Chapter 27

“Will the court please rise.” The bailiff announced.

Everyone stood silently as the judge entered the room.  Once they took there seats, the judge made a few announcements.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the court, I would like to let you know, that although I have asked for a closed courtroom, the media has swamped the courthouse.  I ask that in our recesses, the parties immediately affected by this case may follow the bailiff out through a clear corridor.  I will do my best to keep any information regarding this case inside this courtroom.  I ask that no one talk to the media until this case has reached it’s entirety, and that you all respect both parties involved.  Thank you.  Now, we may begin.”

“Mr. Alexander James McLean, you have been brought before this court because you have been accussed of the wrongful death of Ms. Brianna Lee Nelson.  What would you like to plea in this case?” the judge asked quietly.

“I would like to plea not guilty, your honor.” AJ said softly.

“Then we will continue this case according to the laws and statutes of the state of Florida.” The judge proceeded.

*** *** ***

After several hours of testimony and evidence, the court was put into recess until the following day.  AJ was exhausted, and the tension that had been growing around him had taken it’s toll.  As he walked from the courtroom, he found himself in tears.  Tears over the loss of his girlfriend, tears from the idea that his life was falling apart, and tears that flowed just out of exhaustion.

“Come on man, we’ll take you home and you can get some rest.  Tomorrow should be a little easier.” Howie said as he unlocked the car door for AJ.

“Umm, AJ, did your lawyer decide if you are going to testify tomorrow?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah, and I think I will.  I don’t want anyone to sit there and always wonder about who and what I really am.  They want to hear my side, so, I will tell it to them.  What can it hurt, my image is already ruined, so I have nothing to lose.” He said as he sat in the car quietly.

The other turned to each other and wondered if he was right.  They way they saw it, everyone was looking at the group as a whole.  If AJ testified, then maybe the public would see that each of them were like that.  Most of their fans saw them as loving and caring men, who would do anything for the ones they loved.  But, if the court caught wind of AJ’s testimony, then maybe they would see each of them differently.

*** *** ***

“Okay, Mr. McLean, just tell me what caused the fight the day that Ms. Nelson left.” The lawyer stated.

“Well, she was upset because I had gotten mad at her.” He said.

“Why were you upset?  Did something happen?”

“Yes, she was pregnant, and we had talked about the future.  She told me that she didn’t want to have children…but I protested and told her that it would be so wonderful to have a child.  I thought we were able to handle it.” He said softly.

“And, when you told her that, what did she do?”

“Well, she didn’t think that she wanted the child, and behind my back, she went to a doctor and got an abortion.  I was angry because I thought it should have been both of our decisions to do something like that.  She totally neglected to believe that the baby was mine too.” He answered solemnly.

“And, so, she had the abortion and when you found out, you two had a fight.  Is that correct?”

“Yes sir.  I blew up at her and called her all kinds of nasty names.  She in turn did the same.”

“And, so, you had security take her away?”
 
“Yes, I didn’t want to see her at the moment.  I was so angry that she would do something like that.  I had security take her to another bus to stay there.”

“And, then, did anyone else in the group try to reason with you?”

“Yes, everyone did.  They all agreed that it was wrong for her to do what she did, but they thought I had acted in haste.  Finally, Liz, went to get Brianna off the bus and talk to her.”

“And who is Liz?”

“Liz is Nick’s girlfriend and roommate.”

“So, in the end, what happened to Brianna?”

“She called her uncle and he drove to where we were, and picked her up.  She just left.  Later that week, she called during one of performances and argued with our stage manager.  I wasn’t able to take the call at the time and he told her to leave me alone.  Finally, she called back a second time and said to him that she was about to commit suicide.” He said as he broke down.   “I never meant to hurt her.  I was just so upset.”

“That is all your honor.” The lawyer said.  “The defense will rest it’s case now.” He finished.

The court took a short recess and then the lawyers made their closing statements.  Each of them argued the facts.  AJ’s lawyer tried to prove that although the fight was the cause of the death of Brianna, he was not responsible for her untimely death.  He was not aware of the stress that she was under, nor did he even fathom that she would take her life over such an argument.

Finally, the jurors had heard all they could and were sent into deliberations.  However, since it was close to the end of the day, the judge recessed until the following day.  He sequestered the jury and asked that no one speak of the case outside of the courtroom.  Police and court house security escorted the Boys and the other parties to wherever they needed to go, and the case was put on hold for the night.

AJ would not sleep the entire night, waiting to find out his fate.  If he was found guilty and the plaintiffs won the lawsuit, his whole career would disappear.  If they decided he wasn’t at fault, then it was up in the air.  All AJ could do was lay on his bed and ponder what would happen to his future.
 

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