CHAPTER 4
Soon it was Tuesday morning, exactly a week since Abner and Eliab fatefully walked into Cantery church. Outside the city’s court of common pleas, Debrah and Barack arrived with their clients Ashphenaz and Abijah in toe. Bodyguards helped them wedge their way through the camera snapping journalists and outstretched recorders. Fifteen minutes later, Jethoram, Jeush, Zaham and Abihail arrived. Unlike Debrah, Jethoram was keen to inform the media of his confidence and his ability to triumph. Barack felt comfortable in the packed court, he knew he was more than ready to go. He eyeballed Jethoram as he came in with his team. Soon after, Abner and Eliab walked in holding hands with an entourage flanking them. “Wow! They really know how to play to the gallery.” Barack whispered to a very calm and collected Debrah. Then judge soon entered and immediately commenced proceedings. She read the opening statement, identifying the plaintiffs and the defendants and then proceeded to read out aloud the complaint document. The amount Abner was suing for shocked the whole gallery. She then called out the first defendant. “Ashphenaz Mouri you are hereby accused in this court of law by the plaintiff Mister Nathan Abner that on the morning of Tuesday the tenth of this month you 1. You indirectly trampled on their rights and freedom of association by being sarcastic, and derogatory about the plaintiffs desire to have you appreciate his union with his partner Abiel. 2. You blatantly tried to force your religious leanings on the pair by trying to lead them in your relative truth, in abuse of your office, as a religious leader. 3. You outright refused to marry the pair in contravention of the constitutional provision of chapter 17 of article 9 that expressly requires the state attorney, elders and cap 9.3, all spiritual leaders to marry two consenting adults and provide them with a state issued marriage certificate. The second defendant, the church of Cantery hereby represented by Mister Noel Abijah which you two lead has been sued for condoning and promoting doctrines that segregate and out rightly violate the rights of gay minorities. ” How do the accused plead? Barack then rose up “Your honor, as the lead counsel for the bishop and the Cantery church I enter a not guilty plea on all four charges.” Having studied Jethoram’s dossier carefully he knew he would lap onto his every word and bog him down in a legal mire. Barack and Brenda would approach this carefully and limit their speech to the point that should be communicated. A not guilty answer was enough as he found his seat next to Brenda.
“Well then, I shall call the plaintiff’s counsel forward.” The presiding judge continued with proceedings, her tone measured but authoritative. It seemed like her words were a precious libation only to be used in small quantities. From her raised perch and the power bestowed upon her, she commanded as much respect as a deity. Jethoram buttoned his coat as he rose to take the stage. “Your honor . . . ” He started. “On face value a soccer star has been pitted against a bishop in a civil suit, but to the keen eyed this is a struggle to ensure that the freedoms the nation’s founding fathers used as the corner stones for this great country’s foundations are restored and upheld. For decades, special interest groups like the one bishop Ashphenaz represents have slowly but surely chewed away at them. I say it is high time that the neo-defenders of our country put their feet down and say no to this constant erosion of our ways. These freedoms have enabled us as a nation to grow into the current global leaders that we are. I cannot over emphasize the need to safeguard our freedoms as a nation, or we risk sliding into the anarchy and authoritarianism that is rife in theocratic nations. ” My client Abner is living proof that our system works exceptionally well. For that, I will be the first in line to defend our ways so that every individual in this great state lives a fully productive life they way they see fit, as long as it does not infringe on other people's rights. Our freedoms give us peace and the chance to be fruitful in out lives. The chance to be the best we can be, look at Abner here, he has won many accolades for this country and brought us much success and respect in the soccer world. He duly pays his taxes and does his bit in giving back to the society through his foundation. Look at him, a young man yet so mature. Your honor, if Abner and Eliab are not role model citizens of our nation, then I have no idea who is. I am terrified by the thought of what would have become of our beloved Abner and many like him if our society did not provide an enabling environment for them. I wonder! I am even embarrassed that we are here at all because the demeanor exhibited by the Cantery officials is utterly wrong, morally empty, selfish and inconsiderate.” Debrah then immediately shot up “ Your honor, is the plaintiff's counsel in order in resulting to cheap methods of presenting his case by attacking the person of our clients? We really should stay focused here.” The judge then adjusted her glasses and backed, “Objection overruled counsel, we need to get the full perspective of the matters at hand. May the plaintiff's counsel proceed.” A deathly silence befell the chambers. Jethoram knew he had properly set the stage for his next move. A perfectly choreographed plan to make Debrah and her team look arrogant and conceited. “Your honor, I beg to call my lone witness to the stand.” He uttered his last word and waited anxiously for the roar that would come from the defendant’s side. He surely was not disappointed. “Objection your honor!” Both Debrah and Barack shouted almost in unison. A little startled, the presiding judge turned to them like an owl. Her body was still facing the stand. “What is it counsel?” She enquired. Debrah was on a war path. “Your honor, opposing counsel did not indicate in an interrogatory that we earlier sent them, that they were intending to bring forth a witness. It is against court procedure to present a witness without disclosing whom they are, and the nature of evidence they would present.” Jethoram knew very well that was the best entry point, and he immediately cut off Debrah mid speech. “Your honor, my witness fellowships at the accused’s organization and we saw it prudent to keep her identity and the nature of her testimony private, lest the accused try to interfere with my witness.” With that, he knew he had her fair and square. “Objection overruled, summon your witness counsel.” The judge handed Jethoram that battle victory.
