Crown Court - Still Waters (1978) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Amy Sellars (Dandy Nichols) is accused of attempted murder. Amy, her son Barry and his estranged wife Valerie went rowing on a lake. Valerie fell into the water and the eye witnessed who saved her believes that Amy deliberately pushed her into the water.  A few famous faces in this one. Fans of "Til Death Us Do Part" will recognise character actress Dandy Nichols, who had played Alf Garnett's wife. Barry Evans (playing Barry) was best known as appearing in the comedy "Doctor..." series as well as "Mind Your Language". Liza Goddard (Caroline Wallis) has appeared in almost everything including the Australian series Skippy and the Doctor Who adventure "Terminus". John Breslin, who plays Roger Joyce, also appeared in Doctor Who in the Jon Pertwee adventure "Spearhead from Space". Jennie Stoller (Valerie) would also appear as a psycho prisoner in Within These Walls ("Love Me, Love My Bear") as well as the 5th assignment in "Sapphire & Steel". Pauline Yates (Prosecuting Counsel) is perhaps best known for playing the wife of Reggie Perrin and Pat Heywood (Defence) is another actress who appears everywhere!

Transcript

00:00:00Transcription by CastingWords

00:00:30Good morning. Hello.

00:00:32You've actually brought the alleged weapon into the call.

00:00:34Yes. It's quite a small one.

00:00:37I think it's too outrageous.

00:00:39No, not at all. I think it's very creative.

00:00:45Amy Sellers, you stand indicted,

00:00:48and the charge is that you attempted to murder Valerie Sellers,

00:00:51the particulars being that on the 24th of June this year

00:00:54you did attempt to drown the said Valerie Sellers

00:00:57at Fulchester Jubilee Park.

00:00:59To that charge, Amy Sellers,

00:01:01do you plead guilty or not guilty?

00:01:03Not guilty.

00:01:05The case you're about to see is a fictional one,

00:01:08but the procedure is legally accurate.

00:01:10The characters are played by actors,

00:01:11but the jury is made up of members of the general public

00:01:14who will actually decide the verdict.

00:01:16I call Clive Warren.

00:01:24Call Clive Warren.

00:01:25Will you take the book in your right hand

00:01:38and read aloud the words on the card?

00:01:41I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give

00:01:43shall be the truth, the old truth, and nothing but the truth.

00:01:46You are Clive James Warren?

00:01:50Yes.

00:01:51And you live at 116 Bull Lane, Fulchester?

00:01:54No, I used to live there. I live in all of residence now.

00:01:57Yes, very well.

00:01:59Mr. Warren, where were you at approximately 2.20pm

00:02:03on the afternoon of the 21st of June this year?

00:02:06On the boating lake at Fulchester Jubilee Park.

00:02:08I remember the time because I was due at practice at 3.50.

00:02:10And can you tell us what happened?

00:02:13Well, I was sailing towards shore

00:02:15when I saw this other boat

00:02:16with two women standing up and shouting.

00:02:18Did you hear what they were saying?

00:02:20I heard the younger one say,

00:02:22let me go, let go.

00:02:24That's all I heard.

00:02:25Then she was in the water.

00:02:27My lord, with your agreement

00:02:28and the agreement of the defence,

00:02:30I would now like this witness

00:02:32to place the occupants in the boat.

00:02:35What do you mean, Miss Flannery,

00:02:36you want the actual people to get into this thing here in court?

00:02:40My lord, yes.

00:02:42What have you to say to that, Mrs. Sinclair?

00:02:44Oh, I have no objection, my lord,

00:02:45if my learned friend thinks that such a melodrama will assist the jury.

00:02:49Barry Sellers, Nigel Holt, Valerie Sellers.

00:03:02Oh, all three of us?

00:03:03Yes, please.

00:03:16Mr. Warren,

00:03:17are these people the occupants of the boat?

00:03:21Yes.

00:03:22Tell us where each one was sitting.

00:03:24Well, him.

00:03:25He was at the stern.

00:03:27Would you get in the boat, please, Mr. Holt?

00:03:31Help me to go in it.

00:03:32As you were on that day, please.

00:03:38Go on, Mr. Warren.

00:03:41He was rowing.

00:03:42Mr. Sellers.

