Part Forty Nine
Karen barely ate a thing at lunchtime and as soon as possible, excused herself and went outside. She'd hardly exchanged a word with Yvonne, mainly because Yvonne could see that Karen didn't want to talk. She sat down on one of the benches that overlooked the fountain in front of the court. The sun was still hot, but Karen could feel a tension in the air, a rising of pressure that heralded a storm. Karen felt numb, empty, as if her soul had been laid bare for all to see. She hadn't been able to look at Yvonne, she didn't want to see the scorn that must be in her eyes. Last night had been so wonderful, Karen had never known anything better. But now that Ritchie had spelled out to anyone who cared to listen just how worthless and pathetic she was, Karen doubted that Yvonne would want anything more to do with her. George walked out of the front doors of the court. She saw Karen sat by herself, looking as if her world was about to end. George wasn't usually the sympathetic type, other people's feelings weren't something she often made time for. But the sheer desolation in Karen's face seemed to draw George towards her. Karen wasn't aware of George sitting down on the other end of the bench and lighting a cigarette.
"You do realise that you're giving Ritchie exactly what he wanted by dwelling on what he said, don't you," Said George after a while. Karen looked up, startled.
"How long have you been sat there?" She asked.
"Only as long as it's taken me to smoke this," Said George, holding up her cigarette which was almost down to her fingertips. Looking in to George's face, Karen didn't see anything that resembled scorn, only kindness, which she suspected was a rare occurrence in this woman's eyes.
"It feels like he's been set on ruining my life from the beginning," Said Karen miserably.
"If it makes you feel any better," Said George, "He did have feelings for you at the start. He wasn't always as calculating as you might think."
"What makes you so sure?" Asked Karen.
"I've talked to him on and off throughout the trial. The pair of them are as guilty as sin, and there's nothing more I can do for either of them now. But most of what happened to you came from her."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I think you need to hear it. If you ask me, Ritchie Atkins has always been weak, always needed someone much stronger to keep him on track. He'd never have kept up the charade with you and used you the way he did if it hadn't been for Snowball nagging him every step of the way. With her behind him, you could never have prevented him from taking advantage of you."
"Why did you take up this case?" Asked Karen, really wanting an answer to this. George took a final drag of her cigarette and flicked the end in to the fountain.
"Sleeping with the secretary of state for trade, occasionally means that cases which are considered to be political dynamite are pushed my way. It was deemed politically expedient to get Merriman off and ship her back to Florida and the electric chair, but I'm fairly sure that this time I won't be able to deliver."
"I think I'd prefer my job any day," Said Karen. "At least prisoners are expected to make use of underhand methods to obtain their goals."
"I'm getting used to the fact that politicians regularly do the same," Said George. "And as I'm defence council and you're a prosecution witness, I shouldn't even be talking to you."
"So why are you?" Asked Karen.
"If John thinks you'd make a good barrister, and coming from him that's high praise indeed, you deserve to be put in to the picture." Karen was slowly getting the impression that George needed to make some reparation, some form of apology for taking on this loathsome pair of individuals who were unquestionably guilty. Standing up and picking up her handbag, George made to leave Karen to her thoughts, but she couldn't go without a final word.
"If Yvonne Atkins has got any sense, she'll take the meaning behind her son's words with a pinch of salt." As Karen watched George walk towards the court building, she called,
"Thank you," And received a backward smile in return.
