It was a sunny afternoon. Chike left the office to bring his kids back from school. The wife Ruth is a banker and indisposed to do the "school runs". Chike was also running late for a business meeting with prospective clients. He has been detailed to represent the company in the said meeting.
Chike successfully picked his kids from their school and was racing home to drop them off. Suddenly a man who could not look at both ways before crossing the road simply jumped into the road in an attempt to cross. Chike did not see him on time and unfortunately ran over him. The man died on his way to the hospital.
The police got him arrested afterwords and charged him to court for murder. His counsel made strong case for him that it was an involuntary death which Chike never contemplated.
On the day fixed for the judgement in the case, Ruth attended the court sitting with herer eldest son. When the Judge came in everybody bowed and he resumed his seat. After a while the Judge gave his final verdict that Chike cannot be guilty of murder as charged but of manslaughter which attracts a lesser punishment. Thereafter, the Judge raised his gavel and knocked it thrice and the court clerk shouted "Court"!!! Everybody rose from their seats and the Judge rose up and left the courtroom.
Chike's eldest son could not understand what the 'sledge hammer' means. He. asked the mum who politely told him that the said sledge hammer is a powerful symbol of authority which signifies finality to whatever the Judge has said. The young man nodded in appreciation.
