The judge frowned at the defendant's pleadings. Clearly, as shown by the tone of his voice and the way he had been acting, he was mentally insane to some degree. His word could no longer be taken as truth despite the oath he was forced to take prior to the trial. "Very well, Mr. Hanson," the judge finally said. The trial then continued with Harvey glaring at his son virtually the whole time. Whenever he wasn't looking at Sam, he would be looking at the judge; who wasn't planning to let him off the hook easily.

[hr]
Naturally, the eyewitness accounts and other evidence was presented during the trial. As the prosecutors described what they collected about the night of December eighteenth, Brooklyn could only cuddle up against an unknowing Sam for comfort. Her screams that night, the blood dripping from her cuts, and the burning smell of smoke rushed into her memories. The prosecutors left no words unsaid. The worst part, however, was when they presented images of the busted car with Brooklyn's newly deceased body crumpled in it. That made her look away immediately, burying her face into Sam's arm instead of staring at the photo. She wanted to leave the trial more than anything. For some reason, she felt as if she should stay, though. As if something dramatic was about to happen.

[hr] 
Three hours later, the judge had heard enough. "Mr. Hanson, please stand," he declared authoritatively. Harvey, still sitting, drew his eyes away from his son and towards the judge. His gaze was bitter, as if daring the judge to find him guilty of any of the three charges.  "I repeat, Mr. Hanson, please stand." With that, Harvey finally complied. 

"On the account of assault to Ella Smith, you are found guilty. For child endangerment to Louis Hanson, you have also been found guilty. As for the murder of Brooklyn Jones..." The judge sent a brief glance Sam's way. "...not guilty."