The Man With No Name

[Praetyre]

I will, if this court sanctions it.
Proceed, Son Eckstein. stated Judge Togo.
The reply was presented to the jury. Mr Whymper sat, surprised yet stalwart.
No further questions, Your Honour. The prosecution has finished its rebuttal.
Do you wish to cross examine this witness?
Yes, Your Honour.
Proceed.
Mr Whymper approached the stand as Akira Takei returned to the prosecutors bench.
Son Eckstein, do you have any evidence that my client was directly involved with organ smuggling?
The resources required to conduct such an operation and the social standing within Kusari society of your client makes him the only viable suspect, not counting the mountains of evidence gathered by the prosecution render your client the only viable target for investigation, as my department has chosen to do.
Do you have any evidence to suggest my client had voluntarily and knowingly chosen to partake in criminal activities?
Objection! Counsel is harassing a witness, make that a consular witness, and asking him to comment on matters beyond the scope of his abilities!
Your Honour, the prosecutor called this witness as a consular witness to aid his case with intelligence information. I am asking questions which are separate and pertinent from previous examination and testimy and admissible under standards of reasonable doubt.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but reasonable doubt is the law, gentlemen. Objection overruled.
Akira Takei sat down, finally looking defeated.
No. replied Dietrich Eckstein.
Thank you, no further questions.
You may step down. Inform the Rheinland embassy of this.
After several minutes, Dietrich Eckstein stepped down from the stand.
Is the prosecution ready to make its closing argument?
Yes, Your Honour.
Proceed.
Akira Takei rose and walked up to the jury;
Gentlemen of the jury, you have been appointed as the judges of fact and the dispensers of justice as accorded in our ancient traditions. The defendant is not a mere doctor, as the defense would have you believe. The defendant is not a mere mortician, a mere administrator, a mere husband and mere pawn, as the defense would have you believe. The defendant is an organ, with apologies for reference to the grotesque nature of the charges leveled, of a conspiracy, an organ in a tumor that sits, sucking the blood out of civilized peoples for its own benefit.

The defendants honour status has weight, but what of the status of the ones we have proven him to have conspired with? What of the honour status of the dregs of the Outcasts, the Corsairs, the various vile, dishonourable criminal scum that preys upon our traders and slaughters the Emperors noble servants? Honour is not a shield from the Emperors justice, and the Emperors justice is absolute and swift.

If it is your opinion, based upon the facts and only the facts presented solely within the medium of this courtroom, that the defendant is not guilty of the charges or a charge levied against him, then you must return a verdict of guilty. However, if you unanimously agree that the truth, the proven truth beyond a reasonable doubt, than you must return a verdict of guilty. I hope you can make you vote with a clear conscience and make sure justice is done and delivered, and may the Emperor-under-the-sun bless you.
Akira Takei returned to the prosecutors bench. Mr Whymper stood up;
Gentlemen of the jury, as the prosecutor has so well said, your job is to be the arbitrator of justice and the judge of fact in this case. The prosecutor has also correctly urged you to vote with a clear conscience in zealous fervour for the justice of the Emperor-under-the-sun. But there is one problem.

Let us hypothetically assume for the sake of argument that my client was indeed involved in a smuggling ring. Lets say he really was in league with Enrique Corleone. But if you recall the testimony of Dr Watanabe Aki, confirmed by my client, that my client and his wife were threatened in their own home, with death! Under those circumstances, the law is clear. Coercion of a high class person into commiting of a crime absolves them of responsibility as not independent agents. It removes them of liability. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that my client voluntarily, willingly, and with malice afterthought participating in organ marketeering operations.

At least, that is the defenses stance. Ultimately, you are to be the judge of such a matter. And may the Emperors executioner strike my head from my neck and cast it amidst the rocks and stones of New Mount Fuji and leave it to be pecked by vultures in the snow if I do not come before you today as an arbiter, and direct you towards the path of the Emperor-under-the-suns justice. Thank you, gentlemen, and may justice be done.
Judge Togo spoke;
The deliberation is to begin.
5 DAYS LATER
Judge Togo spoke once again;
Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a unanimous verdict?
The foreman replied;
We have, Your Honour.
Will the defendants please rise.
Dr Yamamoto and Enrique Corleone both rose.
In the first count of the indictment, desecration of the dead, levied against Enrique Corleone, how does the jury find?
Guilty, Your Honour.
Enrique Corleones lips tightened, pure hatred forming in his eyes, looking below the foreman so to disguise it.
In the second count of the indictment, in the charge of black marketeering, levied against Enrique Corleone, how does the jury find?
Guilty, Your Honour.
Enrique Corleone started shaking in anger, his representative trying to calm him.
In the third count of the indictment, in the charge of conspiracy to commit desecration of the dead, levied against Enrique Corleone, how do you find?
Guilty, Your Honour.
Enrique Corleone drank some nearby water, calming himself somewhat.
In the fourth count of the indictment, attempting to pervert the course of justice, levied against Enrique Corleone, how does the jury find?
Not Guilty, Your Honour.
Enrique Corleone was mildly relieved by this statement. In the same way someone who was told they would merely be whipped into a pulp, not into a bloody pulp would be.
In the first count of the indictment, desecration of the dead, levied against Dr Shimoda Yamamoto, how does the jury find?
Not Guilty by reason of involuntary action.
Mr Whymper and Dr Yamamoto both breathed a sigh of relief.
In the second count of the indictment, in the charge of black marketeering, levied against, how does the jury find?
Not Guilty by reason of involuntary action.
Mr Whymper and Dr Yamamoto sighed again.
In the third count of the indictment, in the charge of conspiracy to commit desecration of the dead, levied against Dr Shimoda Yamamoto, how do you find?
Not Guilty by reason of involuntary action.
Mr Whymper and Dr Yamamoto once again sighed, with Enrique Corleone menacingly yet fearfully glancing at Dr Yamamoto.
In the fourth count of the indictment, attempting to pervert the course of justice, levied against Dr Shimoda Yamamoto, how does the jury find?
Not Guilty, Your Honour.
Mr Whymper and Dr Yamamoto bowed to each other in extreme happiness. Enrique Corleone looked fearful as he was led away by the bailiffs.

Judge Togo Mitsubishi spoke
Sentencing for Son Corleone is set for next week. Court is adjourned.

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Sig by Blackstarr.
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