The courtroom was hushed again — not with suspense this time, but with finality.
The judge’s voice echoed across the chamber like the toll of a bell.
“Given the psychiatric evaluations, the defendant’s mental state, and the severity of the crimes committed, this court sentences Aaron Cole to life confinement in a maximum-security psychiatric facility. There will be no possibility of parole.”
Jessie sat in the second row, next to Levi, her hands folded calmly in her lap. The room was half full — no cameras this time, no press frenzy. The story had already been told. Today was for paperwork, procedure, and closure.
Aaron sat slack-jawed at the defence table, cuffed and silent. His eyes were wide and unfocused, flicking back and forth like he was chasing thoughts he couldn’t pin down. If
