Thank you, Detective. Now please continue your testimony. I'm sure the judge would agree,

[Taps on the right arrow until he's cycled through all the testimony]

(Hm...they may not be related at all...but I've got a feeling there has to be more to this. I guess I'll have to hear more about the joust itself.)

"Yes, please continue your testimony."

((Sorry guys, it was moving slow earlier, and all the sudden the pace is picking up! I'll try to check this thread more often.))

[3] HOLD IT!

Can you tell us anything about the joust itself or the scene of the crime?

"Yes, just continue you testimony to tell up more about the crime scene. Unless you were there for the joust before though, I doubt you would know much about the joust itself."

Here's a picture of the crime scene we took shortly after we arrived.

*Presents evidence: Crime Scene Photo 1*

Spoiler:

The victim's body had been moved when the medics determined he was dead and as they cleared the arena, but where he fell from the horse has been marked off in white. The dark splotches there? That's the victim's blood. We believe he began to bleed after being knocked from the horse, and he bled through his costume before being moved.

And as for those hoof prints you see back behind the victim? Look at this map here.

*Presents evidence: Arena Map*

Spoiler:

According to statements we collected from the witnesses, the victim's horse behaved weird before his death. When the match began, it reared back and ran in a circle partially marked here. The victim was roughly at his starting point, marked with the V, when the defendant delivered the killing blow.


Evidence added to Court Record: Crime Scene Photo 1
Type: Map/Photograph
Received from Skip Tracer
Photograph of where the victim's body was found. The victim apparently bled through his costume.

Evidence added to Court Record: Arena Map
Type: Map/Photograph
Received from Skip Tracer
Layout of the performance arena. The victim's horse acted erratically before he died.

_________________

*Evidence was added to the court record*

"Thank you investigator for that lovely job. Do you have any information about the murder weapon? Or perhaps the defense would like to first CROSS EXAMINE you?"

(Hm...there's so many hoofprints it's hard to tell what's going on in that picture.)

And you say the victim made it back to the V on your diagram before he was hit?

Yes. The victim's horse had run roughly in a circle when the defendant hit him with the lance.

(I'd be able to tell what happened better if those hoof prints weren't surrounding the blood spots...wait!)



This photo...look at the blood stains. They match the tracks of the victim's horse almost exactly!

So they do. What's your point, Mr. Gant?

Would it not appear to you, prosecutor, that perhaps the victim was openly bleeding before he fell off his horse?

*expression of mild shock*
Gah!

You see my point...your honor, there is no possibility that this earlier bleeding was caused by the joust. All it took was one blow to knock the victim off of his horse.

Hrmm... well if Mrs. Bow cannot disprove it, then I have to agree with you, Mr. Gant.

((Example: Couldn't the horse have stepped in blood after the joust took place? The horse likely ran around a lot in the confusion.))

*sighs* I can see nothing wrong with the defense's statement.

Well then, if Mr. Gant is done questioning you, you may step down inspector. Thank you for your magnificent investigation!

If Mr. Gant is done, Mrs. Bow would you please call your next witness?

*closes book*
The prosecution calls Aaron Reed to the stand.

*takes the stand, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a cup of tea in the other*

*yawns* Hello, everyone...

"Mr. Reed, will you please give us your version of what happened that night?"