Chapter 7 - Justice Served
The trial lasted less than two weeks.
The mountain of forensic evidence presented by Julian Vance, combined with the mechanical reports from the Boston auto shop and Daniel’s eyewitness testimony, left the jury with zero doubts.
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the jury returned with their unanimous verdict.
Guilty on all counts.
First-degree murder. Grand larceny. Deed forgery. Corporate fraud. Obstruction of justice.
Judge Harris delivered the sentence without a shred of hesitation.
“Richard Sterling,” Judge Harris announced, her voice echoing with thunderous severity. “For the cold, calculated murder of your own brother, Arthur Sterling, and for the systematic theft and abuse inflicted upon his surviving wife and daughter, I sentence you to life in prison without the possibility of parole.”
She turned her gaze to Margaret.
“Margaret Sterling, for your active participation in corporate forgery and aiding a felon, you are sentenced to twelve years at the Framingham Women’s Correctional Institution.”
Daniel, having turned state's witness and provided the crucial evidence that solved his brother's murder, received a five-year suspended sentence with mandatory community service and full asset forfeiture.
As the guards stepped forward to pull Richard into the holding cells, he looked back one last time.
His eyes found mine, searching for any flicker of mercy, any sign of the timid, broken widow he had tried to step on three years ago.
May you like
He found nothing.
I stood tall, holding Lily’s small hand in mine, watching him get dragged down into the dark corridor until the heavy steel doors slammed shut behind him forever.
