My father’s best friend Goran Alexander who had set up a private investigator business not long after my father’s death was hired by Suzi’s family to find her. They didn’t trust the authorities here especially with what’s going on with me.
Along with Steve they searched for leads and eventually after talking to people on the plane they heard about the man bothering Suzi.
They searched all the seedy clubs until they saw her been made to dance and degrade herself so Goran and Steve approached the two men and asked how much for her.
They named their price when they were convinced Goran and Steve weren’t police.
Goran handed over the cash and they ran off with Suzi and went to the police station.
She couldn’t believe what had happened to me and was upset that she couldn’t help she saw nothing.
Suzi was taken to hospital to be checked over and the trial was set to go ahead.
The day of the trial came it was a complete media circus and I wasn’t handling it too well. I was allowed to look presentable for the judge, my hair was a mess and had grown. My mum had done the best with it and I ended up looking like my granddad Nick Sr. My mother also bought shaving foam and a razor and one of my father’s more business-like suits.
I was allowed a brief hug before the chief came to collect me, he cuffed me and led me outside.
Clara was there with me and once we reached to courtroom I started shaking and passed out, Steve came to my aid and I was allowed a few minutes to recover before the chief hauled me inside. Then I was standing in the dock, I confirmed my name, age and nationality, then I told them what happened.
The judge listened, Clara asked questions, the police chief was the prosecutor and he asked questions of the witnesses.
Suzi didn’t give evidence she was still in hospital she was hoping and praying I would walk free today.
The police chief told the court about what he found and how he interrogated me trying to get me to break down by starvation, how he hit me, not letting me have facilities and sleep deprivation. “I felt I was within my rights to interrogate this suspect within the laws. He was also given a full examination internal and external” he explained, “samples were also taken”.
The judge listened and said, “You were right to interrogate this suspect in this way. May I remind you that drug-trafficking is a serious crime and not acceptable”.
More witnesses came forward and then it came to the closing statements, the prosecution said, “This young man was caught red-handed with the substance in his bag. The samples taken from him showed no drug use so it’s obvious he was carrying it to sell. I propose that he be found guilty and made an example of so other foreign traffickers won’t do it again. This is a constant problem, they think we’re a dumping ground for drugs. I propose the toughest sentence possible, the rest of his life in prison and fifty lashes every few days”.
“I stress that this young man is a fine young citizen, never committed a crime in his life. He was on his first ever modelling assignment. He was stitched up by a man who wanted him out of the way so he could easily kidnap a young innocent girl.
I hope the court lets him go free to go back home to his family, he’d never come back to this country again.
He’s terrified, he just lost his father and not in a stable emotional state to cope with the hardship of prison life especially the beatings and suffering he would endure”, said Clara, “Also we have money for bail or any other costs the court may consider”.
“I will consider my verdict, If Mr Russell has another panic attack a doctor will be permitted to tend to him anyway he sees fit” said the judge, “Court adjourned”.
I was led to a small room, Steve, my mother and Clara came with me. We were waiting on the jury’s verdict. I actually managed to lie down and sleep while waiting.
Some hours a later a knock on the door woken me and it was the police chief and I was led back inside.
I was led back into the dock, and listened to what the judge had to say.
“I’ve considered all the facts in this case and the new information I received will have no bearing on my decision. A crime like this can’t go unpunished and the stash was found on Mr Russell, no-one has come forward and seen anyone put the stuff there.
Mr Russell is of good character and has co-operated fully with the investigation.
I know the prisoner is from a very rich family but he’s to be made an example of and no payments will be accepted on his behalf.
I hereby sentence Nicholas James Russell to ten years in Devil’s Island prison for the first five years to which the case will be reviewed and be sent to less severe prison or deported home. He will be treated the same as any other prisoner and will undergo what punishments are required, twenty five lashes every few days across the back and twenty five across the feet”.
I fell to my knees in shock. The police chief was smug. The family were stunned.
My mother screamed abuse at the judge and at the police chief, Clara vowed to fight on and try to get an appeal court date set as soon as possible.
At least the family were allowed to say goodbye before I was led away and I wondered would I ever see them again and if I did what state I would be in so it’s better off that I cope on my own now, I rather they got on with their lives and not watch me go through this or me watch them leave me behind after visiting.
