Sarah Lavis

Like, if you go in there and you have a statement, that should be your statement.

You shouldn't have to be, as a victim, cross-examined.

As an eyewitness, yes, definitely.

As somebody else, fine.

But as a victim, we've put our statements down

And then we have somebody else that can come in while we're so stressed and so emotional and already under so much pressure trying to trip you up on your facts.

When you go to court, they agree to, so you agree to a list of facts.

So that's, everyone's read it and everyone agrees to it.

And your statement is in there.

So if that's already the agreed upon facts, why in a trial do we then have to be cross-examined as victims?

So you just back down and say what they want you to say because it's easier.

And you want it to end.

Yeah, that's a part of, like, my fear about going to trial was as well.

Whereas, fine, give us a list.

Like, give victims a list of questions that you have.

But they shouldn't be able to bully you and manipulate you in front of a whole entire courtroom and the perpetrator.

Like, tell me.

Yeah, as if you're not going to break down and just say whatever just to get it done with.

And I think...

Yeah, just I think I would say to victims that it is a roller coaster, but you can get there in the end.