When they all filed in to the public gallery, Karen sat a couple of seats away from the others, receiving a look from Yvonne that clearly said don't push me away. They watched Jo and George move in to place, in their accustomed positions of as far away from each other as possible. As they rose to watch the stately figure of John enter from the door behind the judge's bench, it hit Karen that this trial was almost over. In a matter of twenty four hours, they might just know what the future held for Ritchie and his tart.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Began Jo. "Over the last two weeks, you've heard from eight witnesses for the crown, who have described their impressions of, their experiences with, and their feelings towards the defendants you see before you. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the evidence you have had placed before you, and which you will use to aid you in making your decision as to the defendants' guilt or innocence. First of all, you were treated to the appearance of Yvonne Atkins, Ritchie Atkins' mother. You heard her describe how her son had initiated contact with her after four years separation. Yvonne Atkins elaborated by telling you of the two visits she received from her son, whilst she was serving a sentence in Larkhall prison. Yvonne Atkins not only told you of how her son conned her out of fifty thousand pounds, but of how she unwittingly intercepted a phonecall from him which was meant for his co-defendant, Snowball Merriman. I have submitted the records of Ritchie Atkins mobile, which prove that this phone call took place. You then heard from Karen Betts, a wing governor from HMP Larkhall. She has appeared before this court twice within this trial. She has described her brief liaison with Ritchie Atkins, which should ensure you that she bears no blame for the way in which she was used by the defendant. Ritchie Atkins, used the cover of his sexual relationship with Karen Betts, to smuggle the gun which you see before you, in to her handbag. This gun was then transported, without Karen Betts' knowledge, inside one of Her Majesty's prisons. You have heard from James Fenner how this gun was discovered, and, how it disappeared. Ritchie Atkins managed to bring a certain level of scorn and discredit on Karen Betts from her colleagues. He was able to keep in touch with his co-defendant, by way of the phone in Reverend Mills' office, which Ms Pilkinton used on a regular basis. Ritchie Atkins took a job at Clapham North library, to enable him to conceal first drugs, then explosives within copies of Shakespeare and Anthony Trollope, which were then delivered by way of the interlibrary loan scheme to Larkhall prison. By way of her principle officer, James Fenner, Ms Pilkinton was given undeserved access to the prison library, which provided her with ample opportunity for the construction and concealment of the bomb, which, on June the 15th 2002, was entirely responsible for the death of one inmate, Sharon Wiley. You have heard from both the Reverend Henry Mills and his wife Barbara, how Ms Pilkinton insinuated her way in to Reverend Mills' favour, and of how she pilfered an altar cloth in order to construct a disguise for her attempted escape. You have heard from Alison McKenzy, also an inmate of Larkhall prison, who described how she was at first taken in by Ms Pilkinton, who took advantage of this vulnerable girl's addiction to drugs. Alison McKenzy told you of being asked by Ms Pilkinton to first steal a radio alarm clock from Yvonne Atkins' Cell, and then to assist her in moving the books, which we now know to have contained the explosives, out of the library on the morning of the open day. You have heard from Ajit Khan, who was in Reverend Mills' office with Yvonne Atkins when Ritchie Atkins made his phone call, asking to speak to Snowball Merriman. there is no doubt whatsoever, that Ms Pilkinton, better known to many of the witnesses as Snowball Merrriman, did conspire to commit arson, and is therefore guilty of the manslaughter of the inmate Sharon Wiley. There is also no doubt, not even a reasonable doubt, that her co-defendant, Ritchie Atkins, also conspired to commit arson by sending the explosives to Larkhall prison. He was also without doubt in unlawful possession of the firearm that he smuggled in to Karen Betts' handbag. but now we come to the charge, faced by Ms Pilkinton, of grievous bodily harm. You have heard, during both Karen Betts' appearances on the stand, of how she was taken hostage by Tracy Pilkinton, who forced her at gun point to drive to a rendezvous with Ritchie Atkins. Karen Betts described how exultant Tracy Pilkinton appeared. She said, she was high on adrenaline. Tracy Pilkinton had a lust for power, a need to control the one woman who had continually been the thorn in her side. Not only had Karen Betts left Ms Pilkinton in segregation for over a month, she had foiled her escape attempt. But most of all, Karen Betts had made the all too human error of sleeping with Ms Pilkinton's lover, and had, until the day of the fire, been pursuing a sexual relationship with him. It was at the point of no return that Ritchie Atkins chose to commit the one noble and righteous act of his life. In choosing to save the life of his one time lover, Karen Betts, Ritchie Atkins made it possible for his co-defendant to shoot him in the back, causing him to lose all power in his legs. He fought with Tracy Pilkinton, but she refused to relinquish the gun. Not for anyone was this woman prepared to forego the exhilaration that killing Karen Betts would have given her. Tracy Pilkinton is guilty of grievous bodily harm, purely and solely because she refused to give up her weapon. Her desire to kill the woman she considered her rival, had the direct result of injuring Ritchie Atkins. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I implore you to listen to what I have said and to take in to account all the evidence and testimony you have heard in this court. Ritchie Atkins and Tracy Pilkinton are without any doubt, guilty of the crimes with which they are charged."
