Chapter 16 - The Courtroom Showdown
Four months later, the high-stakes murder trial began at the central county courthouse. The courtroom was packed to maximum capacity with journalists, legal experts, and curious onlookers.
Diego sat at the defense table in a sharp charcoal suit, flanked by three high-priced defense attorneys. He maintained his confident, dismissive air, occasionally smirking at the media gallery.
The pivotal moment arrived when Mariana was called to the witness stand. Dressed in a modest navy-blue suit, her dark hair pulled back neatly, she walked past Diego without giving him a single glance. She took the oath, her voice clear and resonant.
For three hours, Mariana delivered a powerful, meticulous account of the events of that fateful Sunday morning. She described the clogged drain, the chemical odor, the arrival of Lucia and Officer Vance, and the exact words Diego had whispered to her in the hallway.
When the defense attorney attempted to cross-examine her, trying to paint her as an unstable, vengeful wife seeking divorce assets, Mariana looked directly at the jury with absolute composure.
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"I didn't care about his money," Mariana declared, her voice ringing clearly across the silent courtroom. "I cared about protecting my daughter from a monster who brought the remains of his victim into our home."
👉 Read PART 17 to hear the final jury verdict!
