Chapter Text
Court Record - Evidence
Autopsy Report - Time of Death: April 1st 2019, Between 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM. Victim stabbed four times in the abdomen before having his throat slit. Murder weapon is likely a large hunting knife.
Photograph of Crime Scene: - Shows the body of Obadiah Jection. A particularly gruesome stabbing
Visitor's Room Camera - Meant to be on at all times in the detention centre visitor’s room. Was turned off prior to Obadiah Jection’s Meeting with his client, until the arrest of Rand Omguard later that night
Visitor’s Room Log Book - Contains Record of Everyone who comes to the detention centre and who they meet. Obadiah Jection did not list the person he was visiting at 8:00 PM on April 1st
Lana Skye’s Testimony - Testimony from former Chief Prosecutor, Lana Skye. Per Lana, Jection worked for Damon Gant, prosecuting cases where he wanted a brutal and humiliating guilty verdict for the defendant
Obadiah Jection’s Notebook - The Victim’s notebook. Filled with notes written in some kind of code. Included within it is both our client’s name, and multiple pages discussing blackmailing and the Victim’s overall relationship with Damon Gant.
Murder Weapon - A four inch hunting knife owned by the defendant. His were the only fingerprints found on the weapon.
Detention Centre Camera Log - Shows that the Visitation Room Camera was turned off at 7:45 PM, and then the cameras were turned off for the entire Detention Centre at 9:15 PM, before being turned back on at 11:02 PM. The log shows that this was all done with Rand Omguard’s card.
Obadiah Jection’s Cufflink - A torn off cufflink from Obadiah Jection’s jacket. Likely happened during his murder. Was found in the seat in Badrick Copperton’s office.
Court Record - Profiles
Phoenix Wright - Age: 26 - Gender: Male - Me? What more can I say? This is my third year as a young (but skilled!) lawyer
Maya Fey - Age: 19 - Gender: Female - My assistant and a disciple in the Kurain Tradition of spirit channeling
Dick Gumshoe - Age: 32 - Gender: Male - Homicide detective at the local precinct. In charge of the initial investigation
Rand Omguard - Age: 28 - Gender: Male - Security Guard at the Detention Centre. The defendant in this case
Obadiah Jection - Age: 45 - Gender: Male - Prosecutor at the Local Prosecutor’s office, and a victim in this case. Apparently disliked by virtually everyone who knew him
Miles Edgeworth - Age: 26 - Gender: Male - An old friend. Said to be #1 at the D.A’s office. Studies foreign judicial systems now. Occasionally provides assistance on cases
Damon Gant - Age: 67 - Gender: Male - Former District Chief of Police. Was arrested for the murders of Detective Bruce Goodman and Prosecutor Neil Marshall. Met with the victim on the day of his death.
Lana Skye - Age: 31 - Gender: Female - Former Head Prosecutor. Convicted for her role in the coverup of the death of Detective Bruce Goodman and forging of evidence in association with the SL-9 Incident.
Franziska von Karma - Age: 19 - Gender: Female - A young "genius" prosecutor who has been carrying on work in Germany. Not my biggest fan.
Katie Butterfly - Age: 31 - Gender: Female - Lifeguard At the Boy’s Club Country Club. Knew Both Damon Gant and Obadiah Jection.
Badrick Copperton - Age: 55 - Gender: Male - Senior Official at the Japanifornia Detention Centre. The defendant’s boss. Was not at the detention centre on the day of the murder.
April 3rd, 9:00 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
“You’re sure? There wasn’t anyone under his name at any of the doctor’s offices?”
“Right-O, Wright-O!” Maya grins, a smile wide on her face. “I described him perfectly…. gave his name, the whole shebang! Wasn’t at any of them.”
That’s a good start, Phoenix thinks to himself. Between that and the cufflink we found in his office, we should have enough to start putting the boots to Copperton.
Local Doctor Testimony Added To The Court Record: Testimony from Doctors specializing in hemorrhoids in the area. None saw Badrick Copperton on the night of the murder.
I still feel like we’re missing something though….
“ PAL!”
Ah hah! That’s what I forgot!
A quick turn puts Phoenix and Maya face to face with a bright red faced Dick Gumshoe, the Detective huffing and puffing as he stands before them.
“I just got the news from the lab about our S CIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION! ” He starts, and judging by the wide eyes from Maya, she forgot all about that too. “What d’ya want first, Pal? Fingerprints or blood?”
“Blood!” Maya chirps up, getting a couple looks from around the Defendant’s Lobby. She doesn’t seem to care though - nor would Phoenix expect her to - and is just as on the edge of her seat as Phoenix is.
“ Rand was tellin’ the truth about that,” Gumshoe grins, and Phoenix can’t help but sigh in relief. “Lab came back saying that was all Rand’s blood. And it couldn’t be more than a couple days old.”
“So that confirms he was telling the truth. He was at the very least assaulted in the locker room on the day of the murder.”
Now, to hope that the second piece of evidence doesn’t completely destroy our case
So, Phoenix takes a breath, and barrels on. “What about the fingerprints, Detective?”
“Oh yeah! Almost forgot about them,” Gumshoe breathes out, although the fact that the smile isn’t gone from his face seems like a good sign. “Two pairs of fingerprints were found. The first were Rand’s. The second were…..Badrick Copperton’s, Pal.”
