September 3, 2015 Who’s on trial?

“. . . and nothing but the truth,” Edmund Dantent finished, then looked around the courtroom. His throat was tight with anticipation of the questions he might have to answer. This week had been circled on his calendar for two months, although he didn’t know when his specific day would come.

Defense counsel Leonard Clump, standing at his podium, turned to look directly at Edmund for a moment before addressing him. His shaven black head gleamed in the courtroom’s bright lights.

Edmund’s eyes wandered to the defendant’s table, but he quickly looked away. He couldn’t look there, couldn’t think about that.

Clump tapped a button and put something on the screen on the far side of the courtroom. Edmund didn’t notice what it was as he was intently watching the lawyer.

Mr. Dantent, is this your Facebook account?”

“Yes, that looks like it.”

“And is this your post from August 17, 2014?”

The prosecuting attorney said, “Objection, your honor, relevance?”

Judge Liebowitz replied, “Overruled. Please answer the question.”

Edmund read the post to himself, then answered yes.

Clump read the post for the courtroom: “I don’t think this was murder. It looks to me like Michael Brown was attacking that cop. What was the cop supposed to do?”

Clump paused a moment before turning to the jury.

“This, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is the kind of racism and bigotry that my client had to face on a daily basis in this neighborhood.”

“Obje—”

“Overruled. Please continue.”

“And this is the kind of racism and bigotry was coming from this very man before you, creating a toxic environment, damaging to my client’s mental—“

Edmund could no longer contain himself here: “What’s going on? I’m not on trial here! I am the victim!”

At the first word, Judge Leibowitz began banging his gavel. “Order in the court! You are not to speak unless answering questions. Please continue, counsel.”

Edmund sat in shock as the lawyer droned on, barely noticing what was said until the lawyer had to repeat his name several times for the next question.

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