Trial of Accelerator

The Trial of Accelerator was a trial held in Academy City in late December. The defendant was Accelerator, the first-ranked Level 5 and newly appointed Board Chairman, over his killing of the Sisters clones as part of the Level 6 Shift Project and other crimes.

Background
By December 24th, in preparation for his plan to eliminate the Dark Side of Academy City, Accelerator turned himself in to Anti-Skill for his previous actions, deeming it a necessary action, not making an exception for himself as the Board Chairman and intending to take the public scorn for the crimes of the Level 6 Shift Project which would come to light, so as to distract people from any rejection towards the remaining clones and so that the Sisters would be able to live freely.

Christmas Eve Arc
On December 24th, Accelerator was confined within a secret windowless room under an Anti-Skill station, as final preparations were being made for Operation Handcuffs and his trial, with Yomikawa Aiho meeting with him to talk about it.

During this time, individuals seeking to preserve the dark side attempted to kidnap Last Order to use as a bargaining chip. Despite being easily capable of breaking out and ending the matter himself, Accelerator remained in the room, choosing to believe in the city he was to lead. After the kidnapping attempt was foiled by Kamijou Touma's group and evidence of Director Neoka Norito's involvement was uncovered, Misaka 10032 brought Last Order to the safety of the station, along with the captured 'Maidono Hoshimi', while Yomikawa left as Anti-Skill made its move. As they closed in on Neoka's base in School District 15, the director set off an explosion and attempted to fake severe injuries to frame Anti-Skill, in the hopes of buying enough time to eliminate the evidence against him. However, Neoka was interrupted and despite using magic acquired from R&C Occultics, he was ultimately defeated by Touma and left to be taken into custody. With the incident resolved, Last Order visited Accelerator and tearfully accepted his decision.

Operation Handcuffs Arc
Around the time that Operation Handcuffs was initiated, late on Christmas Day, news of Accelerator announcing his appointment before turning himself in and confessing his crimes was being broadcast. In the news broadcast seen by Aoumi Karei, the reporter mentioned how the unprecedented situation had sent shockwaves through Academy City's general courthouse, with Accelerator apparently indicted but it being unknown to them if the trial would be held as scheduled, with the Board of Directors refraining from commenting. Accelerator himself was in a cell awaiting his trial as he witnessed Operation Handcuffs spiral out of control due to the interference of Anna Sprengel, who had let herself be captured after her actions earlier in the day and was in the cell next to his, and R&C Occultics through the Coins of Nicholas.

Los Angeles Arc
On December 26th, as events unfolded in Los Angeles surrounding the joint Anglican-Academy City counterattack targeting R&C Occultics HQ and the subsequent mass disappearance, Accelerator's trial began. According to a news source, a team of doctors attempted to delay the trial using juvenile law and a mental evaluation, but the delay was refused by Accelerator.

As the trial proceeded, many people in the city for whom a guilty verdict and admitting to the clone experiment would be inconvenient, continued to deny his claims and tried to have the prosecution frame Accelerator as mentally unstable so his testimony and reports could be thrown out.

During a break in the trial, Accelerator was contacted by Dion Fortune through Qliphah Puzzle 545, with the Archbishop speaking about the events in Los Angeles, the critically injured Hamazura Shiage, and Accelerator's plan to give the Sisters a place in the world. Having considered the situation and the words that had been exchanged, Accelerator took a gamble and allowed the Sisters to intervene in the events in Los Angeles, as the nearby clones used information from the British government to come to the aid of Kamijou Touma, fighting to save the trapped population who had fallen victim to Citrinitas and Melzabeth Grocery from being framed for the crime, willingly exposing themselves to the world in the process.

The display of the clones' humanity and actions to help others, along with voices of support from various people such as President Roberto Katze, led to many receiving them positively, overshadowing those who would denounce or call for their disposal. Once the battle had concluded and the trapped population of Los Angeles restored, with the Sisters being generally received favorably by the world, the trial resumed and Accelerator took on the corresponding public scorn as planned, with a verdict being reached.

Post-Handcuffs Arc
On December 26th, Accelerator was found guilty of 36,025 charges including killing more than 10,000 people, organized crime such as aiding and abetting the creation of clone humans for experimental purposes, assault, bodily harm, property damage, and violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law. Altogether, he was sentenced to 12,000 years.

On December 29th, following his trial and conviction on December 26th, Accelerator was brought to the special prison below the Special Criminal Adult Correctional Facility which had been built to hold him, though he still maintained his position and role as Board Chairman, beginning his work with the assistance of Qliphah Puzzle 545.