Chapter 16 - THE VERDICT
The jury convicted Victoria of:
Voluntary manslaughter.
Obstruction of justice.
Evidence tampering.
Child endangerment.
Child cruelty related to food deprivation and coercive discipline.
Attempted trust fraud.
Misuse of child-care funds.
Two fiduciary fraud counts.
They acquitted her of one higher homicide theory requiring a mental state prosecutors failed to prove.
They acquitted one financial count involving a Crown transaction that had arguably fallen within advisory authority.
Mixed.
Accurate.
She did not murder Elena according to the verdict’s legal classification.
She unlawfully shoved her during confrontation.
Then chose concealment over aid.
That caused or contributed materially to death.
Sophia’s statement:
Grandma killed Mom.
A child’s language.
The law translated it into elements.
I did not correct Sophia.
I also did not teach her that every death equals murder.
When she was older, she would get the fuller truth.
At sentencing, I gave a statement.
“Elena’s death happened in seconds. Victoria’s decisions afterward lasted forty minutes. Sophia’s fear lasted months.”
Then:
“I am not asking the court to punish my mother for being controlling, class-conscious, or difficult. I am asking the court to sentence the crimes the jury found.”
Victoria received a substantial custodial sentence followed by supervision.
Age considered.
No prior criminal record.
No leniency that erased a death.
No life sentence.
Permanent fiduciary ban.
Restitution.
Forfeiture of certain benefits tied to fraud.
Her lawful personal assets remained hers.
Sterling Crown equity entered civil settlement.
The Bellweather remained open.
As marshals prepared to escort her, Victoria looked at me.
“Alexander.”
I said nothing.
Then:
“Tell Sophia I’m sorry.”
I answered:
May you like
“You tell her if she ever chooses to hear you.”
For once, access to the child would belong to the child.
