Issue 27 | Fall 2022
In This Case, He Killed an Innocent Person
Carla Bessa
Translated by Elton Uliana
RUNAWAY PLAYBOY
A businessman was caught red-handed in a Rio hospital after running a pedestrian over.
(A tragedy in one act)
Readers’ chorus
What happened?
Media chorus
A renowned businessman was arrested unexpectedly early this Friday, after an accident in which he ran over and killed a workman in the South Zone of Rio. According to the chief of police, the driver will be charged with manslaughter (where there is no intention of killing) and drunk driving.
Readers’ chorus
Manslaughter? What do you mean, guilty but not intentional?
Media chorus
A police officer and two firefighters who rescued the driver stated, in deposition, that the driver refused to cooperate, he was visibly altered, and his breath stank of alcohol. The police also stated that at no time was the driver concerned about the victim.
Fireman
At no time was the driver concerned about the victim.
Readers’ chorus
What do you mean, guilty but not intentional?
Media chorus
The businessman is the son of a famous plastic surgeon.
Readers’ and Media chorus
(Silence)
Passerby
What happened?
Media chorus
The fireman said: “He didn’t even ask about the victim.”
Another passerby
What happened?
Media chorus
The victim’s brother said: “He was a workman. He had a wife and two children. His wife doesn’t have a job, she has no means of providing for the family. What’s going to happen? How is she going to survive?”
Readers’ chorus
What’s going to happen? How is she going to survive?
Media chorus
The driver’s lawyer said: “We don’t have the full details of what happened yet. What we do know is that it was raining a lot at the time of the accident, as you can see in the pictures.”
Readers’ chorus
What do you mean by raining?
Media chorus
The driver’s sister said: “It was raining a lot, the car skidded and ended up on the pavement. Somebody was run over.”
Passerby
Oh, I see! You mean the accident happened because of the rain?!
Readers’ chorus
If the driver were black and poor, it would be murder, but, as always, money speaks louder in this country!
Media chorus
The man left work at half past ten at night. He was standing at the traffic lights, waiting, when the car mounted the pavement at high speed. The doctors tried to amputate his leg; however, he did not survive. The driver’s family said that they deeply regret what has happened.
Readers’ chorus (outraged)
The driver’s family said that they deeply regret what has happened!!!!
A fireman
He didn’t ask about the victim’s condition. He only asked about the state of his car.
Media chorus
The brother of the victim said: “My brother was on the pavement. I will not let this go!”
Passerby
As always, money speaks louder in this country!
Police officer
He stank of alcohol.
Passerby
He was drunk and ran over a hardworking young man!
Chief of Police
In theory, whoever accumulates twenty points in twelve months has their driver’s license suspended. Despite already having more than twenty points, he continued driving.
Readers’ Chorus
In theory!
Passerby (outraged)
It’s not fair, a poor person who steals a packet of biscuits is sent straight to prison and suffers the most serious charges and mistreatment! Now, a rich person or the son of a rich person …
Readers’ Chorus (outraged)
The victim was a hardworking young man! He had just finished his shift. If the driver were poor, he would be charged with intentional murder, but because he is a rich kid …
Another passerby
He’s the son of one of the most famous doctors, but he is also a human being like everyone else. It’s up to the court to judge.
Readers’ Chorus and Passerby Chorus (outraged)
This case will go nowhere! This case will go nowhere! This case will go nowhere!
Media chorus
A witness said: “In my opinion, any driver, whoever it is, after drinking alcohol and taking over the steering wheel of a car, takes the risk of running someone over. And in this case, he killed an innocent person.
All
(Silence)
Media chorus
Another witness said: “It is indeed a very problematic situation.”
Chief of Police (outraged)
The driver’s records at the Department of Transport are twenty-three pages long, with seventy fines applied in the last five years, which amounts to more than 240 points on the driver’s license. Of these total number of fines, fourteen are for drunk driving.
