He paused for effect.
"But the evidence will show you something different. The evidence will show you a man who uses violence and intimidation to get what he wants. A man who believes he's above the law. A man whose employee brutally assaulted an innocent patron at his nightclub, breaking the victim's arm in three places, and who has used his wealth and influence to cover up that crime."
I kept my expression neutral. Bored, even. Like his words were meaningless noise.
"On the night of June fifteenth, Antonio Costello was enjoying a night out at Inferno nightclub with friends. He had a few drinks. He was dancing. He was having a good time." Roberto's voice rose slightly. "Then Matteo DeLuca, thedefendant's head of security, attacked him without provocation. Grabbed him. Threw him against a wall. Broke his arm so severely that Antonio required surgery and months of physical therapy."
Roberto walked along the jury box, making eye contact with each juror.
"The defense will claim this was self-defense. That Antonio had a knife. That he threatened someone. But the evidence will show that's a lie. Multiple witnesses saw what happened. Security footage was conveniently 'malfunctioning' during the incident. And in the weeks following the assault, witnesses who initially agreed to testify suddenly changed their stories or refused to cooperate."
He turned back to face the courtroom.
"This is a pattern with Alessandro Vitale. When the law threatens him, evidence disappears. Witnesses recant. People who should speak truth suddenly develop amnesia. But this time, we have witnesses who won't be intimidated. We have medical records that can't be erased. We have proof that Matteo DeLuca committed a brutal assault at the defendant's nightclub, under the defendant's authority."
Roberto paused again. Let that sink in.
"The defendant will sit there in his expensive suit and his Italian shoes and pretend he's just a businessman. But you'll see the truth. You'll see that Alessandro Vitale runs a criminal enterprise where violence is policy and intimidation is standard practice. And you'll have the opportunity to hold him accountable."
He returned to the prosecution table. "Thank you."
Judge Morrison looked at Diana. "Ms. Martinez, your opening statement."
Diana stood and approached the jury with confidence. She was good at this part. Commanding presence. Clear voice. I could see why she'd built a successful practice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the prosecution just told you a story. A compelling story about a brutal assault and a cover-up. But that's all it is—a story. And stories aren't evidence."
She clasped her hands in front of her.
"The evidence in this case will show you something very different. On June fifteenth, Antonio Costello wasn't an innocent patron enjoying a night out. He was intoxicated. Belligerent. And when a waitress refused to serve him more alcohol, he became violent. He pulled a knife. He threatened her. And Matteo DeLuca, doing his job as head of security, intervened to protect that employee."
Diana walked along the jury box, mirroring Roberto's earlier movement.
"Mr. DeLuca used the minimum force necessary to disarm Mr. Costello and remove the threat. Unfortunately, Mr. Costello was injured in the process. But that injury was the result of Mr. Costello's own violent behavior, not an unprovoked assault."
She gestured toward the prosecution table.
"The prosecution will call witnesses who claim they saw what happened. But when we cross-examine those witnesses, you'll see the contradictions in their stories. The impossibilities in their timelines. The fact that several of them have been paid by the Costello family to testify."
Diana's voice strengthened.
"This isn't about justice. This is about the Costello family trying to use the legal system to attack a business competitor. And it's about the district attorney's office, after years of failed investigations into my client, finally having something they think will stick."
She returned to her position in front of the jury.
"Alessandro Vitale is a successful businessman who's built legitimate enterprises in this city. He employs hundreds of people. He contributes to charitable causes. He pays his taxes. And yes, he's been investigated before. Because when you're successful, when you're visible, people look for reasons to tear you down."
"But investigation isn't evidence. Suspicion isn't proof. And at the end of this trial, when you've heard all the testimony and seen all the evidence, you'll see that the prosecution hasn't proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Because reasonable doubt is all over this case."
She sat down.
Judge Morrison addressed the jury. "You've now heard opening statements from both sides. Remember, these are not evidence. They're previews of what each side intends to prove. Now we'll hear from the prosecution's first witness."
The first week of trial was exactly as tedious as I'd expected.
Roberto called witness after witness. Each one contradicting the others in subtle ways that Diana caught on cross-examination but didn't quite destroy. The bartender who claimed he saw the whole thing but was actually in the stockroom. The patron who said Antonio never had a knife but couldn't explain the knife found at the scene. The waitress who testified that Matteo attacked unprovoked but admitted under cross that she'd been in the kitchen when it started.
Diana was competent. She poked holes in their stories. She highlighted inconsistencies. She made the jury question their credibility.
