Chapter 23 - THE CHILD TRIAL
The child-confinement count was tried together with some related charges but handled carefully.
Emma was five by then.
She testified remotely under child-sensitive procedures.
Short.
No dramatic courtroom confrontation.
The prosecutor asked:
“Do you remember Birdie being in the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Celeste want her.”
“Why?”
“Inside.”
“Did you know what was inside?”
“No.”
“What did Celeste do?”
“Put me wall.”
“Could you get out?”
“No.”
“What did you do?”
“Bang.”
“Then?”
“Maren hear.”
“Were you hurt?”
“No.”
“Scared?”
“Yes.”
Then defense.
“Did Celeste tell you she wanted to hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did she leave you for a long time?”
Emma frowned.
“Long.”
The lawyer asked:
“Do you know how many minutes?”
“No.”
Good.
No coaching.
Video established time.
“Could you see?”
“Little.”
“Could you breathe?”
“Yes.”
“Did Celeste say why she put you there?”
“She want doll tell.”
Children compress language.
Then:
“Did your father hit Celeste?”
Emma looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“Were you scared then too?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
Fair.
May you like
My act existed in her memory.
No one hid it because I was the parent.
