Chapter 4 – The Courtroom
The courtroom was packed.
Reporters filled every seat.
Richard insisted he had only "placed a comforting hand" on my neck.
The prosecutor played the recording.
Then displayed photographs of the bruises.
Then showed emergency-room documentation.
Finally...
Security footage from my neighbor's doorbell camera appeared on the courtroom screen.
It showed Richard forcing me backward into the wall.
It showed Brandon trying to grab my phone.
It showed Diane standing still.
Doing nothing.
Richard's attorney slowly sat down.
He had no questions.
Brandon accepted a plea agreement on fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes.
Richard was convicted of felony assault and attempted coercion.
Diane wasn't charged criminally.
But the judge looked directly at her before closing the hearing.
"Doing nothing while someone is abused does not make you innocent."
She lowered her head.
May you like
For once...
There was nobody left to protect.
