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Equus	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2855 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I do own the equines though, please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

Chapter List
- 67
- 68
- 69
“Equus”

Chapter 68

Stefan stood in mute shock as the sentence was handed down. When he was told he would have to pay restitution to Yuy as well, he almost choked. His heart plummeted in his chest before the anger began to set in. Bremner kept a close eye on his client whilst the judge passed his sentence and noted the signs of anger beginning to flare. When the judge announced that the case was closed, He quickly grabbed hold of Stefan's arm and pulled the man to his seat.

“Sit still and shut up unless you want further charges against you,” he hissed.

The anger still burned but Stefan managed to put a hold on it for now. “This isn't fair,” he muttered back, “I didn't intend to start that fire.”

“I know and there are avenues open to us. I plan on putting in an appeal,” Bremner replied. He failed to add that he thought the appeal would be a lost cause though given all the evidence; but if it managed to keep his client quiet, then it was all good in his book.

“Now what?” Stefan growled under his breath.

“The judge will probably order a short recess before moving onto the next charges.”

“Christ, I'm in a fucking nightmare,” Stefan moaned.

“Maybe you should have thought about that before you decided to break into Yuy's stables,” Bremner snapped. “Look, what's done is done and we can't change that. All I can do is try to defend you as best I can.”

Stefan wasn't at all happy with the way the tide had turned, but at the end of it all, he only had himself to blame. The banging of the judge's gavel drew him from his thoughts.

“This court will recess for fifteen minutes before reconvening for the charges the R.S.P.C.A. has laid to be heard and the new jury to be sworn in.”

“All rise.”

Harris left the court room, the jury following a moment later.

Despite wanting to celebrate their victory, both Heero and Duo were content to wait. They still had Quatre's charges and the rape re-trial to go. Once they were complete, then they would celebrate – hopefully.

Morris, Anderson and the two police officers rose from their seats and approached the pair. Congratulations were exchanged, both Heero and Duo unable to thank the detective and DA enough for what they had done. Both men waved off the thanks, saying it was all part of the job and their thanks was in being able to see justice served. The DA went on to explain that since Harris had ordered Stefan to pay all costs that there would be no charge to him for the case. In regards to the reimbursement to Heero for all costs relating to the fire, he advised Heero to contact his insurance company and let them know of the trial outcome. He told Heero to pass on the contact number of his office to the insurers and he would take it from there on Heero's behalf.

With his side of the case completed, Anderson took his leave, wishing both men all the best. Morris, Williams and Henry surrendered the desk to Quatre and Mr. Inverness, opting to join Heero and Duo in sitting just behind whilst the case was heard. There wasn't any point in them leaving as they still had the re-trial to go and no one knew for certain how long the cruelty case would go on for. It could take the rest of the day and still go into the 'morrow; on the other hand it could all be cut and dried and over in the matter of an hour. It all depended on Stefan's plea, the evidence presented and the time the jury would take to come to their decision.

Henry departed on a coffee run, returning with a couple of minutes to spare, balancing several paper cups in a holder between his hands with a scrunched paper bag dangling from fingers beneath. The coffees were handed around, Heero and Duo also receiving one each much to their appreciation. The paper bag was opened to reveal several cinnamon donuts which were also handed around. Duo snickered when he got his and explained when questioned that it seemed just like in the movies – police always appeared to enjoy coffee and donuts.

“All rise.”

Judge Harris returned and took his seat, leaving the scene now set for Quatre to go ahead with his cases.

“This court is now in session. Bailiff?”

The bailiff stepped forward with a piece of paper in his hand that Inverness had passed over to him during the recess. “Your honor. Case #7230 The R.S.P.C.A. versus Mr. Stefan Graves. The charges are: Two counts of Aggravated Cruelty.”

Heero and Duo both glanced across at Stefan and his lawyer, noting the look of shock on Stefan's face and his lawyer's eyebrows shoot into his hair line. Clearly they hadn't anticipated there being two charges.

“How does the defendant plead?”

There was a moment of furious whispering between the pair before Bremner stood up. “Your honor, could I please have both charges clarified?”

Harris looked across to Quatre and Inverness.

Inverness stood up and cleared his throat. “One account of Aggravated Cruelty in relation to setting a fire intending to cause serious harm and/or death to eight horses. The second account of Aggravated Cruelty in relation to the attempted poisoning to cause illness and/or death of one horse.” Inverness sat back down.

“How does the defendant plead?” Harris asked again.

