Brian Keller's cross-examination was dangerous, on one hand, Paul can't let Brian's testimony stand unchallenged, but if he pushed too hard, he risks making Tyler look guilty and manipulative. And with his double outbursts, he was already on very thin ice. His goal is to undermine Brian's credibility, hint at bribery, contradictions, and exaggeration, while circling back to the insanity defense.
"I lost the phone, it's not this one I'm holding right now." Brian replied
"Brian Keller, you're telling me right now that the original text is no longer in your possession?" Paul followed up immediately.
"No,"
"When did you lose this phone, before or after you submitted it to the FBI?"
"After…"
"Did they even give the phone back to you?"
"They did,"
"Before I stood to cross examine you, I took the liberty of looking through your Instagram profile, and as I scrolled through your page, I saw this picture dated March 16, in it you have this exact phone you are holding right now in your hand," Paul took out his phone with the picture already on his screen and showed it to the judge, then to the audience, " so tell me again when you lost this phone Mr. Keller!"
"Umm…" Brian paused to think, avoiding contact with Paul's boring eyes like it was the plague, "I bought the same model…"
"You bought the same model, the same color and even the same blemishes, How do we trust this your honor?" Paul said walking to the judge, "I ask that you strike this alleged text message from evidence, since there is no way to prove that the print out is genuine."
"Objection!" Rafael yelled out, "The printout was gotten directly from the FBI, it is genuine and our forensic analyst will prove that to be true."
"In an AI driven world where it's almost impossible to distinguish between fake images and the real, you want me to trust evidence from a phone he so coincidentally lost just before the trial, a phone he has used for years, an importance piece of evidence."
"Objection sustained, if you are saying that the documents are fake, bring a forensic expert that will legitimate your claim Mr. Goodman, until then, the chat logs will not be removed from evidence," Judge Graff ordered, "you can continue with your cross examination."
Paul sighed, then he turned his attention back to Brian, "In that same breath, you claim he told you not to talk to the police. Correct?"
"…Yes." Brian replied
Paul tapped the folder Barra had shown earlier, "All these are really serious admissions, Mr. Keller. Yet you didn't go to the police immediately, did you? You didn't rush to authorities with this supposed confession."
Brian's throat worked, "No. I… I was afraid."
Paul leaned forward slightly, voice tightening, "Afraid? Or did it take time before you decided which story you wanted to tell?"
"Objection! Counsel is badgering the witness." Barra yelled out
"Sustained. Mr. Goodman, rephrase." Judge Graff
Paul nodded, not breaking stride, "Mr. Keller, when you gave your first statement to police, you did not mention being Tyler's lover, did you?"
"…No."
"You added that later."
"…Yes."
Paul turned slightly toward the judge, letting the words settle like dust, "Now. One final question, Mr. Keller. You said Tyler confessed to you. In your experience, is that rational behavior? To commit the most public murder in the nation… and then put your guilt into a text message? For anyone to read? For the police to seize?"
"…No. It doesn't make sense."
Paul's voice softened again, almost weary, "No further questions, Your Honor."
He returned to his table, leaving the suggestion hanging in the air: Even though he couldn't get the chat logs struck out, at least he had shown that Brian Keller was unreliable, his story kept shifting, and that Tyler Robinson wasn't a mastermind, but a reckless, unstable young man acting without reason.
The gavel struck and Judge Graff ordered, "We'll reconvene in thirty minutes. Court is in recess."
The hum of voices filled the courtroom as everyone rose. Reporters rushed for the doors, spectators whispered and pointed, and Rafael Barra leaned casually toward his team, smirking as though he'd already won.
Deputies unclipped Tyler's shackles just enough to escort him through the side door. He kept his eyes down, jaw clenched, the sound of clicking cameras trailing after him until the heavy door slammed shut behind them.
Inside the small consultation room, the air was quieter, Paul Goodman sat across the table, loosening his tie, "Brian Keller almost drove a spike straight into our case. 'Lovers'? A confession text? Your outburst? The jury's gone, thank God we don't have one. But the judge? He'll weigh that. Hard."
Tyler leaned forward, hands gripping the edge of the table, "He's lying. You know that. Everyone should know that too."
"No, Tyler. Everyone sitting down in that courtroom don't give a single fuck. They heard him swear under oath. They saw him tremble, sweat, play the scared little victim. The judge has nothing but his word, and your silence. You need to be silent"
"I can't be silent, you need to put me up there too, let me disprove everything he said. I am not going to stay silent while he lies through his teeth." Tyler replied calmly
"Yes!" Paul snapped, then lowered his tone quickly. "Yes, Tyler. That's exactly what you're supposed to do, stay silent. Because the moment you open your mouth in that courtroom, that blood thirsty prosecutor will rip you apart."
Tyler slammed his fist softly against the table, "I just… hope he didn't sell me out cheap."
Paul studied him, quiet for a moment, then sighed, "we're still okay, though barely hanging on, but we are still okay,"
"How about the Tungsten Heights Penitentiary, I told you that's where I want to serve my time. Have you found a way to send me there?" Tyler asked
"Yes, that won't be a problem," Paul silently wondered why the boy was still obsessed with going to that prison, his life is already forfeit, his problem right now is making sure a needle isn't what ends it. He took another look at Tyler, there was no way he could get him to that prison. If he tried asking the judge nicely, it will be immediately denied because of the nature of his crime, and then the judge will make it his life mission to keep him away from there. He can't tell him that, because he looked very unstable.
"Paul," Tyler called his attention, "If I don't go to Tungsten Heights Penitentiary, then I might as well die today. Life imprisonment isn't my goal, Tungsten Heights is."
"Don't worry," Paul assured, "I will get you there."
The guard knocked on the door. Time was up
"When we go back in, you keep your mouth shut and your face calm. Let me do the talking. Understand?"
Tyler then gave the smallest of nods.