Jerry’s attorney sent his two assistants to Mexico to talk to Rosalie and ask her to testify on Jerry’s behalf. Antonio was there and listened to what they said. They told her they would pay her to fly to Philadelphia and give her $5000 cash if she would testify for Jerry. She told them she wanted to take Antonio, her son with her and they would need someone to guide them around the city. She wanted the money up front and then she would do it. When the assistants called Jerry’s attorney, he told them to accept the deal. They went to the closest bank, the attorney wired the money, and they brought it to Rosalie. They would send her further information and the plane tickets as soon as the trail date was confirmed. They would bring them to the city a week before the trial for instructions.
Rosalie and Antonio talked after they were gone about her doing this, Antonio asked her why she was doing this for Jerry when he treated them so badly, and she hated him. She said she was still afraid of Jerry, and the family needed the money. He asked her about what really happened that night with Jerry and his father and this time she told him the truth.
“I remember only a little,” he said.
“Rosalie told Antonio, I tried to stop Jerry, but he said he would kill you and me and Damita if I ever talked. I put you behind me so you couldn’t see.”
Vince was not too far off the mark. Two days before the trial was set to begin Chad and Amelia awoke and were getting ready for work, Chad said, “Do you hear all that noise, I wonder what’s going on outside?” He dressed quickly and stepped out on the landing of their apartment and looking down. He could see a dozen or so men and women some with cameras and some with handheld recording devices. A news truck was parked at the curb. Some of the more aggressive reporters were yelling for Amelia to come out. “Jesus, I don’t believe this,” he said aloud and went back in the apartment.
“What’s going on out there Babe?”
“There’s a bunch of reporters out there calling for you to come out and be interviewed. I’m going to call Wilson to see if he knows anything.”
“Wilson you won’t believe this,” ……
Wilson interrupted, “yes I would I was about to call you, turn your TV on.”
Shelly got an early call to come to the hospital and we turned the TV on, it’s a real mess. Vince hit the nail on the head when he said Jerry’s lawyer would look for publicity and try to smear Amelia. Watch it and call me back, don’t go out of your apartment.” I’m going to call Vince and we’ll think of a way to get you two out of there. You both should pack a bag. You won’t be going back there for at least a few days. Your welcome to come stay with us, it’s going to get ugly. We have to figure out how to get you out of there and not be followed. I’ll call as soon as I know.”
Amelia came out to watch the TV, “try not to get too upset Babe, Wilson and Vince will come and get us and we’ll stay with Shelly and Wilson till this blows over,” Chad told her.
Amelia and Chad called their bosses to tell them what was going on and began watching the news.
The reporter was talking with excitement in his voice.
“Folks this is the hottest, saddest story this town has seen in a long time. Army Veteran Jerry Stillwater, who served his country in the army, is being railroaded by his very own sister, Amelia Brown. She and her husband, Chad Brown have been trying to get Jerry behind bars for years attempting to get the family farm out of his control. Chad’s leaving the military may be suspicious, no one seems to know why he left. Amelia was the only one to witness the accident. In a private interview Jerry stated that, his own sister Amelia was planning to lie about him on the stand to see that he is put behind bars where he will not be able to fulfill his life’s dream of growing food for hungry families by making his land a co-op.
Our investigative reporters here found that Amelia Brown is a woman who spent most of her life inveigling men to do her bidding. Her relationship with her other two brothers is suspicious, and it may be that perhaps they are all scheming together to snatch the farm out from Jerry the eldest and rightful heir. This woman has worked her ways with multiple men to get them to carry out her wishes on various construction jobs. One such tryst ended in the mysterious murder of the foreman of the company, whom she was having an affair with. According to Jerry, she always worked around men and worked at a construction company here in the city for several years.
A few months ago, she persuaded her husband, Chad Brown to severely beat Jerry for no reason, resulting in a fractured nose and jaw and internal injuries.
