"My client pleads not guilty due to insanity," the small goblin pipes up, adjusting a stack of papers.
"What?!" Dan whispers, fidgeting in his mother's arms. "That's not right!"
"Then you'll just have to help prove that." She whispers in response.
"Very well. Thy plea is noted. Prosecution, as is the tradition of this court and these kinds of cases, thou shalt be the first to call a witness to the stand." The judge smacks his gavel lightly as the prosecutor, an elder man with a pointed hat, rises.
"The prosecution would like to call Maybel Singleton to the stand."
Kat's grandmother stands up and approaches the stand, sitting down slowly.
"You are aware of the mystical enchantment that prevents you from lying in this courtroom, is that correct, madam?"
"Yes it is." She answers.
"Good. Now, tell me, what in your experience, was Kat's relationship to Dan?"
"I passed away when they were but children, but even then, Kat was always bitter and resentful towards Daniel."
"Why would you say that is?"
"Objection!" the goblin shouts, standing up on the table. "Question calls for simple guessing."
"Take a seat, counselor." Judge Lucidicus points the gavel at him as he speaks. "The question is answerable. Continue."
"I would have to say it was jealousy. Him being the younger sibling, her never getting over no longer being the baby."
"Have you ever seen her commit acts of violence upon Daniel?"
"Oh, all the time. She would kick him, bite him, push him down... her behavior was absolutely abominable."
"Also in your life, you had some experience with psychiatry, is that right?"
"Some, yes. As a high school counselor, I had to be well-versed in juvenile psychiatry."
"Did her behavior strike you in any way as being that of a mentally ill girl?"
"No. Just a cruel and vindictive one who didn't know how to properly express herself."
"That is all. Your witness, defense."
The goblin hops off the desk, and hovers through the air over to her.
"When you say 'well-versed', just how well-versed were you?"
"Fairly well. I took courses at the local college and read many books."
"But there are books that have conflicting opinions, are there not?"
"Conflicting opinions?"
"Yes. For example, this book, by a Dr. Timothy Dalton, no relation to the actor, that states that acts of violence and hatred to a younger sibling are evident of acute mental disease. Do you acknowledge that despite how well-read you were in life, you did not read all material relating to the matter at hand?"
"I do acknowledge that."
"So then, it is entirely possible that Katherine killed her brother out of mental illness, right?"
"It is."
"No further questions, your honor." The goblin returns to his seat, nodding his head to Katherine as he does.
"Very well. Defense, call forth thy first witness."