Rand Omguard’s Blood: Found on the floor of the Detention Centre Locker Room. From the night of the murder.
Rand Omguard’s Locker Fingerprints added to the Court Record: Fingerprints from both Rand Omguard and Badrick Copperton. Found on Rand Omguard’s Locker at the Detention Centre
Yes! And that's the other thing we needed to nail Copperton.
“That would explain how Copperton got Mr. Omguard’s knife….but it doesn’t explain why his prints weren’t on the knife,” Phoenix theorizes. There’s still things that aren’t adding up, but at the very least, they’re starting to put the pieces together.
We usually figure out the rest on the fly anyway
“But I’m sure you’ll pull that out of him like you always do!” Gumshoe chirps happily. It looks like he has something else to say, but Phoenix can see Mr. Omguard being brought in, and there’s something far more important that they need to talk about.
So Phoenix takes a deep breath before he gets started. “There’s something else I’m hoping you can help with, Detective. You and Edgeworth.”
“Anything, Pal! You name it.”
“Thank you, Detective. Anyway, I talked to Lana Skye yesterday……”
April 3rd, 9:31 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 2
“I almost fell asleep,” Maya groans, stifling a yawn with the back of her hand. “There’s just no way he murdered someone, Nick. That’d be too interesting.”
“I’m not sure that the Judge will accept that as a defense,” Phoenix muses. “Sorry you had to talk to him alone. I had to chat with Gumshoe about what Lana said. Hopefully he and Edgeworth find something to break this case wide open.”
“You sent Edgeworth away with another man? Risky, Nick.”
First of all, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Second of all, I don’t know if Edgeworth even thinks of Gumshoe as a man. More of a lapdog.
“I don’t think you should be lecturing me about - theoretical! - feelings,” Phoenix cuts in. He doesn’t dare gesture though, knowing that all that will get him is another hard whipping.
Unfortunately, Maya never makes things easy on him.
“Watcha’ talkin’ about Nick?” Maya questions, although the smirk on her face makes Phoenix question if she truly doesn’t get it, or if she just wants to fuck with him.
“You know who I’m talking about. Franzis…..YOUCH!”
The “Hehehehe” that Phoenix hears from his assistant tells him all that he needs to know.
“Do not stare at me with that look in your eyes, Phoenix Wright,” Franziska comments, the whip somehow already curled around her hand.
“I….I wasn’t….YOUCH!”
“Behave.”
“Yes ma’am,” Phoenix whimpers, because the trial hasn’t even started and he’s already been whipped twice. It’s not even worth looking at Maya, who he just knows is swooning already.
“I um….am I allowed to look at you, Prosecutor Von Karma?” The Judge questions.
It usually takes a little bit longer for the Prosecutors to have him wrapped around their finger, Phoenix muses.
Franziska scoffs. “If you must.”
“She’s such a bottom,” Maya muses to herself, and yeah, Phoenix isn’t even going to dare responding to that.
If she whips me for thinking she’s pretty, I can’t even imagine what she’ll do if I think about….that
“Why are you standing behind me Nick?”
“Protection,” Phoenix groans, and judging by the glare that he’s getting from across the courtroom, it was a wise decision.
“I um….I suppose we should get started, “ The Judge sighs, looking between the two of them with more than a little bit of fear. “Miss Von Karma?”
“Yes, Your Honour,” Franziska nods, arms crossed over her chest. “I see no reason to prolong this trial any more than the foolish Defence Attorney already has. I have a witness who has proof that Mr. Omguard is the murderer. That is all.”
“I…I see then. Well, I wish we had heard from this man yesterday,” The Judge chuckles to himself, practically daring Franziska. Somehow he doesn’t get a face full of leather, even if there is a glare directed at him instead.
Am I the only one that’s going to get whipped today?!
Oh the other hand, I have a suspicion on who this witness is. Hopefully we can nail him early today and get out of here before the afternoon.
“Do you think me so foolish that I would have not called this man to testify yesterday if I had known about the information he has?”
“I….of course not! Of course not Miss von Karma!” The Judge stammers. “You may call your witness.”
“Thank you,” she huffs, not even sparing the defense attorney across the room a glance. “Bailiff!”
“Name and occupation”.
“Aren’t you just the most curt little lady I’ve ever laid eyes on,” is the response that Franziska gets from the witness stand, Phoenix already inwardly cringing. The whip he’s expecting never comes though, and instead Franziska just narrows her eyes at Copperton.
Maybe Gant got to her more than she let on. Copperton does have a similar aura about him…..
“Name and occupation, witness,” is all the prosecutor comes back with though, and Phoenix can’t help but feel a little bit sad.
“Badrick Copperton, ma’am. And why, I’m the one in charge of the Japanifornia detention center, you see.”
“By Jove! That means you must have been there when the murder happened!” The Judge exclaims, and it’s almost like he forgot the whole reason that Mr. Omguard was arrested.
And of course it’s quickly followed by a whip to the shoulder.
Maybe Franziska hasn’t lost her touch after all…..
“Mr. Omguard was the only other person at the detention center at the time of death,” Franziska finishes, Copperton nodding in agreement from the stand. “Mr. Copperton will explain his absence in his testimony.”
