Chapter 64

• Lucas stepped up to the podium, his eyes scanning the faces of the jurors, and began his opening statement. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today because of a terrible crime. A young woman seated there was poisoned, and the person responsible must be held accountable."
• The courtroom was silent as Lucas continued to lay out the evidence, piece by piece. He spoke with confidence and conviction, knowing that Emily's life was on the line. "We have reason to believe that Max, the defendant, had a motive to harm Emily. He was a drug dealer who had a dangerous obsession with her. He was jealous and possessive, and when Emily rejected him, he lashed out in a violent way."
• The prosecution tried to counter Lucas's arguments, but he was ready for them. He poked holes in their case, exposing the lack of evidence and highlighting their reliance on circumstantial evidence. "Ladies and gentlemen, the prosecution is asking you to convict my client based on speculation and conjecture. But we know that speculation is not enough. We need hard evidence, and they don't have it."