Chapter Fifty Five

Lachie

I was taken aback when we tried to move forward with the hearing. We explained the situation to the court and, to my surprise, a hearing was scheduled for Trinity within two days. The judge decided that a competency hearing to stand trial would be the first step.

I immediately called Stephen to inform him. He then passed the news on to Mia, Clint, and of course, Trinity. I asked Stephen to gather as many people as possible to support Trinity, including Mia, Clint, himself, Benji, Maddie, and Luke, her best friend. Dave and Felicity were also planning to come, but they decided to help with the kids instead, while Todd lent a hand.

The day of the competency trial arrived quickly. I had Trinity and Stephen in my office, preparing them for what was to come.

Stephen asked, “So what exactly will happen today?”

“When Trinity takes the stand, the prosecution will ask a series of questions,” I explained. “They’ll have two medical experts examining the testimony on their behalf, and your defense team, led by Arlo, will have two on theirs. Based on those responses, as well as specialists’ reports, all this will be presented to the presiding judge to determine your competency to stand trial. If not, we will present a case for habeas corpus, which means there’s no lawful basis for you to be jailed.”

Trinity asked, “What kind of questions will they ask?”

“They’ll focus on your competency as it relates to your ability to stand trial. They’ll determine factors for competency to stand trial, how a determination of incompetent to stand trial differs from not guilty by reason of mental insanity, and most importantly, the competency evaluation.”

“Ok,” Trinity said.

“Are you okay? Are you ready to head over to the courthouse?” I asked.

“I think so. I really don’t know what to say or expect,” Trinity admitted.

“Trinity, just tell the truth as it comes to you, and I promise you’ll be okay,” I reassured her.

“Ok,” she said.

I watched as Stephen took his wife’s hand and we headed over to the courthouse. I couldn’t help but notice how protective he was of his wife, and the depth of their relationship. I’d heard Benji talk about it a lot, but seeing it was something else.

As we entered the courtroom, I saw Benji, Maddie, Mia, Clint, and Luke waiting. We made our way over to them, and I saw Trinity quickly hug her best friend Luke before greeting everyone else.

“Are you okay, babes?” Luke asked.

“Me? What about you, and how is your partner Todd after the accident?” Trinity asked.

“Babes, we’re fine. We’re more worried about you. What do you need from me?” Luke asked.

“My memories back?” Trinity said.

“All in good time, I promise you,” Luke reassured her.

Luke hugged her again, trying to comfort his best friend before we all headed into the courtroom. I took Stephen and Trinity over to Arlo, as they’d only met him once, and made sure she was comfortable with him while I went to sit with Stephen and the rest.

“How are you feeling today, Trinity?” Arlo asked.

“Truthfully, I’m terrified,” Trinity admitted.

“It’s okay. I promise if at any time I’m not comfortable with the questions or the line of questioning, I’ll shut it down before you even have to worry about it, okay?” Arlo reassured her.

“Okay, thank you. Benji said you were really good, and my husband is good friends with Benji and trusts him,” Trinity said.

“Well, thank you. So how about we get this underway for you and get you home and through this mess?” Arlo suggested.

“I would like that, thank you,” Trinity said.

We watched as the presiding judge came in. Benji quickly pointed out that it was Judge Sherer, who had presided over Trinity’s case the first time the CPD arrested her. Benji seemed to think this was a good thing, as Judge Sherer would have noticed the change in Trinity’s behavior from then to now.

“All rise, please,” the bailiff said.

The courtroom rose as Judge Sherer entered and took her seat. She took a few minutes to look over the file before turning to address Trinity.

“Mrs. Gotti, thank you for joining the courts today. I want to be clear you understand what is taking place today. You look a bit confused,” Judge Sherer said.

“I think so, Your Honor,” Trinity said.

“So your attorney has explained to you what will transpire today?” Judge Sherer asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Trinity confirmed.

“And you are okay with us asking you some questions?” Judge Sherer asked.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Trinity said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gotti. I will ask you to come take a seat and swear under oath, please,” Judge Sherer said.

The bailiff held up the Bible and had Trinity swear on it. Once finished, she took a seat in the dock as the new DA assigned explained the questions they would be asking while the panel of four medical professionals observed her behavior and responses.

“Are you happy to proceed with this?” ADA Eames asked.

“Yes,” Trinity said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gotti. We will be proceeding now. What are you charged with?” ADA Eames asked.

“A murder,” Trinity said.

“What do the police say you did in relation to those charges?” ADA Eames asked.

“Kill someone,” Trinity said.

“What led to the murder charge, what did you actually do?” ADA Eames asked.

“I don’t know. I only know what they told me,” Trinity said.

“And what did they tell you?” ADA Eames asked.

“Objection, Your Honor, addressed and answered,” Arlo interjected.

“Sustained, answered already, ADA,” Judge Sherer said.

“Are these charges serious or not so serious?” ADA Eames asked.

“Is that a stupid question?” Trinity asked.

I heard her husband and friends choke back a laugh when she said that.

“Explain,” ADA Eames said.

