Chapter 18 - The trial
Diane wore navy.
No pearls.
The prosecution started with the kitchen photograph.
Chain.
Tray.
Kibble.
Then body-camera footage.
My voice shaking.
Noah crying.
Diane saying:
“He needs consequences.”
Then logs.
Pet meal.
Silver boundary.
Neck left mark last time.
Long sleeves.
Defense objected to interpretation, not authenticity.
Handwriting expert unnecessary because Diane admitted logs were hers.
She claimed terms were shorthand.
“Silver boundary” meant chain near him, not always attached.
But one entry explicitly:
Around shoulders.
Another:
Neck.
Then ClearPath messages.
Marjorie:
Do not physically tether him.
Diane:
Then how is it a boundary if he can cross it?
Prosecution stopped there.
No need embellishment.
Then food supplier? None.
Dog kibble bag at home.
Veterinarian? Irrelevant.
Noah had eaten two pieces according to his statement and Diane log.
That was enough.
Then laundry room.
Defense:
Twenty-three minutes at most.
Lit.
Ventilated.
No injury.
Prosecution:
A four-year-old could not leave.
Used as punishment.
Then Diane took the stand.
Her lawyer advised?
She insisted.
She said:
“Emily was raising a child who controlled every adult through crying.”
Prosecutor:
“He was four?”
“Yes.”
“Did you put a chain around his neck?”
“Loosely.”
“Why?”
“So he would stop running from the boundary area.”
“Did ClearPath tell you to do that?”
“No.”
“Did they tell you not to?”
“They did not understand him.”
“Did you feed him dog food?”
“I gave him two pieces as a consequence after he threw his lunch.”
“Did you tell him bad children should only eat dog food?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make a point.”
“Did he receive a normal lunch afterward?”
Diane paused.
“No.”
“When?”
“Later.”
“How much later?”
“I don’t remember.”
Then bruises.
“Did you squeeze his arm?”
“I guided him.”
“Enough to bruise?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you write long sleeves?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Emily overreacts.”
The jury heard what I had learned in my kitchen.
May you like
Diane did not believe concealment proved wrongdoing.
She believed it proved other people were too weak to understand her methods.