“Very well….Mr. Copperton, your testimony.”
“Right away, sir,” Copperton nods, and they’re off to the races yet again.
And with what Maya brought this morning, this should be an easy contradiction!
Witness Testimony
-- The Day of the Murder --
“I usually do stay at the detention centre up until all my fellers are gone on home. A marshal never deserts his coppers, ya here?”
“I had to get on going down to the ol’ haemorrhoid doctor though. Nasty business.”
“When I was leavin’, I went into the locker room to change into my goin’ around clothes. I saw ol’ Randy there.”
“Now, when I was changin’, Randy was just takin’ and puttin’ stuff outta his locker, ya see? And one of those things was a big ol’ hunting knife.”
“The hunting knife that done did in that prosecutor. It was Rand’s, and I saw him holdin’ it that afternoon.”
“Order! Order!”
The sound of a gavel banging against a desk quickly follows the Judge’s exclamation, even if it doesn’t do much to quiet down the rest of the courtroom.
What Copperton’s saying definitely sounds bad…..and what he’s saying might even be true.
We know that Mr. Omguard did own that hunting knife, and he probably had it in his locker. But the rest of that testimony, including why Mr. Copperton was in the locker room, is a load of crap. And if we can throw that into question….it throws the rest of the testimony down the drain.
Hopefully. I wouldn’t put it past Franziska to say it’s meaningless. And something about me being a foolish fool who foolishly presented foolish evidence.
“That is certainly damning testimony,” The Judge muses, and Franziska’s looking far too confident for Phoenix’s liking. “But, if I know Mr. Wright, I know he’ll go down fighting.”
“I suppose if we must grant him his cross examination….” Franziska sighs, it not escaping Phoenix that she’s curling that whip around her hand again, ready to go. “I wouldn’t expect much, however.”
“Your cross examination then, Mr Wright.”
“Of course, your honour,” Phoenix nods, taking one final breath to steel himself.
Okay this is it, the final push. Fransiska’s confident, so I don’t think she knows about Mr. Copperton lying about his haemorrhoid appointment.
It’s the second statement for sure. There’s no point in even pressing his other statements either, since they could very well be true. We might as well present what Maya found.
OBJECTION!
“Mr Copperton….you said that you had a haemorrhoid appointment that night, yes?”
“Indeed I did, Wright-O,” he starts, and Phoenix fights the urge to visibly shiver. “Like I said, nasty business. They tear me right on up.”
“Uh huh…..now, what doctor did you happen to go to for that appointment?”
OBJECTION!
“What is the point of this, Phoenix Wright? Surely you have heard of HIPAA, yes?”
“Of course I’ve heard of HIPAA,” Phoenix groans, because just once , couldn’t Franziska be nice to him? “I’ll cut right to the point.”
“We talked to an….expert, when it comes to hemorrhoids, and he provided a list of names for every single doctor in the city who specializes in their treatment. And not one of them knows a man matching Mr. Copperton’s description. And not one of them saw him the night of the murder.”
Present: Local Doctor Testimony
“Here I have written testimony from every single one of these doctors, stating that they do not know, nor had they seen, Mr. Copperton on the night of the murder.”
“I….those grubby doctors,” Copperton mutters under his breath, sweat starting to form on his brow. “I….I went out of state! Yeah, you know, I go to a special guy just outta the limits of fine Japanifornia.”
“I doubt that,” Phoenix retorts, unable to hide his smirk. “If you do though….let's call them. We can call and he can confirm that you’re their patient, and that they saw you the night of the murder.”
“Why, that certainly sounds reasonable,” The Judge agrees, and based on Copperton bouncing from one foot to the next, Phoenix thinks they have him.
OBJECTION!
Or we would….if it wasn’t for the German woman across the courtroom
“What a foolishly foolish line of thinking, from a foolish fool who has been foolish enough to become a foolishly defence attorney of a fool.”
“I….pardon?”
“What does it matter that the witness was not at a hemorrhoid doctor the night of the murder, hmm?” she challenges. “He still saw the defendant holding the murder weapon. Unless you can refute that, Phoenix Wright?”
“I….ack!” Phoenix groans, the courtroom already starting to bubble up in their usual whispers. “Why would he lie about where he was if it wasn’t related to the case? It calls his entire testimony into question!”
“That is a good point, Mr. Wright,” the Judge agrees with Phoenix
finally
. “What do you say to that, Miss Von Karma?”
“I have been very good at not whipping Phoenix Wright today.”
You whipped me twice before the trial even started!
“I cannot remain calm if he continues his buffoonery,” she notes, and okay, yeah, that one hurts. “I have a very reasonable reason for why Badrick Copperton did not tell the truth about his whereabouts the night of the murder. As we know, there were no forms identifying Damon Gant’s transfer to the detention center, yes?”
“I…yes, that’s correct,” The Judge nods, Phoenix not quite sure where Franziska is going with this.
“This is because Damon Gant made it so. Using his influence and thuggish threats, he ensured that there was no paper trail linking him to the crime scene. So naturally, he also ensured that the individual in charge of the detention center was not present on the night of the murder.”
