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Advocate Marlone
Advocate Marlone
Author: Lie

Not guilty

Author: Lie
last update Last Updated: 2021-06-02 22:27:52

It was finally time for defence’s closing statement.

Aziza stood up with a dazzling smile she was famous for. Walking slowly across the court, looking at each one of the states Lawyers and Advocates. There was no need for her to say anything, she already won but this was her tuff, she was born for it and she will make sure they never forget it.

It’s a beautiful day in Asherway. This day should be recorded in history books because never  has it ever occurred in this country that a panel of all white Lawyers and Advocates represent a black man, pro bono. It makes you wonder what is so special about this case and what is in it for them. 

A big cheer was heard from the audience signifying their agreement with her statement.

Silence in court, irritated court marshal commanded.

You honour my client is a respected activist who has sacrificed a lot for our people. Instead of him being celebrated and acknowledged, we are here handing him to the oppressors on a silver platter for them to crucify him, again. She said looking at the state legal team whose heads had now dropped.

A cheer from the audience was heard, louder than the previous one.

Marlone knew he should object but he had objected so many times that he was feeling like an idiot. He swallowed his pride and braced himself, it can’t get any worst than this anyway, he thought.

Silence in court! Judge Laymore commanded. He was already irritated with himself for allowing the case to come to court and getting impatient with Aziza who was rubbing it on their faces.

Seeing the irritation on the judge and states team was very satisfying to Aziza. She had no intention of making this easy for them.What message are we sending our youth? Old regime soldiers won’t gun us down on the streets anymore like they did to our parents because they now have a more sophisticated way to do it? They don’t train soldiers anymore but produce advocates, lawyers and judges and crucify us through the court of law, genius plan! she exclaimed.

Marlone could not take it anymore, irritation combined with anger saw him jumping off his seat and screaming. Objection your honour! the counsel is deviating from the case with unsubstantiated allegations and pure disrespect for this court.

Sustained, Advocate  retract your statement. If you continue attacking the state and disrespect this court, you will be found in contempt. Judge Laymore said.

Apologies your honour, injustices of the previous regime get me emotional. Surely you can understand that. She said, looking at the judge with her innocent smile and puppy eyes before going for jaguar.

Unsubstantiated allegations brought us here today and this court allowed it. The previous regime monitored my client and photographed him crossing the border the exact time he is charged with murder of a fellow activist. This court has access to those files but here we are, a black man has to somehow prove to this court that he can’t be in two places at once because he has no superpowers to achieve that.

We all want to know who killed Luke the brave one. He was a great leader and his family needs that closure. She made eye contact with Luke’s wife, her sympathy showing on her face. Someone is skilfully using your pain and vulnerability to kill two birds with one stone. Divide and have them fighting and accusing each other, we won’t allow it. We don’t know who the killer is, what we know for certain is their skin colour definitely does not resemble that of  my client.

Marlone threw his hands in the air, burning with anger. Objection your honour! This is madness.

That’s it Advocate Grey, this court suspends your license for six months. Judge Laymore instructed police to remove Aziza from the court premises.

Like I said your honour, sophisticated way to crucify us, she said packing her files and walking out with an applause following behind her as half of the audience stood up and followed her outside.

Judge Laymore was caught by surprise. The media was still recording. The defence bench was now empty and the court was left with only one race, somehow proving Advocate Grey’s allegations.

In his absence, this court finds Mr John May not guilty of the charges. This court agrees with the defence that there was no case here and the state has waisted resources bringing it here. The court therefore orders the state to cover all defence expenses. This  court is adjourned. He knocked his gavel very hard and stomped out, leaving very embarrassed and defeated state Lawyers and Advocates behind.

Detective Peter looked at Steve who was clearly not impressed. Steve, I assure you I had nothing to do with this. I am also as shocked about it. I did not look at the archives because I had no reason to doubt the evidence we had. 

He had worked with Peter for a long time and could tell that he was being sincere. If what you are saying is true then we are both being played and I don’t like it.

Me either, Peter sighed.

Related chapters

  • Advocate Marlone    To Aziza!

