Bodie approached the jury box. “My client does not believe he’s above the law,” he began in a deep, collected, even voice. “He cares about this community, the people, and traditions. The state will try to paint him as a cold, egotistic Hollywood star who lives for his own glory. Matt Knight is the exact opposite, which we will prove. Don’t see a celebrity in this courtroom today. See a man, an ordinary citizen, trying to do what’s right. Just like you and I would.”
One by one, the state called their witnesses.
Moore: “Did you see Mr. Knight strike the victim?”
Mrs. Philpott of 2020 Ocean FrontLane: “Yes, I did. Smack. Right in the kisser.”
One by one, Bodie challenged their testimony.
Bodie: “Mrs. Philpott, you saw the defendant hit the victim in the kisser?”
Mrs.Philpott: “Yes, sir, I did.”
Bodie: “Can you definekisser?”
Mrs. Philpott: “The lips. The mouth.”
Bodie: “Your sworn testimony is you saw my client hit Dale Cranston in the mouth?”
Mrs. Philpott: “Yes, I did.”
Bodie: “I have here a photograph of Dale Cranston taken after the so-called altercation.” He handed it to the judge, then to Mrs. Philpott. “Can you describe where you see a bruise on this man’s face?”
Mrs. Philpott: “Oh, yes, I see. He has a bruise around his eye.”
Bodie: “Is that the kisser, Mrs. Philpott?”
Mrs. Philpott: “Well, no. Dale, how’d you get that black eye?”
Male Voice: “He ran into one of the projectors.”
Judge Harris: “No shouting from the gallery and the witness will not address the plaintiff.”
Bodie: “Mrs. Philpott, did you actually see Mr. Knight hit Dale Cranston?”
Mrs. Philpott: “I saw him fall over. Right into Blaire. Made a mess of everything.”
Bodie: “The waitress Blaire?”
Mrs. Philpott: “Yes.”
Bodie: “Blaire was in the kitchen.” He offered verified evidence from Audra at the diner that Blaire was in the kitchen, helping her unload a shipment of napkins and Styrofoam cups. “Mr. Cranston fell into Rachelle Dickenson.”
Mrs. Philpott: [hand to her lips] “Well, those girls look so much alike from behind.”
Bodie: “Mrs. Philpott, can you say beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant gave Dale Cranston this black eye?”
Mrs. Philpott: “I guess not. Gee whiz, sorry, Matt.”
Moore: “Objection! Let the apology be stricken from the record.”
“Overruled.”
And so it went. Moore produced his eyewitnesses, and Bodie challenged every one of them. Even Milo couldn’t swear Matt actually swung at Dale that night in the rink.
Bodie: “Is it your sworn testimony, Officer Patitucci, that Dale Cranston was poised to lunge at the defendant’s grandmother, Tuesday Knight?”
Milo: “Looked like it, but then Mayor Smith fell into Mrs. Knight and things got chaotic.”
