Chapter 7 - The Video Plays
The courtroom went dead silent as the bailiff set up the monitor.
David’s face drained of color. He turned slowly to look at his mother. Margaret’s fake neck brace suddenly looked very uncomfortable. She gripped the wooden pew in front of her.
The video played.
The loud, sickening SMACK echoed through the quiet courtroom. The judge flinched. The court reporter gasped. The video clearly showed Margaret striking a defenseless toddler, and then boldly admitting to it, claiming the little girl was worth less than a boy.
Then it showed me defending my child.
When the video ended, the silence was suffocating.
The judge slowly turned her gaze to David and his attorney. Her eyes were blazing with judicial fury.
"Mr. Sterling," the judge said, her voice shaking with anger. "You submitted a sworn affidavit stating your mother did not strike this child. You committed perjury in my courtroom."
"I... she told me..." David stammered, pointing a shaking finger at Margaret.
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"Save it," the judge snapped. "Emergency full custody is awarded to the mother. Mr. Sterling, you will have supervised visitation only. Margaret Sterling is hereby ordered to stay 500 yards away from the minor child at all times. And I am forwarding this video to the District Attorney's office to pursue child abuse and perjury charges against your mother."
Margaret let out a loud, theatrical wail and collapsed onto the bench. No one rushed to help her.