    Steve was happy to be out of court and distressing with his friend Dane.Hey Steve, I heard that a girl whipped your ass in court today. Dane said passing a cold beer to Steve.She is full of crap that one but she might be right about the case being a plot. We had DNA evidence and fingerprints putting Mr May at the scene, everything was wrapped up in a package for us to try this guy. Everyone just missed the fact that they have him on camera crossing the border more than a thousand kilometres away when the crime occurred. It bugs me that I didn’t see it coming, now I’m part of some sick racist psychos.Your job is to represent the state, you did, it was just a job.This has nothing to do with you.Steve took a sip from his bottle, enjoying the cold liquid going down his throat. Tell that to Advocate Grey, she was so disgusted with me she wouldn&rsq

    Last Updated : 2021-06-02
  • Advocate Marlone    Collided

    Kissing John and his wife Joy goodbye, Aziza sneaked out avoiding everyone from seeing her leave. If she announced her departure, everyone would want to say their last words and it always ended up being a full conversation about memories of her father and uncle. She just did not want to hear those stories today. In the parking lot, she exhaled, relieved that she managed to dodge everyone.Hey sexy. A husky voice said behind her as two broad hands snaked in, resting on her waist.Get your hands off me Jerome, she said annoyed.A man can’t touch his wife anymore now? he said licking her earlobe.I am not your wife and if you don’t get your hands off me, I will kick your balls again.That’s not funny Az, the last ti

    Last Updated : 2021-06-03
  • Advocate Marlone    A racist

    Good morning Mrs Payne. Sorry I’m late, I met some irritation at your door.Good morning Advocate Grey, thank you for finally agreeing to meet. Please take a seat.Sorry, I have been busy, she lied. Please call me Aziza, she said sitting down.I presume you busy so I will get to the point. There has been a lot of racial incidents in the country and the tension is evident everywhere. If ignored I’m afraid we could end up with a civil war. I have been tasked by the president to bring in a team of leaders and influencers who can look at our policies and give constructive advice on changes that could lead to healing of old wounds and bring all races together. I would like you to be part of that team.Thank you for considering me Mrs Payne. I am really humbled but I’m afr

    Last Updated : 2021-06-03
  • Advocate Marlone    She hates you

    Steve Marlone, I believe I just saw your heart jumping. What was that? Dolly asked narrowing her eyes.Come on Mrs P, I’m just messing with her.Careful with her, she could completely destroy you.How so? He asked curious.You saw how everyone followed her when she walked out of court?MhmmShe has an ability to start war on her own that one, that’s why we need her on this team.You sound certain about that, is there something you not telling me? Steve had thought about the way the audience was cheering Aziza in court. It was almost like she was an inspiration of some sort.I’m late for a meeting Steve, just don’t mess with her, okay.Yes Ma’am, he said but deep down he knew there was n

    Last Updated : 2021-06-03
  • Advocate Marlone    You clearly don’t know her

    Aziza climbed the stairs slowly, she had no intention of getting her there on time. She had to show the white boy her irritation in using her favourite coat as bait to make her come to some stupid meeting. She still couldn’t believe that he actually called her a racist as if she was capable of being one. She opened the door to the conference room, intentionally banged the door and took a seat near the exit.Steve noticed her the moment she walked in. She was wearing black suit that fitted her perfectly. The peach silk top underneath her coat complemented her flawless skin. Her hair was neatly tied in conrows, he could see the precision of the straight lines on her head. Thank you Advocate Grey for finally joining us. I would appreciate you being on time on our next sessions. He said with a smile. The rest of the guest turned to look at her, clearly disapproving of her being late.Aziza glared at him, she did no

    Last Updated : 2021-06-04
  • Advocate Marlone    Gasoline

    Steve and the rest of conference guest rushed out to investigate the commotion outside.Aziza was standing proudly in the centre with Seth and at least forty bikers riding their bikes slowly around her. She was surrounded but didn’t look bit worried.Steve swallowed hard, sweat already coming down his brow. He retied the strapping to secure Naomi who was fast asleep on his chest. If Aziza, a black woman was injured or worse in front of states department by a group of white bikers, there will definitely be war and his vision for the city and country would be completely destroyed. There was no sign of police, he had to do something but what could he do?Aziza looked at her watch and smiled. It was

