Chapter 17 - Vanessa Takes the Stand
Against counsel’s recommendation, Vanessa testified.
I knew because her lawyer looked defeated before she even sat.
She began well.
Calm.
Polished.
Vanessa.
She described Sarah as difficult.
Ill.
Confused.
She said she helped because Michael was overwhelmed.
She denied ever intentionally harming Sarah.
She said the sedative was given only when Sarah asked.
Prosecutor Grant asked:
“After doctor discontinued?”
“I did not know he fully discontinued.”
“Were you at appointment?”
“Yes.”
“Did doctor say stop?”
“He said reduce.”
Medical note said stop.
She argued misunderstanding.
Then blue mug.
“Sarah liked tea.”
“Yes.”
“Did you add medication?”
“Only when she asked.”
“Did you tell Michael?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Sarah did not want him worrying.”
Convenient.
Then Sarah’s recording played:
“Stop touching my medication.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Grant:
“Does Sarah sound like she is asking you to administer?”
“No.”
“Does she sound confused?”
“She often was.”
Then Sarah:
“Doctor stopped it.”
Vanessa:
“Doctor doesn’t live here.”
The courtroom went silent.
Grant:
“That is your voice?”
“Yes.”
“So you knew doctor stopped it.”
Vanessa looked at jury.
“I was frustrated.”
“Did you give medication after this?”
“I don’t remember.”
Not no.
Then financial transfers.
She claimed compensation.
No contract.
No invoice.
Sarah’s texts saying she never agreed.
Jewelry sale.
“Sarah told me I could have them.”
“Any writing?”
“No.”
“Did Michael know?”
“No.”
“Jennifer?”
“No.”
“Jewelry dealer knew they belonged to deceased woman?”
“I said mine.”
Her credibility weakened.
Then Lily.
“Why lock her in laundry room?”
“Time out.”
“With childproof knob cover?”
“She would run.”
“Why withhold water?”
“I didn’t.”
“Why did camera record you saying she would stay until she stopped talking about Sarah?”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“She was obsessed.”
“Why were you afraid Michael would hear?”
“I wasn’t.”
Grant displayed notebook.
Need stop stories before Michael hears.
Vanessa:
“I meant because it upset him.”
“Why use old sedative?”
“I didn’t.”
Toxicology.
Medication logs.
“Never use enough to show on labs.”
Vanessa said:
“That was about my own medication.”
“Your initial?”
“No.”
“Whose?”
“I don’t remember.”
Grant paused.
Then:
“Mrs. Carter, did you love Michael while Sarah was alive?”
Vanessa’s attorney objected.
Relevance.
Judge allowed limited.
Vanessa said:
“I cared for him.”
“Romantically?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
My stomach turned.
“Did Sarah know?”
“I don’t know.”
Sarah’s recording:
“Michael is my husband.”
Vanessa looked down.
Grant:
“Did you want Sarah out of the way?”
“No.”
Sarah voice memo:
“I’m scared she’s doing it because she wants me out of the way.”
Not proof of Vanessa intent, but victim’s state of mind. The judge had limited admissibility perhaps. Let's not overfocus legal technicalities.
Grant finished with simple question:
“Why keep Sarah’s pills for two years?”
Vanessa looked at me.
Then Lily? Lily not in courtroom maybe. She answered:
“I couldn’t throw them away.”
“Because?”
“I loved her.”
That might have saved a piece of credibility if she stopped.
She didn’t.
“And because they reminded me what she put me through.”
May you like
The jury heard.
Everything.
