"Morgan, convicted based on judgement delivered by the jury presided over by the late Mr. Alex over charges including inciting violence, use of unauthorized medical procedures leading to death of several individuals, complicity in criminal abetment and misuse of power was sentenced to life imprisonment over thirty years ago. Multiple appeals were denied consequently. This is a trial in the appeals court for a bail plea for Mr. Morgan in this open court. Please come forth with the closing arguments." Judge Philip's voice could be heard clearly.
Mike was part of the audience. Along with him was Clara, some members of the public, some activists, and in a corner seat, sat Jaimie. He wasn't sure how to feel about this. Kelly had suggested that his presence was important. He was going to honor the deal that they had made.
"First of all, I'd like to inform the court that Morgan will not be attending in person today. He has had another stroke just yesterday. The medical history is presented for the jury to verify. He will, however be on call from his cell for the duration of the trial."
The display facing the audience lit up and another one for the trial. Morgan teared up on seeing Mike for the first time in forever. Mike clutched Clara's hands as she consoled him.
"The case was clear then and is clear now. The medical board had debarred the plaintiff from practicing medicine and had found his methods unauthorized. Statements from the case are available for the jury. The harm brought about by Morgan's ways are demonstrable. The fact that he had agreed to pay out some of the victim's families with damages suggests the same. It was a high crime during that time and the imprisonment measures up to the scale of the crime."
"The medical board has had a history of reviewing its policies periodically. The board recently defended a couple of doctors in separate instances over alleged medical negligence which would have conflated with the existing medical code leading to its amendment. The board has revisited their policies on a case-by-case basis and the evidence is presented."
"Are you trying to argue to that public perception of Morgan's conduct has changed over the years?" Philip enquired
"While the passage of time has added weight to that argument, that is the job of the legislature to reflect the public's view in terms of government. I am looking at this case from a good behavior standpoint. I'd like to present the jury with testimony that corroborate Morgan's claim that the procedure was performed with the consent of the patients. We can have them on call."
Couple of people from August's excerpts had agreed to participate in the trial only after Kelly repeatedly assured them that their safety will be guaranteed. They deliberated how their cell mates were abused by the authorities before taking the decision for which Morgan is here today. They had also mentioned how Morgan had helped them in re-integrating with the society and the man they knew would not incite violence.
However, they had refused to name any official in person, which the defendants used to doubt the veracity of the claims. They wanted the abuse claim to be struck off the record as hearsay as they themselves confirmed that they had not been abused.
Kelly had assumed that much will happen. That was why they planned to go at this from a technicality rather than a broader social angle.
"The life imprisonment as a penalty is imposed from a minimum 15 years to a maximum of 35 years according to the law. But it also specifies that such people sentenced that way be considered for a periodic release every year in a timeframe not exceeding three times in a year. While a parole lasts a month, that would mean 3 months for a year. Morgan has served his sentence for nearly 30 years now and never has been considered for a parole. I'd request the jury to grant Morgan the time he deserves to experience freedom as designated by the law."
"Why has the plaintiff never pursued a motion for a bail?"
"Morgan has had a detached relationship from his son which he took it out on himself and shouldn't be seen as an admission of guilt that the defendant paints it to be."
Morgan covered his eyes. Mike looked down.
"The jail records state that Morgan has been subjected to solitary confinement for a continuous period of five years. The amendment made a decade ago had sought to decrease the maximum possible duration for such a sentence should follow a ratio based on the level of crime, which stands at 6 months in a year for in this case. Please be noted that this doesn't mean the argument over his conviction. My client has been clearly denied off justice, freedom and privacy which is applicable by law."
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The judge for a second was contemplating something, he had lowered his glasses and placed it on the table
Morell testified next. Philip noted it as an unusual occurrence. Philip reprimanded the prison management for blocking access to an investigation.
The defendants were allocated time to cross examine the plaintiff... following which a recess was scheduled.
Kelly was nor sure of her prospects. Philip was a lifetime appointee of the ruling administration. She had told Jaimie that she had heard that his daughter had passed away last year in a car accident. It was not due to her not believing in the case she had; this was a case she did not want to lose.
