Hugi began by explaining to the girl the importance of telling the truth on the stand; she understood. Giving her time to relax, and her voice to become sufficiently audible to the courtroom, he then asked her several routine questions about her family, her schooling, herself. Feeling that she was ready for the heavy stuff, he maneuvered into the day of the crime, her visit with her family to Heather Plourd's home on Sunderman Road in order to give Mrs. Plourd the clipping from the newspaper about horse rentals.

Following are excerpts of the following dialogue that ensued...

HUGI:             When you left Heather's, do you     remember if it was light out or dark?

CHRISTIE:     It was dark.

HUGI:             Who was in the car when you left Heather's house?

CHRISTIE:     My mom, Cheryl, and Danny, and me too.

HUGI:             And do you remember there was a time when the car stopped?

CHRISTIE:     ...yeah.

HUGI              When the car stopped, did you see any other people around?

CHRISTIE      No.

HUGI              Did you see any person standing in the road?

CHRISTIE:     No.

HUGI:             When the car stopped, what did your mom do?

CHRISTIE:     She got out and she pulled the lever that went to the trunk . . .

HUGI:             Did you see her come back into the car?

CHRISTIE:     Yeah.

HUGI:             What did you see then?

CHRISTIE:     She kneeled down and

            Christie was visibly shaken. Hugi patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. He gave her a moment to recover before proceeding. Reassuring that she was OK, he resumed his line of questioning.

HUGI:             ...She leaned across the seat?

CHRISTIE:     Yeah.

HUGI:             What happened then?

            Christie paused again. The words did not come easy.

CHRISTIE:     She shot Cheryl.

HUGI:             And you saw that happen?

CHRISTIE:     Yeah . . .

HUGI:             Do you remember what happened after you saw Cheryl get shot?

CHRISTIE:     Yeah.

HUGI:             What happened then?

CHRISTIE:     She leaned over to the back seat and shot Danny.

HUGI:             What happened then? What happened after Danny got shot?

CHRISTIE:     She standed up and went to the back of the seat on the

Christie Downs, victim

The child caved in under her tears, and Hugi hugged her. Knowing this must come and wanting to get it over with, he gave her time to find her voice once again. Then quietly, sympathetically he went on. He gingerly rephrased his question, for by this time the court had already gathered what Diane Downs did after she shot Danny.

HUGI:             Do you remember when you got shot?

CHRISTIE:     Yeah.

HUGI:             Who shot you?

CHRISTIE:     My mom.