The night shift

[Chevi]

February 77AD (Right after Judge and Jury)

The four of them - Alexius, Decimus, Jason, and Lucius - managed to deposit the killer at the Tabularium without further trouble. If he tried to struggle, one of them was always more than happy to punch him in the stomach, and seeing a praetorian and a vigile bring the man in, he was soon secured in a cell he wouldn't get out of. They all wanted to make damn sure of that. It was the early hours of the morning by now, but the task was not yet over. Following Jason, they all headed to Tiberius' domus, to report the news of the capture to the young imperial. 

Technically, the killer was in the hands of the judges now. But to make sure he would not wriggle out of his fate, they all wanted to personally tell an imperial just how much this man needed to suffer before he died.

"We'll wait while you wake him up" Lucius told Jason. The bandage on his arm was bleeding through (although more slowly now) and he felt more tired than ever. He just hoped Tiberius wouldn't be furious for being woken up at this early hour. He imagined they looked like quite the strange collection of people.

@Atrice @Sarah @Sharpie @Sains

 

[Sharpie]

Once they'd left the killer in the non-too-gentle hands of the guards at the Tullianum, Jason had unceremoniously helped himself to one of the two pine torches set into brackets outside some bigwig senator's house; the streets of Rome were non too friendly at night, nor were they lit. He just hoped that Ovinia and the other patrician woman would get a decent escort home, though with four men heading to speak to an Imperial prince, that left the medicus and Azarion to do the escorting bit, and Azarion needed to return to the White stables before people grew suspicious and marked him down as a runaway.

He couldn't worry about that right now, though, he had other things to think about. Like trying to work out which door would be open so they could get into the damn villa... In the end, he opted for the main door. The ostiarius glared at him, rubbing his eyes, obviously having just been asleep and having difficulty working out why Jason was on that side of the door not his side of the door. Having the torchlight reflect off the Praetorian's armour helped. Probably.

The door swung open and Jason led them indoors and switched the torch for an actual lamp which would be much safer in the passageways of the house. He left them in an anteroom by the garden not far from his master's room while he went to wake his master.

"Domine, I'm sorry to wake you, but there are some men who need to speak with you, urgently. Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus and Decimus Rutilius Attelus." He wasn't sure whether or not his master knew Alexius, adding a third name would be pointless seeing as all three of them were waiting together anyway.

 

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[Atrice]

Alexius worried for Lucius, thinking he should have stayed behind with his wounded arm. And it was Ovinia who wounded him! Of course she didn't mean to, but it happened and it had him a bit worried for the two of them. But he was honestly more worried about the scum between them, the killer that they were now taking to the Tullianum. Decimus had tried to assure Alexius that he was going to die, and of course he was, the sooner the better. He was held between Decimus and Alexius, each holding an arm, with Lucius first and Jason behind them. Once they'd left the killer - whose name they didn't even know yet - in the hands of the guards at the prison, Jason led the way towards his master's home. Alexius wasn't sure if he had understood until now, exactly whom Jason's owner was. Maybe he'd been told once, but forgot? But it turned out to be an Imperial prince and they came to the infamous and lovely gardens of Sullust, where Jason's owner lived in the villa there. This wasn't where they went to get Jason last time, was it?

Alexius said nothing, but followed the rest inside and Jason then left them all behind in an anterum to find his master. Alexius looked around. The place was silent and mostly dark, it was late in the evening and nothing seemed to be happening here at all. It looked like a fancy place though, he thought. An Imperial prince! This matter with the attacker and killer in Rome was suddenly going places. High places. And Alexius had helped catch the killer. Only as he stood there did he realize that this could mean more. The girls did most of the work, but he kind of feared that if he had not shown up, the killer might have escaped. Aia had been wounded, after all. And Alexius knocked the man out. Maybe Didia, Aia and he would be rewarded for their deed? That would be something. Well, time would tell. Right now, he was mostly curious about seeing who this Tiberius was.

