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“Although it is unusual, given the terrible consequences of this case on the community, this court is prepared to put this matter to rest Ms Baill, do you have a statement you’d like to make?”
Lexi nodded briefly and rose “I do, Your Honor ”
“You o to the podium,” he directed
Lexi walked over to the podiuaze went to Zach “I drank, and I drove, and I killed uilt or innocence is a question of law, but he’s wrong How can I atone? That’s the real question I can’t I can’t I can only pay for it and say how deeply, deeply sorry I am I love … Zach and the Farradays and Mia I will always love them, and I pray that someday they will hear those words from me and not be hurt by them Thank you ” She returned to her place at the defendant’s table and sat down
The judge looked down at some papers spread in front of hiainst Drunk Drivers, asking for a sentence that will make an example of Ms Baill and let other teens knohat they could face in similar circuently “I know it’s unexpected, but would any of you like to make a statement to this court?”
Miles looked at Jude The prosecuting attorney had told theht about what they’d say, but it wasn’t supposed to happen until weeks from now
Jude shrugged, uncertain
Miles rose to his feet and stood for aof his jaw betrayed the depth of his eine that he had begun to cry in his sleep
He smoothed the pale pink tie at his throat and went to the podiu out at their friends and neighbors “As I’m sure everyone in this room knows, it has been an incredibly difficult time for my family There are no words to express the depth of our loss Still, I’m surprised by Lexi’s plea I’m
sure she was advised not to do so by her counsel
“I know Lexi She’s been like a member of our family for the past few years I know she would undo all of this if she could, and I am not so naïve as to believe that she is purely at fault and my own children are blameless I should have forbidden h school years I should have been harder on theht theedy to go around here, and plenty of blame It doesn’t fall on Lexi alone ”
He looked at Lexi “I forgive you, Lexi, for what that’s worth, and I aduilty I’m not sure I could have advised one of my children to do the same
“Thank you, Your Honor, for this opportunity to speak,” Miles said at last, looking at the judge “I ask only that you treat Lexi as a girl who made a terrible mistake and owned up to it, not as a cold-blooded killer Prison is no answer It is just another tragedy, and there’s been enough of that ” He turned away from the podium and went back to his seat
Jude didn’t make a conscious decision to speak She stood like sos Jerkily, aard She didn’t even knohat she would say until she stood at the podiu out at the people she’d known for years She’d watched their children grow alongside hers, gone to their birthday parties So high school drinking parties
“I wish to God I hadn’t let ht,” she said quietly, feeling sootten drunk I wish Mia had put on her seatbelt I wish they had called et theain I won’t do her hair on her wedding day or hold her first baby ” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the ring she’d bought for Mia’s graduation The gold shone brightly beneath the fluorescent lighting, the eoing to give Mia for graduation I thought a pink pearl would be nice here, but I was going to let her decide ” Her voice weakened on that, and her strength evaporated She looked at Lexi, sitting there, crying Those tears should have ret wouldn’t bring Mia back “I can’t forgive Lexi Baill I wish I could Maybe justice will help e to the next kid who thinks it’s okay to drive home fro not to notice Miles’s obvious disappointment in her