Having briefly conferred with Stefan again on the charges, Bremner turned his attention to the judge. “My client pleads guilty to both charges, your honor.”

There was what could only be described as a stunned silence in the room. No one had believed for one moment that Stefan would give in so easily and plead guilty. Duo particularly felt a touch let down; he'd been all ready to go up there on the witness stand and testify in the capacity of 'expert' in regards to Pattersons Curse and the effects it had on the equine body. Seemed he wasn't going to get that chance now. On another note though, Duo was also relieved.

Equally as stunned, Heero took a more logical thought process. Given that Stefan had already been found guilty of Arson and had admitted to entering his property with the intent to poison Shini, there wasn't much he could claim in the way of defense.

Both Inverness and Quatre were similarly relieved that they wouldn't have to go through the whole trial thing and yet annoyed that they wouldn't get the opportunity to 'grill' the defendant either. There were still a couple of matters that would need to be cleared up though.

“Your client pleads guilty?” Harris asked in confirmation.

“Yes, your honor.”

“The plea of guilty is duly noted.” Harris turned to the bailiff. “You may let the people selected to be the jury know that they will not be needed on this case, thank you.” The bailiff nodded and disappeared into an anti chamber for a moment.

“Mr. Inverness? Please approach the bench,” Harris requested and Inverness complied. They shared a few words, Inverness nodding from time to time and pointing out a couple of things on the paperwork he had with him. Once the judge seemed satisfied Inverness returned to his seat alongside Quatre. The bailiff returned and Harris spoke briefly with him before turning his attention back to the court room. He glanced to Bremner first, then to Quatre.

The gavel hit the wood softly, Harris cleared his throat. Bremner stood up, pulling Stefan to his feet beside him. Inverness and Quatre also stood and waited patiently for the judge to speak.

“In the cases of Aggravated Cruelty brought against Mr. Graves, the defendant has entered a plea of guilty to both charges. The court sentences you to a total of ten years imprisonment to be served concurrently with your other sentences. There will also be a fine of twenty five thousand dollars to be paid directly to the R.S.P.C.A. “ Harris paused for a moment to see if his words had been understood and accepted. Graves wore a look of resignation on his face. “Under the Animal Cruelty act, this court also forbids Mr. Graves from owning any animal for a minimum of ten years. Any animals currently in Mr. Graves' possession will be surrendered to the R.S.P.C.A. for care and re-homing.”

“What!?” Stefan yelled. “You can't just take my animals!”

“I assure you, Mr. Graves, I can and I have. You will provide the R.S.P.C.A. with all details relating to any animals you have in your possession so that they may collect them.” Harris looked down his nose at a clearly unhappy Stefan. Raising his gavel, he brought it down hard. “This case is now closed.”

* * *

At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Harris departed after having had a few words with Inverness and then Morris. Quatre and Inverness were over the moon with the result they'd had and were still trying to come to terms with the fact that Stefan had given in so easily – although after some discussion, they did agree with what Heero had been thinking , that given all the evidence against him including his convictions, the man would be fighting a losing battle from the get go. Far better to plead guilty and by doing so not waste anyone's time or money any more than it already had been. Plus it would possibly be a little better for him in the sentencing and fine area too.

Quatre couldn't really care less, they'd had a victory with minimal effort and managed to stop another person from inflicting harm against innocent animals. Inverness had made his excuses to leave as he needed to speak with Bremner and his client to get all the relevant details on any animals Stefan owned so that Quatre and a team could go out to secure them.

“What will happen to the animals, Quatre?” Heero asked as they shared a coffee in the little cafe across from the court house. They would be needed back there in just under forty minutes for the rape re-trial.

“We will pick up any and all animals he currently owns and take them back to the shelter for a check up by the vet there. If they are all okay then any feline or canine will go to Trowa's for re-homing.”

“I don't know if he has any pets as such, but I do know that he obviously has a horse, Comet. What will happen to her?”

Quatre thought for a moment. “That will all depend on what sort of condition she's in. If she's been mistreated then naturally we will need to get her well again before she can be assessed. If she's perfectly okay, she will be assessed and probably put up for adoption,” Quatre informed Heero. “Why?”

“Yeah, I'd like to know the answer to that too,” Duo piped up.

“Oh, no particular reason, just curious,” Heero replied.

Quatre accepted the offered explanation but Duo didn't. He knew there was something more going on inside his partner's head. But now wasn't the time or the place to question his lover further so Duo filed it away for later.

