Page 3 of Sour
The woman took a deep breath. “Currently, Ms. Carter is residing in a mental facility. She is legally unable to make such a claim herself as the state has declared her unstable, taking custody and placing her into indefinite treatment. But these charges are validated with enough evidence?—”
The judge shook his head as his jowls shook. “Enough. I’m afraid without a complaining witness, I must agree with Florence’s motion. The charges of battery, rape, and sexual assault are dropped.” The woman’s face hardened as he slammed his gavel down. “Now, as for the remaining charges, are we ready to enter a plea?”
Florence quickly scribbled a note to me on the back of a piece of paper. She then slid the note and her pencil across the table as I read her cursive writing to myself.
No matter what, do not smile.
I tried to not laugh. Florence made a face then looked away and nodded to the judge. She cleared her throat and clasped herarms behind her back as I swiftly tucked the pencil between my cuffed hands and stood.
The judge looked me up and down. “Well, young man. As to the charges brought before you in this courtroom today, how do you plead?”
I shook my head as strands of my faded blue hair brushed along my face. “Guilty…by reason of insanity.” Despite all my best efforts and Florence’s advice, I stood there and fucking smiled.
Ms. Willows groaned as the random onlookers within the courtroom murmured and whispered. The judge slammed his gavel twice and tried to control the chaos. I simply kept my smile still and enjoyed the show.
Whoops.
“Your Honor.” Ms. Willows stood. “Ziggy Slater has not only admitted to the murder of his father, but he has a long history of violent and terrifying behavior, and is suspected to have committed murder at a young age in regards to his paternal grandmother.”
“Everyone knows she fell,” I groaned.
Florence glared at me for speaking. I just rolled my eyes and let Ms. Willows continue.
“Even still, he has no history of mental illness. His plea is merely a last minute tactic thought up by his attorney to keep her client from facing life in prison, or the possibility of the death penalty!”
Florence shook her head. “What Ms. Willows fails to realize is that while my client does have a long history of violent outbursts and unstable behavior, it is all rooted from a lifetime of abuse and neglect resulting in a misconstrued and altered way of thinking and processing his thoughts and emotions. He had no control over his actions or the crimes of which he is accused! It’s the very definition of insanity!”
Ms. Willows scoffed. “But he has no official diagnosis! No documentation or paperwork recorded anywhere to prove such a claim. Not a single medical record!”
Florence straightened her back and retrieved a stack of papers from her briefcase. She walked over and dropped half the stack into Ms. Willows’ hands and approached the judge with the rest. “I have well over two dozen sworn statements from fellow officers of Officer Slater’s precinct testifying on behalf of my client. They all state how Ziggy Slater does indeed have a history of unmedicated and untreated erratic behavior, describing what fits the court’s criteria of mental illness. A handful of officers also state that Ziggy’s mother had a long and outstanding history with mental illness, which resulted in her death at such an early age. It’s more than enough evidence to open the door to our defense.” The judge flipped through the stack.
Ms. Willows threw the paperwork down and scoffed. “A smokescreen, Your Honor. Ziggy Slater is not mentally unwell and perfectly stable. He willingly committed a heinous crime by murdering his father, consuming a part of his corpse, and forcing his sister to participate in the brutal and gruesome dismemberment and disposal of an officer! Who he then tried to kill! The defense is simply using mental illness as a label to excuse his deplorable actions. While his mother might have been, Ziggy Slatter isnotmentally unwell.” Ms. Willows turned and glared at me. “He is simply evil.”
My heart fluttered at the emotional compliment.
Florence made a face. “Evil, really?”
Ms. Willows forced her eyes away. “Yes. Your client is nothing more than a depraved individual who deserves to be put down, or at the very least, locked up. He is not sick.”
Put down, huh?
I began to burn with anger.
“Oh, is that your professional opinion, Ms. Willows? I didn’t realize you were a licensed doctor as well.” Florence teased the other attorney.
The judge raised his hand. “Easy. Now, Florence, do you have any evidence to prove your client’s mental instability in direct relation to these charges?”
Florence nodded. “I do, Your Honor. As I stated, Ziggy Slater has a long history of abuse and neglect. In addition, there is more than enough evidence of mental illness within his family to prove a pattern. I have multiple specialists ready to testify on our behalf as to how such an upbringing, with the addition of drugs and genetics, can alter a person’s brain development, permanently affecting their mental state and decision making, particularly in violent, traumatizing behaviors.”
Ms. Willows groaned. “The only person traumatizing anyone here is her client?—”
”Save the arguments for the trial, Ms. Willows. As for the plea of guilty by reason of insanity—” The judge hesitated. “I’ll allow it. But Florence?” He eyed my attorney. “You better be prepared to prove, without a reasonable doubt, that your client meets the state’s criteria. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to agree with the defense and put the death penalty back on the table. Do you understand me?” My attorney nodded. “Good. Now, I’ll hear the people on bail.” He turned to look down at the district attorney.
Ms. Willows straightened her posture as she addressed the judge. “Due to the gruesome nature of this crime and multitude of charges, the people request the defendant be remanded pending trial.”
Florence shook her head, annoyed. “Ziggy Slater requires medical treatment and multiple evaluations for his mental state, Your Honor. He needs access to therapy, medications, and resources to help treat his mental illness. We request instead that he be transferred to Wellard Asylum for treatment pendingtrial, under the supervision of this court. He is a prime example of how the system has failed in regards to mental illness. If only Ziggy had?—”
The judge made a face. “Easy, Florence. I’ve already allowed your defense, but this is reaching. Even for you.” He squinted over at me through his thick glasses. “Despite the numerous statements from decorated officers, I’m inclined to agree with Ms. Willows. Your client has no concrete medical record or documented proof of mental illness. And off the record, your client seems pretty sane to me.”
