Story was written by Joy Lukachick, Joan Garrett, Adam Crisp and Andy Johns.
There was no standing room on the stairs or in the hallway as people rushed from the street into the courthouse.
Word had spread. The verdict was in.
Those who couldn’t get a front-row seat to hear the ruling stood outside the courtroom. They tapped their feet and clenched their jaws with nervous excitement. Several women gripped one another’s hands, mumbled prayers and dabbed their tearing eyes with napkins.
They strained toward the door to hear what the bailiff was saying. Someone heard the words.