“Darn tootin, she got it in one!” Copperton slaps the defendant’s stand, looking beyond relieved with Franziska’s save. “Mr Gant threatened all my subordinates, ya see? Said he’d have horrible horrible things done to ‘em and their families if I didn’t leave. So I had to. I just didn’t wanna say it in case he still followed through with it.”
“That is….certainly noble of you Mr. Copperton,” the Judge muses, nodding his head in agreement. “I suppose that makes sense to me. If Mr. Gant threatened my cousin’s life if I were to stay in here, why I’d run out of this courtroom as fast as I could!”
Real strong sense of justice, Your Honour
Franziska’s argument is reasonable, but we know the real reason. No sense hiding it any longer.
“But that wasn’t the reason,” Phoenix cuts in, biting his tongue and powering through the whipping his shoulder gets. “I guess you’re done being good, Franziska?”
“Phoenix Wright……”
“There is an entirely different reason that the witness is saying that he ‘left’ the detention center that night…and I can prove it.”
“I…what?” Franziska gets out, the Judge humming in thought.
“I…you’re not normally so decisive, Mr. Wright,” he notes, sounding almost impressed. “I quite like it. It’s very attractive.”
“I um….thank you, Your Honour?”
“Sigh….it’s gone,” The Judge groans, and Phoenix chooses to ignore Maya’s elbowing into his side. “Present your evidence, Mr. Wright. Why do you think Mr. Copperton is lying about where he was the night of the murder?”
“You’re gonna present it, Nick?” Maya asks, and Phoenix just nods his head before looking over.
“We need to put him and Franziska on their heels if we want them to slip up. This is the best way to do that.”
Okay Phoenix, it’s now or never….lets really give it to Copperton.
Present: Obadiah Jection’s Cufflink
“Mr Copperton….do you know what this is?”
He obviously doesn’t say it right away, but judging by the wide eyed look at graces Badrick Copperton’s face, Phoenix knows that he has him.
“Why I uh….I don’t have the darndest idea what that is,” the witness stammers, and Phoenix just smirks and shakes his head.
“I think you do. This, Your Honour, is a cufflink. Torn off of Obadiah Jection’s….the victim’s…..coat in a fight. A fight that ended in his death. And it was found in Mr. Copperton’s office.”
The courtroom erupts at that, and it takes more than a couple bangs of the gavel to quiet them all down. “Mr. Wright, why I…..that’s quite the accusation!”
“It is,” Franziska agrees with the Judge, even if her tone of voice makes it clear - to Phoenix at least - that he has her on her heels. “How do you know that it is from the victim’s coat, as you so claim, Phoenix Wright?”
“I uh….what?”
It’s obviously from his coat! It’s gold! It has a J on it! It’s obvious!
But Franziska is going to be Franziska…..sigh
“I…oh course! That is a very good point, Ms. Von Karma,” The Judge agrees, and Phoenix fights the urge to bang his head against the defense attorney’s bench. “Why this could be mine! My name starts with a J, and I often wear gold robes at home!”
Wait….your name isn’t Judge, is it?
“Of course it comes from Mr. Jection’s coat!” Phoenix counters with, and the tut tut tut sound he hears from across the room would be charming, if it wasn’t followed with a whip to the chest.
“It is almost adorable, Phoenix Wright. How you constantly forget to provide evidence for your outlandish claims,” Franiziska smirks. “Hopefully my whip is the negative enforcement you need to remember that!”
“Ack!”
The Judge thankfully waits for Phoenix’s pain to be over before he continues on, going with something Phoenix has heard far too many times before. “Well, Mr Wright, Ms. Von Karma has a point. Are you able to prove that this cufflink does in fact come from Mr. Jection’s jacket?”
“Can we do that Nick?” Maya whispers, and Phoenix just closes his eyes, thinking this all over.
We definitely can…I think. Yeah, we definitely can. Most likely. For sure.
“Yeah, we definitely can,” he parrots his internal monologue, taking a quick and panicked look through all the evidence that they’ve gathered. Thankfully there’s one piece that stands out, and Phoenix knows that they’re all set.
Present: Photograph of Crime Scene
“Please look at this photograph of the crime scene, Your Honour,” Phoenix starts, and before they make him point out where specifically on the photo they should look - because they always do - Phoenix points directly at Jection’s wrist.
The one with a cufflink. Followed by the one without it.
“By….Great Scott!” The Judge exclaims, and Phoenix does a little fist pump underneath the defense bench. “Why that…there’s no doubt! This is Obadiah Jection’s missing cufflink.”
“It is, Your Honour,” Phoenix agrees. “There is no doubt that that is the victim’s cufflink. And it was in the witness’ office!”
The courtroom picks up in whispers again, and to Phoenix’s ear, most of them are talking about how guilty Copperton is. Copperton, who’s looking more than a little concerned while he stands at the witness stand. Or he does look concerned, until he starts talking.
“Now why would I done kill that prosecutor?” He questions, and even if the answer is semi-obvious in Phoenix’s mind, he can’t bring it to HN-5 just yet.
If I bring it up, Franziska is going to make me provide evidence that links Copperton to that case. And until I hear back from Edgeworth and Gumshoe, I don’t have that.
So for now….we stall.
“Well…..why do any of us do anything, really?” Phoenix stalls - attempts to stall - although all it earns him is another whip to the side.
