Writing for Fun
May 2016
Judgement - Diane Silverston
[Continued from April]
The courtroom was silent as everyone sat awaiting the judge's comments. They had all been sitting for days, listening to the witness statements and police reports.
Now it was finally time to hear the judge's opinion and what consequences the verdict would bring.
The four young men in the dock were sitting trying hard not to fidget or look at each other. Their stance and expressions had changed over the days. They had started off quite cocky and full of themselves, but now they looked like nervous schoolboys worried about what was going to be said and what would happen to them.
Jon and his five friends were sitting behind their solicitors. They had given their evidence calmly and reasonably. Don, the eldest, had insisted they were to do this and not let themselves be riled by the opposition. He knew that was the best way to get the correct results. Jon was the temperamental one and had found it hard, but realised what Don had said was right.
The courtroom was silent, the atmosphere was tense, everyone was intent on hearing the judge.
Suddenly the clerk walked over to the judge's desk and handed him a sheet of paper, and then returned to her table.
The jury came in and resettled into their seats. The judge looked up as the four young men stood up in the dock.
'Are you all agreed?' he asked the leader of the jury.
'Yes, your honour.'
'And your decision?'
'Guilty, your honour.'
'On all accounts?'
'Yes your honour.'
'Thank you.'
The courtroom was still silent but the expressions on the faces had changed.
The young men in the dock looked apprehensive, shocked and fearful. Jon and his friends relieved but also apprehensive.
The judge's voice came stern but clear, 'I find it hard to believe that we have had to deal with such a sad case. That two groups of young men should have to appear before me for such a reason. This was not a case of an argument that has got out of control, where one person has attacked another in a moment of anger, but a case of a deliberate act of harm has taken place. You say you were provoked, but four of you set out to attack one when he was on his own. All four of you are responsible, no one person could have inflicted so many wounds in so many parts of his body.'
Still the courtroom was quiet but there was an obvious tension in the air. Everyone was waiting for the judge to continue.
'I feel it is necessary for you in the dock to be separated and so I have decided you should serve your ten year sentences in different jails, all away from this area. I hope this will give you time to think and change your ways.'
A gasp came from the people in the gallery, some sharp intakes of breath and a few muffled sobs were heard. The young men in the dock went pale and tense.
'As for the young men in the other group, I'm glad they didn't retaliate but saw sense. I hope this event will make them think and change their lives too. They have so much to live for and should make the most of every opportunity for the best. I hope I never see any of these young men again in court.'
Don and the others had also gone pale and now were looking down, not at each other, or their rivals but at the floor.
'I can only hope that everyone will have learnt something from this tragic event,' the judge finished, stood up and left the court.
'Court dismissed, take them down.' The clerk of the court directed.