Hostile Takeover

Chapter Eight

‘Members of the jury,’ Mrs. Imela started midway,

‘Firstly, thank you for your patience.’

‘Both the evidence and the witnesses have spoken, there is not much I can say except highlight the fact that has been constantly underlined throughout this trial, the fact that the defendant here is willing to do whatever it takes on impulse; transcending rationality to arrive at whatever he perceives he needs to do.’

‘He manipulated his best friend into committing a crime for him, then he committed multiple crimes himself, including breaking into a bank and terrifying people. When he was caught, he assaulted a police officer after tricking him into being taken to the sickbay pretending to be ill … Let me say it clearly, so nothing is implied here and you will pardon me,’

‘He threw a plastic inflated with urine at the officer’s face so he could escape, an act he had already pled guilty to at the beginning of this trial. He rushed to a church and disturbed a peaceful matrimonial gathering.’

‘Is that the kind of man we want to let loose in society?’ he asked.

‘Consider it carefully, the power is in your hands. I rest my case.’

‘Mr. Suseyi.’ The judge called as Mrs. Imela walked away.

‘Members of the jury, everything the state has just said is correct. Mr. Loma did do all those things, and truly he is not the kind of man we’d want running loose in society, at least not in his current state.’ He started,

‘Mr. Loma is a depressed person, a troubled young man. But even in his grief, in his dark and vengeful place, he performed an unthinkable act of trying to right his wrongs.’

‘He robbed the bank so he could steal back the fake money, so that the bank would not have to go down with a terrible scandal of counterfeiting. He took that risk to protect the people who neither protected him nor his family, the people who couldn’t lift a finger in his aid.’

‘When he was held without bail, he discovered that the love of his life, the mother of his unborn child, was betrothed to another man while he was away and was set to get married in a hurry, in desperation; he escaped the hands of the officers assaulting one of them.’

‘He believed he had to do something. He didn’t think about consequence, or punishment, or rationality; he thought only about love and family.’

Patra felt goose bumps all over her.

‘And when he was put on the stand, he confessed he is not a bad person, he is a disturbed one who needs help.’

‘I hope you consider that when reaching your verdict. I rest my case,’ he said and went back to sit.

‘Alright, members of the jury, please retire to the deliberation room where you will deliberate in private. You will find a verdict form on the table, pick a foreperson amongst yourselves to act as an organizer and spokesperson. You have an hour.’ The judge said.

‘The court is in recess, don’t go far.’

..

Patra’s heart was pumping outside her chest. She couldn’t believe an hour had passed already. She was so nervous like she was the one on trial. Nolan seemed composed and so did Arista in his seat. The members of the jury were sited in silence; only they knew their verdict. She looked at Maureen, who gave her a mirthless smile.

‘Has the jury reached a verdict?’ the judge asked.

‘We have your honor,’ a dark woman said, standing up. She appeared to be at least in her early thirties and her clothes suggested that she had no financial struggles.

‘According to the facts of the case, the evidence and the witnesses, the jury has found the following…’

‘On the count of trespass, guilty.’

‘On the count of breach of peace, guilty.’

‘On the count of fraudulent conduct or counterfeiting, guilty.’

‘On the count of assaulting an officer of the state, guilty.’

‘On the count of escaping police custody, guilty.’

‘On the count of aggravated robbery, not guilty.’

The court was filled with murmurs, Arista didn’t move a muscle and neither did Nolan. Half the people were disputing the aggravated robbery verdict while the other half accepted the verdict.

‘What does this mean?’ Patra asked.

‘Auntie what does it mean?’

‘Baby wait.’ Aunt Maureen was confused.

‘Order in court!’ The judge commanded with the help of a gavel.

‘This trial has been tedious and tiring as it was gradually drawing to a conclusion. It has been fair and impartial.’

‘Sentencing is set for the fourth of June.’

...

The fourth of June was nerve-wracking for a lot of people but mostly Arista. The courtroom was unbelievably quiet and eerie.

‘Thank you for everything, you will really never know how grateful I am.’ He whispered to Mr. Suseyi.

‘Say no more, you had a difficult case, we have done our best, and I’m glad I helped.’ He whispered back with his right hand on Arista’s left shoulder.

‘All rise!’ the bailiff hailed.

Seconds later, the judge was reading off the precedence report.

‘Considering the safety of the community, deterring similar crimes in the future, as well as the rehabilitation of the accused who is clearly mentally unwell, the sentence is set at thirty-six months. The sentence will be carried out at Kanfinsa Correctional Facility.’

The courtroom was filled with hysteria. Some people upset that the sentence is unreasonably inconsiderate, others upset that it is unreasonably considerate. Arista couldn’t believe his ears, three years? He felt his heart sink.

‘Order! During the sentence, the accused, Mr. Arista Loma, will conform to eight thousand, six hundred and forty hours of cognitive and behavioral therapy. As a citizen of this country, the accused deserves a chance at reformation.’

‘On the other hand, the partner in crime, Mr. Nolan, will serve six hundred and seventy-two hours of community service for the confessed illegal acts. Dismissed.’

Arista stared first at Patra, her eyes were ghostly; lacking life. His line of sight went to Nolan, whose face was now as deflated as a popped balloon. Automatically, his eyes returned to Patra, he could feel her slipping away, he felt his eyes turn to water and a second later his pupils started leaking.