The Verdict. (A short story)

[Demonskates]

The court room was sweltering. I couldnt beleive i had been granted a seat in one of the hottest murder cases to ever hit Massachussetts. I write for a small town paper called the Raynham call. Not much of a job but it pays the rent.keeps food on the table.
The lawyers were some of the top guys in Boston. Brought in for large sums of money by the district attournys office. Kendal warren was a sharp looking man,with very sharp features..like they were cut there by a razor. He wore expensive suits and had expensive tastes. He'd taken over Warren and Warren law offices after is father had past away five years back,and had made quite a name for himself ever since. He would be trying this case. he was amazing to watch too as he could tear a person down it seemed within moments. truely a magnificent orator. The criminal of this case would be defending himself. Had no fancy lawyers,or money behind him. the type of stuff that makes for a great story. The type of stuff i would just love to write about.
The D.A. cleared his throat and asked to approach the bench, and the judge granted him.They spoke for a matter of moments and then the D.A. steped down.
The judge banged his gavel loudly,the reports echoing in the court room,signaling the proceedings were about to begin...

"Your Honor,..said kendal warren..if we may begin?"
The judge waved impatiently to procede.
"ladies and gentleman of the jury..I ask you now to please consider all the facts presented. You have been hand selected for this case,and due to the heinous nature of the acts commited by the defendant, we ask that you bear these things in mind when you pass down your sentance."
He paused for effect before turning his back to the jury and began pacing the court.
"Now,on feb 14th,valenties day of this year a Ms. Jessica lawrence was found raped.mutilated,and murdered at 1324 evergreen terrace here in the Great city of Boston.
(to be continued)

[Demonskates]

"I reffer you to exhibit A." He walked over to a table with many items on it,of which he grabbed one and held it high for the jury to see.

"She was found bound with this telephone chord. wrapped around her wrists..the phone lines to the house had been cut. This is a clear case of premeditation."
"This was the first murder out of 8 within this city...all of which had the same motive of operation."
Warren pointed to a chart with 8 crime sceane photos on it,a collection of grotesque murder shots.
All were women, about 32 to 35. They all had dark hair and dark eyes. They all lived within a five mile radius. They all died by the hands of the defendant.
At each scene the police investigated,they found the same evidence. The victimes had all been raped, tortured, bound, and killed in the same fasion.
"its quite clear that the defendant,murdered everyone of these people. The police have ruled out copy cat murders.this was the work of one man...the defendant."
"your honor I call to the stand Officer Richard Mcmullen.."
There was a pause in the procedings as Officer Mcmullen made his way to the stand.
"Officer McMullen,do you swear top tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I do."
"Officer McMullen, upon arrival at the crime scene,what did you and your men notice?"
"The lights were out in the house," He began."Upon exmination of the exterior of the home we found the phone lines had been cut. For fear of the safty of Jessica, we decided to enter the house."
"And is that when you found her mutilated corpse?" The lawer querried.
"No sir. we did not find jessica until we had cleared the lower floor of the home. Nothing looked out of place that we could determine."
"So after the initial examination of the first floor you then procede to the second?"
"Yes sir we did." Said McMullen.
"explain to the court those circumstances."
"Well, the officer continued," We went up the stairs and to the left. We could hear what sounded like water,dripping..we entered the master bed room, and that is when we found Jessica murdered and bound on her bed sir"
"the dripping it turns out was jessicas blood hitting the floor."
"What was the condition of Jessica's body when you found it Officer Mc MUllen?"
"She was.....it was horrible sir. SHe was butchered,god rest her soul.In all my years on the force id never seen anything as barberic as this."
(to be continued)