For The Love of a Child
A/N & Rating-This story is rated R because it deals with mature topics. I have seen movies on TV that deal with a lot worse issues at a lower rating, but just to be on the safe side….This story follows the episode of Law in Order SVU- Poison. Although I follow the story closely, No Copyright infringement is intended. This is also a mix with Grey's Anatomy. I do NOT own Law in Order or Grey's Anatomy.
Summery: She was a young child, beautiful and vibrant with flowing red curls and shocking blue eyes that would make even the meanest adult weak in the knees with love for the young soul. She was sprited and graceful, she was full of love for anything and anyone…How could anyone harm something so pure and innocent?
Chapter Two
A/N: This chapter deals mostly with SVU, although the Shepherd's daughter is in this chapter. So yep. SVU.
(The detectives are outside the interviewer's room. Huang, Novak, Benson, and Stabler are discussing the case.)
"The emergency room pumped two cups of detergent out of Alexis's stomach." Dr. Huang said his voice a mixture between sadness and disgust.
"Mrs. Shepherd's accident story is a bunch of bull shit." Stabler said angrily. "There is no kid who is going to swallow two cups of that stuff willingly!"
"What about the father, it must have been obvious that Addison hated the child. Wouldn't he have noticed something?" Olivia asked.
"The father wasn't at home. Since the father wasn't home, He is not criminally responsible." Assistant district attorney Casey Novak reminded the detectives.
"But we've got the mother right?" Stabler asked in an anxious tone.
"How is the seven year old girl?" Casey asked
"Solid." Stabler says, as he looks in through the mirror image glass, watching the interview. His facial expression showed one of anger.
"No chance you've influenced her statement?" Novak asked
"None. Counselor, I've been doing this for a little bit longer than you." He said in snide tone. One that showed pure annoyance.
"Just making sure that you're covered. Children under nine aren't automatically considered swear able, you know this detective." She said giving him a look.
"I can talk to her." Dr. George Haung volunteered. If she knows the difference between the truth and a lie and the consequences of telling a lie in court then she can testify." He said.
(Special Victims Unit, Children's Interview Room, Haung and Katie Shepherd are sitting at a small table coloring with crayons. Her Barbie is close by. The room is full of children's toys and games. A comfortable environment)
"Ok Katie. I am going to ask you some questions." Haung said his voice gentle. The girl looked up from her picture, a Disney princess, and nodded in approval, not saying a word as she looked back down and continued to color.
"Ok." Dr. Haung said "Can you tell me what color this is?" He asked holding up a purple crayon for the young girl to examine.
"That's purple." She said in a very quick tone.
"What if I said it was orange? Would I be telling you the truth? Or would I be telling you a lie?" The doctor asked the girl, and she didn't hesitate even one second before she replied…
"A lie."
"But why is it a lie?" The detective asked.
"Because it's purple not orange." She said.
"Right. Let me ask you something about promises ok?" He asked and she nodded again "If you promise your mommy that you will clean your room, and then you don't do it what happens?" He asked trying to see if she understood.
"I get into trouble." She replied, picking taking the purple crayon from him and coloring the princess's dress purple.
"Why is that?"
"Because I promised." Katie said in a smart tone.
"Right again, you are really good. Do you ever go to church sometimes?" he asked her giving her a little smile, when Katie nods her head at him.
"Who lives at Church?" He asked.
"God." Katie said
"Are you allowed to lie to God?"
"No."
"If you make a promise to God that you have to tell the truth do you keep that promise?" He asked her, putting this into words so that she would be able to understand them. Katie nods her head again.
"What if you tell a lie to God.?" He asks. Katie's eyes grew big and she shook her head.
"Then you really really get into trouble." She said.
(The courthouse. The Judge is walking down a hallway with Novak. Oliver Gates is close behind them, following at a slower pace.)
"Your chief witness is the defendant's seven year old daughter? That sounds a bit imprudent." He said in a mocking tone.
"Prior courts have held otherwise, your honor, Rittenhouse v. North Hempstead found that a three year old child wasn't automatically presumed incompetent to testify." Casey Novak said, defending her spot.
"Ah, but you are in my court now." The judge said in a threatening tone.
"And La Plant v. Atias disqualified a seven year old witness. It's completely subjective." The judge said in a cocky tone.
"This is why a psychiatrist examined Katie Shepherd and determined that she understands the difference between the truth and a lie." She injected.
"I'm sure the people won't mind me determining that for myself will they?" He asked.
"Oh, that's not necessary, Your Honor." Casey argued.
"But then again, this is my court. Produce me the girl and I will conduct the swear ability examination in the chambers. And by the way, the next time you step foot into my court room I'd appreciate it if you dressed appropriately, meaning a skirt." He said giving her dress suit a final look of disgust before walking away.
(Judge Taft's chambers, Taft is at his desk. Katie Shepherd is sitting in a chair next to him. Novak and Gates are seated across from the desk and a court reporter is typing in the corner of the room)
"I don't want you to be afraid , I just want you to answer the questions as truthfully as you can, do you understand?" He asked her. Katie nodded but it was evident that she was afraid.
"You have to speak loudly so that the reporter in the corner can hear you. Do you understand the difference between the truth and a lie Ms. Shepherd." The judge asked.
"Yeah." Katie said.
"If you told us something that you did not see or hear and you did not witness that event would that be the truth or a lie?" The judge asked speaking quickly so the words blurred together.
"What?" Katie asked confused.
"Do you understand the question?" The judge asked.
"Ummm" Katie replied, staring down at her hands. Her eyes look like they are about to burst into tears.
"Speak aloud." The judge demands. And Katie says nothing.
"Let the record show that the witness is unable to answer the question." (To Katie) "If you came into court and rose your right hand and you swore to tell the truth, and you told a lie what would happen to you?" He asked. Katie begins to cry.
"I don't know!" She says through tears.
"Do you know what the word truth means?" He asked, his voice UN forgiving.
Katie looks up at him with tear filled eyes and shakes her head no. The judge excuses the young girl and she runs out the door of the chambers crying.
"Well I think that answers the questions at hand." The judge said in a simple tone.
"With all due respect sir, I was confused by your questions." Casey Novak said coming to the defense of the young girl.
"I wouldn't go around admitting that Counselor." Taft said in a harsh tone.
Oliver Gates stood up and walked towards the judge. "The defense moves for a complete dismissal. Without the people's witness there is no case."
"Your Honor didn't say that she couldn't testify, he just said that she couldn't be sworn in. Her statement can be corroborated by the detergent found in the victim's stomach." Novak said, on top of her game.
"Evidence which also suggests accidental ingestion!" Gates argued.
"It might, but why don't we just let the jury decide that?" Novak asked in a questioning smart tone.
"Then I move to suppress the girl's testimony, your honor. She spoke with an SVU detective, she was alone without parental supervision." He said thinking of anything he could to destroy Novak's chance.
"That's standard procedure" Novak reminded him. "Child witnesses don't need their parents with them." She said.
"SO how can I be sure that anything the child says wasn't influenced by the police?" Gates asks.
"SVU detectives are trained to know how to interview chil------" Casey started but was interrupted by the judge.
"I would love to hear all about this. I am ordering a hurdy hearing. Your detective proves that he did nothing wrong than I will allow the young girls testimony." He said his voice cold and sarcastic.