Chapter 31: Failed attempt
After Joe Parker, an officer was called to the witness box, who had handcuffed Sylvester in his apartment. Charles asked the officer,
"How did you find Mr. Crowley the day you arrived at his door?"
"He was in his pyjamas. I believe he was sleeping as his eyes looked puffy," answered the officer.
"How many cases have you seen where a murderer kills a victim and doesn’t make an attempt to hide?"
"Something like that rarely happens. These killers are often smart."
"Then do you think that Mr. Crowley is not the murderer here? Because he didn’t flee from the murder scene."
"It is possible—"
"That’s all, Your Honour."
But soon after, Mr. Hamilton called the man who had verified the fingerprints found in the crime scenes, which was under Jane’s firm.
"And the match you found was of Sylvester Crowley? In Peterborough, Riddleford?"
"Yes, they belonged to Mr. Crowley," Mr. Hines replied and it brought a smile to the prosecutor’s face. "I got the officers to check them too."
He was going to be hung... Sylvester thought to himself as the colour of his face drained. He could hear people murmuring behind him as the courtroom broke its silence. He was scared to turn, knowing people were staring at him, waiting to see him punished.
The court proceedings ended after it, and Sylvester stood up to return to the jail. He met his sister for a few seconds before leaving the court. After a word or two exchange between them, he was taken back to the dark walls of the jail.
Somehow, when Sylvester returned to his cell, he had a new cellmate and Teddy Walsham had been shifted to another cell. And he also came to hear that the blond man, Garry, who was one of the biggest bullies in the prison, had come out of his solitary punishment.
The next day, Sylvester returned to the place, and so did many people, who were more than eager to know how things were going with the psychopath. The man in question was nervous, knowing he would be called into the witness box and would be shredded into pieces.
Hearing all the gory details, Sylvester couldn’t believe that it was true. That it was him who had killed all these women and the horrifying part was that he didn’t remember any of it.
The next witnesses were called and questions of back and forth continued with the victim’s family being called, who had occupied most of the court. After sending away another witness, the prosecutor announced,
"I must bring to your attention that the victims of these murders weren’t solely women; men have also fallen victim to this depraved killer. I will present evidence of another murder."
He then continued, "Edward Mitchel, the former resident of Mr. Crowley’s current apartment. He too met a gruesome end, with his eyes and heart removed and his throat slit. Mr. Crowley murdered him to obtain the apartment!" Mr. Hamilton accused, casting a pointed gaze at Sylvester, who appeared stunned by the revelation.
"Objection, Your Honour! Mr. Hamilton is accusing my client of murder without any proof."
"Sustained."
Turning to his client, Charles inquired, "Did you have any knowledge of this man?" The sudden revelation caught him off guard, as this information hadn’t surfaced during their case preparation.
Sylvester furrowed his brow, struggling to recall. "I vaguely remember encountering someone when I first visited the apartment. However, after a few days, I received a call informing me that the apartment was available for occupancy."
"I don’t think there’s any proof needed here, considering the state in which the murderer has been leaving the victims," Mr. Hamilton shrugged. "Mr. Parker, can testify that he saw Edward talking to Mr. Crowley. As he is in court now, we can sort it right away."
"This could be a completely different killer, and you have no proof that Mr. Crowley did it," Charles stood up from his seat. "You are leading the court, Mr. Hamilton, by wildly accusing him."
Jane, who was seated at the far back, didn’t have a good feeling with how things were going now. Charles had slipped, she thought in the back of her mind.
"Why else would the man disappear with no trace, only to be found later outside the outskirts of Riddleford the very next morning after he met Mr. Crowley?" Mr. Hamilton questioned, raising his eyebrows.
Neither Sylvester or Charles had an answer for this. The next witness brought forward was by Mr. Hamilton and he inquired nonchalantly,
"And what are your thoughts on this purported split personality disorder? Mr. Leary seemed to suggest its prevalence. With that many years of work experience, you must have come across some cases?"
"There’s no such disorder," the doctor replied firmly. "A lot of times people just misunderstand the medical condition. They are often cases of dementia with other mental disorders."
When it was Charles’s turn to cross-examine the witness, he asked, "Some of the doctors confirm that they have worked with these cases, and some haven’t. Do you think they are lying?"
"In the field of science, which is growing, we doctors have different opinions. It isn’t something new," Dr. Abbott responded. "But just because some agree to have witnessed it doesn’t mean it exists."
"Do you know Dr. Walsham?" asked Charles.
"Teddy Walsham, the man who killed his wife?" the doctor responded and that was enough to kill any hope from there.
"You mean the man who chose his wife’s wish more than his own," Charles replied with a tight smile.
"Objection, Your Honour. I don’t know what the defence is trying to do, by bringing up the reference of a convict, who had been in prison for the last ten or more years. Not to mention, someone who shared a cell with Mr. Crowley until recently."
"Sustained!" Judge Reynolds then sent a glare at Charles. "What do you think you are doing, Mr. Leary? Bringing convicts as a reference point?" she scolded him. "The court is adjourned!"