Page 66 of After Anna

“No, I wouldn’t use the termgrooming.”

Linda nodded. “Oh I see, you took the hint from your counsel, didn’t you?”

“Objection, Your Honor.” Thomas half-rose. “Counsel is testifying and trying to—”

“Sustained,” Judge Gardner said, before Linda could even argue.

“Dr. Alderman, please direct your attention to the next section of Commonwealth Exhibit 52.” Linda signaled to the paralegal, and the screen changed.

Mr. Carter:Let’s return specifically to the night of April 27, when you went out for your driving lesson with your stepfather. Do you recall what happened that gave rise to your petition?

Ms. Desroches:Yes, I’m sorry. That’s what you asked me before. I’m a little nervous. It’s so weird to be here. I never was in court before, and it’s hard to say these things, out loud.

Mr. Carter:Of course. We understand. That’s okay.

Ms. Desroches:What he said was, um, sexual, and it’s weird to say in front of everybody, especially him, since he’s looking at me like that.

Mr. Carter:You mean your stepfather is looking at you a certain way in the courtroom, right now?

Ms. Desroches:Yes, he’s glaring at me. I know he’s mad I filed the petition but I want him to stop doing -

Mr. Carter:Let the record reflect that the Defendant is attempting to intimidate this witness. Your Honor, I ask that the Defendant be removed from the courtroom immediately.

Mr. Owusu:Objection, Your Honor. I’m sitting next to my client and he is doing no such thing.

Mr. Carter: But Your Honor, Defendant’s attorney cannot see his client’s face from his vantage point.

Mr. Owusu:Your Honor, I object to Petitioner’s request. These are grave allegations, and the Defendant intends to take the stand. He cannot exercise that right if he has not been permitted to hear the testimony.

Mr. Carter:Your Honor, Defendant is in no way entitled to intimidate this young woman, taking unfair advantage of their disparate positions and power. Not only is he her stepfather, but he is older and a doctor.

The Hon. Jane Hamilton:I will permit Defendant to remain in the courtroom. Dr. Alderman, I was not looking at you, so I cannot determine if you were making menacing faces -

The Defendant:I wasn’t, Your Honor.

The Hon. Jane Hamilton:Please don’t interrupt me. I wasn’t asking for a response, sir. You’re not under oath and you may not testify from counseltable. I warn you that I will not allow the intimidation of any witness who comes before me seeking a Protection From Abuse order against a domestic abuser. My courtroom always will be a safe place for them, and I will not allow it to be violated in any way, shape, or form. Mr. Carter, you may continue your direct examination of the witness.

Linda straightened. “Dr. Alderman, you recall that exchange, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Noah remembered being startled when Anna referred to him directly from the stand, and the judge’s explanation characterized him as a domestic abuser in front of the jury. He heard them shifting, and the courtroom sketch artist flipped a page of brown paper, her pastel chalk between her teeth.

“Weren’t you making faces at Anna to intimidate her?”

“No.”

“So when she said that, she was lying?”

“Yes.”

“Dr. Alderman, you previously testified that you hadsomeanger at Anna for filing the Petition for the PFA, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You hadsomeanger because you claim Anna falsely alleged that you had attempted to engaged in sexual misconduct with her, isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

“You had not heard the specifics of these allegations before Anna testified about them at the PFA, isn’t that correct?”