Karen barely ate a thing at lunchtime and as soon as possible, excused herself and went outside. She'd hardly exchanged a word with Yvonne, mainly because Yvonne could see that Karen didn't want to talk. She sat down on one of the benches that overlooked the fountain in front of the court. The sun was still hot, but Karen could feel a tension in the air, a rising of pressure that heralded a storm. Karen felt numb, empty, as if her soul had been laid bare for all to see. She hadn't been able to look at Yvonne, she didn't want to see the scorn that must be in her eyes. Last night had been so wonderful, Karen had never known anything better. But now that Ritchie had spelled out to anyone who cared to listen just how worthless and pathetic she was, Karen doubted that Yvonne would want anything more to do with her. George walked out of the front doors of the court. She saw Karen sat by herself, looking as if her world was about to end. George wasn't usually the sympathetic type, other people's feelings weren't something she often made time for. But the sheer desolation in Karen's face seemed to draw George towards her. Karen wasn't aware of George sitting down on the other end of the bench and lighting a cigarette.
"You do realise that you're giving Ritchie exactly what he wanted by dwelling on what he said, don't you," Said George after a while. Karen looked up, startled.
"How long have you been sat there?" She asked.
"Only as long as it's taken me to smoke this," Said George, holding up her cigarette which was almost down to her fingertips. Looking in to George's face, Karen didn't see anything that resembled scorn, only kindness, which she suspected was a rare occurrence in this woman's eyes.
"It feels like he's been set on ruining my life from the beginning," Said Karen miserably.
"If it makes you feel any better," Said George, "He did have feelings for you at the start. He wasn't always as calculating as you might think."
"What makes you so sure?" Asked Karen.
"I've talked to him on and off throughout the trial. The pair of them are as guilty as sin, and there's nothing more I can do for either of them now. But most of what happened to you came from her."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I think you need to hear it. If you ask me, Ritchie Atkins has always been weak, always needed someone much stronger to keep him on track. He'd never have kept up the charade with you and used you the way he did if it hadn't been for Snowball nagging him every step of the way. With her behind him, you could never have prevented him from taking advantage of you."
"Why did you take up this case?" Asked Karen, really wanting an answer to this. George took a final drag of her cigarette and flicked the end in to the fountain.
"Sleeping with the secretary of state for trade, occasionally means that cases which are considered to be political dynamite are pushed my way. It was deemed politically expedient to get Merriman off and ship her back to Florida and the electric chair, but I'm fairly sure that this time I won't be able to deliver."
"I think I'd prefer my job any day," Said Karen. "At least prisoners are expected to make use of underhand methods to obtain their goals."
"I'm getting used to the fact that politicians regularly do the same," Said George. "And as I'm defence council and you're a prosecution witness, I shouldn't even be talking to you."
"So why are you?" Asked Karen.
"If John thinks you'd make a good barrister, and coming from him that's high praise indeed, you deserve to be put in to the picture." Karen was slowly getting the impression that George needed to make some reparation, some form of apology for taking on this loathsome pair of individuals who were unquestionably guilty. Standing up and picking up her handbag, George made to leave Karen to her thoughts, but she couldn't go without a final word.
"If Yvonne Atkins has got any sense, she'll take the meaning behind her son's words with a pinch of salt." As Karen watched George walk towards the court building, she called,
"Thank you," And received a backward smile in return.