With the rate that things were escalating all around her, the system was already in shambles. This was their last hope for a chance at truth. She wanted to uncover Project Olive. She would pull out all punches necessary.
After much deliberation jury had reached a conclusion. The plaintiff had fast tracked this case as the court would convene only for the next session, due a month, if not for today.
The jury ruled in favor of Morgan offering him a reduction of three years off his sentence and then asking for the state police to ensure periodic parole as long as the good behavior stands, with the first one effective immediately after the completion of formalities.
***
They had begun their journey to the specialty hospital, half an hour away from the prison premises. The day's emotions lingered in him. He for the first time felt vindicated in his life. Though he carried no regrets as to how he practiced his profession. He honored it and held it in high regard. He never doubted his duty to serve and do what is best. But to see Mike react and relate to him and comprehend him in a way he never could as a teenager whose dreams were crushed because of him, that was something he hoped to see before he died. He also felt happy for him for the few fleeting moments that he had seen Clara.
He did not have anything to look forward to in ages, he did not care that his health was rapidly deteriorating. But suddenly when diagnosed with the second stroke in last two years, he wanted to recover. He wanted to see them smile and share their experiences. He had something to look forward to. He trusted the medical team that has helped him over the years. Even when they were allocated to somebody else, they found time for him. He appreciated them for the little part they did to take the weight off his solitude. He just needed a little more time.
The ambulance came to a halt. Morgan lifted himself, rolled back and had a look. He was immediately under alarm. It was in the outskirts of the town. They had to go a few kilometers further to reach the center. It was early morning and the road was relatively empty except for the two large trucks parked horizontally, blocking out the road.
Men got out of the police car that was leading the ambulance for security, guns drawn, towards the trucks. They knocked at its front door, got no response. They contemplated whether it could be a trap. The ambulance was still safe. One of the cops alerted the office. It was announced that the backup would be arriving in about ten minutes. Two men proceeded to enter the truck. As soon as they entered it, they dropped down to the floor struck with tranquilizers. Same fate followed for the other two.
The ambulance driver panicked and reversed and started going back and trace an alternative path. It had not been long since then that a couple of cars started following them, caught up to pace and started indiscriminately shooting at ambulance. One of the tires were flattened. And the ambulance was not in a serviceable position to continue the journey.
Morgan felt that the day was not going his way. He could not do much from this distance. If only they were a bit closer... he had to wait...
The masked men from the car ordered the ambulance driver to leave at gun point. It didn't take much to persuade him this way as he ran fearing for his life. To his surprise, the driver was not shot at. Morgan started to wonder. The policemen were tranquilized, the ambulance driver was driven way... could this all be planned? But he had no time to think.
The door to his cabin was opened... The men were quicker than he expected. It could be his reflexes that were slower than back in the day. He found himself pinned down, blindfolded. He was injected with something and his vision began to blur, he felt like getting dizzy. Might be a sedative. He had seen his share of medicines to know he did not have much time. Five to ten minutes tops with that dosage. These were not medical experts. The promised backup had still not arrived. He doubted if it ever will. He was being shoved into their car.
He could still see through the gaps between the eyes and his nose. The blindfold which was done in a jiffy had not been perfect. That was all he needed. As he peered into the eyes of the men with all effort he could muster, they jumped out of the running car one by one hitting the road hard. Only the driver remained.
Morgan didn't know if he could figure out how to drive that thing. A lot had changed since he last did. He did not want to go back to prison after this. He did not care if this escape he was about to make would impact his standing the court. He instructed the driver subliminally to carry him as far the fuel will take him and somewhere remote.
He could still figure out his treatment later. This was a precautionary measure suggested by the medical team. His breathing became regular, with the amount of power he was able to generate, the driver would keep the car running for hours even if he was to doze off. He was glad he was put into that much stress in hindsight. He will be up in an hour or two until there were more men. He thought of Mark, he was smiling when he was asleep.
The concealed camera under the rear cam display lit up. Then the car erupted in flames. When the backup did arrive, they found a couple of men painting on their shirts with their blood. All convicts.