Kapitel 172: The Final Verdict

"Everything will be fine, I have complete confidence that we will win this case." Said Mr. Anderson in a confident tone as he handed documents to his assistant to be organized.

Jacob, on the side, simply took some candies from the bowl, unwrapped one, and popped it into his mouth. Regardless of who was watching, he gave off the impression of being a completely different person.

"Jacob, is everything okay?" Mr. Anderson sensed this when he met with Jacob, who seemed much more mature than before. When this young man's parents contacted him about a video they had received from an unknown source, he dared to ask if something else had happened that he wasn't aware of.

That was when he learned that Jacob had a heated argument with his parents, which somehow led him to be in this state. Prison changed people, especially young ones like Jacob, and the lingering effects would be difficult to overcome.

Upon hearing Mr. Anderson's question, Jacob's eyes locked onto his lawyer, and he calmly responded, "Everything is fine, sir. I must thank you for all your help in this case."

"I'm just doing my job, and I happen to be the best at it. You shouldn't pay too much attention to what I'm doing for this trial." Anderson was slightly surprised by Jacob's special gratitude.

Nevertheless, Jacob insisted and said, "It's not that. I feel that you took it personally to be my defense... Since I was a child, well, I don't really know how or when it happened, but I felt alienated from my family... Maybe it's my fault, but I don't feel that way. My parents always pay more attention to my brother, and now I understand that, but I didn't before, and I thought it was entirely my fault."

"I isolated myself so much that I was just writhing in my own suffering, and the day before yesterday, I was ready to blame myself for everything that happened, even though I was only defending my brother... But now I just want to put an end to this, and if possible, live away from my parents for a while... I have a couple of grandparents who I know love me, they witnessed my mother's behavior, and I'm sure they would accept me for some time."

Upon hearing Jacob's words, Mr. Anderson felt a terrible pain in his chest. The young man, now silent with dark circles under his eyes, seemed to have overcome all his demons, but there was something behind him pulling him into an abyss of unprecedented darkness.

As Jacob received no response, he looked at Mr. Anderson and pointed out, "Of course, as long as I'm set free, that's my wish."

"And you will be set free," Mr. Anderson said after regaining his composure, and he added, "Considering this situation, you will also be somewhat affected, so you could use the pretext of needing fresh air and a much quieter place to move in with your grandparents for a while..."

"That's what I wanted to hear..." Jacob smiled with satisfaction.

"Knock-knock!"

"Come in!"

At that moment, a slightly worried-looking man entered the waiting room, none other than Jacob's father, Andy Barber.

Andy Barber, Jacob's father, entered the waiting room with a concerned expression on his face. He greeted lawyer Anderson and approached his son, hoping for a private moment of conversation before the trial began.

"Hello, Jacob. How are you feeling?"

Jacob, in an indifferent manner, briefly responded to his father without much enthusiasm, "I'm fine, dad... The nights in prison are quite comfortable."

Andy, who had a heated argument with his wife yesterday over the video they had seen, said, "I want you to know that your mother and I are here to support you through this process. We know it's been tough for you, but we're in this together."

Jacob looked at his father without showing much emotion and nodded without saying anything more. He was his father after all, deserving at least that respect since he had provided for him for years and brought him into this world.

Andy, ignoring his son's usual detachment, asked, "Is there anything you want to talk about before the trial? We can discuss any concerns you have."

Jacob, with little interest, responded coldly, "No, dad. I just want you all to stop talking for now. I'll feel better if you leave me alone before the final trial begins."

Andy felt discouraged by Jacob's distant attitude but respected his wish to have a moment of calm before facing the trial. Although he wanted to talk more with his son, he understood the importance of respecting his space and emotional process during such a stressful time.

"Alright, Jacob. I understand. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know. We'll be here for you, no matter what happens."

"It's late now, isn't it?" Jacob murmured quietly with growing discontent in his body and nodded without saying another word.

Andy withdrew, leaving his son to his thoughts. Although he was concerned about Jacob's attitude, Andy knew that the trial would be a critical moment in his son's life, and each person faced the situation differently. He decided to give him space and trust that Jacob would find his own way to handle his emotional state. He and his wife owed him a clear explanation.

...

An hour later, after the recess, the judge called for the parties to present their closing arguments before delivering the verdict. Defense attorney Mr. Anderson addressed the court, ready to make his final defense on behalf of Jacob.

Mr. Anderson, representing Jacob's defense, said, "Your Honor, we have presented compelling evidence supporting the claim that Jacob acted in self-defense and that the young man's death was a tragic unintended outcome. We have shown that Jacob intervened to protect the victim from an act of violence, and his intention was never to cause harm."

"We have presented eyewitness testimonies, as well as physical evidence and the video that shows Jacob's intervention at the time of the incident. These elements support our claim that his actions were an instinctive act of protection."

"We understand the gravity of losing a life, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victim's family. However, we must remember that Jacob is also a young person who deserves a chance for redemption and rebuilding his fragile life."

The prosecution took the floor to present their final stance before the verdict.

"Your Honor, while we understand the defense's arguments, we cannot ignore the fact that a young man lost his life and that Jacob was present at the crime scene. Although the defense has raised self-defense and lack of intent to cause harm, the evidence presented is inconclusive."

"We have presented testimonies from witnesses who claim to have witnessed Jacob repeatedly striking the victim. Furthermore, the murder weapon was found with Jacob's DNA, which supports our claim of his involvement in the crime."

"We understand that Jacob is young and that his future may be at stake. However, we must consider the seriousness of the committed offense and seek a fair sentence that reflects the gravity of his actions."

After hearing the final arguments from both sides, the judge took a moment to reflect on the case and evaluate the presented evidence. They knew their decision would have a significant impact on both Jacob and the victim's family.

"I have carefully considered all aspects of this case, including the evidence presented and the arguments made. The death of a young man is a tragedy that cannot be ignored, and it is our responsibility to seek justice in this courtroom."

"Based on the evidence and testimonies presented, as well as the circumstances of the case, I come to the conclusion that Jacob acted in self-defense and that the young man's death was an unintentional outcome. There is not enough evidence to prove an intent to cause harm."

"However, we must remember that this incident has had a significant impact on the lives of all those involved. Therefore, under the United States penal code, I impose a sentence of probation on Jacob Barber, subject to specific conditions that will be detailed at a later time."

The courtroom filled with tense silence as the judge announced their decision. Jacob felt immense relief upon hearing that he would not be sentenced to a long prison term, but he was also aware that his freedom would be limited by the conditions of probation.

The judge proceeded to outline the probation conditions, which included the obligation to undergo a rehabilitation program, regular drug testing, and maintaining good behavior. He was also prohibited from having contact with the victim's family and was subject to a strict curfew.

The defense attorney and the prosecution accepted the conditions and agreed to comply with them. Jacob nodded solemnly, aware that his life would change and that he would have to take responsibility for his actions.

The judge concluded the hearing and wished Jacob the best on his path to rehabilitation and reintegration into society. As he left the courtroom, Jacob was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions—grateful for the opportunity to redeem himself but also aware of the consequences of his actions.

Now, Jacob would have to face the challenges of probation and demonstrate that he had learned from his mistakes in the eyes of the law. Supposedly, he had a second chance now, but Jacob had other plans for his future.

"Will they let that murderer go?" At that moment, a monstrous scream belonging to the father of the deceased child erupted, causing the police to quickly remove them from the courtroom.

"You won't escape from your crimes, you damned killer!"

Jacob looked at the man being forcibly removed from the room, and after being nudged by his lawyer, he saw his family waiting for him in the distance, wearing forced smiles.

"What a headache..."