Chapter 19 - The Trial Begins
The courtroom in the Harris County Criminal Courts Building was packed to capacity when the trial of State of Texas v. Vivian Hayes commenced.
Vivian sat at the defense table wearing a drab gray inmate jumpsuit, her arrogant demeanor completely replaced by a bitter, sullen scowl.
Over the first five days of testimony, prosecutors paraded a stream of expert witnesses, wedding guests, police officers, and medical professionals to the stand.
The most devastating moment of the trial occurred when the audio recordings of Vivian threatening little Maisie were played aloud for the jury.
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Several jurors wiped away tears as the seven-year-old’s terrified, trembling voice filled the silent, solemn courtroom.
Vivian stared straight ahead at the mahogany wall, refusing to look at the jury box as her carefully constructed socialite life crumbled into ash.
