Few hours after Sandra had confirmed that she was definiately pregnant. She was so scared, unsure of what to do, so many questions ran through her mind. Was she ready to bring a child into this world of hers,even her thought seems selfish of her but she knew that, whatsoever her decision is, her life was about to take a great turn. Another issue she battled with was if she was ready to tell Alex. Telling your Spouse he's about to be a father is suppose to bring a happy glorious feeling,a time to celebrate each other and thank God for his blessings but in her own case, it's a dreading feelings.
After a week, things were better than worse between them, they both went to their separate jobs. At the end of the week, Sandra made up her mind to tell him she was Pregnant. After doing her rounds in the hospital, about to take her leave, she was called in for an emergency operation, she tried calling Alex that she would be late but he didn't pick his phone so she text him instead. At around 3:00am, they finished the surgery with success and thought it was unsafe to go home, so she went in to one of the empty room to sleep.
Immediately her alarm rang at 6:00am, she hurried to her care and drove home.
Good morning, she greeted him as she entered the sitting room. I'm sorry about yesterday,had to work late.
Work late indeed, Alex said. I called the hospital and was told your surgery ended at 3:00am, so where were you? he asked in an angry voice.
It was late so I decided to sleep back and wait till the morning.
Sleep back; he shouted. You lying whore. Is that what you call sleep back, going to meet your boyfriends, or what do you call them, he shouted again.
How can you say such a thing, I finished my surgery late and thought it would be dangerous driving at that hour so decided to sleep back at the hospital, she defended herself.
You are lying, he shouted walking towards her.
Sandra knew she wasn't going to get free from this, so seeing him furious and coming at her, she took her bag and ran out of the house before he could get to her. She could hear him shouting after her but she continued to run out of the compound, to the street, ran as fast she could. She knew Alex would not chase her further into the street, so when she got to the main road, she hailed for a cab and headed straight to her Mum's place.
........................................................
What are you doing here, Alice asked in shocked seeing Sandra
Sandra sat down bursting in tears.
What is it dear,she asked again.
Mum, I am tired. I can't stand it any longer, I can't live with Alex, she cried out
Whatever the matter dear, you should seek solution. Alice said
Mum,there's no solution in this,I cannot stay with a Man that beat me all the time, she cried out.
OK, take it easy, I should call Alex now and resolve this issue, she said picking up her phone.
No, Sandra shouted. You just don't understand Mum, I don't want Alex, she shouted at her.
Don't you dare shout at me young lady, Alice shouted back at her. I am your mother and know the best for you. Alex is a good man and he is good for you. Everyone has issues in their relationship but we must all find a way to live peacefully with each other, not running away at the sight of any trouble.
Alice eventually called Alex to come see her at once. Sandra knew she did made a mistake coming to her mother, a mother is suppose to have her child's back irrespective but her mother was the opposite. Just as Alice was still talking to Sandra, Alex came in.
Good morning Ma, he greeting Alice respectfully.
Morning Alex, she answered. So what happened between you two, she asked.
I am so sorry she bothered you Ma, we only had a little misunderstanding, only for her to run off.
See, she faced Sandra, only misunderstanding. You two should go home and discuss this matter. A man and a woman should always find a common ground to resolve dispute, she said. Come, off you go, waving them to stand up. I have a meeting at the office this morning,but would come by later to your house to talk more, OK.
Yes ma, Alex said standing up.
Now give me a hug before you go, she beckon to Sandra.
As Sandra held her, she whispered to her mother, 'Please, don't let me go with him'.
Don't be dramatic, she said smiling.
There was so much tension between them on their way back home, Sandra knew it was't over between them and the show he put forward to her mum was his style, always give her mum wanted, the respect, responsible man, his wild dogs hidden inside. She wanted a way out. This was not the first time she did ran away, two years ago when things became so heated she need an escape, after series of abuse, physically, verbally, emotionally even sexually.One day, she left for work and didn't come back, she was lodging an in hotel for almost two weeks. Her plans were well executed until one day, she heard a knock, opening the door, she founding Alex standing there. He begged and threaten her at the same time. She had no idea how he traced her.
