1 The Trial Day

"Hmm...." Jack Wilson groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling disoriented and confused. His head throbbed with a dull pain, and he winced as if someone had poured hot lead into his brain. It took him a few seconds to regain his bearings and understand his surroundings. Looking around, he realized he was sitting in a lawyer's seat in a courtroom.

Immediately he browsed through memories and understood he had been reborn in a parallel world called Blue Star; everything on the planet was the same as Earth, with the same culture, technology background, legal system, and many more.

"Order in the court," the judge's voice boomed, interrupting Jack's thoughts. "Mr. Wilson, you are here to represent your client, John Doe, who is charged with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. How do you plead?"

Jack's heart raced as he tried to remember the details of the case. He had just received his license as a lawyer, and this was his first case. He knew that he had to think quickly and make a strong defense for his client.

"I plead not guilty, your honor," Jack said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Very well. The prosecution will present their case," the judge announced, and Jack braced himself for what was to come.

The prosecutor, a middle-aged man with a stern look, stood up and addressed the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence will show that the defendant, John Doe, committed the crimes of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The victim, Mr. Smith, was attacked by the defendant in a dark alley, and his wallet and phone were stolen. The defendant was apprehended shortly after the incident, and the stolen items were found in his possession. The evidence is clear, and we ask that you find the defendant guilty on all charges."

Jack listened to the prosecutor's words with a sinking feeling in his stomach. The evidence pointed toward his client's guilt, but he knew that he had to find a way to prove his innocence.

"Your honor, I would like to call my first witness," Jack said, rising from his seat.

"Very well, Mr. Wilson. Please proceed," the judge said.

Jack called the victim, Mr. Smith, to the stand and questioned him about the events leading up to the attack. As Smith recounted his story, Jack noticed several inconsistencies in his testimony.

"Mr. Smith, you say you were attacked in a dark alley, but the street lamps in that area are quite bright. How can you be sure that my client attacked you?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

Smith hesitated for a moment before answering. "I didn't see his face, but I recognized his voice. It was definitely him."

Jack knew he had to find a way to discredit Smith's testimony. He called his next witness, a neighbor who lived in the apartment overlooking the alley where the attack occurred.

"Ms. Brown, can you tell us what you saw the night of the attack?" Jack asked.

"I saw two men in the alley but couldn't see their faces. One of them had a baseball bat, but I couldn't tell who it was," Ms. Brown replied.

Jack knew that this was his chance. He asked Ms. Brown if she could identify the attacker if she saw him again. She nodded, and Jack called his client, John Doe, to the stand.

"Ms. Brown, can you tell us if my client is the man you saw in the alley that night?" Jack asked.

Ms. Brown hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm sorry, I can't be sure. The lighting was too dim, and I couldn't see the attacker's face clearly."

Listening to this, a small smile started to creep onto his face. He knew that he had just planted a seed of doubt in the jury's minds, and it was up to him to water it and make it grow.

"Your honor, I would like to call one more witness," Jack said, standing up from his seat.

"Very well, Mr. Wilson. Please proceed," the judge said, looking slightly annoyed at the lengthy trial.

Jack called the police officer who had arrested John Doe to the stand and began questioning him about the arrest. As the officer recounted the events, Jack noticed something peculiar.

"Officer, can you tell us why my client was arrested?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.

The officer hesitated for a moment before answering. "We received a tip from an anonymous source that a man matching John Doe's description was involved in the robbery and assault. We apprehended him shortly after the incident, and the stolen items were found in his possession."

Jack nodded, knowing that he had just hit the jackpot. "And can you tell us who this anonymous source was?"

The officer looked uncomfortable as he answered. "I'm sorry, but we don't reveal the identity of our sources."

Jack knew he had to find a way to get the officer to reveal the source's identity. He took a deep breath and asked, "Officer, are you aware that withholding evidence that could prove my client's innocence is a serious offense?"

The officer paled slightly as he realized the implications of Jack's statement. He took a moment to compose himself before answering. "The source was a known criminal who has provided us with reliable information. He told us that John Doe was the man who committed the robbery and assault."

Jack took a deep breath and turned to the jury, his eyes shining with conviction. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you've just heard the truth about how my client was arrested. The evidence against him is based on the word of a criminal who refuses to come forward and reveal his identity."

He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. The jury was silent, their faces solemn and thoughtful.

"Is this the kind of justice we want in our society?" Jack continued, his voice rising with passion. "Are we willing to convict a man based on the word of an anonymous source without knowing anything about their motives or credibility?"

The jury murmured amongst themselves, and Jack saw that he had their attention.

"But there's more," Jack said, pacing back and forth before the jury box. "The police officer who testified just now hesitated when I asked him about the anonymous source. Why do you think that is?"

He paused for a moment, letting the question hang in the air.

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