Chapter 9 - The Trial of the Century
The trial of Victoria Cole and Senator Richard Vance began three months later. It was a media circus, with crowds of protestors standing outside the courthouse holding signs that read “Justice for Margaret.”
Margaret didn’t have to attend. Ethan had ensured that her recorded deposition and the forensic medical reports were enough to secure a conviction, sparing her the trauma of facing her abuser.
On the witness stand, Dr. Cho presented the physical evidence of the abuse. The images of Margaret’s burns and bruises were projected on a large screen, causing several members of the jury to turn away in horror.
Then, Marcus played the audio recordings of Victoria’s threats.
“My father can ruin him in a day... you’ll always be trash...”
The defense had no leg to stand on. Victoria’s father, Senator Vance, was also found guilty of multiple counts of bribery, tax evasion, and political corruption, his career permanently destroyed.
The judge, a stern woman with no patience for high-society cruelty, looked down at Victoria during sentencing.
“Your actions, Mrs. Cole, represent the absolute worst of human nature. You took a vulnerable, elderly woman who had sacrificed everything for her family, and you treated her with a level of sadism that is frankly stomach-turning. You did this out of pure, unadulterated malice and elitism.”
The sentence was handed down:
Victoria Cole: Guilty of first-degree elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon (inflicting burns), and kidnapping. Sentenced to 18 years in state prison without the possibility of early parole.
Senator Richard Vance: Guilty of political corruption, bribery, and tax evasion. Sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
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As the handcuffs clicked into place one last time, Victoria let out a piercing scream, dragging her feet as the officers led her away to start her long sentence.
Ethan stood up from the gallery, adjusted his coat, and walked out of the courtroom. The air outside smelled clean.
