Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes

Subject: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:11 pm

All had arrived in the main court room. At the left sat Cayden, accused for the murder or over a million people in the Aerial Bombing of Arakai. A Pendragon judge had been elected for this case, since anyone from Arakai would have a biased opinion. "This court has convened to decide whether Cayden Cohen, prior Commander of the Pendragon Armed Forces and Officer in the Pendragon Tactics Division, is guilty for the murder of the 1.354.345 people that have so far been counted dead or missing from Arakai City during the bombing on March 4th. I would like to ask the DA to come forth with proof, documents, or witnesses."

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

The DA stood up and walking up and a file to the judge. "These will show that Cayden was in charge of the attack on Arakai." The DA then walked back to their small table and sat down. Reinhardt was sitting on the right of Cayden, looking over some paperwork.

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:33 pm

Astraria waited patiently in the stands with the other members of the jury. She was hoping that she could convince them that she was innocent...

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:41 pm

The judge passed the file on to the other judges and jury for them to read. It read clear orders from the presidential office for an assault per aerial bombardment, with Cayden's signature upon execution of the order. "It seems that this file would very much so show you guilty. Do you deny running the bombardment, miss Cohen?" Cayden shook her head. "I do not." She knew that at this point truth would get her furthest. And she didn't mind either outcome anymore anyway. "Very well then. Do you plead guilty for the charges of mass murder?" Again, Cayden shook her head. "Personally, I believe the people behind the guns and dropping the bombs aren't fully responsible for their actions. They do their jobs as they are instructed. They served to defend their government. You can't blame them for being used. You can however blame them for what they did, but again, due to being used, they can't be held responsible entirely." The judge rubbed his beard. "Interesting point. I'd like to hear what the DA thinks of this, and the jury."

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The DA sat there thinking for a few seconds before responding. "She was in charge of this attack. She still needs to be tried and punished." At this point Reinhardt took off his glasses. "You're just looking for someone to punish right now aren't you? Tell me then...I've razed villages in the past when I was on deployment, does this make me guilty of murder, even though I was doing as told by my superior officer? You have to at least acknowledge she isn't fully at fault here."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:51 pm

Astraria nodded as he said this. She looked to the other jury members, hoping they'd see things the way she did. She didn't want to lose another friend.

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 10:01 pm

"No, it does not excuse them, but it will influence the gravity of their punishment. Miss Cohen, do you admit to willingly accepting, and executing, that order to bombard the city?" Cayden looked down for a bit, then shook her head. "It's not possible to answer that question with a yes or a no. I did accept the mission, yes, but I did not accept it because I wanted to, or because I thought it would be fun. It was an order and I followed the order. And in response to the DA's comment, being in charge of the attack only means that I told people to do it. While the pilots were the ones who actually performed the action. If being in charge of the operation should make me guilty, then how can I be guilty, if I, too, was under command of someone? It would lead the guilt to the one in charge at the end, being the Prime Minister. And if it's not about who is in charge, then you should be trying those who preformed the bombing, not those who commanded it."

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The DA looked to Cayden. "We are going to be trying everyone behind the attack separately. Now can we move to the point where you said you accepted the mission. Is that a plea of guilt?" At this point Reinhardt stood up and slammed his hand on the table. "Objection, misquoting the accused." The DA looked to Reinhardt and then to the Judge waiting for a response.

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:01 pm

"Overruled. Accused claimed she accepted the mission, question stands." Cayden chuckled a little, but then looked back at the judge. "Again, cannot answer the question fully. Yes, I plead guilty for accepting and performing the mission, no I do not for willingly perform the operation. As I said. I've done what I've done, that doesn't change it. But I never did it because I wanted people dead. I did it, because I had to." The judge rose his hand. "That's enough. Does the DA have further evidence, questions or witnesses to present?"

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

"Yes your honor." The DA walked forward a bit. "I would like to call forth my witness the Ex-Prime Minister."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:07 pm

Cayden rose up from her chair. "Oh come on, you're joking right? Like he'll give a legit statement that's anywhere near the truth, he'll do anything to save his own ass. This is an ins-" The judge hammered the table, calling silence, as a state attorney called Cayden down again. "A witness is a witness."

