Sjá nánar

25.5.2009

ACT 17

http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/sso-midnight-once%20again.mp3

John was finishing up the organization of the case. Violet had followed its progress from the start, and the more time that passed, the more convinced she was that her father should be made to answer charges.

Down at the Reykjavik Iron Smithy a place was already prepared for Speedy Simon's trial. It was in a rear building behind the forge. A room had been furnished there where the case of the defendant would be heard. There was another smaller room where the defendant would stay. Speedy Simon had been placed there earlier in the day, and he was kept under strict detention by two men hired by John. It came as somewhat of a surprise that the defendant offered no resistance. He knew something was up. He feared most that he would be formally charged, although he clung to the hope that it would be possible to resolve the matter within the family. A while ago, Violet had called her father and told him that she and John, along with a few of their friends, had decided that he be made to answer charges. And when two men drove up to his house, he did not resist, but walked out to the car of his own free will. Violet also spoke to her mother, Gudrun Rose, and told her what was happening.

It was precisely seven when the defendant entered the court. He was shown to a chair. Across from him sat the self-appointed family inquisition and their closest friends, three men and five women. On the inquisition sat the defendant's daughter, Violet; his son-in-law, John; Director Stein; Solla friend, Violet's life-long friend, who had often played with Violet in her home. There were also Kalli Sandfeldt and Didi Stina, Bertha and Rev. Pauline, all close family friends. Speedy Simon knew them all, and now he sat awaiting whatever would come.

Rev. Pauline had a written speech. After a few formal words of introduction, she turned to the matter at hand: "You are accused of having inflicted on Steina, your seven-year-old grand child, sexual violence. According to your daughter, Violet, who is also the child's mother, you have admitted your offense. Violet has also reported that you have inflicted sexual violence on her when she was ten. Before we proceed, I will ask Violet to describe this occurrence."

Rev. Pauline sat down, and Violet stood up: "I was ten when this happened, as has been said. I was returning home from the countryside after being there for the summer. I went to see Dad in the company shop. He said that I had matured. Then he came over to me, embraced me and gave me a French kiss, pushing his tongue into my mouth. I couldn't get away because he held me tight. Then he started to feel me up, stroke my breasts and buttocks. Then he pushed me up on the desk and was going to peel my skirt off. Fortunately I was wearing an ankle-length, tight skirt that made this difficult. When he bent down and had lifted the skirt up to my knees, I kicked him so he fell to the floor. That was enough. I didn't even have to run out. After that he left me alone."

Speedy Simon listened to his daughter's narrative, but it was not possible to see any change in his expression. Rev. Pauline was now standing and asked the defendant some questions:

"Do you admit that this is an accurate account?"

"Yes."

"Was it your plan to have sex with your daughter who was only ten at the time?"

"I remember that she had a strong sexual effect on me, the way she was dressed. I don't know if I would have gone so far."

"If she had given in and submitted to you, would you have wanted to have sex with her?"

"As matters stand now, I see no reason to make excuses for my behavior. Yes, I would certainly have gone all the way; you can count on it."

"Now I want to turn to Steina. Was it your plan to have sex with her?"

"No, not at all."

"Now, it's come out that you used similar tactics on her as you used on Violet. In fact, it's obvious that you had gotten much farther with Steina. You held her tight and French-kissed her, pushing your tongue in. Isn't that so?"

The defendant remained silent and, for the first time, seemed to be in trouble.

"Please answer the question. Isn't it so that you held her tight and French-kissed her, pushing your tongue in?"

"Yes, it's true, but only for a very short time."

"Is it true, as has been said, that you and the child were on the bed, that you stroked her body and pushed your finger into her genitals?"

"We sat on the bed, and I was fooling around with her."

"You laid her on her back and pushed your finger into her genitals, kissing her as we spoke of before and you admitted."

"I barely touched her."

"Steina says that you pushed your finger into her genitals."

"I wouldn't call it that. At least that wasn't my intent."

"Do you think it's normal for a father to act the way you have with his daughter and grand child.?"

"No, it isn't normal."

"Do you realize the damage children can suffer when they are sexually abused by their father or grandfather?"

"Yes, I realize it."

"How, then, do you explain your behavior?"

"I don't know precisely what this is. Certainly you could call it various things. I say that it is a disease. This is a passion that I can't control. Perhaps it's like alcoholism."

"Do you regret having acted this way with Violet when she was ten and then repeating the behavior over 25 years later with Steina, who was only seven? Doesn't your conscience bother you?"

"I know you find it hard to understand. Of course, I regret it. On the other hand, I'm not sure that this is as serious as you are implying."

"How do you think it would be if all fathers acted this way with their children?"

"I've already said that this is a disease, that I can't control it. Of course it would have an impact if all fathers were afflicted with this disease."

"Could we call this mental illness?"

"As far as I'm concerned. You can call it anything you like."

"Of course you know that this offense of yours is against the law."

"Yes, I know it."

"Do you think it normal that you be formally accused and judged?"

"I am not sure that a formal charge and public investigation of the case would be a solution, I mean concerning the family. I would regard it as a most sensible course to resolve the matter within the family if possible. I am prepared to make amends for my offense and be punished if you believe that it would serve some purpose."

"What punishment do you deem appropriate?"

"If Violet and others in the family take time to consider this case, I fully trust them to decide what an appropriate punishment."

"Testimony has been given that you have sexually abused your oldest daughter, Edith."

"What testimony?"

"I want you to answer whether it is so that you have sexually abused her."

"I think it's irrelevant to drag Edith into this case after all this time. She became a drunkard at a young age. I was especially fond of Edith. She was the apple of my eye. I believe that she was a very unhappy, little person."