“Foolish!” The prosecutor across the courtroom yells at him, and Phoenix can’t help his pout.
Somehow, that hurt more than any of the other ‘fools’ so far
“Witness!” Franziska barks. “Testify on your lack of motive!”
“Why yes, that’s an excellent idea,” The Judge agrees, although Phoenix suspects it's to avoid a whipping of his own. “Witness, please testify to why you believe you had no motive to murder the victim!”
“Righty-o,” Copperton hums, and they’re off to the races yet again.
Witness Testimony
-- Motive to Murder --
“Why, I didn’t even know the darn prosecutor! It’s you defense attorneys that are always millin’ about”.
“And even if I did know the prosecutor, why would I ah killed him? In my work abode no less?”
“Just don’t make a lick o’ sense, Wright-o!”
That’s really not much to go off of. Unfortunately, I think he knows that we don’t have anything to tie him directly to Damon Gant and the HN-5 case.
Sooooooooo I guess we’re sticking with the stalling plan!
“Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.”
“Of course, Your Honour,” Phoenix nods, running through it all in his head.
Just press Phoenix, that’s all we can do. Just press and hope that Edgeworth and….shudder….Gumshoe, can come up with something.
So, let’s just press that first statement
HOLD IT!
“I….I guess I am always milling around,” Phoenix muses, tapping his chin as he ‘ponders’. “It would be weird if I wasn’t though….right, Your Honour?”
“I uh….what?” The Judge stammers. He clearly wasn’t expecting to be called on, and, thankfully, he takes a couple seconds to collect his thoughts. “I suppose you wouldn’t be doing your job if you weren’t, Mr. Wright. Although…..if I saw you anywhere outside of this courtroom, why, I’d be terrified!”
“Um….why?”
“Well, personally, I think that you’re….AHHH!”
“What are you doing, Phoenix Wright?” The woman across the courtroom interjects. “You are to be cross-examining the witness, not the Judge!”
“Why, that’s quite right! I’m not on trial here!”
Drat! Franziska caught on quickly.
I did want to know what the Judge was about to say though. Maybe another time.
“Do ya got any questions for me to ponder on there, Wrighto?” Copperton speaks up, and Phoenix just sighs and shakes his head.
“No, not really…..ugh.”
“You okay Nick?”
Are any of us really okay, Maya?
Guess it’s time to press statement number two though. And I can’t deflect to the Judge this time, with Franziska on the lookout.
HOLD IT!
“We’ve already talked about Damon Gant’s threats being enough to make sure there was no evidence of him even being at the detention centre. So, who’s to say that…..ACK!”
“Do not beat around the bush, Phoenix Wright! I have matters to attend to after this case!”
Why would you schedule something when you know you’re going to be in court!
“Quite right!” The Judge agrees. “You are not normally like this, Mr. Wright. I can’t say that I like it.”
“I….I’m sorry?” Phoenix stammers, and Maya just hums in agreement. “What I was trying to say was that….back when I was starting…..ACK!”
Stop! Whipping! Me!
“Phoenix Wright….you are a fool,” Franziska sighs as she curls her whip around her finger. “You are trying to say that you believe that Damon Gant blackmailed the witness to murder, yes?”
“That’s what I would have said,” Phoenix grumbles under his breath.
“Yep!” Maya chirps, and Franziska just nods.
“Thank you, Maya Fey,” she continues, tutting her finger at them. “You know what I will say to that, Phoenix Wright. If you have no evidence of this, then it is simply a foolish argument to attempt to make. Foolishly.”
Okay, now you’re just doing it on purpose!
“Righto Wright-o!” Copperton chuckles, and yeah, he really doesn’t think there’s any evidence left of the HN-5 case. “Prove it, buckeroo!”
Ugh….c’mon Edgeworth.
“Well…luckily I wasn’t going to say that! Not at all,” Phoenix backpedals, trying desperately to get it back on the rails. “You said that, not me! I was just thinking out loud!”
“You are calling Maya Fey a liar then, hmm?”
“Are you, Mr. Wright?” The Judge gangs up on him, and this time it’s Maya that smacks Phoenix in the shoulder.
Better than a whip, I guess.
“Are you Nick?! Huh?”
At least she’s helping stall now….kinda.
Final statement though….really make this one count!
HOLD IT!
“I um….well, you know…”
There’s really not much of a statement there to press….really should have thought this through
“Do not even try, Phoenix Wright,” Franziska groans, pinching her brow. “You know what will happen if you keep speaking”.
“I….okay, fine,” Phoenix admits defeat, because all that they’re going to get out of this is a hard whipping, and no new evidence to work off of.
It….it really can’t end like this, can it? There’s gotta be some way to hold down the fort until Edgeworth arrives
“Judging by….hehe judging,” The Judge chuckles to himself, and if this is the way this case ends, Phoenix might as well toss in his badge. “Anywho…...judging by your face, Mr. Wright, I’d say this cross-examination is over. Do you agree?”
“I well…..I wouldn’t say…”
“I do,” Franziska cuts him off, and the Judge decides to take that as the answer he was looking for.
“Alrighty then! You may leave the stand, witness.”
“Thank you kindly,” Copperton nods, and he gives one last look at Phoenix before he turns to leave the stand. He steps one foot down, and is about to step the other when….
