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The Stark Hearing
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| Kalek_Hanne | Date: Wednesday, 26 March 14, 11:04 PM | Message # 1 |
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| It was 0700. He had been in his office for over an hour, reviewing the case being brought before him. Were it not for the charge of Crimes Against Sentience, he wouldn't even be involved in the trial, with the case being left to the applicable Regional Court. He was actually rather thankful for the Neutrality Clause and his oversight of the preliminary hearing, as it seemed Justice Eddicus had already determined Stark was guilty from what he had heard. It was mere rumor however, and he could not speak for the Justice personally. He loved rumors, and while he never spread or created them, a part of him loved hearing them for sheer entertainment value, and out of appreciation of their sometime creative nature.
While it was the stated start time of the hearing, he always gave the participants an extra ten minutes to arrive. He had found as a prosecutor anything as simple as traffic to as severe as an uncooperative defendant could hamper a preliminary hearing. The two Judicial Officers at his door unlocked it and held it open to allow both the prosecutor and defender into his office, as well as their relevant teams, if any. The prosecutor and defender would each be given one of three seats in front of his desk, at opposite ends, with their teams, again if any, provided seating at opposite sides of the room on a series of couches. After some time, Alyn Stark, in binders, was marched into the office by a team of four Judicial Officers. They sat him in the middle seat, removed his binders, and then took position just behind the trio of seats, standing in relativity to each physical gap provided by the seats and the ends of the arrangement; their hands on their sidearms which were set to stun, just in case Stark went wild, as unlikely as that was. Once everyone was settled, his protocol droid took stance at his side, as did a camera droid. With that, he began the hearing.
"This is a preliminary hearing in regards to case number 24961 GR 1-138, Galactic Republic versus Alyn Stark. This hearing is to review evidence and initial arguments, and determine the suitability of the case for trial, and under which mode it shall take place should it be found suitable for trial, either via criminal trial adjudicated by myself or via a full court session of the Supreme Court," he said, taking a drink from his cup of coffee. A glass of water was provided to the three individual before him, in case they needed refreshment.
"Mr. Stark, you have been charged with Crimes Against Sentience, Criminal Breach of the Senex-Juvex Trade Embargo, Illegal Trafficking in Arms and War Material, Aiding and Abetting Slavery, Laundering, War Profiteering, and Criminal Negligence. At this time, I offer Mr. Stark the chance to enter a plea; if you decline that right or plea Not Guilty, I give the prosecutor the chance to make a plea bargain, and for the defense to respond."
Justice Kalek Hanne
Galactic Republic Supreme Court
Message edited by Kalek_Hanne - Wednesday, 26 March 14, 11:22 PM |
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Wednesday, 26 March 14, 11:36 PM | Message # 2 |
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| Despite the binders and the guards, Stark was the perfect picture of a relaxed man. As it appeared he'd not been denied his change of clothes, he was freshly dressed in a clean suit, neither overly expensive nor gaudy, but equal to those worn by the officials within the room. Seated for a moment, he rubbed his wrists where the binders had sat and looked around, frowning slightly. "Justice Hanne, I would like to note at this time that my defense attorney, a Miss Quinn Styles, does not appear to be present. I can only assume she is running a bit late, as I have not had contact with her since my arrival on Coruscant.
"However, I believe I can answer the basics. Of the charge of Crimes Against Sentience, I plead not guilty. Of the charge of a Criminal Breach of the Senex-Juvex Trade Embargo, I plead not guilty. Of the charge of Illegal Trafficking in Arms and War Material, I plead no contest. Of the charge of Aiding and Abetting Slavery, I plead not guilty. Of the charge of Laundering, I plead not guilty. Of the charge of War Profiteering, I plead not guilty. Of the charge of Criminal Negligence, I plead not guilty."
Alyn Stark
Lord of House Stark
Governor of Kinyov Province
Owner, Stark Unified Defense (presumed)
Owner, Lorrd Engineering (presumed)
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| Kalek_Hanne | Date: Thursday, 27 March 14, 0:07 AM | Message # 3 |
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| ((The idea, as shown in the text of my post, is that everyone was present in the hearing already; unless Quinn is okay with this mode.))
Justice Kalek Hanne
Galactic Republic Supreme Court
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| Quinn_Styles | Date: Thursday, 27 March 14, 0:31 AM | Message # 4 |
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| "So sorry for being late....I had a little issue getting through building security, among other things." She said as she breezed in, markedly calm and collected, just in time to hear Mr. Starks pleas being entered. She laid her briefcase down and pulled a data pad out before giving Stark a glance. "My apologizes, Mr. Stark."
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| Malachi_Kruus | Date: Thursday, 27 March 14, 7:18 PM | Message # 5 |
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| Malachi was present and took a note that Stark had entered a plea of no contest on the one matter. He had been present some time early.
