Chapter Eighteen: Leaving You

The day of the trial has arrived. It is time to say goodbye to Connor. Everyone was in attendance for this trial. The crowd shuffled inside, took their seats and wait for Connor to enter with his lawyer. The doors to the courtroom swung open as Connor stepped inside. The crowd became silent, as he slowly made his way towards the table. There, sitting at the table to the left of him was his uncle Brett and aunt Lisa, and his cousin Mia. The bailiff comes inside the courtroom: "All rise, for the honourable Judge Edwards."

"You may be seated, "said Judge Edwards. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here today for the trial of Connor Banks, on the counts on a whole bunch of crimes against him, but the two that we are here to bring forth to trial today are the crimes of sexual assault and having sex with a minor, which is classified as rape. Now, let's begin. Will the defense call their first witness?"

"Yes, your honor, we would like to call Mia Bennett, to the stand," said the lawyer.

Mia got up from her seat and slowly approached the stand, the bailiff began to read off the rights to Mia as she placed her hand onto the Bible. She sat down, as her parents lawyer approached her: "Now Ms. Bennett, please tell the court on what happened to you on the night that you were raped by Connor Banks?"

"Mia began to collect herself, on what she was going to say. She's tried to remember what she told her godfather: "I was at my cousin's house for a sleepover. We were playing Just Dance on her Wii. Afterwards, I told her that I needed to go take a shower; to get rid of the sweat."

"Now, where was Connor when you were coming out from the shower Mia?"

"He was downstairs, watching TV."

"What was he watching when you walked downstairs with your towel around your waist?"

"He was watching porn."

A shocking gasped filled the room as the Judge slammed his gavel; to bring silence to the courtroom: "You may proceed."

"Ms. Bennett, what happened after Connor saw you with nothing but a towel on?"

"He got this weird look in his eyes, as he started to approach me. He quickens his pace and chased me up the stairs. My towel flew off as I ran into my cousin's parent's room. I jumped onto their bed and hint underneath the covers. He kicked the door opened, closed it and walked over towards the bed. He ripped off the covers, as I started to scream. He jumped on me, as I tried to kick him off me. He overpowered me by pressing down on my chest with his left hand. I continued to scream for help as he removed his pants. Without warning…" the lawyer stopped her from explaining any further. As Mia started to cry as she was handed a tissue: "I have no further questions your honor."

As her lawyer sat down with her parents, Connor's lawyer approached her: "Ms. Bennett, after you got out from the shower, why didn't you head back into your cousin's room? Was something else going through your mind as you started to head downstairs?"

Mia's eyes suddenly grew big, her lawyer stood up: "I object! He clearly getting inside the witness mind!" the judge spoke: "Sustained, announce the question in a different manner."

"Yes, your honor," said Connor's lawyer. "Ms. Bennett, did you do something to get my client to notice you? Did you feel a sense of weakness when you showed him your exposed body?

"I Object!" announced her lawyer. "He's drawing pressure onto my client." The judge slammed his gavel down: "Sustained, please address another question to ask the witness, or I'll ask you to sit back down."

"Yes, your honor," said Connor's lawyer. "Ms. Bennett, while you were screaming, why didn't your cousin come to your recused during the attack?"

Mia looked at the judge and her lawyer: "She told me that she didn't hear me scream, due to the parent's door being closed."

"I have no further questions."

Mia stepped from the stand and walked back towards the table. Her mother gave her a big hug as the judge calls on Connor's lawyer; to call his witness to the stand: "I would like to call Ms. Amber Banks, to the stand."

Amber got up from her seat and walked towards the stand. The bailiff began to read her right's, as Connor's lawyer walked over towards her: "Now Ms. Banks, what happen during that moment when your cousin was screaming for you?"

Amber looked deep inside his eyes, and spoke: "What Mia said is true, I told her that I didn't hear her screaming because my parent's door was closed. Until, I saw her limping in my room with blood dripping from her vagina. She told me that Connor, that fucking prick right there, raped her."

