Diamonds Underground - Chapter 6

Diamonds Underground

Chapter 6

Wrong End Of The Stick

 

 

Locked up like a criminal his head had fallen. The false charges that were fabricated by police officers had painted Hyman to be a despicable human being .

Now all of these facts were soon to be revealed in a new hearing with new evidence that had been obtained by Roisin who was leading her law firm’s challenge to the  original guilty verdict that had sentenced Hyman into prison.

The court hearing was set for Monday morning and when that day came Hyman was ready for whatever would come . He sensed freedom and justice were about to come and deliver their message to a crumbling house of arbitration .

He sat on the edge of his bed waiting for them to bring him to the court  . The prison guard walked along the long corridor and with each step he took the  jingle of his keys grew louder until he stopped st the cell where Hyman was .

“Good morning Hyman . How was your breakfast ?”
“The best I’ve tasted in a long time. “ He replied .

“Good to hear Hyman . It’s time for your court appearance.” The guard said and placed the key into the lock of his cell . When the guard opened the door of the cell Hyman almost jumped to his feet . He had waited for this moment for a very long time . The prison guard handed him over to a prison officer who escorted him through the prison .

As they approached the front gate Hyman felt a wave of emotion welling up inside . The prison officer opened up the door of the prison block to the front reception area where he saw Roisin waiting for him there with the prison warden . A tear fell from his  eyes and the morning sun felt warm as he wiped it away from his clean shaven face . He allowed a proud swagger to take control over him as he walked towards the small group of people who had gathered there  .

He was taken to court and took his place in the dock where he felt for the first time  proud as he looked around at the packed courtroom . He looked at judge as she she shattered the silence with the thud of her hammer that called for order in the courtroom .  Not a word was spoken . There were journalists , students and random people in attendance to hear the case .

Roisin was dressed in a black suit , with white trim on the sleeve and collar . Her red curls fell over her shoulders and she walked on high heels with aggressive steps back and forward across the floor of the courtroom. She looked over and smiled at Hyman and began to speak positively about him in the presence of all who were there at court .

“In relation to recent investigations . Irish and British arbitrations nee3ds to reconsider the communication and evidence that was recently presented and free a not guilty man who stands in the dock of this court here today . He has been imprisoned and abandoned by justice . The vocation of truth requires him to receive the full measure of emancipation and as some  consolation huge compensation not to mention the salvation if his good name once again . After I present the truth today in this courtroom I will prove the miscarriage of justice that brought him to the place where he stands before you today awaiting reconciliation and someone to hear his  explanation of truth . Can there ever be compensation or is there hope for him to have reconciliation for his  years of isolation in prison cells . The total degradation he has suffered and may I add never once has he shown any retaliation for the exploitation of those who provided false information . I ask for your consideration to turn around the decision to imprison Hyman Goodman and begin reparation for him to continue his life on a noble fashion once again . Who and where is the arresting  officer that brought Hyman in from Holyhead ?”

Her voice echoed like thunder all around the courtroom.

“If you refer to the person who uncovered two bags of diamonds that hidden behind the prisoners driving lights Madam , that person would be me . Officer David Lee Travis .“

Lifting up his hand to the court .

He soaked up the moment with a dry sense of humour that attempted to bring elation for the wonderful work he had done as a policeman in upholding the law but the scorn of woman’s tongue was the only response he received .

“I would like to court to see the face of justice gone wrong today as we go through the events that led to the event of my clients arrest in Holyhead which gas brought you all here today . Mr Travis , what a proud man you are on show today , with your day out in court . You must have very little to do in your little office at Holyhead . I believe this is the first arrest you have ever made in your shinning carer as a local policeman in Holyhead . Would that be correct  , officer David Lee Travis? ”

“That’s right .“ Came the muffled response

“That’s all for now . Michael Murphy take the stand please .”
The Irish Garda officer presented himself before the court . To his right and In the dock stood Hyman bathed in light that streamed through a window . There was a  shine on his face and glow around his head as Roisin addressed the court .

“Michael Murphy you’re the superintendent was in charge of the operation , Brandy Balloon and made the arrest of Hyman Goodman , is that correct ?:”

“That is as you say .“ He uttered those words before he was set upon by regulations civil bylaw and various policies and procedures about making a false arrest.

Roisin then continued her interaction to the court .

“Mr Goodman had explained to you about being robbed and of all the events that led to his homelessness in the Irish republic would that be true ?”

Roisin said as the Garda officer put his hand under his chin ran his hand

“I do recall he mentioned something about that but on the night of his arrest he was in the company of thieves and known members of an illegal organisation “

“On the evidence you presented in an Irish court Ireland , my client Hyman Goodman was sentenced to six years in an Irish prison . Did you at any stage consider investigating his story and speak to the manager  of the Jurys hotel ?”

She asked the Garda officer who cringed ,

“Ah , well , there was no need . Criminals like him , often invent stories to get off the hook ?