Alex drove them into their compound, came off the car and dragged Sandra out of the car, pulling her inside, he locked the door behind them and hid the keys in his pocket.
You don't just get it, don't you, he screamed at her.
If I can't have you, no one will. You are mine, he shouted at her throwing her on the floor.
What is it with you, he screamed, Why can't you be a little nice girl and sit where you are suppose to sit? he shouted taking off his belt.
You know what we do to girls like you; hmm, he shouted hitting her. We teach them the word 'respect', 'Not to talk back'. We teach them to behave; he shouted.
Please Alex, she begged.
He kept hitting her all over
Stop this, she cried in pain. Please Alex, for Christ sake, stop this.
But he kept hitting her harder, she managed to run off to the room, locked herself in but he came after her hitting hard on the door, she knew the door was not strong enough to keep in off, so she looked everywhere for something she could use to defend herself. Alex kept banging on the door, screaming abusive words at her, hitting so hard that the door was breaking. Sandra looked through the room but found nothing, so she checked through his side drawer and found his gun. By this time, Alex had broken through the door, so Sandra pointed the gun to herself.
Don't come any closer or I will shoot myself, she said panting.
What! he laughed. Go ahead and shoot yourself, you think anyone would care about you, he mocked her. Even your own mother would not cry at your grave, he kept mocking her
Tears flowed from her face as Alex kept haunting her with his words, part of her believed him, she knew it would be a wasted life she did kill herself but she wanted an escape from all these, she wanted freedom from this pain and then, she remembered her baby and then pointed the gun at Alex, who was trying to move closer to her.
You know, I have watched you all these years abusing me, I did take it. I took everything you threw at me but enough is enough. I am no longer under you, I refuse to stand by and watch you destroy my life. I am taking my freedom.
Now, get off my way and let me leave, she shouted.
You really like to amuse yourself, he said laughing. Listen and do listen carefully, If I don't have you, no one will. You will never and never go anywhere, he shouted at her. I own your life, your body, your will, your soul,everything you ever have or will have, I own them all. Now, give me the gun, he shouted.
No, she shouted back. I want out Alex, she screamed at him.
I said, give me the gun, he shouted again moving closer to her.
Don't come any closer, he shouted again and again at him, but Alex ignored her and then,
BANG!, she shot him, again, BANG!!, shot again, kept firing the gun screaming, 'you don't own me, not my life, not my will, not my soul..........' Bang!!!, Bang.......
Then slummed on the floor.
...............................................................................
The sound of familiar beeping woke Sandra up, found herself laying in bed with strings of drip attached to her, then she saw Ben standing next to her bed.
Oh God, she said. What have I done.
Hey, Ben said.
What are you doing here, she managed to ask.
You don't remember, do you? he asked.
Alex, she whispered. Where is Alex, she asked
But Ben was silence.
Dead, is he? she asked.
Yes, he nodded.
Sandra looked down to her stomach, My baby, she asked.
Yes, your baby is well. You were dehydrated but you would be fine.
Glad you are OK, Ben said.
OK is an understatement Ben; she said.
Tell me, how much trouble am I in.
Well, it depends, you will have to tell me everything that happened, he said
Everything, she replied.
Yes, everything.
But Sandra was quiet as tears flowed from her. Ben, I am so ashamed of myself, I don't even know where to start from, she cried.
Listen Sandra,I am going to fight for you as long as you want, OK.
Sandra told Ben everything that happened, her abuse from Alex for the past five years, just then, her mother entered the room.
Sandra, she said, sweetheart, what happened. brushing Ben away from Sandra's bedside. Have you seen outside, Police guarding the door, every News channel at the gate. What in God's name have you done to yourself.Why didn't you call me. What have you done Sandra, she shouted at her. And who are you? she pointed at Ben.
