999 times before
fortes1
999 times before transmission would occur. It could, in fact, happen the first time, or the second time, or the tenth time. Even Mr. Campbell’s own so-called expert witness admitted this.”
Wilson seems to have hit his zone. His presentation is forceful, clear, understandable, and very persuasive.
“In the case of Mr. Johnson and Beth Ann Brooks, we don’t know exactly how many times they had sex before the transmission of HIV occurred, only that it did. We know that it did because you also heard Beth Ann Brook’s doctor tell you that she became infected with HIV from Mr. Johnson, verified by testing positive on two out of three ELISA tests and on two Western Blot tests. She also had a viral load of over 78,000, and a CD4 cell count of 158 – which is why her doctor immediately put her on antiretroviral therapy to try to save her life. Tragically, although her viral load and CD4 cell count improved over the next few months, it was too little, too late. She died on June 27, 2005.”
Wilson bows his head in a moment of silence. Was that a sincere gesture in memory of Beth Ann Brooks, Sarah wonders, or just a show for the jury? Whatever it was, it had its effect.
Wilson looks up again and continues. “You heard the County Coroner testify that Beth Ann Brooks died of AIDS. You have seen her family,…” and he points to the Brooks in the front row they have occupied from the start of the trial, “…her mother and father, and her sister – here at this trial every day, grieving for their loss, and praying for justice to be done. Imagine losing a daughter in the prime of her life, deprived of the joy and happiness that could have been hers if that man,” and Wilson points again at Tyree Johnson, “had not murdered her.”
Campbell is about to object to these inflammatory remarks, but thinks twice and stops himself before he has completely left his chair. The jury may feel sorry for Wilson and the position he’s been put in by Armand, and I don’t want to come across as a bad guy trying to attack him. Besides, I have all the facts on my side, so I think I’ll just let it go. Campbell sits back, as if he had simply been readjusting his seat.
When Wilson hears Campbell’s chair squeak on the floor, he looks over and has a momentary fear that Campbell will catch him at his game. But when Campbell doesn’t stand, Wilson regains his confidence and turns back to the jury.
“Now, you’ve heard from all of our expert witnesses, leaders