"Do you think you played some part in that?"

"No doubt."

"You say that your sexual behavior is a disease, a passion over which you have no control. Will you try to convince us that this diseased passion was not also directed toward Edith?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Would you prefer that we bring on witnesses and do this the hard way?"

"If it will shorten this interrogation, then I can admit that Edith and I had our moments together. I think that she is, in fact, the only person who has ever loved me."

"It's correct, then, that you have been with her sexually?"

"If I don't have to go into details, I'll answer the question."

"We won't go into details."

"Edith trusted me fully. She was very fond of her Dad and did everything for me." He found it difficult to speak: "Then, she left to be with guys and went off the track." He was silent for a moment, then continued: "Yes, I could have done better by her, but it's over and can't be undone."

Rev. Pauline looked to her left and right at the people sitting at the table with her: "Do you have some questions for Simon Sörenson?" No question was asked.

"Then, I'm going to ask you, Simon, to go into the side room while we confer."

Speedy Simon went into the side room, as asked, and the men who guarded him, the court's bailiffs, accompanied him. Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would recess until the next evening, and that Speedy Simon would stay in the side room until then.

ACT 17

ACT 17

http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/sso-midnight-once%20again.mp3 John was finishing up the organization of the case. Violet had followed its progress from the start, and the more time that passed, the more convinced she was that her father should be made to answer charges.

Speedy Simon listened to his daughter's narrative, but it was not possible to see any change in his expression. Rev. Pauline was now standing and asked the defendant some questions:

"Do you admit that this is an accurate account?"

"Yes."

"Was it your plan to have sex with your daughter who was only ten at the time?"

"I remember that she had a strong sexual effect on me, the way she was dressed. I don't know if I would have gone so far."

"If she had given in and submitted to you, would you have wanted to have sex with her?"

"As matters stand now, I see no reason to make excuses for my behavior. Yes, I would certainly have gone all the way; you can count on it."

"Now I want to turn to Steina. Was it your plan to have sex with her?"

"No, not at all."

"Now, it's come out that you used similar tactics on her as you used on Violet. In fact, it's obvious that you had gotten much farther with Steina. You held her tight and French-kissed her, pushing your tongue in. Isn't that so?"

The defendant remained silent and, for the first time, seemed to be in trouble.

"Please answer the question. Isn't it so that you held her tight and French-kissed her, pushing your tongue in?"

"Yes, it's true, but only for a very short time."

"Is it true, as has been said, that you and the child were on the bed, that you stroked her body and pushed your finger into her genitals?"

"We sat on the bed, and I was fooling around with her."

"You laid her on her back and pushed your finger into her genitals, kissing her as we spoke of before and you admitted."

"I barely touched her."

"Steina says that you pushed your finger into her genitals."

"I wouldn't call it that. At least that wasn't my intent."

"Do you think it's normal for a father to act the way you have with his daughter and grand child.?"

"No, it isn't normal."

"Do you realize the damage children can suffer when they are sexually abused by their father or grandfather?"

"Yes, I realize it."

"How, then, do you explain your behavior?"

"I don't know precisely what this is. Certainly you could call it various things. I say that it is a disease. This is a passion that I can't control. Perhaps it's like alcoholism."

"Do you regret having acted this way with Violet when she was ten and then repeating the behavior over 25 years later with Steina, who was only seven? Doesn't your conscience bother you?"

"I know you find it hard to understand. Of course, I regret it. On the other hand, I'm not sure that this is as serious as you are implying."

"How do you think it would be if all fathers acted this way with their children?"

"I've already said that this is a disease, that I can't control it. Of course it would have an impact if all fathers were afflicted with this disease."

"Could we call this mental illness?"

"As far as I'm concerned. You can call it anything you like."

"Of course you know that this offense of yours is against the law."

"Yes, I know it."

"Do you think it normal that you be formally accused and judged?"

"What punishment do you deem appropriate?"

"If Violet and others in the family take time to consider this case, I fully trust them to decide what an appropriate punishment."

"Testimony has been given that you have sexually abused your oldest daughter, Edith."

"What testimony?"

"I want you to answer whether it is so that you have sexually abused her."

"I think it's irrelevant to drag Edith into this case after all this time. She became a drunkard at a young age. I was especially fond of Edith. She was the apple of my eye. I believe that she was a very unhappy, little person."

"Do you think you played some part in that?"

"No doubt."

"You say that your sexual behavior is a disease, a passion over which you have no control. Will you try to convince us that this diseased passion was not also directed toward Edith?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Would you prefer that we bring on witnesses and do this the hard way?"

"If it will shorten this interrogation, then I can admit that Edith and I had our moments together. I think that she is, in fact, the only person who has ever loved me."

"It's correct, then, that you have been with her sexually?"

"If I don't have to go into details, I'll answer the question."

"We won't go into details."

"Edith trusted me fully. She was very fond of her Dad and did everything for me." He found it difficult to speak: "Then, she left to be with guys and went off the track." He was silent for a moment, then continued: "Yes, I could have done better by her, but it's over and can't be undone."

Rev. Pauline looked to her left and right at the people sitting at the table with her: "Do you have some questions for Simon Sörenson?" No question was asked.

"Then, I'm going to ask you, Simon, to go into the side room while we confer."

Speedy Simon went into the side room, as asked, and the men who guarded him, the court's bailiffs, accompanied him. Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would recess until the next evening, and that Speedy Simon would stay in the side room until then.

http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/sso-midnight-once%20again.mp3

John was finishing up the organization of the case. Violet had followed its progress from the start, and the more time that passed, the more convinced she was that her father should be made to answer charges.