Crash Into Me_ A Survivor's Search for Justice - Liz Seccuro [59]
CHAPMAN: And the Commonwealth’s objection would be, Your Honor, that if Counsel is attempting to show that her recollection today is influenced by the statement of people, that’s one thing. But to simply ask “what did he tell you” sounds to the Commonwealth more like Discovery rather than the appropriate statements that she started out making.
QUAGLIANA: Thank you, Your Honor, that’s all.
THE COURT: Anything further from the Commonwealth?
CHAPMAN: No, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Anything from the Defense?
QUAGLIANA: No, Your Honor, thank you.
THE COURT: Motion from the Commonwealth?
CHAPMAN: We’ll move to certify.
THE COURT: Argument on certification?
QUAGLIANA: Judge, it’s probable cause standard, it’s not a high standard, we’ll reserve our argument for trial in Circuit Court. Thank you.
Not much of a fight. For now.
I was excused, and Cherri Murphy hustled me out of the courtroom so fast that I didn’t even feel my feet touching the ground. I was gone before I could hear the most important words of the day.
THE COURT: Okay the Court does find probabl[e] cause. The case will be certified. What’s the next meeting of the Grand Jury?
CHAPMAN: April 17th.
The preliminary hearing was over. The next step was the grand jury and, thankfully, I would not be called as a witness there.
Cherri Murphy had led me back into a holding room, where I was to wait until most of the press had filtered out so I wouldn’t be besieged at the door. Mike had followed us out of the courtroom, and when I turned to him he was wild-eyed with anger. I thought he was upset about being in the same room as Beebe, or upset, as I was, by Rhonda Quagliana’s questions.
“How could you?!” he screamed at me.
I had not imagined his anger would be directed at me.
“You tripped up! You let that bitch rattle you! What the hell were you thinking? You forgot so many things!”
I had failed. After we had been through so much together, preparing for this moment. On some level, I felt he was right—there were questions I could have answered better, incriminating details I had left out. But he couldn’t understand how wrecked I felt, under pressure and sitting so close to my attacker.
I began to cry. Then I felt angry, too. I started to lunge toward my husband. Cherri Murphy came between us. “You two, this happens, this happens. But this can destroy you. Do not let it destroy you. You’ve come so, so far. It hurts. It’s awful, but you love one another and now is not the time to divide. She did it. She’s survived. You need to come together and do this thing. Just do this thing!”
“But I did the best that I could. I’m so sorry. I did forget some things, but he was right there! I did the best I could …”
Cherri hugged me. Then Mike hugged me, too. I held him for a long time, and then we went out, the cameras following us.
The grand jury was held in April, with Claude Worrell back arguing for the Commonwealth. A few of Beebe’s fraternity brothers who had been interviewed by police were called to testify, but that testimony is not part of the public record, and I was not present to hear it. Beebe appeared, but did not testify. The case was moved out of juvenile court to the circuit court, and Beebe was indicted on two felony counts: forcible rape and object sexual penetration: penetration of the victim by an animate (hand) or inanimate object.
Home again, we settled back into our lives. Once again, I reveled in the normalcy of motherhood and work. I went to PTA meetings, play dates, client meetings. I baked cupcakes with Ava. The investigation of my case continued, but at a less urgent pace. The trial seemed eons away. Still, I was in touch with Worrell and the police regularly, as more and more witnesses were unearthed.
Then, on November 9, 2006, Worrell e-mailed me: “Please call me when you have a minute.” I picked up the phone immediately. My instincts told me this was not good news.
“Claude?”
Silence. And then, a sharp intake of breath.
“Liz, you were right. Beebe was one of three.