Chapter 5 — Justice in Court
Three months later the courtroom was full.
This time...
I wasn't appearing as a prosecutor.
I was appearing as a mother.
My father sat at the defense table looking much smaller than I remembered.
My mother refused to look at me.
The prosecutor presented photographs.
Medical reports.
Witness testimony.
Security footage from the birthday party.
Then Detective Mitchell placed the leather belt into evidence.
The courtroom became silent.
When it was my turn to testify, I looked directly at my father.
"You taught me that fear was respect."
I shook my head.
"You were wrong."
"My daughter will grow up learning something different."
After hours of testimony, the judge returned.
Richard Coleman was convicted of felony child endangerment and assault.
Protective orders were immediately issued.
The judge looked toward my mother.
"Mrs. Coleman, your repeated attempts to justify violence were noted by this court."
She left the courtroom without saying a word.
May you like
For the first time in her life...
no one followed.
