Merriam-Webster definition of peer or plural peers: one that is of equal standing with another: Equal
Short Story by Veronica Cherry
Defendant Gabriel Smith, a 24-year-old male charged with involuntary manslaughter sits with his public defender at the counsel table at his trial opposite from the prosecutor. Family members from both sides at the rear of the courtroom are in attendance stirring about retrieving tissues while a few slips on their distance reading glasses and others remain intently listening. Judge Astor overseeing the trial enters with the bailiff saying, “all rise.” As done; the judge tells them to be seated.
The bailiff switches on the 85-inch screen mounted on the wall above the seated judge who has his built-in desk screen that also lights up. Its programming allows him to submit new evidence as agreed upon by both attorneys and reviews the decisions for errors. In readable and simultaneous audible format, the screens project the date of the trial, case number, State v. defendant’s name along with pleading not guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter followed by prosecutor and public defender’s full names.
Text notes with audio begin. Prosecutor Thomas Johnson submitted all the evidence for this case and Public Defender Anne Merrick reviewed prosecution’s investigation and checked for preserving the defendant’s legal rights as well as their questioning the defendant. Only relevant and reliable evidence is analyzed for this trial, relinquishing the remainder on file. Physical evidence is present in the courtroom.
Prosecutor Johnson’s opening audio/visual statement appeared on both screens: On the evening of June 25, 2035, murdered victim Athena Wilson was found deceased at her apartment by two police officers. Her boyfriend, Defendant Gabriel Smith was the last person to be with the victim Athena Wilson at her apartment. Forensic evidence, testimony of the witness and video surveillance will prove the defendant murdered his girlfriend.
Police report of the crime scene dated June 25, 2035, began when the neighbor Virginia Parker who lives alone, said she heard loud banging noises and a scream coming from Athena Wilson’s apartment that is above hers on the second floor. She looked at her clock and it was 10:15 p.m. The neighbor yelled she was calling the cops and within seconds there was silence. She followed through with her 911 call later at 10:30 p.m. after thinking about it and concluded one scream followed by total silence seemed suspicious. Two named police officers arrived at 10:45 p.m.
On arrival, one of the police officers told the neighbor to go inside her apartment and lock the door. His partner knocked on the apartment door directly above the witness. They identified themselves as the police with no response. The door was unlocked so they entered. Light living room furniture and items were strewn around. They proceeded defensively seeking a possible perpetrator still in the apartment. In the hallway they found a clothed young woman face up with an electrical cord wrapped tightly around her neck that still had the loose end attached to a mini lamp. Sensing no breathing nor pulse, but still warm, they commenced CPR on her until EMTs took over. Attainable evidence was collected at the crime scene. In the hospital after the victim was pronounced dead on arrival, further evidence was collected from the body.
Police interrogation of Defendant Gabriel Smith scrolls down. Police questioning revealed that suspect Gabriel Smith had left the victim’s apartment very upset on the evening of the murder on June 25, 2035 after 10:00 p.m. The victim had called him around 6:00 p.m., as verified by his cellular telephone, to come over to speak to him about their relationship. He answered, “she broke up with me because she got accepted to an out of state university, which was going to occupy most of her time. We argued but it didn’t get violent.” Detective asked, “Are we going to find any surprises about you on her cell phone?” Suspect shook his head. He permitted us to take fingerprints and an inner cheek DNA swab.
Prosecutor’s Evidence: Forensic report of DNA testing of semen obtained from the victim’s vaginal swab matched the defendant’s DNA obtained from his cheek swab. Images of earrings the victim wore the night of the murder has the defendant’s thumb fingerprint on one of them. Testimony of Virginia Parker on the first floor heard loud banging noises and a scream coming from the victim’s apartment on the second floor above her at 10:15 p.m. Video parking lot surveillance at 6:00 p.m. captured defendant parking in visitor’s parking behind the apartment complex. Onward, video shows suspect drove out of the parking lot at 10:30 p.m.
Medical Examiner’s report describes defensive bruise wounds on her outer forearms and hands. Ligature marks around her neck were consistent with the electrical cord removed as evidence at the crime scene. Cause of death; homicide.
