Chapter 20 - VANESSA’S PLEA FAILS
Vanessa received a plea offer.
Two sets of conduct.
Cecily:
Admission that during an argument about the gown, Vanessa intentionally placed both hands on Cecily and pushed or drove her backward, causing her to fall and fracture her wrist.
Me:
Admission she intentionally shoved me into the decorative fountain while knowing I was twenty-six weeks pregnant.
No direct abdominal impact.
No fetal injury.
No claim she intended to harm my baby.
Charges reduced in exchange for plea.
Custodial recommendation.
Probation.
Anger-management.
Restitution.
No contact with me.
Vanessa objected to:
Pushed Cecily.
She wanted:
Made physical contact while Cecily moved backward.
The prosecutor refused.
Video reflection.
Text:
I barely touched her.
Owen’s corrected statement.
Cecily.
Enough for trial.
Then she objected to:
Knowing Bianca was pregnant.
Everyone knew.
My abdomen had not been subtle for months.
Her lawyer finally asked:
“What are we arguing?”
Vanessa said:
“Intent.”
Exactly.
She could accept that I fell.
May you like
Not that she had chosen the force that made me fall.
Trial.