"Mr. Justice Haane, Gentlebeings of the Court. The Illegal Trafficking in Arms, as Mr Stark. If Mr Stark will plead guilty or no contest to the Embargo's breach (implicit in his admission of arms trafficking) and also the admission of Criminal Negligence (which is what being unaware of the law is). And then we we would be willing to petition the court to drop the rest of the charges and treat Alyn Stark with moderation, if he fully apologies for his dealings and swears never to undertake in trade with slavers again.."
The Honourable Malachi Kruus Esq.
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Sentenced to be a Lobotomized Slave Drone for Conspiracy to Defraud in High Office
Legal Counsel to the Ciutric Hegemony (Briefly)
Galactic Republic Attorney. (Retired)
Legal Officer to the Trade Federation, Doldur Sector
Message edited by Malachi_Kruus - Thursday, 27 March 14, 7:21 PM |
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| Quinn_Styles | Date: Saturday, 29 March 14, 2:05 PM | Message # 6 |
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| After a brief and quiet consultation with her client...
"Mr. Stark would like to keep his pleas as previously stated. He will, however, apologize for his dealings with said slavers; publicly, if necessary. He will also be making a very generous and sizable donation to anti-slaving funds. We would kindly ask that the prosecution keep that in mind and consider dropping the rest of the charges. Mr. Stark is not a violent criminal, or a criminal at all by many standards; simply a man, a father, a husband, and a Lorridian who was doing all he could for his people and his family."
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| Malachi_Kruus | Date: Saturday, 29 March 14, 3:00 PM | Message # 7 |
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| "Your Honour, this is ridiculous. The Defense mocks the court and its own standing by pleading like this. But it is their decision to make.
Mr Stark is not a violent criminal but a criminal who has enabled violence.
Mr Justice Haane. If the ridiculously generous plea bargain the Prosecution offered Mr Stark in recognition of his claim of ignorance and simply 'a father, a husband, and a Lorrdian who was doing all he could for his people and his family'. For the sake of assuming good faith we offered the plea bargain to prevent the prosecution of the charges which could ruin Mr Stark's family, business and governmental career much more severely than those we believe must be prosecuted.
If the Defense rejects our offer of a plea bargain, and has not made any arguments with legal weight in mitigation it is the decision of the Prosecution that it will pursue Alyn Stark on all charges he is currently under indictment for in this court room, and will push for the maximum sentence possible." He smirked as he sat down, he was going to make a career off this prosecution alone now that the defense had rebuffed his gentle lower grade offenses; now he was let off the leash to hunt on the meat of the case, the serious criminal charges which could leave Stark in detention for life, his company dissolved and his assets seized... It was a good day to be doing good.
The Honourable Malachi Kruus Esq.
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Sentenced to be a Lobotomized Slave Drone for Conspiracy to Defraud in High Office
Legal Counsel to the Ciutric Hegemony (Briefly)
Galactic Republic Attorney. (Retired)
Legal Officer to the Trade Federation, Doldur Sector
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Saturday, 29 March 14, 7:43 PM | Message # 8 |
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Colonel
Group: Users
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| ( I will be posting here, but give me a bit. Have to confer on a few things. )
Alyn Stark
Lord of House Stark
Governor of Kinyov Province
Owner, Stark Unified Defense (presumed)
Owner, Lorrd Engineering (presumed)
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| Quinn_Styles | Date: Sunday, 30 March 14, 6:02 PM | Message # 9 |
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| Your Honor, what's ridiculous is that my client is here in binders despite having posted bail and appeared at this hearing of his own free will. And it's ridiculous that my client, who is not guilty of any of the charges, is not only made to look guilty but is ridiculed by the opposing counsel for daring to protest his innocence in a court of law. I ask with all due respect that you restore order to this court, Your Honor. If there's going to be a presumption of innocence in this hearing, then the opposing counsel should be reminded that my client is under no obligation to perjure himself by pleading guilty to crimes he did not commit.
On the charges of Crimes Against Sentience, Criminal Breach of the Senex-Juvex Trade Embargo, Aiding and Abetting Slavery, Laundering, War Profiteering, and Criminal Negligence, my client pleads Not Guilty, and pleads No Contest to the charge of Illegal Trafficking in Arms and War Material―on this particular charge, we are prepared to prove the existence of mitigating circumstances, and to prove Mr. Stark's complete innocence of the remaining charges. There will be no bargain, Your Honor. And if any of us can be accused of wasting the court's time, it is the prosecution for having brought these ridiculous charges in the first place.
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 30 March 14, 6:14 PM | Message # 10 |
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Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 194
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| ( And on that note, skip me for this. My defense is taking it for now. )
Alyn Stark
Lord of House Stark
Governor of Kinyov Province
Owner, Stark Unified Defense (presumed)
Owner, Lorrd Engineering (presumed)
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