>>5204419It took several minutes for officer Grizzie to return to the audience gallery as well as for Lisa to work up the courage to step up to the witness stand under both Solomon and Yan Wong's escort. Sathriel, Solomon, and Yan Wong all knew that Lisa's testimony would make or break the case, but Lisa's current mood clearly signaled to them this may not be easy. What's more troubling was that the first witness seemed to be on edge moreso when Lisa was on the witness stand.
"Now Lisa, can you tell us what happened on the night of that incident?" asked the Prosecutor.
Lisa hesitated. "Am I in trouble?What if you don't believe me?"
"That depends Lisa, are you willing to speak up?" replied Sathriel her face impassive. "If you are willing to tell the truth, then the entire trial will be less painful for everyone involved."
Lisa was silent as she fidgeted on the spot, before slowly nodding as the timid girl gave her testimony.
"I was near Petunia's house when it happened. I was walking down the street when I noticed someone enter Petunia's house, I got suspicious, so I followed the person. There I saw Millie with the Forge core in her hands. I tried to take it back but it was hard to do so with one hand. So I used my other arm and hit her in order to get her to let it go. We kept wrestling over the forge core, but then she somehow got away when that skintalker spell went off. So I chased her outside. And that's when Officer Grizzie came in and slowed Millie down enough for me to stop her."
With Lisa's testimony finished, Sathriel closed her eyes as if to ponder upon the new information. Internally she knew it was bullshit. But since she was playing the role of the fair judge, she couldn't simply tear up the testimony herself and interrogate the timid daughter AND the first witness. Internally frustrated but having no other alternative, Sathriel is left with entrusting that task to her aides.
"Hmm...This is quite the problem. An eye witness testimony that stands to contradict the defendant's witness statement. Left by itself, the situation would turn into a he-said-she-said conundrum." she stated simply.
"...Do you believe me?" asked Lisa.
"That depends on whether your words hold up under the light of the cross-examination phase." replied Sathriel. "Now, Mr. Solomon will 'gently' ask you some basic questions, and you will need to answer him truthfully. This is the cross-examination part. Can you do this?"
Lisa nodded. "Y-yes."
Good. Sathriel turned to Solomon. "Defender Solomon, given that this witness has testified against the defendant, that means you have the burden of cross-examination. This will be important to the trial."
As Solomon stepped out from behind the bench to take the floor he passed by Yan Wong's side.
"Good luck Solomon." whispered Prosecutor Yan. Solomon, stopped mid-stride to address him.
(cont.)
