The Trial of Hildmor d'Kridis

[*kitteninablender]

*Ponders if his request is being completely ignored.*

[*Darkrob]

*before Khazeet has a chance to reply, Charles hands a note, and a paper, to the Bailiff. The paper is a loan application from Officer Mathias Greymane. The note is permission to speak. If permitted the following is stated. If not... it is stated right after the prosecution is done.*

Your honour, *sighs slightly* it is with great regret that I must, yet again, object to the prosecutions witness. The Prosecution, once again, has strongarmed their way into this court with, potentially, underhanded means. I submit this loan application as Exhibit B. This was found while searching public records in preparation for this trial.

It reads as follows...

(((Taken from the Normal IC forum. Assume submitted documents match the post)))



“Mathias Greymane and Xan head to the main bank of Sigil and see about securing a business loan for a certain local bar that might soon be on the market ((Khazeet's, if he ends up in prison)). He presents a detailed business model for expanding, adding a small indoor kitchen and dining area. He provides tax documents showing his income from his Harmonium salary along quarterly statements showing the money he makes adventuring and trading in Sigil. He also mentions that Xan has experience working in a bar/restaurant and is willing to co-sign on the loan. The loan amount should include the initial purchase price and expenses for the remodeling. “

As you can see Mathias Greymane of the Harmonium had entered a loan application to secure Master KhazeetÂ’s bar as his own should Master Khazeet be found guilty for the crimes the Harmonium originally leveled against him. This was done before Master Khazeet had even had the opportunity to defend the charges in court. This can only conclude that the Harmonium was willing to do anything, possibly even fabricate evidence against Master Khazeet, to find guilt and obtain his business. It is absolutely conceivable that Master Khazeet decided to testifyÂ… to repeatÂ… anything the Harmonium told him in fear of being tried and having to forfeit his business due to Harmonium intimidation and threat.



That is a direct violation of Master KhazeetÂ’s rights and a direct abuse of power by the arresting officer, Mathias Greymane, Mover One Erroc and their supporting Faction. It shows probable cause that the targeting of Master Khazeet can be directly associated with the intent of Mathias Greymane to gain financially from Master KhazeetÂ’s threatened incarceration. Due to this shadow being held over the testimony, the court, the defense and the public could never be wholly satisfied that he testified freely and not under duress or threat. Using this testimony would ultimately leave the stain of State corruption attached to itÂ… reasonable doubt will always exist for this testimony. It will always be questioned as to if he was actually charged and pardoned for intent of law or simply for the profiting of Harmonium officers who simply laid charges against him to steal his business from him or to force testimony.



Therefore I must move to immediately dismiss Master KhazeetÂ’s testimony. Any efforts by the Harmonium to use this testimony further, or objection of this motion by the Harmonium, will only enflame the aura of suspicion and speculation over the intent of the testimony and will only corrupt an already shaky trial. Mr. DÂ’Kridis will never be seen as having a fair trial under these circumstances. Reasonable doubt will never be satisfied.


Also where the Fraternity is involved... no, Officer Erroc... you do not have jurastiction in the actions of the Fraternity over the crimes of their own member against their own court. You can arrest... but the Fraternity holds finality over their own member and the Harmonium cannot arbitrailly "forgive" the crimes of the Fraternity member in the eyes of the fraternity any more than the Fraternity can "forgive" the actions of a Harmonium rogue in the eyes of the Harmonium.

Unless... of course... you can tell our honourable judge that your word, over matters of law... is greater than his...

[*Darkrob]

Also...

You are well aware that the Fraternty holds jurastiction of law over Sigil. The alleged crime happened in this city.You could not take him to Arcadia as that would be illegal transportation of a Fraternity member and you would be subject to Fraternity law and arrest.

[*Xndar]

The gauth slams its gavel

"The witness will have fifteen minutes to collect himself. He will do so in the courthouse's holding cell under the supervision of the council for the defense and prosecution while a team of Fraternity clerics and mages will examine the witness and attempt to ascertain whether he suffers from a magical ailment as he claims, and to reverse said condition if it exists so that he may be properly questioned by the defense. A judgement will be made once the results of said examination have been made available to the court as to whether or not the witness will stand for further questioning."

