The Newrey Globe || Friday 07.04.2017
TIM F. BEALE FOUND GUILTY OF COWARDICE!
David Risikko
In what has become an unquestionably landmark case in Newreyan legal history, the case of
High Court of Cyningburgh v. Timothy F. Beale has not only given a guilty verdict in a case of cowardice in almost 50 years, but it has also attracted much media attention due to the events that preceded the case and other alleged mishandling of both evidence, witness statements, and with opinions being used as fact, among other accusations. Now, for international readers of the
Globe this may be a bit confusing due to the information of the case being kept largely behind closed doors, officially that is, so it is unlikely that all the details would be very clear.
Timothy F. Beale
What is very clear is that this case has effectively made it almost impossible for a defendant to use mental health as a form of defence or even a mitigating circumstance, due to the fact Beale claimed that he had been experiencing a flashback of PTSD when he fled from the Saraibian gunmen during the Old Town Attacks during Heroes' Weekend late last year. Having been posted on guard at the Aquidish embassy, bystanders reported a armed man dressed in Newreyan military uniform fleeing the scene, without so much of firing a shot. Beale was found almost three miles from the embassy, cowering behind what had previously been an underground Gay Club, until it had been raided by National Policemen the previous month. He was immediately placed under arrest by Newreyan Landmight Police and charged with Cowardice in the face of the enemy, General Cowardice and was suspected of homosexuality.
Beale, who had previously seen combat during the brief Burmondsy Prison War in 1998, claimed that he had been suffering horrendous flashbacks as the gunmen closed by and, believing that the embassy staff had already been warned, quickly fled the scene, with him coming to a stop in front of an old gay club being circumstantial. Luckily for Beale, the charge of homosexuality failed to materialised, however he still face the damaging charge of Cowardice on two counts. The defence, headed by acclaimed and respected Newreyan human rights lawyer William Pitt, argued that it was irresponsible of the Landmight to keep a solider who was suffering from a mental illness within its service, even more so to place him on guard at an important embassy. They went on to argue that the Landmight should've been prepared for a soldier, who was known to be mentally ill, to experience such flashbacks and have fail safes should a guard abandon their post.
In response, the prosecution, led by a team of Landmight Legal Service personnel, claimed that it was made expressively clear to all potential recruits that the Landmight requires all personnel to announce whether they have faced difficulties following any deployment, so that they can be investigated and subsequently discharged, however Beale failed to do so and, as such, it wouldn't have been possible for the Landmight to know any mental challenges that Beale was facing. Not only that, but the Landmight has it written clearly on its recruitment forms that it does not recognise mental health as an effective argument when dealing with disobedience or other incidents.
Many of the issues with the trial was that the prosecution failed to show any of the supposed legal documentation that was signed by Beale to prove he was still mentally healthy, or even point out where in the recruitment forms that the Landmight wouldn't recognise mental health as an issue. Many outsiders watching the trial claim that the Landmight is using Beale as a means to make a pariah and an example out of him, while also being able to place the blame of the failings of the Embassy security on the shoulders of someone else.
Despite the mishandlings of the prosecution, the jury still returned with a guilty verdict and the judge sentencing Beale with the highest possible sentence, 20 years of imprisonment with no chance of parole and having to wear the White Feathers on him at all times, to remind others of his cowardice. The punishment itself has been lambasted as too harsh, ridiculous, and complex, however it has been upheld. It is without a doubt that William Pitt will appeal the verdict, however until that time, Beale is to be taken to HMP Alcove, located on one of the Ghiss islands in southern Majula.