00:03:43And the two women were at the front.

00:03:52I know it's difficult,

00:03:53but we're trying to find out what happened.

00:03:55Would you both get into the boat, please?

00:03:57Come on, then.

00:04:09She's doing that on purpose.

00:04:12I'm the one who should be terrified.

00:04:13She's more likely to do me than I ever was to touch her.

00:04:17My lord, are these pyrotechnics necessary?

00:04:19With respect, the court could have managed quite well with the diagram.

00:04:22I shall allow this pantomime to continue

00:04:25only if the proceedings don't get out of hand,

00:04:27which they are in danger of doing.

00:04:29Thank you, my lord.

00:04:31Please.

00:04:32It's important.

00:04:43Now, Mr. Warren,

00:04:44can you tell us what happened in the boat?

00:04:46Well, I was aware that there was this other boat on the lake,

00:04:49and I wondered who else would be loony enough

00:04:51to be out in that kind of weather,

00:04:53but I didn't pay any particular attention

00:04:54until I saw the two women fighting

00:04:56and him jumping up and down and shouting.

00:04:59Now, would you stand up, please?

00:05:02Now, you say they were fighting.

00:05:03Where were the defendant's hands?

00:05:05On the other one's shoulders.

00:05:07Mrs. Sellers,

00:05:08would you place your hands on her shoulders, please?

00:05:13And Valerie Sellers,

00:05:14where were her hands?

00:05:16I don't know.

00:05:17Everywhere.

00:05:18Trying to push the other woman away

00:05:19and trying to stay balanced.

00:05:21You may sit down now.

00:05:24And then?

00:05:26And then she went over the right side, backwards.

00:05:28I could tell she didn't know how to swim.

00:05:30How could you tell that?

00:05:31Well, she didn't try to get back into the boat

00:05:33or swim to shore.

00:05:35It was only 50 yards or so.

00:05:37She was just waving her arms.

00:05:38She was panicky.

00:05:40Did anyone in the boat try to help her?

00:05:41No, nobody did anything.

00:05:43They just looked.

00:05:43And what did you do?

00:05:44Well, I jumped in.

00:05:47And the people in the boat,

00:05:48the family,

00:05:49what did they do when they saw you jump in?

00:05:52Well, it was odd, that,

00:05:54because he seemed to be turning the boat away.

00:05:56And then it was like he changed his mind

00:05:58and decided to row in with us.

00:05:59Did they try to get the victim back in the boat?

00:06:02No, they just rowed in with us.

00:06:04And when you got her in?

00:06:05Well, she was in bad shape.

00:06:07We had to give her artificial respiration.

00:06:10Then the ambulance came and the police,

00:06:12and that's all.

00:06:13Thank you, Mr. Warren.

00:06:14Mr. Warren,

00:06:16you said there was some lightning.

00:06:17Mrs. Sinclair,

00:06:19if any of these people are to be called

00:06:20during these proceedings,

00:06:22they must leave the court now.

00:06:24Oh,

00:06:25as your lordship pleases.

00:06:28The passengers may disembark.

00:06:34Will the boat be required again?

00:06:36No.

00:06:36An usher,

00:06:39please have it removed.

00:06:46Mr. Warren,

00:06:47you said there was some lightning.

00:06:49Yes.

00:06:49When?

00:06:52Mr. Warren,

00:06:52what I'm trying to establish is this.

00:06:54Were you aware of the lightning

00:06:56before or after you saw

00:06:57the two women struggling in the boat?

00:06:59Oh, before, I believe.

00:07:01Yeah.

00:07:01Well, it all seemed to be happening at once,

00:07:03the storm coming up

00:07:04and the two women struggling.

00:07:05The lightning flashed

00:07:06and then Valerie Sellers

00:07:07jumped up hysterical, terrified.

00:07:10Isn't that what you saw?

00:07:11I don't know about that.

00:07:12I put it to you

00:07:13that Mrs. Sellers

00:07:14was in fact trying to restrain

00:07:16her daughter-in-law

00:07:16because she was hysterical.

00:07:19She was trying to stop

00:07:20Valerie Sellers

00:07:20from going over

00:07:21and from capsizing the boat.

00:07:24That's what you saw.

00:07:25I can't say.

00:07:26It all happened very quickly.

