Chapter 17 - Carmen’s Trial
Carmen’s trial began eight months after the wedding.
Sofia testified.
She wore navy.
Not blue.
That surprised me.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
She refused to let a color belong to Carmen.
Then prosecutor asked:
“What did Mrs. Robles want?”
“My condo.”
“What did you say?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“She slapped me.”
Then:
“Did you ever agree to transfer the property?”
“No.”
“Did you ever authorize the Monday loan?”
“No.”
“Did you ever authorize anyone to sedate you?”
“No.”
Then defense.
“You scratched Carmen.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was holding my hair.”
“You kicked Daniela.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was blocking the door.”
No shame.
Self defense.
Then:
“Did Carmen ever say, ‘I’m going to kill you’?”
Sofia paused.
“She said if I told anyone, I would regret surviving the night.”
Not exact kill threat? Earlier user premise says kill me. Could include Carmen said "If you run to your mother, someone will make sure you regret it." But Sofia said "they said they'll kill me." Let's make Jessica or Pilar said. Prosecutors corroborate via audio? Perhaps audio caught Rosa: "Keep quiet or you won’t make it through the week." Strong.
Then Ana.
Her recording played.
Carmen’s voice.
“Put the pen in her hand.”
Then “Drink.”
Then Jessica.
“Get what Marisol brought.”
Then Javier.
“Sign it and this stops.”
The jury watched Carmen.
She remained still.
Then hotel footage.
Then loan documents.
Then attorney Hector Ruiz.
He testified he prepared deed believing voluntary gift.
He had warned Carmen to obtain Sofia’s independent counsel.
She ignored.
Then financial receiver.
Default.
Monday deadline.
Then Carmen testified.
Risky.
She said:
“I panicked.”
“Three months before wedding?”
The prosecutor held deed date.
Silence.
Then:
“The document was prepared because families discuss assets.”
“Why was a lender told it would be transferred?”
“We expected Sofia to agree.”
“Why gather six women?”
“Support.”
“Why lock the door?”
“Privacy.”
“Why take her phone?”
“She was hysterical.”
“Why the syringe?”
“I did not know.”
Then audio.
“Jessica, get what Marisol brought.”
Carmen said:
“I meant anxiety medication.”
“Without Sofia’s consent?”
“I wanted her calm.”
There.
Control disguised as care.
Then prosecutor asked:
“Was there any point that night when Sofia said yes?”
Carmen stared.
“No.”
Case.
Jury convicted on major assault, unlawful restraint, conspiracy and attempted coercive property related charges. Some technical financial count acquitted due insufficient proof she personally made lender statement.
Precision.
Then sentencing.
Carmen finally cried.
Not for Sofia initially.
For Javier.
“My son lost everything.”
Judge answered:
May you like
“Your son made choices.”
Exactly.