@Sarah @Sains@Chevi @Sharpie

Edited June 6, 2022 by Atrice

[Sains]

Decimus hardly knew what to expect as this slave, Jason as he was called, led them to the home of his master. If it were some rich nobleman who didn't have much stake in a murder occurring in the city then it was surely a waste of time. They'd be lucky if dogs weren't let loose on them for waking him at such an hour. It was only after they'd been informed that his master was the imperial boy 'Tiberius' that Decimus began to feel quite awkward about the entire situation. It was known to everyone, including those within the group, that they hardly looked like anyone that should be within ten miles of an imperial prince. Jason had a fairly good excuse as he was apparently Tiberius's property, but the rest of them were ragged to say the least. Roscianus was bleeding like a stuck pig and Alexius was... well... Alexius. It honestly wasn't that Decimus thought the former Gladiator was poorly or any worse off than he in terms of appearance, but he honestly thought the boy might be scared of such an imposing man. The man was built like an oak and had scars tracing up and down his body for gods sake. For his own part the symbolic toga that he wore to the palace was now dotted with splatters and blotches of dried blood from dragging that horrible man about. The stripe that would identify him as a member of the guard was the only thing that gave him some confidence that their story would be believed when Tiberius finally decided to roll out of bed. 

He'd known of Tiberius for some time, seen him a bit around the palace. It wasn't regular and he'd never spoken to the boy, but he seemed like he had a good enough head on his shoulders. He'd never heard anyone speaking badly of the man at least. Hopefully their first meeting wouldn't result in a lashing when he got back to the Castra. It was well known that the upper crust didn't enjoy getting up at the behest of others. 

 

@Sarah@Atrice@Chevi@Sharpie

[Sarah]

Wrapped in the depths of slumber, and accustomed as he had been all his life to ignore the comings and goings of slaves, Tiberius took several moments to rouse. Squinting in the light of the lantern, he recognised Jason's voice before his face, side-lit as it was. But it was a voice he knew, and trusted. Frowning at the light, he glanced out the window with it's small panes of glass, where the sky was still very dark and the moon hadn't moved all that much from when he'd gone to bed. "Jason, it's the middle of the night." He protested mildly, levering himself up on his elbows. But his body slave would know that, and however accustomed to each other they might be, it started to percolate through Tiberius's sleep-addled brain that Jason wouldn't have woken him without cause. 

There were men who needed to speak with him, urgently, apparently. One of them was Roscianus, the once Senatore now Equite vigile, whom he had asked to keep him appraised of any dangers to the citizenry that might warrant Imperial attention. The other... Attelus... was vaguely familiar. One of the newer Praetorians perhaps? A Vigile and a Praetorian. Tiberius's blue eyes snapped open as he was suddenly wide awake. That combination, at this time of night, surely meant danger, presumably to the Imperial family. He sat up in bed. "I'll see them. Find me a cloak or a woolen toga, and my sandles." He said to his body slave, for it was chill in the night at this time of year.

Swinging his legs out of bed he sat there for his sandles to be presented and laced, then stood so that Jason could throw whatever woolen garment was closest to hand over the tunica he'd been sleeping in, pondering as he did so the fact that Jason looked as though he hadn't yet been to bed. 

@Atrice @Chevi @Sharpie @Sains

[Chevi]

While they waited in the anteroom, Lucius found himself a chair to sit. It felt like he had been awake for days (the bleeding probably didn't help either). He did stand up, however, when Tiberius made an appearance, followed by Jason. He looked like he had been very much asleep a few moments ago.

"Sorry for disturbing you this early, domine, but you need to hear this." he said, glancing at the others, then back at Tiberius. The young imperial had told him to come to him whenever he found out something important. This was definitely important. "We apprehended... well, Alexius helped apprehend the man who'd killed the senator yesterday. We just took him to the Tullianum."

@Atrice @Sarah @Sharpie @Sains

[Sharpie]

"Jason, it's the middle of the night."

"I know, I know, but it's important. I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't, Domine, I swear."

He stepped back as Tiberius rolled over and sat up, going from sleepy to alert in an instant.

"There's no danger to anyone, Domine," Jason said, setting the lamp down and lacing Tiberius' sandals before finding a cloak; they absolutely did not have the time it would take to get Tiberius into a toga. "We - they - want your help to see justice done."

At least Tiberius had roused quickly enough. Jason was well aware that he had probably used up whatever stock of goodwill Tiberius had for him since their ride and the slightly awkward conversation it had engendered. He hadn't felt quite as comfortable around his master after that as he had before, which wasn't anyone's fault, not really.

"There are three people waiting to speak with you - I don't know if you know Alexius. I don't think I know his other names," he added, suddenly aware through the bone-deep tiredness that was setting in that Tiberius might not appreciate being faced with three men with no warning. Especially if he was awake just because he thought there was some sort of danger facing him.