00:07:27You can't say.

00:07:27Well, I understand that.

00:07:29In a crisis,

00:07:30people react

00:07:30without necessarily absorbing the event.

00:07:33You're clearly a careful

00:07:34and observant witness.

00:07:36Now, you said

00:07:37then she was in the water.

00:07:39Now, you didn't say

00:07:40that you actually saw

00:07:41Mrs. Sellers

00:07:42push her daughter-in-law

00:07:43over the side.

00:07:44I think she pushed her.

00:07:45I think that's what happened.

00:07:46But you have some doubt

00:07:47as to what you saw.

00:07:48I know what I saw.

00:07:50But you're unsure

00:07:51of how to interpret

00:07:52what you saw.

00:07:54In a crisis situation,

00:07:55the most alert witness

00:07:56can have difficulty

00:07:57in placing the facts in order

00:07:58and therefore interpreting them.

00:08:00Now, Mr. Warren,

00:08:01you said

00:08:02I was due at practice

00:08:03at three.

00:08:04What sort of practice?

00:08:06Rowing.

00:08:07Are you in a team?

00:08:08Yeah, for the university.

00:08:09Now, to qualify for the rowing team,

00:08:11do you have to pass

00:08:12a swimming test?

00:08:13Of course you must.

00:08:14And life-saving?

00:08:15Have you had some instruction

00:08:16in water safety

00:08:18and life-saving?

00:08:18Yes.

00:08:19Do you know

00:08:20that some people

00:08:20are terrified of the water?

00:08:22You mean like a phobia?

00:08:24Precisely.

00:08:24An extreme fear of water.

00:08:26It's not that uncommon, is it?

00:08:28Oh, no.

00:08:28Some people are like that, yes.

00:08:30Well, what would the symptoms be?

00:08:31I mean, how would

00:08:32such people show

00:08:34that they were afraid?

00:08:35Well, same way

00:08:36as anybody shows

00:08:37afraid of anything.

00:08:38Stand up and scream.

00:08:39Yes, they stand up and scream

00:08:40and struggle

00:08:41and lash out at the person

00:08:42who's trying to save them.

00:08:43That's what happens, isn't it?

00:08:45But when you heard

00:08:46Valerie Sellers shout

00:08:47let me go,

00:08:48I suggest that this was

00:08:50because she was hysterical

00:08:52and trying to jump out of the boat

00:08:54and that Mrs Sellers

00:08:55was trying to restrain her.

00:08:57Well?

00:08:59Oh, yes.

00:09:00It's possible.

00:09:01Yes, it's possible.

00:09:03Now, just one thing further,

00:09:05Mr Warren.

00:09:06How high is the courtroom ceiling?

00:09:11Catch.

00:09:13Very good.

00:09:15My Lord,

00:09:15having accused me

00:09:16of pyrotechnics,

00:09:18fireworks,

00:09:19my learned friend

00:09:20now asks the court

00:09:20to indulge her

00:09:21while she turns the court

00:09:22into a cricket pitch.

00:09:23I apologise

00:09:24but I think

00:09:25I have made my point

00:09:26if I may be allowed

00:09:28to continue.

00:09:29Thank you, my Lord.

00:09:31Now, Mr Warren,

00:09:32you reacted very sharply.

00:09:34Your instincts

00:09:34are finely tuned.

00:09:36Now, why is it

00:09:38do you suppose

00:09:38that you can react

00:09:39so quickly?

00:09:41Well, it's not unusual

00:09:41for an athlete.

00:09:43An athlete.

00:09:44Yes, of course,

00:09:45you are a trained athlete.

00:09:47Now,

00:09:48would the average person

00:09:49be likely

00:09:50to react so quickly?

00:09:51Perhaps not.

00:09:52So, when you said

00:09:53nobody did anything,

00:09:55perhaps what you mean

00:09:56is that you jumped in

00:09:57before they did.

00:09:59What looked to you

00:10:00like in action

00:10:00was really the time

00:10:01it takes the average person

00:10:02to react and absorb

00:10:03a crisis.

00:10:05I don't think so.

00:10:06Well, I know you don't,

00:10:07but the jury

00:10:08have seen for themselves

00:10:09the speed of your reactions.

00:10:11Yeah, but it didn't

00:10:11happen like that.

