Chapter 10
Richard’s first trial focused on procurement fraud, false certification, obstruction, and conspiracy.
The deaths and injuries aboard the Resolute were addressed through related counts based on reckless and knowing conduct.
The prosecution did not tell the jury that every company failure equaled murder.
It presented documents.
Test videos.
Invoices.
Shipping records.
Payments.
The medical fragment removed from my shoulder.
Samuel Price testified.
Camille testified from a protected location.
Daniel testified.
The defense attacked each witness.
Samuel signed false certifications to protect himself.
Camille stole money and blamed her father for leniency.
Daniel faced professional discipline and wanted to save his marriage.
I wanted ownership.
Motives existed.
Corroboration mattered.
The laboratory video showed Richard watching the panels burn.
The Navy deployment list showed the Resolute carried Batch VM-47C.
An email from Camille asked:
Evelyn’s ship included?
Richard replied:
Yes. Probability remains acceptable. Do not create panic.
My father knew.
He saw my name beside the vessel.
He calculated the risk.
During cross-examination, his attorney asked why I continued speaking to Richard after the explosion if I suspected him.
“Because he was my father.”
“Did you ask him for financial support during rehabilitation?”
“No.”
“Did he pay any medical expenses?”
“The Navy covered treatment.”
“Did he send gifts?”
“Yes.”
“You accepted them.”
“I accepted flowers before I knew he had supplied the fire.”
“Did you resent that your sister worked inside Vale Maritime while you did not?”
“No.”
“Did you feel entitled to the company because you once provided money?”
“I felt entitled to records once I learned the document granted legal ownership.”
“You are now worth hundreds of millions if Vale survives.”
“Only if the company survives the truth.”
The attorney displayed wedding photographs.
Admiral Cross on my arm.
Daniel kissing my scar.
Federal agents behind us.
“Was your wedding designed to influence public opinion?”
“No.”
“Did you know the admiral would attend?”
“She was invited.”
“Did you know arrests would occur?”
“No.”
“Did you install cameras?”
“At the chapel?”
“At your residence and office.”
“After files disappeared.”
“You regularly recorded family members without informing them?”
“I preserved areas where company records were stored after unauthorized access.”
The defense wanted my caution to look like conspiracy.
The records kept returning attention to Richard.
When he testified, he admitted using nonconforming material.
He called it an emergency supply decision during global shortages.
“Did you know the material failed flame testing?” the prosecutor asked.
“I knew one developmental test failed.”
“Did you know the installed batch contained that formulation?”
“I relied on staff.”
“Why did you write ‘probability remains acceptable’ beside your daughter’s vessel?”
Richard looked toward me.
“I was told the likelihood of ignition was extremely low.”
“Would you have boarded?”
His attorney objected.
The question was withdrawn.
The jury did not need the answer.
They convicted Richard on major fraud, conspiracy, false-statement, obstruction, and reckless-endangerment counts, including criminal responsibility connected to Aaron’s death and the injuries aboard the Resolute under the statutes presented.
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They acquitted him on one charge alleging he personally ordered destruction of a specific server because evidence did not establish who executed that deletion.
Precision gave the verdict weight.
