Tekania
16-05-2005, 20:59
This court case is being televised to all nation-states from the Constitutional Republic of Tekania.
Federal District Court, District 1, Yorktown Federal District, Dominion of Tekania Proper, Constitutional Republic of Tekania…. Arraignment proceedings of Richardson, William V.
BAILIF: All rise, the honorable justice, Judge Vernon P. Warner presiding.
JUDGE WARNER: Clerk… Please read the case.
CLERK: Arraignment of William V. Richardson.
JUDGE: Be seated… Prosecution please state the charges.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: The defendant is being charged with treason against the Republic, in connection with the civil war which occurred, and the subsequent assassination of several governmental officers in the Thompsonian Dominion of the Republic. And Crimes against Humanity in the slaughter of civilians in the Dominion of Thompsonia after the removal of the rightly elected officers and legislators of the Dominion; pursuant to violations under the laws of the Dominion of Thompsonia, The Federal Republic, and crimes recognized under International Law.
JUDGE: Mr. Richardson, how do you plead?
DEFENSE ATT: Your honor, my client does not recognize the authority of this court.
JUDGE: So noted…. Clerk, enter a plea of not-guilty on behalf of the defendant. Does the Commonwealth wish to make a statement before I set bail?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Sir, the Republic recommends remand without bail in this case. The defendant is being convicted with several crimes against the people of a very grievous nature, and has demonstrated a lack of respect towards the government and people of the republic, and their rights and freedoms. The Republic thus considers the defendant a flight risk, and a danger to the people at large.
JUDGE: Does the defense have anything to say before I set bail?
DEFENSE ATT: Yes, your Honor, my client wishes to press his rights as expressed towards excessive bail pursuant to his rights as expressed in Amendment 8 of our constitution.
JUDGE: Amendment 8 is so noted…. However, due to the actions the defendant is accused of, I must rule towards the Republic on this one. The defendant is remanded to custody by the Republic without bail. Preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 week from this date.
A week later….
BAILIF: All Rise…. The honorable justice, Judge Vernon P. Warner Presiding.
JUDGE: Be seated… Clerk, read the docket….
CLERK: The Republic versus William V. Richardson, for the charges of Treason and Crimes Against Humanity.
JUDGE: Does the Republic have any witnesses to call?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Yes, your Honor. We call Oslo Peters…
A man steps from the rear of the court room, and sits at the witness stand, he is heavily bandaged, and has burns across some exposed areas of his skin.
BAILIF: Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to provide is the complete truth?
PETERS: I do.
JUDGE: The Republic may question the witness.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Will you please state your name and occupation?
PETERS: I am Oslo Peters, Captain, Tekanian Stellar Navy, presently attached to Eagle One Defense Station in the office of the Chief of Stellar Operations.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What capacity were you serving when the alleged coup took place.
PETERS: I was commanding officer of the Cruiser Monroe as part of the defense fleet of the Dominion of Thompsonia.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Can you please recall the events that transpired on 3498.11?
PETERS: We were performing routine operations in orbit of the planet, ferrying several delegates to the surface who had taken tours of the Monroe. There was a call from the landing bays of weapons fire… At the same time men, in militia uniform, entered the bridge, and held us at bay. They were wearing Thompsonian Militia uniforms. They took me captive, and I was held in the brig for some time. While in the brig, I heard calls over the ships communications of warfare and battle situations…. At a later time, they removed me, and I was sent down to Chancellorsville, on the surface of Thompsonia.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What transpired after you reached the surface.
PETERS: I was held in a room, and interrogated and tortured for information. They sliced my skin, burned me with a torch… They wanted to know movements of our fleet, and anything I could provide about other vessels of the fleet.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Did you see the defendant while you were there?
PETERS: Yes, I did. Midway through the torture, that man came into the room. He was the one who ordered them to torch me for more information.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What was the man called?
PETERS: They reffered to him as “Lord” and “King”….
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Thank you. Your witness…
DEFENSE ATT: Do you know for a fact that this man was in charge of the rebellion that occurred on Thompsonia?
PETERS: He was the one giving the orders….
DEFENSE ATT: Answer my question, yes or no, do you know, for a fact, that he was the one leading the rebellion?
PETERS: Not as a fact… No.
