Drew recalls the shooter’s ringtone being Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – General Hospital Updates

⚖️ Marital Privilege: The Legal Barrier Drew Faces

The concept that a person cannot be forced to testify against their spouse is based on a legal protection known as Marital Privilege (or spousal privilege), which actually encompasses two distinct privileges:

1. Testimonial Privilege (Spousal Immunity)

This privilege applies while the couple is legally married. It allows a spouse to refuse to testify against the other spouse in a criminal trial.

How it Works in Drew’s Case: If Drew and Willow are still married when the shooting case goes to trial, he could theoretically invoke this privilege to simply refuse to take the stand to testify against her. This would certainly prevent him from delivering the truth in court, achieving Willow’s desired outcome.

2. Confidential Communications Privilege

This privilege protects private communications made between spouses during the marriage. This privilege survives divorce.

How it Works in Drew’s Case: Drew’s memory of the shooter’s ringtone and his subsequent conclusion that Willow shot him are not considered “confidential communications.” They are:

An observation of a crime being committed (hearing the ringtone and seeing the shooter, as detailed in the previous segment).

A fact that exists outside of their private conversations.

Therefore, this privilege would not stop Drew from testifying about the shooting itself, only about private conversations they may have had about the crime after they were married.

⚠️ Why Drew CAN Still Testify

The key legal loophole that would defeat Willow’s strategy is the “Crime/Fraud Exception.”

In most jurisdictions, marital privilege does not apply to testimony regarding a crime or tort committed:

Against the testifying spouse: Drew was the victim of the shooting. Most courts agree that testimonial privilege is waived or dissolved when the crime in question is committed by one spouse against the other. Drew’s testimony about being shot by Willow would likely be admissible.

Before the marriage: The shooting occurred before Drew and Willow were legally married, when Willow was acting on her own agenda. Privileges generally do not retroactively cover crimes committed prior to the establishment of the privileged relationship.

If the truth of Willow being the shooter is revealed, Drew would likely be able to testify against her. If he initially tried to invoke spousal immunity, the prosecution (or court) would almost certainly force his testimony under the crime-against-spouse exception.

🎯 Willow’s Real Manipulation

Willow’s true genius in marrying Drew, if your premise holds, is not about the absolute legal block, but about psychological manipulation and delay:

Emotional Deterrent: By marrying him, Willow complicates his emotional and legal life. Even if he can testify, the act of sending his wife and the stepmother of his children to prison is a huge deterrent, buying her time and doubt.

Custody Leverage: As noted in the prior segment, Willow used the marriage for custody leverage against Michael. The marriage protected her image as a respectable mother, giving her the status she needed in court.

The Divorce Buffer: Marriage provides a crucial buffer. Once the truth is revealed, Drew must first divorce her and then wait for the emotional dust to settle before he can fully commit to sending her to prison. This delay might allow Willow time to escape or execute a new plan.

Ultimately, Willow’s successful manipulation lies in making Drew want to protect her status, even if the law doesn’t strictly force him to. This is the ugliest betrayal—using the pretense of love to shield herself from the consequence of attempted murder.