HOLD IT!
He made it!
“Yeah, HOLD IT pal!” Gumshoe chimes in, and Phoenix has never been so happy to see him in his entire life.
Even though I’m pretty sure that Edgeworth did most of the work
“Do not embarrass yourself any further, Miles Edgeworth,” Franziska scoffs, before her gaze turns to the poor detective. “Scruffy….I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Well, sir, I’m….”
“He’ll have time for you later, Franziska,” Edgeworth cuts in, swiftly walking over the Phoenix’s bench. “Just play this. It’s all you need.”
“Thank you Edgeworth,” Phoenix smiles, and this time it really does reach his eyes. “Truly.”
And he swears that he sees Edgeworth blush.
He just nods though and turns to leave the courtroom, Gumshoe scampering after him, looking over his shoulder at the prosecutor’s bench the whole time.
Cassette Player added to the Court Record: A Cassette Player from Edgeworth. It looks like it contains a cassette which is about…..something.
“Your Honour,” Franziska cuts in, not even giving Phoenix a chance to say something “This evidence cannot be accepted. You have already ended the trial!”
“I have not given a verdict,” The Judge muses, tapping his gavel on his chin. “And I am inclined to listen to whatever Mister Edgeworth has provided Mister Wright.”
“Thank you, Your Honour,” Phoenix breathes a sigh of relief, and with one final look back at where Edgeworth exited, he presses play on the cassette player.
Present: Cassette Player
“You don’t have a choice, Copperton. You’re doing it.”
“But….hold on a second here, Damon! What if I’m….”
“I don’t give a fuck about that. It’ll be handled.”
“But, I’m just saying….”
“And I’m saying, whatever you want, whatever you think….it doesn’t matter.
…….
…….
…….
“I uh….yessir.”
“Good boy, Badrick. Now, you know the details, yes?”
“Yessir…Damien Azrael, butcher’s knife, private gym. In the parking lot after he leaves. Kill ‘em dead.”
“Hahahahaha very good Badrick! Very good. Now don’t fuck it up.”
“I….um….” The Judge stammers, clearly processing it all. “What did I just listen to?”
“That was…” Phoenix manages to get out, it even taking him by surprise. “That was a conversation between the witness, Badrick Copperton, and Damon Gant, plotting the murder of a man named Damien Azrael.”
“Damien Azrael…..that name sounds familiar…..” The Judge muses, Franziska being eerily silent the entire time.
So is Copperton….but I need to focus on the Judge
“He was a private investigator. Who was murdered in the HN-5 incident,” Phoenix continues, before finally turning to the witness stand.
To find the witness looking white as a sheet, and gripping the stand so tight that Phoenix thinks he’ll break it in half.
“Why, yes!” The Judge cuts in, and Phoenix has to turn his gaze back to him. “That does sound rather familiar, Mr. Wright! And that recording….you’re not saying that…”
“I’m not saying anything,” Phoenix counters, because that setup is just too perfect. “Damon Gant and Badrick Copperton are saying it. And what they’re saying is that they had Damien Azrael killed.”
“And was there a…..a conviction? In that…that case?” Franziska stutters out, and if Phoenix didn’t know any better, he’d say she’s actually rattled by what’s just happened.
“There was. And she’s been in prison ever since.”
“I….now hold on!” Copperton cuts in, although it’s not lost on Phoenix how shaky his voice is. “You done….you still don’t got no proof ‘bout Jection, ya hear?”
“But….but we have motive! Damon Gant had blackmail on you!”
“He does have a point, Mister Wright,” the Judge reasons, and begrudgingly, Phoenix kind of agrees. “There will be another trial to re-open this HN-5 case, but you have not proven that the witness killed Mr. Jection.”
“I am inclined to hear more testimony, however,” the Judge finishes off, and it’s at this point that Phoenix would expect an objection from Franziska. She’s not saying anything though, instead just standing there, arms crossed.
Maybe she has changed…..she doesn’t seem too thrilled about Copperton being a likely murderer. And about Ms. Upshall being wrongly convicted.
“The prosecution has no objection,” Franziska confirms Phoenix’s suspicions, but besides a nod, he doesn’t give her more than that.
Don’t need to draw attention to it. Because that draws attention to me, and my un-whipped face!
“Witness!” The Judge barks up, and despite his current facade, Copperton jumps. “You will testify one last time, about how definitively, there is no way you could have committed this crime.”
“I….hold on now….”
“Witness.”
“I…yes, your honour,” Coppeton groans, and Phoenix internally fist-pumps.
“Go get him Nick,” Maya whispers, doing the external fist pump for the both of them.
Alright, this is it! Time to put Copperton down for good!
Figuratively….
Witness Testimony
-- Lack of Guilt --
“Like I said, it just ain’t me! I got nothing to do with this!”
“That cufflink was planted I tell ya! By good ol’ Rand Omguard, y’know?”
“It was his knife! I don’t own no knife, and I ain’t ever touched his before, so it can’t be me!”
“Even if I done did something for Mr. Gant eons ago, that don’t mean I did something for him again!”
Not the most guilt free testimony, but he’s fighting going down on Jections’ murder, until the bitter end.
