Well, the trial ended yesterday. I've been the courtroom all week. The closing arguments took place yesterday morning. The jury had the case at 11:40. We stayed around until noon, just in case there was a really quick decision. At noon the prosecutor told us she was going to lunch and that we should do the same. We knew the judge wouldn't/couldn't allow the reading of the verdict without the attorneys present.
We just got our fast food when the cell phone rang. The jury had reached a decision, and the verdict would be read in 20 minutes. Fast food became very fast food. We hurried back to the courtroom, as did everyone else. The judge came in. All the attorneys were present. "Are we ready," he asked the attorneys on both sides, looking at all of us. He warned about any show of emotion or outbursts of any kind.
My heart was pounding as the jury returned. I really felt for my friend, the mother of man who died. Everything seemed so dramatic. All the simple, formal questions, including, "have you reached a verdict?" seemed so powerful The paper was handed to the judge. He read it to himself and then slowly read it to us all. He read the charge and then finally said, "guilty."
At that moment there was a sweet relief on one (our) side of the room and great pain on the other side. My friend received what she was after. Justice. She's quoted in the paper, the words she spoke to me quietly, "Now maybe I can forgive him." I think it is a lot easier to forgive when you feel like justice is present and served. Justice is painful. I watched the man hand-cuffed and escorted out look back at his family. I know his family and feel for them too.
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