Chapter 4: The Trial
Six months later...
The courtroom was packed.
Journalists filled every seat.
The prosecution played the hotel CCTV for the jury.
No dramatic speeches were necessary.
The video spoke for itself.
Frame by frame.
Second by second.
The defense argued Preston had acted "in the heat of the moment."
The prosecutor answered with one sentence.
"You cannot lose your temper over a theft that you staged yourself."
The courtroom remained silent.
Sophie testified only briefly.
She held a small stuffed rabbit while answering simple questions.
"No..."
"I never took his phone."
The jury watched her quietly.
Several jurors wiped tears from their eyes.
After only three hours of deliberation...
The verdict arrived.
Guilty.
On every count.
Child abuse.
Aggravated assault.
Filing a false report.
Evidence tampering.
Fraud related to the staged accusation.
As deputies led Preston away...
He looked toward his parents.
May you like
For the first time...
They couldn't save him.