After all that stalling, I’d be scared to press, with Franziska over there, but she’s been surprisingly quiet since that recording was played. So I think we’re safe to press that third statement
HOLD IT!
“Mr Copperton….you’re saying that you’ve never touched Mr. Omguard’s knife before, are you?”
“Why yes, I am!” Copperton nods his head vigorously, the sweat flying off him at this point. “You didn’t find no fingerprints o’ mine on it, did ya? Or else you would a’ presented it by now!”
That is true…..although……
“The witness is correct,” Franziska mutters, the first time she’s spoken up in a while. “The only fingerprints on the murder weapon were those of the defendant.”
“Quite true…well Mr Wright,” The Judge starts, and Phoenix just loves it when they set him up like this. “Do you have anything to say to that? You seem quite excited.”
“I uh….yep! I do, actually! And it is…..”
Present: Rand Omguard’s Locker Fingerprints
“These fingerprints that were found on Mr. Omguard’s locker!”
“Why Mr. Wright, that’s not the murder weapon at all!” The Judge chuckles, shaking his head like he was listening to a silly child tell a silly joke.
Or a foolish child tell a foolish….No! Bad Phoenix!
“I know that, Your Honour,” Phoenix boots, turning back to the witness stand yet again. “But this proves that Mr. Copperton opened Mr. Omguard’s locker. And judging by the quality of the fingerprints, it was relatively recently.”
“Why, that could mean….”
“Quite right, Your Honour,” Phoenix cuts in, not needing the Judge to go sideways with his own theories. “There’s reason to suspect that on the day of the murder, Mr. Copperton opened Mr. Omguard’s locker!”
As always, the courtroom breaks out in murmurs. During that time, all Phoenix can think about is that Franziska is still not saying anything, and that she’s just letting him run with this.
Something’s shaken her. But now isn’t the time to question it!
“That….that’s certainly damning," The Judge agrees, even if Phoenix feels like there’s a but coming. “But why would his fingerprints be on the locker, but not the knife? Why, that makes no sense!”
No arguments there, Your Honour. It is strange, but I’m sure there’s a reason.
I just don’t want to leave any room for doubt though, so I probably shouldn’t agree with him
“Maybe Mr. Copperton could tell us?” Phoenix pivots, turning to the man in question. There’s a puddle of sweat under him now, and if Phoenix didn’t know any better, he’d say that he’s right on the edge. Just one more push and……they have him.
“I…I don’t know what ya talkin’ about, Wright-O.”
“Uh huh,” Phoenix mutters, and Copperton just blanches at that.
“That don’t prove nothing,” he keeps going, and Phoenix has the suspicion that Copperton is about to dig his own grave. “Besides, we all know that ol’ Rand was lying about being knocked out! Ain’t no way to prove he was telling the truth ‘bout that!”
Oh really…..
“Oh really….”
“Very nefarious Nick,” Maya chuckles.
“Why, Mr. Wright, that was indeed ominous. I quite like it,” The Judge grins, shaking his head. “It sounds like you have something to prove that Mr. Omguard was in fact knocked unconscious on the day of the murder.”
Copperton lets out a yell at that, and Phoenix jumps as he hears a hand slam down hard on the witness stand. “You didn’t have nothing like that before!”
“Scientific Investigation. Look it up!” Phoenix points, and okay, that was dorky, but he’s on a roll! “I do have something, actually. Something that I will……present…..right…..
Present: Rand Omguard’s Blood
“Now!”
“Blood was found in the locker room showers. Rand Omguard’s blood.”
Once again the courtroom breaks out into murmuring, all to Phoenix’s benefit this time. He doesn’t let that stop him though, not when he’s so close.
“This blood was found in the locker room shower. Given the fact that Rand Omguard was brought into custody the morning after the murder, the only time that this could have happened was…”
“The night of the murder!” Maya chirps up, and Phoenix nodding his head vigorously.
“This corroborates Rand Omguard’s story that he was attacked in the locker room that night! And combined with Mr. Copperton’s fingerprints on his locker….”
“Shut yer darn tootin trap WRIGHT-O!”
Gah! He’s loud when he wants to be
But an exclamation like that from the witness stand usually means one thing….
And just as Phoenix thought, it looks like Copperton’s done.
He’s ripped up the witness stand, a solid chunk of wood in each of his palms. He’s drenched in sweat, his once light gray suit now the darkest shade it could be. And that’s not even to mention the mutton chops plastered to his face.
“You want your answers! Fine, I’ll give ya’ll answers!” He keeps yelling,and in Phoenix’s experience, it’s best to stay silent in times like these. “Yeah, Damon Gant told me to kill the bastard! And yeah, I did!”
“I knocked out ol’ Rand in the locker room, and took his knife! Didn’t plan to do nothing that day, so didn’t have no gloves. Had to take his from his locker. Damn Gant didn’t give me no’ warnin.”
He’s really laying it all out there….and this might be enough to put even more pressure on Gant
“After I took out Randy and swiped that darn knife, I went back to the security office,” he continues on, clearly having more than his fair share to get off his chest. “Turned off those darn cameras, went and did the deed. Bastard didn’t know what was happin’,” he chuckles, sounding almost happy about that last part. “Went back to the security office, snuck out through that there window in there.”
