Page 59 of Client Privilege

“We’ll proceed with closing arguments. Mr. Richards?”

Damian rose, buttoning his suit jacket with practiced ease. He approached the jury box, his presence commanding without being intimidating.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” he began, “over the pastdays, you’ve heard testimony from multiple witnesses who painted a clear picture of what happened between Alex Lajeunesse and Marcus Delaney.”

He paced slowly before them, making eye contact with each juror.

“You heard Professor Mercier describe how a promising young artist suddenly vanished from his program, only to be met with legal threats when he tried to check on his student’s welfare.”

Damian stopped, letting that sink in.

“You heard Elizabeth Tremblay explain how Marcus Delaney personally delivered Alex’s resignation letter, then used financial leverage to ensure no one from the gallery contacted Alex directly.”

He gestured toward me without looking back.

“You heard Nurse Torres describe injuries so severe they required emergency medical intervention—injuries that were, in her professional opinion, consistent with repetitive abuse, not a fall or self-harm.”

Damian’s voice hardened slightly.

“Most importantly, you heard from Alex himself. You saw the medical photographs documenting his broken ribs, his internal bleeding, the distinctive marks from a belt buckle across his back.”

Several jurors shifted uncomfortably, remembering those images.

“The defence wants you to believe that Alex fabricated these injuries to extract money from a generous benefactor. Think about that proposition. Think about what it would require—not just physically inflicting devastating injuries on oneself, but somehow creating patterns consistent with assault by another person.”

He shook his head, the absurdity clear.

“Or perhaps they want you to believe these injuries came from someone else, though they’ve presented no evidence of any other person in Alex’s life capable of such violence.”

Damian moved closer to the jury box, his voice quieter now, forcingthem to lean in.

“What we have shown, beyond reasonable doubt, is a pattern of control, isolation, and escalating violence. We’ve shown how Marcus Delaney used his wealth and influence to cut Alex off from friends, colleagues, and professional opportunities. We’ve shown how he created financial dependency, then leveraged that dependency to control every aspect of Alex’s life.”

He paused, letting the weight of evidence settle.

“And when Alex finally found the courage to leave after a brutal assault, Marcus Delaney continued his campaign of control—withholding Alex’s cat as leverage, leaving threatening messages, appearing at his temporary accommodations.”

Damian straightened, his expression solemn.

“This case isn’t just about one night of violence, though that would be reason enough for your judgment. It’s about three years of rampant abuse by a man who believed his wealth and status placed him above consequences.”

He turned slightly, including the entire courtroom in his final statement.

“Today, you have the opportunity to show that no one—regardless of their financial resources or social position—is entitled to treat another human being as property. No one has the right to isolate, control, and harm someone under the guise of love or patronage.”

Damian looked directly at me for the first time during his closing.

“Alex Lajeunesse has shown remarkable courage in bringing this case forward, knowing the scrutiny and skepticism he would face. He asks only for what the law entitles him to—compensation for his injuries, return of his property, and protection from further harassment.”

He turned back to the jury.

“You have the power to grant him that justice. Thank you.”

Damian returned to our table, his hand briefly touching my shoulderas he sat. The courtroom remained silent for a moment, his words hanging in the air.

“Mr. Blackwood,” Judge Patterson prompted.

Edward Blackwood rose, adjusting his expensive tie. Where Damian had been direct and passionate, Blackwood adopted a tone of reasonable skepticism.

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