DEFENSE ATT: Thank you… No further questions…
JUDGE: Does the prosecution wish to rebuff?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: No, your honor.
JUDGE: The witness is dismissed. Prosecution, call your next witness.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: The Republic calls John T. Mitar.
Another man approaches the stand.
BAILIF: Do you swear or affirm the testimony you are about to provide is the truth?
MITAR: I do.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Please state your name and occupation….
MITAR: I am John Mitar, Staff Seargent, Tekanian Stellar Marines Expeditionary Force #22.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Are you the one who captured the defendant, William Richardson, at the Executives mansion in Chancellorsville, Thompsonia?
MITAR: I am.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Please state what transpired during the capture.
MITAR: Well, most of the fighting had ended at this time. My unit was part of the group storming the capital. There was some fire, but we managed to suppress most of the guards at the mansion. Upon entering the executive office, we found Mr. Richardson and several other persons, armed. They held us back for a time. Mr Richardson was the one giving the orders… and he was the one who was shouting at the guards with him to kill us, consistently reffering to us as “heretics” who will die for Theos, the Lord God, and that his kingdom would live forever… We managed to get a stun grenade in the door during a small break of fire, and surpressed the personnel in the room. After entering, we took Mr. Richardson and the other guards into custody.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Is there any doubt in your mind, that the Defendant was in charge of the mansion, and the rebellion?
MITAR: No, sir. He was most certainly giving all the orders. And the other guards were reffering to him as “lord” and “king” consistently through the fire-fight.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Thank you. Your witness.
DEFENSE ATT: Are you certain that that Mr Richardson was in command?
MITAR: Yes, I am.
DEFENSE ATT: No doubt at all? Could they have been merely talking to “Lord Theos” ?
MITAR: They looked at him when they said it. I have no doubt he was this “king” and “lord”.
DEFENSE ATT: No further questions….
JUDGE: The witness is dismissed…. Will the Defendant please stand… After hearing this case, I believe the Republic has sufficient evidence to try this case. I am recommending this case to be sent to the Grand Jury for deliberation. The defendant will be informed of the trial date after the Grand Jury has convened to review the evidence.
Case to continue...
Federal District Court, District 1, Yorktown Federal District, Dominion of Tekania Proper, Constitutional Republic of Tekania…. Arraignment proceedings of Richardson, William V.
BAILIF: All rise, the honorable justice, Judge Vernon P. Warner presiding.
JUDGE WARNER: Clerk… Please read the case.
CLERK: Arraignment of William V. Richardson.
JUDGE: Be seated… Prosecution please state the charges.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: The defendant is being charged with treason against the Republic, in connection with the civil war which occurred, and the subsequent assassination of several governmental officers in the Thompsonian Dominion of the Republic. And Crimes against Humanity in the slaughter of civilians in the Dominion of Thompsonia after the removal of the rightly elected officers and legislators of the Dominion; pursuant to violations under the laws of the Dominion of Thompsonia, The Federal Republic, and crimes recognized under International Law.
JUDGE: Mr. Richardson, how do you plead?
DEFENSE ATT: Your honor, my client does not recognize the authority of this court.
JUDGE: So noted…. Clerk, enter a plea of not-guilty on behalf of the defendant. Does the Commonwealth wish to make a statement before I set bail?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Sir, the Republic recommends remand without bail in this case. The defendant is being convicted with several crimes against the people of a very grievous nature, and has demonstrated a lack of respect towards the government and people of the republic, and their rights and freedoms. The Republic thus considers the defendant a flight risk, and a danger to the people at large.
JUDGE: Does the defense have anything to say before I set bail?
DEFENSE ATT: Yes, your Honor, my client wishes to press his rights as expressed towards excessive bail pursuant to his rights as expressed in Amendment 8 of our constitution.
JUDGE: Amendment 8 is so noted…. However, due to the actions the defendant is accused of, I must rule towards the Republic on this one. The defendant is remanded to custody by the Republic without bail. Preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 week from this date.
A week later….
BAILIF: All Rise…. The honorable justice, Judge Vernon P. Warner Presiding.
JUDGE: Be seated… Clerk, read the docket….
CLERK: The Republic versus William V. Richardson, for the charges of Treason and Crimes Against Humanity.