00:10:13So, I would suggest

00:10:14to you the following.

00:10:16Valerie Sellers

00:10:17has a fear of water.

00:10:18When the thunder

00:10:20and lightning began,

00:10:20she became hysterical

00:10:22and tried to jump

00:10:22out of the boat.

00:10:24Her husband's mother,

00:10:25sitting next to her,

00:10:25tried to stop her.

00:10:27The girl struggled

00:10:28and went over the side

00:10:29trying to take

00:10:29her mother-in-law

00:10:30with her.

00:10:31Thank you,

00:10:32Mr. Warren.

00:10:34Any re-examination,

00:10:35Miss Flannery?

00:10:37Just one question,

00:10:38my lord.

00:10:40Mr. Warren,

00:10:42on a day in June

00:10:44when virtually no one

00:10:45was in the water

00:10:46because of inclement weather.

00:10:48Can you imagine

00:10:50why Valerie Sellers' family

00:10:52should have taken her rowing?

00:10:54No.

00:10:56No, I truly can't imagine.

00:10:57I call Leonie Ryland.

00:11:19Call Leonie Ryland.

00:11:27Will you take the book

00:11:32in your right hand

00:11:33and read aloud

00:11:34the words on the card?

00:11:35I swear by almighty God

00:11:37that the evidence

00:11:37I shall give

00:11:38shall be the truth,

00:11:39the whole truth

00:11:40and nothing but the truth.

00:11:44Are you Leonie Ryland

00:11:46of 12 Belvedere

00:11:47Close, Fulchester?

00:11:48Yes.

00:11:49And Valerie Sellers

00:11:51is your sister?

00:11:52Yes.

00:11:53Does your sister live with you?

00:11:54With me and my husband,

00:11:55yes.

00:11:56How long has your sister

00:11:57lived with you?

00:11:58For about six months.

00:12:00Since just before

00:12:01her mother-in-law

00:12:01tried to kill her.

00:12:03My lord.

00:12:03Yes, yes, I know.

00:12:05Since just before

00:12:06the incident.

00:12:08And why was she living

00:12:09with you

00:12:10rather than

00:12:10with her husband?

00:12:11She'd left him.

00:12:12How long had they been married?

00:12:14About four months.

00:12:15Was this the first time

00:12:16that she'd left him?

00:12:17Actually left him, yes.

00:12:19Had you any inkling

00:12:21that this might happen?

00:12:22Had there been

00:12:23any previous trouble?

00:12:24Yes.

00:12:25What trouble?

00:12:27I hardly know

00:12:28where to begin.

00:12:29He was thoroughly

00:12:31exploiting her.

00:12:32Taking her money,

00:12:33seeing other women.

00:12:35And his mother

00:12:35was driving her crazy.

00:12:37Well, let's begin

00:12:38with the first.

00:12:39Taking her money.

00:12:40Can you tell us

00:12:41what you know

00:12:41about that?

00:12:42Both our parents

00:12:43died ten years ago

00:12:45in a road accident.

00:12:47We each inherited

00:12:48ten thousand pounds

00:12:49in a trust fund

00:12:50which we got

00:12:51at the age of thirty.

00:12:52I'm now thirty-five.

00:12:54When Valerie

00:12:55married Barry

00:12:56she was twenty-nine

00:12:57so she hadn't then

00:12:59inherited her money.

00:13:01Before they got married

00:13:02Valerie asked me

00:13:04if she could borrow

00:13:04some money from me

00:13:05against her own

00:13:06trust fund.

00:13:07How much money?

00:13:08Eight hundred pounds.

00:13:09Did you lend it to her?

00:13:10Yes.

00:13:11Do you know

00:13:11where that money went?

00:13:13Yes.

00:13:14To the accused.

00:13:16To buy some

00:13:16dry cleaning equipment.

00:13:18How do you know that?

00:13:18Well, I said

00:13:20I wouldn't lend her

00:13:21the money

00:13:21unless she agreed

00:13:22to let me see

00:13:22her bank statement

00:13:23every month.

00:13:25That may sound mean

00:13:26but I felt

00:13:27I still feel

00:13:30that Valerie

00:13:31needs taking care of.

00:13:33She's a very

00:13:33vulnerable girl.

