Redress of Grievances (38 page)

"Extreme
stress that Sharon couldn't handle would almost certainly do it. In particular,
anything that reminded her vividly of prior abusive situations."

"In
your opinion, Doctor, is Sharon Taggart insane?"

"Insanity
is a medical term, Ms. Markham. Medically speaking, yes, Sharon Taggart has a
serious, but curable, mental defect."

"Are
you aware of the legal definition of insanity, Dr. Talbot?"

"Yes.
In this state, the only determination is whether a person knows the difference
between right and wrong and is able to comprehend the consequences of their
actions."

"Does
Sharon Taggart know the difference between right and wrong?"

"I
believe she does."

"And
does Jan, her alter personality, know the difference between right and
wrong?"

"Yes."

"Does
that mean that Sharon is guilty?"

"It's
more complex than that. As a person with dissociative identity disorder, Sharon
is not in contact with her alter personality and has no cognitive control over
what she does. In essence, Sharon Taggart was not present when a crime was
committed. For her part, Jan adamantly believes that she hasn't done anything
wrong."

"Jan
doesn't believe shooting people is wrong?"

"She
didn't shoot anyone. She shot in the general direction, and if the drivers
overreacted to that, she feels absolutely no responsibility for the
consequences of their actions. In the final analysis, Sharon Taggart bears no
responsibility whatsoever because she mentally wasn't there."

"Thank
you, Dr. Talbot. No further questions at this time, your Honor. However, I
reserve the right to recall this witness for clarification purposes at a later
date."

"Mr.
Lassiter, do you have questions for this witness?"

"Yes,
thank you, your Honor," Lassiter answered as he looked at the legal pad in
front of him.

"Dr.
Talbot, when you examined Mrs. Taggart, you used hypnosis in order to reach
your diagnosis, is that correct?" Lassiter began.

"Yes.
It's the most effective method for determining the presence of the
disorder."

"Isn't
it true that many psychiatrists believe hypnosis is an unreliable method?"

"I
wouldn't say many, but, yes, some do believe it's unreliable."

"When
you hypnotized Sharon Taggart for the purposes of diagnosis, did you ask to
speak to her other personality?"

"Yes."

"In
actuality, weren't you suggesting to Mrs. Taggart that she had more than one
personality?"

"No,
I didn't suggest the disorder to her."

"But
you did when you asked for a new personality."

"I
didn't ask her to create a new personality, Mr. Lassiter. I asked to speak to
one who was already there."

"Did
Sharon Taggart tell you under hypnosis that her brother molested her?"

"No."

"A
moment ago you said..."

"I
said she had been molested, but not that Sharon told me. Jan revealed that part
of Sharon's history. Sharon wasn't aware that it had happened."

"Isn't
it possible, Doctor, that by asking to speak to Jan, you were providing Sharon
with a way to divulge information that she otherwise wouldn't have told
you?"

"Absolutely."

"So
you encouraged her to invent Jan, didn't you?"

"No.
If I suggested under hypnosis that Sharon have hallucinations, that doesn't
mean she would suddenly start having them. In fact, if she did, I would be
extremely suspicious that she was faking it. I cannot give Sharon Taggart more
than one personality through hypnosis anymore than I can give her tuberculosis
through hypnosis. It's either there or it isn't."

Lassiter
had made a mistake by allowing Dr. Talbot to get into a lengthy discussion of
hypnosis, and Harriett couldn't restrain a slight smile.

"No
further questions at this time, your Honor," Lassiter said as he leaned
back in his chair.

"Redirect,
Ms. Markham?"

"Dr.
Talbot, is Sharon Taggart aware of the existence of her alter
personality?"

"She
is now but was not aware of her existence when I first examined her."

"Does
she speak to Jan?"

"No."

"What
is the relationship between Sharon and Jan?"

"As
I said, Sharon was unaware of Jan's existence. However, Jan has quite an
extensive knowledge of what Sharon has done. She's an observer, but does not
communicate with Sharon."

"If
Jan decided to do something, would Sharon be able to stop her?"

"Since
she didn't know Jan existed, I doubt she would have been able to stop her. And
even if she suspected Jan's existence, she still might not have been able to
control what Jan was doing, especially recently. The Jan personality has been
growing progressively stronger over the past two years or so."

"No
further questions," Harriett said.

Throughout
the remainder of the first day of testimony Harriett presented two other evaluations
by psychiatrists, both of whom had reached independent conclusions that Sharon
Taggart was suffering from dissociative identity disorder brought about by
childhood sexual and emotional abuse.

As
court adjourned for the day, Harriett sent a request to Judge Landers to meet
with him privately in chambers. Landers granted the request and notified the
prosecution of the meeting. As soon as Sharon had been taken from the
courtroom, she and Nick joined Lassiter and his assistant, in Landers's office.
Landers hung his robe on a hanger and ruffled his hair with both hands as he
sat down behind his desk.

"What
can I do for you, Harriett?" Landers asked with a smile. Harriett had
argued a number of cases before Howard Landers since moving to Austin. He was a
friendly man who enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere in his courtroom. Despite that,
he tolerated no shenanigans from attorneys. In her estimation, Landers was one
of the fairest judges in the state.

"The
defense has completed its expert testimony, Judge Landers. Tomorrow, I will be
calling two witnesses whose testimony is potentially embarrassing and certainly
graphic in nature and content. For the sake of the witnesses, as well as my
client, I am requesting that the courtroom be cleared during their testimony,"
Harriett said, handing Landers a list of scheduled witnesses.

