Chapter 80: The Verdict

 The clock struck four in the evening. The tension in the air was so thick that the people barely moved from their seats. Journalists were on their seats adjusting their camera lenses every now and then confirming if their microphones were in good working conditions to get the best audio once the judges and jury walks out of their chambers.

It has been around two hours since the two groups excused themselves to go and deliberate on the case and make their judgements.

Magraff was allowed to seat next to his wife during this time and she cried uncontrollably throughout as he consoled her. Alpha was behind the Krovaçic brothers and every once in a while they exchanged a few words.

Maurice was infront of Loki and the mayor who seemed impressed by his expertise as a lawyer. They look contented by what had transpired in the court room.

Jason was still at the back of the room lost in his own thoughts. In his earpiece, he could hear Bennet and Peter talk to Hunters as they reached a motel room that they had booked for him. They didn't disclose Jason's true identity and they tried to have minimal conversation with him for Jason had told them that he would do the talking. From where he was, he saw Daniel talking to his actual lawyer as they awaited a verdict

The chamber doors flew open and the first to step out was the jury. All of them went and took their seats. Murmurs were heard inside the court room as it dawned upon everyone that the long awaited trial of the Serbian Slayer was soon going to be over and justice would be served. After around five minutes, the judges now stepped out one at a time looking at the crowd that was now growing impatient by the passing second

Last to walk out was the senior most judge. He walked to his seat and once he sat down he could see the looks on the faces of everyone in the room. They all awaited his word on how the rest of the hearing would proceed. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped it across his forehead twice to remove the cloud of sweat that was forming on his forehead ready to trickle down his face. He took in a deep breath and looked across the table to his other judges, then to the jury and finally to Bennet. It had all come down to this moment. All that was to be said by the defendant and plaintiff was said. It was now their turn to speak and do what was expected of them to do. He looked at the person who was chosen as the leader of the jury and gave her a nod signaling her to speak up before they presented their verdict to him

The lady stood up and walked up to the stand where there was a mic and stood there ready to deliver their message.

"Today has been quite a day, hectic, one might call it. But despite it being hectic, we all came here hoping to get something out of the day and go back home contented with the result. As a mother to three daughters, I can tell you that a day hasn't passed without me thinking about losing any of them to a demented psychopath. This thought has always haunted me from the moment that the Serbian Slayer went on a rampage. My fears became worse when the killings stopped in Europe as I wondered, where he could have gone to. The fear of the unknown is very dangerous, I'll tell you that for free. So, when I was told that I could get the opportunity to put that monster in his rightful place through the jury, I didn't even hesitate to take the opportunity. I walked into this courthouse knowing that we could be doing the world a favor by putting away the Serbian Slayer out of his misery.

But as I stand before you, I can say I'm not the same person that walked in. I had come here knowing full well in my heart that Magraff was the Slayer and no amount of persuasion would change that. I had listened to one side of the story of who he is being accused to be but as I listened to his side of the story through his own mouth and his lawyers, I can say that I might have been wrong to judge him just from what he was being portrayed as. Did he manage to convince me that he is not the Serbian Slayer? I can't really say since my answer is in this envelope " she said as she waved an envelope in the air for everyone to see it.

"I will not like to indulge deeper into the decision that has been made by the jury but I'd like to say a few words to Magraff before the decision is made.Mr Magraff, I can tell that you love your family and really loved your daughter. You seem like a good family guy to me but let's be realistic and acknowledge the fact that this could all be an act. So, act or not, I say this from the bottom of my heart. Whatever decision that will be made, may the Lord God, or whoever you believe in, be by your side. " She said as she delivered the envelope to the senior judge. She turned and walked to where Magraff was, with a forced smile on her face, shook his hand and went back to her seat.

Cameras flashed continuously as she was infront of him to the moment where she went and took her seat.

The judge didn't open the envelope just yet. It was his turn to deliver a last message before reading our the verdict for both sides. He stood up from his chair and looked around the room. Clearing his throat, he leaned slightly forward getting closer to the mic.

"A lot has been said about this case and the speculations have been going on for a while about what would happen in this hearing. All over social media, there have been hundreds of self anointed private investigators who have been throwing around theories about the Serbian Slayer. Some of them claiming that Magraff is indeed him while others claimed that he isn't. So I want to make this clear on national television to the millions of eyes across the globe that whatever you might have come across is irrelevant and right here, right here is the moment of truth. And I don't intend to keep you all waiting any longer so I shall get to it right away " he said as he stretched out his hand and picked up two envelopes infront of him and displayed them to the people infront of him and to the cameras that were facing him

"With me are the verdicts of both the jury and the judges who have presided over this case and have gone through the evidence presented to us. It is my hope that both the defendant and plaintiff are ready for this. I humbly ask Mr Magraff to please come to his stand as I deliver this ruling "

With one last kiss, Magraff left Belinda seated and walked up to his stand. Belinda who had gotten the chance to hold her husband for what could've possibly been the last time, was quiet. She had cried too much and her eyes were now swollen and red. She just watched as her husband walked to the stand and await their fate. She looked over to Alpha and the brothers and mothed a 'thank you'

She was glad that despite everything, someone was willing to stand by their side and help them navigate the storm that was upon them. As Magraff took his seat, the senior judge was opening both documents and was reading what was written on both.

Alpha was uneasy, for the moment of truth was upon him and his company. The Krovaçic brothers were eager to hear what had been ruled for this was their biggest case so far as they doubted if they would ever have another case of such proportions.

On the other hand, Loki, the mayor and the commander of Sin City were eager for the results for one thing had already screwed their day over, they didn't want another one doing the same. It was better for them to finally bury this problem and work on the other problem later. 

The whole world was in silence as they awaited for the judge to go on speaking. The halls were silent. News headliners were ready with their computers to be the first ones to bullet in the verdict ahead of everyone. Newspaper printing houses were also among the long list of people who were waiting for the first words to come of the judge's mouth.

After going through the contents of both envelopes, the judge looked infront of him shifting his look from the cameras, to the audience and the to Magraff. 

"Mr Magraff, as you stand before this court you are accused of fifty one accounts of murder, fifty one accounts of psychological assault, fifty one cases of rape and fifty one accounts of aggreviated assault. Apart from these,there are countless other unrecorded cases that cannot be used in a court since they don't have a direct connection to you.. From a psychiatrist's evaluation, all the murders were premeditated and executed by someone with a conscious mind. You underwent a mental assessment and were found to be of stable mind therefore if found guilty, you will be charged on all accounts. Do you understand the charges that you are faced with? "

" Yes" Magraff answered

" Splendid. The court has heard both sides of the divide and has gone through the tons of evidence that was presented to us without leaving a single stone unturned and it is with great honor that I deliver the ruling.

On all fifty one accounts that you are being charged with, both the jury and the judge's bench have come to unanimous decision.... " As he said this the whole place went silent. Things seemed to be moving in slow motion.

"YOU, HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ALL THE ACCOUNTS OF MURDER, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AGGREVIATED ASSAULT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSAULT!!! "

The verdict came in like a bombshell.