cnu-At my fortieth birthday party, my sister swung a baseball bat into…

shrink me.

Now it only identified her.

Vanessa’s attorney talked about stress. Motherhood. No prior criminal history. A split-second reaction. Her daughter’s fear. Her community ties.

Claire stood and described the actual facts.

A grown woman. A child. A bat. Three broken ribs. Emergency surgery. No evidence Brooklyn had been touched.

The judge listened continue reading …