For Better And For Worse
Chapter 16

The trial resumes.

Judge: I call the next witness to the stand, Doctor Roger.

Doctor Roger appears in the witness box.

Roger: it must have been 9 p.m., I was going home after work. I was driving my car quietly when suddenly, a man who I would describe as drunk appeared in front of me. No matter how hard I tried to avoid it, I couldn’t and knocked it over. I then immediately took him to the hospital and took care of him personally. I noticed that he had been in a violent fight just before his accident. And doing some more in-depth analysis, I discovered that he had taken a huge amount of drugs so for him to have any chance of getting out of it, he would have to be transferred to a rehab center so I I tried to get to know him and his family. That’s when I discovered he was the husband of a former employee. So I called him and that’s how the next day, her husband was transferred and I then informed the anti-drug squad.

Judge: Mr. Prosecutor, any questions?

Prosecutor: Do you have Mr. Krist’s medical report?

Roger: Yes.

The prosecutor collects the medical report and gives it to the judge as evidence.

Judge: Maître Célestin, do you have any questions?

Célestin approaches him.

Célestin: doctor, you said you found the presence of a drug in my client’s b***d after analyzing it?

Roger: yes, that’s it.

Célestin: Didn’t you think that those with whom he had fought forced him to take it?

Roger: no, I figured he was doing drugs with friends and they fought when it got into their heads.

Célestin: when you discovered the drugs in his b***d, did you think of the police?

Roger: no.

Célestin: what were you thinking?

Roger: to detoxify him and inform his family.

Célestin: correct! That’s when you discovered his wife’s name is Isabelle, one of the midwives you fired because she refused to go out with you.

Roger: That has nothing to do with it.

Célestin: of course yes. And as soon as you found out, you said to yourself that you had to call the police so that he could be thrown in prison so that you would have free rein to conquer his wife.

Roger: you’re talking nonsense, I only did my duty as a citizen.

Célestin: I have no more questions.

Judge: We ask the next witness to the stand, Doctor Romuald. Mr. Prosecutor, he is yours.

Prosecutor: doctor, when you received a visit from this man,

Romuald: When this man was brought to the center, he was unconscious and close to death. So I rushed to give him emergency care and then did some b***d tests. These revealed that Mr. Krist had been taking drugs for three months.

The crowd reacted with murmurs.

Vincent: my son never takes drugs.

Félix: during this time, he worked for me, he never did drugs.

Judge: silence, silence as I evacuate the room.

Everyone calms down.

Judge: thank you, let’s continue.

Prosecutor: What did you do next?

Romuald: the anti-drug squad agents had come to question him but he was unable to speak to them so they left. It was after a few minutes that he woke up and I informed the brigade who came back to bring him.

Prosecutor: that will be all.

Judge: Master Célestin, he is yours.

Célestin: Doctor Romuald, you mentioned in your report that my client had been taking drugs for three months, right?

Romuald: yes, that’s it.

Célestin: let me tell you that during this time, my client worked as a waiter at the five-star restaurant from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. After work he always visits his wife at her hair salon and spends a few hours there before coming home to prepare the evening meal for his wife so tell me when do you think he was taking drugs at without the knowledge of his wife and this daughter he took in and who is also a witness to the honest life he led?

Romuald: uh…I…I don’t know, he could take it during this time of his wife’s absence.

Isabelle: my husband is not a drug addict, you corrupt person.

Romuald: you are making false accusations against me.

Judge: silence in the room! Master, please continue!

Célestin: so doctor, how do you explain the fact that you put in your report that my client did not receive any blows while Doctor Roger’s report mentions blows?

Romuald: well, I was not aware of his report.

Célestin: and you didn’t notice any trace of a hit on his body?

Romuald: um… yes!

Célestin: why didn’t you mention it in your report?

Romuald: because it wasn’t really a big deal to mention.

Célestin: don’t you think that as a doctor, you should mention even the tiniest details?

He does not say anything.

Célestin: you know what I think, I think someone paid you to make a false report.

Romuald: you are lying, I am an honest man.

