Like a Heartbeat Drives You Mad
Last Tuesday morning, we were back in court. As expected, the defense asked for another extension which was granted and the next appearance is set for Friday, March 13. In the meantime, there will be a meeting between legal counsel and the judge regarding a conflict of interest that arose after the defendant contacted a former public defender following the crime, thereby making that individual a potential witness.
During the brief proceedings, Deputy District Attorney, O'Bryan Kenney called attention to the numerous friends and family that were in the courtroom on Jeannessa's behalf. In his debrief with us afterward, he let us know that he routinely makes note of the support in the courtroom when addressing the judge to make sure our presence is recorded in official court records. He also confirmed that our presence can indeed have a positive effect on the judicial outcome. Our family deeply appreciates everyone who has taken their time to be with us in court. Thank you!
I must also take this time to acknowledge the defendant- I am unwilling to utter his name and often refer to him as "Voldemort." (Harry Potter fans, like Jeannessa, understand the reference.) He did not appear in court in October due to staffing shortages, which I found to be oddly disappointing. It's so very challenging to explain, but I understand I am not alone in this feeling. Perhaps seeing him in the flesh allows me to wrap my mind around the reality of the situation. I'm not sure. He was present this past Tuesday.
When he walked into the courtroom, I felt a sensation in my belly like the little explosion that happens when throwing a match on a BBQ filled with lighter fluid, and then my heart started pounding. I didn't take my eyes off of him the entire time, and at one point he made eye contact with me. There were no signs of remorse. Instead, he kept his head up, surveying the scene. Being the center of attention in the courtroom seemed to light up his ego. I am in full support of fair legal representation and even this piece of shit getting his due process, but at the end of the proceedings when the public defender had chummy conversation with him over a friendly handshake, it was absolutely too much- a grotesque display of disrespect for the people in the courtroom who were there out of love for Jeannessa and Max.
On a lighter note, things are moving along with Jeannessa's Friends. We are in the process of establishing our first board of directors, so that once we receive our 501 (c) 3 status we can hit the ground running- quite literally, as I would like to host an annual 5k fundraiser.
I hope you and your family are enjoying the holiday season. It's obviously a challenging one for us, but fortunately, there has been some fun and joy too. I feel Jeannessa’s presence and allow memories of holidays past to bring joy into the present.