Abijah and Ashphenaz could not believe their eyes when they saw Zilpah walk into the crowded court room. “Tell me your secretary is not Jethoram’s witness.” The surprised bishop asked his deputy in astonishment. Zilpah had worked in the deputy bishop’s office ever since Ashphenaz was deputizing his predecessor and they had no idea why she would testify against them while she knew very well the implications of a guilty verdict. Nevertheless she took the witness stand, and Jethoram began examining her after she identified herself and had taken the oath. “Good morning Zilpah” Jethoram started. “Yeah I am fine, thank you.” She answered. Jethoram then continued. “Miss please would you be so kind so as to tell this court your whereabouts on the morning of Tuesday the third of this month?” “I was at the Cantery church annex hall saying my morning prayers.” She answered. “And what occurred concerning today’s case?” Jethoram went on. The whole time Debrah was rolling her eyes so much only the white of her eye was visible. “Well, I was just concluding my prayers so I could head back to the office when two young men walked in.” Zilpah recalled. “Are they present here today?” Jethoram asked. “Yeah, I recognize Abner over there and the other guy.” She pointed them out. “What transpired then?” Jethoram could not wait to get to the point. “Just about the same time they came in, our bishop walked in through the small back door behind the alter and approached them. I then overheard that they wanted the bishop to join them in matrimony.” Then Jethoram interrupted her. “What was the bishop’s reaction?” “He was lost for words.” Zilpah answered. Not satisfied, Jethoram prodded further “Did he turn them down? If so how exactly did he do it?” Immediately Barack shouted his objection to the question citing that Jethoram was leading the witness. “Sustained.” The judge concurred. “Counsel, I suggest that you refrain from trying to put words in the witnesses’ mouth. I believe you had ample time to coach her before. ” She cautioned him. “Well then your honor, I have no further questions.” He said as he went to take his seat.
“Would the defense like to cross examine the witness?” The judge now turned to Barack and Debrah. “Yeah, thank you your honor.” Barack took the opportunity having taken, note of chinks in Jethoram’s attack. He walked over to Zilpah and started out in a friendly tone. “Good morning miss?” He greeted her. “I am informed that you have been working at the Cantery for quite a long time. Is that true?” He asked Zilpah who replied in the affirmative. “Then why would you luck the common decency even to tell your long time benefactors that you were going to testify against them?” “Objection your honor, defense counsel is way out of line, this case is about Abner and most importantly the rights of gay minorities.” Azam shouted from his seat. “Sustained.” The judge calmly replied. Barack then continued with his next question. “You said that you were praying that you were in the sanctuary’s annex. Right?” “Yes I was.” Zilpah agreed. “From my recent visit there, I recall that the annex is a descent distance from the pulpit, one can not really hear if people at the pulpit are having a conversation close to the pulpit unless they are on the public address system? Would you?” He asked her. “Yeah you are right.” She stammered out her answer. “Then do you mind informing this court how you knew that the plaintiffs prepositioned the holy man of God to solemnize their partnership?” At that moment, Jethoram realized what a terrible move it was bringing Zilpah to the stand. He had practically handed over the case to Barack. A flummoxed Zilpah sat there lost for words. “Well, your honor, I assumed so. Because they had been talking for a while, when suddenly; the other guy who came in with Abner started walking out. He looked frustrated, and started shouting that they had nothing in that church. At some point, he used a term which suggested that Abner was his lover. So naturally I thought that they wanted to get married since Abner had earlier announced to the world that he was gay.” Barack could not wait to realise his sucker punch and finish her off after Zilpah unwittingly boxed herself with insinuations. “So I heard you right, you did not actually hear their conversation up until Eliab shouted, and from one sentence you made up what their talk must have been about?” The question was rhetorical in nature as Barack turned to the judge and said, “I do not have any further questions your honor.” Immediately after Jethoram rose up and took Barack’s position. “Miss. Zilpah, would you say that one can gat the nature of a conversation by reading the body language of those communicating?” He asked his witness. She agreed, upon which he went on. “From your judgment, was the conversation cordial?” “No your honor, Ashphenaz seemed disgusted the whole time, at some point Abner clenched his fists prompting the bishop to step back in fear.” She immediately realized that she was only making things worse and quipped, “ then I realized he gestured as if to wipe out tears from his face.” Jethoram then cunningly attempted to paint a poor picture of the church with his next question if only to steady their sinking ship. “As a long time worker at Cantery church, what would you say is the bishop’s position towards homosexuality ?” “He is