Travis was led into the courtroom, under heavy guard, handcuffed. It had been a week since his mother had been murdered, and it was time for his trial. The only attorney who would defend him was a state assigned attorney, who, although he believed Travis was innocent, was completely ill-equipped for the job. After being forced down onto a chair by the guard, Travis waited for the judge to come out.
He didn’t have to wait long. Soon, the judge came out from his chambers, and sat down in his seat. Everyone in the courtroom, except Travis, stood when he entered. “Court is now in session for the trial of Travis Sherman.”
A younger looking prosecutor stared at the judge. “The prosecution…is ready, your honor.”
Travis’s attorney, Lewis Fulligan, gulped. “The…defense i—is ready…your honor.”
The judge looked at the prosecutor. “Mr. John Eerest, was it?”
“Yes, your honor?”
“I understand this is your first trial. Are you prepared?”
“I am, your honor.”
“Good. Then you may begin with your opening statement.”
The prosecutor left his desk, and looked at the audience. “Members of this prestigious court, today, we are in the middle of determining whether or not Travis Sherman murdered his own mother. It happened a week ago, to this day. We received a call from a neighbor, who noticed that the front door to their house, was wide open. Ringing the doorbell, he didn’t receive an answer. Being the good Samaritan that he is, he entered the house, only to find this ghastly scene.”
The prosecutor took out a photo of the crime scene. “This is the prosecution’s first piece of evidence. You can clearly see the three stab wounds to the chest. The first two killed her. The last one, was post-mortem.”
The judge shook his head. “The court accepts this into evidence.”
“While investigating, the police managed to scrape up a few decisive pieces of evidence.”
The judge was shocked. “Decisive? Already?”
“Yes. The first, is the murder weapon itself. It’s an ordinary steak knife. Sharp, so you can cut the meat of the steak, but this time, cut through human flesh.”
The judge furrowed his eyebrows. “What makes this decisive evidence?”
“Two things, your honor. First, it was from the victim’s kitchen.”
“Her kitchen?”
“Yes. We found matching knives in a set there. We believe the defendant, in an angry fury, took the knife, and did his work.”
“OBJECTION!” Lewis slammed on his desk. “You have no proof my client took that knife from—“
“OBJECTION!” John shook his head. “You wouldn’t let me get to my second point with the knife.”
“Hng…”
“My second point is this…the defendant’s bloody fingerprints were on the knife itself!”
The crowd burst into chatter. Soon, they were silent, as the judge banged his gavel. “Order! Mr. Everest, I would like you to submit that evidence at once!”
“As you wish, your honor.”
Soon, the judge was staring at the report. “Indeed…the defendant’s right hand fingerprints are on the knife…”
“OBJECTION!”
Lewis shook his head. “You’ve dug your own grave, Mr. Prosecutor.”
“…what do you mean?”
“If you would have read the report thoroughly, my client’s dominant hand is his left hand! Why would he stab someone not using his dominant hand?!”
“…Mr. Sherman, was it?”
Travis’s head bobbed. “Y—yes?”
“Is what your attorney said true?”
“Yes it is. I’m left handed.”
John shook his head. “Very well then. Your honor, let me present another piece of evidence to the court.”
“Certainly, Mr. Everest.”
John cleared his throat. “As you have heard from the defendant himself, he is indeed, left handed. As proof, we have bloody fingerprints on the door leading into the bedroom…from the defendant’s left hand.”
Lewis was stunned. “His…left hand?”
“Yes. I was confused why he used his left hand to open the door, but then use his right hand to stab the victim. However, it all makes perfect sense. The kitchen containing the knives is to the right when you enter the house. Now, why use his right hand when he is left handed? It was a matter of convenience.”
The judge looked at John, confused. “Convenience?”
“Yes. When Travis went in to grab the knife, it was easier to grab the knife with his right hand. The victim, probably tried to barricade herself in her bedroom. However, with most of his strength in his dominant hand, the left hand, he was able to open the door.”
“OBJECTION! Mr. Everest, there is a blatant contradiction in your theory.”
“What is this ‘contradiction’ you speak of?”
“You clearly stated that the fingerprints were bloody. However, according to your version of events, Travis opened the door…before he killed the victim. Where did the blood come from?”
“…”
“Your honor, you can’t believe Mr. Everest’s version of—“
“OBJECTION!” John shook his head. “When will you learn to let me finish what I was going to say? Your honor, I want to call a witness to the stand, one who will shed light onto this matter.”
The judge shook his head. “Very well, please summon your witness.”
Soon, an elderly gentleman walked to the witness stand. “Name and occupation.”
“My name is Mike Stefenson. I’m retired…”
“Mr. Stefenson, you were the one who discovered the crime scene, correct?”
“Yes I did…”
“Care to tell us what you saw?”
“Certainly boy.”
“I noticed the door to my neighbor’s house was open. After not receiving an answer after ringing the doorbell, I walked inside. I heard some footsteps to the left of me and looked that way. I saw a man around Travis’s height rush into the bedroom.”
The judge furrowed his eyebrow. “How does this pertain to the bloody fingerprints?”
“Witness…when did you enter the house?”
“Why…it was around one thirty.”
John shook his head. “Thank you. Now, the time of death is around one twenty five. That means he saw this figure…AFTER the victim had been murdered.”
Lewis stood up from his chair, not knowing what to say. The judge frowned. “So, since the defendant’s fingerprints were there, the logical conclusion is to say that he put them there…after he killed his mother.”
“Exactly.”
The judge shook his head. “Mr. Fulligan…you may commence your cross-examination.”
“Y—yes, your honor.”
““I noticed the door to my neighbor’s house was open—“
“Stop! What were you doing when you discovered the door open?”