 

@Atrice @Sains @Sarah @Chevi

Edited June 7, 2022 by Sharpie

[Atrice]

While they stood there waiting, he tried to recall what else he knew about Tiberius, but Jason had not really talked about him much. It wasn't really something they talked about when they discussed catching the attacker, that was now caught. But of course he knew! This was maybe why Alexius never really thought he should do the thinking, when plans were being made, because he wasn't good at it. Of course, the night they went out to find Jason for the first time, he and Lucius went to the palace! So he did know that Tiberius was a big deal in Rome. It was just never of importance to him before, but now it was. Very much so! 

At last Jason appeared again, with the young Tiberius in tow. Could almost be Lexus' age, Alexius thought to himself. It would be good for his son to know people in higher circles. Maybe he should see if something could be done about that. But for now, he stood still, waiting to see what would happen next. Lucius had found a chair to sit in, while Decimus and Alexius remained on their feet. But then Tiberius did arrive and Lucius stood and did the talking, explaining why they were here. Alexius wasn't sure if he should do any kind of talking here, if he was required to do so. He'd never spoken to a prince before. He decided it was best to just wait with speaking until someone spoke to him.

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[Sains]

And there he was. Tiberius looked about as pleased to see them as they were to be here, but at least it seemed he was willing to hear them out. Years of drill and protocol had taught Decimus better than to speak to a superior, especially an Imperial, before he was spoken to and he was happy that Roscianus was taking the lead in talking to the prince. If Tiberius had any questions, they would be answered, but that's all they could really do. There was no real point in butting in and possibly mucking up the story as someone else told it. At any rate he saw himself as the conduit by which any information intended for the prefect of the guard would travel. He doubted that anything grandiose like martial law or the rounding up of citizens would happen though, they'd already caught the bloody fool anyways. 

And so, with little to do otherwise, Decimus stood to attention and listened to Roscianus and Tiberius.

 

@Sarah@Chevi@Sharpie@Atrice

[Sarah]

Tiberius listened to his body slave as Jason laced his sandles, trying to wake up properly and piece together what he was being told. That it was important he accepted implicitly, trusting that Jason would not wake him for less. Important, but no one was in danger. But justice was needed. And there was a third person, one Alexius. It wasn't a common name, but it didn't ring any bells. Tiberius shook his head when Jason asked if he knew the man. Should he? Well, he'd know soon enough. 

"This sounds complicated. I'll see what they have to say." He said simply, as Jason finished draping the thick wool cloak about his shoulders, then followed him out. 

Sure enough, there were three men waiting in the anteroom, and just for a moment Tiberius had the thought that if anyone wanted to kill him, this would be the way to do it. Bribe Jason - who admitedly he didn't think was all that bribable - to let them in and ambush him like this. But the thought passed in an instant; Roscianus he knew, Atellus wore a Praetorian's cloak, and the third had to be this Alexius. He was a big man and looked dangerous enough, but he kept good company. Certainly they made a formidable trio, in whose company the slightly built and somewhat touselled Imperial was probably rather underwhelming. 

"What is it I need to hear?" He asked bluntly, getting straight to the point. He should be able to trust the judgement of at least two of the three in front of him; the third was an unknown. 

Roscianus seemed to nominate himself spokesperson, apologising for waking him and beginning his explanation. 

We apprehended... well, Alexius helped apprehend the man who'd killed the senator yesterday. We just took him to the Tullianum.

That explained the presence of this Alexius. Tiberius met the man's gaze and nodded slightly in acknowledgement, before focusing on Lucius again.

"Sempronius Atratinus's killer." He recalled hearing of the man's rather gruesome death. "Well done. I assume there's a reason you can't simply present the evidence against him to the magistrate in the morning?" He suggested. It was of course an excellent thing that the killer was no longer on the street, assuming that this was indeed the man sought, but did it really warrant waking Tiberius to hear the news? There had to be something else, something that complicated the situation, else these three should be celebrating as heroes in a taberna. 

@Sains @Chevi @Sharpie @Atrice

[Chevi]

Tiberius looked about as awake as a man in his situation would be. Lucius did not want to rush through his speech; he had been thinking about how best to present the whole issue to the young imperial. He needed to be careful, but also stress the importance of keeping the killer under lock and key, and making sure he died a horrible death.