Public Defender Anne Merrick’s closing audio/visual statement scrolls down to: My client, Gabriel Smith is a hardworking young man who has never broken the law. After reviewing prosecution’s investigation and comparing with our own, their evidentiary support is susceptible to innocent explanations such as the following: Defendant forgot to mention during police questioning that his girlfriend, Athena Wilson consented to make love with him for the last time. Then is where Gabriel’s thumb print may have been left on her earring, and his semen obtained from Miss Wilson’s vaginal swab. The police report noted that Defendant Gabriel Smith left the apartment “after 10:00 p.m.” because he was not sure of the exact time. When defense asked him, did he go straight to his car, he answered, yes, but had sat in his vehicle for a while regaining his composure before driving off. That explains the video surveillance of his 10:30 p.m. parking lot departure.
Judge Astor selects Judge Verdict Review on his screen so only he could see the data. Silence came over the courtroom as if it was vacant. Thereafter his approval, he clicked Courtroom Merge. The screens projected in audio/visual format as follows: AI has collected all human recorded correctness of justice of the selected State v. Defendant Gabriel Smith as it applies to Involuntary Manslaughter. The analysis of relevant evidence is free of prejudice, biases and misapplication of the law. Tampering protection is autonomously data secured. Before completing the analysis AI asks, are the earrings in evidence have the capability of recording and tracking? They are available in the fashion market as a new technological item. Want help on checking them for technical capabilities? Judge looked straight at the attorneys, and they simultaneously answered, “yes, your Honor.” Accordingly, the judge selected yes. Take your time, noted AI with audio. As the prosecutor retrieved the earrings with gloved hands, AI already had on screen with audio to press the decorative button twice on either earring to hear the playback recording. The judge readied his screen microphone to record in case there was a recording. Gabriel sat stiff with a frozen like frown. His parents portrayed terrified facial expressions. In contrast, the victim’s mother placed her hands together in pleading prayer and his father gave a short sigh.
At the sound of the double click on the circular, designed earring, Athena asked, “you look familiar, and why are you standing in my living room?”
A male, raspy voice answered, “because you didn’t lock your door fast enough after your x man left. Take it easy, I even gloved up for the occasion, so how about you do what I say, and I’ll let myself out__ mmm hmm?”
She said in a high pitch, “I remember; you live two doors down from me. I’m calling the police.”
“You do, and you’ll be my prime cut,” he said in a loud whisper.
Furniture dragging across the floor and her grunting struggles sounded. Louder banging around with a crashing thud dominated the acoustics followed by a captured prey like scream.
“Shut the f*** up,” he whispered.
A high to medium fading squeaks and a fraction of an exhale ended with sudden silence. Diminishing running footsteps ensued then a shutting door resonated.
In the courtroom, “Oh my God,” yelled her mother as her father hugged her tightly and wept. Gabriel slammed his fist on the table to where he was sitting. His mother gaped and his father kept his eyes closed. Judge struck his gavel a few times while firmly repeating, “order in the court.”
Judge Astor submitted the recording to AI and within seconds the audio/text verdict appeared only on the judge’s screen. Momentarily, nothingness filled the courtroom atmosphere. After Judge Astor reviewed the verdict, he clicked Courtroom Merge. Audio/notation began on the large screen. In the case of all collected human recorded correctness of justice of the selected State v. Defendant Gabriel Smith as it applies to Involuntary Manslaughter AI finds the case dismissed. Outbursts of relief accompanied by sorrow countered the judge gaveling and commanding, “order in the court”
I've written science fiction of the near future. I find this a rather pleasing way of reporting that each technological innovation, particularly video cameras doing surveillance and DNA, have greatly improved our ability to prosecute, not only justifiably, but correctly.
The problem of eyewitnesses perceiving wrong, compounded by juries with peers more tuned to hearsay than to forensic evidence, have led to serious convictions of life and death that were not only unfair, they were wrong.
The pace of the story is a little bit pedantic and could be smooth out a bit. But I love it when someone is willing to risk what the future may bring.
3 WAY MIRROR is about a lost identity as experienced by a twenty-eight-year old who thinks he's Charles Randall, until strange events suggest otherwise.
Short Story by Veronica Cherry
