Collectively, the witnesses for the defense are as earnest and credible as those for the State. They describe a gentle, studious young man who is enamored of Diana until her interest in him feels controlling and materialistic. Every time he pulls away, she gets clingy. When he tells her it’s over, she blasts him with calls and texts. Finally, he agrees to meet at a party where he plans to confront her. Once there, Diana tries to seduce him, first in a bedroom, then a playground. When their consensual sex is misinterpreted, Billy is hauled off to jail. Meanwhile, a nurse suggests rape. Diana realizes this is a way to get, if not Billy’s attention and money, then at least payback for his hurting her.

On Wednesday, the defense explores the events of March 24. DeFiore re-interviews several of the State’s witnesses, and introduces new psychologists, behavioral specialists, and IT experts. Again, we’re presented with a moment-by-moment breakdown of the evening, but this time from Billy’s perspective. We see enlargements of Diana’s texts, inviting him to the party (Come on, Billy. It’ll be fun; have 1 drink) then admonishing him for being late (Why aren’t u here! Where are u? Don’t blow me off, Billy. I’m serious). We’re shown a blurry snapshot of Billy and Diana dancing, another where they’re kissing.

The head of the Lewis School attests to Billy’s generosity and patience. DeFiore holds up a photograph, Exhibit B-3940, the one where my brother is helping a boy read. Beside me, Lawrence enlarges the same shot on his phone and zooms in on Billy’s face. I pat his arm and whisper, “Billy will be okay.”

“DeFiore sucks,” Lawrence whispers, sounding like an inconsolable child. “That stunt with the underwear should’ve gotten him disbarred.”

We hear from a medical technician who explains that yes, Diana tested 13 on the Glasgow coma scale, but there’s no way to tell when she blacked out. Or, equally important, if Billy was aware she was unresponsive.

We hear from one of the policemen called to the scene. “The defendant did resist arrest initially. But he was inebriated and disoriented. Once he realized what was happening, he willingly gave a DNA sample. He also consented to a blood test and full body search.”

We review photographs of the bruises on Diana’s body. “Is it possible,” DeFiore asks the intake nurse, “that these bruises were present prior to the alleged assault?” She replies no, not all of them were present, but agrees some could have been. Similarly, the vaginal tearing was minimal, and may or may not indicate assault. “It’s impossible to say with one hundred percent certainty,” the nurse contends. “I can only confirm ‘maybe.’”

“No further questions, Your Honor,” DeFiore says.

* * *