Chapter 20 - The verdict
Valeria was convicted of:
Theft by conversion of the ring.
She was acquitted of:
The Bellarose fraud count.
Why?
Bellarose’s advance covered a broader campaign.
They had received substantial development services.
Prosecutors did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the ring misrepresentation caused the entire payment.
She was also acquitted of an additional attempt count related to supposed family-representative benefits where contractual language remained ambiguous.
Mixed verdict.
No sweeping declaration that every dollar she earned was criminal.
Then the ring.
Court ordered it returned to Celeste’s estate.
Practically:
To me as estate representative, subject to estate records.
I did not put it on display.
Marnie asked:
“Can I have it?”
I answered:
“When you’re older, if you still want it.”
“Why not now?”
May you like
“Because expensive jewelry is easy to lose, and because I want you to decide later what it means to you.”
She accepted the first reason more than the second.
