Chapter 17 - Diane goes to trial
Diane rejected a plea that required a felony admission.
Trial began ten months after my return from Boston.
Lily did not testify in an open courtroom.
At two going on three, her direct testimony would have raised major competency and reliability issues.
The prosecution built the case from:
Physical evidence.
Hospital findings.
Neighbor video.
Dinner witnesses.
Padlocked room.
Ryan’s messages.
Camera footage.
Toxicology.
Diane’s own statements.
The defense emphasized:
No severe injury.
No long-term malnutrition.
No proof of hours-long confinement.
No exact clonidine dose.
Correct facts.
Then Dr. Benson testified:
“Lily’s dehydration was mild.”
Defense:
“Not starvation?”
“No.”
“Not organ failure?”
“No.”
“Not severe malnutrition?”
“No.”
Good.
The prosecution did not need exaggeration.
Then Sarah described the storage-unit evidence without offering medical conclusions beyond her expertise.
Then Ryan’s video.
The courtroom watched him hold Lily’s forearms.
Diane bring the tablet.
Lily turn her head.
Diane continue.
May you like
I had seen it before.
It still made my stomach turn.
