5. Behold the Terrible Flame (1)

I was handed a pre-signed and sealed affidavit and told to read it aloud.
I stood up and read it clearly.

"I, Ritsuko Anno, swear to tell the truth according to my conscience, to hide nothing, and to speak no falsehoods."
It was around the time when the lingering late summer heat was finally beginning to retreat and a strong wind was blowing through the blue sky that I ended up standing on the witness stand as an expert witness.

Tetsuto Mando was truly facing his criminal trial without a lawyer.
According to the records, he should never have studied law. Yet, as far as I had seen up to this point, he seemed to fully understand the law and its associated terminology. At the very least, to a layperson's eyes, he never once hindered the progress of the trial, nor did he ever panic and invite ridicule. Would it be considered biased if I said that his performance was on par with the professional lawyers I had seen in other trials where I had appeared as an expert witness?

I wanted to see him through to the end, so I had managed to attend every trial session so far. Naturally, I took time off work.
In the public gallery, there was always a corner where young girls who seemed out of place sat in a row. They wore clothes that were too frilly for a courtroom, wore bright-colored eyeshadow, and some even waved small hands toward the defendant's seat. It didn't seem to be the same group every time, but there might have been some die-hard fans who attended every session.

Today, at last, the deliberation regarding my expert opinion begins.
I am perhaps even more nervous than Mando, who is likely in a courtroom for the first time.

"Ms. Anno. This expert report is very thick... it was hard to read. I have summarized the main points in my own way, but may I confirm them with you?"
"Yes, of course."

The prosecutor was a man with rimless glasses who looked quite nervous. I had watched him closely throughout the trial as well. He didn't seem unintelligent, but he was the type who lacked flexibility. He was serious and hardworking, and he didn't like unexpected situations. I thought he was a man prone to neurosis or depression.

How many times a day do you wash your hands? Have you ever felt that a train strap was dirty? Have you ever thought that you couldn't forgive someone else?

"If I extract the most important points, it reads that the defendant has a dual personality, that a version of him that is not him committed the crime, and that it was impossible for him to recognize or stop it. That is how I read it, am I mistaken?"
"One correction, if I may. The term 'dual personality' is not accurate. Medically, I diagnosed him with Dissociative Identity Disorder."

"Ah, excuse me, Dissociative Identity Disorder, was it. I apologize, I am not well-versed in medicine. How is that different from the general term 'dual personality' or 'multiple personality'?"
His words were clearly aimed at the lay judges. I added my words clearly, one by one.

"When people hear 'dual personality,' I feel like some have the impression of the famous Jekyll and Hyde novel or Hitchcock's Psycho, where an angel and a devil are switching places within one person, but at least in his case, that impression does not apply."

"And that means?"
"Perhaps it would be easier to imagine the sensation of one's consciousness being hijacked by someone else suddenly. He himself should be unable to control it. It is as if a completely different person has taken over, pushing his consciousness aside... or one could say, putting it to sleep, and using his body as they please."

"Putting it to sleep and having someone else take over? That sounds like sleepwalking!"
The prosecutor raised his voice dramatically, but I responded calmly.

"Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental illness. And a very troublesome one at that."
"Returning to generalities... is Dissociative Identity Disorder a, well, common illness? I have never heard of it among my relatives, friends, or even other defendants in other cases."

"I wouldn't say it's a common illness, but it might not be that rare of a disorder either. For example, the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia is said to be 0.8 percent or 1 percent, and compared to that, the incidence rate is likely lower. However,"

I cast a glance at the lay judge's seat.
I want them to listen carefully here.

"There is the problem of misdiagnosis. This disease is currently difficult to say is widely recognized, and I believe it is often the case that these patients are included among those with schizophrenia. Because schizophrenia has a far higher incidence rate."

"Is it similar to schizophrenia?"
I carefully added my words. Hori-kun had come to the public gallery today. Hori-kun kept his eyes fixed on me, his hands tightly clasped together on his lap.

"Yes. Among schizophrenia patients, there are often those who complain that their bodies are being hijacked, that they hear voices in their heads, or that they are being made to do things they don't want to do."
"Then didn't you think the defendant might have that?"

"No. It doesn't seem to be schizophrenia. Since childhood, there have been complaints of memory lapses. Also, there is at least one other personality, and that personality has a unique name."

"And that name is?"
"It is said to be Ted."
"Ted!"

Twisting the corner of his mouth, the prosecutor repeated it. Even though he should have known it long ago if he had read the expert report.
"Is it a nickname or something? It doesn't sound like a Japanese name to me at all!"

