Ribcage- Andy Biersack/ Black Veil Brides

Chapter 30

Author's note:

One breif mention of the deadly C word (cancer). As always, please look after yourselves friends. Also dives deeper into Delia's PTSD.

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Sam Todd came from money, he was rich, and everyone knows that rich people can get the best lawyers. Delia was terrified about going to court against him but she knew that she had to, if not for herself, for the other women he had killed. However, Sam was smart and his lawyer even smarter.

"Your honour, I would like to bring forward the point that Miss Vincent had been drinking the night of meeting my client Mr Todd, she agreed to go back with him but clearly does not remember this. Linking this with the medical reports of PTSD and lack of sleep due to the tour she had just finished, of course, Miss Vincent would not remember this and would hallucinate the morbid things she claims Mr Todd had told her. There was also no evidence of intercourse as Mr Todd understood she was drunk and did not want to take advantage of her and her situation, he was merely looking out for her and her safety." The lawyer states confidently.

"Objection, Miss Vincent suffers PTSD as a result of the kidnapping and the physical assault Mr Todd put her through, see exhibit A of the injuries she had sustained as a result of Mr Todd. I have also confirmed with the band and their management that the tour was evenly spread out to allow time to rest and relax so as not to pressurise any tour members and to prevent illness." Delia's lawyer interjects.

"Objection, it can be seen that Miss Vincent went through a traumatic event 3 years ago when her Father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was near death at one point. That is enough for PTSD to form, the stress of being away from her parents is enough to trigger those memories. Also, these injuries were caused by Miss Vincent smashing a window in Mr Todd's property and jumping out of it. This alone also presents her lack of mental stability." Sam's lawyer states; how did she know about her dad Delia wonders.

 "Objection, relevance of the event of her father." Delia's lawyer shouts slightly.

"Overruled, I'll allow it." The judge states firmly back at Delia's lawyer "Please do continue your case, Miss Brown."

The court case went on for a few hours before the judge calls the case to an end, allowing the jury to be dismissed and to make their decision on whether Sam was guilty or not guilty. Sam's lawyer was clever in twisting the truth. Delia's injuries? She had blamed Delia for being unstable and throwing herself out of the window. There were no weapons found in Sam's house and no blood was discovered either allowing the lawyer to deny Sam murdering those other women, none of comments he had made to Delia were recorded which was further evidence of Delia's 'instability' and was described as a mental breakdown causing hallucinations.

The next day the court was called back into session after the jury had reached a decision. Delia felt sick to her stomach and wished Andy could be there alongside her, instead, he had been stuck in Los Angeles leaving her alone in Seattle. Lonny had offered to attend alongside her however a snowstorm in Canada had prevented him from flying in and she would not dare ask anyone else- her third option was Shevy but she knew that the make up artist would find this whole ordeal stressful and upsetting, Shevy was more fragile than she let on most of the time.

"We have reached a verdict, your honour." A spokesperson from the Jury announces "We find Mr Todd not guilty and declare Miss Vincent mentally unstable and insane, noting she needs immediate mental health facilities to intervene before she poses a danger to anyone else."

"Very well, Mr Todd is free to leave and Miss Vincent will be taken to a secure facility to receive treatment." The judge confirms before hitting his hammer on the table "Court dismissed."