00:13:35Open and unsuspicious.

00:13:36Mrs. Ryland

00:13:37did you yourself

00:13:39witness something

00:13:40which made you

00:13:40suspect that

00:13:42Mr. Sellers

00:13:42and his mother

00:13:43did not have

00:13:44your sister's

00:13:45best interest at heart?

00:13:47Yes.

00:13:49One month

00:13:50before they were

00:13:50actually to be married

00:13:52Barry Sellers

00:13:53asked me to have

00:13:54tea with him

00:13:54at his mother's flat.

00:13:57She was working

00:13:58downstairs

00:13:58in the dry cleaning shop

00:14:00and Valerie

00:14:00was at a class.

00:14:01What happened?

00:14:02He showed me a locket

00:14:03he'd bought for Valerie

00:14:04as a wedding present.

00:14:06He asked me

00:14:06if I thought she'd like it.

00:14:07I said

00:14:08yes, it's beautiful.

00:14:10And he said

00:14:11and this is going

00:14:13to be very difficult

00:14:14for anyone to believe

00:14:15he said

00:14:15why don't you

00:14:17have it then?

00:14:17He was offering

00:14:18the locket to you?

00:14:19Yes.

00:14:19What was your reaction?

00:14:21Well

00:14:21I was bewildered

00:14:23I said

00:14:24why are you

00:14:25offering this gift

00:14:25to me?

00:14:26It's meant to be

00:14:26for your wife.

00:14:28And he said

00:14:29why don't you

00:14:30be my wife?

00:14:31So

00:14:31this man

00:14:33who was to be

00:14:33married to your sister

00:14:34in one month

00:14:35was now asking

00:14:36you to marry him?

00:14:37That's right.

00:14:38It's difficult

00:14:39to credit I know.

00:14:40What was your reaction?

00:14:42I said

00:14:42what are you

00:14:43talking about?

00:14:43You're marrying my sister

00:14:45next month

00:14:46and I'm happily married myself

00:14:47have been for seven years.

00:14:49And he said

00:14:50yes

00:14:51I know

00:14:52I didn't really fancy

00:14:54my chances

00:14:55it was my mum's idea.

00:14:57The defendant

00:14:57wanted her son

00:14:59to marry you

00:15:00rather than your sister?

00:15:01Yes

00:15:02we both had the same

00:15:04amount of money

00:15:05you see

00:15:05except

00:15:06I had mine.

00:15:09Valerie had to wait

00:15:09a few months

00:15:10for hers

00:15:10and his mother

00:15:12the accused

00:15:13felt that

00:15:14I don't know

00:15:16that

00:15:16I was more

00:15:18the sort of

00:15:18person her son

00:15:19ought to marry.

00:15:20And Mr Sellers

00:15:21what did he think?

00:15:22He thought so too

00:15:23though he didn't mind

00:15:25a lot one way

00:15:26or the other.

00:15:27He didn't really

00:15:28like women very much

00:15:29wasn't very interested

00:15:30no

00:15:31no I don't mean

00:15:32he wasn't interested

00:15:33he was very interested

00:15:35in what women

00:15:36could do for him.

00:15:38Barry pursued women

00:15:39like a career

00:15:40like a job

00:15:41what he wanted

00:15:43for a wife

00:15:44was someone

00:15:44suitable

00:15:46with a bit of money

00:15:47to help out

00:15:48and his mother

00:15:50thought that should

00:15:51be me instead

00:15:52of Valerie

00:15:52and he agreed

00:15:53with her.

00:15:54And what about

00:15:55Valerie?

00:15:56How did he propose

00:15:57to explain it to her?

00:15:59Well that was

00:16:00very strange.

00:16:02He said

00:16:02she'd live with us

00:16:04we'd explain it to her

00:16:06you see

00:16:06and we'd all

00:16:08live together

00:16:08and all be friends

00:16:09and all take care

00:16:11of each other

00:16:12only I'd be his

00:16:13official wife

00:16:14instead of her.

00:16:15You say this was

00:16:15his mother's idea?

00:16:17That's what he said.

00:16:18And your husband

00:16:19what was to be done

00:16:20about him?

00:16:21Barry said

00:16:22he could come

00:16:22and live with us too

00:16:23if he wanted.

