>your honor, my client stands accused of intentionally and maliciously pushing Ms Halford down the stairs
>the answer couldn't be further from the truth
>as you can see in this CCTV footage, my client reaches forward and wraps his arms around her
>and you can see, clearly I might add, that it is her who pushes away from him
>Mr Nito's only crime here is not having the situational awareness of where Ms Halford was sitting
>But you could also level the same accusation at her
>but the truth is they were both emotionally distraught teens suffering what you could argue the worst night of their high school lives
>one could argue that, since the hug was unwanted, Mr Nito is still at fault
>regardless of if he meant to endanger her
>need I remind the court and the jury that at this time both Mr Nito and Ms Halford were in a relationship
>Mr Nito was attempting to calm his significant other through physical affection
>a gesture not out of the ordinary for couples
>I know the prosecution would like to paint my client as some scheming heartless sociopath
>but the truth is he's just as much a victim of circumstances as poor Ms Halford
>had their talk been held anywhere else, nothing would have happened
>are we really going to ruin a promising young man's life over a cruel twist of fate?