Chapter 19 - The Trial Begins
The first image the jury saw was not Percival.
It was the ring.
High-resolution appraisal photograph.
Green emerald.
Diamond halo.
Old platinum.
E.B. 1954 inside.
Then the replica.
Side by side.
At ten feet:
Nearly identical.
Up close:
Not.
The prosecutor said:
“This case is about a man who believed temporary deception was not real deception if he planned to fix it before anyone noticed.”
Defense objected to characterization later, but opening continued within limits.
Thayer’s attorney:
“This is about a panicked groom with debt, terrible judgment, and a family arrangement more ambiguous than the prosecution wants you to believe.”
Fair.
Then jeweler.
Order.
Replica.
No knowledge of crime.
Then photographer.
Sequence.
Thayer opening velvet box.
Hand to pocket.
Black case.
Percival in background.
No dramatic interpretation.
Just timestamps.
Then venue manager.
Ring reported missing.
Estelle searched child.
Thayer present.
Ring fell.
Then Crown Street representative.
Appraisal.
Loan inquiry.
Ownership questions.
Electronic declaration.
No loan funded.
Defense:
“Your company never physically inspected ring?”
“No.”
“Never advanced money?”
“No.”
“Could applicant withdraw?”
“Yes.”
“So transaction remained preliminary.”
“Yes.”
Good.
Attempt, not completed fraud.
Then:
“Would Crown Street have funded without ownership proof?”
“No.”
Defense smiled.
That helped:
Maybe fraud impossible without final proof.
Prosecution later argued attempt still exists when a defendant takes substantial steps even if lender controls final gate.
Law question for judge/jury instructions.
Then Estelle tomorrow.
I sat in back.
Gwendolyn beside prosecutor’s advocate.
May you like
Percival at school.
Exactly where he belonged.
