long and shortly after the court was back in session. This time things were more intense with the judges and jury seeming more involved in whatever was said in account to the case

After what seemed like an eternity, both sides were given their last chances to bring our their closing arguments so that the case could now enter the final stage which was for the judges and jury to head into the chambers and for each group to assess the case in terms of the arguments that were presented and the evidence that was brought forward and make a decision. If both sides made the same conclusion on this case, it wouldn't be viable for discussion. But if the sides concluded differently, they would both have to lay out their reasons and hold another discussion as one group to make a uniform decision.

"Mr Maurice, the floor is now yours and you can make your closing arguments on the case" one of the main judges said

" Thank you your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, your honours and to the globe at large that is hearing me speak now, I take this last few minutes of my time to prove to you why Magraff is unfit to be let back into the society for he is a menace that needs to be stopped before he goes on another rampage. "

Maurice went on and on about how Magraff wasn't innocent and how the evidence that was brought up was more than enough to prove that he was the Serbian Slayer and deserved that death sentence without a shadow of doubt. This went on for about ten minutes before he concluded by submitting his last summarized file of evidence to be used in making the ruling

After Maurice was done, all that was now left was for the Krovaçic brothers to work together on their closing argument and make sure that it counted big time

"Ladies and gentlemen, members of the jury, your honours, despite everything that you've been told about Magraff it is still in our best interest to prove that he is innocent and not the man that you have been coerced to believe that he is. Given to you are some critical documents that will help probe the innocent of our client dismantling every shred of evidence that has been brought forth inciting his involvement in the slayer's alter ego." Djokovic said this as his brother walked up to the stand where Magraff sat

Mikhail went on to show the jury and the crowd how Magraff was an able member of the society who had never had any run ins with any authorities and how he was invested in any activities that were beneficial to the community at large. Their argument wasn't as long as Maurice's but they added a twist to theirs

"We don't want to keep repeating what we have already said before but we would like for you to give us your ears for just a few short seconds to hear out the man who is desperately fighting for his life and hoping to walk from this unscarred. Let us hear from the defendant" Mikhail said as he turned to Magraff waiting for him to start speaking

Just as Magraff was about to open his mouth, Maurice was heard thinking out loud,

"Is this even allowed?" 

"We'll allow it" the attorney general cut in as all eyes went back to Magraff who was now the centre of attention

"Ladies and gentlemen, members of the jury, your honours and my beloved wife, I honestly don't know where to start. A few months ago if you were to ask me whether I could imagine myself in such a situation I would have said that that was absurd. Now as I think of it, I still can't imagine what I'm up against just because some people want to put an end to a nightmare in which they have never been in. I have lived in such a nightmare when I lost my daughter. It's an experience that I'd never wish for someone to go through, and if you have already gone through such an experience, I'm deeply sorry for that. As I stand here before you, I put my faith in the Krovaçic brothers and in the judicial system to prove my innocence in this case. I pray that no one should be put in such a situation like I have been put through.

In the event where justice doesn't see me fit as an innocent man, I'll accept my fate. I stand before you as a friend, a brother, a grieving father, and potentially late husband to my wife who has stood with me throughout this whole journey. I won't blame anyone for their inequities should they find me guilty despite the overwhelming evidence that proves my innocence." Magraff said as he took his seat when the last statement left his mouth. The whole courtroom was engulfed in dead silence apart from the sobs of Belinda who was now being overwhelmed by the reality that faced her.