When they all filed in to the public gallery, Karen sat a couple of seats away from the others, receiving a look from Yvonne that clearly said don't push me away. They watched Jo and George move in to place, in their accustomed positions of as far away from each other as possible. As they rose to watch the stately figure of John enter from the door behind the judge's bench, it hit Karen that this trial was almost over. In a matter of twenty four hours, they might just know what the future held for Ritchie and his tart.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Began Jo. "Over the last two weeks, you've heard from eight witnesses for the crown, who have described their impressions of, their experiences with, and their feelings towards the defendants you see before you. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the evidence you have had placed before you, and which you will use to aid you in making your decision as to the defendants' guilt or innocence. First of all, you were treated to the appearance of Yvonne Atkins, Ritchie Atkins' mother. You heard her describe how her son had initiated contact with her after four years separation. Yvonne Atkins elaborated by telling you of the two visits she received from her son, whilst she was serving a sentence in Larkhall prison. Yvonne Atkins not only told you of how her son conned her out of fifty thousand pounds, but of how she unwittingly intercepted a phonecall from him which was meant for his co-defendant, Snowball Merriman. I have submitted the records of Ritchie Atkins mobile, which prove that this phone call took place. You then heard from Karen Betts, a wing governor from HMP Larkhall. She has appeared before this court twice within this trial. She has described her brief liaison with Ritchie Atkins, which should ensure you that she bears no blame for the way in which she was used by the defendant. Ritchie Atkins, used the cover of his sexual relationship with Karen Betts, to smuggle the gun which you see before you, in to her handbag. This gun was then transported, without Karen Betts' knowledge, inside one of Her Majesty's prisons. You have heard from James Fenner how this gun was discovered, and, how it disappeared. Ritchie Atkins managed to bring a certain level of scorn and discredit on Karen Betts from her colleagues. He was able to keep in touch with his co-defendant, by way of the phone in Reverend Mills' office, which Ms Pilkinton used on a regular basis. Ritchie Atkins took a job at Clapham North library, to enable him to conceal first drugs, then explosives within copies of Shakespeare and Anthony Trollope, which were then delivered by way of the interlibrary loan scheme to Larkhall prison. By way of her principle officer, James Fenner, Ms Pilkinton was given undeserved access to the prison library, which provided her with ample opportunity for the construction and concealment of the bomb, which, on June the 15th 2002, was entirely responsible for the death of one inmate, Sharon Wiley. You have heard from both the Reverend Henry Mills and his wife Barbara, how Ms Pilkinton insinuated her way in to Reverend Mills' favour, and of how she pilfered an altar cloth in order to construct a disguise for her attempted escape. You have heard from Alison McKenzy, also an inmate of Larkhall prison, who described how she was at first taken in by Ms Pilkinton, who took advantage of this vulnerable girl's addiction to drugs. Alison McKenzy told you of being asked by Ms Pilkinton to first steal a radio alarm clock from Yvonne Atkins' Cell, and then to assist her in moving the books, which we now know to have contained the explosives, out of the library on the morning of the open day. You have heard from Ajit Khan, who was in Reverend Mills' office with Yvonne Atkins when Ritchie Atkins made his phone call, asking to speak to Snowball Merriman. there is no doubt whatsoever, that Ms Pilkinton, better known to many of the witnesses as Snowball Merrriman, did conspire to commit arson, and is therefore guilty of the manslaughter of the inmate Sharon Wiley. There is also no doubt, not even a reasonable doubt, that her co-defendant, Ritchie Atkins, also conspired to commit arson by sending the explosives to Larkhall prison. He was also without doubt in unlawful possession of the firearm that he smuggled in to Karen Betts' handbag. but now we come to the charge, faced by Ms Pilkinton, of grievous bodily harm. You have heard, during both Karen Betts' appearances on the stand, of how she was taken hostage by Tracy Pilkinton, who forced her at gun point to drive to a rendezvous with Ritchie Atkins. Karen Betts described how exultant Tracy Pilkinton appeared. She said, she was high on adrenaline. Tracy Pilkinton had a lust for power, a need to control the one woman who had continually been the thorn in her side. Not only had Karen Betts left Ms Pilkinton in segregation for over a month, she had foiled her escape attempt. But most of all, Karen Betts had made the all too human error of sleeping with Ms Pilkinton's lover, and had, until the day of the fire, been pursuing a sexual relationship with him. It was at the point of no return that Ritchie Atkins chose to commit the one noble and righteous act of his life. In choosing to save the life of his one time lover, Karen Betts, Ritchie Atkins made it possible for his co-defendant to shoot him in the back, causing him to lose all power in his legs. He fought with Tracy Pilkinton, but she refused to relinquish the gun. Not for anyone was this woman prepared to forego the exhilaration that killing Karen Betts would have given her. Tracy Pilkinton is guilty of grievous bodily harm, purely and solely because she refused to give up her weapon. Her desire to kill the woman she considered her rival, had the direct result of injuring Ritchie Atkins. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I implore you to listen to what I have said and to take in to account all the evidence and testimony you have heard in this court. Ritchie Atkins and Tracy Pilkinton are without any doubt, guilty of the crimes with which they are charged."