His name is Ben and He's my Lawyer, Sandra replied her.
What Lawyer? she asked.
I'm with Allen and co Solicitor Ma, Ben answered.
I know Allen & co and know you superiors, she snapped at him. Now, get out of her, my daughter already has her own lawyer.
No mum, Sandra shouted. I have had enough of your smothering. Your time of controlling myself is expired. I cannot take it any longer mum, she shouted at her. I wanted you to protect me, watch over me, but you failed. You were busying bulding an empire for yourself.
What do you mean, she shouted back, whatever I did, I did it for you, all I have or I am is because of you. Alice said.
No mum, all you have are all for you, they were never for me, she screamed at her mother. I begged you please, not to let Alex take me home, but no, you knew it all. you were never there mum.she shouted in rage.
You remember when I told you your husband raped me repeatedly; what did you do mum? she shouted at her.
Don't you dare bring that up Sandra, you were just a child, Frank could never have laid his hands on you, she said.
Oh, really, she shouted. Mum, I begged you then not to leave me alone with him when you travel, I cried, but no, you knew it all. You left me at his mercy, he raped me for five good years and you never caught him; you said, I was seeking attention, hmm, she chucked. You have made my life a living hell, and you know what? I hate you. I hate so much. I hate what you did to me. Sandra was shouting like a flowing river, she had to let out all you had bottled inside herself for so long.
You know the first day I knew I wanted to become a doctor, she asked but her mother didn't answer.
One day in your study, you were so busy writing. I came to you telling you I was having stomach cramps, you said, I was probably having sugar reaction, you even told me I was getting too fat and needed to go on diet, then you went back to your typing. After few hours in my room, the pain became unbearable and then, I realised I was having contractions, I did a quick calculation to the day Frank left, that was five months ago, I was pregnant, I did not know, even my mother had no idea. The pain was too much to bear, I could not bear to call my own Mother who didn't even believe I was raped.
I crawled to the bathroom and struggled to climb into the bath tub, the pain was so much, contraction after contraction,at about 4:00am, the baby finally came. He was blue in the face, not breathing. He was tiny but so precious. I stared at him for a long time, I knew He was well gone. Before you woke up, I struggled to wash the blood from the tub and the floor, wrapped him in towels and waited for you to leave for the office. After that, I put him in a shoe box, went to the garden, dug a hole and buried him there.
Did you know mother? she looked straight at her
Did you know mother? she shouted in tears again but Alice was silence, filled with shame.
No, I doubt it. Sandra said, just like you didn't know Alex was beating me, the marks on my face, the ones on my body, the marks I lied the patients inflicted on me, she chuckled. No, you never knew. she said in tears.
Sandra, Alice finally was able to say.
Mum, please, she stopped her.
Please, leave my room now, she said.
Sandra Please, Her mother pleaded.
No Mum, its over,please leave me alone now, she shouted until Alice left the room. Sandra busted into more tears........
.................................
Sandra had been charged with the Murder of Alex, the trial has been going on for two months while Sandra was remanded in jail. At the final hearing. Alice on the witness box.
Ms Williams, Did your daughter ever tell you the deceased,Alex Brendon was physically abusing her, the prosecution asked.
She didn't have to tell me, it was all over her, she said.
You didn't answer my question, Did she at any point voice out to say Alex was abusing her, Prosecution asked again.
Alice looked at her daughter.
She did but I never listened. A mother needs to know these things, when their daughter is in pain, they should be able to sense it, she said in tears. I failed my daughter. She begged me constantly with her tears, her visit, her words but I was lost in my own world. I am sorry, she said to Sandra. I am so sorry.
The prosecution rest.
Ben decided it was best to present Sandra on the stand, after telling the jury and the members of the Court what happened the day she shot Alex.....,
So Miss Sandra, Why didn't you leave despite all these abuses, Ben asked.
