Chapter 17 - Justice Served
After three days of deliberation, the jury returned to the courtroom with their final verdicts. The silence inside the room was heavy, filled with palpable anticipation as the judge took his seat.
"On count one, first-degree murder in the death of Elena Vance, how do you find the defendant?" the judge asked.
"Guilty," the jury foreman announced firmly.
"On count two, destruction of evidence and desecration of human remains... Guilty. On counts three through eight, grand larceny and wire fraud... Guilty."
Diego’s arrogant smile finally shattered completely. His face turned pale as stone as the reality of his sentence washed over him. His high-priced lawyers looked down at their notes in silence, unable to alter the mountain of physical and testimonial truth stacked against their client.
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The judge sentenced Diego to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his natural life behind cold steel bars. As officers led him away in heavy chains, Diego turned to look at Mariana one last time, but she was already turning her back on him, walking out into the bright sunlight with her head held high.
👉 Read PART 18 to see how Lucia was recognized for her heroic vigilance!
