THE CROWN v. ADAM RANDELL

[MunaZaldrizoti 5708]

Causa Criminalis 1.50BA: THE CROWN VS. ADAM RANDELL

4th of Lothar’s Gift, 50 B.A.

Recorded by the Censor of the Crown, HRH Princess Lydia Antheia

 

 

 

---

 

 

The accused, Adam Randell, represents himself before the court of His Majesty, King Alexander I,  who stands as judge. The proceedings are led by the Magister, Robyn de Lyons. The charges against the defendant are: Lex Criminalis, Article IV, Section 11D ‘Disobedience’, which has been raised from a felony to a charge of treason against the Crown. The defendant represents himself in lieu of outside representation.

 

The Magister begins the prosecution’s presentation by presenting and reading aloud an affidavit signed by an agent of the Crown. The name of this source is anonymous, but maintains that the defendant was present within the Duchy of Adria prior to their conflict against the Crown’s ally, the United Kingdom of Aaun. Supposedly, he was there to investigate a fellow member of the Company who had previously resided in the duchy’s capital, Velec. The defendant alleges that he was present only to count the Adrian soldiers and informed the Company’s captain, Peter d’Arkent, before conducting this counting. It is the opinion of the Crown Agent that the defendant desired to foster relations between Adria and Balian.

 

The first witness for the Crown, Don Peter d’Arkent, Count of Salia, is called before the King and the court. When asked by His Majesty if he had been informed by the defendant about his supposed mission to Adria, Don d’Arkent denied any knowledge of the defendant’s whereabouts on the day of the battle. The first witness was thus dismissed.

 

The defendant is then asked to speak on the affidavit. He alleges that he was not investigating any member of the Company, thereafter reprimanding the prosecution for withholding the name of the Crown Agent. He stands by his claim of having informed Captain d’Arkent of his whereabouts on the day of the battle between Adria and Aaun. The defendant then speaks to the claims of his seeking to initiate talks between Balian and Adria. He claims that he would’ve only approached any Adrian leaders with permission from His Majesty or the Legate. The defendant reiterates that he had been seeking intelligence on why a man within Balian continued to wear the colors of Adria.

 

The Magister calls forth their next witness, the King’s own sister and Legate, Princess Persephone Maxima. Her Highness speaks firstly to the accusation against one William Leydon, the man who the defendant believed to have remaining ties with the Duchy of Adria. She states that she explained to the defendant how William Leydon did not have any other armor and sought only to protect himself with what he already owned. At the time of his arrival in Balian and subsequent assumption of residency, he was not a member of the Company. The Princess likewise claims that she, too, witnessed the defendant within Adria and mingling with its people as she passed through the area on personal business within the nearby lands of Minitz. The second witness is dismissed.

 

The defendant is once again asked to speak in his defense. He firstly states that his being in Adria is not treason, his actions taken within the foreign duchy were only to garner intelligence for his own investigation. The defendant then begins to go on a tangent, accusing the Magister of not understanding his own revised lexicon and reading before the King’s court the definitions of treason against the Crown. The defendant concludes by calling for the dismissal of all charges against him.

 

The Magister reads aloud Article IV, Section Eleven, Category D of the Lex Criminalis. The charge against the defendant is stated as:

 

 “Where an individual refuses a direct order from a member of the Royal Family or the Duana. This shall be a crime of Disobedience, a felony.”

 

The Magister then relays to the defendant that his felony charge was raised to treason on account of the fact that he attended to the Duchy of Adria following His Majesty’s direct order to all citizens of Balian to avoid contact with the Anathema Duke, Heinrik Sarkozic and his followers. The defendant breaks out into protest and is asked to be silent by His Majesty.

 

The prosecution calls forth Don Peter d’Arkent once more for examination. Reminded of the crime for perjury, he is asked if he had any knowledge of the defendant’s self-created investigation. Don d’Arkent says that he had only been informed of the defendant’s actions once they had become a greater issue, with word reaching him of the defendant questioning the loyalties of William Leydon. Don d’Arkent states he informed the defendant that he must cease such inquiries and says that order was given prior to the battle between Adria and Aaun.

 

The Magister calls upon the defendant to speak in response to Don d’Arkent’s further testimony. The defendant asks to call forth four witnesses: Don Peter d’Arkent, Princess Persephone Maxima, Princess Elena Casimira, and the Crown Prince’s intended, Princess Andromeda of Ba’as. 