    Last Updated : 2021-06-05
  • Advocate Marlone    Ticking time bomb

    Steve walked around for the the third time through John’s basement. He forced himself to look at the horrific pictures, read through the horror stories and the shocking end of Aziza’s family. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his shaking hands. How does anyone get over this? he wondered, her words echoing in his head “We are the generation that saw it all, felt it all and we lived with the physical and psychological scars”. Dolly was right, Aziza could start war on her own. She was the gasoline that would fuel the racial tensions and the recent targeting of blacks by Seth’s bikers and framing of John was enough to tip her over. Now she was a time ticking bomb that could go off anytime. He had hoped that knowing more about her would help him confront and reason with her but now he was terrified to even look at her in the eye.He walked up slowly, emotiona

    Last Updated : 2021-06-05
  • Advocate Marlone    Her type

    It was a Sunday morning, Aziza was seating with James eating popcorn, playing computer games while waiting for her laundry.Do you really think we are all racist? James asked uneasy. Aziza was on the news a lot lately and he thought some of her views were extreme.Who is we? she asked.Us, you know, white people. He said shrugging his shoulders.No, just the ones whose parents were born here. Your parents moved here six years ago, I don’t have a problem with you.What about Steve, he asked curious.What about him?He was born here, his parents were born here but you like him.And what gave you that crazy idea? she asked, stuffing

    Last Updated : 2021-06-07

Latest chapter

  • Advocate Marlone    Epilogue

    Four years later Aziza watched the youth flooding in her house to celebrate her firstborn’s twenty first birthday. She could not help noticing the diversity and how happy and in harmony they all were in their different skins. Standing at the balcony, she watched everyone and took in the scenery. Her own twenty first birthday was marked with bruises, scars and hatred for the other race that wiped out her family and hunting her down. How everything was so different now. If anyone told her that one day she would host youths of different races, know each one of them personally and truly love and care about them like her own children, she would have had that person assessed for a mental illness. She smiled when she saw John, Joy and Steve’s parents basking in the sun and chatting happily. All four of them were so old now, they were the best parents she was granted after loosing her biological ones. They will all hold a very dear place in her heart. She laughed when she saw a group of tee

  • Advocate Marlone    Ghost from the past

    Twelve years later, Steve and Aziza finally got a chance to retire from politics and parliament. Even though Steve was no longer the president of Asherway, his ideals and the processes he worked very hard to develop were still in place and kept the country going. He did not achieve a non racial world as he had hoped but he spoke so loudly and widely against racism and got the rest of the world to listen, to acknowledge and work towards non racial societies. There were still isolated racial incidences around the world, some even in Asherway but there were more people speaking out against it than those condoning or making excuses for it. Happy and content that he gave the country and the world his best, Steve could finally be a full time husband and father. As if compensating for the time he spent away from them, the spoiled his children rotten but Lucy Unity Marlone was the most doted of all the children. Even though seventeen years later, Steve still could not forget how his little

  • Advocate Marlone    Weapon of mass destruction

    In Asherway Presidential office, Steve pulled his wife to his arms and looked down at her “Aziza Gray Marlone, what did you do to President Clive?”he asked charmingly.Aziza looked away, avoiding his infatuating emerald eyes “Nothing,”she said softly.“Are you keeping secrets from me now?” he asked, sulking knowing she could not keep anything from him.“He came to hold you ransom with his secret nuclear weapon, I hijacked it” Aziza blurted out. She just could not keep secrets from Steve even when she tried.“What?” Steve asked, shocked. “No wonder Clive was so terrified,” he added.“He had no interest in non racial world Steve,&rdq

  • Advocate Marlone    Hijacked Nuc

    At the Asherway National Assembly, Aziza sat next to Steve and his Vice President with President Clive and his wife across them. At this point both Steve and his Vice President were so angry, they were ready to tear President Clive apart but Aziza had other plans. Her hand remained on Steve’s knee, keeping him seated. President Clive had asked her a question she was very glad to answer “I’m glad you asked me that, President Clive because I have asked myself that very question many times before” she said “You see it’s not about war alone, it can be anything. A racial incident for instance, which side would Steve take? which one would I take? and where would that leave our children?” she added.“That’s what I’m talking about. I am right, am I not?” President Clive beamed.“It depends on what stage of my

