Marcus Vance: My client was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, Your Honor! She was not in her right mind!
David: Postpartum psychosis?! She pre-recorded staged videos three months before the baby was born!
Judge Reynolds: Silence in the courtroom! Mr. Vance, address the bench, not the petitioner.
Marcus Vance: Your Honor, Mrs. Miller is a loving mother who was overwhelmed. The videos recovered from her phone were merely dramatic creative concepts for her personal vlog channel, not actual attempts to harm her child.
Three weeks had passed since the terrifying incident at the mansion. The high-stakes custody and criminal hearing took place in a crowded downtown courthouse. Vanessa sat at the defense table dressed in a plain grey jumpsuit, her hands handcuffed, looking entirely stripped of her former glamour.
Prosecutor Hayes: Your Honor, the state presents Exhibit C: digital forensic records showing Mrs. Miller consulted with financial advisors regarding the baby's ten-million-dollar trust fund two days before the kettle incident.
Judge Reynolds: Let me see those records.
Marcus Vance: Objection! That evidence is irrelevant to the criminal child endangerment charge!
Judge Reynolds: Overruled. In cases involving severe child risk, financial motive is highly relevant. Proceed, Mr. Hayes.
Prosecutor Hayes: Thank you, Your Honor. Furthermore, we call our key witness to the stand: Nannette Flores.
Nann stepped forward, her heart racing as she took her place in the witness box. She wore a modest blue dress, holding her head high. Vanessa glared at her with pure venom from across the room.
Prosecutor Hayes: Ms. Flores, please tell the court what you witnessed on the morning of September 12th.
Nann: I saw Mrs. Miller holding a boiling kettle directly over baby Noah's head. She was holding her phone in her other hand, recording his reaction as the steam hit his face.
Marcus Vance: Ms. Flores, isn't it true that you are a paid employee of Mr. Miller? Isn't he paying you a massive new salary to testify against my client?
Nann: Mr. Miller pays me to care for Noah and keep him safe. But no amount of money could buy my silence when a baby's life is in danger!
Prosecutor Hayes: Did Mrs. Miller ever express concern for the baby's safety while you were present?
Nann: Never. She only cared about lighting, camera angles, and how many views her posts were getting. She viewed that poor baby as a prop!
Judge Reynolds: Thank you, Ms. Flores. You may step down.
Marcus Vance: Your Honor, we request immediate release on bail so my client can seek private medical evaluation.
Judge Reynolds: Bail is DENIED. Given the forensic evidence of premeditation and the severe risk to the minor child, the defendant will remain in custody pending trial.
Vanessa: No! You can't do this to me! David, tell them! Tell them you still love me!
David: I loved the woman I thought you were. That woman never existed.
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