Goddess of Justice by Dwayne Clayden (mobi ebook reader TXT) 📕

was working with Detective Don Griffin. A call came on the radio for a domestic assault. We were the closest unit.”

Blighe stepped away from her table and took a few steps toward Brad. “Isn’t it unusual for detectives to respond to the initial call?”

Brad shrugged. “We are cops, and we were closest. Domestics can be tricky to handle. Additional cops are better than too few.”

“I see. Continue.”

“We double-parked out front and raced up the stairs to the second-level apartment. As we ascended the stairs, we could hear an assault in progress.”

“Objection.” Defense Attorney Harry Townsend stood buttoning his blue pinstripe jacket. His gray eyes sparkled as his performance began. “Speculation by the detective. He had no way of knowing what was happening.”

“Sustained.”

Townsend was technically correct, but Brad’s statement was still heard in court. The judge couldn’t unhear something.

“On the way up the stairs, we heard shouts and crashing. In the shouting, we heard the victim—” Brad glanced at the defense lawyer. “Sorry, a female voice screaming for help. When we entered the apartment, we saw a skinny guy, the accused”—Brad pointed at the man seated next to Townsend—“Vinnie Bevan, standing over the victim. Bevan held the victim’s hair in his left hand and was poised for a punch with his right fist.”

“Objection.” Townsend leaned forward, ready to stand. “Again, the detective seems to know things that didn’t happen.”

The judge pursed his lips. “I’ll allow that.”

This time Townsend stood. “Your Honor—”

The judge held up his hand. “Detective, have you ever witnessed a fight?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And in any of those fights, did someone draw back their arm and throw a punch?”

“Certainly.”

“I stand by my decision to overrule the objection. I am confident the detective can identify risk.” The judge stared at Townsend until he sat.

Blighe nodded to Brad. “Please continue.”

“We had drawn our pistols because we were unsure what the threat was. I shouted to Bevan twice to put his hands where I could see them. The accused refused my requests and punched the victim, his girlfriend, Sylvia, in the jaw. Blood and spit spattered the bedroom wall. I raced to the bed and dove at the accused before he could hit her again.”

“Objection.”

The judge waved Townsend back into his chair.

“I dove at the accused. We crashed into the wall and then slid onto the floor. The accused continued resisting arrest, and with the help of my partner, Detective Griffin, we subdued and handcuffed Bevan.”

“Anything else you want to add?” Blighe asked.

“Yes. The paramedics treated Sylvia in the apartment, and then moved her on a stretcher out to the ambulance. As the accused was being escorted from the apartment by uniformed officers, he said, ‘I’ll finish this later, bitch.’ Then he broke free from the officers. Fearing he would hit the victim again, I subdued him. The uniformed officers took him away.”

Blighe nodded. “I’m sure Mr. Townsend is going to question the force you used. Can you explain that for the court?”

“Absolutely. You’ve already seen the photos of Sylvia taken at the hospital. Bevan exhibited extreme violence toward her. I had no way to know what he would do next—my goal was to subdue him as fast as I could.”

“Did you punch him?”

“I did, to stun him. He was obviously out of control. Sorry … to me, it appeared he was out of control.”

Blighe asked her next question. “And the second time you had to subdue him?”

“Again, he appeared furious. As he pulled away from the uniformed officers, I was afraid he’d knock over the stretcher and continue his attack on Sylvia. I was also worried about the safety of the paramedics.”

Blighe nodded. “Thank you, Detective. I’m sure my learned colleague has some questions.”

Townsend stood and smoothed his jacket, taking his time as every defense lawyer did.

“Detective, do you recall the words you used when you told my client to put his hands on his head.”

“I believe I said, ‘Police, hands where I can see them.’”

Townsend nodded. “That sounds right for your first order. You said my client did not comply. Is it possible he couldn’t hear you?”

“Sure, that’s possible.”

Townsend’s eyebrows raised, and he cocked his head.

Brad suppressed a grin. “Because he was so focused on beating his girlfriend.”

Townsend held his hands out to the judge.

The judge chuckled. “I believe you stepped into that yourself, counselor.”

Townsend made an act out of studying his notes. “What did you say to my client the second time?”

“When the accused did not comply, I repeated my order.”

Townsend consulted his notes again. “Would it be accurate to say your order was along the lines of, ‘Let her go, or I’ll spray your brains onto the walls?’”

Brad nodded. “That sounds like something I’d say.”

“You threatened my client with death?” Townsend asked.

“It was an assault in progress right before me. I had already given the accused a chance to stop. Sylvia’s life was under direct threat.”

“Yet, you didn’t shoot, you tackled and assaulted my client.”

Brad hated this part of the court game. “I’m confused. Are you upset I didn’t shoot your client?”

Townsend puffed out his chest and grabbed his jacket lapels. “Detective, I get to ask the questions.”

“Sorry, I’m just confused.”

“Let’s move to later that night, when my client, was handcuffed …”—Townsend paused for effect—“and was being escorted to a police cruiser. You said you were afraid for the victim, which is honorable. But I understand other officers had to restrain you from further assaulting my client. That, in fact, your attack left my client gasping for air and near death.”

“The accused continued his attempts to attack Sylvia on the stretcher. During the scuffle, he may have been struck in the throat.”

“May have, Detective?” Townsend cocked his head and frowned. “Or you punched him in the throat?”

“I can’t say for sure how it happened.”

Townsend stood directly in front of Brad. His way to intimidate Brad. Good luck with that.

“Detective, you are under oath.” Townsend folded his arms across his chest and paused. “Do you want to revise that statement?”

Brad scrunched his eyebrows. “I’m not sure what your question is?”

“The question,