That….that window??? It was so small that Maya couldn’t have even fit through there!
The courtroom is silent after that, and Phoenix isn’t quite sure what to say. They won, and have a confession, so obviously, their defendant is free.
Or….he’s free with this case, anyway
“Mr. Copperton….did you kill Damian Azrael? In the HN-5 case?”
“Darn tootin’ I did! And Gant can burn in hell for makin’ me do that too!” He yells, before turning and pointing at where the defendant has been watching this whole confession. “And that one perjured himself! Lied to put that little lady in prison ‘stead of me!”
Right….I don’t think I can save Mr. Omguard from prison time for that
I don’t know that I should
The Judge clears his throat, drawing attention back to him. “Well then….I believe that solves this case,” he muses, before turning to the prosecution. “Unless…..”
“The prosecution has nothing further,” Franziska mutters, and yeah, there’s something going on there. But Phoenix doesn’t think he’s the one to tackle that.
Edgeworth or Maya, probably. I don’t think she’d take too kindly to me trying to talk to her right now
“I cannot speak to the HN-5 case, but I believe it will be reopened very soon,” the Judge starts going again. “And I think I’ll be see Mr. Copperton and Mr. Omguard again very soon. In the matter of the murder of Obadiah Jection, however, I find the defendant, Mr. Rand Omguard…”
NOT GUILTY
April 3rd, 12:30 PM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
“Um….Mr. Wright?”
“Yes?” Phoenix asks, turning around to face his - now former - client.
He doesn't look very relieved. But he probably knows that that his time in court is far from over
“I wanted to thank you,” Rand starts, the victory unfortunately not adding any pep to his step. “You and your assistant. Is she…..”
“She um…she had to take a call,” Phoenix covers, because it’s probably better than telling Rand where she actually is.
She went to go check on Franziska…I think I saw Edgeworth go to the prosecution’s lobby as well, now that I think about it
“Right. Well um….thank you, for taking my case. And for finding the real murderer,” Mr. Omguard continues on, clearly having something to say. “I can’t believe Mr. Copperton would….”
“I don’t think he’s a good man,” Phoenix reasons, “but I don’t think it was fully his choice.”
“Yeah…yeah,” Rand sighs. “I’m happy that you solved this case….and that you solved HN-5.”
“I…you know that you’re still going to jail, right?” Phoenix questions, because even if it won’t be for murder, it will be for some time, and Rand must know that, right?
“Yes.”
“I uh…and you’re okay with that?”
“I am,” Rand sighs, and now it does look like there’s a weight lifted off his shoulders. “I’ve hated what I did from the second I did it. I know that I can’t give that woman those years of her life back but….hopefully this helps.”
“I just…do you think I can be forgiven, Mr. Wright?” Rand continues on.
“I….I’m sorry?”
“Do you think that people can repent? For things they’ve done? Even under duress?”
That’s a big question, and I don’t know if I have the answer to it.
But…..I know someone who was in a similar situation to Mr. Omguard.
Present: Lana Skye’s Profile
“I had another defendant, like you,” Phoenix starts, and Mr. Omguard perks up (as much as he can). “She was forced to do something that she didn't want to do. Multiple things, for years. And in the end, she was caught. Since then, she has….she’s been doing her best to make amends, and repent.”
“I don’t know if it makes up for it. But I know that you need to try.”
“Right,” Rand sighs, but it seems like a happy one, almost. “Thank you, Mr. Wright.”
And with that, the bailiffs take him away.
I didn’t expect such a hard hitting question from Rand….but I hope that he finds what he’s looking for
“Wright.”
“E…Edgeworth!”
Phoenix almost runs into him with how quickly he turns around, catching himself just in time before he stumbles. Edgeworth is just looking at him with a raised eyebrow, and with a flush to his cheeks, Phoenix quickly pivots. “How’s Franziska?”
“She is….between us, she’s shaken,” Edgeworth reasons, and that much was obvious to Phoenix. “Copperton, Gant…that type of man hits close to home for her.”
He’s talking about Manfred von Karma….
I can see how seeing what type of men Gant and Copperton were would make Franziska re-evaluate her father even more. They’re all cut from the same cloth.
“Maya is with her now. I didn’t think my presence was needed.”
“Yeah I think Maya can handle it….thank you, by the way,” Phoenix pivots, because Edgeworth really did save this case. “We couldn’t have done it without that cassette.”
It’s Edgeworth’s turn to blush, and Phoenix is entirely unsure why, even if it is quite charming. “Gumshoe found it, actually. He wanted to save his friend.”
Right….speaking of, where is the detective?
He’ll probably want to talk to Rand. I’ll leave it alone for now.
“I’ll have to thank him when I see him next,” Phoenix agrees, and Edgeworth just nods again. “Right now though….I’m starving. Lunch?”
It takes a second, but eventually Edgeworth nods, and Phoenix smiles before leading them out of the courthouse.
And that was the end of that case….the final nail in Damon Gant’s coffin, an innocent woman freed from prison. A man seeking redemption, and another corrupt official behind bars.
Franziska took a leave of absence not long after that case….to work through some things, Maya said. I hope she finds what she’s looking for
As for me and Maya, well…..it was business as usual after that. As usual business can be, anyway.
It was for a little bit, at least