enjoyebooks Chapter 591 - 562: Dead End
Chapter 591 - 562: Dead End
On the morning of the trial hearing, Simon Forrester and his wife finally met Zane Forrester.Zane Forrester was brought to the meeting room by the police.
Sienna Thornton and Simon Forrester were discussing the case with their heads down. Hearing the door open, they looked up and were immediately stunned.
Wearing an orange prison vest, Zane Forrester’s hair was disheveled, his face unshaven, eyes bloodshot, and dark circles drooping; he looked as if he had aged ten years.
Sienna Thornton stood up in shock.
Over the years of being a lawyer, she had seen many criminal suspects, all looking weary and desolate, but having never seen a suspect before their arrest, it hadn’t affected her deeply.
It was only a few months ago that she last saw Zane Forrester, vibrant and sophisticated, but now he looked defeated. Sienna Thornton couldn’t imagine what he had gone through in these days to end up like this.
She instinctively looked at Simon Forrester standing beside her.
Simon Forrester’s expression remained unchanged, appearing much calmer than her. Yet, upon closer inspection, she noticed his jaw was tightly clenched, chewing muscles distinct, as he bit down hard on his molars.
"Please go ahead, time is limited," the police reminded.
Zane Forrester came to his senses, walking over with a sullen face and sitting down in front of his son and daughter-in-law. He looked at Simon Forrester first for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to Sienna Thornton, forcing a smile: "Why are you here instead of resting at home during your pregnancy?"
Zane Forrester was like a sly fox, who in the past, when talking to Sienna Thornton, mainly expressed courtesy scattered with indifference, giving the overall impression of insincerity with hidden sharpness. However, at present, his straightforward tone made Sienna Thornton feel uneasy.
Sienna Thornton swallowed to alleviate the awkwardness, smiling: "It’s just over two months, it’s fine. Besides, I have a California lawyer’s license, and if you’re willing, I’d like to be co-counsel on your case."
Zane Forrester frowned, initially silent, contemplating something for a long time before asking: "Even if you don’t participate in this case, you’ll be attending the hearings, right?"
Just as Sienna Thornton was about to speak, Simon Forrester, who had been silent until now, spoke lightly: "So, this case did not wrong you?"
She reached for Simon Forrester’s hand under the table, frowning and signaling with her eyes for him to be careful with his words. He remained unmoved, as if everything around him was irrelevant, only staring coldly yet intently at Zane Forrester.
Zane Forrester remained silent, not speaking.
Sienna Thornton’s heart skipped a beat, reminding herself not to pre-judge Zane Forrester as guilty without evidence.
The father and son stared at each other silently for a long time. Zane Forrester glanced at the police officer standing behind, then lowered his head, whispering, "I did not assault that person! I don’t even know who she is!"
Sienna Thornton and Simon Forrester exchanged a look.
She wasn’t well-acquainted with Zane Forrester. Although she roughly knew his personality and habits, being Simon Forrester’s father, he had a clearer understanding. She thus inquired with her eyes.
Simon Forrester nodded to her, meaning that Zane Forrester’s words were credible.
Understanding this, she quickly prepared her words mentally, concisely stating, "Myself and your lawyer will state during the trial hearing that you are pleading not guilty. After investigating and collecting evidence, we attempt a pretrial motion to persuade the prosecution to withdraw..."
Zane Forrester asked her for paper and pen, listening intently while taking notes.
Sienna Thornton glanced at her watch and saw there was still time. She took out a voice recorder: "I need you to tell me about the events on the night of the incident."
Zane Forrester paused in his note-taking, silent for a moment, hands folded under his nose, frowning slightly as if recalling or deliberating whether to share this with his son and daughter-in-law.
Seeing that time was short, Sienna Thornton repeated her request.
Zane Forrester remained silent.
Then, Simon Forrester asked, "If you don’t speak, how can we help you clear your name?"
Zane Forrester glanced at his son and daughter-in-law, his gaze returning to a blank space, summarizing the events of that night.
His explanation was brief, stating he was in a meeting room on the hotel’s fifth floor starting noon that day, had dinner with all attendees at the hotel restaurant at seven, returned to his room to rest at ten, and left the room at nine thirty the next morning for the meeting room.
Sienna Thornton picked up on the key information and asked, "After you returned to your room, did anyone else come in or out?"
Zane Forrester glanced at his son, taking a long time before replying, "...Yes."
"When did they enter and leave?"
"Entered the room at ten thirty at night... left at two in the morning."
Reflecting on the case, Simon Forrester frowned and looked over, prompting Zane Forrester to awkwardly avert his gaze.
Sienna Thornton noted it down: "Alright, depending on the follow-up investigation and evidence collection, if you need them to provide an alibi, we will contact them then."
Zane Forrester nodded, visibly anxious.
The police officer came over to take him away from the meeting room. Sienna Thornton packed up her things and left with Simon Forrester.
On the way to the law firm, seeing Simon Forrester deep in thought, she asked with concern, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you feel better when your dad said he didn’t commit the crime? I thought you’d be happier."
Simon Forrester didn’t respond immediately, still frowning and lost in thought. After a while, he said, "His routine is always very regular, early to bed and early to rise. Why was someone coming and going from his room so late that night? Was this person male or female? Why were they meeting in his room?"
Sienna Thornton also had doubts when Zane Forrester first mentioned it. She could have pursued the question further, but given that he is Simon Forrester’s father, she reserved some privacy for him, intending to discuss further when the person’s assistance was needed for an alibi.
She chuckled awkwardly: "Wasn’t there an important negotiation the next day? Possibly a business discussion that went late."
Simon Forrester didn’t comment, but Sienna Thornton could tell he had started to doubt Zane Forrester.
...
In the afternoon, Sienna Thornton attended Zane Forrester’s trial hearing with the lead lawyer. Besides stating the intent to plead not guilty, they also requested bail for Zane Forrester. However, the judge deemed the nature of the case serious, with the defendant posing a "flight risk," and possible evasion of trial, hence denying setting bail and placing Zane Forrester in detention.
After court, the prosecution and defense exchanged information. Sienna Thornton’s side received the forensic report on the victim’s injuries and crime scene evidence from the prosecution, initiating this phase of investigation and evidence gathering.
Aiming to persuade the prosecution to dismiss charges during the pretrial motion, and with Zane Forrester already formally detained, concerns grew over the harsh prison environments in the M. Republic, notorious for their hostility towards assault perpetrators. Everyone feared for Zane Forrester’s safety inside, making swift investigation and evidence collection essential.
They continued discussing the case in the law firm’s meeting room until late night.
A corkboard on the wall was covered with many photos of the victim’s injuries, the bruises in the photos shocking enough to trigger Sienna Thornton’s morning sickness once more.
Everyone had a copy of the forensic report.
The report detailed the analysis of bodily fluids found in the condom at the crime scene, concluding the fluid samples belonged to Zane Forrester, and Zane Forrester’s nails tested positive for the victim’s DNA.
Everyone was silent...
The case seemed to have hit a dead end.