MURDER CASE
Episode 2
“Court rise!!!” The bailiff shouted and everybody stood up. Justice clement okoro walked into the court room. He was an old man who was probably close to retirement. If you place his age anywhere around 70years, you just might be right because he actually looks younger anytime he smiles and older when he frowns. Today was one of his bad days as he was not smiling. His facial expression could be read in a thousand different ways but mr.
Jacobs read it as, “Am tired of this job, always sentencing people to death”. Truly, Justice Okoro had sentenced countless people to death so when jacobs saw him, he knew his freedom was just wishful thinking.
The case was announced by the court administrator who also announced the presence of all the witnesses.
“The case before this court is a murder case filed by the nigeria police force against Mr. Olundare jacobs” he carefully read.
“Mr olundare jacobs, what is your plea? Are you guilty or not?” the judge asked.
“Not guilty” Jacobs answered non-chalantly.
I just hope he is right, i cant afford to slam a ‘life imprisonement’ sentence. Justice Okoro kept his thoughts to himself. He called on the prosecutor for his opening statement.
A fairly old man stood up. Looking at his face, you’ll think he is a septagenerian but he’s just in his early fifties. If you say he was old due to his family problems, you probabaly would be right because his only daughter chose to marry someone whom he had no iota of trust for.
Despite his disaproval, she still went ahead to marry him. Your guess is as good as mine, his name is Barrister Jim Briggs, father of Mrs grace jacobs whose death, they stand in court today to find the culprit.
“mmm mmmm.. .Barrister Briggs cleared his throat.
Fellow citizens of this nation, we are here today the 21st of october 2013 to prove that Mr. Olundare Jacobs standing here is responsible for the death of his wife, Mrs. Grace Jacobs”.
He hates calling his daughter Grace Jacobs, he rather prefers to call her Grace Briggs but for the sake of the court, he called her the name.
He allowed the information he just dropped to sink into the ears of his audience before he continued.
“On the 15th of august 2013 at about 10:30pm, Mr. Olundare Jacobs allegedly shot and killed his wife. Such people should not be allowed to walk in the soceity as they are bad eggs that can currupt the good ones. I hereby pray this court to serve justice in this case. This is my case”. He bowed and left for his seat.
Justice okoro smiled and called on the defendant. He had known Barrister Briggs to be a man that doesn’t beat around the bush. He always makes his points brief but very strong.
The defendant was a young lawyer probably in his early thirties. His name is Barrister Clement Obong. He was a light complexioned young man with a well trimmed moustache. He fell in the category of people that were created on God’s bad day. He was a very ‘brief creature’. That was the term his clique in the University used to refer to his shortness.
Olundare jacobs who happens to be the accused was also a member of that clique. He got up and looked at Barrister Briggs, he then gave a deadly smile. He had history with Barrister Briggs.
Immediately after being called to bar, the young lawyer Clement Obong had gone into Barrister Briggs Firm to work as a lawyer in the firm but he was turned down. He can still remember Barrister Briggs exact words to him.
“young man, this is not a chamber for jokers with wig on the head, this is a chamber for real lawyers”.
Barrister clement obong has a point to prove.
To show that he is not a joker with wigs on the head but a real lawyer. He arranged his wig and stepped forward
To be continued
