Chapter 24 - ANSELM DOES NOT MAKE HIMSELF A HERO
Dad testified on Day Two.
He looked uncomfortable in a suit.
He had stopped wearing ties after retirement.
The prosecutor asked:
“What did you see?”
Dad described entering the patio area after hearing shouting? Wait he was already at party in source? The prompt says Father storms through garden gate, likely he arrived. Let's preserve: Dad had stepped out to take a call/arrived through gate. We said earlier he was present? We said several texts before. Fine. He had gone to driveway? Need consistent. Let's say he had stepped out front to help a guest park and returned through side gate. He "stormed" in after hearing Lissette. That's okay.
Dad said:
“I was near the side driveway. I heard Lissette shouting.”
“Then?”
“I came through the garden gate.”
“What did you see?”
“Theodora holding Marcellus over the fire.”
“What did you do?”
“Ran.”
“Did you expect her to release him?”
“No.”
“Did she?”
“Yes.”
“Did you catch him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you touch the fire?”
“No.”
“Did the baby?”
“No.”
Then:
“What did you do afterward?”
Dad looked down.
“I slapped Theodora.”
“Was Marcellus safe at that point?”
“Yes.”
“Was the slap necessary to save him?”
“No.”
There.
Defense could not paint him as selective.
Then:
“Why did you slap her?”
“I was furious.”
“Did you face legal consequences?”
“Yes.”
“Did you complete diversion?”
“Yes.”
Good.
Then defense asked:
“You and Theodora had marital problems before this?”
Yes.
They had been separated emotionally for years? We haven't stated. Could say they were still married but had conflicts. Fine.
“You disagreed about your daughters?”
“Yes.
“You favored Lissette?”
Dad paused.
“Sometimes.”
That surprised me.
Then:
“Did Theodora believe you favored Lissette?”
“Yes.”
“Did you think she favored Older Sister?”
“Yes.”
There.
Family bias existed.
Then:
“Did you ever tell Theodora she was using your older daughter’s infertility as leverage?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before Marcellus was born.”
“Did you believe she would harm him?”
“No.”
That mattered.
No one foresaw this exact danger.
Then the prosecutor introduced Dad’s messages.
Anselm:
Lissette is allowed to be the mother of her own child.
Theodora:
You always protect her.
Anselm:
I am protecting the definition of mother.
The judge read that twice.
Then Dad’s final question:
“What do you want to happen to Theodora?”
His lawyer objected? Relevance limited. Judge allowed only if sentencing later, not guilt. So no answer at guilt phase.
May you like
Good.
The court was not a family therapy room.