00:16:24Do you mean

00:16:25like a commune?

00:16:26I don't know

00:16:27I didn't stay

00:16:27to find out

00:16:28I just said

00:16:29I'm leaving now

00:16:30and he said

00:16:32okay

00:16:33I'll stick with

00:16:34your sister

00:16:34then if you

00:16:34don't fancy it

00:16:35but my mum

00:16:36thought you and I

00:16:37were a better

00:16:38combination.

00:16:39Did you tell

00:16:39your sister

00:16:40about this?

00:16:41No

00:16:41not at the time

00:16:42not till she

00:16:44came to stay

00:16:44with us.

00:16:45When was that?

00:16:46You mean the date?

00:16:47The 8th of June

00:16:48she phoned

00:16:50to say

00:16:50could she come

00:16:51and stay

00:16:51and I said

00:16:52yes of course

00:16:53less than an hour

00:16:54later she arrived.

00:16:55Was she injured

00:16:56in any way?

00:16:57She had a black eye.

00:16:59What did she bring

00:16:59with her?

00:17:01One suitcase

00:17:02and the sewing.

00:17:05The sewing?

00:17:07Yes.

00:17:08The alterations.

00:17:09What do you mean

00:17:10the alterations?

00:17:11That Mrs Sellers

00:17:12had given her.

00:17:14Valerie was hysterical.

00:17:15She said

00:17:16can you help me

00:17:18with the hems?

00:17:19The hems?

00:17:20That's right.

00:17:23Mrs Sellers

00:17:23wanted Valerie

00:17:24to give up

00:17:24going to classes

00:17:25at the university

00:17:26and help out

00:17:27in the shop.

00:17:28She said

00:17:28she could make

00:17:29a lot of money

00:17:29doing alterations

00:17:30with Valerie's help.

00:17:33Valerie didn't

00:17:34want to do that.

00:17:35She liked

00:17:36going to the university

00:17:37and she hated sewing.

00:17:38She didn't know how.

00:17:41But Mrs Sellers

00:17:42kept bringing her

00:17:42these alterations

00:17:43you know

00:17:44turning up hems

00:17:45and letting things out

00:17:47and

00:17:48well anyway

00:17:49when Valerie arrived

00:17:50she said

00:17:50can you help me

00:17:52with these?

00:17:53If I can help

00:17:54his mother

00:17:54maybe he'll love me.

00:17:56Did you help her?

00:17:58With the hems?

00:18:00No.

00:18:01Even if I'd wanted to

00:18:02I can't sew

00:18:03any better than she can.

00:18:05I gave her some tea

00:18:06and put her to bed

00:18:06and we didn't really

00:18:07talk till the next day.

00:18:09What happened then?

00:18:10She told me

00:18:11how awful it had been

00:18:12the last few months

00:18:14how they'd both

00:18:15ganged up on her.

00:18:16Mrs Ryland

00:18:17you've said

00:18:17that your sister

00:18:18had been staying

00:18:18with you

00:18:19for about two weeks

00:18:20before the incident.

00:18:22To your knowledge

00:18:22during that time

00:18:24did she see

00:18:24her husband at all?