“Chad I can hardly believe my ears, it’s nothing but lies,” Amelia moaned.
“Babe, please believe me I know it is all lies, I love you and I trust you.”
“Stay tuned,” the newscaster said, “As soon as we return we will have a live interview with one of the employees Amelia worked with at a local construction company.”
After the commercial, the reporter said, I have Louie Caputo here with me, “Louie you worked with Amelia Brown at the construction company?”
“Yeah that’s right.”
“Tell us in your own words Louie what do you know about Amelia Brown?”
“I knew her pretty good. She was wit the company about two years. She and the foreman Chuck Thompson had a thing going. He always gave her special attention if you know what I mean,” he said and laughed. “He talked about her all the time, how he was making it wit her. What Chuck didn’t know at first is that when he was gone, she got special attention from the general manager and the big boss too. She always got the best jobs, long lunch hours and any day she wanted off.” When Chuck found out she was banging the others she gets him killed.”
The reporter went on, “Stillwater is on trial for murder, and his sister is the only witness to the crime. Will she testify against her own brother, against a man who served his country and it trying to help feed the world? This is truly a case against Good vs. Evil. Stay tuned to this station for coverage of the trial which will begin in two days.”
“Chad, I don’t know what to say, I’m shocked and disgraced and I really feel sad they are dragging your name through the mud too.”
“Come here Babe,” he said, taking her in his arms. You don’t need to say anything your talking to me I’m your husband, I know you, I live with you, I love you and I know the truth. I don’t care about mud on my name, all of it is bullshit, and you can’t lose your cool or let it destroy your confidence. This is all a ploy to get Jerry off by his attorney. It won’t work. He is going to get convicted and he will never drive us apart. He is really so stupid because he can’t know or understand what we have together and how wrong all of this is.
You and I know the truth because we experienced it on our wedding night. No matter even if we didn’t, I love you and trust you with all my being.”
“Chad you are my rock, I love you I needed that.”
“We’ll get through this as long as we have each other. Let’s go get packed we can’t stay here much longer.”
Vince and Wilson came in an unmarked enclosed vehicle. They went into the garage and brought out Chad and Amelia through the emergency entrance. The media kept up their barrage for the next two days stating that it might be possible Amelia fled the city and will not testify. Chad and Amelia stayed at Shelly and Wilson’s apartment until the trial.
[ Chapter 62 ]
The trail would take place the next morning. Bart and Sophie, Shelly and Wilson and Betty and Darrell would all be there sitting with Amelia and Chad to give her moral support. Roger, Deana, and Matt flew in for the trail to support Amelia also. Vince was pleased with this because it showed solidarity for Amelia. They all wanted to see what was going to happen to Jerry and hoped he would be put away forever.
The information leaked to the newspapers, probably by Jerry’s legal team caused some sensationalism hoping to portray Jerry in a sympathetic light. The newspaper story said the case was unusual because the
outcome would depend on Amelia’s testimony and seal Jerry’s fate. It could be a long jail sentence, or the death penalty. Reporters tried to interview Amelia, but Wilson, Bart, Chad, and the other police were able to keep the press at bay.
Just before the trail was to start Amelia told Chad she wanted to go to the ladies room, “I’m coming Babe,” he said getting to his feet. Chad escorted her everywhere because ever since they arrived at the courthouse press people tried to follow her around trying to get her to say something to them.
Secret thoughts: (Here it is D-Day. I’m so nervous but I can’t show it, not even to Chad. I think he knows deep down I would rather do anything than testify. I know I must I’m the only one who can do this truly I am.)
When she went in the bathroom, a woman was standing drying her hands. Amelia looked at her and was surprised when the woman said hello to her. Amelia looked closely she could hardly believe it, it was Rosalie. She looked so different thought Amelia, I’m not sure I would have recognized her if I didn’t take a very close look. She had aged considerably, her hair was graying and pulled back in a tight bun, and she had on a long multicolored cotton skirt, a white peasant blouse, and a shawl around her shoulders. She worn no makeup and her hands that in the past were soft and manicured, now looked hard and calloused. She had straw sandals and carried a large straw handbag, Rosalie approached Amelia.
