→ Later 1:50pm

A lot of excellent happenings + settings, not to mention gastronomical explorations on this lunch hour. But first things first. 

I thought the whole trial was collapsing like a house of cards earlier. Not long after we were led into the courtroom, Mr. Shahini announced + admitted that he was previously aware of these two alleged perps due to complaints in the neighborhood; that is, store owners + potential customers announcing concerns + fears + and apparent anger due to threats (?) or even encounters w/young thugs in the neighborhood. Both attorneys were up and waving, the courtroom was cleared, it seemed that with this revelation of (accusatory) motive a vast change had shifted, and that would be it. But no! Within a few minutes we were back in the courtroom and the examination continued more or less where it left off. With final cross by defense, the intensity was escalated. First Frankel and then Dwyer really pressing Shahini with discrepancies etc. He’s held fairly firm, I give him credit there: not buckling at all but somewhat hindered + weakened by his own linguistic difficulties as well as his adamant + slightly fanatical eastern mindset.

For example:

Frankel: So you only saw them on the weekends?
Shahini: Mostly
F: Sometimes you saw them on weekdays?
S: No
F: So you don’t mean mostly, you mean always…
S: Mostly. 99% of time.
F: So, 1% of time you saw them on weekdays?
S: No.
F: But, then…

And on like this, hindered by a basic cerebral, logical glitch. Now I head back for the final act!