Was at court today for two things - well, mainly for one case, which went okay. I'll hope that the jury come to what I consider to be the right decision there, once they've heard the rest of the evidence.
It's quite a drama, really, courtrooms. Especially the public gallery. Friends of the victim and friends of the accused can clash there, if you're not careful. It's...yeah, it's odd. Each part of the room has these opposing sides, fighting battles of words, following ancient rules.
I got out of that case in time to get to a sentencing for another case, that was, by coincidence, taking place down the hall.
I'm glad to say that the guilty party there got life (which, to people not from these parts, doesn't mean he will necessarily spend the rest of his life in prison. He will probably be out in 17.)
The family were very grateful. I got hugs from both his mum and his dad. It's hard to know what to say. They know that, for us, it's another case. We've had to move on, new cases, new murders.
I always hope that, after the funeral, the trial, the verdict, the sentencing is...well, the end. I hope it brings a different sort of closure for the family. But I know that they'll be counting down every one of those 17 years. The man convicted of the murder of their son may well be out of prison when he's 39. Their son was 24 when he was killed.
What we do can never be enough. But it's something.
In other news, John filmed Sherlock at kung fu today. He looked very focused on his work. I was very impressed. I've been forced to promise to help him practice. I shall be forced to use sofa cushions in my defence.
124 comments:
I hope he listens to his teacher about no sneak attacks on unsuspecting adults.
I knoooooow.
I always wonder about what happens next. When somebody dies, after the funeral, there's this feeling that you have to get on with the rest of life even if you don't want to. When there's also a trial and it all takes so much longer and it must be so much more difficult. But and here is the key part, without you and your team they might never have the closure and be able to move on.
What we do can never be enough. But it's something.
It is something. It's a lot.
And I'm glad both cases went well.
Yay, Sherlock! Martial arts take a lot of concentration and self-discipline, it's quite an accomplishment to do well.
(Cushions are always handy in defense...and they make good missiles, too! :D)
But if there's a bad person and they need catching then I should be allowed to do sneak attacks definitely.
If there's a bad person and they need catching, you should tell Lestrade and he'll take care of it.
You and your team are amazing Greg, your ability to move on from case to case is what means fewer people get hurt.
Well done Sherlock I'm glad you are doign so well with your kung fu :-)
But you helped catch bad people and you're not a policeman and I've even got a card and you haven't!
That's a point, of course, Sherlock, but John is right. The Grand Master of my dojo--who can easily kill people with his bare hands--says over and over that if trouble is over here, you should do your best to be anywhere else, and call the professionals. It's only if you can't get away (or, of course, get someone you are protecting away) that should defend yourself. That is the proper martial arts mindset.
(But if you HAVE to fight and there is absolutely no other choice, sneaky is good.)
I didn't have a lot of choice, Sherlock. It's better if Lestrade or Sally does it, because they know all the rules and can make sure the person goes to prison afterward. Also, I don't want you to get hurt.
(Oh, I meant to say--I recognized the song right away, L! Only now I can't make it stop playing in my head. :))
Fiiiiiine but I could kill someone with my bare hands too.
It's good to take your cue from people as skilled as yourself. Also, it's good to know that by exercising restraint (which IS a hard thing to do), you are actually helping send a bad person to prison.
I know, Sherlock. But like John says, best not to. But I know you know that.
And I promise we'll have a practice.
But right now, pyjamas and teeth.
I hope you never have to find out if that's true, Sherlock.
me too.
I don't know that I could. And I also hope never to find out.
So do I.
Shall I make tea while you're getting him into bed? I saved you a fish biscuit.
Thanks.
Do I have to beg for my biscuit? :) flap my flippers? Balance a ball on my nose?
Their case isn't your whole world, it can't be. That's OK. For a little while your worlds intersected and they weren't alone. That matters, in the words of Dr. Suess, A WHOLE AWFUL LOT.
Recognized the song right away. Grew up listening to that stuff.
