What Kouta presented was three photographs. In all three of the photos, Kouta was together with a girl who did not look old enough to enter kindergarten. The girl was all dolled up in a dress and around her neck hung large analog clock with no words on it.
“Can you see the clock in front of her chest? There are no numbers so it might be a but hard to read.”
The hands of the clock on the three photos were seven o'clock, eight o'clock and ten minutes past nine. It was hard to believe but this establishes Kouta's alibi.
“Hoh, this...this is a somewhat strange photo to be taking with someone.”
“It was the first time this child been to a party bit for some reason she's different from other kids...So I couldn't take my eyes off her. So I made a request to her mother who was with her to let me take a photo with her.”
She certainly looked like an intelligent child but still that was hardly any reason to have a photo with her. There must be some other reason.
While thinking about that, Shin peered at the judge and Gou, the two of them made an expression like that realised something. However, putting the presiding judge aside, it was surprising to see Gou make such an expression.”
“Oya, but this child is...”
“Yes. That's my daughter.”
Without thinking, Shin stared at Gou as though he was trying to bore holes in his face. How in the world did such an adorable girl be born from Gou's genes?
“Now that you mention it, that;s Mei-chan, isn't it? I've greeted her several times in the courthouse.”
Shin remembered after hearing the Judge's words. Two years ago, Gou's daughter was born and that daughter gained the reputation of being a genius...Because it had nothing to do with the trial, that piece of information had been forgotten until now.
“But why is Prosectuor Karuma's daughter at KonaCulture's party?”
“A mere coincidence. I was obligated to show up at the party with my family but I had other matters so I could not attend and they suddenly decided to go without me. It was a party held by a unknown company but the food was good so my wife and Mei were satisfied.”
“What a peculiar fate...However, with this, Komori-san's alibi has been successfully established. Oh my, inscrutable are the ways of heaven. Don't you think so? Defense Attorney Mitsurugi?”
Shin's deduction was knocked over by a mere three photos. But they must have overlooked something in this convenient evidence.
“I disagree, Judge. There is a possibility that these photos were composited. Komori-san, do you have the negatives to these photos?”
When a camera shutter was clicked, images will be burnt onto the negatives through the lens. Photographs are developed from there but even if one can do additional work to the photos, it was not possible to tamper with the negatives.
Therefore, photographic evidence were usually submitted together with the negatives.
“Sorry but I lost the negatives. They might turn up if you searched my house but I can't present them right now.”
Kouta had said as such in a nonchalant manner but Shin was able to smell a lie.
Did he lose them out of carelessness or was he unable to present them because it would be disadvantageous. Whatever it was, there was something sinister about this.
“Well, losing negatives is a fairly common occurrence and in the first place, it is difficult to have strict compliance about photographic evidence...”
The judge was sympathetic towards the prosecution. He had to object from here on but at the same time, he needs to take a reasonable level of risk.
Was it time to attack? But if it was the photo that had been carefully prepared to serve as an alibi, it might be difficult to expose it at this time. What should I do?
Suddenly Shin stole a glance at Kouta. For some reason, he was restlessly peering at Gou. Shin could see that he was anxious. Why would he be if he had the upper hand?
He had to flip his thinking around. Shin was bothered that Gou wanted to conclude the trial as soon as possible. Also, from that reaction, he could assume that Kouta had no idea that the girl in the photo was Gou's daughter.
Could this be a situation that was unwelcome for them?
It was clear that the two were taking a stance that it did not matter if Kouta's testimony was false as long as it meant that Gou was able to convict Yuuko. And on the other hand, it seemed that Kouta, who had some darkness within him, had not revealed all his cards to Gou. That was why he presented the photos he had taken with Gou's daughter.
The fact that this was a strong alibi does not change but this was a good chance since the prosecuting side were out of pace with each other.
Shin strongly raised his objections to the judge.
“No, we can't say that the photos alone are enough for proving an alibi. If the negatives are missing than we need to use another way to confirm the alibi. Therefore the defense would like to request that we question Mei-san.”
“Mei is only two years old! What nonsense are you spouting?!”
The prosecution will never acknowledge a questioning that could give the defense even a little bit of an advantage. Not to mention, Mei was the prosecutor's own daughter so he will never let her take the witness stand no matter what.
However that was only if Gou was your usual prosecutor. The Karumas strive for perfection....
If other words, the Karumas will never allow for imperfection.
“This has nothing to do with age. Even the reputation of your daughter's genius has reached to ears of myself, a defense attorney, Prosecutor Karuma....And if one has the ability to recognise, remember and express what one has experienced, even an animal's testimony can be acknowledged.”
Gou has an abnormally huge sense of pride. Therefore he will be unable to ignore any declaration that would wound his pride. All the more so when it came to his beloved daughter.
“Umumumumu....you. Are you making a fool out of my Mei?!”
Shin felt a small reaction towards Gou's outburst.
If Gou really wanted to win the trial, he could simply end things by saying “You overestimate her. Mei is only two years old”. To be unable to say that was just how Karuma Gou was as a person.
“Since you are reacting like that then please let Mei-san take the witness stand.”
“Very well. But it's hardly my business if you regret it!”