JUDGE: Does the Republic have any witnesses to call?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Yes, your Honor. We call Oslo Peters…
A man steps from the rear of the court room, and sits at the witness stand, he is heavily bandaged, and has burns across some exposed areas of his skin.
BAILIF: Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to provide is the complete truth?
PETERS: I do.
JUDGE: The Republic may question the witness.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Will you please state your name and occupation?
PETERS: I am Oslo Peters, Captain, Tekanian Stellar Navy, presently attached to Eagle One Defense Station in the office of the Chief of Stellar Operations.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What capacity were you serving when the alleged coup took place.
PETERS: I was commanding officer of the Cruiser Monroe as part of the defense fleet of the Dominion of Thompsonia.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Can you please recall the events that transpired on 3498.11?
PETERS: We were performing routine operations in orbit of the planet, ferrying several delegates to the surface who had taken tours of the Monroe. There was a call from the landing bays of weapons fire… At the same time men, in militia uniform, entered the bridge, and held us at bay. They were wearing Thompsonian Militia uniforms. They took me captive, and I was held in the brig for some time. While in the brig, I heard calls over the ships communications of warfare and battle situations…. At a later time, they removed me, and I was sent down to Chancellorsville, on the surface of Thompsonia.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What transpired after you reached the surface.
PETERS: I was held in a room, and interrogated and tortured for information. They sliced my skin, burned me with a torch… They wanted to know movements of our fleet, and anything I could provide about other vessels of the fleet.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Did you see the defendant while you were there?
PETERS: Yes, I did. Midway through the torture, that man came into the room. He was the one who ordered them to torch me for more information.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: What was the man called?
PETERS: They reffered to him as “Lord” and “King”….
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Thank you. Your witness…
DEFENSE ATT: Do you know for a fact that this man was in charge of the rebellion that occurred on Thompsonia?
PETERS: He was the one giving the orders….
DEFENSE ATT: Answer my question, yes or no, do you know, for a fact, that he was the one leading the rebellion?
PETERS: Not as a fact… No.
DEFENSE ATT: Thank you… No further questions…
JUDGE: Does the prosecution wish to rebuff?
COMMONWEALTH ATT: No, your honor.
JUDGE: The witness is dismissed. Prosecution, call your next witness.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: The Republic calls John T. Mitar.
Another man approaches the stand.
BAILIF: Do you swear or affirm the testimony you are about to provide is the truth?
MITAR: I do.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Please state your name and occupation….
MITAR: I am John Mitar, Staff Seargent, Tekanian Stellar Marines Expeditionary Force #22.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Are you the one who captured the defendant, William Richardson, at the Executives mansion in Chancellorsville, Thompsonia?
MITAR: I am.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Please state what transpired during the capture.
MITAR: Well, most of the fighting had ended at this time. My unit was part of the group storming the capital. There was some fire, but we managed to suppress most of the guards at the mansion. Upon entering the executive office, we found Mr. Richardson and several other persons, armed. They held us back for a time. Mr Richardson was the one giving the orders… and he was the one who was shouting at the guards with him to kill us, consistently reffering to us as “heretics” who will die for Theos, the Lord God, and that his kingdom would live forever… We managed to get a stun grenade in the door during a small break of fire, and surpressed the personnel in the room. After entering, we took Mr. Richardson and the other guards into custody.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Is there any doubt in your mind, that the Defendant was in charge of the mansion, and the rebellion?
MITAR: No, sir. He was most certainly giving all the orders. And the other guards were reffering to him as “lord” and “king” consistently through the fire-fight.
COMMONWEALTH ATT: Thank you. Your witness.
DEFENSE ATT: Are you certain that that Mr Richardson was in command?
MITAR: Yes, I am.
DEFENSE ATT: No doubt at all? Could they have been merely talking to “Lord Theos” ?
MITAR: They looked at him when they said it. I have no doubt he was this “king” and “lord”.
DEFENSE ATT: No further questions….
JUDGE: The witness is dismissed…. Will the Defendant please stand… After hearing this case, I believe the Republic has sufficient evidence to try this case. I am recommending this case to be sent to the Grand Jury for deliberation. The defendant will be informed of the trial date after the Grand Jury has convened to review the evidence.
Case to continue...