Chapter 18 - STERLING GOES TO TRIAL
Trial began eleven months after wedding.
Not next morning.
Evidence took time.
Sterling wore dark suit.
Calm.
Prosecution began with video.
No sound.
Pen.
Paper.
Lenora pushing it away.
Sterling striking.
Head to glass.
Then my 911 call.
Then medical photos.
Then texts.
Then prior incident evidence.
Defense admitted assault.
Contested coercion charge.
Argument:
Sterling lost temper during argument about transaction.
Violence reprehensible but not intended to force signature.
Texts:
She will sign.
Working on it.
Could mean negotiation.
Coraline:
Get signature tonight.
Not order violence.
Thatcher:
Keep Kalista out.
Could mean privacy.
Jury had to decide motive beyond reasonable doubt.
Lenora testified.
He hit because she refused.
Sterling’s lawyer pressed:
“He had hit you before over nonbusiness things.”
“Yes.”
“So violence could stem from marital rage, not signature.”
“Yes.”
Important concession.
Then:
“Did he say, ‘Sign or I’ll hit you’?”
“No.”
“Did he say, ‘I’m hitting you because you won’t sign’?”
“No.”
No movie confession.
Then prosecutor played audio from my call with Thatcher? Not recorded. No.
Could use penthouse camera no audio. Fine.
Then a cousin witness remembered Sterling shouting before I opened door:
“You will sign.”
Corroboration.
Coraline admitted Sterling demanded signature repeatedly.
The coercion case strong but not certain.
Then Thatcher testified.
Against father.
He said:
“Dad told me earlier that if Mom refused, he would ‘handle her.’”
What did Thatcher understand?
“That he might scare her.”
Violence?
“I knew it was possible.”
Did he warn Lenora?
“No.”
Did he warn me?
“No.”
Why?
“Because I was a coward.”
Defense objected to characterization? Personal answer okay.
May you like
Sterling looked at son with something like hatred.
Family hierarchy finally broke in public.
