Dinah hadn't yet met Geddys -- in the normal course of events, with a less complex and spectacular trial, she might not ever meet a particular defendant -- but she fully intended to soon.  All the evidence seemed to point straight to his guilt, but she wanted to be sure.  In that respect, she felt sorry for her mortal colleagues.  They were forced to rely on testimony and lab work, and except in unusual circumstances, they could not quite feel the same certainty of guilt or innocence that she could.  It seemed to her that the uncertainty must be maddening, but then, they would never have known any other way.<br/><br/>Certainly someone had traumatized these young people.  The pain in all these statements was palpable -- one didn't need any angelic insight to know they'd all experienced something awful -- and merely reading the plain printed words was almost too much to take.  Their testimony in court might tear the city apart -- and possibly also lead to Geddys himself being torn limb from limb.<br/><br/>"Well, for what it's worth, I think Dr. Childs really does want to testify," she mused, setting aside the stack of papers.  "The rest is down to the judge, as usual."  That was perhaps the worst part of the job -- arguing for all you were worth, then waiting anxiously for a ruling that might just as easily fall in the wrong direction.<br/><br/>"Is Geddys still planning on taking the stand?" she asked.  Most defense lawyers didn't like clients taking the stand, but here it was less of a gamble than it often was.  The man was attractive, intelligent, and well-spoken, and if he was also convincing enough, he might create some reasonable doubt all by himself.<br/><br/>At a glance, there would seem to be no contest between the word of one man and the sworn statements of so many victims; but she knew what could happen there.  Some students would be too afraid or ashamed to testify; others would be forbidden by their parents; others might become easily flustered on the stand and contradict themselves.  Some would be disbarred from testifying by various defense motions.  Of these 60+ stories, no more than a handful would ever be heard by the jury, most likely.  Those would have to be enough.<br/><br/>"These kids will be upset enough just with him in the same room.  I hate to think how they'll feel, listening to him call them liars or lunatics."  She sighed, settling back a little in the chair, trying to relax in spite of the tension of preparation for such a trial.