Chapter 20 - Agatha Takes the Stand
Agatha testified despite plea.
She supported Stellan.
At first.
“Rosalie has always been too permissive.”
Then her lawyer? This is family court, no prosecutor. Stellan's counsel perhaps called her as witness but it backfired.
She said:
“Benson behaves better with me.”
Dr. Price notes already showed fear.
Then:
“Did you remove food?”
“Yes.”
“Did Stellan tell you?”
“He allowed consequences.”
“Did he tell you to slap Benson?”
“No.”
“Did he know you would?”
“No.”
Good.
Then my lawyer.
“Did Stellan tell you not to remove Benson’s food if he was actually eating?”
“Yes.”
“Did you do it anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know later?”
“Yes.”
“Did he stop sending Benson?”
“No.”
Then transition.
“Whose idea was school-week custody with you providing most daily care?”
“Mine.”
“Did Stellan agree?”
“He considered.”
“Why?”
“Because I was available.”
“Did you believe Rosalie should have less time?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She makes him weak.”
There.
Still.
Then:
“Do you believe that today?”
Long pause.
“Yes.”
Stellan closed eyes.
His mother had not changed enough.
That testimony helped clarify why unsupervised Agatha access remained unsafe.
Then one more.
“If Benson says he is hungry after being disrespectful, would you feed him now?”
Agatha hesitated.
Too long.
Finally:
“If the court requires.”
Wrong answer.
May you like
Safety should not depend on court.
The judge noticed.
