The Second Trial Read Online Free Page B

but also all of the other times his wife told me about when I interviewed her.”
    â€œHow strong is Mr. McMillan’s pattern?”
    â€œI would say it is a strong pattern.”
    â€œBut in coming to that conclusion – that there’s a strong pattern of behavior – do you rely on all of the…let’s say, other instances Mrs. McMillan says happened but were never tried or proven in a court of law?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd, Dr. Hamilton, hypothetically speaking now, if you ignored everything Mrs. McMillan says except for the three proven assaults – would you still say Mr. McMillan’s actions establish a pattern of behavior?”
    â€œYes, I would.”
    â€œBut wouldn’t you agree with me the pattern of behavior is much, much weaker than if you include all the other alleged assaults?”
    The witness paused. “Yes, I’d have to agree with that. But it’s still a pattern of behavior.”
    The lawyer shifted forward and read from a paper. “Mr. McMillan told you he owns a successful commercial insurance agency? He makes a good living and provides all the comforts that make life pleasant?”
    â€œFinancially, the family had a good standard of living, yes.”
    â€œEvery summer, he took them camping and fishing? They’ve been to Disneyland and Hawaii?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you agree he offered his children lots of activities and filled their lives with opportunities? That he always did his best for his children?”
    â€œOn the surface, yes.”
    â€œAnd Mr. McMillan is under a restraining order – he’s not allowed any contact with his wife or his children for the indefinite future?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd the hidden gun? The gun with the tag? It was removed the day after the December assault? He’s not allowed to have a gun anymore?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd they’re getting a divorce?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd when you interviewed him, he said he loved his wife? And he was very sorry for what he did?”
    â€œYes, he said those things.”
    â€œThank you, Dr. Hamilton. Those are all my questions.” Mr. Miller returned to his seat.
    â€œAny redirect, Ms. Johnson?” asked Judge Cunningham.
    â€œYes, Your Honor,” Sandra replied as she stood. “Dr. Hamilton, what do you think of Mr. McMillan’s parenting skills?”
    â€œMr. McMillan thinks of himself as a model father, but he doesn’t understand what he does to his wife also affects his children. He’s not a good parent.” The psychiatrist looked at Danny. “In fact, I would say he is no better than a child abuser.”
    Danny’s face flushed, and he wished he could sink into the ground and hide from view. The prosecutor continued her questioning.
    â€œIs it unusual for an abuser to show remorse after an assault?”
    â€œNot at all. In fact, it’s part of the standard cycle of domestic violence. Violent men express a lot of sadness and remorse afterwards. It’s one of the ways they lure their victims into staying, or coming back into the relationship if they’ve already left. Then, the cycle starts again.”
    â€œNow, you said you know there’s a restraining order, a gun prohibition, and a divorce. In your experience, do any of these things make any difference to an abuser’s behavior after release?”
    â€œIf anything, they can make the behavior worse. The most dangerous time for a woman is immediately after a separation. It doesn’t matter what any paperwork says. In fact, going to court can anger the abuser even more. If Mr. McMillan were released today, this would be the most dangerous time for his wife – the time he is most likely to seek her out and hurt her again. He’s like a…like a spider. He spins a web and lures his victim into it. The spider’s silk is thin, almost invisible, but incredibly strong.