If Someone Had Known

Katie Liner, 18, meets James Pettit at a benefit party. He seems perfect, educated, respectful, popular, and without any police records. They quickly fall in love and marry not long after the party.

Katie and Jimmy marry soon after they meet, and she soon gives birth to their son named James. The couple appears to have a stable life as they settle into their home. The bond between them seems strong at first.

Within two years of their marriage, Jimmy begins to physically abuse Katie, pushing her and slapping her. He repeatedly apologizes afterward, and Katie forgives him each time. The violence becomes a repetitive pattern that grows more frequent.

Sharon notices bruises on Katie, and Katie admits the abuse but asks her sister not to reveal it. Sharon makes Katie promise to tell her if Jimmy hurts her again. The moment marks the first elder family intervention.

As Katie becomes pregnant with their second child, Jimmy's aggression escalates and he also begins to slap their older son James. The violence grows more frequent and brutal, casting a shadow over the growing family. Katie worries about the safety of her children.

Desperate, Katie confides in her mother Ellen about the domestic violence. Ellen urges her to leave Jimmy, arguing that staying would only lead to more harm. Katie contemplates a new life for herself and her children.

Katie decides to leave, but Jimmy beats her for attempting to go and threatens to shoot her. She defends herself by killing him with a shotgun. The act ends the cycle of abuse but triggers a major legal battle.

Katie is arrested by her father, Jack Liner, and she tells her lawyer, Paul Chambers, that she is guilty but still loves Jimmy. The admission sets the stage for her defense in court. The family prepares for a difficult legal fight.

In the hospital, photos document the scars and bruises on Katie's body. Jack learns from Paul Chambers that Jimmy had abused Katie regularly for two years, making him realize she acted in self defense. The revelation deepens his understanding of her choices.

During the lead-up to the trial, Jack tries to discourage Katie from testifying, fearing a life sentence. Katie insists on showing the jury the extent of her abuse, and she confronts Jack about his past treatment of Ellen. The family tension adds emotional weight to the case.

Once the trial begins, Katie struggles to prove the severity of the domestic violence. Wade Blankenship, Jimmy's best friend, follows her, seeking revenge and adding pressure to the defense. The absence of witnesses reporting the abuse hurts her case.

Sharon's testimony is limited as the prosecutor cuts her off, forcing a simple yes or no answer about reporting the bruises. An older neighbor, Herbert Evans, explains that in his day such matters were considered private. The courtroom dynamics underscore the difficulty of proving private abuse.

On her testimony, Katie admits she was naïve to believe unconditional love would stop the abuse. She recalls Jimmy telling her to kill him and offering the rifle, and she finally shoots him after he hits her. The testimony clarifies why she acted in self defense.

The jury returns not guilty, accepting that Katie acted in self defense given the ongoing abuse. After the verdict, Jimmy's parents apologize to Katie for her pain and express regret for not recognizing the danger sooner.

A year later, Katie lays a flower on Jimmy's grave and tells James and her newborn child that they will have a better life. The film closes with a sense of hope for the family's future.