Tiberius' question made sense.

"There is" Lucius nodded, glancing at the others before he continued. "We have been hunting for this man... for weeks now. He made a mistake when he killed a senator. But before that, he has been hurting and killing people... mostly women... for years. We know, because we have met several of his victims. He cuts them... enjoys the sight of blood." Lucius frowned in disgust. "This man is a monster. But some of his victims would suffer greatly if their name came to light. It's... a delicate matter."

 @Sains @Atrice @Sarah @Sharpie

[Sharpie]

Tiberius hadn't realised that Jason was part of the group of investigators - how could he, really, when Jason hadn't mentioned it, hadn't needed to? He was involved on the behalf of a slave, after all, and nobody important had stirred themselves until the maniac had hurt a patrician or two. And of course now that a senator was dead...

He scowled at the patrician from behind Tiberius' shoulder. Surely, surely, he could come up with a better, more reasoned, more detailed report than that? That was not going to make Tiberius see why he should be involved in all this.

And of course, in this situation, Jason was a slave, just a slave. He knew the other investigators knew that, but neither Alexius nor Vipsanius Roscius (or whatever his name was) had seen him actually serving as a slave. It was an unexpectedly uncomfortable feeling.

"Domine," he said, trying to sound respectful despite inserting himself into a conversation the Tiberius did not know he should be part of. "This man has been hurting people all over Rome for more than a year and some have died. People of all levels of society. And some whose reputations would be ruined if their identities were known. This man needs to die, and to be seen to die."

They could not produce witnesses to his crimes whose reputations would survive the trial if they had to testify publicly. He supposed Didia's might, and the Praetorian's girl, and possibly Minthia from the night the senator was killed. If she would be able to testify, that was. One of the dead victims was Azarion's friend Lucia Safinia, and although Jason had never met her, he was determined to do what he could for her memory, for Azarion's sake.

 

@Atrice @Sains @Sarah @Chevi

[Atrice]

Alexius took note of the odd look he thought Tiberius gave him, but remained still, just as Decimus did. They didn't have much to say right now, after all and Lucius easily began talking, as he did. He was good at that, talking. Alexius knew that sometimes it was better if he just shut up, he was better at showing rather than telling anyway. But when Lucius explained why they were here and that Alexius helped apprehend the attacker and killer, Tiberius looked up at him and gave him a nod. Alexius gave a nod back, acknowledging his acknowledgment... but Tiberius was still puzzled about their reason for being here. Lucius went on, said they'd hunted the man for weeks and that he'd hurt and killed other people. He even explained it in more detail and Alexius wrinkled his nose, asking himself why on Earth he didn't twist that man's neck when he had the chance. But no, killing him like that was being too merciful to him. 

Jason barged into the conversation then, explained to his master for how long the attacker had been hurting people and that some of the people he hurt would have their reputations ruined. Alexius could only agree with what was said. He inhaled a breath, but wasn't sure he could tell that the man didn't just need to die, but he needed to die painfully, in a diplomatic way suited for an Imperial like Tiberius. So he remained quiet.

@Sarah@Sains @Sharpie @Chevi

[Sains]

For a moment, Decimus thought about being a fool and raising his own voice, and he might well have done if Jason hadn't already decided to vocalize why they had come before the Imperial. As far as any would be concerned, it would probably be a fairly easy case to prove. There were eye witnesses to him making an attack upon innocent people at the very least, and though it would be nearly impossible to conclusively prove that the man had committed the murders without a confession, the word of several trusted citizens would help to ensure his death. But if it were only their cries for justice then the man might simply get away with a quick death that satisfied no one. Tiberius, hopefully, could ensure that the man died in some unique and excruciating way that the entire empire could hear of.  

But he assumed that the young master would grasp that soon enough between the points raised by Roscianus and Jason. For his part he simply needed to stand and watch, much like Alexius. Honestly his night was probably not over by a longshot. The Castra would need to be informed, and he doubted the louts at the Tullianum would take the time out of their night. They were probably just surprised they'd had to rise from their seats for five minutes to take the man of their hands...