Readers’ Chorus (outraged)
Fourteen fines for drunk driving! How is that possible?
Another passerby
I wonder what any father would say. Let alone his father, a distinguished citizen, a celebrated doctor who has nothing to do with the irresponsible behavior of his son. I think the media has no right to interfere in his family business.
Media chorus
The businessman is the son of a famous surgeon!
Passerby
Why didn’t he take a taxi instead of driving drunk?
Readers’ Chorus (outraged)
Why didn’t he take a taxi?
Another passerby
Ah, so now the driver’s father is the one to blame!? And life for the dead man’s family will never be the same again. When the wife comes back home, there is no more home!
Readers’ chorus
“That’s where the news lacks accuracy!”
Media Chorus
A court case has been filed.
All (outraged)
He drank, he drove, and he killed … Obviously he took the risk … So, it’s murder!
Another passerby
Accidents happen, we all feel sorry for both parties involved. However, because the guy has a famous father, he is being subjected to public disgrace by the authorities. The media is abusing its power, destroying people’s reputations, and, in turn, selling more newspapers. As simple as that!
Readers’ chorus
I have always admired his father, the doctor, but unfortunately …
Another passerby
Yes, my dear doctor, life is like that, and we all need to learn. Pay the price with your head held high. If you make a mistake, you must pay.
Chief of Police
If you make a mistake, you must pay.
Police officer
If you make a mistake, you must pay.
A fireman
If you make a mistake, you must pay.
All
If you make a mistake, you must pay.
Media chorus
One week after running over a workman and killing him, the son of a renowned surgeon is released on bail after paying a hundred thousand Reais.
About the Author
Carla Bessa is a writer, translator, actress, and director based in Germany. She is the author of two collections of short stories, Aí eu fiquei sem esse filho (Oito e Meio, 2017), and Urubus (Editora Confraria dos Ventos, 2020), winner of the 2020 Jabuti Prize in the category ‘short story’, and second place at the 2020 Brazilian National Library Award. Bessa has recently published her first novella, Minha Murilo (Urutau, 2021). Urubus recently appeared in German translation by Transit Verlag and Aí eu fiquei sem esse fillho in Greek translation by Skarifima Editions.
About the Translator
Elton Uliana is a Brazilian translator based in London. He is the co-editor of the Brazilian Translation Club at University College London (UCL). His published work includes short stories by Carla Bessa (Asymptote, Oxford Anthology of Translation), Ana Maria Machado (Alchemy), Sergio Tavares (Bengaluru Review, Qorpus), Jacques Fux (128 Lit, The Fern Review, Tablet), essays by Manuel Querino, Mário Barata and Odorico Tavares (Art in Translation, Taylor & Francis), as well as forthcoming stories by Conceição Evaristo, Carolina Maria de Jesus, Alê Motta and Carla Bessa (Machetes Under Our Beds: An International Anthology of Words and Writing by Daughters of Latin America, Amistad/HarperCollins).
Prose
Nonie in Excelsis (Excerpt from About Ed) Robert Glück
Dirk Julia Kohli, translated by Rob Myatt
Panthera onca Jasleena Grewal
The Border Solomon Samson
Tikibik Dominic Blewett
Mistake or Accident Laurie Stone
Excerpt from Mice 1961 Stacey Levine
The Cathedral of Desire Nina Schuyler
The Gorge James Warner
In This Case, He Killed an Innocent Person Carla Bessa, translated by Elton Uliana
A Chinese Temple in California Alvin Lu
Poetry
you have become an archive. Lorelei Bacht
thunderclouds
On the Things I Did at the End of the World Beatriz Rocha, translated by Grant Schutzman
In this movie David C. Hall
Spot Rolla Barraq, translated by Muntather Alsawad and Jeffrey Clapp
Let There Exist For Us… Eva-Maria Sher
That I Would Cameron Morse
Surf
Cover Art
Image 001 Richard Hanus