The courtroom that day looked normal just like it always does. The wooden benches were the same the lights were the same. There was the same silence before the judge would speak. Nothing about it looked special. The people in the area were sitting quietly some of them looked bored and some were just waiting for something to happen. The police officers were standing behind the criminal just like they do every day. The lawyer was holding his papers. You could tell he already knew exactly what he was going to say. The courtroom that day was a regular courtroom, with the same routine, as always and the lawyer was ready to talk about the criminal.
The criminal was standing on the side. He was a boy, maybe twenty two or twenty three years old. The orange jail clothes looked really big on the criminals body. The criminal was thin. Looked a little weak. The criminal had his head down the time. The criminal did not look angry or dangerous. The criminal just looked quiet like the criminal was already tired, from everything.
The judge. Sat down slowly. The judge looked tired. The judge had cases that day. This case was not important, on paper. The file of the case was thin. The file of the case had pages only. The judge opened the file of the case. Asked the lawyer to start with the case.
The lawyer started talking fast. He was talking fast. He read out the charges and the dates and the time and the location and the evidence from the CCTV and the phone records and the witness. Everything sounded very clear. It was like the case was already over. The lawyer talked with a lot of confidence like there were no questions left to answer. He seemed sure about the lawyer case and the evidence, against the lawyer client. The lawyer was talking about the lawyer case.
The judge will listen to what I have to say. The judge is not going to say anything in return.
The lawyer will call the witness. The lawyer needs the witness to tell the court what they know about the case. The witness is very important, to the lawyer and the case. The lawyer wants to ask the witness some questions. The lawyer hopes the witness will say something that helps the lawyer win the case.
The witness came slowly from the side. He was an aged man who was wearing very simple clothes. The witness looked really uncomfortable from the start. The witness avoided eye contact with everyone, in the room. When the witness raised his hand to take the oath the witnesss hand was shaking a bit. The judge did notice this. The judge said nothing at all about it.
The witness started speaking in a voice. He said he was near the crime scene that night. He said he saw someone running away from the crime scene. He described the clothes that person was wearing and the way they moved their body and the direction they went. Everything he said matched what was in the file. The lawyer nodded his head. The police looked really relaxed. The public thought the case was basically done. The witness said he was sure, about what he saw at the crime scene.
The judge asked a question.
The judge asks the witness how they know the person they saw. The judge wants to know how the witness is familiar with this person. The witness has to tell the judge about the person they saw. The judge is trying to figure out if the witness really knows the person they are talking about. The person the witness saw is very important, to the case.
Witness stop.
The man does not answer. The man stays quiet for a time. That silence was really heavy. People start feeling that something is wrong. The public leans a forward. The police also look at the witness now.
The witness swallowed hard. He looked down. Then he slowly looked toward the criminal. The witness was really looking at the criminal now.
His voice breaks a little.
The man says that he knows the person by the sound of their voice. He is really sure that he can tell who the person is because of the way they speak. The persons voice is very familiar, to him.
The judge leaned forward.
The judge wants to know how something was done. The judge is asking for an explanation about something. The judge needs to understand the details of what happened.
The judge is looking for information on the method that was used. The judge asks how this was possible. The judge is trying to figure out what went on. The judge is seeking clarification, on the process that the person used. The judge asks the person to tell them how they did it.
The witness takes a breath and says softly that the criminal is his own son. He says it in a quiet voice the witness does this and he tells everyone that the criminal is indeed his son.
Everything freeze.
The courtroom fell silent it was like everyone stopped breathing.
The criminal suddenly lifted his head. His eyes were wide open. The criminal looked really shocked and confused like the ground was moving under his feet. The criminal said “Papa” without thinking about it. Nobody tried to stop the criminal. The judge did not stop the criminal. The lawyer looked completely lost like the criminals words caught him off guard. The criminal just said “Papa”. Everyone was surprised.
The witness started crying quietly. Tears began to come down his face. He said that he did not know it was his son until the day they were in court. He said that when he saw his sons face and heard his voice he knew immediately. The witness said that he came forward because he thinks that the truth is the thing even if it is very painful. The truth is what the witness believes in. That is why he is telling his story, about his son.
The criminals body starts shaking. The criminal tries to control it. The criminal cannot. The criminal cries openly. It is not shouting, but the criminal is doing some deep crying. The criminals shoulders move up and down. The criminal bends a little forward like the criminals legs are really weak.
The public stay silent. People do not say anything. The public just stay silent.
The police need to stay still.
The judge does not speak for a time.
The silence feels really uncomfortable. It is a silence. The silence is very awkward.
The judge is finally speaking in an clear tone. He says that this situation is really serious. The judge says that a father giving witness against his son is a very emotional conflict. The judge says that the court must be very careful. The judge believes that justice cannot be rushed at this point. The court has to think about the father giving witness against his own son.
The lawyer tried to make a point. He said that the truth is the truth. The judge raised his hand. Stopped the lawyer. The lawyer was trying to argue that the truth is the truth. The judge did not let him continue. The truth is what the lawyer was talking about and he wanted to make it clear that the truth is the truth.
The judge asks the witness if the witness is really sure about what the witnesss saying. The judge wants to know if the witness has no doubts about the things the witness saw or heard. The judge looks at the witness. Says are you sure, about this. The judge is trying to make sure the witness is telling the truth. The witness and the judge are talking about this in court. The judge is asking the witness to think and make sure the witness is saying what really happened with the witness.
The witness nods again and again. He says that he raised that boy. He says he knows the boys voice, in the dark. He says he wishes this was not true. It is.
Judge close file slowly. That sound of file closing feel loud in quiet room.
The judge says that the case needs to be reviewed. He says that a new judge will handle the case later. The judge also says that counseling is needed. The judge says that the witness statements need to be checked carefully. The judge says that the court will be adjourned.
The criminal is still crying. The father of the criminal is covering his face with his hands. The police are not moving. The lawyer of the criminal is standing silent.
The judge needs to stand up and leave the room. The judge should get out of his chair. Walk away. It is time for the judge to go.
Do not move after the judge has gone. The judge has to be gone before anybody can move. Wait until the judge is completely gone before you do anything. Just stay still and wait for the judge to leave then you can move.
People sit for a seconds more. There is no talking. Nobody uses their phone. It is silence. People are surrounded by silence. The silence is what people experience.
That day the courtroom did not just see a crime. The courtroom saw a family breaking apart.
The truth came out. It hurt every single person. The truth was very painful for everyone to hear. It is always difficult when the truth hurts people especially when it is something that they did not want to hear. The truth can be very hard to deal with. It is always better to know what is really going on. The truth is not always easy to accept. It is an important part of life. The truth came out. Now everyone has to live with it.
Justice does not feel strong sometimes. At times justice feels really heavy.
That day everybody carry that weight.