Chapter Six
Sarah is in her seat by 1:55, ready to go. While she waits for court to resume, she takes time to study the defendant. Although she can only see the back of his head, and sometimes a brief profile of his face, he appears to her to be a clean-cut, nice-looking young black man with a somewhat fearful look in his eyes. But then again, who wouldn’t be afraid, facing a possible death sentence.
He’s wearing a dark blue sport coat, or maybe it’s a suit; she can’t tell. Close-cut hair, broad shoulders and good posture – at least seated – he seems to be highly respectful of his attorney during their infrequent whispered conversations. She wonders whether he has a job – or had a job – and what level of education he completed. Who knows; maybe he had been a student at Furman University where Beth Ann Brooks went. Gwen hadn’t said. Sarah makes a note to follow up on that.
By 2:15 the judge still hasn’t appeared, and the courtroom is getting restless. Finally the Bailiff comes in and announces that the judge has had a family emergency, that he won’t be returning this afternoon, and court will be recessed until ten a.m. tomorrow morning.
Campbell actually looks relieved. He’s probably glad the jury doesn’t have to hear any more testimony today, after all Dr. Richardson had laid on them this morning.
Sarah’s not unhappy, either. She has things she wants to find out, and she could use the time to unpack and get settled at Gwen’s.
She watches as a sheriff’s deputy handcuffs Tyree Johnson to take him back to his cell. Apparently he couldn’t afford to make bail, or maybe the judge didn’t grant him the option. Probably not, in a first-degree murder case.
On his way out the side door, the defendant suddenly turns to say some last words to Campbell, and Sarah can see that it is a blue suit, with a white shirt and tie, and he’s really quite a well-built, very healthy-looking and handsome man with a very kind face.
Are You Positive? Page 6