[*Agony_Aunt]

attempt to ascertain whether he suffers from a magical ailment as he claims,

((OOC: He's not claiming to a magical ailment... d'Kridis and Raven really did put the fear of erm.... d'Kridis into him)).

The Fraternity clerics would look over McStickley and report to the judge that there is nothing magical about his fear, it is a deep seated trauma. Pushing him back into the trial is risky, but they can try some stronger spells that may bolster his morale to the point where he will be more normal... at least as long as is required for the trial.

They do not give any guarantees about his mental state afterwards though, and if they do put him through this, they may be responsible for totally destroying the man's mind. They would like a ruling and an official signature on the appropriate form before they will consent to doing this.

[*Darkrob]

Your honor

The court should not be prepared to destroy a mans mind simply because they can. Even if placed under ward it is extremely likely that he will... snap... and be unreachable for the rest of his life. The courts do not have the right to choose such a fate for this man.

It is plainly obvious that he has already skirted along the line of insanity. His thoughts are unclear and muddied. Any further probing will destroy him.

I move to dismiss the witness and invalidate his testimony as it is already questionable due to his instability and also Defence objects to any attempts to being forced to destroy his mind completely during cross examination.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

Cratten lifts his hand to speak, if not allowed to speak, he'd pen down the following on paper to be given to bailif.

[i]"Yer honor, I object this clear attempt of downplaying the necessity of prosecutions evidences. The witness is afraid, but such behavior does not produce false statements, especially the written testimony which was written out of court. If ye dismiss this evidence on these basis, ye may just let any thug whom threatens to beat others walk free from this point onwards. That ain't rational thing for anyone to do, now I ain't saying that the witness has to persist in the court if ye deem him to be unable to continue. To ruin rest of his life over something like this ain't rational thing to do either, but ye can't just cast away the entire thing. Or what's going to be next? Defense claims the next evidence has too many illiterate flaws penned down and leads to "misintepretations"? There ain't anything questionable than suddenly every witness and people working against d'Kridis losing all their credibility, like say certain other member of Fraternity not long ago. How many members of Fraternity oughta face tragedy until reason is seen? Now I apologize my speculation, but this is an outrage. Instead I have counter offer. The defense [b]lawyer[/b] to question the witness in private with judge and prosecution only present. That way the witness need not be afraid of the accused yer honor."[/i] [/li]

[*Reptiller]

So far Hildmor has been silent during the trial, watching the procceeding with calm but calculative gaze. He doesn't seem particularly worried but the man is known to be one of the best in hiding his true emotions...

[*Darkrob]

*Charles looks towards Cratten as the prosecution orates a specific line of his speech. This in particular:

There ain't anything questionable than suddenly every witness and people working against d'Kridis losing all their credibility, like say certain other member of Fraternity not long ago. How many members of Fraternity oughta face tragedy until reason is seen? Now I apologize my speculation, but this is an outrage

He then motions for permission to speak. If granted:

"Are you accusing my client of something... officer Cratten? Might I remind you of the laws of slander and malicious prosecution and assination of character? You would be wise to withdraw your... poorly concealed accusations else I'll have no choice but to petition the court to have you removed from this trial and move a motion before the Fraternity to call for an immediate mistrial..."

*if permission to speak is not granted, the defence asks for recess and immediately applies for the removal of Cratten due to malicious prosecution and an immediate order, before the Fraternity (not the judge) for mistrial*

[*Xndar]

The gauth judge allows both sides to say their piece, whether because it is seriously weighing their words or because the bickering amuses the judge is beyond knowing as the facial expressions of such creatures are notoriously difficult for humanoid sensibilities to puzzle through.

"The court will receive a copy of the written testimony of Mr McStickley immediately, whereupon it will be compared with the writing samples this court has of his previous work to verify its authenticity. Provided that said authenticity can be assured beyond reasonable doubt, the testimony will be read aloud before the court. The defense will have an opportunity to briefly point out any factual inconsistencies they find in the testimony, and then we will proceed to the next witness.

Mover Cratten. While your remarks constitute more of a statement of fact than anything else with regards to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding many who have previously been involved in cases against the defendant, you know you are treading on rotten ice or you would not have preemptively apologized. I will replace both of you if this trial begins to devolve into any further witless bickering."