Just like the week before, Lisa and the whole family checked themselves in at the front desk in court. All their friends who were there last time were there again this time.

Marianne was happy to see them again. "When I have my break later, I'll probably come and listen again," she promised.

"Then you should take your break a little earlier today, Marianne," said Johan, who had just walked up and heard her words. "Good morning you all, good to see you again! I have some news about this morning's organization. My statements about the suspects are all basically the same, and I thought it was such nonsense to put up the same story five times in a row. These men know each other, have done the same thing, all reacted in a similar way last week, and the statements for them are identical. So I decided to have them all brought to the courtroom at a quarter past 9. That saves time and energy for all of us!

I have given their lawyers the opportunity to invite the family and friends of the defendants for that time as well. Hence the hustle and bustle behind you. And of course the press is also aware of what is going on. Chances are that when the suspects are brought here, they will already be at the entrance firing their questions at them and taking pictures. Not that they will be able to, because the suspects will be brought in by their escorts directly through the side entrance."

"Thank goodness! I would have found it grim for those men," Lisa thought. "To my mind, they didn't deserve that after last week's trials."

"I understand that's how you feel, by the way, that also shows that you've really accepted their expressions of regret." Johan put his hand on her shoulder. "Still, it's a good thing, if we bring out the statements in a proper way later on. By doing so, the outside world will also come to know what has changed here. I can only hope, that these journalists will reliably reflect our words, instead of their own interpretations and fantasies."

"So will they be there afterwards?" asked Lisa.

"Yes indeed, these matters are of great interest to the press. They expect to be able to extort answers from you as well. Just be yourself, and tell them only what you want to tell the world. The rest you can just ignore, and you'll be fine. They're pushy, but I'll stay with you so we can shake them off together if it gets too crazy."

Johan turned to Marianne, "I'm really sorry I forgot to tell you. So we will start at a quarter past 9 and take them all at once. If you want to be there, try to take that time off."

He turned to the people who had come for the verdict: "When you've finished your coffee and tea, go ahead and go to the courtroom. We'll get started in no time!"

.

The suspects had been taken out of their cells at the same time. Again, the guards had decided, that shackles were not necessary. They took the men by their upper arms and brought them to court in as many cars.

"Nervous?" asked the guard of the mayor.

"Quite so, but I will comply with the punishment Johan imposes on me. I find it all very grim, but there is no other way, it is right. The only thing I keep thinking about is the question of what to do next. My wife and our children, my work... I don't know yet how my wife and children think about me. They were there last week, but I haven't had a chance to speak to them."

"I think Johan will be fine if they want to talk to you afterwards. And otherwise they can always come and visit you afterwards. But of course I don't know if they will, you'll really have to wait and see. And I have no idea about your work either. My first reaction is that the citizens probably don't want you anymore as a mayor, but on the other hand it could be that they do want you because of your reaction last week. Time will tell!"

.

As Lisa walked with Ellen to the table at the front of the courtroom, her family and friends took their seats behind them. A large group of people, family members and friends of the defendants, sat down on the other side of the room. And in a special corner, people from the press were allowed to take their seats, so they could report from inside.

After the five suspects were brought in, Johan came last. A murmur went through the room when people saw that he had not put on a toga over his clothes.

Johan beckoned for everyone to sit down and smilingly said to those present, "Good morning everyone! Surprise, the judge is not wearing a toga! As a judge I am just an ordinary person, and I hope that the status I have as a judge will prove to be above all a status of law, truth and honesty. I have deliberately left my toga hanging in the closet. And I hope that it can stay there, so that I can simply do what my heart desires as a human being to human beings here.

I welcome you all warmly to this courtroom to a gathering of no less than five defendants at once. Last week they were questioned by Lisa Martens' lawyer. Those of you who were present at that time will undoubtedly remember the extraordinary reactions of the defendants. Not only with their minds, but especially in their hearts, they experienced that what they had done was absolutely not acceptable. At the first court hearing, we were particularly surprised by the defendant's reaction, and also by Lisa's reaction afterwards. It was totally unexpected to me, that the defendant stood up and expressed his regret to Lisa and that she went to him and told him that she was happy with his reaction, that she felt he meant it. That was a very special moment that cost us a lot of tissues and handkerchiefs!" Johan looked with a broad smile at the people in the room, where several attendees were laughing softly. Lisa saw, that even the suspects were smiling.

Johan continued: "Our surprise was even greater when all the other suspects showed the same reaction. They too were lovingly thanked by Lisa. After that, when everyone was back home, for me the battle began..."

Johan now looked at the suspects and addressed them: "I know the rules of law. For crimes like this, the sentence is easily ten years in prison. But in my heart I felt that that was totally inappropriate after what had happened in those court sessions last week. Because your reactions were absolutely sincere and Lisa recognized them as such, I dare to assume that on the one hand you are no longer a danger to women like Lisa. You realize too well what went wrong! But on the other hand, I want to send a signal to women in general, and prevent them from running the risk of you stepping into that trap again.

Furthermore, I am convinced that it is very important for women in similar situations that punishment does follow. At the same time it follows that you are not the only men who think they can gain more power and wealth this way. Those men should also know that if you hurt women in this way, you won't get away with it just like that, even if you are sincerely sorry.

So in summary, the jail sentence you will receive is mainly for the following reasons:

First, for yourself, to prevent the possibility of repetition.

Secondly, to encourage women who have been subjected to the same thing.

And third, to make this an example to other perpetrators.

Is it clear how I mean this?"

He looked at each of the defendants and saw that both they and their lawyers were nodding.

"I realize that I haven't mentioned that you guys are getting jail sentence for what you did to Lisa. The reason why I didn't mention that, is that I would not be doing justice to her reaction to you last week. Good, then I will now read out what I have in store for you..."

Johan picked up his stack of papers, "I have here for each of you the verdict in writing, but because they are basically identical, I will only read one. My sentence is as follows: I am imposing a two-year prison sentence on you, beginning on the date you entered your remand. To Lisa you will pay 500 euros per visit as damages for suffering done. And the costs Lisa has incurred for her lawyer and her security will be divided between you. That is my ruling for the moment.

In addition, I have a warning for each of you. Do you harm Lisa or any of her loved ones, by yourself or through someone else, you will have an evil one on me. But frankly, given your reactions last week, I think this warning is completely unnecessary. Finally, I have a message for your family and friends who are here."

Johan looked at the group of people behind the suspects, "You have probably been through hell these past few days. What these men have done is demeaning. The beautiful thing is, however, and some of you witnessed this last week, that deep down inside they realize that they were completely wrong in this. How you should proceed with this, I cannot tell you. I can only give you one piece of advice: take your own pain seriously and try to feel if you can handle facing the suspect who belongs to you with an open heart. You may, if you wish, accompany them for a while later to the rooms where their guards will take them. So if you want to and can handle it, you can follow them there later."

Then Johan looked at Lisa and Ellen: "And would you both like to stay here for a while. I want to say something to you both."

Ellen and Lisa nodded, whereupon Johan concluded the meeting with a cheerful rumble of his hammer. "That way, I get to use that thing in a more fun way too," he smiled.

The suspects and their guards stood up, nodded to Lisa, and went to the rooms reserved for them. Johan kept an eye on the people who belonged to them, and was pleased to see that none of them stayed behind in the room. They all went after the suspects. He hoped their conversations would be healing.

To chapter 219. Afterwards

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