Chapter 8 - Justice Served Cold
The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
When they returned to the courtroom, the tension was palpable. The court clerk handed the verdict sheets to the judge, who reviewed them silently before instructing the defendant to stand.
Judith stood up, her jaw set, still holding onto the arrogant belief that her social status would protect her.
"On count one, felony assault and battery on a vulnerable victim, how do you find?" the judge asked.
"Guilty," the jury foreman declared.
"On count two, grand larceny..."
"Guilty."
"On count three, wire fraud and criminal embezzlement..."
"Guilty."
A quiet sigh of relief washed over the room. I buried my face against Ethan’s shoulder as tears of exhaustion and liberation finally flowed down my cheeks.
Three weeks later, the sentencing hearing was held. The judge showed no leniency to Judith Carter.
"Mrs. Carter," the judge stated sternly, looking down from the bench. "Your actions were not the result of a temporary loss of emotional control. You engaged in systematic fraud, emotional abuse, and a horrific act of physical violence against a hospitalized family member. You have shown zero remorse for your actions."
The judge sentenced Judith Carter to twelve years in state prison without the possibility of parole for the first seven years, along with full financial restitution of the stolen trust funds and wedding deposits.
Ashley received five years of probation, mandatory community service, and was ordered to make partial restitution through garnished wages.
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As the bailiffs led a weeping, broken Judith away in handcuffs to begin her sentence, she looked back at Ethan one last time, begging for help.
Ethan did not flinch. He simply turned his back on her, walking out of the courtroom into the bright sunlight with his arm wrapped tightly around my waist.