00:18:25Yes

00:18:26he came round

00:18:27several times

00:18:27and then

00:18:29on her birthday

00:18:30June the 21st

00:18:31they went on a picnic

00:18:33that's when it happened

00:18:35oh they planned it

00:18:37well in advance

00:18:38of course

00:18:38Barry and the old woman

00:18:40and probably

00:18:41cousin Nigel

00:18:42as well

00:18:43they were all in on it

00:18:44Lord I object

00:18:45Mrs Amy Sellers

00:18:46is the only one charged

00:18:48and this court

00:18:48has been subjected

00:18:49to a great deal

00:18:50of immaterial evidence

00:18:51yes I agree

00:18:51Mrs Ryland

00:18:53would you please

00:18:54not give us

00:18:54your opinions

00:18:55regarding a conspiracy

00:18:56but they all knew

00:18:57she was terrified

00:18:58of the water

00:18:59Mrs Ryland

00:19:00so why take her

00:19:01boating as a birthday

00:19:02treat for God's sake

00:19:03in that weather

00:19:03Mrs Ryland please

00:19:04Mrs Ryland

00:19:05will you please

00:19:06confine yourself

00:19:06to answering questions

00:19:07put to you

00:19:08by learned counsel

00:19:09I'm sorry

00:19:10so Mrs Ryland

00:19:12if we may just

00:19:13remind ourselves

00:19:14of the terms

00:19:15of your sister's

00:19:15trust fund

00:19:16your sister and you

00:19:18each inherited

00:19:1810,000 pounds

00:19:20on the death

00:19:21of your parents

00:19:21the funds to be held

00:19:23in trust

00:19:23until you were 30

00:19:25did your sister

00:19:27have a will

00:19:27yes

00:19:28were you a witness

00:19:29to the will

00:19:29yes

00:19:30do you know

00:19:30who stood to benefit

00:19:31her husband

00:19:32Barry Sellers

00:19:33how old was your sister

00:19:35when she married

00:19:35Mr Sellers

00:19:3629

00:19:37how old is she now

00:19:3830

00:19:39when did she turn 30

00:19:40June the 21st

00:19:41the day of the incident

00:19:42that's right

00:19:43thank you Mrs Ryland

00:19:45Mrs Ryland

00:19:47there are some points

00:19:48in your evidence

00:19:49which I would like

00:19:49to clarify

00:19:50now you told us

00:19:51about your meeting

00:19:53with Mr Sellers

00:19:53one month

00:19:54before your sister

00:19:55married him

00:19:56was that the first

00:19:57time you've met him

00:19:58no

00:19:59when was the first time

00:20:01when she first

00:20:03introduced you to him

00:20:04no

00:20:05I thought this

00:20:07might come up

00:20:08there was a time

00:20:10about three years ago

00:20:12when I was separated

00:20:13briefly from my husband

00:20:15I went to a lecture

00:20:17at the university

00:20:18where I met

00:20:19Barry Sellers

00:20:20we had a coffee together

00:20:23just one cup of coffee

00:20:24possibly two

00:20:26then I drove home

00:20:28alone

00:20:28the following week

00:20:31we went to the cinema

00:20:32and then we went back

00:20:34to his flat

00:20:34and had tea

00:20:36with his mother

00:20:38I again drove home

00:20:40alone

00:20:41two weeks later

00:20:43I was back with my husband

00:20:44and we've been quite happy

00:20:45ever since

00:20:46and that was the sum total

00:20:48of my relationship

00:20:49with Barry Sellers

00:20:50until the day

00:20:51he asked me to marry him

00:20:52did you ever tell your sister

00:20:55that you'd known him before

00:20:56I didn't tell her

00:20:58any of it

00:20:58till she left him

00:20:59then I told her

00:21:01the entire story

00:21:02what was her reaction

00:21:03she took it very well

00:21:05she said

00:21:06I'm not really surprised

00:21:08he sees lots of women

00:21:09now you've said

00:21:11in your evidence

00:21:11he was exploiting her

00:21:13did that mean

00:21:14he was taking her money

00:21:15and seeing other women

00:21:16yes

00:21:16now the evidence

00:21:17you've given to support that

00:21:18is one loan

00:21:19to Mrs Sellers

00:21:20of 800 pounds

00:21:21and the meeting

00:21:22where you say

00:21:23that he suddenly suggested

00:21:25that you should marry him

00:21:26now have you any other reasons

00:21:28for suspecting

00:21:29that he didn't love your sister

00:21:30Valerie is shy

00:21:34and very quiet

00:21:35she's

00:21:36well I think she's very bright

00:21:39she is very bright

00:21:40look she's older than he is

00:21:43the girls he liked

00:21:45had vitality

00:21:47they were always very glossy

00:21:49like yourself

00:21:50I was not one of his girls

00:21:53oh I don't think you were

00:21:54but I think you thought you were

00:21:57you were having a very good time

00:22:00being a mother

00:22:00to your shy little sister

00:22:02Mrs Ryland

00:22:04I put it to you

00:22:05that you were the one

00:22:06who suggested

00:22:07Mr Sellers marry you

00:22:08instead of your sister

00:22:09and that it was his mother

00:22:11who opposed it

00:22:12no that's not true

00:22:13I suggest that you could not

00:22:15bear the idea

00:22:16of your shy little sister

00:22:18landing your catch

00:22:20my catch

00:22:22Barry Sellers

00:22:25a part time

00:22:26jiggler

00:22:27and barely adequate

00:22:28student

00:22:28no thank you

00:22:29he wasn't good enough

00:22:31for me

00:22:32or for my sister

00:22:33thank you

00:22:35I now call

00:22:38Valerie Sellers

00:22:39call

00:22:42Valerie Sellers

00:22:43you

00:22:53thank you

00:22:58I

00:23:03I

00:23:34The case of the Queen against Amy Sellers continues today in the Crown Court.

