Emily Simpson

Here's Ashley, the original prosecutor.

They're going to be throwing out these things about this person to try to undermine their credibility.

And that is a really hard thing for victims to deal with.

And it makes it harder for us to prove our case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Everyone at the state's attorney's office believed Saskia.

They'd seen the evidence.

This woman had been raped.

But their belief in Saskia and their certainty that this was a crime wasn't enough to ensure a conviction.

It shouldn't, but it does.

With all of this in mind, when Mike said he was ready to take a plea, the prosecutors said yes.

With a plea deal, they'd avoid the risk of a jury acquitting Mike.

They'd get a guaranteed guilty.

When Ashley, the original prosecutor, got the news... I was really glad to hear it.

Given all of the complexities with this case, I thought that him pleading guilty was the very best thing that could happen.

I told my colleague that I was very pleased with what she had been able to work out.

So the decision was made.

There would be no trial.

But Saskia would still get her day in court because after Mike took the plea, he had a sentencing hearing.

At this hearing, Judge Jill Cummins would determine exactly how long Mike would spend behind bars.

Saskia walked down the center aisle into the courtroom with her sister, brothers, and friends by her side.