ChapterEight
Carla
I walk into the courtroom with Asher at my side, today is the day we are finally going to get these charges dropped. When he met outside the courthouse, I had to take a moment to collect myself. He has no right to look this good. He’s in all black today; black suit, tie, shirt, shoes, watch, all back, his red hair is down around his shoulders, and I swear every woman in a five-mile radius has stopped to stare, and I don’t blame them. We take our place at the table up front and Asher’s family files through the door and damn near fills one side of the courtroom.
“After today this part will be over, and you’ll get the opportunity to clear your name in the media.” I tell him. I arranged for reporters to be outside for interviews so that Asher can have the chance to tell the world he’s been cleared of the charges.
“I will be glad to have this behind me, and then we can concentrate on finding the killer,” he says.
A few seconds later, the prosecution’s team walks in along with Detective Marshall. After them a man with a little girl walk in and begins talking to the prosecutor. The little girl looks just like Antonia, and I conclude this must be her husband and daughter. My heart goes out to both of them, and I hope by getting the charges against Asher dropped the cops can concentrate on actually conducting a thorough investigation and bring them the closure and justice they both deserve. I look over to Asher who is looking at the little girl and I can see how hurt he is for the child who has lost her mother. As someone who has gone through what this little girl is going through, I am sure this hurts him more than he’ll ever say.
A few minutes later we are standing as the judge walks in. After taking a seat he begins.
“We are here to present evidence to a grand jury to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial. Ms. Rothchild you are the prosecuting attorney?”
“Yes, your honor.” She responds.
Ms. St. Claire, you are representing the defendant, is that correct?”
“Yes, your Honor.”
“Mr. Gideon you have pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter of a Mrs. Antonia Lattimore.
“Alright all the parties are present, so we will proceed with the arraignment. Are there any pleas to be entered into the record?”
“No, your Honor.” Ms. Rothchild states as she looks over to us with a little smirk.
“Your Honor I would like to make a motion for dismissal.”
“On what grounds Ms. St. Claire?”
“Prosecutorial misconduct.” I say while looking at Rachel Rothschild with a smirk of my own.
“Both of you approach the bench.”
We both approach the bench, and the judge wants to know what is going on.
“Your Honor we have uncovered new evidence that clears my client of any wrong doing in this case.”
“Did you share this information with the prosecution?”
“I attempted to your Honor, several times, and was not able to contact Ms. Rothschild. I spoke to her assistant several times and left several voice messages, and I was never contacted. I have phone records your Honor and recordings of not only the voice messages but the conversations with her assistant.”
“Were you aware of Ms. St. Claire’s attempts to reach you?”
“Yes, your Honor, but unfortunately I was tied up with other obligations and was unable to get back to her.”
“Too busy over an eleven-day period?”
“Uh, yes your Honor.”
“Even though I doubt that, Ms. St. Claire, it is still not grounds for prosecutorial misconduct.”
“I understand your honor, but the prosecutor is having a sexual relationship with the lead detective on the case,” I inform him as I hand him proof of their relationship. “And the lead detective is the brother of a former girlfriend of Mr. Gideon. Also, the evidence I wanted to provide Ms. Rothschild proves someone else was in the room after Mr. Gideon and before the room attendant discovered the body. There was tampering of Mr. Gideon’s security cameras and there were several DNAs found on Mrs. Lattimore’s body, not to mention the bruises left on Mrs. Lattimore’s neck were made by a person whose hands are considerably smaller than Mr. Gideon’s. We sent all the evidence we were able to gather to be verified by the experts the DA’s office utilize.”
“Maybe, Ms Rothschild, you should have found time in your eleven-day stretch to return Ms. St. Claire’s call. It could have saved us all time and you and the detective investigating this case some embarrassment. I suggest you talk amongst yourselves concerning the charges against Mr. Gideon. And Ms. Rothschild I suggest you make the best decision that will send us ALL home early. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
“Yes, your Honor.” She says quietly.