A Mother’s Testimony: The Story of Robert Anaya

Please watch your step. If you’ll remain standing, raise your right hand and face the clerk. You do solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you’re about to give in this action shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god? Thank you. You may be seated. Thank you. Please state and spell your first and last name for the record. Rosalinda Anaya. R O S A L I N D A. Last name? A N A Y A. Miss Naya, you are Robert’s mother? Yes. Tell us about him and about your other children. Um, I was 18 years old when Robert was born, and he was my world. Um, three years after, I had another son, and my daughter is six years younger. And he was a great big brother. Always took care of his siblings, was very loving. He never fought with them. I’m going to show you a picture that’s been. That you had sent to us and has been admitted by stipulation. Who’s in this picture? Uh, my two sons. This one on the left, is that Robert? Yes. And the one on the right is my other son, his brother. How old was Robert, if you can recall, when this picture was taken? Probably about five. Showing another picture that’s been admitted. That’s when Robert was eight months old. When he was born, he was my world. And you would have been 19? Yes. In that picture, I’m 19 years old. Were you a working mother? Uh, not at that point, but when Robert was 13, I got a divorce from his father, and that’s when Robert became the man of the house. Going to show you this group of pictures that you had sent us. Why don’t you start with the left of the screen and describe to us what. What we’re seeing? Um, that’s Robert as a toddler right there. He was probably two years old. The top picture is Robert with his girls at the father daughter dance. And then the other two. You. Fair to say, obviously this case has been very difficult for you and your family. Very. You had said that you began working. You were 13. I’m sorry. When he was 13, you went back to work after the divorce? Tell me about what it was like with him as your oldest child. Like I said, he became the man of the house at 13. I was working full time, going to school in the evenings. So he took care of his siblings, make sure that they were fed, got them to bed because I got home so late. Um, also at 13, I was a single mom. I remember I couldn’t afford to buy them school clothes and shoes. And we will go pick chili. And I remember he was 13, and our hands were burning because the chili was so hot, even though we were wearing gloves. I’d Fill up the buckets, and he would take them to the truck, and we would make like $2 a bucket. And it was a lot of hard work and a lot of buckets just to be able to buy them school shoes. Where did Robert grow up? In Texas. In El Paso, Texas. And what was that like? What was his childhood like in El Paso, Texas? Like I say, he’s very good boy. Very loving, very supportive of his siblings and myself. Um, on occasion when I was threatened once physically, he was very protective and, you know, came to. To my rescue to protect me. And he was only thirteen. Um, once he was in high school, he got a job as at a gas station. He would also help take his brother and sister to school in the morning, pick them up after school. Has always been very loving, A great son, great brother. Has Robert always had a good work ethic? Very. Like I said, at 13, he started working with me in the field, then in gas station. As an adult, he was an I T. Tech, then, um, heating and Cooling, HVAC tech, um, during the day, and then went to law school in the evening. So we always wanted to better himself. He put himself through law school. Yes. While being a father. Yes. Finally, you’ve obviously had an opportunity to see him interact with your grandchildren and step grandchildren. Just tell us about that. He’s an excellent dad. Always very involved. And like I said, even with me as an adult, always helping financially, emotionally. I have a lot of health issues. He’s always on top of that. Even to this day, we talk several times a week. Thank you, ma’am. I don’t. Can I say one last thing, judge? Please. Please. Do you have another? There’s something else that you’d like to tell us? Yes. I asked you, so please. I accept the verdict. And if you could please give my son a chance of Parole. His family is still very young and I would like for him to someday be back with them again. Please. Thank you. Thank you, ma’am. I’m done. Thank you. Thank you, Jeff. That concludes our presentation. Alright. Okay. So this time, ladies and gentlemen, we’re gonna take a short recess. When you come back, you have an opportunity. I love you so. I’m sorry. We just needed to settle the formally. Settle the, um. The instructions. Is the state familiar with course proposed instructions 1 through 13? Yes. You’re already