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Reinhardt sighed and looked to Cayden, placing a hand on her shoulder and then whispering to her. "Calm down, we'll still win, trust me." The Ex-Prime Minister was brought in and placed at the witness stand. Then the DA walked up and after undergoing all proper procedures. "Tell us, did you authorize an attack on Arakai, knowing fully well it would kill many innocent people?"

The Ex-Prime Minister sat down and sighed. "Of course, but I did not authorize a bombing of the cit, just an attack on the group that took it over." The DA then turned walking towards the jury. "So you're saying that the accused decided to bomb the city on her own?" The Ex-Prime minister nodded. "Yes...that's precisely what I'm saying." The DA then walked back to his table. "Nothing further then. Your witness."

Reinhardt sighed and stood up walking up to the witness stand. "So, to verify, you said she's the one who decided to bomb Arakai and not you?" The Ex-Prime Minister looked at him. "Yes that's exactly what I'm saying." Reinhardt then turned walking back to his table and grabbing a few papers back to the witness stand. "Then why do these papers have your signature authorizing the bombing? At this point how can we trust a word you're even saying?" He turned to the jury and handed the papers to them for them to look over. "All that is on those papers is her signature saying she'll be in command."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:26 pm

The judge extended his hand for a copy as well. "Command of what, precisely, the bombing, or the attack?"

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

"Both." He handed a copy to the judge now. He then turned back to the jury. "Ask yourselves this while you are trying to decide on if she's guilty or not. Can you punish a soldier for just following orders?" He then walked back to the table with Cayden. "Nothing further for now. But I will hold the right to call this witness back if needed."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:31 pm

"Very well then, the DA may continue." He gestured for the former Prime Minister to leave, as he was dismissed. Cayden sat unrelaxed. The DA was out for blood. That was the only goal they had, no doubt about it. She knew they'd simply try whatever they could to hang her, even if playing dirty. "I'd like to note that the DA just called in a witness that lied on the stand, thus not just cracking the reliability of the witness, but that of the DA as well for using corrupt witnesses."

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

The DA cleared their throat before. "Nothing Further." The DA then walked back to their Table and sat down. Reinhardt looked to the DA and sighed before looking to Cayden. "Sorry about this." He whispered to her before standing up. "I would like to call Cayden Cohen to the stand."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Wed Apr 20, 2016 8:46 pm

Cayden looked at him as the judge nodded. Uneasy, she went to the stand, taking the oath to speak only the truth and such. She had a bad feeling about this if the DA got to open fire at her now.

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

"Miss Cohen. Tell us, who's idea was it to bomb Arakai?" Reinhardt was standing in front of the witness stand now. The DA was sitting back looking over some paper work while Reinhardt was up there. "Be sure to be thorough with your answer."

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:04 pm

She couldn't help but sigh. "Originally. Mine." He wasn't particularly helping her with this. She didn't know what game he played, but it had better work.

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"I see...so it was your idea, but you regret it correct?" He then walked towards the Jury. The DA was now writing something down.

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:11 pm

"Well yes. It's not exactly that I woke up and though, hey, let's go kill a couple million. I was tasked to find the most effective ways to break morale and destroy the rebellion. So I did."

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

He nodded. "But you were given the order to come up with a plan to stop the rebellion correct?" He then walked back to the witness stand and looked to her. The DA finished writing and was now watching and listening intently.

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:20 pm

She nodded in response. "Like I said, my task was to find the most effective way. According to my research a bombing would do just that. Also, if I might be so bold as to add, that designing this plan was under pressure. I had to design a proper plan for this government to be victorious, else I'd be thrown out on the street and left to deal with things on my own."

VIP User Posts : 2372 Join date : 2013-01-09 Age : 38

"Mmhm. Similar to if a soldier would fail their mission." He then looked at her. "Miss Cohen, would you mind telling us what happened to you after you were captured?"

Subject: Re: Trial - Conviction for Major Crimes Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:27 pm

Her eyes looked at his and she felt like throwing the whole court at him. "I would."

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