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The judge had taken an hour recess to get control back in the courtroom. Andrei used that time to knock some sense into his client.
The man and his family had been close friends with his father for years, and his father had made him take the case. Andrei wasn’t a big fan of the Vasins. They were a little too privileged and snobby for them to really feel like his friends. To him, they were just more people his father knew that he had to represent. Sometimes he enjoyed defending people he knew were innocent. Other times they got to be a pain in his ass.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked Roman.
“I can’t just sit there while they try to call me a murderer.” Roman paced back and forth in his tiny cell.
Andrei gripped the bars to keep from grabbing Roman and shaking some damn sense into him. “Actually, that’s exactly what you’re going to do. You’re g
oing to sit there and let me do my job. That means you don’t speak unless you’re up on that witness stand, unless you want to piss the judge off more than you already have. If that’s your goal, you’re finding yourself another lawyer, because I have no time for this bullshit.”
Roman shook his head. “No, my father says you’re the best person to handle my case, and I want the best.”
“Then you’ll listen to what I tell you and not act out like that again. Do you understand?”
Roman nodded.
“Good. We’re in recess. When you get back out there, I want you quiet as a monk who has taken a vow of silence, or I’m leaving you here on your own. Your dad can find you someone else.”
When Roman was allowed to enter the courtroom, Andre was pleased to see the man knew how to follow instructions. He sat quietly and didn’t say a word. If he hadn’t learned to shut up, the case would’ve turned into a nightmare for both of them. Although the jury made the decision, the judge could also make it harder for them. This judge was known for low tolerance for criminal activity and giving out harsh sentences. If Roman kept pushing it and was found guilty, he’d be at Judge Hughes’ mercy.
“We will proceed with court,” said Judge Hughes said after they all returned from the brief recess.
Judge Hughes said, “The defense will call their first witness.”
Andrei stood and addressed the court. “I call Mrs. Rita Jackson to the stand.”
As she approached the bailiff, he swore her in. “Please raise your right hand, and place your left hand on the Bible. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
Mrs. Jackson said “I do” before taking a seat on the witness stand.
“You may be seated,” the bailiff said.
Andrei straightened his suit. “Mrs. Jackson, will you tell the court where you were on May 14th?”
“I was getting married in Buffalo, New York.”
“Could you name the person in this courtroom who was in attendance?”
“Roman Vasin was a guest at my wedding,” she said.
There was a small uproar in the courtroom.
Judge Hughes slammed the gavel down “Order in the court!”
Andrei turned to the witness. “Could you please point to the defendant, so we have a clear view of who you mean?”
Mrs. Jackson pointed to his client. “It was Mr. Vasin, the man in the pinstripe suit.”
Andrei kept his smile to a minimum and said. “No further questions, you may take your seat.” He waited for her to step down. “I would like to call my next witness: Mr. Barry Jackson.”
The bailiff approached the bench. “Mr. Barry Jackson, please raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible. Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
“I do,” Mr. Jackson said.
“You may be seated.”
Andrei waited for him to settle in. “Mr. Jackson, could you tell the court where you were on May 14th?”