 

@Sarah@Chevi@Sharpie@Atrice

[Sarah]

That Atratinus's killer had been captured was excellent news, these men were heroes, but Tiberius queried why they felt the news couldn't wait until morning. That is, until the sun came up. He suspected it was already technically morning; so late that it was early. Roscianus went on to provide more background, explaining that the man had a history of killing and injuring people, particularly woman, and some sick fascination with the sight of blood. Well, all the better that he was locked away. Then came the 'but', some of the man's victims did not want their names known. That made things more complicated. If there were no willing witnesses, it would be difficult to see justice done. Had the man lured women away, that they might be suspected of adultery or some such? It was too late at night for this. Early. Whatever. 

"Surely you have some willing witnesses though? How do you know this is the man who killed Atratinus?" If they had a positive identification on the man, that meant that someone had witnessed the killing and lived to tell the tale. If they didn't, then there was no guarantee that they had the right man. 

Jason interjected, something Tiberius was more than willing to forgive if he had something useful to say, and from what he said it became plain that his bodyslave had been involved, at least somewhat, in the man's capture as well. He did give him some freedoms, but joining the vigiles on a manhunt wasn't quite what he anticipated Jason would do with his spare time. This man needs to die, and to be seen to die.

Tiberius glanced over his shoulder at his slave, then back at the other three. "What you're saying is that you want a public execution." He surmised. Yes, he could order it. It was within his power as an Imperial, but Tiberius understood history, and the dangers of taking the law into one's own hands. 

Taking a seat on one of the chairs in the room, Tiberius gestured wordlessly that the other men should make themselves comfortable too. "You may not be aware, but during my time in the vigintiviri I served as a decemviri stlitibus judicandis." Which was one of the magistrates responsible for judging cases. He could have asked for one of the positions associated with the minting of coins or religious duties, arguably easier and perhaps more prestigious, but he was far more interested in law. "Every Roman citizen has the right to a fair trial - I'm assuming he is a citizen?" He asked suddenly, favouring Roscianus with a questioning look. Then he went on. "Assuming that he is not of Senatorial rank, and a magistrate finds him guilty of the murder and the attacks, then given that Atratinus was a Senator, execution would be appropriate." Murder, where the victim was of the same or lower status as the guilty party, was usually punished by fines and/or exile. "In which case, the upcoming Cerealia games would be an appropriate venue." 

Something involving wild animals, perhaps. 

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[Chevi]

Jason reiterated what Lucius was trying to convey. It was way too late in the night to observe most etiquette, this among them, and also Jason had been involved with the investigation. He had a right to speak up. Tiberius was slowly catching up to the entirety of the issue as they all took a seat to discuss it further.

"Surely you have some willing witnesses though? How do you know this is the man who killed Atratinus?" 

"That part is complicated." Lucius frowned. The women who had seen him wouldn't talk; the girl who'd been there at the death of the senator was the only one they could maybe convince. The others could talk about the other attacks, but not this one. And Azarion... was a slave. His testimony didn't count without torture.

"What you're saying is that you want a public execution." 

Lucius nodded. It was just not easy to get to that decision with the witnesses they were working with...

"You may not be aware, but during my time in the vigintiviri I served as a decemviri stlitibus judicandis. Every Roman citizen has the right to a fair trial - I'm assuming he is a citizen?"

"He probably is. But we don't know much about him yet" Lucius frowned. They had dragged the man half-unconscious to the Tullianum, after all. Lucius was glad Tiberius had knowledge of the law. Even if it was going to make everything way more complicated.

"Assuming that he is not of Senatorial rank, and a magistrate finds him guilty of the murder and the attacks, then given that Atratinus was a Senator, execution would be appropriate. In which case, the upcoming Cerealia games would be an appropriate venue." 

Lucius nodded again. There was a chance the killer would get what he deserved. 

"We wanted to talk to you to make sure he is punished properly." he said, glancing at the others. "There is a girl who was attacked, the senator died because he intervened to help her. There are other women too, but they won't come forward. If their names are made public during a trial... if that man names them, I don't have to tell you how bad that would be for them, and their families. And others, who know his face, are not free. And their testimony wouldn't count unless they are tortured." Lucius frowned. He was not going to let that happen to anyone. "We all know how many people he's hurt, and how many horrible things he's done. But we also know that not all of those things have equal weight by law. And some can never be proven. But you need to know, that man in a monster."

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[Sharpie]

Tiberius sat down and indicated that the others should sit, too. Jason wasn't sure whether that included him too - being the only slave in a room of free people meant it probably didn't, but he was part of this whole thing. He opted to remain standing, but leant against the wall both because he was suddenly aware that he was bone-tired and because this whole thing was about as informal as gatherings could get.

