Guilt by Episemectomy?

Mental health treatment has come a long way in the decades since neurosurgeons developed a means to resect memories.

Advances in MRI technology have allowed for pinpoint isolation and excision of specific traumatic memories in the hippocampus, providing PTSD patients instant and permanent relief that no other treatment could.

Unfortunately, rumours existed the technology had found its way into the underbelly of society. Neurosurgeons, lured either by promise of riches or threat of violence, operated on unwilling participants.

Witnesses were said to have had their memories erased by cartels. Oligarchs had their enemies silenced. Even corrupt politicians were said to be involved. But, as rumor is just rumor until it’s fact, nobody had ever been convicted of the yet unnamed crime and no suspect had ever used it as a successful defense.

*

Jude trembled as he sat in the prisoner’s box awaiting the judge’s decision. His lawyer had retrieved him from his cell with news the time had come.

He still couldn’t recall the events of July 7th. He was seen on camera in the area. He remembered being there. But that’s the last thing he knew of that day, until the moment police crashed through his door and found the weapon and bloodied shirt in his closet.

As he awaited his sentence for a murder he was sure he didn’t commit, Jude knew he was as much a victim as the dead man he’d never met.

Unfortunately for Jude, evidence showed otherwise.