Trial of Sextus Roscius
80 BC
Inventio (Defence)
Sextus Roscius was accused of patricide (killing your father). This was the worst crime to commit in Rome and was punsihable by death. Cicero suggested that Roscius neither wanted to nor had the opportunity to kill his father, that Roscius did not have the depraved and vicious nature required to carry out such an act, that Roscius did not have the means to nor could get anyone else to kill his father. Cicero also used Erucius who could prove that Roscius was on good terms with his father who had never intended to disinherit him.
Dispositio (Defence to Attack)
Cicero then went on to pose the question 'cui bono?' or "who benefits? This was Cicero altering the disposito (structure) of the trial from Defence to Attack. Cicero showed that Magnus and Capito, relations of Sextus Roscius the Elder, had many motives and opportunity for murdering him. Cicero also casts suspicion on their behaviour after the murder; Magnus and Capito both gained some of the land which Sextus Roscius the Elder had owned.
Attack on Chrysogonus
Cicero attempted to prove that Chrysogonus had been the real author of Erucius' accusations against Sextus Roscius (as he had gained control of most of the land) and warns that such behaviour will have disastrous results on the cause of the nobility. Cicero begs the judges not to allow Chrysogonus to rob the name and life of the man who had already been robbed of his fortune.
Veiled Attack on Sulla
Cicero continued his attack; he attempted to separate the deeds and greed of Chrysogonus from Sulla himself by pretending that Sulla's cruelties were acts committed by his agents and this such bold aggression forced Sulla's hand. Cicero let the question of acquittal rest with Sulla himself: a conviction was a threat to the noble institutions that Sulla was attempting to restore so had to find Sextus Roscius not guilt and therefore accept that Chrysogonus had acted wrongly. Although there is no evidence that charges were brought against Magnus and Capito, no record exists of Chrysogonus after the trial.