Connor's lawyer stood there frozen in fear and stepped backwards. He quickly puzzled himself and approached her again: "Ms. Banks, now why did you claim that your brother raped you and not your cousin?

Amber sat back inside her chair and answered his question: "The reason why I said it was me, because I didn't want my cousin to get in trouble with her parents. They were already going through their divorce. I didn't want more pressure on her."

"Ms. Banks, you do realize that you are under oath. You went back on your statement when you testified against your brother. You're looking at some serve jail time for this," said Connor's lawyer.

"Yeah, I understand that. Let me ask you something though? Where is your proof? Where does it say that I lied against the law?

Connor's lawyer walks back towards the table and pulls out a document that has the following statement that Amber made when she was a kid during her brother's first trial. He walked on back towards her and the jury: "Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I have here in my hand a document that one Amber Banks said in her brother's first trial. As the statement says, "I Amber Banks has given my rightful testimony on the actions on my older brother Connor Banks, that he did in fact rape me, and told me to keep it between him and I. Now Ms. Banks, does this statement that you made sound like you? or from someone else?"

"I Object! you're honor we the people of this court don't know if this document in fact is true statement that Amber Banks did testify this statement about her brother. Unless, we run a test on the document; to see whether or not it's true or not."

There was a calmness in the court room after the lawyer spoke, the muted conversations of the jury's lips as the decision was about to be made. Mia sat inside her seat, clinging onto the table; waiting to hear the final verdict. The judge finally brought his attention back towards the court room, after speaking with his bailiff: "we will review this document that was brought to my attention. I will reach a decision after a short recess," said the judge.

Amber stepped off from the stand; to check on Jackson and her family: "What was that all about?" asked Amber. "I didn't know that he would pull this out from his ass so early in the trial."

"I think he's trying to sway the jury in believing that Connor is innocent," said Jackson.

"I know that Jackson, I'm just wondering what is on that document? I don't even remember saying those things. It's been so long ago since that trial."

Amber's mother and father meant up with Amber and Jackson, outside the court room.

"How are you feeling Amber?" asked her mother.

"I'm alright, just thinking about that document."

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about it Amber. From where I was sitting, I have a feeling that document isn't true at all," said her father.

"I hope so."

The bailiff started bringing people back into the court room. Amber walked back towards the stand, as the judge stepped out from his office with the document in his hands: "You may all be seated." The room became silent once more as the judge prepared himself to address the document: "Before this court room was at recessed, the following document that was given to me by Connor's lawyer that shows a testimony given by one Amber Banks. After reviewing this document, I have concluded that is document is in fact… False!! This information doesn't match up with the testimony that we have on file. This document that I hold in my hands, is the true testimony of one Amber Banks saying that she wasn't the rape victim. Ms. Banks, you can go back to your seat."

Amber got off from the stand and walked back to her seat. The air inside the courtroom started to change, that with each and every minute that went by Connor's days were numbered. It was time for Mia's lawyer to bring forth another witness that will shock even Connor and his lawyer: "I would like to call Dr. Victor Dawson to the stand."

Connor looked shocked as he saw his former psychiatrist approach the stand with a folder what seem to be his records from when he was at Dawnwell. His lawyer looked at him and whispered in his ear: "Don't worry Connor, I will handle this."

"Like hell you won't," said Connor. "You saw what happened when you pulled that fucking fake document out from your briefcase. There is no way you can change the tile of this court room around. I'm fucked."

"Look, just have faith in me. I will get you out of here safe and sound," said his lawyer.

"We'll see about that."

Mia's lawyer approached the stand; to question the fellow doctor: "Now Dr. Dawson, please introduce yourself to the court and the jury on your relationship with Mr. Banks."

"Why certainly, my name is Dr. Victor Dawson, I was Mr. Banks therapist during his sentence at Dawnwell Psychiatric Centre for the Wellness and State Prison. During our sessions, he has brought up his vase history on what happen during that night and his time at the Centre, getting treatment and help for his health."

