She took a deep breath. “All right. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be fine.”
Seated in the spectators’ section was Dr. Steven Patterson. He had responded to the barrage of reporters’ questions outside the courtroom with one answer: “My daughter is innocent.”
Several rows away were Jesse and Emily Quiller, there for moral support.
At the prosecutor’s table were Mickey Brennan and two associates, Susan Freeman and Eleanor Tucker.
Sandra and Ashley were seated at the defendant’s table, with David between them. The two women had met the previous week.
“David, you can look at Ashley and know she’s innocent.”
“Sandra, you can look at the evidence she left on her victims and know she killed them. But killing them and being guilty are two different things. Now all I have to do is convince the jury.”
Judge Williams entered the courtroom and moved to the bench. The court clerk announced, “All rise. Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Tessa Williams presiding.”
Judge Williams said, “You may be seated. This is the case of The People of the State of California Versus Ashley Patterson. Let’s get started.” Judge Williams looked at Brennan. “Would the prosecutor like to make an opening statement?”
Mickey Brennan rose. “Yes, Your Honor.” He turned to the jury and moved toward them. “Good morning. As you know, ladies and gentlemen, the defendant is on trial, accused of committing three bloody murders. Murderers come in many disguises.” He nodded toward Ashley. “Her disguise is that of an innocent, vulnerable young woman. But the state will prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant willfully and knowingly murdered and mutilated three innocent men.
“She used an alias to commit one of these murders, hoping not to get caught. She knew exactly what she was doing. We’re talking calculated, cold-blooded murder. As the trial goes on, I will show you all the strands, one by one, that tie this case to the defendant sitting there. Thank you.”
He returned to his seat.
Judge Williams looked at David. “Does the defense have an opening statement?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” David stood and faced the jury. He took a deep breath. “Ladies and gentlemen, in the course of this trial, I will prove to you that Ashley Patterson is not responsible for what happened. She had no motive for any of the murders, nor any knowledge of them. My client is a victim. She is a victim of MPD—multiple personality disorder, which in the course of this trial will be explained to you.”
He glanced at Judge Williams and said firmly, “MPD is an established medical fact. It means that there are other personalities, or alters, that take over their hosts and control their actions. MPD has a long history. Benjamin Rush, a physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, discussed case histories of MPD in his lectures. Many incidents of MPD were reported throughout the nineteenth century and in this century of people taken over by alters.”
Brennan was listening to David, a cynical smile on his face.
“We will prove to you that it was an alter who took command and committed the murders that Ashley Patterson had absolutely no reason to commit. None. She had no control over what happened, and therefore is not responsible for what happened. During the course of the trial, I will bring in eminent doctors who will explain in greater detail about MPD. Fortunately, it is curable.”
He looked into the faces of the jurors. “Ashley Patterson had no control over what she did, and in the name of justice, we ask that Ashley Patterson not be convicted of crimes for which she is not responsible.”
David took his seat.
Judge Williams looked at Brennan. “Is the state ready to proceed?”
Brennan rose. “Yes, Your Honor.” He flashed a smile at his associates and moved in front of the jury box. Brennan stood there a moment and deliberately let out a loud burp. The jurors were staring at him, surprised.
Brennan looked at them a moment as though puzzled and then his face cleared. “Oh, I see. You were waiting for me to say ’excuse me.’ Well, I didn’t say it because I didn’t do that. My alter ego, Pete, did it.”