Oh, I actually recognise this one too...I think.
L - ...can you balance a ball on your nose? I suddenly want to see this...
I can (used to be able to) balance a ball on my forehead/back of my neck/foot/knee....I probably couldn't do it on my nose.
Well...I suppose you can have your fish anyway.
Thanks Doc.
Can I get a scratch behind the ears and a belly rub too?
Mmhmm. Back rub too if you like.
Sounds good. Sitting on a wooden bench in a draughty court room doesn't do my old body any good.
The couch is much better.
ANywhere you are is much better.
Feel the same about you. :)
If we both go to bed it'll be amazing then...
I want a day off. And I'm not going to get one 'til...next week. Punishment for having a nice Christmas and end-of-school-hols.
It will definitely be amazing.
Maybe I can take you out to dinner instead?
I think I could allow you to do that, yes...
Tomorrow night?
He fell asleep, by the way. And is now tucked up in bed, where I will be again in a moment. I took his snores for agreement. ;)
Good night, John...and thanks for all the fish (biscuits)... ;)
When I took tae kwon do, we made makeshift punching bags out of old phone books wrapped in several layers of duct tape, with a duct tape handle fashioned on the back. Just hitting a sofa cushion won't have enough resistance, and a sofa cushion tied to part of your body would probably not provide enough padding to prevent pain (even given the size differential between Sherlock and you, L). Just a thought. Obviously I'm not sure what sort of practicing Sherlock has in mind.
Yes, tomorrow! i mean, today. Lovely.
how goes the day gentlemen? hot/cold? wet/dry? busy/boring? all or none of the above? ;-)
Busy! But fine. Everything made brighter by date night!
Well, have a good day and a lovely evening. :)
Never had anyone fall asleep in the middle of me asking them out before... ;)
(Maybe you gave him good dreams that way! :))
I will try not to fall asleep for the date.
I've never been in a court room, only ever saw them on TV (SVU and L&O mostly), and I can't imagine what it'd be like to watch the person who took someone away from you. I've never lost a relative that way, and I'm praying that I never do.
Another another note, L, I'm doing a debate, and I'm on the side that's for the banning of the sale of assault weapons in non-military contexts in the united states. Since mom told me that guns are illegal in the UK (apperently not even the coppers use them?) I wanted ask if you know if that had any significant impact on the murder rate in the UK. Because right now the US is over run by Rabbid Ferrets (or NRA members who insist that you can't even do studies on gun violence. Why is it the US who has all the politicians who should probably be shoved back in time to Victorian England because they'd be so much happier there?)
That is creepy. The CAPTCHA is "waypon"
There are worse things he could fall asleep in the middle of John ;-)
Glad your day's ok Greg.
I can't imagine what it'd be like to watch the person who took someone away from you. I've never lost a relative that way,
Thankfully I've never lost a relative that way either, but we did lose a dear family friend that way a number of years ago, and I was in the courtroom for both the verdict and the sentencing. I have no idea what one is supposed to feel, but I didn't feel anything at all. Tired, maybe, or empty.
Not So Silent - well, it didn't really have an 'impact' in that lots of guns have never been legal here. Handguns/pistols were banned in 1997.
But overall, the number of firearms homicides in this country are 40 times lower than they are in the United States. So I'm very glad that we have strict gun control laws, and I'm glad that most police aren't armed (some are, but not many.)
RR - No one's supposed to feel anything. Although people sometimes ask us if they should feel a certain way. Some people are able to forgive, on some levels, and others want to reach out and kill the person themselves, still. Some are happy, others sad because...well, it's really all over, then. Lots are numb. Some are disappointed they don't 'feel more'.
The weather said we'd have snow on Monday I WANT SNOW!
Well, then, Sherlock, I hope you get LOTS! (But not too much, just enough to play in. :))
I want loads and loads and loads and then even Lestrade can't go to work and we have to build a snowman and go sledging.