"What were Connor's diagnoses during his time at the Centre Dr. Dawson?"

"I Object, he is pressuring the witness to share private information about my client that isn't cleared," said Connor's lawyer.

"Overruled, the witness is allowed to address the information that he has provided to share with the court and the jury," said the judge. "You may proceed with your question."

"Thank you, your honor, now Dr. Dawson please address the jury on the diagnoses of one Connor Banks."

"During our session's, I have noticed that Mr. Banks wasn't telling me the whole truth about what happened during that night. The only truth that he mentioned was during his stay at the Centre. Mr. Banks long term memory wasn't that great, that he added things in his story; that would make sense. I also noticed that there was a change in his brain activity when I brought up the question about that night. He's brain waves changed from calm to chaotic. He suffers from a case of Paranoia and PTSD."

"So, what you are saying that Connor was telling you lie after lie about that he did rape my client and not his sister?" asked Mia's lawyer.

"Yes sir, that is the truth."

Connor started to panic in his chair and looked at his lawyer: "You better have something up your ass to change this all around."

"Thank you, Dr. Dawson. I have no further questions your honor."

The judge drew his attention towards Connor's lawyer, Connor started to freak out more, that his lawyer is just sitting there. Doing nothing to save him: "Do you have any questions to ask Dr. Dawson?" asked the judge. Connor's lawyer froze in fear, he didn't have any more tricks up his sleeves; to save his client. He rose from his seat, Connor looked at him: "What are you doing?" His lawyer brought his focus onto the judge: "I don't have any further questions you're honor." Connor was shocked and betrayed that his own lawyer just signed his client's death certificate. Connor knew that this was the end.

As the doctor was brought back to his seat, the judge began to issue the final judgement: "I have heard enough to carry this final decision over to the jury, as they have the power to choice whether or not that Mr. Connor walks out of here as a free man or is to be sentenced to death."

The jury was about to be brought into the room; to make their final decision. None of them were moving from their seats, as one of the juries stood up: "You're honor, we the jury don't need a room to come up with a decision. Are decision has been made, and we the jury finds Mr. Connor Banks, GUITLY!!!"

"Without any further delay, I sentence you, Connor Jacob Banks, to be sentenced to death for sexual assault on a minor. May god have mercy on your soul. This court is juried."

There was tears of joy that filled the court room from both parties. Mia and Amber hugged each other in success. That is nightmare is finally over, as the guards handcuffed Connor and escort him towards his final resting place.

The lights flashed on; the cold air of death filled inside the room as both families were brought inside the watching room; to see a monster be put to rest. The chamber door swung open as the guards bring Connor inside the room and sat him onto the chair. Sparing his arms and legs onto the chair as they lowered the bowl onto his head. The judge walked inside the watching room, with the families sitting and waiting to see the sparks fly: "Mr. Banks, do you have any last words to say to your family before your final judgement can be issued?" asked the judge.

Connor looked at each of their eyes, their cold bloodshot eyes says it all. That they wanted this to happen. That they wanted him to be put down, like an old sick dog. Connor brought his focus onto both Amber and Mia, as he can see a hint of joy but not much sorrow. They didn't care that he was going to die. It didn't even cross their minds. Connor didn't know what to say or why he needs to waste his final breath for. What was he even going to get from this? Nothing at all. Connor brought his attention towards the judge: "There is nothing more to say to them, they already got their wish. Just go ahead and end my life," said Connor. The judge signal towards the guard to issue the final judgement. The switch flipped on with such force that it coasted throughout Connor's whole body with such intensity. His body jolted back and forth as each shock strung a nerve. As the judgement continued, there wasn't a single fitch from their eyes, they watched every moment, every reaction and every struggle. Connor's body was slowly fading as the final surge of electricity centered around his heart, with that surge his body laid motionless. Connor Banks was pronounced dead. The final surge of electricity blew up his heart from within his body. There was no reaction from what just happened, as they all got up and exited the watching room. Leaving his body to rot.

End of Trapped Within…