The closed-door court sentencing began with a heavy silence, broken only by the crisp shuffle of legal documents and the distant ticking of the chamber clock.
The presiding judge cleared his throat and, without preamble, addressed the convicted repeat offenders standing in the dock.
"Miss Regina Torres and Miss Pearl Torres...This court is not here today to entertain excuses, emotional appeals, or half-baked remorse.
The two of you stand accused of grave offences ranging from premeditated murder to attempted murder, blatant violation of your parole conditions, and resisting arrest, amongst others."
Regina sniffled, tears of regret streaming down her reddened cheeks as she listened to the judge's words. Her teary eyes scanned the room in search of her ex-husband or an ex-family member, but she found none.
No one had come to witness the end of her freedom and life. No one cared.
Even her convicted daughter, Gwen had refused to speak to her since the arrest.
Gwen kept on blaming her for every bad thing that had ever happened to them and went as far as wishing she were not her mother–a statement that bored a hole in Regina's heart.
If only the judge would grant her one request. If only she could see her ex-husband Gregory, for one last time and ask for his forgiveness.
Regina shook her head, more tears streaking down her cheeks as she listened to the judge's brutal words and sentencing.
"Your crimes were not spontaneous. They were calculated, collaborative, and executed with a total disregard for the law, the conditions of your previous release, and the lives you so recklessly endangered and took out of jealousy. You violated the trust of the state, your parole officers, and the very leniency this court once afforded you..Accordingly, this court finds you two guilty on all counts and hereby sentences you to fifty years imprisonment with hard labour or life imprisonment with hard labour, whichever one is greater."
"Ah!" Pearl gasped, her reddened eyes widened, and her jaw dropped as she echoed in her heart. "Life imprisonment!" She whipped her stunned gaze to her already crying sister.
However, the judge was not done with his sentencing. He struck his gavel on the block, silencing Regina's pathetic cry, and resumed the sentencing reading.
"You are not eligible to parole or visit from anyone. I hereby revoke all post-release rights and permanent inclusion on the federal high-risk criminal registry. Let your bones ache like those who ended their lives without compassion.
"No...please...forgive me..." Regina fell on her knees, raising her handcuffed hands to the judge and crying helplessly.
"Get them out of my courtroom and bring in the next offender." The judge struck his gavel and Regina, alongside her crying sister Pearl, were dragged out of the courtroom amid wailing.
Next, Gwen was brought before the judge, looking like the ghost of her former self. She didn't bother looking at her mother or aunt as they were dragged past her. She was too lost in her hollow thought to care.
The sentencing was brief unlike Gwen anticipated. She heard the judge saying something about fifty years' imprisonment with hard labour and parole after forty years with good behaviour.
'Good behaviour after serving forty years in prison? What a joke.'
A maniacal laughter erupted from Gwen's throat as she was dragged out of the courtroom amid the judge's repetitive striking of his gavel.
Next came Desmond who was given the same sentencing as Gwen.
Afterwards, Don was brought before the judge in shackles, looking like a walking dead man.
The judge wasted no time sentencing the Don to death by lethal injection following his crime of first degree murder, man slaughter and other alarming criminal charges.
Finally, it was time for Matt to face the judge.
Matt was so sure he would be sentenced to death after overhearing Don's sentencing. But all his hope of an agonising death by a little injection was shattered when the judge opened his mouth.
"Mr Matt Shawls, this court has reviewed the overwhelming body of evidence brought before it. There are photographs of corpses you left in your wake, charred remnants of state buildings you demolished without a flicker of remorse, and testimonies of families destroyed by your insatiable appetite for power, violence, and blood."
The judge looked up to meet Matt's remorseful gaze, his expression devoid of empathy or emotion.
"You are not a man led astray. You are a menace to society, a man who deliberately led others into the abyss. You orchestrated murders with precision. You executed officers of the law without hesitation. You turned fraud into an empire and organised crime into an art form. You showed no regard for human life, not even to your own family members."
"I'm sorry, your ho..."
"Silence." The judge boomed striking his gavel on the block, his expression darkened. He adjusted the reading glasses on the bridge of his nose and read out Matt's sentencing.
"For the charges of first-degree murder, multiple homicide, destruction of federal property, the killing of law enforcement officers, grand theft, fraud, and leading a violent criminal enterprise, this court finds you guilty on all counts."
Matt nodded his head as if in agreement with the judge's statement.
"Let the record reflect the following sentences as it befits your crime.
Number one; Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for each of the sixteen murder counts, to be served consecutively.
Number two; Thirty years for the destruction of government property to be added to the end of your last life term.
"What!" Matt's jaws dropped as he mentally processed the sentencing. "Wouldn't I already be dead in prison by the end of the first sentencing?" He muttered under his breath as the judge continued reading.
"Number three; Twenty-five years for each count of police homicide, also consecutively.
Number four; Fifteen years for orchestrated financial fraud and theft.
In summary, you are to serve sixteen life terms, ninety-five additional years, and zero hope of ever walking as a free man again. You will die behind bars with hard labour, and the world will remember your name only in the footnotes of infamy. You are hereby remanded to a maximum-security federal penitentiary under permanent solitary confinement. May your silence echo louder than the screams you left behind."
The judge's gavel slammed down with brutal finality, as Matt passed out from shock.