(This chapter was written in collaboration with my online life-partner PixieHoff. We have a lot of fun bouncing story ideas between us. In this chapter we feature (1) Fetisha and her accomplices answering the charges of Abduction & Trafficking for the purposes of Prostitution at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in Battersea, and (2) An intimate scene with the part of Emily played by PixieHoff and the part of Sansa played by EvieUKNE. We hope that you, our dear reader, will enjoy it as much as we do.)
Emily feels refreshed by sleep but her abused entrance feels very sore. She agrees to sit on the edge of the bed while I carefully apply the balm prescribed by the A&E gynaecologist. Within minutes the area feels less sore and we decide that the tube of balm needs to be our constant companion. In getting dressed, Emily opts to go without underwear, not that she often wears a bra, and a slip under a lavender shade shirt dress with a fabric belt while I choose a navy blue dress with a pattern of large red flowers and green leaves. We both add a pair of comfortable shoes and go down for a late breakfast.
As we enjoy a simple breakfast, the doorbell rings and expecting the men from the Electric Garage Doors & Entrance Gates Company, Sooni goes to answer it. She is right and calls Riya, so together they can keep an eye on the installation of the new remote controlled garage doors and remote controlled gates.
Emily receives a call, which she immediately puts on speaker so I can hear, from Penny Farthing, the Detective Sergeant. She says that Fetisha and her accomplices are scheduled to appear before the magistrates at 10:45 am at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court, if she and I would like to attend to see them being formally charged. An exchange of smiles and nods confirms that we want to see the proceedings so Penny says that she will save two seats for us. With Sooni & Riya overseeing the installation work, I ask Inika if she is free to take us to The Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in Battersea and she is happy to do so.
Fortunately the traffic has lessened since 'rush hour' so it doesn't take very long to get there via Battersea Bridge. Penny meets us and introduces Detective Chief Inspector Sally Forth, the Senior Investigating Officer on the case. She takes us into one of the courtrooms, resplendent in modern oak panelling and furniture. The focal point is the magistrates' bench which is on a platform and making the 3 magistrates above everybody in the courtroom. Behind and above the bench a resplendent Crown ER crest is fastened to the wall. We take our seats with Penny and Sally who suggest we follow their lead regarding when to stand and when to sit.
The dock, where the accused will sit, is to one side of the courtroom. It is basically a large long wooden cell with thick security glass panels providing no access to the courtroom itself. The accused enter the dock directly from the cells in the basement, by way of a locked door composed of heavy vertical iron bars through three substantial horizontal bars and a long narrow staircase. Fetisha and her accomplices, the auctioneer and the bidders, 19 in all, arrive in the dock and take their seats quietly with an officer standing behind each one of them.
Fetisha notices Emily and I watching and we can't help smiling at her predicament. The lawyers and others enter the court and the bailiff calls: "All rise!" Three magistrates, all women, enter the court and stand in front of their comfortable office type chairs. The bailiff calls: "All bow!" Naturally everyone does, including Fetisha and her cronies in the dock. The magistrates bow in return and then sit. Everyone, including prisoners, sits down. The presiding magistrate, sat in the centre, asks the lawyers if they are ready to proceed. The lawyers rise and in turn say that they are, so the presiding magistrate asks that the charges be read.
The bailiff reads the charge sheet: "Count one is that Fetisha Battacharya, an Indian citizen, did plan the forced abduction of Dr. Pixie Hoffman, whereby naked and sexually abused, she was locked into a cage barely large enough for a dog. Count Two is that 'various names', did aid and abet said abduction by removing said caged captive from the premises in which she had been sexually abused. Count three is that Fetisha Battacharya aided and abetted by 'various names' did engage in human trafficking by transporting said caged captive from said premises to a warehouse to be sold by auction to the highest bidder. Count four is that Fetisha Battacharya, aided and abetted by Nastase Reeper and 'various persons' did plan, and engage in Trafficking for the purpose of Forced Prostitution by holding an auction for Dr. Pixie Hoffman and 'various other' naked and caged ladies present in the warehouse. Count five is that Fetisha Battacharya aided and abetted by 'various names', enticed the prime recruiters of the world's prostitution rings to the warehouse for the sole purpose of buying said caged women in an auction to be forced into prostitution."
The presiding magistrate nods to the bailiff and looking at the defence lawyers asks: "How does each defendant plead, guilty or not guilty?" Unsurprisingly, each defendant, as their name is read out replies: "Not guilty Madam!"
The presiding magistrate says: "Let the record show that every defendant entered a plea of not guilty."
She consults with the magistrate on either side of her and then announces a 15 minutes adjournment. The three magistrates rise as do everyone. Bows are exchanged and the magistrates leave the courtroom. Sally whispers into my ear: " In the past, I have observed that after such an adjournment with important crimes such as these, the magistrates usually return to announce that the case will be referred to the high court. I relay her words to Emily and it turns out that she is correct.
The presiding magistrate then says: "We will now hear applications regarding bail."
The lead prosecutor makes his application: "May it please the court: in view of the seriousness of the charges before the court; the flight risk of the defendants, a substantial number being foreign nationals and not British citizens; the allegation from the Indian Government that the principal defendant is neither a professor nor indeed it seems an academic and the non-existence of the university at which she claims to be a professor; and the links to organised crime, the prosecution asks that bail is denied and the defendants be remanded in custody until their appearance in the High Court."
Each of the defence lawyers ask that the defendants be bailed on their own recognisance.
The magistrates confer again and the presiding magistrate rules: "Bail is denied. The defendants will be remanded in custody until their appearance in the High Court. We will now adjourn for lunch and resume at 2:00 pm. Take them down."