"Alright, Ms. Anisa," Mr. Peter continued, his tone sharp. "Did Mr. Hasan forcibly tear your clothes? Did he drug you? Or did he have forced sexual intercourse with you?" š
"Mr. Peter, this is pressuring the witness!" Ms. Maria rose to object again.
"Ms. Maria, do not interrupt the questioning. Let it proceed," the judge ruled. Maria sat back down, her expression tight. š
"So, tell us, Ms. Anisa," Mr. Peter pressed, taking a step closer.
"No, he didn't do... things like that. Butā" she began, but Mr. Peter cut her off as soon as he got the answer he wanted. šµ
"Your Honor, then it's clear my client is not a sexual predator," he declared, turning to the judge.
"Then, Ms. Anisa, did his friends Jaden and Mark do such things to you? What exactly did they do?" he pivoted. š„
"They were sitting near me. Jaden, who was in front of me, touched the soles of my feet with his legs. And Mark forcefully placed his hand on my thigh," she confessed, her eyes downcast, her voice barely a whisper.
"Your Honor, I believe everything is now clear. My client's friends may have been somewhat inebriated, but they were of sound mind. These were accidental oversights on their part. Just think, it's possible for a leg to accidentally brush against another, isn't it?" Mr. Peter argued, downplaying the assaults as mere accidents. š¤Ø
"I am noting those arguments, Mr. Peter. Do you have any further questions for this witness?" the judge inquired.
"No, Your Honor. My questions are concluded," Mr. Peter said, returning to his seat. šāāļø
Next, Ms. Maria called her second witness: a guest who had been present at the church on the wedding day. He testified to witnessing Hasan's violent, frenzied behavior , how he had forcibly grabbed Anisa and kissed her like a madman. This testimony strongly favored Anisa's side. After submitting the relevant reports, Ms. Maria called her third and potentially most damning witness: Asifa, now five months pregnant. š¤°