Crim216-1

*See:* Case history

# Brief for the King, submitted by Dalaena
```

King's Brief for the Prosecution of Sajek for the Murder of Edric submitted by Dalaena

**Statement of Facts:**

In the year 216, Edric was brutally slain by an unknown adventurer on the North Road of Sable. He testified that he was repeatedly beaten by a large, wooden and flaming cudgel. He was also assaulted by severe pains to is abdomen caused by waves of psychic powers flowing through his body. Corporal Kyrteon testified that a psion could indeed cause a person's body to react in such a manner. Edric died in excruciating pain and agony.

**Argument:**

Little was it known to the murderer that there was indeed a witness. Leira wandered into the area in shadows, as is normal for most anyone in her guild. She identified the murder as Sajek of the psion's guild. When asked how she could identify him, she pointed out that he was the same catfolk that had been flirting with her in the tavern. She described the attacker as a white, male catfolk with black tiger stripes. Sajek does indeed match this description. As to how Leira came to be in the area, she had known that a powerful person had been threatening Edric for several days. When Edric left the tavern, the person was not far behind him. Leira ran after them in order to ensure that Edric was not under attack. When she arrived, she found him being pounded by Sajek. She testified to a Justicar before any rumors had hit the streets and in great detail. She testified that Sajek used a cudgel and that he appeared to be concentrating intensely at Edric. She ran away crying for her clanmate and in fear for her life, hoping that Sajek had not detected her mind. When asked why she did not aid her clanmate, she quietly testified that Sajek took Edric down so fast that she was sure he had no trouble taking her out with Edric. Sajek is known to brag about his ability to destroy his enemies quickly. He often challenges various people to fight him in the dome. He can then be heard afterwards admiring how easily and quickly he can take people out.

Sajek completely denied knowing anything about the murder; however, he made it very clear that he would not answer simple questions asked by a Justicar, "If you were going to kill someone, how would you do it?" Only a person who is guilty of murder or has something to hide would refuse to answer that question when asked by a Justicar. Sajek has also refused to respond to other questions asked by several different Justicars when it did not deal directly with the murder such as, "What kind of a weapon would you use to kill someone?" The entire investigation has taken so long because he has refused to answer so many questions, so the case has had to be painstakingly investigated.

Several people also testified that the substantial bounty on Edric was collected by whoever murdered him. The investigating Justicar also found that the collection was made. Sajek is well- known for his love of money and power. He was also heard in the tavern after Edric's death about his "easy payment".

Sajek cited Wyden and Deokoria as alibis to his whereabouts during Edric's murder. Wyden said that he saw Sajek leave the tavern but not very soon after Edric left. Deokoria said that she saw Sajek walking towards the west on Glamis road and that she never saw him going north past her. She reported that she was standing for quite a while on the North Road, and that Sajek could not have walked past without seeing her. Sajek is also extremely well-known for using his teleportation powers. In the past, he would teleport either from the Green Griffon or from right outside the Green Griffon tavern, making sure that several people saw him and were suitably impressed. It appears very suspicious that Sajek would name such alibis who were never actually with him but could only testify that he was not where they were.

**Conclusion:**

There is an eyewitness testimony that Sajek killed Edric on the North Road. Edric himself remembers being attacked by a a white catfolk with stripes that was beating him with a cudgel and causing extreme pain. Sajek killed Edric with enough brutality that Leira ran from him in fright. Leira's testimony was very believable since she admits that she expected Wyden to be the person attacking Edric not Sajek.

Though Sajek has denied that he had anything to do with the murder, his actions subsequent to the murder are extremely suspicious and not of someone who is as innocent as he claims. Sajek's refusal to answer questions has complicated the case and created delays.

Edric suffered much pain and anguish in being slaughtered by someone so much more powerful than himself and for no apparent reason. He was also killed in an extremely brutal manner.

# Brief for the defense, submitted by Sajek
```

**Accusation:**

In the year 216, I was accused of brutally slaying Edric on the North Road of Sable using a large, wooden and flaming cudgel and also by using psychic powers. The following is my defense on the prosecutions allegations about me and my activities during that period of time.

**Defense:**

The cudgel allegadly used to pummel Edric could not have been wielded by me. Its a well known fact within the guild that I prefer a javelin of piercing as my secondary weapon well above a cudgel. Furthermore, I have storage in the King's armory and had a Staff of Necromancy at the time. This is my main weapon and only wielded javelin's as a secondary weapon in those instances when necessary. In short, I very rarely use the psion's armory and didn't own a cudgel at that time.