“I guess we should be heading back,” Heero said with a glance at his watch.

“I'd rather stay here,” Duo muttered.

“I know you would, but trust me, Duo. I have a really good feeling about this. Stefan is going to continue his downward spiral.”

“How can you be so sure?” Duo asked as he took his crutches from Heero and slipped them under his arms.

“I can't explain it, but I just have this feeling inside that he's not going to get away with it this time. Morris has some new evidence and I'd bet my career that it will be enough to blow Stefan's defense out of the water.”

“I hope you're right, Heero.”

Quatre accompanied them back to the court house where he wished them both the very best before departing to locate Inverness and organize for the removal of Stefan's animals. With a feeling of dread back in his stomach, Duo allowed Heero to assist him along the cold corridors of the court house until they reached the room that the trial would be held in. Taking a deep breath and doing his best to steady his nerves, Duo entered the room.

* * *

Morris, Williams and Henry all looked confident as they stood for the judge to enter. Taking their seats again once Harris was seated, Morris did his best to give Duo a reassuring smile. Across the room, Stefan looked pale, Bremner's face was set into a grim line.

The bailiff addressed the court. “This is a re-trial of case #3873, on the charge of rape against one Mr. Stefan Graves.”

“This court is now in session.” Harris banged the gavel down before looking to both Morris and Bremner. “I trust that both of you, like myself, have already read over the transcripts from the previous trial of this case and are up to date with everything that transpired then?”

“Yes, your honor,” both men replied.

“Good. We do not need to rehash all of that, this re-trial is to hear the new evidence that has come to light. Mr. Morris, as the prosecution, you may go first.”

“Thank you, your honor.” Bremner returned to his seat as Morris checked his paperwork before turning around to face the judge. “The prosecution recalls Miss Archer to the stand.”

Marion Archer appeared through the side door, escorted by the bailiff who swore the woman in.

“Miss Archer, in the previous trial, you said you were Mr. Graves' fiancée, correct?”

Marion looked decidedly uncomfortable and kept darting glances at Stefan. Stefan sneered at her before turning his gaze away. “Yes, that is correct,” she replied in a small voice.

“In the time that has passed since the original trial quite a lot of new evidence has come forth that would suggest that you are in fact, not his fiancée. Is that correct?”

“Yes.” Marion looked defeated.

“Miss Archer, is it true that Mr. Graves approached you and asked you to pose as his fiancée in order for him to have a better chance at getting off charges of rape?”

“Yes, he approached me, but I didn't know it was rape he was being charged with,” Marion replied.

“Miss Archer, could you please tell the court in your own words exactly how you met Mr. Graves, what your relationship with him was and what happened between yourself and Mr. Graves in regards to this case?”

Marion lowered her eyes and twisted her hands in her lap. When she began to speak it was in a very quiet voice. “I met Stefan through a friend of mine, she said she had someone she wanted me to meet who needed a favor. I thought at first that she was just hooking me up with someone for a one night sort of deal, someone who needed a partner or whatever for a function they had to attend. I met Mr. Graves over coffee and he asked me if I would be willing to pose as his fiancée for him, he said he'd gotten into a little trouble and needed an alibi of sorts. When I asked what sort of trouble, he said he'd been accused of making advances towards another guy. I didn't know at that stage that he'd actually raped another man.” Marion paused for a moment to regain her composure.

“What did Mr. Graves ask you to do for him?” Morris pressed.

“He said all I would have to do is show up at court as his fiancée. He told me to say that we'd met about three years ago and we'd been engaged for around six months. He gave me a little background information on himself, things like he rode a horse and did some jumping. When I asked about the actual charges and what had happened, he said this guy had tried to come on to him, had been making advances towards him and that he'd been forced to comply with this guy's wishes or he'd find his horse getting hurt. Now this guy had twisted everything around and was trying to charge him with rape. I suppose he wanted me as a sort of surety, to prove he didn't have an interest in guys in that way.” Marion shrugged. “He said he'd pay me five thousand dollars if I'd do the job.”

“What did you do?” Morris prompted.

“I agreed to go along with it. Five thousand dollars is a lot of money you know.”

Morris paused for a moment and sifted through the papers on his desk. “Your honor, I'd like to submit a copy of Miss Archer's bank account as exhibit A. You can clearly see on there an electronic deposit made in the amount of five thousand dollars.”

“Objection!” Bremner shouted. “Just because a figure shows up on a bank account does not mean it had to have come from my client. That money could have come from anywhere!”

