Part Ten
Brian Cantwell could remember that the one thing that persuaded him, as a well paid top silk, to take on the defence of Tracy Pilkinton and Ritchie Atkins, was the evidence of the £50 grand that would cover his fees. Otherwise, they made an initially unprepossessing pair of dubious characters with more surface charm than substance. The whole business, as described to him, was a confused tangle that it would take an exceptionally astute barrister to convince the average jury of 12 people plucked from their ordinary lives to make head or tail of the business far less convict . On the whole he thought he'd take this one on. Of the two witnesses, Ritchie Atkins came over to him as a lightweight male gigolo type and would have to be well coached in his lines. He then carefully considered Tracy Pilkinton as a credible witness and that gave him more hope. The woman was a natural actress and totally convinced of her lines and this would hold up well in court. She was his ace in the pack, his highest card to play. He had noticed, of course, Tracy Pilkinton's exceptionally short dress which was obviously low cut at the front though that, in no way, influenced his professional judgement, nor the seductive tones of her American accent.
Brian Cantwell listened to Jo's opening statement with outward languid unconcern but with keen interest.
"Gentlemen..and ladies …of the jury," he commenced in lower key than his usual booming voice, always stumbling over the introduction in these deplorably PC conscious times." You have indeed before you a most complicated set of circumstances to unravel in your minds. In defence of the accused, Miss Tracy Pilkinton and Ritchie Atkins, I do not need to prove that some other person, or persons in combination, conspired to execute the act of arson that led to the unfortunate death of one Sharon Wiley." Here Brian Cantwell's voice dropped to the respectful tones of not wishing ill of the dead, however anonymous that person was." The case of the defence is that the accused did not perform the acts. I shall call no other witnesses than the accused for the very good reason that the witnesses called for the prosecution comprise the characters that had the most interactions with the accused. I shall, however, seek to establish that the witnesses comprise a somewhat ill assorted collection of people, all with different private agendas and with something to hide and their sheer numbers need not altogether add to the strength of the case for the prosecution. I shall also be demonstrating that one of the accused, Tracy Pilkinton, in the short period of time between admission to Larkhall and the explosion in question was entrusted with the highest level of prisoner privileges in comparison with other prisoners on the wing and will seek to establish the basis of the authority for these privileges especially as the witnesses for the prosecution includes the entire chain of command in G wing that is responsible for Tracy Pilkinton's sentence plan It will be part of the defence to rigorously test the so called evidence put forward by my learned friend and to winnow out what is hearsay or conjectural evidence and to demonstrate that what is left does not amount to a case proven beyond all reasonable doubt against the accused, Tracy Pilkinton. Turning to the other defendant, Ritchie Atkins, I shall seek to show that his contact with Larkhall prison was purely minimal as an occasional visitor to his mother, Yvonne Atkins, curiously speaking one of the witnesses for the prosecution and that he could not possibly be implicated in the arson and unfortunate death of Shaz Wiley. Otherwise, my defence of the accused will arise as evidence is given by the witnesses for the prosecution."
Jo Mills was a shade surprised by Brian Cantwell's comparative lack of bombast until she reflected on the fact that he had carefully omitted references to the weaker side of his case, the forced abduction of Karen Betts at gunpoint and the shooting of Ritchie Atkins. A defence of this charge could very easily show in open court that the bullet was really intended for Karen Betts. This was akin to jolting a precariously perched frying pan full of hot fat into the burning fire, She made a careful note of this point for later on.
"………..and Snowball Nobbing Merriman really is a saint. It's just that I need glasses so I can see the halo round her neck." Cassie swore contemptuously under her breath.
Brian Cantwell could remember that the one thing that persuaded him, as a well paid top silk, to take on the defence of Tracy Pilkinton and Ritchie Atkins, was the evidence of the £50 grand that would cover his fees. Otherwise, they made an initially unprepossessing pair of dubious characters with more surface charm than substance. The whole business, as described to him, was a confused tangle that it would take an exceptionally astute barrister to convince the average jury of 12 people plucked from their ordinary lives to make head or tail of the business far less convict . On the whole he thought he'd take this one on. Of the two witnesses, Ritchie Atkins came over to him as a lightweight male gigolo type and would have to be well coached in his lines. He then carefully considered Tracy Pilkinton as a credible witness and that gave him more hope. The woman was a natural actress and totally convinced of her lines and this would hold up well in court. She was his ace in the pack, his highest card to play. He had noticed, of course, Tracy Pilkinton's exceptionally short dress which was obviously low cut at the front though that, in no way, influenced his professional judgement, nor the seductive tones of her American accent.
Brian Cantwell listened to Jo's opening statement with outward languid unconcern but with keen interest.
"Gentlemen..and ladies …of the jury," he commenced in lower key than his usual booming voice, always stumbling over the introduction in these deplorably PC conscious times." You have indeed before you a most complicated set of circumstances to unravel in your minds. In defence of the accused, Miss Tracy Pilkinton and Ritchie Atkins, I do not need to prove that some other person, or persons in combination, conspired to execute the act of arson that led to the unfortunate death of one Sharon Wiley." Here Brian Cantwell's voice dropped to the respectful tones of not wishing ill of the dead, however anonymous that person was." The case of the defence is that the accused did not perform the acts. I shall call no other witnesses than the accused for the very good reason that the witnesses called for the prosecution comprise the characters that had the most interactions with the accused. I shall, however, seek to establish that the witnesses comprise a somewhat ill assorted collection of people, all with different private agendas and with something to hide and their sheer numbers need not altogether add to the strength of the case for the prosecution. I shall also be demonstrating that one of the accused, Tracy Pilkinton, in the short period of time between admission to Larkhall and the explosion in question was entrusted with the highest level of prisoner privileges in comparison with other prisoners on the wing and will seek to establish the basis of the authority for these privileges especially as the witnesses for the prosecution includes the entire chain of command in G wing that is responsible for Tracy Pilkinton's sentence plan It will be part of the defence to rigorously test the so called evidence put forward by my learned friend and to winnow out what is hearsay or conjectural evidence and to demonstrate that what is left does not amount to a case proven beyond all reasonable doubt against the accused, Tracy Pilkinton. Turning to the other defendant, Ritchie Atkins, I shall seek to show that his contact with Larkhall prison was purely minimal as an occasional visitor to his mother, Yvonne Atkins, curiously speaking one of the witnesses for the prosecution and that he could not possibly be implicated in the arson and unfortunate death of Shaz Wiley. Otherwise, my defence of the accused will arise as evidence is given by the witnesses for the prosecution."
Jo Mills was a shade surprised by Brian Cantwell's comparative lack of bombast until she reflected on the fact that he had carefully omitted references to the weaker side of his case, the forced abduction of Karen Betts at gunpoint and the shooting of Ritchie Atkins. A defence of this charge could very easily show in open court that the bullet was really intended for Karen Betts. This was akin to jolting a precariously perched frying pan full of hot fat into the burning fire, She made a careful note of this point for later on.
"………..and Snowball Nobbing Merriman really is a saint. It's just that I need glasses so I can see the halo round her neck." Cassie swore contemptuously under her breath.