Chapter 12 - Valerie says Lucas used her
Valerie’s defense shifted.
Not:
Mara attacked me.
That had become untenable.
Now:
Lucas manipulated both women.
True enough to be useful.
Her attorney produced messages.
Valerie:
I’m done being hidden.
Lucas:
Soon.
Valerie:
You said that in March.
Lucas:
Mara will drag custody and money out forever.
Valerie:
Then file.
Lucas:
I need leverage first.
There.
Then:
She’s pregnant. Maybe don’t turn her life into a negotiation.
That was Valerie.
The woman who later hit me with a pan.
People remain complicated.
Then attack day.
Valerie:
I’m not fighting her.
Lucas:
No one asked you to.
Valerie:
You want her mad. That’s fighting.
Lucas:
Just tell the truth.
Then after she arrived, her own conduct crossed every line.
She could not outsource that to Lucas.
At a pretrial hearing, her lawyer emphasized:
She did not bring the pan.
True.
She picked it up in our kitchen.
She initially brought food.
She had no prior violent record.
The first strike occurred during heated confrontation engineered by Lucas.
All mitigating context.
Then prosecution:
She advanced while holding heavy pan.
I backed away.
She struck my face.
Raised it again while I was on floor.
Police stopped her.
Those were her choices.
Both.
Then Valerie offered to plead to a reduced felony assault count with probation and short jail cap.
Prosecutor initially declined due second attempted swing and pregnancy.
May you like
Negotiations continued.
No resolution yet.
