Chapter 12 - MARK’S FIRST COUNTERSTORYMark’s attorney described the situation as:
“A misguided but loving parent attempting to address severe bathing anxiety.”
That was not entirely false.
The word loving made me furious.
Then my own attorney, Rebecca Sloan, said:
“Love is not a legal defense. It can still be factually true.”
I hated her.
She continued:
“You need to distinguish three questions.”
What did Mark intend?
What did he do?
What harm or risk did it create?
Intent could affect charges and sentencing.
It did not erase conduct.
Mark did not appear to be sexually abusing Sophie.
No evidence supported that.
He was not trying to poison her.
No evidence supported that either.
He was trying to control fear with methods he invented.
Still dangerous.
Still secret.
Still potentially criminal.
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Precision did not make it smaller.
It made it harder to dismiss.
