LITMIR.BIZ

       Wednesday 15 July 2009 – 12.40

      ‘The defendant, Elias Claymore is charged with Rape under section 261, Part a, Paragraph 2 of the California Penal Code. How do you plead, Elias Claymore: guilty or not guilty?’

      ‘Not guilty.’

      Claymore sat down, looking around the courtroom nervously. They were in Court 11 of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse on Fallon Street in Oakland, before Justice Roberts.

      Alex remained standing. ‘Your Honor, at this stage I would like to renew my request for bail in accordance with my written submissions.’

      Sarah Jensen, who had hung on to the case for the time being, rose to reply. But the judge stayed her with a raised hand.

      ‘I’ve considered your submissions carefully, Mr Sedaka, but I see no reason to reopen the original decision to deny bail. This is truly an exceptional case, but I am bound to consider the defendant’s past as an escapee and for this reason I cannot grant bail.’

      Alex gritted his teeth. It was particularly hard on Claymore, because he was still being held at the pre-trial detention facility in Ventura. To get to this ten-minute hearing, he had been driven for 6 hours across 375 miles.

      ‘In that case, Your Honor, I move that the defendant be transferred to the Santa Ritter jail in Alameda County.’

      ‘So ordered. Now, regarding the trial date. I see that the Information was filed in Ventura County on June twenty-sixth. That means the trial must commence by August twenty-fifth. I also see that there’s a vacant slot on Justice Ellen Wagner’s docket in Court Seven between August seventeenth and September fourth. Does that allow enough time for the trial?’