As to the defense of my personal conduct, I actually very rarely challenge people to the arena. I have done a few times with friends but the majority of the times when I get asked, I refuse. For the statement that I bring alot of people there, I don't know where it came from. As for bragging about my wins in the dome, its merely teasing and knowing I was lucky.

For the questions not answered to Kyrteon, my reply to "If you were going to kill someone, how would you do it?" was along the lines of "Kyrteon, that's a trick question and there's no right answer to it. I won't answer such a thing". To that last reply to Kyrteon's question, I was also motivated by the fact that knowing this would be brought forth officialy, I didn't want any guild secrets to be divulged. Corporal Kyrteon also asked me about what kind of weapon I'd use, which prompted the same reply from me. He also asked me if I frequented the north road to which I did acknowledge that I do from time to time use that road. There have been NO other questions asked by other Justicars about the matter as the prosecution claims.

The allegation that I mentionned something in the tavern about my "easy payment" is preposterous. Its hear say and has no basis other than to those who are accusing me of the crime.

The teleportation theory that has been brought against me is seriously flawed. For that to have taken place, I would have to have \_known\_ exactly where Edric was going, go there beforehand, memorize the area, return to the tavern, wait a while before Edric left and teleport knowing he was exactly around that spot. I don't know where a person intends to go, let alone make a supposition and memorize an area as simple as a road.

**Conclusion:**

The prosecution's main argument comes for an invisible witness. I must admit that I don't know why I would be accused of this crime but seems to me that if the testimony of someone who has no proof of having been there could bring much trouble for many. It would be a scary prospect to see people being accused repeatedly for crimes that are claimed by "invisible witnesses".

The prosecution also has failed to establish any motive whatsoever and the teleportation theory is obviously flawed as too much would be involved and I would never memorize a location on the north road when I could just walk there if I really needed to go there.

Also, the prosecution claims that the investigation took so long for the simple reason that I didn't answer various questions. I have stated in my defense the questions I was asked and the answers I have given. No other questions were asked and I have a hard time believing that simply not answering "how I would kill someone" and "what kind of weapon would I use" would make the investigation drag on for nearly 4 years time.

## Judgment: Crim216-1j

```
King's Bench of Sable

                        )
Rex,                    )
                        )
                        )
v.                      )       Crim216-1
                        )
                        )       DECIDED: Renasci 18, 222
Sajek                   )
________________________)
```

**Charge:**

Sajek stands accused of murder of Edric.

**Findings of Fact:**

1) Leira was a witness.

2) Sajek had motive and opportunity.

3) Sajek's alibis seem more to place him at the scene rather than absolve him.

4) Sajek dodged questions and provided very weak arguments that were almost insulting to the court.

**Discussion:**

Sajek was extremely unresponsive and very defensive during his questioning with the justicars. Evidence was presented that showed motive and opportunity and also placed him at or very near the scene of the crime at the time of the murder.

Sajek wrote:

```
>       Its a well known fact within the guild that I prefer a
>       javelin of piercing as my secondary weapon well above a cudgel.
```

The court finds this argument an insult to its intelligence. It is more likely that a murderer would use a weapon he is not "known for" in order to disguise his identity.

The court finds justicar and witness testimony more compelling than that of Sajek. Sajek wrote in his brief:

```
>       The allegation that I mentionned something in the tavern about my
>       "easy payment" is preposterous.
```

Many people heard it, so it is not preposterous. In fact, it is damning.

Sajek wrote:

```
>       The teleportation theory that has been brought against me is
>       seriously flawed. For that to have taken place, I would have to have
>       _known_ exactly where Edric was going, go there beforehand, memorize
>       the area, return to the tavern, wait a while before Edric left and
>       teleport knowing he was exactly around that spot.
```

Again, Sajek seems to hope the court does not understand teleportation. All you would have to do is establish an alibi in one location, and teleport to ANY other location and move towards the victim from there. The point is not that teleportation was used to arrive right at the foot of the victim, but that teleportation was used to appear to be distant from the scene of the crime.

The fact that a bounty was collected provides the court with a unique way of sentencing for this crime. The more guilty one is, the more enemies one is likely to gather. This means a bounty would be particularly harmful to a truly bloodthirsty murderer.

**Holding:**

*Murder:* Guilty

**Sentence:**

Sajek will pay a 20 orb fine to any justicar. These 20 orbs will be placed as a bounty on his head by the justicar who collects the fee.