The Solider Husband - Chapter 627

10 June, Municipal Courthouse, City K

Silence came from the defence team, before the female prosecutor turned to her.  This was why John wanted her here.  He had expected what would happen and wanted to ensure that there was another way to get material in.  Quickly observing the reactions from the prosecution team, she also realised that only the lead prosecutor knew of her existence before now.

Taking the hint, Bronwyn, stood up and moved towards the witness box, and after she was sworn in said “I am Lieutenant Bronwyn Li, a military lawyer stationed at the Military base here.”

Over the next twenty minutes the prosecutor took her through the events that happened at Paul and Abigail’s apartment, Abigail’s reactions and what she observed yesterday when everyone was at the boss’ villa and asked her to apply her professional judgement to why the continuation of the order was necessary, before turning over her questioning to the defence team.

The initial questioning was exactly what she would have expected, trying to shake her views.  She was just waiting for the two topics that the defence had avoided, the military and her relationship with John.

“Lieutenant, can you please confirm to the court your exact posting?”

“As I have said previously, I am a military lawyer, and my general assignment is to the national military legal office.  I have been deployed here to City K, initially to deal with matters in the civilian court system related to a senior officer but have been redeployed to the legal team on base.”

“That is not strictly true is it?  You are assigned to the special forces?”

Bronwyn knowing not to show surprise that they knew exactly where she was deployed, calmly responded “I am assigned to the legal team on base here.  Even as a lawyer, I am a member of the military and am required to ensure that I retain skills that allow me to be deployed on active duty if required with general and specialist units.  That means training with them.”

“You did not answer the question.  Are you assigned to special forces unit here?”

“Sir, as I said I am required to train with different units to be able to be deployed on active assignment if required.  That may include special forces units, and I have undertaken some training with the general units, mechanised units and even the special forces unit since I have been deployed here in addition to my normal duties.  With those are secondments I wear the relevant insignia of the unit I am training with, as well as that which designates me as being a military lawyer.”

After he came up from speaking to Madam Mo, the question he asked led her to know that they were trying to trip her up, “Can you tell the court who Colonel Pang is?”

“There is a Colonel Pang in the military.  If it is the officer that I am thinking of, from what I understand he has been married to a Monica Mo for over eight years.  Apparently, Madam Pang is the eldest daughter of your client who was disowned by your client upon her marriage.  But I do not have specifics as to that.”  That was an easy question to be truthful but not let on specifical information and not unexpected because Madam Mo would want to keep her options open as to the court that heard the case.

After again seeking some whispered instructions, the lawyer asked “You have not been honest with the court and disclosed your relationship with the police officer John Nang.  You are engaged to him, aren’t you?”

“As the prosecution said, and I have not denied this, he is my boyfriend.  But you do not understand the process for military marriages, particularly in my circ.u.mstances.  I am a military officer and the daughter of a senior general.  Consequently, a proposal from my boyfriend, to have any legal standing not only has to be approved by direct chain of command, but the base I am stationed at and the national authorities.  The new marriage laws, as it applies to military officers is clear that an engagement is not official until the requisite approvals are obtained and the couple is free to marry like anyone else.”

“Lieutenant, answer the question please.”

Bronwyn, without pause quickly answered “Mr Nang has proposed, but formally no we are not engaged.  And I object to your implication that I would lie for his sake.  As a member of the military I am expected to uphold the best behaviour possible.”

At that moment, the female prosecutor said “Madam, we are getting out of the realms of what is appropriate scope for this hearing.  The Lieutenant was here to provide evidence as to the reaction of the victim, and as a legal professional her view as to the necessity for the continuation of the order.  And before the defence ask why the victim is not here, the defendant well knows that she is undertaking her final High School examinations and the University Entrance Examinations.”

The judge looked directly at Bronwyn, and she noticed a look of disgust cross her face before she said “The prosecution is correct as to the questioning.  Unless you have any other relevant questioning, this witness is dismissed.”

After a few more questions Bronwyn stepped down and sat back where she had been, before the Prosecution and defence continued their submissions on the question of Madam Mo’s release for another hour, before the defence team said “Madam there is one matter, we need to flag with the court.  At this time our client has instructed us to make it known that she wishes to preserve the right at any time, as the parent-in-law of a senior military officer to have this matter transferred to the military court system.  She believes her son-in-law serves in the special forces and an open trial if that is confirmed will be inappropriate.”

Bronwyn without thinking jumped straight to her feet, and said “Madam, that will be objected to.  Defence did not challenge my evidence as to the lack of relationship between the defendant and her daughter and son-in-law, and if there are any potential issues around military matters, it is easily handled by the courts with the tools it has.”

The judge paused for a few seconds and said “That is noted, but I am conscious that justice will not be done if your client moves this matter to the military system.  But as to the central questions for the hearing today, I am releasing the defendant from custody and am revoking the restraining order but with the ability for it to be reinstated if you, Madam Mo, do not take the message that your daughter and her husband have given you, that they do not want you to contact them.  Otherwise I expect better evidence to be filed in this matter by the prosecution within three weeks to support the historical charges otherwise I will strike them out.  And to the members of the media, while I am loathed to state this because I believe in open justice, as of the nature of the historic offences if your report the actual names of the victims you will be brought before me.”

With that the judge quickly left the bench, and as she stood Bronwyn saw John walking towards her.  As he got close, she quietly said “You knew that would happen?”

“Suspected once there was an idea of the judge that would get the case.”

Before either of them could say another thing, Madam Mo on leaving the court knocked into John and said for the two of them to hear “You think you have won.  Forget it.  I will destroy you forever and pass a message onto my two ungrateful daughters they will lose everything because I always get what I want.”

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