Chapter 23 - THE CAMERA ABOVE THE KENNEL
The prosecution began with video.
No dramatic narration.
Timestamp.
Nora entering mudroom holding tablet.
Theresa following.
No audio for the first thirty seconds.
Then microphone picked up enough.
Nora:
“Mom said Daddy bought shoes.”
Theresa:
“Put the tablet down.”
Nora:
“No.”
Theresa takes tablet.
Nora reaches.
Theresa points toward kennel.
Nora backs away.
Then audio clearer:
“You want to act like an animal over forty-five-dollar shoes?”
Defense objected to prosecutor’s characterization later, but the recording spoke.
Theresa opens kennel.
Nora says:
“No.”
Theresa grips upper arms.
Shoves.
Door closes.
Lock.
Then:
“Ask for those forty-five-dollar shoes again.”
Six minutes.
Nora crying.
Theresa standing nearby for two.
Then leaving frame briefly.
Returning.
Then I enter.
Unlock.
Lift Nora.
Phone rings.
Audrey’s voice.
Slap.
My act visible too.
The prosecution did not crop it out.
Good.
Defense cross-examined Diane.
“Had Theresa ever locked Nora inside before?”
“No.”
“Hit Nora?”
“Not that I saw.”
“Denied food?”
“No.”
“Provided care?”
“Yes.”
“Attended school events?”
“Yes.”
“Helped during Audrey’s illness?”
“Extensively.”
Good.
The jury saw a whole person.
Not a cartoon.
Then Diane:
“Did extensive help give her permission to lock Nora in the kennel?”
May you like
“No.”
Simple.
