Chapter 14 - THE TRIAL OF VICTORIA STERLING
Victoria insisted on a separate trial.
She believed a jury would see her as an elderly grandmother manipulated by younger adults.
She entered the courtroom in navy silk.
Her silver hair was perfectly arranged.
She wore no jewelry because the court had seized it.
The prosecution played the videos.
Victoria forcing Leo to crawl.
Victoria placing food in a bowl.
Victoria laughing while Dominic attached the collar.
Her attorney called the acts unconventional therapy.
Dr. Ortiz testified.
“This was not therapy.”
“It was degradation.”
“The purpose was not behavioral improvement.”
“The purpose was control.”
Victoria took the stand.
She blamed Brooke.
She blamed Dominic.
She blamed me.
“Clara abandoned the child.”
The prosecutor approached.
“Did Clara call daily?”
“I was told she did.”
“Did you participate in sending old videos?”
“I may have been present.”
“Did you know they were old?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did you administer your sedative to Leo?”
“To calm him.”
“Did a doctor authorize it?”
“No.”
“Did you call him an animal?”
“He behaved like one.”
Several jurors reacted.
Victoria noticed too late.
The prosecutor displayed the life insurance documents.
“Did you know Dominic planned Leo’s death?”
“No.”
A recording played.
Victoria’s voice filled the courtroom.
Increase it after dinner.
He’ll be too weak to fight near the pool.
Victoria looked toward me.
Her composure cracked.
“That was taken out of context.”
“What context makes that sentence innocent?”
She had no answer.
The prosecutor showed the messages about Liam.
Healthy.
Presentable.
Useful.
“Did you love Liam?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes.”
“Would you have loved him if he were disabled?”
Victoria’s attorney objected.
The judge allowed the question.
Victoria looked toward the jury.
“I would have found proper care.”
The prosecutor nodded.
“Somewhere out of sight?”
Victoria’s silence answered.
She was found guilty of child abuse, unlawful imprisonment, poisoning, conspiracy, attempted murder, and financial crimes.
At sentencing, the judge addressed her directly.
“You believed a disabled child possessed less value.”
“You were wrong in morality.”
“You were wrong in law.”
“And you were wrong in believing wealth would make the evidence disappear.”
Victoria received forty-three years.
She would likely die in prison.
As officers led her away, she looked at me.
“You destroyed this family.”
I shook my head.
May you like
“No.”
“I stopped you from destroying its smallest member.”
