Gentlemen, today we have heard both sides of this not so challenging case. The testimonies of Mayella Ewell and her father continue to falsely accuse the defendant, Tom Robinson, of such an abominable act. The helpless Mayella has indeed been brutally beaten however, there is no medical evidence that proves that Tom Robinson is the one that has caused Mayella such misery. According to the examination, these bruises were created by a left-handed person. Clearly, this pitiful black man’s left hand does not function as seen when I threw him the object. Thus, someone else must have committed this heinous act, so we must ask the question who else was at the scene who is left-handed. Perhaps Mayella was the victim of her father’s brutality. However, this case is about whether Tom Robinson has committed a crime, so I will leave that up to your fair jurisdiction. Additionally, the testimonies of Mayella and her father my opposition heavily relies on do not seem to produce a coherent idea of what happened that day. A prime example of this is when Mayella began stating that she does not whether Tom Robinson hit her or not, but consequently she firmly stated that he was the one. This raises a reasonable doubt about the accuracy of these testimonies. I hope you will acknowledge the unsubstantial evidence provided for this trial to occur.

I would suggest to place yourselves in his shoes where Tom Robinson witnessed the helplessness of Mayella and rushed to her aid; though, he would not be given any payment despite his poor financial status. Would you have taken the risk of being charged for this act of kindness? Are we to blame his sympathy for Mayella? I would like to remind everyone that it is we who will make this world a better place, so should we condemn kindness? Tom Robinson, a human being, who has empathy will be beneficial for accomplishing our vision of the future. Furthermore, let us recognize the status of the Ewell family. The Ewells have faced enough oppression, for they are uneducated and violence-oriented. “She is a victim of cruel poverty and ignorance” (TKM 1:33:50). We must stand by our people, and it must start with those who are kind-hearted and compassionate like Tom Robinson. He is part of our vision for the welfare of society, so his kind acts should not be condemned.

The purpose of this trial is not to bring justice, but to bring out the truth because Tom Robinson should not be on trial for his selfless acts. Today I wish that you have understood the reality and truth in this case, for we should not falsely punish him. Will your intellect and duty to protect the words of our Constitution falsely charge Tom Robinson? Do not look at him as a Negro but rather a compassionate and benevolent man. I put my belief and trust in your decision, which will restore the integrity of this well-regarded court. It is our obligation to protect our people and encourage those who will do the same like Tom Robinson. My final remark before leaving the jury to make this decision is that we must come together to make our vision for a brighter future successful. And, here I leave you with the important decision that will mark the future of Maycomb County and our people. 

Works Cited

To Kill a Mockingbird. Robert Mulligan. Universal Pictures, 1962.