I stood in court, hoping for the best. I knew he did it. But who knows what the jury will say? I felt like this was life or death, the final speech will be said and no more arguing will be done. I looked around, hopeful eyes stared expectantly back. The judge was discussing with her colleagues about something we will never know. Every heart was pounding in and out of their bodies. My mind was spinning round, the silence was deafening. My barrister quickly whispered as the judge bellowed, “Silence in court!” The moment had arrived . . .
No! No ! I didn’t do it ! I swear! Hands in my head . Drowning in my own tears. Me, accused of murder!? How could this be real . I pinch my self but nothing happens. I was there I know everything, but the jury didn’t care. The dead pale body. Staring up at me. Eyes wide and bloodshot. The knife covered in blood by her side. Out in the distance a vague figure running away. Everyone else who was there didn’t see it I did. Just because I picked up the knife doesn’t meen I am the murderer. Or was that figure just my imagination.
I was just about to go into court. Apparently, I stole a sack of flour from a shop (I didn’t) and now I’m going to court for “apparently” stealing some flour. I don’t know who reported me for stealing but I know this person must be suspicious since they said I stole something when I didn’t. I stepped through the doors of the court room and there standing in front of me was one of my old bosses that I sewed for not paying me enough money. He had reported me to get revenge. How could he possibly do this.
There are two kinds of court. The civil court deals with things like land and property disputes, contracts, negligence and also divorce and decisions about children. Criminal courts decide whether someone has committed a crime. With serious crime a jury will decide whether someone is guilty. The judge decides on what the punishment should be. People can be represented in court by a barrister who speaks on their behalf. They can also choose to speak for themselves. In this country we are lucky to have judges who are not controlled by the government. Some other countries are not so lucky.
Silence fell in the room. Tension rose as beads of sweat rolled down the defendants forehead. It was his time.
“Call Tom Butterfield”, announced the judge.
Every step to the witness box was more agonising than the next. He felt millions of judging eyes stalking him and his every move. Each pupil was an abyss, sucking him into dark regret. As he sat down he could feel every molecule of blood rush through his veins, pumped by a heavy heart. The defence barrister stood. A mumble of questions fleeted through the crowd. “So, where were you when it all happened…?”
“SILENCE IN COURT”
The judge shouted and at once the arguments ceased.
“Defense, closing statement please.”
Sweat built up on her forehead, she wouldn’t wipe it away because prosecution would be able to tell she was nervous. Her hands were shaking.
‘Take a deep breath.’ She thought to herself, ‘you can do this.’
“Prosecution, your counter argument please.”
Nothing went through his mind but, ‘I’m going to win this, no matter what.’The jury left to make their decision, everyone was holding their breath.
They came back in,
“Have you made a decision?”
“Yes Your Honour, we find the defendant…
I sat in the courtroom, shivering with nerves. I knew I was guilty but I had come too far into the lie now to just confess. I glanced over to the juror’s, hoping they would turn a blind eye, but of course they would never do such a thing. Everyone stared at me as I told my side of the story one last time. Murmurs could be heard around the room as people started to discuss their opinions on the case. The judge banged his hammer against his desk and ordered silence. “ I declare that the subject is found…”
GUILTY. Guilty.
Those were the only words that went through my head. The judge had found my court case tiring, particularly as there was no jury to help him out. It was a difficult case, each sides had strong cases, I should know, I was once a barrister.
I had to leave to see my great aunt. She was lonely not I’ll, lonely. Every morning I gave her a dose it f treacle, to sweeten up her life; as she would say. But one day I gave it to her and she dropped down dead. I later found the bottle of poison open. Someone had broken in and mixed it with the treacle, but that someone wasn’t me.
Noooo, nooo. I cried when the words guilty were spoken.
“Silence in court,” the judge boomed. It was over
I stood in court, hoping for the best. I knew he did it. But who knows what the jury will say? I felt like this was life or death, the final speech will be said and no more arguing will be done. I looked around, hopeful eyes stared expectantly back. The judge was discussing with her colleagues about something we will never know. Every heart was pounding in and out of their bodies. My mind was spinning round, the silence was deafening. My barrister quickly whispered as the judge bellowed, “Silence in court!” The moment had arrived . . .
No! No ! I didn’t do it ! I swear! Hands in my head . Drowning in my own tears. Me, accused of murder!? How could this be real . I pinch my self but nothing happens. I was there I know everything, but the jury didn’t care. The dead pale body. Staring up at me. Eyes wide and bloodshot. The knife covered in blood by her side. Out in the distance a vague figure running away. Everyone else who was there didn’t see it I did. Just because I picked up the knife doesn’t meen I am the murderer. Or was that figure just my imagination.
I was just about to go into court. Apparently, I stole a sack of flour from a shop (I didn’t) and now I’m going to court for “apparently” stealing some flour. I don’t know who reported me for stealing but I know this person must be suspicious since they said I stole something when I didn’t. I stepped through the doors of the court room and there standing in front of me was one of my old bosses that I sewed for not paying me enough money. He had reported me to get revenge. How could he possibly do this.
There are two kinds of court. The civil court deals with things like land and property disputes, contracts, negligence and also divorce and decisions about children. Criminal courts decide whether someone has committed a crime. With serious crime a jury will decide whether someone is guilty. The judge decides on what the punishment should be. People can be represented in court by a barrister who speaks on their behalf. They can also choose to speak for themselves. In this country we are lucky to have judges who are not controlled by the government. Some other countries are not so lucky.
Silence fell in the room. Tension rose as beads of sweat rolled down the defendants forehead. It was his time.
“Call Tom Butterfield”, announced the judge.
Every step to the witness box was more agonising than the next. He felt millions of judging eyes stalking him and his every move. Each pupil was an abyss, sucking him into dark regret. As he sat down he could feel every molecule of blood rush through his veins, pumped by a heavy heart. The defence barrister stood. A mumble of questions fleeted through the crowd. “So, where were you when it all happened…?”
“SILENCE IN COURT”
The judge shouted and at once the arguments ceased.
“Defense, closing statement please.”
Sweat built up on her forehead, she wouldn’t wipe it away because prosecution would be able to tell she was nervous. Her hands were shaking.
‘Take a deep breath.’ She thought to herself, ‘you can do this.’
“Prosecution, your counter argument please.”
Nothing went through his mind but, ‘I’m going to win this, no matter what.’The jury left to make their decision, everyone was holding their breath.
They came back in,
“Have you made a decision?”
“Yes Your Honour, we find the defendant…
I sat in the courtroom, shivering with nerves. I knew I was guilty but I had come too far into the lie now to just confess. I glanced over to the juror’s, hoping they would turn a blind eye, but of course they would never do such a thing. Everyone stared at me as I told my side of the story one last time. Murmurs could be heard around the room as people started to discuss their opinions on the case. The judge banged his hammer against his desk and ordered silence. “ I declare that the subject is found…”
GUILTY. Guilty.
Those were the only words that went through my head. The judge had found my court case tiring, particularly as there was no jury to help him out. It was a difficult case, each sides had strong cases, I should know, I was once a barrister.
I had to leave to see my great aunt. She was lonely not I’ll, lonely. Every morning I gave her a dose it f treacle, to sweeten up her life; as she would say. But one day I gave it to her and she dropped down dead. I later found the bottle of poison open. Someone had broken in and mixed it with the treacle, but that someone wasn’t me.
Noooo, nooo. I cried when the words guilty were spoken.
“Silence in court,” the judge boomed. It was over