The Trial

In Loving Memory........

Hubert Woodrow Souther

November 30, 1919 - September 17, 2001

&

Elizabeth Anne Bates

September 23, 1921 - September 17, 2001

The story:
http://www.knbc.com/news/14464268/detail.html
Yesterday it had been seven years sense my grandparents where killed. Those of you who don't know the story you can click on the link above. I still don't like to talk or write much about what happened. I think it's important for me not to forget some things so I want to write about my experience at the penalty phase of the trial.
Before the two men where convicted the district attorney called me and asked if I would testify in the penalty phase of the trial. The penalty phase is when they do a mini trial to let the jurors decide if the convicted are going to get the death penalty. The district attorney was told how close I was with my grandparents so she thought that what I had to say would help give them a stronger sentence. She interviewed me on the phone and asked if I was willing to come to the trial. She would fly Ethan, Zac and I to L.A. for as long as we wanted. I told her that I would like to but I would need to talk to Ethan. Ethan didn't want me to go because he knew it would be very hard for me. We talked about it for awhile and decided I need to do this. I wanted to be there for my family and no matter how hard it was going to be I wanted help in someway.
The hard part about me doing this was there was no set timeline. I didn't know what day they would need me and for how long. I got a call in the middle of November that they would need me the next week, right before Thanksgiving. Luckily Ethan's boss let him take work off last minute so we where able to go.
The morning that I had to be at the court house was crazy! They needed me there at 7:00am. That means I had to leave my parents house around 5am. Yes, I only live 30 mile from L.A. but it take 2 hours to get there. My Mom and I went early. Ethan would come in a couple of hours when Zac woke up. When we got to the courthouse, I kid you not there was paparazzi everywhere. This was the same time that Britney Spears was doing her custody battle. We go in the court house and up to the district attorney offence. She briefed me on what was going to happen. She told me that I can't go into the court room until I had already testified. I told her that it was important to me not to see any pictures of the crime scene. I knew I would not be able to handle that. She promised me that she would tell me to leave if they where going to show any. After I talked to her I saw Ethan and Zac! That made me so happy. We got to the floor that the courtrooms are on. It is a long hallway with doors all the way down. We sat and waited and waited and waited. 4 hours later still nothing. We found out that one of the men that killed my grandparents had just tried to commit suicide. They told us we had to come back the next day!
The next day I didn't need to be there so early. It was nice because I went with my whole family. When we got to the courthouse I had a lot of other family there also. It was nice to see them and talk about my grandparents. We where talking about all the fun stuff we remember about them. My Grandma's sister was telling me all kinds of stories. I knew that I would have to go in and testify today so I was starting to get nervous. Ethan went in to hear the opening arguments. He came out of that courtroom white. He said he would never forget what he saw in the crime photos.
After that we waited for about 3 more hours. I was wondering what was taking so long. Ethan told me that the defense attorney was upset that I was going to testify and they asked the judge to not let me. The judge said they could ask me questions before, but I could still go on the stand. I was so scared to talk to them. They where very pushy and mean men. They wanted to find something false in what I was going to say. Of course they didn't. We went to lunch and when we came back it was my turn.
When I walk in the courtroom I was shaking. I think the worst part about it was sitting in front to the two men that killed my grandparents. The district attorney asked me some questions about the relationship with my grandparents. Then they asked me about what happened to my family after they where killed. That was the hard part. I don't like to relive the hardest year of my life. Before I knew it I was done! I felt so happy that I did it! I got to hear some other people give their testimony. I even got to hear my Moms. She was amazing.
I was so glad that Ethan and Zac came with me. Zac was a good distraction for my family. Ethan and I grew closer from this experience. I love him so much.
A couple of weeks later the two men received their sentence. One faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The other one got the death penalty.