Dᴇᴄᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 31. 2024.
Alessia has her Initial Appearance before a Judge. The Judge determines her name and address, tells her of the right to remain silent and to have an attorney. However, she doesn't want an attorney and insists that she's guilty. The Judge, taken aback, keeps his composure and chooses a date for an arraignment, skipping over the usual preliminary hearing.
Two weeks later, after spending her time in a County Jail, she's brought to the arraignment. Though she had pleaded guilty multiple times before, she's still offered the chance to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Again, she pleads guilty with no reason to reconsider. She just wants her sentence.
No trial date has to be made now.
After Alessia's arrest, investigations were successful in proving that she is indeed the Phantom, but instead of immediately sentencing her, the decided to do thing by the system. Trial could've been interesting, but it would've been a waste of money and time, and she can care less about the greedy detectives' interest. To them, she's a walking promotion.
Four weeks after the arraignment, a sentencing hearing is called to determine her punishment. The Judge must impose a sentence withing the range outlined by law, but this girl has been charged with uncountable counts of first degree murder, second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and battery of both simple and wobbler. If she had not pleaded guilty resulting in days upon days of trial and investigation, prosecutors, people taking the witness stand and the jury alike might as well request the death penalty, even if no one has received it in California since 2006. It was either imprisonment in the State Prison for life without parole, or imprisonment in the State Prison for a term of twenty-five years to life.
In the Metropolitan Courthouse, the Superior Court of California, Alessia is seated awaiting her sentence as Judge Thwaites ponders. "You have a lot of blood on your hands, young lady." He comments as if she isn't aware of it.
She's the one who pleaded guilty to everything after all. It's not like she made herself this way. Children grow from what they're surrounded by and not much of them would come forward to do what's right after learning that they've been wrong all this time.
"Ms. Alessia Moskal, convicted of felony and charged with first and second degree murder, manslaughter and misdemeanor, I sentence you to life in prison at the State Prison without parole." He peers at the courtroom through his red, square-framed glasses, before slamming the gavel on the sound block. "Court adjourned!"
Two officers approach her.
She steps from around her stand and begins to follow them to wherever they're leading her. She did this herself, so she better start getting comfortable now. Her eyes flit to the lone boy who's still seated in the courtroom, watching airily as they take her away.
She waves goodbye and he returns it, but it isn't as enthusiastic as hers.
For a moment there, she feels happy.
Phillípe isn't.
———
NEWS ANCHOR, Joseline Steele:
"It is said that the police has finally arrested the Phantom after years of casualties. Their identity wasn't disclosed, but it is known that the Phantom is the one who turned themselves in. It strikes a lot of questions in the public, including, 'If the Phantom didn't turn themselves in, would the government have been able to catch them?' And, 'How do they know that the Phantom giving themselves up isn't a part of some big plan for a high scale crime?' Let's hear the comments of the local residents here."
Random man eating a lollipop:
"To be honest, the Phantom kept the other criminals in check. Now that they're off the streets, the crime rate is gonna spike."
"I believe that as well.
———
Angry convenience store owner across the street:
"OFF WITH THEIR HEAD!"
"Unfortunately the death penalty isn't in the system anymore."
———
Middle-aged woman with her grandchild:
"I've been alive since the first report on the Phantom and I noticed that they mostly went after criminals and corrupted people. I'm not saying murder is justified 'cause the Phantom didn't have to turn to violence, but at least they kept other bad people in place."
"I a hundred percent agree with you."
———
Pro boxer out on a stroll:
"Even if the police wasn't the one who caught the Phantom, I'm glad they're finally behind bars. I lost family to them. Although they were caught up in some illegal business, killing someone should never be an option."
"You're right."
———
Moody teenage skaterboy:
"I think the Phantom got tired of cleaning up people's bullsh*t. After all, it's been happening for years."
"If you were the Phantom, what would you do?"
"I'd f*ck up everyone I hate... ESPECIALLY YOU, KAREN!"
———
Nice young college girl:
"I'm sorry for any prisoner that picks a fight with them, since their identity is anonymous and all..."
"Imagining that is kind of funny."
"Oh, fresh meat in the area? That fresh meat is seasoned and who are you?! LOL!"
"Did you just say LOL...?"
———
Drug addicted foreigner that ran off in the country:
"Down w' di Phantom, mon! I lost a lo' o' business 'coz o' dat piece o' shi—!"
———
"Ma'am, would you like to—?"
Karen:
"My rights! Get the camera out of my—I SAID GET THE CAMERA OUT OF MY FACE! I HAVE NO COMMENT!"
———
A fat and impulsive Alpha male:
"YE SHOULD'VE RELEASED THE PERSONAL INFO, YE DAMN GOVERNMENT! THE PHANTOM REARED HAVOC IN YER STREETS AND YER KEEPING SECRETS FOR 'EM?! ARE YE SURE THIS AIN'T ONE OF YER SCHEMES?!"
"I don't recommend whatever it is you're trying to do but, okay..."
———
The quiet kid in highschool:
"The Phantom ruined my life..."
"May I ask how?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you..."
"Sir, you're on camera."
"Guess I'm going to have to kill you then, eh?"
"It's live..."
"..." He pulls out an actual gun.