Chapter 14 - Shadows in the Courtroom
Six months after his initial conviction, Sergio’s appeal hearing was scheduled at the federal district court.
Mariana sat in the back row of the gallery, dressed in a sharp navy suit, her phone fully charged and her evidentiary folder resting on her lap. She hadn't planned on attending, but when the prosecutor called to say Sergio was claiming mental coercion and framing by his own family, she knew she had to be there to look him in the eye.
The heavy wooden doors opened, and Sergio was led in by two federal marshals. He looked thinner, his skin pale from lack of sunlight, his orange jumpsuit hanging loosely over his shoulders. But the moment his eyes scanned the courtroom and landed on Mariana, that familiar, venomous sneer twisted across his face.
He whispered something aggressively to his public defender, pointing a cuffed finger toward the gallery.
The judge, a sharp-eyed magistrate who had reviewed every single audio file, medical report, and threatening letter, banged his gavel to restore order.
“Mr. Morales, your defense counsel has submitted a motion for a retrial based on alleged family conspiracy,” the judge announced, his voice echoing coldly through the chamber. “Before we hear your arguments, the prosecution has submitted a supplementary exhibit: a threatening letter sent to the primary witness forty-eight hours ago.”
Sergio’s face drained of color. He stopped struggling against his cuffs, his eyes darting wildly toward the judge’s bench.
“Let the record show,” the judge continued, lifting the paper Mariana had submitted, “that the defendant has actively violated prison communication protocols and issued direct physical threats to a minor and her mother.”
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The judge didn’t even wait for the defense to speak.
“Motion denied. Sentence extended by an additional three years. Take him away.”
