Chapter 24 - SOPHIE TELLS THEM ABOUT HER SHOE
Sophie testified remotely under approved child-witness procedures.
Short.
No adult beside her feeding answers.
A support specialist nearby.
The prosecutor asked:
“Do you know Celeste?”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
“Daddy’s aunt old.”
I closed my eyes.
Not inaccurate.
“Did something happen on stairs?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“She push me.”
“What were you doing before?”
“Going Daddy.”
“Where was Daddy?”
“Down.”
“Did Celeste say something?”
“She say I no upstairs.”
“Why?”
“Family.”
“Then?”
“She turn me.”
“What happened?”
“I fall but Daddy catch.”
“Did you touch the stairs?”
“No.”
“Did anything touch stairs?”
“My shoe.”
The prosecutor smiled slightly.
“Were you hurt?”
“No.”
“Were you scared?”
“Yes.”
Then defense.
“Sophie, did Grandpa push you?”
“No.”
“Touch you?”
“No.”
“Did Grandpa tell you directly that Celeste should push you?”
Sophie thought.
“No.”
“Then why did you tell your dad Grandpa told Celeste?”
The judge watched carefully.
Sophie answered:
“Celeste say Grandpa says go down.”
Correct.
Defense:
“Did she say Grandpa told her to hurt you?”
“No.”
Good.
Evidence narrowed properly.
Then:
“Did Celeste sometimes take you downstairs before?”
“Yes.”
“Without hurting?”
“Yes.”
“Could she have been trying to turn you around?”
Sophie frowned.
“She let go.”
That was her memory.
Hands.
Push.
Release.
Then the attorney asked:
“What did you think would happen?”
Sophie looked confused.
“Stairs.”
Enough.
May you like
No child courtroom victory.
Just a five-year-old and a missing shoe.