Snowman-building is fun. :)
(But with so much snow, no biking. And I'm afraid that they'd expect Lestrade to get to work even if he had to snowshoe his way there. You could ask him.)
It's snowing here, Sherlock. Has Mycroft mastered teleportive devices yet? You could come over.
Lestrade: Thanks for the statistic. There's one law for you that is actually worth it. I hate that people use the Second Amendment of our constitution to allow Assault rifles. George Washing was not thinking of automatic weapons when he wrote the constitution, he was thinking of making a new country. Did you know that the NRA's advice in reaction to the Sandy Hook massacre is to say that we should get police men, with guns, to guard schools?
RR: I think there's this idea that your supposed to feel enraged. But the thing is, is that it's hard to feel anything when you feel like you've had your world turned on its head. I know this because when I finally confronted the girl who'd made my life hell for six years, I thought I'd feel angry. Instead I just felt hollow.
Sherlock: Snowman building is awesome. I think that maybe England is due for another huge amount of snow? Isn't there a pattern of some sort for this?
It was what it was.
Sherlock, Are you doing something with Mrs H while John and Lestrade are on their date? Or just having a nice end-of-the-week relaxing evening in?
hey, Sherlock, is John ready for a date? Has he washed behind his ears and brushed his teeth and put on clean pants?
He has. Sherlock made me a checklist and kept hurrying me along. Trying to get rid of us already...
Enjoy date night, gents :-)
Enjoy your evening too, Sherlock :-)
A little while ago, Lestrade linked to a "British Problems" blog; those who enjoyed it may like the Very British Problems twitter account, @SoVeryBritish. It is scarily familiar.
Well done, Sherlock. Has he got a nice suit on, too? Did you help him with his cuffs?
Yes! I made him wear one of your fancy ones with cuff links.
He's dating me, and already he's had the shirt off my back... he works fast!
I could do with a pre-date checklist, now I come to think of it. Good thinking, Sherlock!
I'm going to be seriously overdressed, I think.
yeah, slightly... I'm wearing leather hotpants, a collar and a smile ;)
I'm sure you'll both look suitably...festive.
How... My amazing fiance has just knocked on the door, all dressed up, with flowers...
Are you meaning to be rude to people rereader?
Not, I hasten to add, actually dressed up in hotpants. It's too cold!
How... My amazing fiance has just knocked on the door, all dressed up, with flowers...
:)
Have a gorgeous evening, gents!
I absolutely have no idea what you could even mean, anon, and I say that with total seriousness. (And don't even bother, because I'm going offline shortly.)
Dressed up nicely I meant! You weren't wearing this when you left for work this morning!
No, I wasn't :) I rather thought I should make an effort, though. Especially after falling asleep on you!
love you :)
Love you too. And now I've upset an entire tube-carriage full of people by showing you're clearly not available and I still don't know where we're going...
You'll know in about two minutes...
*waiting curiously and hopefully*
(In case anyone else is wondering, emoji don't seen to take here, alas, even if you can type them.)
Have a lovely evening the pair of you and Sherlock you have a good one as well :-)
Well, I had crocodile to start with, and kangaroo for mains...
I didn't know the tube went all the way to australia.
was it good? I hope you're having a good time together :-)
It was lovely.
Anon - Yeah, you just take the 'Through the Centre of the Earth' line.
I'm glad you enjoyed it, it sounds like very interesting food I hope the rest of your evening/night is as interesting ;-)
Thanks - from the glint in John's eye I think it might be :)
Have a lovely day whatever you're up to guys :-)
I'm working :( and trying not to fall asleep (John's fault.)
I'd forgotten you were at work but I'm glad you're tired ;-)
Good luck with whatever the day brings.
Ha, yeah, I am too. Although trying to hide my yawns is becoming a problem.
John is amazing. I had a great night.
He is, I hope, surviving hurricane Sherlock, who is so excited about snow he's about ready to fly up to the clouds and drag it out himself.
John said it would rain today I don't want rain.
