they had brought something for prosecutor sonia balleste, a religious tile belonging to ariet. >> soniame to bring like an item like from our mom and stuff to have right there that she could hold onto. >> they learned the evidence-driven prosecutor had a superstitious side. she wanted to have something of ariet's to touch during her last closing argument, to channel ariet's spirit and courage. >> she took the witness stand in the preliminary hearing and faced evil. and for the first time in her life stood up to him. she knew exactly what he would do to her for it. >> he had done some bad things in his life, but he didn't hire anybody to murder ariet girgis. he's innocent. >> there was nothing left to do now but wait. after nearly a decade, these final moments were perhaps the most excruciating. >> i don't know. this has been like -- >> a lot of anxiety built up right now. just wondering when the verdict's going to come in. i mean, it's going to be like any moment. >> sonia, already at her new job, waited for the phone to ring. she had played the waiting game numerous times. it wasn't an