“Sustained. Bremner does have a valid point, Morris.”

“I know, your honor. If you could bear with me for a moment, I think I can clear that up for you.” Morris had fully expected Bremner to dispute the legitimacy of the deposit and had done his homework thoroughly. “Your honor, I also have here a copy of Mr. Graves' bank account which shows an electronic withdrawal of five thousand dollars on the same day. I'd like to submit this as exhibit B.” Seeing Bremner about to object again, Morris pushed on. “I have paperwork here from Miss Archer's bank and also Mr. Graves' bank, both clearly stating that an electronic transfer of the amount of five thousand dollars was performed on the same day. The funds were transferred from Mr. Graves' account to one Marion Archer's account. Exhibit C, your honor.” Morris handed over the paperwork to an amused looking judge. Bremner looked like he was about to choke on his anger.

“I must say, very impressive, Morris.”

“Thank you, your honor,” Morris replied as he dropped copies of the exhibits to Bremner's desk. “Miss Archer, you took the payment and posed as Mr. Graves' fiancée, correct?”

“Yes.”

“When you testified in court for the trial of Mr. Graves, did you lie under oath?” Morris spun around and stared intently at Marion, his eyes boring into hers with such intensity that Marion had to look away. “Miss Archer, did you lie in court?!”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. No further questions, your honor.” Morris walked back to where a stunned Duo and Heero sat and gave them a smile.

Heero was really impressed with the way Morris had torn into Marion and he took a moment to give the DA a grateful smile in return before squeezing Duo's thigh. Duo was also unable to believe the confession the DA had just gotten out of Marion and for the first time he began to hold out a little hope. The soft squeeze from Heero reminded him he wasn't alone.

Bremner stood up and with a dark look on his face, approached the witness. A visible shudder passed through the woman and she avoided the lawyer's eyes. “Miss Archer, or do you still go by the professional name of Miss Love?” Bremner sneered.

Marion jerked her eyes up and stared at Bremner, a look of loathing passing over her face. “My name is Marion Archer, I gave up the other one quite a while ago,” she snapped.

“Are you quite sure about that?” Bremner pushed. “It seems to me you have quite a list of minor felonies against you.”

“I paid for all my crimes, I've made a new life for myself, all that is behind me,” Marion stated angrily.

“Really?” Bremner raised an eyebrow and Marion swallowed, avoiding eye contact.

“Objection! The witness isn't the one on trial here,” Morris called.

“Sustained. Bremner, please keep your line of inquiry in relevance to the case at hand.”

“Your honor, this questioning has everything to do with the case. If I may be allowed to proceed, all will become very clear in a matter of moments.”

“Objection overruled for the moment. Bremner, you are treading on thin ice,” Harris warned.

Morris didn't look too happy, he had a pretty good idea of what Bremner was trying to do. He exchanged a few whispered words with Williams.

“Thank you, your honor. Miss Archer, despite what you say about having reformed yourself, I put it to you that you have, on several occasions, slipped back into your old habits.”

“What?” Marion snapped.

“In fact, you didn't meet Mr. Graves through a mutual friend as you claimed, but you met Mr. Graves in a drinking establishment where you were looking for clients. You spied Mr. Graves and decided he looked like a good target and you approached him. After a few drinks and noting he was a little 'down' shall we say, you propositioned him, offered to make his night a little better – for a small fee.”

“No!”

“You took him back to your place and after agreeing on a price for services, you provided those services. During the course of the evening, the alcohol had loosened my client's tongue and you managed to learn why my client was feeling so down. After thinking on the problem, you offered him a solution.”

“No!”

“Objection!”

“You learned he was being accused of a crime he didn't commit, but had no alibi to back up his innocence so you offered to become that alibi. You saw the chance to make some easy money and hatched the plan to pose as his fiancée. He agreed to this wild plan whilst he wasn't sober.”

“NO!” Marion yelled.

“Objection!”

Bremner pushed on, ignoring Morris' objection. “When morning came and he was no longer under the influence of alcohol and could think clearly, he declined the plan, only you wouldn't let him. You insisted he went along with it and demanded the payment. Mr. Graves couldn't see a way out of the situation and reluctantly paid you the fee – five thousand dollars. You attended the court on the date and gave your evidence, only now the game had changed and you wanted more money. You told my client that if he didn't pay up, you would go to the authorities and tell them all you knew.”

