Mr. Sterling: Objection, Your Honor! This is unverified footage! Counsel is attempting to ambuscade my client without prior notice!
Arthur: Your Honor, this footage was retrieved directly from a secure cloud server registered to the late Richard Vance. It directly contradicts the sworn testimony given by the witness less than two minutes ago.
Judge Miller: Overruled, Mr. Sterling. I will allow the evidence. Play the video, Mr. Vance.
Arthur plugged the silver USB drive into the court's media station. The giant monitors mounted on the courtroom walls flickered to life, showing crystal-clear video of the Dallas mansion pool area.
The timestamp in the corner read 2:14 PM—exactly ten minutes before the 911 call was made.
The courtroom went dead silent as the video played.
On the screen, Beatrice was clearly visible carrying two-year-old Lily out onto the patio. Lily was wearing a bright yellow sundress. Beatrice walked slowly toward the deep end of the swimming pool, looking around to see if anyone was watching.
Then, with a cold, heartless smile, Beatrice lifted the child over the water and dropped her into the five-foot-deep pool.
Gasps erupted throughout the courtroom gallery. Several jury members let out sharp cries of horror.
Gallery Member: My God! Look at her! She threw the baby in!
The video continued, showing Beatrice standing calmly with her arms crossed while the toddler thrashed violently in the water. Seconds later, Elena appeared on screen, sprinting across the lawn and diving headfirst into the pool to rescue the baby.
Clara was seen running out from the house moments later, confronting Beatrice, and slapping her across the face in maternal rage.
Judge Miller: Silence in the court!
Judge Miller slammed his gavel repeatedly, his eyes wide with utter shock and anger as he stared at Beatrice on the witness stand.
Judge Miller: Mrs. Vance... do you have any explanation for what this court just witnessed?
Beatrice gripped the edges of the wooden witness box, her breath coming in ragged, panting gasps. Her face was pale as chalk.
Beatrice: It's... it's a deepfake! It's an AI video generated to destroy me!
Arthur: The file metadata has been verified by state forensic experts, Your Honor. The digital signature is completely authentic and untouched.
Judge Miller: Mrs. Vance, you just committed severe perjury under oath in a capital court proceeding. More importantly, you committed attempted murder of a two-year-old child on video!
Beatrice: Your Honor, please! You don't understand! Clara was going to take everything! The fifty million dollars belonged to my family name!
Judge Miller: Bailiffs, take Mrs. Beatrice Vance into custody immediately! No bail will be set!
Two armed court officers stepped forward, grabbing Beatrice's arms and locking steel handcuffs around her wrists.
Beatrice: Let go of me! Do you know who I am?! Sterling, do something! Call my lawyers!
Mr. Sterling: Your Honor... my firm is withdrawing as counsel for Mrs. Vance immediately.
Beatrice screamed and thrashed as she was dragged out of the courtroom doors in front of dozens of flashing news cameras.
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