Blood and Motive

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my name is Jill Baker.”

I adjust my blazer as I stand up and walk towards the jury box.

“And I am the lawyer for the accused,” I look back and point to my client sitting on the right side of the courtroom.

He looks at me with a sorrowful stare, and I give him a reassuring nod as I begin my opening statement.

“The case before us is an unsettling and disturbing one and a tragic reminder that a night of intimacy can sometimes turn into something scary. My client has been accused of murdering Cassidy Jones. A woman whose future was so bright but was cut short due to her murder. Someone killed her but it wasn't my client.”

“But as we begin, I'd like to urge every one of you, the jurors, to dismiss anything you've heard in the media or anything you'll hear about this case, or my client during this trial. This trial is about nothing but the truth, and the truth will be revealed.”

“Now, during this trial I will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that my client couldn't have killed her and this is all prosecutorial bias from the prosecution.” I take a step back and look at the prosecution.

“The evidence will show that my client and the victim engaged in a consensual sexual meeting. But what happened after is a matter of grave concern, one we know nothing about.”

“All we know is that during the early hours of the next day, the victim was found dead.”

“My client is on trial here, not because he is being accused of being a killer, but because of his line of work.”

“The prosecution will present testimonies from forensic experts, who will detail the extensive blood evidence found in the hotel room and the DNA evidence that links the defendant, my client to the crime scene. We will also hear from witnesses who will testify to seeing my client leave the hotel while the victim was still alive.”

“As the prosecution's case is revealed, I plead with you to consider the evidence carefully, and also keep in mind that the defendant's occupation does not define his guilt or innocence, but what defines his guilt is the evidence, and it is your job as the jurors to …

As I continue to give my opening statement, the door of the courtroom bursts open and my assistant Sarah hurries in, my attention is drawn to her as she signals for me to come over to her.

“Your honor, please I'd like to verify a few things with my colleague,” I ask the judge as I walk over to my assistant to hear what she has to say.

And what she tells me next is news that will change the trajectory of this whole case, flipping it on its head.

A case that I didn't know would cost me my career and my life at the same time.

“Your honor, the victim's body has been found.”

I announce and a wave of shock washes over the crowd.