Chapter 14 - Sabine Faces Consequences
Sabine’s criminal case focused on Melusine.
She intentionally grabbed a child’s clothing.
Tore it.
Caused the child to fall.
Melusine suffered bruising but no serious injury.
Sabine had no prior criminal history.
She entered treatment quickly.
Eventually she accepted a plea involving misdemeanor child endangerment and assault-related conduct.
Eighteen months supervised probation.
Therapy.
Anger management.
Community service.
No direct or indirect contact with Melusine during probation without court approval.
Restitution for uncovered medical and therapy expenses.
No jail.
Several relatives were outraged.
“She hid Marianne.”
Morally, yes.
Legally, the facts were more complicated.
Marianne was an adult.
Sabine did not imprison her.
Did not drug her.
Did not steal her identification.
Did not legally control her.
She lied about my wishes.
Delayed contact.
Manipulated.
Kept the wedding ring.
Planned a wedding while knowing my wife was alive.
Those actions created serious civil claims.
Not automatic kidnapping.
Marianne sued.
Intentional misrepresentation.
Interference with personal relations.
Conversion of the wedding ring.
Emotional damages.
Sabine’s lawyers contested some theories.
Both sides faced uncertainty.
They settled.
Sabine paid Marianne a substantial sum and reimbursed specific costs created by the prolonged delay.
The ring had already been returned.
The settlement included confidentiality for Marianne’s medical information.
No apology requirement.
No forced meeting.
No forgiveness clause.
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Courts can redistribute money.
They cannot reconstruct eight months.