 

Firstly, the defendant asks Don d’Arkent to speak to his character and service, questioning the Captain of times when he has gone and provided valuable information to the Company by gathering outside intelligence. He also claims that he reported to the Captain that the Anathem Duke himself saw William Leydon as an ‘Adrian’. Don d’Arkent denies any knowledge of the defendant’s ventures to Adria or that he ventured there to gather intelligence. The defendant then asks him about William Leydon. Don d’Arkent once again explains how he was informed of  Laydon being harassed and subsequently had informed the defendant to cease his inquiries into the matter. The defendant claims that even the Captain had stated his concerns for Segnor Leydon wearing the colors of Adria. Don d’Arkent says that he informed the defendant that there was no concern surrounding Leydon, that the defendant continued his personal investigations after being told to cease. The defendant states that he felt he had a duty to ensure his investigation was thorough, that his suspicions of Leydon were further spurred by the interactions he witnessed between Leydon and the Anathema Duke, Heinrik Sarkozic.

 

Following further outbursts from the defendant, the Magister calls forth the second proposed witness: Princess Elena Casimira, Princess Royal.The defendant questions the Princess Royal of having made her aware, prior to the trial and of the battle, of his investigations within Adria. Her Highness states that he did inform her but that she did not bid him to continue such endeavors. She likewise claims she does not recall the details of said-conversation. The defendant calls upon the Magister and questions if he recalls such a conversation, claiming that he too is held under the rules of perjury before the court. The Princess Royal states she was reminded then of a conversation regarding war reporting, which is confirmed in turn by the Magister. Her Highness then speaks on her reasons for engaging in such a conversation, stating that it was her scholarly desire to write a book on wartime. She asked the defendant about his experiences with combat and what he had learned about the conflict between Aaun and Adria. The defendant contests that the Magister could’ve misheard their conversation and that the Princess may have inquired into his work because she knew he had been conducting his own intelligence gathering.

 

The Magister calls forth the third proposed witness, Princess Persephone Maxima. The defendant questions Her Highness about having conversed with her previously regarding his personal investigations and intel work within Adria. The Princess informs the court that she was unaware of the defendant’s conduct within Adria and that only such things could be permitted by both the Legate and the Constable. She likewise states that he never sought out such permission. Satisfied with her testimony, Princess Persephone is dismissed.

 

The Magister calls forth the fourth and final proposed witness, Princess Andromeda of Ba’as. The defendant asks the Princess if he recalls a previous conversation between them from the past saint’s day. She states that the defendant had in fact asked to become Her Highness’ personal bodyguard in order to protect her from William Leydon, who he thought to be a potential threat to both her and the Viscount of Sapron, Don Franz Sarkozic. The Princess states that she took such information and his insistence of Segnor Leydon’s potential treason directly to Captain d’Arkent. His Majesty interjects, reminding the defendant that the trial isn’t about Segnor Leydon. The King likewise bids the Princess to recall if their conversation involved talks of investigations and intel-gathering pertaining to the Duchy of Adria. The Princess of Ba’as is dismissed thereafter.

 

The Magister calls finally for closing statements from both the prosecution and the defendant. The defendant states that all he did, he did on suspicions he held surrounding the allegiance of William Leydon. He admits to an obsession with his investigations, though claims that such fixation was due to a great love for his country. The Magister speaks next, reaffirming his belief that the defendant should be charged with treason on one count and disobedience on three counts. Before allowing the King time to deliberate, the Magister allows the inclusion of brief testimony offered by both the Governess of the Palatio Monterosa, Princess Augustina Therosia and Jonathan O’Kieran. O’Kieran relays to the court that he witnessed Captain d’Arkent’s ordering of the defendant to cease his harassment of William Leydon. Her Highness then testifies that the defendant claimed he would do combat against Aaun regardless of the King’s decree and the Captain’s word. The defendant denies any animosity towards Aaun.

 

The King’s youngest child and Censor of the Crown, Princess Lydia Antheia, then steps forward to make a quick offering of her own testimony. She recounts several childhood interactions with the defendant and his blatant dislike of Aaun and its people. The defendant attempts to speak over Her Highness and is silenced on the orders of the King.

 

Finally, before the Magister makes his own closing statement, William Leydon is allowed to give a statement regarding the previous incidents discussed. Leydon confirms that he was harassed by the defendant to the point of his informing Captain d’Arkent. He likewise denies conducting any sort of spying on behalf of the Anathema Duke. William Leydon is dismissed.

 

The Magister is called upon to finally make his closing statement and concludes that the defendant has committed treason, disobedience, and vigilantism. The suggested punishments are banishment and the removal of a hand or tongue, or death by hanging or beheading. The defendant gives his own closing statement, speaking on his love for his country and repeating his claims of conversations he had with several leading members in regards to his so-called ‘spy work’.

 

His Majesty is allowed time to deliberate. The defendant is subsequently judged as GUILTY, with his punishment being execution by beheading. However, the defendant demands a final trial by combat, to which His Majesty accepts. The defendant, Adam Randell, is swiftly defeated and executed by His Majesty before the eyes of the court.

 

 

---

 

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Princess Lydia Antheia, Countess of Caluzzo, Censor of the Crown

[SapphirePool 1098]

Within her office, the legate read over the newly published transcript of the trial. With a mild grunt of content, she stored the document away, making a mental note to praise her niece on a fine job.