Trial Starts

The first day of the trial has finally come.  Marie and her defense team, Bob Levinson and Ellis Burks, arrive at the courthouse.  Joey Lasso is waiting for them outside the courtroom.  Together they enter, and take their places at the front table on the right.  Meanwhile, the prosecution, led by prosecutor Adam Silver, is already seated at the front table on the left.

Suddenly, the twelve jurors enter the courtroom, enter the jury box and sit down quietly.

A few minutes later, the judge enters from a door behind the judge's bench.  It is Judge Gelson.  He is known for being a no-nonsense judge, and not very patient with lawyers who are not prepared.

We'll move to the opening statements from the prosecution and the defense...

Adam Silver: This is a simple case of assault and battery.  It happened in a bar in South Philadelphia.  Two groups of men became entangled in an altercation, and one person was assaulted.  He is the plaintiff, Mr. Brian Carter.  Mr. Carter's injuries include a broken nose and cheekbone, and a concussion.  After the incident, an old-fashioned bar brawl broke out, but was quickly halted by bar staff.  The police arrived, took statements, and arrested Mr. Joseph Lasso for assault.  He was taken into custody, and posted bail the next day.  This heinous act was what is referred to as a sucker-punch.  The plaintiff was in the midst of a verbal altercation with one Greg Moran, and out of the blue Mr. Carter was struck by Mr. Lasso, the defendant.  There were many witnesses, and in fact we have a video of the incident.  We'll show the video to you, and we'll hear from witnesses that this was a clear case of malicious battery, and the perpetrator should be punished to the extent the law allows.  Please consider this charge for what it is, a vicious assault.  Thank you.

Judge Gelson: Thanks, Mr. Silver.  Ms. Wiley, you are up.

Marie Wiley: Thank you, Your Honor.  Well, what the prosecution described was indeed partially correct.  Mr. Lasso did strike Mr. Carter.  But why?  Was it a sucker-punch? In actuality, Mr. Lasso was defending his friend, Greg Moran.  You see, Mr. Carter - you can see him in the gallery - he is a very big man.  A pro baseball player.  Very strong, 28 years old.  Six foot four.  And then there is Greg Moran, who is a small man standing 5 foot nine.  When you look at the video, you will see that Mr. Carter is in Mr. Moran's face, and actually pushes him.  When Mr. Lasso saw that, his instincts told him to help his friend.  To prevent him from being seriously injured by this hulk of a professional athlete.  He was simply trying to protect his friend.  He instinctively felt he had to intervene, and was triggered into acting when Mr. Carter pushed Mr. Moran.  Looking at the jury... Loyalty.  I think most people would think this is an admirable trait.  I think you do too.  Thank you, Your Honor.

Judge Gelson: Thank you, Ms. Wiley.  The bailiff comes up to the side of the judge and whispers something in his ear.  Ah, ok.  Okay, everyone, I have been informed that we need to break right here because there is going to be a fire drill in the building.  I don't know why I am just finding out about this now.  We'll continue this on Friday.  Court adjourned.

Everyone gets up to leave.  Mr. Carter, who was in the gallery, approaches the prosecutor...