"It is common for the alternate personalities of Dissociative Identity Disorder to have different nationalities or genders than the primary personality. This is an overseas report, but there was a patient who could easily manipulate a foreign language that the primary personality could not have known from their educational background or history. Although he was born and raised as an American, when he became his alternate personality, he spoke perfect British English and, moreover, could read and write Arabic, which he should never have learned."

That's right, it should have been Arabic. As I showed off my superficial knowledge, my heart started pounding and wouldn't stop. It wasn't a research paper I'd read; it was a book about Billy Milligan. It would be bad if they pressed me for too many details.

“Is that common? That’s more than just dual citizenship! So, is this Ted person American, or British? Is there any possibility he could be, say, an American-Indian or Pakistani?”
I felt a wave of relief that he had latched onto something completely different. Of course, I made sure not to show it in my gestures or on my face.

I acted composed, trying to look as confident as possible. Now was not the time to worry about likability or the impression I was making. I just needed to look like an expert.
So that my evaluation report would be taken seriously.

“I don’t know. For starters, I don’t even know if Ted has a surname.”
“He doesn’t have a surname!”

The prosecutor said, furrowing his brow with horizontal lines as if he were terribly surprised again. This guy is quite theatrical himself—is it an occupational hazard, or a personality disorder?
If he can perform like this in front of others, it’s better to view it as a character trait rather than just habit. Could it be histrionic personality disorder, or perhaps borderline?

“I believe that is also common in dissociative identity disorder. Only personalities in the host class would likely have a surname.”
“I don’t even understand how one can decide their own name or nationality... It’s a strange illness, isn’t it? Does such an illness really exist?”

“Yes, it does. It is a bona fide disorder listed in medical textbooks and in the guidelines known as the DSM—excuse me, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is classified under dissociative disorders, which include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, depersonalization disorder, and dissociative identity disorder.”

“That’s educational, but please refrain from pedantry as it will confuse the lay judges.”
Hori-kun was moving his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

“According to this evaluation report... uh, this Ted? Is it? You are of the opinion that what this other personality did was unrelated to the defendant’s will. Please state the grounds for this clearly and concisely. Keep it brief.”
“There are several, but the one I focused on the most was... well, the issue of sexual orientation.”

“And that means?”
“As I wrote in the report, I believe Ted is gay. However, Mr. Tetsuto Mando is heterosexual.”

“I see.”
The prosecutor urged me on with a look that suggested he understood, but didn’t really.

“If this rape-murder were the act of Mr. Tetsuto Mando... I think it is unnatural that no semen was detected.”
“No, then wouldn’t it be even more unnatural for Ted, who is gay, to be committing rape?”

“I studied many sex murders in America. In almost all cases of sex murder driven by sexual desire, whether before or after death, there is evidence of sexual intercourse with the victim. In this case, while a foreign object was inserted as a form of pseudo-intercourse, it does not appear to me to be a crime driven by sexual desire.”
“Then what do you think it is?”

“Pure anger toward women, perhaps? I sense a misogynistic tone in this crime.”
“A misogynistic tone? What does that mean specifically? Please explain it so that the lay judges and I can understand.”

“I am saying the perpetrator hates women.”
The prosecutor frowned and opened his mouth.“Are you saying Tetsuto Mando is neither gay nor a woman-hater?”“Yes, that is what I believe.”The prosecutor gave a cynical laugh at my definitive statement.

“That’s just your wishful thinking, isn’t it? Don’t you have a personal interest in Mando?”
Before I could open my mouth, Mando quietly interjected.

“Your Honor, I object.”
“Ah... objection sustained.”“Fine, fine, I’ll withdraw it!”The prosecutor shrugged as he said that, while glaring at me.

“This wasn’t the place to debate with an expert, was it? What matters is the crime. Did he do it or not, that’s all. Let me confirm one last thing.”I agreed. I nodded silently.

“Please answer regarding Japan, not America. Ms. Anno, in your long and wonderful career as a psychiatrist, have you ever seen any other patients with multiple personality... er, excuse me, dissociative something disorder?”

“Dissociative identity disorder.”“Yes, that. I am asking if you have ever actually examined even one patient with this disorder, other than the defendant.”I pressed my lips together tightly before answering as clearly as I could. Making sure it didn’t sound faint. Making sure I looked dignified.“I have not.”

"That is all, Your Honor."
With a triumphant smile, the prosecutor turned on his heel.

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