I did tried to leave several times but he always came back to me, threaten me, begged. I was scared of what he was capable of doing, Sandra said.
Why didn't you report him to the authorities; Ben asked.
Alex was the authority, He was one of the top Police officer. I knew no one would believe me if I told the truth.
Now Miss Sandra, did you mean to kill Alex, Ben asked.
No, I did not, All I wanted was to leave. She said.
No further question, Ben said and sat down.
Your witness, the judge said.
Miss Sandra, You said, you didn't mean to kill Alex but you shot him five times. A first could be said to be a mistake, a second, What?, third, fourth and ...
Objection, speculations, Ben injected.
I am trying to established that Miss Sandra intended to kill Mr Alex here my Lord, the prosecutor said to the Judge.
Objection overruled, the judge said.
So Miss Sandra, once again, didn't you intent to kill your husband, the prosecution asked.
No, I did not; Sandra shouted in tears. He was attacking me, he took off his belt to hit me with, He was attacking me; she shouted again.
Couldn't you at least called the Police, the prosecution injected.
No, I couldn't. He was the Police. He slain me like an animal, I pleaded always, I cried,I begged. Sometimes, he tells me to remove my clothes, handcuffed me to the bed and slashed me with his belt, then, he rapes over and over again, so hard that I sometimes pass out. Tell me, where is the police in that? He tells me, he likes the pain to live, to breath. Sandra cried out. He beats me so hard that I couldn't move for days and watched me as I swelled in my pains. You want to see, she shouted out in tears, standing up, taking off her clothes; You want to see the pains he inflicted on me, she cried out. I just wanted him to stop, I am pregnant for Christ sake, I wanted to protect my baby, she shouted out in tears.
The prosecution watched in shocked at the scene, the Judge shouting for order, everyone in the court room shocked at this reaction. Alice shouting for them to stop tormenting her daughter. Then, Ben went over to Sandra, taking her clothes to cover her..
May I ask the Court for Recess your honour, Ben asked.
Yes, Recess for 15 mins, Judge said and went out.
Sandra was so much in tears that Ben had to hold her, while Alice who couldn't bear to see her daughter in such state went over and held her tightly.
I am so sorry honey, she said in tears
I am very sorry, Please, forgive me. I should have been there, Please, she sobbed as she held her.
.................
After the prosecution presented his closing argument, Ben also presented his...
In conclusion to all this, It is evident that Sandra was victim of the battered women syndrome. She was repeatedly battered by Alex and as a result of provocation, She shot him. Day by day, she was battered, but on this day, the deceased had provoke her so much that he threaten to kill her and the defendant fearing not just for her life, but for the life of her baby shot him in defending them both. Question is, who is the victim here? My defendant is. We ask that you, the ladies and gentlemen of the jury should look into this case with all wisdom. Ben finished his statement.
The Jury went in side for deliberation and came back an hour later.
Have the Jury reach their verdict; the judge asked.
Yes, your honour
You may read it, the Judge said.
We the Jury found the defended not guilty of Murder but guilty of Manslaughter.
Thank you; the Judge said. You are all excused.
After the Jury were sent away, the Judge continued with his proceedings.
I have read and heard from both parties and so find the defendant Sandra Brendon guilty of manslaughter, however, by her defence of provocation and evidence of battered woman syndrome, is hereby released of all charges.
Alice went over to her daughter and hugged her where she sat, Sandra was swelled up in tears, relieved. She thanked Ben over and over again for believing in her and his support.
Although, her medical licence has been revoked but she knew she has all she needed now. Her faith in herself and in God. Preparing a better relationship with God who is able to restore all she did have lost, renew her and make her whole. She looked forward to the days ahead with joy and uttermost peace. She looked forward to having her baby in her hands, nurturing her and giving her the best in life, not forgetting that, God is the giver of peace and able to protect her child and give her wisdom to train her. She also decided to forgive her mother, we are all humans and bound to fail but we have a Father that would never forsake us.
Shalom.
