Chapter 10 - The Trial Begins
The prosecution opened with dates.
Not emotion.
January 3.
Guardianship packet created.
January 9.
Beneficiary form submitted.
January 10.
Nathan confronts Judith and Victor.
January 12.
Vehicle serviced and later accessed.
January 14.
Nathan dies.
February 25.
Emily goes into labor and is pressured to sign.
A timeline.
Then prosecutor Amanda Cole said:
“This case is not about a mother grieving badly. It is about preparation before grief existed.”
Strong.
Defense opened:
“Victor Brooks physically interfered with vehicle. Victor Brooks altered records. Victor Brooks benefits from blaming wife.”
True facts.
Then:
“Judith made poor financial decisions and desperate family plans. That does not make her murderer.”
Jury would decide.
First witnesses.
Crash reconstruction expert.
No graphic.
The vehicle’s braking system had been deliberately compromised before crash.
Mechanical failure caused loss of control.
Weather contributed but did not create failure.
Could Nathan have survived if slower?
Unknown.
No certainty.
Then fleet mechanic Jason.
He left vehicle safe.
Victor entered later.
Judith arrived.
Then security video.
Then maintenance logs.
Then financial auditor.
Brooks Site Services.
Unsupported invoices.
Money to Victor.
Some to Judith.
Then Nathan’s recording.
I sat.
Nathan’s voice filled courtroom.
Alive.
Angry.
Clear.
“You are not entitled to Lily.”
Then Judith:
“She is Parker blood.”
Nathan:
“She is a person.”
I cried silently.
Judith stared at table.
Then:
“I was your mother first.”
Nathan:
“That doesn’t make you owner.”
Those were likely last words he ever spoke to her.
Then Sarah Caldwell.
Nathan’s will.
Trust.
Board meeting.
Voicemail.
If anything happens to me, make sure Emily never signs anything Judith brings her.
Defense attacked.
“Was Nathan paranoid?”
“No.”
“Did he say Judith wanted him dead?”
“No.”
Important.
“Did he say Victor threatened him?”
“No.”
“So he did not believe he faced murder?”
“Not explicitly.”
Good.
No hindsight inflation.
Then Victor.
He entered under guard.
Plea agreement disclosed.
Jury knew.
He admitted his crime.
Defense:
“You are murderer.”
“Yes.”
“You physically caused vehicle condition.”
“Yes.”
“You want lower sentence.”
“Yes.”
“You hate Judith?”
“No.”
That surprised.
“Do you love her?”
Victor cried.
“I did.”
Then:
“Why blame?”
“Because she told me to leave it.”
Defense:
“But you could have fixed.”
“Yes.”
“You chose not.”
“Yes.”
“So your choice killed Nathan.”
“Yes.”
No escape.
Then prosecution.
“Did Judith force your hands?”
“No.”
“Did she plan with you?”
“Yes.”
“Did she know Nathan could die?”
Victor:
“Yes.”
“How know?”
“I asked what if he crashes. She said if he dies, papers are ready.”
There.
Then recording after death.
You did what I asked.
He’s dead.
Then stop acting shocked.
Defense claimed out of context.
Still.
Then my testimony.
Labor night.
Hair.
Phone.
Envelope.
Dates.
Victor’s admission.
Cross:
“You hated Judith?”
“No. I distrusted her after Nathan died.”
“You physically struck her?”
“Yes. When she grabbed me and prevented leaving.”
“You threatened her?”
“I told her not to touch me.”
“Were you emotional?”
“I was in labor.”
Some jurors almost smiled.
Then:
“You benefit financially if Judith loses insurance claim.”
“I was original beneficiary. I did not create forged change.”
Then:
“You control Nathan’s shares for your child.”
“Under trust with co fiduciary.”
“So Judith gets nothing.”
“She still owns her 12%.”
Good.
Then defense tried portray motive for me to accuse.
But vehicle evidence existed independent.
May you like
Then Judith chose to testify.
That was when trial changed.
