//------------------------------// // Part III, Chapter 9 - Opening Statements // Story: Fitting In Is Hard To Do // by origami //------------------------------// Thorax was woken up early by a guard of the prison banging on the metal bars of his cell. He had only a few seconds to shake the cobwebs from his mind as the guard unlocked the cell and came inside to get him. He was then led from his cell to the prison shower where he could wash up. After his shower, Thorax was led out of the prison to the Crystal Heart where he was aloud to feed. As he did so, he thought about his original goal of sharing love and friendship with ponies, and how it now seemed extremely unlikely, if not outright impossible to accomplish. Without warning, the collar Thorax wore as a prisoner was slapped back onto his neck and locked into place, cutting off his morning meal as well as his train of thought. The guards next took him to the courthouse, where he was led to the holding cells and left until the trial against him would officially begin. As he sat there, Thorax couldn't help but feel worry making a pit inside him; his entire future depended on the outcome of this trial. He could only hope that Plea had prepared a sufficient defense. From what he could tell and what he was told, the stallion had spent a great deal of time on his case, examining all the evidence and interviewing all the witnesses. He only hoped that the trial strategy Plea had devised would be effective. An hour or so later, a pair of guards came for Thorax and took him to Courtroom V for the beginning of the trial. Upon entering the courtroom, the changeling saw Plea sitting at the defense table. An audience of reporters was also gathered near the fence that separated the audience seating from the main trial area. Upon noticing him, the ponies with cameras began snapping pictures. The bright flashes blinded Thorax for a moment, but he recovered enough to find his seat. The guards then secured him to the table and chair, the bindings only giving enough slack to allow him to stand up when instructed. "How ya doin' Thorax?" Plea asked him. "About as well as a pony being put on trial for a crime can feel" Thorax answered flatly. Plea noted the depression in the changeling's voice. "Well, we'll see what we can do about that" came Plea's response, as he went back to reading a paper and reciting the words on it. "What're you doing?" Thorax then asked him. Plea looked up and showed him the paper. "I'm rehearsing my opening statement" he answered. "I only get the one chance to deliver it, and I want to make sure I get this right." He then returned to practicing. Thorax then sat back and looked over the courtroom again. This time, he noticed the prosecution. State Evidence was here again, and had a new set of ponies with her. They were sorting through several stacks of papers and conversing amongst themselves. "What are they doing?" Thorax asked Plea. Plea stopped rehearsing his opening statement and gave a quick look towards the prosecution table. "They're pretty much doing the same as us" he answered. "State is likely going over her opening statement and the two lackeys are giving her their opinion on things she might improve." "Okay" Thorax replied. "What about the trial? How's that gonna go?" "Pretty simple" Plea answered. "I already gave you an overview before, but I'll review what is specifically going to happen today." "We'll start with the opening statements, which is where the prosecution will declare the goal of their argument, and where we will declare ours. After the opening statements are given, the prosecution gets to present their side of the case." Thorax gave a nod of understanding, the trial process being made a little bit clearer to him. Plea went back to rehearsing his opening statement, while Thorax elected to look around. He looked back at the audience area and saw several news ponies looking in his direction. As he did, several with cameras took his photo, blinding him with camera flashes. Thorax looked away and tried to blink the spots out of his eyes. As he tried to clear his eyes, a bailiff walked in and made his announcements. "All rise for their royal highnesses, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor." All the ponies and Thorax stood up and looked to the upper balcony of the audience area, where Princess Cadance and her husband entered. She had her mane well brushed and styled, and she strode with grace to the seat which was set out for her, one with plush faux leather covering the seat and back. Once she sat down, everypony in the courtroom bowed to her, which she returned with a simple lowering of her head. As she lifted it back up, she caught sight of Thorax, and a look of what the changeling swore was revulsion crossed her face. It appeared to him that this trial was very quickly dissolving her opinion of him. The captain, however, was smiling, though Thorax could tell this smile was because the stallion felt that his opinion was being vindicated after all of his opposition to the changeling being permitted to stay in the empire. Thorax swore that he could still feel the hate the prince had for him even through the collar. "Remain standing for the honorable judge Iron Gavel" instructed the bailiff. The ponies kept standing as the judge entered the courtroom and took his place atop the pulpit. After sitting down, the judge instructed the