“NO! It didn't happen like that!” Marion protested.

“Objection, harassing the witness,” Morris tried again.

“Bremner!” the judge warned.

“Mr. Graves refused to pay you anything more and so you went ahead and told the authorities all you knew anyway! You're a liar, Miss Archer, a liar, a prostitute and an extortionist! Because of you, my client, Mr. Graves, will most likely be found guilty of a crime he is completely innocent of committing. I hope you can sleep at night knowing you have convicted an innocent man.” Bremner spat the last words out and turned on his heel, marching back towards where Stefan sat with a slightly more hopeful look on his face now.

Duo felt his world beginning to crumble around him, but he hadn't counted on the D.A. Morris wasn't finished yet.

Harris banged his gavel down. “Order!” Turning to look first at Bremner and then to Morris, he asked, “Any further questions for this witness?”

“No, your honor,” Bremner replied.

“None at the moment, your honor, but I'd like to recall the witness shortly,” Morris said.

“The witness may stand down for the moment.” A sniffling Marion was escorted by the bailiff back into the anti-chamber. “Morris, do you have any further witness' to call?”

“Yes, your honor. The prosecution calls Mr. Stefan Graves back to the stand.”

Duo jolted in his seat, he hadn't expected that and from the look on both Bremner's and Stefan's faces, they hadn't either.

Stefan rose slowly to his feet and after a few brief words with Bremner, he shuffled across to take the stand and be sworn in. Once the formalities were over with, Morris approached the witness, a glint in his eye.

“Mr. Graves, you stated in the previous trial that you were not guilty of raping Doctor Maxwell, correct?”

Nothing like going right in for the jugular, Duo thought.

“Yes.”

“Why should we believe you?” Morris asked with a smirk.

“Because it's the truth?” Stefan sarcastically replied.

“Really?” Morris raised an eyebrow. Stefan glowered at the DA. “Mr. Graves, in the first trial, you produced a witness that was supposedly your fiancée. Since that trial we have discovered that not only is Miss Archer not your fiancée, but that you had the audacity to pay her to pose in that capacity. Clearly a lie. You also have been found guilty of trespass, willful damage, breaking a restraining order and arson; the latter charge you pleaded not guilty to, despite undeniable evidence to the contrary. Another lie. Mr. Graves, I put it to you that you did in fact rape Doctor Maxwell, put him through a hell that no person should ever have to endure and, knowing you could be convicted of such a crime, you took every measure available to you to ensure you got off the charge, even going so far as to try and destroy a man's livelihood. Mr. Graves, you lied under oath in the previous trials and were found out; you're lying again now to try and save your own skin. You're a liar, Mr. Graves and you don't give a damn about any one or anything – as you've already proven – in order to save yourself. You did rape Doctor Maxwell, if you didn't, and are as innocent as you claim, why would you go to all the trouble of paying for an alibi? Of trying to destroy property? Are those the actions of an innocent man? I think not.” Morris turned. “No further questions, your honor.”

“Bremner?”

“No questions, your honor.” Bremner looked defeated.

“Morris?”

“I'd like to recall Marion Archer to the stand.”

Marion came back in and was sworn in. Morris approached her with a warm smile. “Miss Archer, you said a friend of yours introduced you to Mr. Graves and said he needed a favor, correct?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“Miss Archer, what was the name of your friend?”

“Her name is Kristy Neaves.”

Morris walked back to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. Walking back to Marion he showed her the paper. “Is that her signature there?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Your honor. The prosecution wishes to lodge this statement taken from Miss Kristy Neaves acknowledging her introduction of Miss Archer to Mr. Graves as exhibit D.” Morris handed over the paper, he also dropped one to Bremner's desk. “No further questions, your honor.”

Both Bremner and Stefan were completely taken off guard by that. Neither one had any clue that a statement had been taken from the person who had introduced Marion to Stefan. In fact, Stefan had completely forgotten all about the woman, having only met her on a couple of occasions and then it was only through his job.

“Bremner?”

“Uh, no questions, your honor.” Bremner knew, without a doubt that despite all his attempts to get his client off the charge, this would be the nail in the coffin.

“Morris?”

“The prosecution rests its case, your honor.”

“Bremner?”

“Ah, the defense rests, your honor.”

“In that case, this court is adjourned whilst I retire to my chambers to look over the evidence and come to a decision. This court will reconvene in an hour.” Harris slammed the gavel down before exiting the court room.

~ * ~

tbc...
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Equus