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Cindy Donovinh here live from the Durem Courthouse.

Yesterday we finally saw some forensic evidence placing the defendant at the crime scene! It seemed quite damaging to Ian's case. In retaliation, the inside word is that Ian himself will take the stand to clear his name... but we'll just have to see about that now won't we?

Let's go to the courtroom, the trial is about to continue!

Defensebot, please call your first witness of the day.




The defense calls Gino Gambino to the witness stand.




Please verbally state your designation and occupation for entry into the court record database.



My name is Gino Gambino. I am the son of the most powerful man in all of Gaia, Johnny K. Gambino.



Gino, is it true that Ian helped save you when you washed up on the beach several months ago?



Well, I was unconscious during that time, but when I came to at Sasha's house, Ian was there. He helped Sasha get me better.



Then Ian did, in fact, play a role in helping you get better?




Yes, yes he did.




Do you believe that Ian has any illwill or bad intentions towards you or your family?




I don't see why he would. I have no beef with him nor his family. Why should he be any different towards me and mine?



Has Ian ever threatened or harassed you?




No.




Has Ian ever so much as laid a finger on you?




No. Never.




Thank you, Gino. End sequence of questioning.

ProsecutionBot, you may cross examine the witness.




Mr. Gambino--




Please, call me Gino.




Pardon me, Gino. You say that Ian never laid a finger on you is that right?




Yes sir. That is correct.




I believe you. Of course he didn't touch you. Did you know that Ian wanted to leave you on the shore to die that day?



I ... had no idea.




Come now, Gino. When you were caught in the burning mansion, Ian left you there to die as well didn't he?



But he had to save Sasha... In fact, I told him to--




Please answer the question, Gino. Did he or did he not leave you to die in the burning mansion on the night in question.



...




Please answer the question.




He ... he did.




Did you also know, Gino, that Ian has long resented your family and your father especially?



But what does that have to do with me?




It has everything to do with you Gino. Even now, don't you feel responsible for the actions of your father?



I ...




I don't think I need to remind you that you are under oath here.




... yes, I do feel responsible for my father's actions...




Well, Ian feels the same way as you do! He blames YOU for the actions of your family. And it angered him when you stole Sasha away from him--



OBJECTION! Speculation and badgering the witness--




--adding one more betrayal to the list of offenses that the Gambino family has done to him!



That will be enough counsel!!




I ... really had no idea ... I would never hurt anyone.




I'm done with this witness your honor.




Indeed you are. Gino, you may step down.

Defensebot, please call your next witness.




The defense calls the defendant, Ian, to the witness stand.




Please verbally state your designation and occupation for entry into the court record database.



Ian. I own and run the Barton Boutique. Well, at least I used to run it before all of this happened.



Is that your full designation?




Yes, it is.




How long have you been running the Barton Boutique?




Well, including my time when it was in Gambino, since I was a little boy really. It is my family business and was handed down to me by my father before me.



Would you say that the people of Barton have come to depend on you for all of their discount purchases?



Of course. For the cheapest clothing and accessories, there no place cheaper than Barton Boutique. Many people all around Gaia depend on me for that. Everyone trusts me.


OBJECTION!




The defendant will please refrain from making claims about his own character.




I see no reason to delay this question any longer. Ian, did you commit arson at the Gambino mansion on the night of October, 30?



I did NOT, sir. I would never do such a thing! I am not a violent person and I would never harm a living thing.



Thank you, Ian. End sequence of questioning.

ProsecutionBot, your witness.




Ian, is it?




Yes... *gulp*




Is that your full name? That is, do you have a last name?




Of course, it's--




OBJECTION! Relevance?




I'm sure many people would like to know.




The law does not require last names to be announced. Everyone here knows who the defendant is here. And this is totally irrelevant to the case at hand.



Withdrawn. Ian, how is it that you know the Gambino family?




Well, who doesn't know the Gambino family? They are only the wealthiest and most influential family in all of Gaia!



Do you know them personally?




No, not really.




But you have dealt with Johnny K. Gambino in the past?




Well, sure, I helped pass out gifts at the Anniversary Ball a couple years back...




Is that all?




Well, sure it is.




You run the Barton Boutique, formally known as the Gambino Boutique, did you not?




... yes.




AHA! Earlier, both Ruby and Meredith testified that you had prior dealings with Johnny K. Gambino when your Gambino Boutique was taken from you! Why did you hide that fact, Ian?!


NO! I didn't ... I mean ... well, I don't like to think about that.




