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CHAPTER 44

YUKI HAD NOT taken her eyes off the jury since she began her opening statement, and she didn’t do it now Nor had the jurors taken their eyes away from her

She wanted to keep it that way

She said, “At this point the defendant puts down the gun and und

resses Then, naked, she advances on Mr Christopher, who is trussed to the bed and utterly helpless The defendant takes her victienitals into her hands and mouth and manipulates him until he is erect But she’s not done Not yet

“Even though Mr Christopher begs her to stop before she does soret, the defendanthim penetrate her She has sexual intercourse with him without his consent”

Yuki paused to let her narrative sink in Then she asked rhetorically, “So what happens after that?

“Just before the video recorder runs out of space, we see that both parties are asleep Mr Christopher will tell you that in the one and his wrists are untied He releases his ankles, and although still shaken to his core, he goes to here both parties avoid each other Like the legendary plague”

Yuki said, “What is the defendant thinking? We will probably never know, but the victim onder for the rest of his life

“For his part, Mr Christopher will testify that he feels nant? Is he responsible? What will happen to him at his job? Who is he now that he has been violated by a woman that he cared about, when it is clear to him by her actions that she didn’t care for him at all?

“Days go by and Mr Christopher is having nightlects his job He stops socializing with friends It takes a couple of weeks for hiry about as done to him

“He understands now that he has been raped,” Yuki told the jurors, “sexually assaulted, and he is asha at all And as rape victi days In fact, it gets worse

“Teeks after the assault Mr Christopher goes to the police Over the next few days Briana Hill is interviewed, arrested, and charged with rape”

Yuki let the word rape resonate in the silent courtroom Then she told the jury about the witnesses ould testify for the prosecution: the police officer; the video technician; the psychologist specializing in huone out with the defendant

And then she began to wind her opening statement to a close