“I’m not an imbecile; I have memory loss, there’s a difference. Given I already answered that I was charged for a murder I supposedly committed, I think it’s self-explanatory how serious the charges are,” Trinity said.

“Who is your attorney?” ADA Eames asked.

“Arlo,” Trinity said.

“Have you met with your attorney already, how many times?” ADA Eames asked.

“Yes, once,” Trinity said.

“Why not more?” ADA Eames asked.

“I’ve been in the hospital,” Trinity said.

“Who was your attorney before that?” ADA Eames asked.

“No one, I’ve never needed one,” Trinity said.

“What is your attorney supposed to do for you?” ADA Eames asked.

“Supposed to help me,” Trinity said.

“How would he help you?” ADA Eames asked.

“Helping me prove I’m not guilty and this is a waste of your time and mine,” Trinity said.

“What do you need to do when you’re with your attorney?” ADA Eames asked.

“Go over particulars of the trial,” Trinity said.

“Have you talked with him about possible defenses?” ADA Eames asked.

“I don’t need a defense because I didn’t do anything, I already told you that!” Trinity exclaimed.

“You don’t need to tell me what the defenses are, but do you feel comfortable with him being able to work towards a defense?” ADA Eames asked.

“Trinity, I don’t need to explain the defenses to you because I don’t need any. I’ve already told you that.”

ADA Eames asked, “What can you tell me about the prosecutor in this case?”

“Well, if it’s you, you ask ridiculous questions I’ve already answered.”

I could hear the courtroom snickering again, and the judge’s smirk didn’t escape my notice.

“What is a prosecutor supposed to do in a courtroom?” ADA Eames continued.

“Their job?”

“And how would the prosecutor claim you committed these acts?”

“By providing evidence.”

“And what would your attorney do in response?”

“Provide evidence of my innocence.”

“So, after the prosecutor calls witnesses, your attorney would question them too?”

“That’s generally how it works, from what I’ve seen on TV.”

“What about your previous experiences in court?”

“I’ve never been on trial.”

“What would you do if you heard a witness say something you knew wasn’t true?”

“I’d hope my attorney could provide evidence to prove it wasn’t true.”

“And can you stand up and speak?”

“Yes, I can speak to my innocence.”

“Well, in a courtroom you can’t, Mrs. Gotti. That’s your attorney’s job.”

“Well, if you knew the answer, why ask me? And besides, my attorney doesn’t know me. How would he know where I was that night?”

“You’d need to communicate with your defense attorney about that.”

“What’s the judge’s role in the courtroom?”

“To preside over the matter.”

“The judge’s role is to maintain a fair courtroom, ensure the attorneys are behaving properly, and provide a fair and accurate ruling. Do you believe that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know the judge.”

“Will you be having a jury or bench trial?”

“I don’t know, because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Do you know how you get a jury?”

“No, I’ve never needed one.”

“I see you were previously part of a jury. Don’t you remember that process?”

“Well, yes, but I was a juror, not on trial.”

“But you’ve stood before a court before, charged with this same crime.”

“No, I haven’t. That’s a blatant lie.”

“In fact, you did, Mrs. Gotti, just fourteen months ago.”

“No, I haven’t. I would know if that were the case.”

She handed me the charge sheet.

“This is a lie! This isn’t me. This might be my name, but where’s the proof it was me?”

“Have you ever been in a psychiatric hospital?”

“No, never! How dare you even ask!”

“Has your lawyer discussed this with you?”

“No, because I’m not insane.”

“If you’re found guilty of this crime, what do you think will happen?”

“Nothing, because I’m not guilty. I didn’t do this.”

“But what if you are found guilty?”

“I won’t be, because I didn’t do it! Why aren’t you listening? And why do you keep treating me like I’m stupid? I’m not stupid!”

“Have you been told these are felony charges?”

“I might have, but it doesn’t matter because I didn’t do it.”

“Have you ever used a weapon before?”

“Yes, as a child my father and I used to go shooting.”

“When was the last time you picked up a gun?”

“Before my parents died. They died in a car accident when I was in my early twenties.”

“Have you used any weapons since then?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Do you have any guns in your home?”

“Are you stupid? I have young children. I’m not irresponsible enough to leave weapons lying around my house!”

“Not even for security?”

“We have a perfectly good alarm system on the house my husband owns, just like any normal person.”

“Isn’t that house actually owned by both of you, according to the mortgage documents?”

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask Stephen. I don’t remember buying it.”

“So where do you remember living?”

“I lived in a townhouse with my friend Luke, who I work with.”

“But doesn’t your friend Luke live with his husband, Todd?”

“Luke isn’t married.”

“Finally, Mrs. Gotti, what year is it?”

“2020, I believe.”

“You believe?”

“Well, yeah. That’s what my doctor in the hospital told me.”

“That’s all, Your Honor.”

The DA took a seat, and I watched as the judge turned to Arlo, who reserved his questioning until after the medical evaluation was in.

“Court is adjourned until nine o’clock tomorrow morning, pending the medical evaluations and specialists’ reports,” Judge Sherer announced.

Stephen asked, “So how did she do?”

Lachie replied, “Perfectly. Exactly how I was hoping she would react.”