Chapter 9 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for exactly forty-five minutes before reaching a verdict.
It was one of the fastest deliberations in the history of the county courthouse.
I sat in the front row, holding my breath as the foreman stood up with a folded piece of paper.
“On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree, we find the defendant, David, guilty.”
The word hit the room like a shockwave.
“On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, we find the defendant guilty.”
“On the charge of felony torture, we find the defendant guilty.”
The foreman repeated the exact same guilty verdicts for David's mother.
David collapsed into his chair, burying his face in his chained hands as he sobbed hysterically.
His mother fainted entirely, slipping out of her chair and hitting the courtroom floor.
The judge did not even wait for a separate sentencing hearing.
“Given the depraved, horrific nature of these crimes against a pregnant woman, I am issuing the maximum sentence,” the judge declared.
“You will serve life in a maximum-security state penitentiary, without the possibility of parole.”
“You will die in prison, entirely forgotten by the world.”
The sound of the heavy wooden gavel slamming down was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
The bailiffs hoisted David to his feet and dragged him toward the holding cell door.
Right before he crossed the threshold, he turned his head and finally looked at me.
I did not smile, nor did I frown.
I simply lifted my phone from my purse, held it up for him to see, and pressed the lock button.
May you like
The screen went dark.
His face crumbled in absolute despair as the steel door slammed shut behind him forever.