Célestin: tell me doctor, what problem do you have with my client for wishing him harm?

Prosecutor: objection your honor, we are not here to resolve the problems between the accused and Doctor Romuald.

Judge: objection upheld! Master, please stay within the framework of this trial.

Célestin: I’m done, Mr. President.

Judge: Well, we will now move on to the closing arguments. Mr. Prosecutor, it’s your turn.

Prosecutor: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is a simple case. The accused is addicted to drugs and medical tests have clearly shown this. You all know that drugs are a dangerous substance for human health and life and these kinds of people allow themselves to share them throughout the city and thus pollute it. Here you have infallible proof, this video which clearly shows the accused selling this filth. You know the laws of our country on the distribution and consumption of narcotics. So, to drive this filth out of our city, this man must be locked up in order to serve as an example to all those who sell and consume this filth. They must understand that the justice system of this country is merciless and does not waver in the application of its laws. Mr. President, I demand a 10-year prison sentence.

Judge: The defense has the floor.

Maître Célestin: ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is clear that there is something fishy in this case. My client is an honest, upright man who lived his life upholding the laws of this country and always doing what is right. As you know, he has nothing on his criminal record. He should not be judged because in this case he is only a victim. He was beaten up by four strangers who almost killed him with drugs, but luckily he escaped. Today, he is the one who replaces himself accused of using drugs and tried for it. Can we convict the jurors on simple presumption? Look at this man, look at him carefully! Does he look like a drug addict, does he look like a delinquent? No, it’s just a misfortune that befell him and it will be unfair for you to condemn him because I’m sure you know that he is not guilty in this matter.

Judge: we give the floor to the accused if he has something to say and know that right after, we will deliberate.

Krist: What can I say? I am not going to beg for your compassion or your indulgence because we are before justice and it must be applied. So, I’m innocent, someone framed me, he did everything so that all the evidence was against me. But despite this, you all know here that I am innocent thanks to everyone’s testimonies. I’m not accusing anyone but I know and everyone who testified against me knows that I am innocent and that they lied under oath. If I lie, their conscience will remind them of this every day and know one thing, we will all pay for our actions one day and everyone will reap what they sow. I’m done.

Judge: good, we will resume in 10 minutes to deliberate.

While everyone waits, Krist brings his wife in front of his parents.

Krist: Dad, Mom, I know I wasn’t the son you would like to have, I made my own choices, choices that hurt you, I’m sorry. Today I replace myself in a delicate situation. I never wanted to disagree with you but the disagreement has set in, I apologize. I won’t be here for a while so I ask you one thing, take care of my wife, Stella and my baby.

Vincent: why do you speak as if you are going to be condemned?

Krist: Dad, this person went to such lengths for me to be judged, do you think he will give up so that I can be exonerated? No, who tells you that he didn’t corrupt the judge or even the jurors?

Vincent: don’t say that, you don’t know anything about it.

Krist: That’s not my concern. Would you take care of my family?

Odette: did you talk about your future baby?

Krist: yes mom, my wife and I are going to be parents soon. Isabelle is pregnant.

At this news, Krist’s mother’s face changed, she was filled with joy and happiness at having a little son. She congratulates her daughter-in-law by hugging her tightly. Vincent does the same and they congratulate the couple.

Odette: my son, you will take care of your own.

Krist: promise to do it for me.

They promise to take care of his family.

Krist: as for you my love, don’t be sad, don’t be depressed because it will have a negative influence on our child.

Isabelle: why are you telling me that, you’re not going to go to prison.

Krist: Stella, take care of my wife and do your best to make her happy.

Stella: don’t say that uncle.

The time for deliberation arrived and everyone joined the room.

Judge: Mr. Kristian, after deliberation for possession, consumption and distribution of drugs, everything has been proven, you are unanimously found guilty…

The crowd starts murmuring and cries injustice, the judge continues.

Judge:… you are sentenced to five years in prison, know that you have 10 days to appeal.

The officers put handcuffs on Krist, his wife fainted but he couldn’t see her. Her parents take care of her and take her to the hospital while he is transferred to prison.