An Insignificant Case

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Henry Roman’s office was on the twentieth floor with views of the boats cruising the Willamette River, the foothills of the Cascade Range, and the snowy slopes of Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood. It was a lot different from the dingy suite in the Stone Age office building where Charlie practiced, and Charlie wondered if he would ever have clients whose fees would let him live and work in luxurious surroundings.

Roman had called Charlie as soon as Guido arrived at his office, and Charlie found his client and his cocounsel sipping cappuccinos when he walked into the spacious conference room where they were meeting. Two of Roman’s associates were seated at the end of a long conference table that would easily accommodate ten more people.

“Can I get you a cappuccino or a latte?” Roman asked. “One of my associates worked his way through law school as a barista and we have our own coffee bar in the kitchen.”

“A caffe latte would be great,” Charlie said as he sat down across from Guido.

Roman tilted his head toward the associates, and one of them scurried out of the room and down the hall.

“So, Guido, how are you doing after your jail experience?” Roman asked.

“It was very interesting. Some of my fellow prisoners had interesting physiognomies, which I will incorporate in future drawings.”

Roman smiled. “I’m glad the stay was useful. And what will be very useful for you will be an explanation of how your trial will work and how you can help us win it.

“The first thing you have to understand is that a trial where the DA is seeking the death penalty is different from every other kind of criminal trial. There are potentially two trials. One on guilt or innocence, which is like any other trial, and a second trial where the jury decides if you should be sentenced to death if they find you guilty of murder with aggravating circumstances.

“It’s this second potential sentencing trial that makes death cases unique. In any other criminal case, there is usually a lot of time between a guilty verdict and sentencing, and the judge decides the sentence. A sentencing hearing in a death case is held immediately after the trial in the guilt phase because the jury that finds you guilty has to decide your sentence. That means that Charlie and I have to assume you’ll be convicted—even if we think we can get a not guilty verdict—because we won’t have time to prepare for the sentencing hearing if you are convicted. Do you understand the difference?”

“Yes, but I will not be convicted, because I have excellent counsel, I am innocent of the crimes of which I am accused, and God protects me.”

“I’m glad you’re so confident of the result, but Charlie and I wouldn’t be giving you competent assistance if we didn’t prepare for all eventualities. One thing we’re going to do is prepare your biography starting when you were born and ending at the trial. We need your help to do this. I’ll need you to write out your life story with emphasis on any character witness or deed that will convince a juror that you don’t deserve to die. Then we’ll have investigators collect the evidence we’ll use at your sentencing hearing if things go bad. Can you write your bio for us?”

Guido looked uncomfortable. “This will require me to take time from my painting. Besides, all of my mentors in Italia are dead.”

Henry Roman looked confused, and Charlie sighed.

“We don’t expect to call Leonardo da Vinci as a witness,” Charlie said, “but we would like to know about your history in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. You know, who are your parents, are they still alive, any siblings, your education and friends. Stuff like that.”

“This task does not evoke pleasant memories.”

“Guido, we need the information if we’re going to do a good job defending you.”

Guido stood up. “Thank you for your excellent explanation. Now I must return to my farm so I can paint.”

“But we have a lot more to discuss,” Roman said.

Guido smiled. “I am fatigued from my night in the jail’s rough accommodations. We can continue this discussion at another time.”

Guido walked out of the room, leaving Roman open-mouthed.

“What was all that about Italy and da Vinci?” he asked Charlie.

“Welcome to my world,” Charlie answered with a sigh.