No gathering of the ragtag investigators had been formal, why should that change now they had a prince involved?

"I don't know how we can prove this man was involved in all of these cases, he's been very clever about it," he said, once he was sure he wasn't about to interrupt a free person. "There was a plebeian girl outside the White stables last year - she died. There was a slave there more recently, who survived but, he's a slave." He took a breath. "And he can't talk anyway, and I'm the only person in Rome who can interpret the signs he uses." And I won't help anyone torture him, he added, to himself. "There are... some higher-class ladies, who won't come forward because of the damage to their reputations if it got out. The plebeian girl who was attacked the night the Senator was killed might come forward, maybe, but she's gone to Ostia because she doesn't feel safe here any more. And there are the two plebeian girls who were there this evening - one of them was attacked before, but I'm not sure if she saw his face. And there are the girls at the Elysium but, again, they're slaves."

"I pulled a knife on his balls... You didn't hear that." The memory of the Roman girl's fierceness still made him smile. He wished she had cut his balls off - at least then, they could prove the man they'd caught was the one who'd gone for her.

He glanced at Tiberius and realised he'd probably said far too much, and shut up. None of them were likely to appreciate a slave butting in like this.

Oh well, it had been said now. Too late to take it back. He'd have to take the consequences later - if there were going to be consequences, and it would be best if he assumed that there would be.

 

@Sains @Atrice @Sarah @Chevi

[Atrice]

Alexius stood still like a guard and hadn’t said a word yet, much like Decimus. He didn’t know Decimus very well yet, he more often ran into Aia, but he thought he might get along with Decimus. They both knew when to shut up, it would seem. Instead he listened. He had always been a good listener. Tiberius wondered how they knew this was the one who killed the Senator. Well because of their little… team. Theo was there to investigate the corpse. He saw some familiar signs. Tiberius then mused about the execution of the man and spoke of a trial. A fucking trial was more than he deserved! Alexius’ fingers curled into fists and uncurled again, as they were all invited to sit and he sat awkwardly on one of the fine chairs.

 Lucius spoke more of those who were attacked before, and who might speak during a trial. Alexius tried to think it all through. Ovinia and Pinaria would not speak up, he was sure. Azarion couldn’t. Didia might, but wouldn’t that still ruin her too? On the other hand, did she even care? Aia might say something too. And what about the girls at the Elysium? But they were slaves, as Jason pointed out. He had a soft spot for them, didn’t want them tortured. Alexius understood. Yet an idea came to his mind, even if it also involved slaves…

 Alexius cleared his throat to get their attention, he had not spoken yet, after all… “Forgive my intrusion here, but if we need witnesses to what he’s done. And what he’s like…” Alexius paused, feeling kind of awkward with their attention, although attention usually wasn’t a new thing for him. But this was different. Tiberius was related to fucking Caesar! “Anyway, we need to learn his name. We suspect he may be a barber. Maybe he has slaves of his own? They must know something.” He felt sorry for said slaves, it couldn’t be easy living with a master like that, who enjoyed hurting people and touching open wounds. And if they were going to confess anything, it would under torture. At least to their advantage, they were used to it? Gods this case was too foul already, was torture really necessary? Stupid Roman laws! 

@Sarah @Sains @Chevi @Sharpie

[Sarah]

The issue, it seemed, was not a lack of witnesses but a lack of a witness who could and would easily testify. "The witnesses I must leave to you." He said firmly, blue gaze on Roscianus. "An attack on a lady's persona is as grave as an attack on her person, but if his victims were mostly women then that deprives you of a great proportion of your witnesses." Was that what the man did, prey on women in the knowledge that they would not risk the damage to their reputation of appearing at court and coming under fire? Certainly that would be an easy way to conceal his activities. "Obviously it would be preferable to avoid torturing anyone unless absolutely necessary." Plus he was pretty certain that the slave who couldn't talk which Jason mentioned was his cousin. He was the only one that Tiberius knew who used hand signs only Jason could interpret. "Even Caesar Augustus, himself a great lawmaker, held that interrogation of slaves should be a last resort."

Alexius spoke up with his own suggestion, but Tiberius shook his head. "A slave cannot be compelled to testify against his master." He said simply. That was already covered by law. "The risk of false testimony is too high." Which was a shame as it would also be an easy answer.