“Rosalie is that you?” asked Amelia, in a surprised tone.
“Si,” said Rosalie, “you look nice, you grow up.”
“Thank you,” said Amelia automatically, “how are Antonio and Damita,” asked Amelia?”
“Bueno, buenio,” Rosalie said, and she gestured with her hand showing that they were growing up.
“Excuse me I must go to the bathroom,” said Amelia.
When she came out to wash her hands Rosalie was gone. Amelia washed her hands and went out; Chad was standing in the hall waiting for her.
“Did you see a woman dressed peasant style coming out of the restroom?” asked Amelia.
“Yes,” he said, “she looked at me in a funny way and smiled and then some lady came and escorted her off.”
“That was Rosalie,” said Amelia, “she talked to me in the restroom, she told me I looked nice and all grown up. You know I was only about 16 years old when Jerry brought her to the farm. I asked about her kids and she said they were good.”
“I remember that, I think I was home on leave when they came and started all the turmoil. What a surprise, she showed no animosity toward you?”
“No, she seemed glad to see me.”
“We better go in Babe, the trails about to start.”
The trail began with the bailiff doing the usual housekeeping chores. He gave instructions for behavior expected in the courtroom, all who enter must conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner, no cell phones, radios, or recording devices. No speaking without being call forward to do so, no chewing gum. If asked to testify give respectful answers and refer to the judge as your Honor. If you must leave for any reason do so in the quietest possible manner and don’t let the door slam. When the judge appears, all must stand. Be prepared to begin on time, the hours are from 9-5 with lunch break 12-1:30.
Everyone was there including Jerry who was dressed in a suit, his attorney and two assistants, all were sitting at the defendants table. The jury had been selected before the trail began. The judge arrived in the courtroom everyone stood up, the bailiff announced him, and the trial began with an opening statement from the prosecution outlining the case against Jerry for the murder of Roberto Valdez.
The prosecuting attorney emphasized Jerry’s vicious murder of Roberto Valdez.
The defense was next, their opening statement avowed that the charges were bogus and that no crime was committed because it was a case of self-defense and Jerry had to protect himself. The defense attorney said, “We will prove that the eyewitness who you will hear testify, is not telling the truth, but deliberately lying to get her own blood relative put away in prison for perhaps life for her own profit and gain. Jerry looked over at Amelia and smiled, Chad whispered to her not to look at Jerry, but Chad looked at Jerry, clenched his fist, and glared at him. Jerry frowned and turned away.
When it was time for Amelia’s testimony, Chad got up to let her out of the bench seat, squeezed her hand, and gave her a wink. She winked back at him to let him know she was OK and could do this.
The prosecuting attorney went through the questions they reviewed previously. It was all going well.
His last question was the one that riveted the jury, “Tell us in your own words what happened that day, what did you see?”
Amelia began and told her story,” I was on my way to Ida’s, and stopped off to see if I could find some photos from my room that I forgot. I snuck into the house using the back stairs not wanting any of them to see me. When I heard a commotion, I looked out the window of my room and saw the whole thing. I saw Jerry hit Roberto in the head with a shovel. I was both frightened and ashamed as I watched Jerry drag Roberto’s body to the edge of the field, and lay him there, then come back for the shovel. I left quietly and no one saw me.”
“Amelia, you told us that you saw your brother Jerry murder Roberto, is that true?”
“Yes,” said Amelia, I saw him murder Roberto.”
The courtroom erupted with the hum of talking among the reporters and spectators.
The judge banged his gavel, “Order, order, order in the court, if there’s another outburst like that I will clear the court!”
