Chapter 18 - Under Oath
Diane wore a cream cardigan to court and smiled at the jury as if she'd come to chair a church committee.
On the witness stand, I kept my shaking hands under the table. The prosecutor asked about the forged reports, the kitchen document, and the first strike.
"What did you do after Mrs. Calder swung again?"
"I stopped the handle," I said. "I didn't know if she was going to stop on her own."
"And Mr. Calder?"
"He grabbed the arm she'd hit and told me to apologize."
Diane's attorney asked about my slap. I didn't minimize it.
"Yes, I struck Ryan. I was frightened and hurt. I wish that moment hadn't happened. But it happened after his mother attacked me and he grabbed my injured arm."
"You could have walked away," the attorney said.
"I was trying to get away. He was holding me."
Then the prosecutor played the unedited video. I didn't look at Diane. I looked at the jurors, who saw the movement of the handle and heard every word.
Ryan testified later that afternoon. He admitted he wanted me scared enough to sign. His lawyer had explained that cooperating could affect the resolution of his own charges; the prosecutor made that clear to the jury.
"Why didn't you stop your mother?" the prosecutor asked.
Ryan swallowed. "Because I thought June would back down."
"When she was struck?"
"Yes."
A juror lowered her eyes to her notebook. Diane stared straight ahead.
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When court recessed, I passed Ryan in the hallway with officers between us. He mouthed, I'm sorry. I kept walking. A statement made after consequences arrive isn't a doorway somebody else is required to reopen.
The next day, the jury sent a note to the judge. They wanted the recording played again, beginning with Ryan's words in the pantry.