Why did you LIE, Ian?




I didn't mean to ... it's just ... it was a hard time in my life. I had a lot of pressure on me ... to make the boutique succeed. My family entrusted it to me. The "boutique" has long since been a family trademark, a business passed down from generation to generation. Every owner of a "boutique" ran his business with a talking cat. It was tradition. And a good business gimmick as well... When Rufus became the last in his line of talking cats, I knew I would be the last of the "boutique" owners... there was a lot riding on me to succeed... I ...

Well then, how did you feel when the shop's prime real estate was taken from you by the Gambino family?



I ... well, at first I was upset... I didn't know how I felt really. I went through a bunch of phases... anger, denial, depression, etc...



You were angered?




Of course, I hated myself... I hated that I couldn't step up to the plate and succeed. My father had succeeded before me, and his father before him, and his father before him...


Success was very important to you.




Yes... it was. I didn't want to let everyone down.




So, then, you would do ANYTHING to succeed?




Yes... erm... no.... that's not what I--




What did you do after you lost the Gambino Boutique?




I, well, went away for a little while. Ended up in Barton Town. I worked really hard for the past few years to get the Boutique where it is today.



But your sales have never amounted to much compared to what you were making on the Isle de Gambino?



No, but I'm ok with that. I've learned that I don't want to be in charge of so much pressure and responsibility... I... I just want to be happy. I just want to be lo--



Sasha.




S-s-sasha...




How do you feel about Sasha?




Sasha?!




Yes. Sasha. And let me remind you that you are under oath here.




I ... *gulp* erm ... I ... I love her.




But she doesn't love you, Ian.




...




In fact, from all of the media coverage we've seen from New Year's, it's quite obvious her heart belongs to another man ... a GAMBINO, in fact!



...




Tell me, Ian. How do you feel about that?




...




Does it anger you to know that the woman you love was taken from you by the same blood that took your family business from you?



I ...




YES or NO, Ian? Does it anger you to know that all of your hopes and dreams were dashed away by the GAMBINO's?!



...yes. *sob*




And you would do ANYTHING to get back what you lost, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?!



... I ... yes. *sob* *sob*




No further questions your honor.




You may step down, Ian. I believe that is the final witness of the trial. We will now take a recess while the prosecution and the defense are finalizing their closing statements. We will reconvene with the closing statements tomorrow at which time the jury will be able to decide the defendant's fate. Court is adjourned!

Well, there you have it! Today is a close call, I have no idea who did better today. We'll just have to wait for the closing statements until we can get a better idea! And GAIA 9 Action News will be there with coverage. You can count on it! See you then! Cindy Donovinh, signing off!

The defense may begin its closing statement.




Male and female humanoids of the jury. It is quite apparent that the prosecution has no case here.

All of the evidence that has been recorded into the court record database has been circumstantial. The prosecution has a tape of the defendant at the crime scene, but nowhere in that tape does it show the defendant actually doing anything wrong.

The prosecution has a bottle of pills that has the defendant's fingerprint on it. This only shows that the defendant was there. And we know why he was there. He was there simply to save the woman he loves FROM the fire.

The prosecution claims that the defendant is an evil, deceiving humanoid. But all that I observe of the defendant shows that he is merely a humanoid searching for *clang clang* ... love.

The defendant was simply "in the wrong place at the wrong time" to be accused for this crime. We all know that Ian is not responsible for this act. Let's not prolong his suffering any further. Hasn't he been through enough?


The prosecution may begin its closing statement.




Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury.

The defense would have you believe that the defendant, Ian, is a harmless individual. But we've shown you evidence that this is, in fact, not the case at all.

We had numerous witnesses, even witnesses called by the defense, admit that Ian was jealous of the Gambino family, especially with Gino Gambino.

We have witnesses testifying to Ian's violent nature. Ian ASSAULTED a man who was just doing his job.

We have irrefuteable evidence of Ian fleeing the scene of the crime and evidence that Ian was where he wasn't supposed to be that night.

We have evidence that Ian had forethought that something bad was going to happen at the mansion that night, a warning to the woman he loves.

Ian HIMSELF admitted that he would do ANYTHING for this "love." I call it jealousy. And we've seen it time and time again. Jealousy breeds acts of violence. The answer is clear. Do NOT let Ian get away with this heinous crime. You must convict Ian.


Thank you. This case now lies in the hands of the jury, i.e. the Gaia members. The voting begins now and will end in 5 days. The fate of the defendant, Ian, is in your hands now.