Chapter 23 - THE TRIAL
Trent’s trial began nine months after the field day.
Mason did not sit in the courtroom all day.
His testimony was limited and handled under procedures appropriate for a child witness.
First came video.
The charity lawn.
Football rolling.
Mason bending.
Trent looking.
Hands shifting on the rod.
Swing.
Impact.
Mason collapsing.
Audio from a nearby event microphone captured Trent:
"Touch his things again and I'll break you!"
Then me running.
Mason:
“Daddy… he did it on purpose.”
Patricia:
“Boys get hurt. Stop embarrassing the family.”
Then my slap.
All of it.
Defense did not get to crop me out.
Good.
Dr. Park testified.
Nondisplaced fibular fracture.
Consistent with blunt-force trauma.
No surgery.
Healing over weeks.
No permanent impairment.
Could she say exact force?
No.
Could a steel rod cause it?
Yes.
Could falling alone have caused it?
Possible in general.
Video showed strike before collapse.
Then foundation investigators.
Legacy folders.
Mason readiness sheet.
"Memorial discipline."
No claim Patricia ordered the hit.
May you like
No invention.
Pattern gave motive.
