He starts calling upon those that responded like Sheriff Aaron Connors, a detective, the counselor that mom and Denise started to see. After they were cross examined by Mr Hatfield. Mr. Wells then calls on Denise to take the stand. She gets up and goes up to sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth and Denise does. She sits and that is when Mr. Wells starts in asking about the night in question.
Denise says Her and Mom were enjoying a quiet evening saying that I was at the school prom and they wanted time spent nice. He goes in further in detail and Denise answers to her best ability. Once he is done Mr. Hatfield starts in which isn’t pretty by bringing up her and Mom’s sexual orientation and some other crap that is badgering. Mr. Wells steps in and Judge Anderson tells Mr. Hatfield to refrain from asking questions that could be consider contempt of court. Mr.
Hatfield says no further questions and sits. Judge Anderson thanks Denise and tells her she can go back to her seat. He then asks Wells to call his next witness. Mom is squeezing my hand tight as she knows she is about to be called. At that exact moment Wells calls his last witness which is my mother up to the stand. Just like Denise she is being asked to tell the truth and nothing but the truth and mom says I do. She sits and Wells begins.
He goes over a few things like some of her past and her home life, which mom answers well. He asks her about the Friday after Valentine’s Day. And I can see anger in her eyes. She tells the Judge and court that I was sitting in my chair being talked down by Russ’s son David and after all that was said that I left. He then stands there and asks what happened after. Mom takes a deep breath and begins.
” After I saw my son Alex leave I started to go after him, but Russ grabbed my arm and stopped me.” in a upset voice mom said ” And what was his reason for stopping you Ms. Cartwright?” Wells asked mom in concern ” His reason was that I had a man in the house and to focus on the now. And he wanted his meal.” Mom answered to Mr. Wells ” So he stopped you from going to the only child you have for a meal. What else did he say.” Mr.
Wells again asked in a concerning tone ” He told me to forget my son and that his son just need some love of a mother and I could give David the love I have for my son.” Mom again answered with a hurt voice ” So Mr. Stevens was keeping you from doing what any mother would do going to her son and checking if he was alright.” Mr.
Wells stated to the court ” Yes , he also proclaimed that Alex need to grow up and could suffer out in the cold and fend for himself.” Mom explained to the court I sat there hearing all this and wanted to just jump the guard rail and pound Russ in the head. Mina squeezed my hand and scooted closer to me to comfort me. Mr. Wells kept going asking mom further questions and then he came to the next night in question. The night of her rape.
” Terra can you tell me the events of that last Friday of May. That evening in general?” Mr. Wells asked mom with concern Mom sat looking at him then us. Judge Anderson told mom to take her time to speak. She gave him a nod and took a deep breath. ” That evening Alex and his fiance Mina went to their prom. Mina’s parents stayed for a little while until 7 p.m. About a hour later the front door flew open and Russ walked in quickly. He grabbed hold of Denise and hit her hard to knock her out.
I sat there in horror as I watched it happen.” She stated to the court ” And that is when he turned on you Ms. Cartwright?” Mr Wells stated his question ” Yes, he came at me and held me down on the couch and was hitting me to get me from struggling. He told me to shut up or he would kill me. So I shut up knowing I had to stay alive for my Son, Denise and my family.” Mom exclaimed ” So after he got you to stop what happened next?” Mr.
Wells with a intent expression asked ” He kept me down and pulled my sweats and panties off and had me spread my legs. He forced his body on me. Russ hit me a few more times. I kept screaming No please don’t.” Mom stated with a few tears ” Ms. Cartwright do you need a break?” Judge Anderson asked concerned ” No your honor I need to do this to get past that night.” Mom explained to him ” Ok, please proceed.” Judge Anderson told mom ” So Mr.
Stevens took advantage of the situation and proceeded further and started with the rape.” Mr. Wells asked stating a fact ” Objection.” Mr. Hatfield yelled with venom ” Overruled.” Judge Anderson proclaimed to Hatfield then added” The witness will answer the question.” ” Yes, he did , he undid his jeans and lowered them.
He started thrusting which hurt so much I wanted to get up and run, but he held me down with force I couldn’t get up.” Mom stated again with more tears ” So during all this that was going on where was Ms. Timmons at.” Mr. Wells asked in a wondering voice ” She was still on the floor, she woke up as he was just um…finishing and she slowly got behind him.” Mom exclaimed to the court ” So is that when she noticed the iron skillet that you used to scare Mr.
Stevens and his Son with?” Wells asked stating ” Yes, she grabbed it slowly and snuck behind Russ and got him to turn and that was when she hit him with it. She saved me from getting hurt worse.” Mom stated matter of factly to the court ” Thank you Ms. Cartwright no further questions your honor.” Mr. Wells said to the judge The Judge nodded and told Mr. Hatfield it was his turn. Hatfield stood up and started in. He tried to make it sound mom had it coming and that she wanted it to happen. Mr.
Wells objected and the Judge told badgering would not happen in his court. Hatfield re said the questions in another way, and again Mr. Wells objected. The Judge gave Hatfield another warning with his gavel. After mom answered the questions the best she could she was told she could return to her seat and thanked. Mom returned sitting between Denise and I. That’s when Mr. Wells and Hatfield took turns giving ending statements.
The Judge announced the jury would step out at this time to come up with a decision. We stood as they left and he stepped out. Mom, Mina, Denise, and I got up and went outside for some air. Mom stayed by us and was quiet. The others talked of what they thought and told Mom and Denise they did very well. I glanced over where David, Trina, Chase, and Mr. Hatfield was standing. David had a look of hate in his eyes.
I just gave him one back, but stayed where I was at to keep my word not to start anything. A few minutes later Mr. Wells came up to us and told us he thought it was a self closed case. With all the testimony and evidence that it will be a start of another healing for Mom and Denise. It was thirty minutes later we were called back in. Seems the jury came to a decision. Mr. Wells must of had a gut feeling. We returned where we sat before and listened to the Judge.
He asked Russ to stand and face the jury. The Judge then asked the head Juror to announce their verdict. ” In the case of The State vs Mr. Stevens we the jury find him Guilty on all accounts.” The Juror announced to the Judge At that moment David stood and yelled bullshit that my mom and Denise lied. The Judge told him to sit back down or he will be in handcuffs for bursting out in his courtroom. David sat , but turned and gave me a hateful look. The judge proclaimed his decision.