I hope Snow turns up for you soon Sherlock :-) are you having fun while you wait for it to arrive?
We're making bread but we don't know what sort yet.
Don't poke the dough while it's rising.
I wasn't! How did you know?
What a lovely way to spend a day Sherlock, there's nothing quite like the smell of fresh baked bread :-)
You ALWAYS poke the dough if I don't put it on top of the fridge.
Do nooottttttt.
Well, it's you or John, because it doesn't happen when it's put to rise somewhere up high...
I have just been told not to poke the dough either.
That's starting to sound more and more like euphemism...
Nameless - it needs to be treated gently when rising, or it'll go flat again...
Danger - well I hope you don't, then!
When Sherlock says you 'don't know what sort' does he mean flavour, or what shape? Or if it'll be normal bread or focaccia or something?
I don't know about him, but I'm just hoping it'll edible.
...Which also now sounds like a euphemism.
CHEESE there should be cheese and maybe herbs and then it will be nice.
Are you sure it's rising at all?
is it warm enough? DId you knead it enough? Did you do anything which might have killed the yeast? Did one of you prod it so much it gave up... ;)
How much poking is too much...?
...er...too much is too much :)
Are you on your first or second rise?
First. I hope.
No, Sherlock's measured it. He says it is definitely rising.
it'll take about 2 hours to double in size, depending how warm it is.
Tell me he didn't measure it by sticking something in it?
No, I knowwwwww! Don't poke it you said.
Good boy. It'll get there, then. It is very cold out today. If the flat's not so warm it'll take a while. Patience, my boy!
Have you made it home yet Greg and more importantly how's the bread Sherlock? Have you and John eaten it all?
I made it like a fish with scales like Mrs Hudson's biscuits and we're save one fish for Lestrade but we ate the other one and it was good.
How very creative Sherlock well done to you and John, I'm glad it was nice after you'd work so hard on it :-)
it smells great. I'll try my one in a bit. Just home, showered, feeling half human again.
I'm helping make cottage pie!
weirdly Sherlock that's what I've just had for my tea!
You'll grow up to be an amazing cook with all the practice you get from helping :-)
It's in the oven now I'm hungry it smells nice. Was yours nice? I like cooking but sometimes it can take too long to do it all I'm going to keep Lestrade I think.
Mine was lovely AND I didn't have to cook it myself because my mum and my short people made it while I was out :-)
I'd keep Lestrade if I was you, he seems like a good cook :-)
I know shepherds pie but not cottage pie. What do you put in it?
And, this is off topic, but we just got in a new picture book with Italian holiday customs and I have to ask. Did you wear red underwear for luck on New Years, L?
rsf
Cottage pie is like Shepherd's but made with beef.
I couldn't possibly comment on my underwear choice. But I can assure you I had good luck at New Years, with John coming to see me. ;)
Ah. The places around here are getting shepherds pie wrong then. I take it it really ought to be made with lamb?
I think if I ever visit Italy, I'll try to go in December. All the special foods for different days sound so tasty! But I may have to be discreet on the choice of underthings too.
rsf
Yeah, unless your shepherds have branched out and herd cows now?
And don't worry, there's always special food to eat in Italy! I'd like to go in winter, but the city my family are from is in the mountains and sometimes you can't even move around the city because of the snow...so it's not the best way to show John and the boys around!
http://ieimedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Urbino-snow.jpg
I WANT TO GO!!
...should have guessed that was coming.
You should be in bed! When did it get this late? Come on, teeth and pyjams.
me too :)
Oooh, actually that looks marvelous. I grew up near the Colorado mountains and my mom's family goes back to Norway, so snow is an incentive, not a deterrent!
Goodnight, all!
rsf
It does sort of have an appeal - but they lost all power to the city then, and people had to drink/wash with the snow because there was no water. And three of the operating theatres at the local hospital had roof collapse in on them from the weight of it - there was over ten feet of snow.
None of that deters Sherlock.
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