Both of her legs are broken and her left knee has severe injuries. Her lower legs are immobilised with thickly bandaged plaster splints from which her toes protrude. There is also a black restrictive orthosis on her left knee. The sight of the young woman, who is visibly suffering from the consequences of the terrible accident, leaves those present in a depressing mood.

Since her release from hospital, she has been in custody without interruption. The 28-year-old woman was charged with deliberately driving her car at high speed into oncoming traffic on Interstate 5 near Redding in northern California in a desperate suicide attempt. Three vehicles were able to avoid her before she collided head-on with the car of a medical student. The 29-year-old died of his injuries at the scene of the accident. He left behind his wife, who was pregnant at the time, and their two small children.

The trial lasted eleven months and reached its climax in the final, highly emotional hearing. Grace Elizabeth Ward was still unable to walk and was once again handcuffed to her wheelchair. In a deeply moving statement, she pleaded guilty, expressed sincere remorse for her actions and apologised to the family of the victim. She said: ‘I wish I could take back that day, but I cannot change what happened. And I'm sorry for that. I was in a dark place in my life.’

When the verdict was finally announced, the young woman burst into tears. She was found guilty of intentional homicide and three counts of assault and sentenced to life imprisonment, which can only be suspended after 18 years at the earliest. Her emotions got the better of her as the consequences of her actions finally came home to her. Meanwhile, the courtroom was filled with a deep silence.