The prosecutor continued, “Why didn’t you come forward with that information when you were away at college or safely married and away from the farm?”
“Because I was afraid Jerry would come and do something bad to my family and I had to protect them, I didn’t want to disrupt their lives. I heard Jerry threaten to kill Rosalie and her children and I was afraid he would do that to us too.”
It was time for the defense to cross-examine Amelia. Jerry’s lawyer began by asking how many boyfriends Amelia had when she was in high school. He continued a path of questioning that make Amelia sounds as if she were a promiscuous, self-serving teenager. Amelia held her own, she looked at Chad a few times, and then, she answered truthfully, stayed calm, and remained polite. At the end of the defense questioning not much had been gained by the embarrassing questions.
Amelia finally was able to step down and walk to her seat. Chad stood up and gave her a small hug and a kiss on the cheek, he could feel she was trembling slightly. He sat very close to her and put his arm around her, he whispered in her ear, “You did a wonderful job Babe you pulled it off perfectly.”
“Thanks, I needed that,” she said and smiled at him.
It was the defenses turn to bring out their witnesses. There were a few other witnesses who testified that there was no real physical evidence, because Roberto’s body had decomposed so much over the years. The eyewitnesses’ accounts were the only substantial evidence.
Then Rosalie Valdez was called to come to the witness box. She and Antonio were sitting on the defense side of the courtroom. He was going to be her interrupter, having learned English well at work. They walked slowly in front of the table where Jerry sat, Antonio carried a pad and pen and walked with his mother. Distracted as he looked at the judge Antonio tripped over his mother’s long skirt. Reaching out to keep from falling, Antonio grabbed the edge of the table jarring it. The impact knocked over the pitcher of water and glasses that were on the end of the table. The jerky movement of tripping caused Antonio to lose his balance and the pad and pen he was carrying in his hand, flew out of his hand and the pen rolled under the table. He bent over, reached deep under the table, and brought back the ink pen that had rolled close to Jerry’s leg, he picked it and the pad up. Jerry complained to his attorney’s staff member sitting next to him, that he felt a sharp cramp and needed to straighten out
his leg. The attorney’s staff told him to stretch out his leg and to stand up for a minute, while one of the court guards, got some paper towels to clean up the spilled water. Rosalie and Antonio walked to the witness box. Jerry’s attorney helped Rosalie sit in the witness box chair. Antonio sat in a chair close to her. Both were humble and very apologetic. The attorney wanted Rosalie to try to tell the story in her own words first, thinking that would be more effective, Antonio would help her if needed. She raised her right hand, and was sworn in, and she stated her full name. Just as she finished saying her name, Jerry stood up and screamed HELP ME! HELP ME! I can’t breathe, I can’t see! My vision is fucked up, and I’m in pain, he grabbed his chest and slumped across the desk.
The guard ran over to see what was wrong with him, and couldn’t get Jerry to respond, he called 911 on his radio. He laid Jerry on the floor, undid his tie, and opened his shirt. Shelly and Sophie ran over to the table and Shelly said, “I’m a doctor and she a nurse we’re here to help.” Shelly and Sophie began examining Jerry. They could feel his body twitching and he was moaning and gasping for air. Then Jerry stopped breathing. Sophie and Shelly were ready to start CPR, when the EMTs arrived. Shelly told them what she observed, and they began CPR. They lifted him on to the stretcher and got him out to the ambulance and rushed him to the local ED.
Everyone was shaken. The courtroom was in chaos. The judge banged hard with his gavel and declared that court was adjourned for the day. The group that was with Amelia all went back to Shelly and Wilson’s apartment. Betty’s mother had arranged for sandwiches, salad, and drinks to be brought in. They sat around talking and wondering what in the world happened to Jerry. An hour later Wilson’s phone rang first this time, then Bart’s, they each stepped away to talk. Wilson came back in the room and had a funny look on his face, Bart was right behind him.
Secrets of Amelia Page 39