extremely against it and would not compromise on the issue. He once expelled my daughter from the church when she came out and announced that she was gay. He has forced the same policy on the church, compelling many people to leave due to his authoritarian approach to the matter.” Zilpah explained her working relation under Ashphenaz as Jethoram presented an admission to the judge. “I have no further questions your honor.” He said. Emotions ran high, and the sole voice of reason permeated the air. “Would the defense like to re-cross examine the witness?” The judge offered as she glanced through the admission. “Yes, thank you your honor.” Barack answered as he listened to the last word Brenda was whispering to him. He then walked toward Zilpah, a wry smile on his face. “Miss Zilpah, you said you were at the sanctuary annex praying, right?” Barack set her up. “Yes my lord.” She answered. “Then can you without a doubt say that the bishop was sarcastic or used any derogatory terms?” “No, I can not confirm.” Zilpah answered. “Did the Bishop in any way try to convert the plaintiffs into members of the church?” He followed up with another question. “I do not think so.” She answered. “Then I rest my case your honor.”
“Okay I have heard enough.” The judge said. “By the powers bestowed upon me, I have decided not to let this case to drug on for long. The two sets of counsels in their own ways have demonstrated that it is pretty much an open and shut case. In my wisdom, I clearly understand its merits and demerits and would be issuing my ruling this afternoon. For now, we shall adjourn until2:00 pm.” All the lawyers knew this one was coming, but the gallery was caught unawares. Jethoram rushed out while Debrah just could not hide her delight. Soon they were all back. Everyone took his seat when the judge was settled. She did not waste much time in reading out her ruling. “Having heard both sides in the case of Nathan Abner verses Bishop Andrew Ashphenaz and the Cantery church, I find that this suit does not have a strong basis and was prepared mainly out of egos and silly vendettas. I would like to point out such gross abuse of the courts should be discouraged for it only clogs up the legal system. Pursuant to that I, therefore, find the bishop not guilty of the first and second offenses in the charge sheet. The plaintiff’s witness was unreliable, and they could not prove beyond reasonable doubt the charges they had leveled against the accused.” There was a collective sigh of relief from Abijah and his bishop. “However this case has brought to the court’s attention serious illegalities perpetrated by the bishop. I hereby find him guilty of breaking the state law chapter 16 cap 6 of the constitution in refusing to marry the plaintiffs as stated by his own admission in the document presented before me by the plaintiff’s counsel. In my second ruling, the church of Cantery is evidently guilty of charge number four, for promoting segregatory practices that are against the law. In light of this, I hereby sentence that the bishop serves a one year suspended sentence and Cantery church be fined five thousand pesas for their respective convictions.” She then grabbed her gavel and banged it down, with that; the court sentinel ushered her out. Barack hugged Debrah as the miracle of the ruling sunk in. They had just realized the bishop from the noose in one day in what was expected to be a drawn out war. He went and shook the bishop’s hand and watched as Jethoram packed his belongings after getting his first ever taste of defeat. They had sued the church for an unbelievable sum, and he felt that the ruling was good enough. All Jethoram had to do was stay out of trouble for at least one year.
Abner and his group had long left when the bishop stepped out of the courts with his arms raised up in victory. Barack and Debrah followed closely behind. Ashphenaz and his men were thanking God for his great deliverance in answering the barrage of questions that came their way from the journalists. Meanwhile, Debrah tried to sneak away unnoticed when they caught up with her too. “Madam Counsel, what is your take on today’s ruling?” One guy asked him. Debrah being the usual perfectionist, answered. “We are happy the judge realized early on that most of the accusations were flimsy and baseless, but we still intend to appeal the two unfavorable sentences. Someone needs to restore some morality to this country. It is a sad day when a church gets fined for sticking to what is right before God. In this sentence, you do realize that the priest has been effectively gagged, and that is simply not acceptable.” With that brief statement, she was chauffeured away. Later that evening; she stretched herself a top the sofa in her office with a glass of wine as she pondered just how wretched the society had become. “Surely, no one knows what is good for people, during these few days we pass through life like a shadow. God’s righteous rejoice at the cramps thrown down at them by evil souls. If only our savior came back sooner.” She thought.
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Appreciation
Thanks for reading through my work.
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ul girlfriend Tinsae Haile for the inspiration she provided and showing interest in my indulgence.
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