Chapter Eight

Play some mood music (348 K)

Robert Evans ruffled quickly through the files in his briefcase. "Laurie, where's Detective MacArthur's affidavit?"

His administrative assistant Jessica Smith looked at him wide-eyed. "Oh, we needed that today?"

The assistant prosecutor turned to look at her. "You left them at the office?"

"Well, this is my first indictment...." she waited for a moment. "Just kidding," she said as she pulled out a file from her own bag, "it's right here."

Evans smiled. "Don't do that to me. I'm surprised they haven't told you in the office about how uptight I get before these things."

"Even after seven years?" she asked.

Evans looked her directly in the eyes and responded in a serious tone of voice. "This isn't Law School. We're going into a room with a grand jury of twenty-three people who will determine whether or not we get to indict this murderer. If we do our job, and a majority of them agree with our evidence, they return a true bill. If we mess up, then another girl may wind up dead in a few weeks. If ever you need a solemn thought to prevent you from going into a grand jury hearing with a cavalier attitude, just think about living with that on your conscience."

Jessica nodded as they walked from the marble hallway into the oak-panelled hearing room and put their briefcases on their table. Evans, having organized his files, in the hallway, was ready to begin his case. There were no judges in the room. The foreman of the grand jury rose as the prosecutors entered, and began the session. "The Grand Jury hearing is convened. All who have business before this Grand Jury step forward and you shall be heard." The District Attorney stepped forward and walked the Grand Jury through the case step by step. Many of the witnesses who would be testifying at trial related what they know about Juliann Boyle's alleged murder. Since there was no defense attorney present, the questioning went rather smoothly. When Evans was done with his examination of each witness, members of the Grand Jury were given the opportunity to ask whatever questions came to their minds. When the D.A. was done presenting his case, he thanked the jury and left. Less than two hours later, word was left at his office that the indictment was returned "true bills" on all the charges the prosecution wished to pursue... the state could proceed with its case against Assemblyman Donald Richards.

Go to next chapter

Return to table of contents

Return to home page

Graphical bars used with permission and taken from the CD-ROM accompanying the Que Corporation book Using HTML by Tom Savola.

The music is used with permission and taken from the Americana CD-ROM.