A Far Justice Read Online Free PDF

be referred to as Mr. Tyler.”
    “May I ask why?” Gus asked.
    “The court will not cover your crimes with the respectability of a military title,” Denise answered.
    “Yet, I’m here because I fought a war, acted under orders, and was wearing the uniform of my country at the time.”
    Again, Landis conferred with the other two judges. “As the defendant is retired and no longer on active duty, the court will refer to him as Mr. Tyler.”
    Denise nailed Gus with a cold stare, fixing her first triumph. She waited for the cameras to swing onto her. “To answer your original question, Mr. Tyler, the court has jurisdiction over you because you are a citizen of Panama.”
    “My father was a sergeant in the United States Army and stationed in the Canal Zone at the time of my birth. I am an American citizen who happened to be born in Panama. I left there when I was eleven months old and haven’t been back.”
    Denise’s lips compressed into a tight smile. “Panama recognizes dual citizenship. Therefore, you are also a citizen of Panama. As Panama is a signatory to the Rome Statute forming the International Criminal Court, ratione personae is established.” She tilted her head and looked at Gus as though that explained everything. He mouthed a few words and both guards smiled. One had to place his hand over his mouth and look away.
    “May I ask what is so funny?” Denise demanded, now fully aware the cameras were fixed on Gus and not her.
    “I said, ‘I love it when she talks dirty like that.’”
    Landis tapped his pen and a camera swung in his direction. “Mr. Tyler, do not insult this court or make light of its authority.”
    “I apologize, your Honor. It won’t happen again.”
    “Mr. Tyler, our purpose today is four fold. First, to establish if you understand the charges lodged against you. Second, to inform you of the evidence against you. Third, to hear your plea to the charges, and, lastly, to consider any request for your interim release. To satisfy the court in the first matter, can you explain the charges in your own words?”
    “I am charged with the war crimes of committing murder on the night of 25-26 February, 1991, on Mutlah Ridge in Iraq, and using prohibited weapons.”
    “The first charge,” Landis explained, satisfied that he was back in control of his court, “is the war crime of willful killing one or more persons protected under The Geneva Conventions of 1949. The second charge is the war crime of using weapons prohibited under the same conventions. How do you plead to the charges?”
    Gus’s voice boomed in answer, again full of command. “Not guilty.”
    Landis made a note. “Madam Prosecutor, you may present the evidence against the defendant.”
    Denise picked up a thick document and placed it on the clerk’s desk. “If it pleases the court, I will summarize the evidence proving Mr. Tyler’s guilt.”
    “The court concurs,” Landis said.
    She adjusted her reading glasses and started to read. “The defendant was in command of an F-15E fighter-bomber on the night of February 25 to 26, 1991, and that he did attack an unarmed convoy comprised of many civilians in the vicinity of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border known as Mutlah Ridge. Further, witnesses confirm he knew civilians were traveling in the convoy in civilian vehicles, were not taking a direct part in hostilities, and that he did bomb such vehicles carrying innocent civilians.” Denise continued to read in a monotone, surprising Gus by the depth of operational and technical detail in her summary. After each point, her assistant passed a folder of documents to the court clerk, piling up a visible mountain of evidence for the TV cameras. The visual effect was damning. For Gus, it was an eternity before she ended.
    Landis cleared his throat. “We have reviewed the evidence against Mr. Tyler in enough detail and find it sufficient and admissible. Therefore the defendant will be bound over to trial commencing on a date to be