Landers
looked over the list and handed it to Lassiter.

"What's
the basis for your request?" Landers said, leaning back and placing his
hands behind his head.

"These
witnesses have only agreed to appear if they are given some sort of anonymity.
Short of placing paper bags over their heads, clearing the courtroom seemed to
be the only logical remedy," Harriett explained.

Landers
smiled. "What do you think, Mr. Lassiter? Do you object to having the
courtroom cleared?"

"The
public has the expectation of open courts, your Honor," Lassiter said.

"Yeah,
yeah. I know all that idealistic law school bullshit," Landers said as he
looked at Nick. "Sorry, Nick."

"The
families of the victims have a right to hear the testimony against Mrs.
Taggart," Lassiter continued.

"What
they will hear, Mr. Lassiter, won't make them feel any better," Harriett
said.

"The
State opposes the clearing of the courtroom, your Honor," the prosecutor
finally said.

"Why
am I not surprised?" Landers chuckled. "Do you believe your witnesses
will perjure themselves if they are faced with a full courtroom,
Harriett?"

"Possibly.
They face public humiliation by testifying. If the courtroom is not cleared, I will
be forced to treat them as hostile witnesses. Frankly, I prefer not to attack
my own witnesses."

"Who
are these people...Larabee and Meier?" Landers asked.

"High
school acquaintances of the defendant's brother who are willing to testify to the
extent and nature of the sexual abuse suffered by my client, and their
complicity in that abuse."

"Why
would they agree to testify to such a thing? Just being solid citizens?"
Landers frowned, not expecting an answer. "Where are you going with this,
Harriett?"

"My
case is built around the fact that Mrs. Taggart has a personality disorder
created by childhood abuse, which included sexual abuse of an incestuous
nature. These witnesses will help establish that to the satisfaction of the
jury."

"You're
not requesting the same anonymity for other witnesses, I see," Landers
said.

"Considering
what I already know, Judge Landers, I have absolutely no desire to protect any
of the other witnesses from public ridicule," Harriett said coolly.

"That
sounds a little vindictive, Harriett, and that's not like you."

"I'm
sorry, your Honor, but this is an unusual case."

Landers
looked at Lassiter and shrugged. "I'm going to grant the request to have
the courtroom cleared for the testimony of these two witnesses. It's only important
that the jury hear them, Mr. Lassiter."

"Thank
you, your Honor," Harriett said.

As
the attorneys left Landers's chambers, Nick said, "What about the others?
You'll have to ask permission to treat them as hostile."

"I
know, but I didn't want to push my luck right now. When they balk at testifying
about their actions, Howard will grant that request. He hates recalcitrant
witnesses."

Chapter
Thirty-Nine

RISING
FROM HER seat, Harriett said, "Your Honor, the defense calls Thaddeus
Larabee to the stand."

At
Harriett's request, and over the objection of Sean Lassiter, Judge Landers had
cleared the courtroom of spectators. The only persons remaining in the
courtroom were Harriett and her client, the prosecution team, and the jury.
Harriett remained standing as she waited for the bailiff to bring Thad Larabee
to the witness stand. As she saw Larabee enter the courtroom, Harriett rested a
hand on Sharon's shoulder and whispered to her.

Larabee
wore a gray two-piece business suit for his court appearance. As he passed
Harriett, he glanced momentarily at Sharon. Waiting for the bailiff to
administer the witness oath, Harriett looked over the questions she had
prepared for Larabee and Meier. Although they were her witnesses and their
testimony would provide strong evidence that Sharon had been abused as a child,
Harriett knew she would have a difficult time not showing her own feelings
concerning what she already knew about the men.

As
soon as Larabee had given the court stenographer his full name and his Scottsdale,
Arizona address, Harriett was ready to proceed. Larabee looked nervous as he
waited.

"Mr.
Larabee, do you know the defendant Sharon Collins Taggart?"

"Her
brother and I were friends. We met in junior high and then attended high school
together."

"Would
you characterize your friendship as a close one?"

"There
were four or five of us who always hung around together."

"How
old was Mrs. Taggart when you first met her?"

"I
don't know exactly. She was pretty young. Maybe six."

"And
how old were you at that time?"

"About
twelve or thirteen."

"Would
it be fair to say that you spent time at the Collinses' home?"

"Objection,"
Lassiter said. "Leading."

"I'll
rephrase," Harriett said before Judge Landers could render a ruling.
"When, if ever, were you at the Collinses' home, Mr. Larabee?"

"Lots
of times. We used to spend the night over there at first. Then later when we
were in high school, Parker would throw parties at his house when his folks
were out of town."

"And
where was Sharon during your visits?"

"At
home. Parker babysat her."

"Who
attended these parties?"

"Just
some of the guys we knew."

"Any
girls?"

"Not
usually."

"What
did you do at the parties at the Collinses' house?"

"Watched
TV, listened to music. Sometimes we would sneak in a few beers."

"Was
Sharon involved in these parties?"

Larabee
loosened his tie slightly in anticipation of where he knew the questions were
leading.

"Sharon,"
Larabee began, glancing toward Sharon, "she stayed in her room,
mostly."

"Why?"

"Parker
told her to wait there."

"What
was she waiting for, Mr. Larabee?"

Larabee's
eyes looked down at his hands as he cleared his throat.

"She
was waiting for us."

"Why
would you go to her room?"

"We
would just go up there to fool around."