Crim225-2

*See:* Case history

# Brief for the King, submitted by Dalaena
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King's Brief for the Prosecution of Ethistanis for the Murder of Nespite submitted by Dalaena, Captain of the Justicars

In the month of Torrid in the year 223, Nespite, a cleric of Loviatar, was brutally murdered in the Sablean Cemetery. After an exhausting fight with an undead she encountered and defeated, Nespite was murdered by a male, human fighter wielding a Kris sword. The human has been identified as Ethistanis who has admitted and testified to the kill.

The murder was obviously pre-meditated. Ethistanis arrived at the scene where Nespite was recovering from her battle. He walked in, took a look at her, and walked out. She had enough time to read his spiritual path, and discovered it to be the path of the good. She did not recognize the person and had had no previous encounters with him. She had no reason to be really afraid for her life. Then he walked right back in, grinned at her in a most sickening manner, and proceeded to slice and hack at her weary body all the while maintaining that macabre smile. Nespite was filled with the knowledge of certain death and pain. She had no previous run-ins with this person, so the injustice of her death sent her into deep despair. Her corpse was brutally robbed, and she was deprived of more than 15 orbs worth of equipment and coinage. More importantly, her life was worth far more than that. (Please see Appendix A.)

Though Ethistanis confessed to the killing, it is obvious he feels little or no remorse. He is also adamant that he did not 'murder' her and did not ever admit to 'murdering' her. He does, however, admit he killed her and that he definitely had the intent of killing her when he went back to her vicinity the second time. He also refused to testify when a Justicar asked him for requestioning. Such actions indicate that he is not truly cooperative in this case. Obviously, he admitted to the killing because he was questioned by a Justicar, and he is attempting to adhere to some form of Truth as is dictated by his chosen religion in the church of Vishnu. His attempts to wiggle around the word 'murder' indicates that he does not believe he has committed a crime.

Ethistanis testified to the following:

```
  "Vishnu demands that his followers devote their lives to the
  expungement of evil and darkness in all its forms, and in all its
  locations. Evil must be sought out, and utterly eradicated."  Nespite
  is evil, and to these ends I killed her.  If my Lord Vishnu sees this
  as an unfit act specifically, I wait to meet HIS punishment."
```

Ethistanis obviously thinks his act is above the law and that he is answerable to Vishnu only. Though Vishnu was heard declaring through- out the realms that Ethistanis was a bully and a 'thug', Ethistanis does not see it fit to admit to the crime he obviously committed. His play on words and his arrogance indicates that he is not at all remorseful for the hideous crime he committed.

Since Nespite's death, Ethistanis has also been sending her letters in an attempt to establish a meeting. His letter was extremely cryptic and is a possible attempt on her life. His deceitfulness in matters have been recounted by Vishnu Himself, so Nespite only felt more threatened by these cryptic scribbles. (Please see Appendix B.)

Normally, those who confess receive leniency from the law. In this case, I do not believe that the prosecuted feels any sort of remorse. Thus, he should receive no leniency. He also appears to believe he is above the law of the mortal realm, so again, he should receive no quarter from the law.

Respectfully,

Dalaena, Captain of the Justicars

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Appendix A: A list of lost items and coins
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   A razor-tipped whip (Tempered) (Flaming)
   full platemail (Tempered)(Enchanted)
   all my food
   all my money, which I was carrying a good 5 orb.
   a jeweled ring stolen from her cold dead hand
```

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Appendix B: A letter sent to Nespite from the killer
~~~~~~~~~~
  Ethistanis writes:
  > Nespite,
  >
  > Please contact me when you are awake.  I have somethings to
  > give you.
  >
  > Ethistanis, Warlord of Vishnu
```