Essay, Research Paper: Night By Elie Wiesel

Courtroom trial (prosecution) for Night by Elie Wiesel.

NIGHT PROJECT (3/15/96) * Opening Statement:

Ladies and gentleman of the jury, the prosecution team is representing the state of Israel against Mr. Idek. He was a kapo ( a Jew forced to be in charge of other Jews ). He was also in charge of the warehouse for electrical equipment. Mr. Idek has been charged with cruelty to the human race and the murder of a myriad Jews at the nazi concentration camp of Buna. We are here today to prove this man's guilt in his heinous crimes against humanity beyond a shadow of a doubt. The prosecution will provide evidence of Mr. Idek beating the Jews he was in charge of just because he happened to be in a bad mood. We will also prove that Mr. Idek took advantage of and sexually harassed multiple women while in charge of the prisoners at the concentration camp. In conclusion the prosecution would ask the jury to listen to all facts and witness presented throughout this case and to come up with the only true verdict that humanity can deliver, guilty.

* Questioning:

(Pro - The prosecution team)

(Eliezer - Elie Wiesel)

(Mr. Wiesel - Eliezer's Father)

(Idek - Mr. Idek)

(Juliek - A violinist at the camp)

(Judge - His honorable Yitzach Herschel)

Eliezer

Pro - Eliezer do you see the kapo that was in charge of you at the concentrat-

ion camp?

Eliezer - yes there ( Eliezer points to Idek ).

Pro - Eliezer, when were you introduced to Idek?

Eliezer - When we reached Buna, the kapos randomly chose us.

Pro - What was your first "bad" impression of Idek?

Eliezer - When Juliek told us to stay away from him when he had his "bouts of

madness".

Pro - Did you ever see Idek beat or abuse any of the prisoners?

Eliezer - Yes many times, however, two of the most prominent occasions were

when he beat my father and I. The first one he beat my father for not working

fast enough to suit him atthe time. The second one was when he beat me for

simply getting into his way.

Pro - Did you ever see Mr. Idek engage in any sexual or rape of any young

women at the camp while you were under his charge?

Eliezer - Yes, I once walked in on him and a young girl I assume was polish

(since the camp had just gotten a trainload of polish Jews). Idek caught me

and said, "You wait and see kid . . . . You'll soon find out what leaving your

work's going to cost you . . . . You're going to pay for this pretty soon . .

. . and now, go back to your place."

Pro - Did he ever carry out his threat?

Eliezer - Yes, Later during roll call Idek called out, "A-7713!" I stepped

forward and he ordered me to lay down on a box he had brought out. I did as I

was told and then Idek proceeded to whip me I counted 25 lashes of the whip

before I lost conciseness.

Pro - Thank -you for your testimony Eliezer.

Mr. Wiesel

Pro - Mr. Wiesel do you see the kapo that was in charge of you at Buna?

Mr. Wiesel - Yes, he's over there ( He points at Idek )

Pro - Were you treated any different because of your older age?

Mr. Wiesel - Yes, Idek seemed to take a specific dislike towards me because I

was older than most of the men that were in his charge.

Pro - Thanks - you for your testimony Mr. Wiesel.

Juliek

Pro - Juliek do you see the kapo that was in charge of you at Buna?

Juliek - Yes, he's over there ( He points at Idek )

Pro - Why were you in the orchestra block?

Juliek - I was there because I am a violinist.

Pro - Did you ever warn Eliezer and his father of Idek?

Juliek - Yes

Pro - Why?

Juliek - I warned them because Idek had a split personality, he could be in a

normal mood and only yell and scream at us or he could get into one of his

"maddened fits" and start beating up anyone that even looked at him wrong.

Also he was in one of his maddened fits almost as much as not.

Pro - Thank - you for you testimony Juliek.

Idek

Pro - Mr. Idek the prosecution has only one question for you and that is, how?

How could you do these acts of incredible inhumanity to so many?

Idek - I can only say that I was under orders and had to do as I was told.

Pro - UNDER ORDERS! under orders, did you have orders to beat people for

getting in you way, rape young women, or to whip a young boy into

unconcieneness.

Idek - I cannot answer

Judge - Mr. prosecuting attorney your questioning of the witness is getting

nowhere please finish quickly.

Pro - I'm sorry your honor, I am finished.
* Closing Statement:

Ladies and Gentleman of the jury the defense has presented this court with its witness's, experts, and even some ludicrous theories. All this evidence amounts to a hill of beans. The prosecution has presented this court with people who know Mr. Idek and have described him as the vile, inhumane, monster that he is. Aside from all of this the fact remains that Mr. Idek was a nazi contributor that beat and killed a vast multitude of Jews for no other reason than he got angry. When you enter deliberation and discuss the matter among yourselves please return the only possible verdict that humanity can allow, guilty.