Camila Banus On ‘The Verdict’: The Darkest Moment In Gabi’s Life

It’s about to be orange jumpsuit time for Gabi again on Days of Our Lives, when the verdict is read in Andre’s murder trial.

“Before Abigail took the stand, Gabi had a glimmer of hope,” says Camila Banus (Gabi). “She thought the jury would never believe [what the prosecution proposed had happened], that she could have been so mad at Andre for firing her that she actually murdered him. She thought that she could be found not guilty.”

All Hope Dashed
But all that changed in an instant, “after the very damning testimony that Abigail (Marci Miller) gave…” continues Banus.

“Gabi’s a realist. She understands that she’s in hot water, and I don’t think that she’s being irrational. She knows that it’s not looking good.”

When court reconvenes, an anxious Gabi tries to remain strong. Yet, she also braces herself for the worst.

“It’s really tough for Gabi, because during this trial she’s been bombarded with a lot of unfairness,” admits Banus.

“There were a lot of situations where it was out of her control to set the record straight. She’s been up against a system where she has no control. There are specific guidelines that she has to follow.

“That’s been very frustrating for Gabi, especially because so many unfair things were happening to her.”

A Dark and Painful Time
On top of that, Gabi “absolutely feels like nobody is in her corner… that the people she thought would be there aren’t there supporting her,” explains Banus. “Eli’s there, but not there at the same time, because he’s lied to her so much. It’s a very painful time for her.”

That pain only intensifies when …continue reading on the next page —>

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That pain only intensifies when the jury returns with their verdict: guilty! Suddenly, Gabi, who’s already served time for Nick’s murder, realizes she’s heading back to prison and, most likely, for a very long time.”This is one of the lowest and darkest times in Gabi’s life,” admits Banus.

Leaving Arianna
To make matters worse, Gabi also realizes she’s going to be separated from her beloved daughter, Arianna, again. And while Gabi and Sonny (Freddie Smith) “have persuaded Arianna that [her mother is] away on business,” the last few months, they’ll now have to come clean with her.

“Gabi’s going to have to tell Ariana the truth; maybe not even Gabi but somebody else will have to tell her the truth,” says Banus. “And she might not even be able to say goodbye to her daughter.

“Murder is a very serious crime. It’s not something where she’ll have normal visitation rights. This is going to be double-pane bulletproof glass that she would have to potentially see her daughter through.

“That’s the hardest part in all of this for Gabi,” adds Banus, “understanding that someone has done this to her and is taking her daughter away from her.”

What’s Next for Gabi?
As Gabi heads off to the slammer, look for Rafe (Galen Gering) and Chad (Billy Flynn) to do everything in their power to try to clear her name and prove her innocence. Meanwhile, Gabi spirals downward, feeling totally dejected.

“She doesn’t necessarily see them helping her, because she is incarcerated,” says Banus. “Gabi becomes very resentful and bitter. She feels very neglected and basically left to the dogs.

“She’s left alone in a maximum facility prison. She’s got nobody around her. She has no communication [with anyone]. So she doesn’t think that anybody is doing anything for her.”

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for air times.