He needed to think. He understood what they wanted, and he wasn't certain that he could give it to them. "I know what you want, but if I condemn the man based solely on your reports, then I become a tyrant." He tried to explain. "And what I do reflects on Titus Augustus. History shows us that the Empire does not need tyrants." Nor indeed take kindly to them. Of that he was quite certain. "Our system of courts and magistrates exists for good reason." It might not be a perfect system, but it was better than the alternative. "At the same time, if this man is the killer that you believe, then it is in Rome's interests that he not gain his freedom." And therein lay the difficulty. 

"If you can prove either that he killed Atratinus, or that he is responsible for multiple attacks, that would be enough to condemn him. You would not need to prove every attack." He looked at Roscianus. Did they have enough witnesses prepared to come forward to prove one or the other? He looked questioningly at the vigile.

Tiberius would be more than happy to arrange the punishment once the man was condemned. 

@Atrice @Sains @Chevi @Sharpie

[Chevi]

Lucius sighed. He knew this was not going to be that easy. Ne could not let the others down; all the victims, all their loved ones. If this trial went sideways because of the law, and the man lived, he would never forgive himself. And Ovinia probably would never forgive him either. He ran over the list of people involved over and over again in his head. Jason and Alexius both made good points.

"So... if we can bring back the woman who can testify about him killing Senator Atratinus, that's one" he said finally, thinking out loud. "She's plebeian, she doesn't need to be tortured. And... we can maybe get the two women he attacked tonight to come forward?" He glanced at Decimus - one of the women was his... wife? Or something. Lucius kept thinking. "Would it help if the owner of the Elysium testified about the slaves that work for him being hurt? To show the man had a... tendency to do this? Or if one of us testified for the noblewomen we talked to?" He really was not sure how much faith the court would put into such things. But it was something. He looked away from Tiberius, to Alexius. "And we could find out who he is, to see if more victims would come forward at the news of his arrest." He looked back at the young imperial. "How much do we need to make sure he dies?"

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[Sarah]

Tiberius listened as Roscianus thought the situation through, listing potential witnesses they might be able to bring forward, each with their own pros and cons.,

How much do we need to make sure he dies?

The question was both complex and simple. "If the woman who witnessed him kill Atratinus will testify, and if he is not himself a Senator, that alone will be enough to condemn him to death." Tiberius said somberly. Whilst killing a member of one's own class usually results in fines, killing a member of a higher class was dealt with more severely, and a senator second only to an Imperial (and all after Caesar, of course). "If she won't, then those women from tonight, another witness from a different attack, plus perhaps the owner of the Elysium, would certainly build a strong case that the man is a danger to Rome's citizens." If he serially attacked, even killed, others, then he clearly could not be released.

Tiberius fervently hoped that one or other case would be able to be made. But if not... the three men before him seemed convinced of this man's danger, as for some reason did Jason. Tiberius didn't want him walking around Rome any more than they did. "If you cannot find sufficient witnesses who will speak before a magistrate, then find one who will speak before me." He said at last, though he obviously didn't relish the thought. "I understand that many women will not wish to testify, but if this man is the monster you claim then we cannot have him roaming Rome. Have one testify to me, and I will... deal with him." The young Imperial promised, though his expression looked like he'd sucked a lemon. 

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Edited September 19, 2022 by Sarah

[Sharpie]

Jason was overtaken by a yawn and had to turn his head away, raising his arm so the crook of his elbow muffled any sound that escaped though he fought to remain silent. Possibly the only person who got up earlier than him was the vigilis; he had been awake for more than a full day by now and could not expect to be allowed to get any sleep until after sunset today. Such was the life of a slave; he knew from experience that he just had to get through the next hour or so and he'd get a second wind. In the meantime...

"I think the chief -" he corrected himself; he'd used the Sarmatian word in his tiredness and because it had been the sign Azarion had used to him "-the head, of the Whites' racing faction might testify, Domine. There were two attacks on his people and the first one got a plebeian girl killed. I think he saw her body, he'd be able to describe everything. That might show a pattern?"

Although he hadn't seen the bastard's face; Azarion had and couldn't describe it, and was a slave anyway. Whichever way you skinned it, they kept coming back to having Ovinia or the other high-class lady talk to his master.

 

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