Let's talk about this evidence you claim Mr. Caldwell gave you. This leather roll. How do we know you didn't fabricate it? Plant false documents because I'm a 19-year-old mechanic, not a forger.
And federal experts verified everything. Or the federal agents who wanted to nail my client verified what you and Mr. Caldwell fabricated together. That's not what happened. You expect this jury to believe that a dying man had the presence of mind to tell you to hide evidence, to give you detailed instructions while bleeding out?
He didn't give me detailed instructions. He said, 'Hide it and Dalton can't find it. That's it. Richardson's smile was cruel. And yet you knew exactly what to do with it.
Knew to give it to the Hells Angels instead of police. Almost like you'd been coached. Arthur was unconscious when I hid it. Nobody coached me to do anything. Convenient that he was unconscious and can't contradict your story.
He's sitting right there. Ask him. I did. And he gave the same rehearsed answers you're giving now. Richardson leaned on the witness box.
Tell me, Mr. Hayes, how much are they paying you? Caleb blinked. What? The Hells Angels.
How much are they paying you to lie on this stand? Nobody's paying me anything. You got a new job making $70,000 a year, a free motorcycle, free housing. Sounds like payment to me. That's my salary for working as a mechanic at a business owned by Hells Angels associates.
Quite the coincidence. Linda objected. Your Honor, counsel is badgering the witness and making baseless accusations. Sustained. Mr.
Richardson, stick to questions about the incident, not speculation about conspiracies.
But the damage was done. Richardson had planted doubt. Caleb could see it on some of the jurors' faces, uncertainty, skepticism. The cross-examination went on for 3 brutal hours. Richardson attacked every detail, twisted every answer, made Caleb repeat himself until words lost meaning.
By the time Judge Martinez called recess, Caleb felt wrung out and defeated. You did fine, Linda assured him in the hallway. He's grasping at straws because he has no real defense. The evidence speaks for itself. He made me sound like a liar.
He made you sound defensive, which is natural. But your core testimony held. That's what matters. Linda checked her watch. Prosecution rests tomorrow.
Then Richardson puts on his defense. Should be quick, he's got nothing.