  • Advocate Marlone    President Clive

    The Asherway airport was buzzing with activity, national and international journalists were there to capture the moment two very different Presidents with completely different ideologies meet. Everyone was curious to know how President Clive, a known racist would be received in Asherway, a country known to be very intolerant to racists with a President calling for a non racial world. At exactly 11 o’clock, President Clive’s presidential plane arrived at Asherway. He disembarked with his expected all white staff, something journalists did not forget to point out. Steve and Aziza were captured approaching the group.“President Clive, welcome to Asherway” Steve said shaking Clive’s hand before moving to shake his wife. Aziza followed behind Steve and offered her hand but it remained in the air, none of them willing to shake her hand. The journalists went crazy capturing the moment. Steve shook his hea

  • Advocate Marlone    Marlone household

    In the Marlone house, Aziza stood at the door watching her children play outside with a thankful heart and gratitude. Lorraine, Mike and Nick turned out to be a handful from the day they came out of the hospital and now three years later, they had too much energy for her to keep up with. Each day she noticed how each one of them was different, their unique ways of doing things and how they all thrived at creating chaos around the house. Lorraine was the tinniest of the triplets but pulled all the strings. She influenced her brothers on which games they played, got to choose the toys first and always got her way, especially with Steve. It did not help that she had Aziza’s eyes, Lorraine had her father around her little finger, Steve just could not reprimand Lucy no matter what she did. Mike and Nick on the other side were behaving like typical twins, even when following Lorraine they did it together. Mike was the least talkative but Aziza found to be the most stubborn while Nic

  • Advocate Marlone    Merry Christmas

    Christmas eve marked Four days of Aziza in the intensive care unit. She had not improved but had not deteriorated either. Steve remained by his wife’s side more hopeful than before that Aziza will pull through. Speaking to a lot of people restored his hopes. Not hearing bad news from the doctors was also reassuring except he did not know that they counselled his family behind his back. Everyday he moved from his wife to his children with lots of energy and cheerful heart until a call from his deputy President shuttered every hope he had. His deputy happened to be in Steve’s office when John and Steve’s father called the secretary asking him to forward them the policies and protocols should the First Lady or the president be no more. Out of concern the deputy had called Steve to check on Aziza’s condition, unintentionally revealing Steve’s worse nightmare. He did not need to ask John or his father what they were up to, he knew exactly what they were tryi

  • Advocate Marlone    He won’t make it

    In the hospital neonatal unit, Dr Smith finished checking the triplets out. “Congratulations Mr President, your babies are healthy and ready to go home” she beamed. She loved seeing healthy babies.“Thanks Doc, is it fine if they stay here longer. Their mother is..” Steve explained but could not complete his sentence. Just speaking about Aziza made him emotional.“Certainly, Sir” Dr Smith responded sympathetic. “The First Lady is a warrior with the whole country vouching for her, she will make it” she added. She aught not give hope she had no control over but could not help herself. Steve and Aziza’s story was well known, like Shake Spear’s Romeo and Juliet. She could only hope that their end is not as tragic, especially with now four children to raise.&ldqu

  • Advocate Marlone    Too much

    Nine months later, Aziza groaned in pain as contractions ripped through her, each wave more severe than the one before. Steve helplessly rubbed her back while the midwife’s and Dr Hail got ready for the unexpected delivery. She should have known better but everything had gone smoothly the whole nine months, they had put their guts down, took a chance to visit Steve’s parents out of town but then her water broke two hours away from their hospital. She was meant to have a cesarean section because of her previous one and the multiple babies she was carrying. Her operation was booked for the following week but it seemed the little ones decided to come earlier. Now fully dilated, no room for any pain medication, the hospital team had no choice but deliver the babies the natural route.“I can’t hold on anymore” Aziza screamed, already dreanched in sweat as her pelvic bones shifted to make way for the new

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