“I was watering my flowers. I started around one. The only one to enter the front door was that boy Travis.”
“No one else came through?”
“No. In fact…it was around the time of death when Travis arrived.”
“W—WHAT?!”
The judge banged is gavel. “Mr. Fulligan, we can hear you ya know! Anyways, this is crucial information.”
John shook his head. “Though I don’t know the motive, Travis arrived right before the victim was killed…”
Lewis looked at Travis. “Do you remember Mr. Stefenson out there when you came back?”
“…I do vaguely remember it. He’s always out there on Mondays watering his flowers, so I don’t pay much attention.”
John smiled. “Confirming the fact that Mr. Sefenson was there that day. Anyways, please continue witness.”
“After not receiving an answer after ringing the doorbell, I walked inside—“
“Stop! Why did you ring the doorbell? It was a crime scene after all.”
“I didn’t know there was a murder in there! I rang the doorbell to get their attention.”
“Ungh…” He is correct…there is no way he could have known what went on…
John shook his head. “Are you sure you are up for this task, Mr. Fulligan?”
“I—I am!”
“Then don’t ask such obvious questions then. Anyways, proceed witness.”
“I heard some footsteps to the left of me and looked that way—“
“Stop! About how far into the house were you when you heard the footsetps?”
“Hmm…right next to the kitchen.”
“Did you see anything unusual in the kitchen?”
“OBJECTION!” John shook his head. “The witness clearly stated he looked ‘left.’ The kitchen is on the right.”
“Now wait right there sonny!”
John was slightly surprised. “What is it witness?”
“I was looking at the kitchen when I heard the footsteps!”
“Y—you what?!”
“However…I didn’t see anything suspicious, except a knife was missing from the set…”
The murder weapon…
John shook his head. “I apologize, Mr. Fulligan. Now, please continue witness.”
“I saw a man around Travis’s height rush into the bedroom—“
“Stop! Did you happen to see the man’s face?”
“…no, not really. However, when he rushed into the bedroom, he had his left hand on the door knob.”
“H—he what?!”
“I remember it clearly, his hand was on the door knob!”
John smiled. “And there you have it. The mystery of the fingerprints has been answered. The mysterious figure had his hand on the doorknob…the only fingerprints on the door knob was the defendant’s…”
The judge shook his head. “That would mean the figure was the defendant.”
The crowd was murmuring. Lewis tried not to listen to their cries of a guilty verdict. “Y—you sure you saw the hand on the doorknob?”
“I am.”
John shook his head. “If the fingerprints were bloody, from the victim’s blood, that would mean that Travis is the culprit.”
Lewis slammed on his desk. “You didn’t see anyone else in that room?”
“No.”
“That’s not true!”
Everyone looked past Lewis at Travis. “Someone else was in that room! He knocked me unconscious!”
The judge banged his gavel. “Defendant! You will be silent when—“
“I will not be quiet! My future is on the line! I have the wound on my head even still. It cut my head and had to be stitched up!”
The judge looked at John. “Is this true?”
“…it is true that Travis has a wound on his head, on the left of his head. However, I would like to thank him for bringing that into light.”
“W—what do you mean?”
“Your honor, the prosecution has one last piece of evidence.”
“O—one more piece of evidence?!”
“Yes.” John took out another photograph. “Look at the bed frame. Notice how it has elongated poles on each corner.”
“Yes…but…wait…why is the bottom right one…”
John smiled. “You have good eyes, your honor. The bed post has been damaged. Now, considering where Travis was lying…”
John took out one more photograph. “Here is where we found the defendant lying.”
“Why…it’s right next to the bed post!”
Travis gasped. “You—you’re wrong!”
“How am I wrong, Travis? The wound on your head matches perfectly with the bed post. I assume you knocked yourself unconscious to try to fool the witness here, but it didn’t work.”
Mr. Stefenson nodded. “That’s right! I heard a crash right before I entered the room! It sounded like the bed post broke!”
John smirked. “And there you have it. That’s what transpired that day.”
Lewis stared at John. Why can’t I object?! Why can’t I think of anything!?
John smiled. “The prosecution…rests.”
The judge shook his head. “Does the defense have any counter arguments?”
Lewis stood there, unable to speak. Finally, Lewis was able to utter just three words. “The defense…rests.”
Travis quickly turned his head over to Lewis. “N—No! You can’t give up now!”
John slammed on his desk. “It’s already been proven, Travis. All the evidence points to it. The reason your attorney can’t fight anymore is because he can’t fight the truth any longer.”
“What you say isn’t the truth!”
“Enough! Your honor, please hand out the verdict.”
The judge shook his head. “Mr. Travis Sherman, the court has come to a conclusion. One week ago, today, you ruthlessly attacked and murdered your own mother. The court finds Travis Sherman…guilty of murder. Sentencing will be tomorrow. That is all, court is adjourned.”
The judge banged his gavel, but to Travis, the bang meant the end of the life he had dreamed of. The next few days quickly passed. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in twenty five years. Everyone in the courtroom cheered. The judge cleared his throat. “Hopefully when you’re older, you’ll realize what you’ve done and become a productive member of society. Until then, to protect everyone else from your violence, you will be in prison.”
Soon, Travis was moved from his cell in the police station to a maximum security prison, not before being visited by Jared and Mary, disowning him. “You killed Mom!” Jared cried out. “Why?! Why did you do that?!”
“It wasn’t me Jared! Please trust me!”
Mary wiped her face. “Travis…just…stop lying to us! Tell us the truth!”
“I am! I’m telling the truth!”
Jared got up and stormed out. Mary sniffled and turned back. “I guess…I lost more than just my mother this week…”
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