ponies in the courtroom to do the same, which they did. He looked through a few papers before addressing the ponies on the prosecution, defense and jury. "This trial will decide whether or not the accused, one Thorax the changeling, is guilty of the crimes of attempted foalnapping, endangerment of a foal, and assault against three stallions. I must ask all ponies on the prosecution and defense to conduct themselves in a civil manner. I will not have my courtroom evolve into needless bickering and immature name calling. You will present your evidence and question your witnesses, and you will do nothing to antagonize either side." "With that being said, prosecutor, you may make your opening statement." State Evidence stood up and walked in front of the jury, where the twelve selected ponies were all sitting, attentive and ready to hear the evidence and testimony about to be put before them. State cleared her throat and began making her opening statement. "Mares and stallions of the jury, a terrible crime was perpetrated not long ago here in our empire. That crime was the attempt to abduct a filly. Fortunately, members of our guard were quick to the scene, and were able to prevent the crime from going further than it did." "When all the evidence and testimony at the scene was review, it was determined that the defendant, a changeling, was responsible for the act. This changeling, from what we've been told, is the very same one that only a week before the crime took place, was presented to us as wanting to make peace with our empire." "While it is not my position to pass judgement, it appears very much that that proclamation was a farce meant to make us lower our guard and be more susceptible to an attack, which seems to be the case in this situation." "Now, it is not your job to use your own opinions about the defendant in deciding whether or not the defendant is guilty. It is, however, your responsibility to determine whether or not the evidence and testimony shown to you during this trial indicates whether or not the defendant is guilty and should be punished accordingly." "While that is your responsibility, it is mine to bring to you that evidence and testimony so that you may see for yourself what the right answer to the question of the defendant's guilt is, and I shall perform this duty to the best of my abilities. Thank you." State went back and sat down at the prosecution table. Thorax gulped as he saw the confident look she wore. He had no doubt she intended to do everything that she swore she would do. "Defense, you may now make your opening statement" the judge said, catching Thorax's attention. Plea, who had paused to listen to State's opening statement, took a sip from the glass of water on the table, stood up and approached the jury. Clearing his throat, he began his opening statement. "Mares and stallions of the jury, it is indeed true that you have been called here today to hear testimony and be shown evidence in regards to crimes that occurred not too long ago here in our empire. However, as much as the prosecution is counting on presenting evidence to prove guilt, they are also counting on you to act on something us ponies never talk too much about: prejudice." "It is no secret that my client is a changeling, one of the creatures responsible for the attack on Canterlot some time ago. I'm sure that none of you will argue that that incident has caused a great many of us to have an unfavorable opinion of changelings, and perhaps even created a desire in some to punish one when the opportunity to do so presents itself. Right now, there is a changeling here, on trial for a crime, with the opportunity available to all of you to exact revenge upon the changelings by punishing one of them with a trip to the dungeons." "Now, nopony can fault you for wanting to see the changelings face the consequences for their actions, but I must ask all of you a question before you make up your minds to find this changeling guilty and enact this revenge you desire. Is it worth it?" Confused looks passed over the jury as they thought over Plea's question. Plea continued speaking. "Is it worth it to send this changeling to the dungeons as an act of revenge, when in doing so, you could very well be convicting the defendant of a crime they did not actually commit? I don't believe it would be worth it, because to do that would undermine our justice system. A justice system where everypony, and every creature, is tried and convicted based on evidence, and not based on our own personal viewpoints. It is, after all, innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around." "As you hear the evidence and enter into deliberation, I must ask you to remember that this conviction mustbe based solely on the evidence before you, and not your own personal feelings. If the evidence shows that the defendant didn't commit the crime, then it is your responsibility to make sure that they are not convicted of the crime. Thank you." Plea turned and returned to his seat, taking a sip of water as he did so. Thorax looked at the jury; some of them were lost in thought, while others were staring daggers into him. He swallowed a breath and hoped that Plea could present evidence that even the jurors couldn't deny proved his innocence. The judge interrupted Thorax's train of thought as he addressed the courtroom. "Prosecutor, you may now call your first witness."