"The same technical team that somehow missed this secondary backup for three months, only finding it the night before crucial testimony?" Simone pressed. "Mr. Franklin, when exactly were you hired by Bancroft Developments?"
The witness swallowed hard. "Two weeks ago."
A murmur ran through the courtroom. Simone let the implications sink in before continuing. "So you weren't actually present for the system installation you just testified about?"
"I reviewed the documentation."
"Did you review it before or after the prosecution contacted you to testify?"
"Objection!" Hale nearly shouted. "Counsel is impugning the witness's integrity!"
"The witness impugned his own integrity by claiming firsthand knowledge of events that predated his employment," Simone responded. "I move to strike his entire testimony as perjury."
The gallery erupted in whispers. Judge Kessler banged his gavel repeatedly. "Order! Miss Johnson, approach the bench. You too, Miss Hale."
As they approached, Kessler's face was almost purple with rage. "Miss Johnson, you are treading on very thin ice!"
"Your Honor," Simone kept her voice steady, "the prosecution presented a witness who falsely claimed direct knowledge of critical evidence. This goes beyond aggressive tactics into outright fraud."
"These are serious allegations," Hale interjected smoothly. "Perhaps Miss Johnson's youth and inexperience are leading her to see conspiracy where there's merely miscommunication."
"There's nothing miscommunicated about perjury," Simone shot back. "The prosecution is deliberately presenting false testimony."
Kessler glared at both attorneys. "Step back. I'll review the testimony and rule on the motion to strike."
As they returned to their tables, Simone caught her father's proud smile. She'd scored a direct hit, and everyone knew it. Victoria Hale's perfect composure showed cracks as she whispered intensely with her team.
After a tense few minutes, Kessler spoke. "The witness's testimony regarding systems predating his employment is stricken; the jury will disregard those portions. However, his authentication of the recent footage stands."