Chapter 17 - EMMA’S TRIAL
The homicide trial happened three years after Leo entered my ER.
Greg was already serving sentences.
The jury received no instruction to treat prior convictions as proof of murder.
Only limited evidence came in where relevant to motive and obstruction.
The state argued Greg weakened the extension cord, confronted Emma, left her inside the workshop, and later used her phone to cancel disclosure.
The defense argued Emma may have damaged the cord accidentally while moving equipment.
Greg could have arrived during the fire.
Frank was unreliable.
Dale was a convicted conspirator.
The smartwatch location radius was imperfect.
Every point deserved consideration.
The fire engineer testified the cord showed pre-fire mechanical damage.
The medical examiner confirmed Emma was alive when the fire began.
Susan Blake testified about the canceled meeting.
Digital experts showed Emma’s phone moved after her estimated death.
Greg knew her passcode.
Frank testified about the cutters.
Dale testified about the call.
Rebecca testified only to Emma’s state of mind where legally permitted.
Greg chose not to testify.
His earlier statements to fire investigators were introduced.
He had claimed he arrived after smoke appeared.
The watch data contradicted him.
The jury deliberated eleven days.
They convicted Greg of second-degree murder rather than the state’s highest charged theory.
The verdict reflected intent inferred from creating a lethal fire condition and leaving Emma inside, while rejecting a more aggravated theory requiring additional proof.
I learned from the news.
Sarah texted:
They convicted.
I stared at the message for a long time.
Then went back into Exam Room Four.
A teenager had appendicitis.
Medicine continued.
At sentencing, Rebecca spoke.
Leo’s statement was read by his therapist.
He wrote:
My mom knew something was wrong. People should have listened before she died.
No description of Greg.
No request for punishment.
The court imposed an additional substantial sentence.
Greg would likely spend most or all of his remaining life incarcerated, subject to appeals and ordinary legal rights.
No one applauded.
Closure was too large a word.
May you like
The verdict gave Emma’s death a legal name.
It did not give Leo his mother back.