No further questions at this point your honour. “

Roisin presented to the court five letters , personally written by the gang who were also arrested that evening of the hi-jack .

“Your honour I would like to present as evidence five letters from the members of the organised gang who admit their guilt but also deny that Mr Goodman had any part of that plan and these personally written statements your honour,   confirm my clients innocence to the events behind hi-jacking of the truck on the evening of my clients arrest . “

The judge accepted the letters .

Roisin continued ,

“Did my client have Mr Goodman have any previous criminal convictions before his arrest Mr Murphy ?”

“Not that I’m aware.” He replied .

“In your professional opinion as Chief Superintendent , did he present himself as a gang member ?”

“Looks can be deceiving “ He replied .

“That could be true in some cases ,. Are you aware Mr Murphy that Mr Hyman Goodman is a private detective who has been attributed to solving many cases associated with criminal activity in the past ?”

“No I was not aware of that “ He replied ,

“It’s quite obvious that you never any research to Mr Goodman’s character and yet the way your portrayed his as a gang member and thief is questionable . Since the day of his arrest , Mr Goodman has been locked up in an Irish prison with no income and during that time he has accrued debts totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars. I would state that your evidence was without reason and in fact there is evidence of discrimination and deprivation of his civil rights while he was in custody . That’s all for now Mr Murphy .”

He bowed his head and left the stand .

Roisin called other members of the Garda from Cork to take the stand ,. They confirmed that Hyman had made a report of being robbed at the Jurys Hotel and he had gone through their mug shots . During the hearing the manager of the  Jurys Hotel gave evidence as did his brother , the taxi driver who brought Hyman from Dublin to Cork . Also called was the director of nursing from the hospital where Hyman was treated after being hit by a car.

Also presented were statements from prison officers who spoke of Hymans work with theatrical productions inside prison and the work he did providing spiritual advice and counselling to fellow prisoners In his final response the judge of the case stated . When all the evidence was heard , the jury had made their decision and a note was handed to the judge who made a very strong statement .

“ The jury’s decision of not guilty and in my view the correct decision after making an evaluation of this case, I would admit that proper justification of innocence has been upheld in the case of Hyman Goodman . By order of this court a compensation from the slush fund for 6 million pounds is to be paid to Mr Goodman for the years of cold isolation inside prison cells and for the years he spent in desolation from life . There can be no other words to say except for an apology , for the accumulation of evidence that misrepresented Mr Goodman . My own interpretation of that is in disgust at the method used by people who supposedly work to uphold the law . How  could they stand by and allow the walls of justice to come falling down around us . Let us learn from this our vocation to assume innocence until those before us are proven guilty and I would ask Mr Goodman in time, to forgive all of those who pointed the wrong end of the stick at him name and twisted the constitutional frameworks of arbitration to suit their own agendas . There can be no consolation for their actions apart from giving Mr Goodman , compensation with the possibility of reconciliation at a time to come. Moving forward in speaking of justice being served the court seeks reparation for the mistakes that were made in the case of Mr Hyman Goodman and rom this moment grants his freedom without any blemish against his name  .

The court erupted in cheers and applause . Other notes from the case made were that the diamonds found behind the headlights were a gift Hyman had received in a will left by one of his  wealthy clients . Hyman had walked away with 6 million pounds and two bags of diamonds as compensation for the years he had spent behind bars . The news of his release from prison made headlines all over the world and that night in an Irish prison four criminals who saw the news on TV became aware of Hymans’s diamonds and after seeing that news on TV , they were not happy  and went to bed boiling with anger and thoughts of revenge brewing in their mind .

Hyman was very grateful for everything Roisin had done and transferred a very large cash deposit into her bank account for her trouble . Roisin handed over the published articles her Father had written about Hyman .  There was a happiness but also sorrow in Hymans life now . The chains of sorrow in his heart where of all the yesterdays and the unknown events that tomorrow has . He frequently looked back at the places he had trod  and at the same time wanted to move on with strength and courage in his new life . There were so many things he wanted to try and achieve . Hyman had to find a new start in life and understand what freedom was again and how to fit back in to community life .  Everywhere he went he felt something was missing .  It came to him one day that he needed to return to where it had all started and have closure on that part of his life ,  He needed to see that warehouse again in order to set himself free of those chains . He took the matter into his hands and  once again , booked a flight from London to Dublin and took a taxi to Cork . Strangely he felt almost at home there and one night took a walk to the City Hall where just a short walk away he came to the Irish Rail Office once more .’ He made his way through across to the front door and eventually stood there in that warehouse where everything started so long ago .

He went to the Janitors toilet and removed some of the tiles and remembered that night when he found the diamonds . Then he noticed where the diamonds had been buried there was a boast floor made of wood . He lifted out a small floorboard that was there revealing a secret compartment there . He opened the package that was there and to his surprise he found a map of a diamond mine in Africa . The exact details of where it was and exactly what lay waiting to be found .

 

End Of Chapter 6

.

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/diamonds-underground-chapter-7

Link to Chapter 7

.