ECHOES OF A GUILTY VERDICT
TEVEEN MESH@teveenmesh866015
1 year ago
ECHOES OF A GUILTY VERDICT
January 31, 2024
We may never know what motivated the killer, but we are not obliged to prove motive. The events leading to the demise of the victim, places the suspect right in the middle of the crime scene, with hands covered in blood, he's guilty as sin.
"All Rise!" Shuffles and fidgets ensue a commotion in the court room.
"This is a case between Mwananchi (the defendant) and representatives of Mwana wa Nchi (the plaintiff). After thorough investigation and consideration of the evidence provided, and the backing of the public prosecutor, both the grand jury and the court room finds the defendant Guilty. However," the judge continues, "I would like to advise all the ladies to not hop into the first glance of getting rich in these circumstances, for such instances may occur."
Torn apart, and feeling helpless, this comment stirred a rage that could no longer be quenched inside the victim's mom. Steadily, in an attempt to maintain her composure, she stood up, walked to the front of the court room and turned towards the audience.
"My daughter wasn't looking to be rich," she began, her voice being a little jittery. "She just wanted to be loved. To be cherished by another other than family or friends, someone she would one day spend her days with, have kids with, and maybe grow old with."
The attention in the court room could be sensed from a mile away. All could see her pain, but none could feel it.
"It hurts that you've found Mwananchi guilty, yet you still put the blame on my daughter. We've heard the evidences from both sides, but one thing is clear, we would never hear Mwana wa Nchi's side of the story. We've only used clues and traced back events to come up with a verdict, but no one knows what truly transpired between the two, except them. I'm a lady too, and while I was young, so many men made advances towards me. Some I rejected, some I gave a chance, but constantly in both situations I was always the bad guy. If I reject a guy, I'm too full of myself. If I give a guy a chance and it ends up not working out, I either led him on or I settled too fast. I have been cat-called, inappropriately touched, stripped naked by eyes that were larking in the dark, pursued by men older than my father, yet, all these were turned around and made to be my fault; you didn't wear appropriately, you made sexual gestures, you this, you that; but when will it be the guy's fault for fuck sake??!!"
She stared dead into the room's abyssal, her lips shaking and tears rolling down her weary chin.
"I'm not saying all men are bad, all I ask is not to be judged by society, harshly condemning the women when in fact those we lean on for safety, are the ones that send us to our graves. For the men that don't fight us with their fists, fight us with their hearts. As for you, my lord, you've made a verdict, but your heart still resides with your kind. It's obvious that JUSTICE is just a word used by the elite in the society. Mwana wa Nchi's soul wont Rest In Peace until women feel safe around men, and femicide is considered on all perspectives, not forgetting GBV."
She turned around, traced her steps to the exist, and went her way. Family members followed, leaving the rest of us behind.
Silence.
You could cut the tension in the room with a knife.
#Endfemicide
#poetry
