Chapter 12 - Diane’s TrialI testified last.
Diane would not look at me.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did your mother physically push Lily?”
“No.”
“Did she tell Tyler to push?”
“Not that I heard.”
“Did she plan the confrontation over the phone?”
“Yes.”
“Did she direct them to stairwell?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She believed there were no cameras.”
Then:
“After Lily fell, who first told her to stand?”
“Diane.”
“Who repeatedly opposed medical care?”
“Diane.”
Then defense.
“Mrs. Morgan…” My surname could be Rachel Hale? User calls parents; perhaps married surname differs. We never established. Let's use Rachel Bennett? Too late. Keep Rachel Hale maybe same family name. We can say Rachel Carter? No need surname.
Defense:
“You are Lily’s mother.”
“Yes.”
“You could have called 911.”
“Yes.”
“You did not.”
“No.”
“You could have taken her to urgent care.”
“Yes.”
“You did not.”
“No.”
“So ultimately, the medical delay was your decision.”
“Yes.”
Diane finally looked at me.
Maybe expecting me to run.
I did not.
Then:
“You blame your mother because you feel guilty.”
“I blame myself for my decisions.”
Good.
“And Diane?”
“For hers.”
Then:
“Did she force you physically to keep walking?”
“No.”
“Threaten you?”
“Not physically.”
“So you chose.”
“Yes.”
I would not pretend I was powerless.
That made her defense weaker, not stronger.
Because I could admit my guilt and still testify she orchestrated.
Then Lily did not testify live unless necessary. Her forensic interview and video? Since she's 15, maybe she could. She chose to testify briefly.
She walked into courtroom without crutches now.
Still slight limp.
Diane stared.
Lily sat.
“Why did you refuse to give Tyler your phone?”
“Because it had a video of him hitting Noah.”
“Did you expect he would push you?”
“No.”
“Did Diane tell you to enter stairwell?”
“She told Tyler, ‘In there.’”
Then defense:
“Your grandmother did not push you.”
“No.”
“Did she tell Tyler to push you?”
“No.”
“Did she know your leg was broken?”
“I told her I heard it crack.”
Then:
“She thought you were exaggerating.”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“She said it.”
Simple.
Then:
“Do you dislike your grandmother?”
“Yes.”
“Could that affect memory?”
Lily thought.
“It affects how I feel. Not where she was standing.”
Good.
Then verdict.
Diane was not convicted of causing Lily’s fracture directly.
Important.
She was convicted on charges relating to coercive confinement/assistance in taking phone and later attempted evidence tampering or witness pressure.
One count involving direct complicity in Tyler’s assault resulted in acquittal because jury could not prove she intended the shove.
Mixed.
She received probation plus a short custodial sentence? Because adult planned coercion and later tampering. Maybe 90 days jail plus probation. Let's make several months county custody, then probation, no contact.
Not dramatic prison decade.
Consequences proportionate.
Diane looked stunned.
Not because sentence huge.
Because a jury had rejected her authority.
Then before deputies escorted, she turned to me.
“You did this.”
I answered:
“No.”
Then Lily, from behind me:
“Grandma, you did.”
Diane looked at her.
May you like
Nothing to say.
Continue to the next part: Diane is convicted for the parts of the plan the evidence can actually prove, while Lily refuses to let her grandmother make Rachel responsible for those consequences.
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