00:23:38On the 24th of June, Amy Sellers went rowing with her son and his estranged wife, Valerie.

00:23:43The eyewitness who saved Valerie believes that he saw Amy Sellers push her daughter-in-law over the side of the boat.

00:23:50Amy Sellers has pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder.

00:24:00You're Valerie Sellers, daughter-in-law of the accused?

00:24:04That's right.

00:24:05Will you tell us how and when you met your husband?

00:24:08A year and two months ago. That's 14 months.

00:24:12He was working in the cafeteria at the university.

00:24:15We went out, we saw each other for a while, and then we were married.

00:24:18So you were married four months?

00:24:20We're still married.

00:24:21Four months before the incident?

00:24:23Before she tried to kill me.

00:24:25Yes, four months.

00:24:26Was there some trouble between you during that time?

00:24:31Yes.

00:24:32On account of his mother.

00:24:34He just had a blind spot about her.

00:24:37You see, his father had died when he was very young, and she worked to support him.

00:24:41And no matter how she behaved, he wouldn't take anyone's part against her.

00:24:45How did she behave?

00:24:47Well, she wanted me to give up my classes and help her in the shop.

00:24:51She said that Barry had a brilliant future as a professor, and I wasn't doing anybody any good by studying.

00:24:56She wanted me to help her make more money so that Barry could give up his job in the cafeteria and only have to worry about his studies.

00:25:04Then she was on at me about a diary.

00:25:07She said that if my father had been alive, he would have given us some money,

00:25:11and that I should turn my trust fund over to Barry when I was 30.

00:25:14What was your reaction to that?

00:25:16Well, I wasn't about to do any of those things.

00:25:19I like studying, and I wasn't going to spend my days in her dry cleaning place.

00:25:22Well, when she saw I wasn't going to work in the shop, she started bringing home alterations.

00:25:30You know, hems and things for me to do in my spare time.

00:25:34But the thing is, you see, I can't sew.

00:25:37I tried, but it was so clumsy.

00:25:40I did a hem for her, and it was hopeless.

00:25:43She showed it to Barry.

00:25:44She said, look at this.

00:25:46Look at this girl you've married.

00:25:48And she read it the hem herself.

00:25:50And then the following week, she brought home some more alterations.

00:25:54She said, I hope you can do a better job with these.

00:25:56And I said, I'll try.

00:25:58And I put them away in a cupboard.

00:25:59I didn't know what else to do.

00:26:01And was that when you left and moved in with your sister?

00:26:03Oh, no, I wouldn't have left just for that.

00:26:06Will you tell us what happened when you did leave?

00:26:09Well, she started bringing other women around for Barry.

00:26:15Your mother-in-law introduced her son to other women?

00:26:18She tried to.

00:26:19That was the idea.

00:26:21She started by just mentioning them, you know.

00:26:24And how did your husband react to that?

00:26:25Well, he just laughed or nodded.

00:26:27I don't think he listened to her half the time.

00:26:30And then one day, she actually brought two of them round for tea.

00:26:34I came in from class, and I wasn't even introduced.

00:26:37She started ordering me around, pretending I was the hired help.

00:26:41And Barry seemed to think it was funny.

00:26:43And the two girls were just giggling like mad.

00:26:45And when they left, she said to Barry, which one do you fancy?

00:26:49And he said, I'll have the one with the diamond, and Val can have the one with the wooden leg.

00:26:53Not that either of them really had a wooden leg.

00:26:55He just thought it was funny.

00:26:57But I didn't.

00:26:58I can understand that.

00:27:00Well, I went into the bedroom, and I slammed the door.

00:27:03And Barry came in and said, what's wrong?

00:27:05You can't have taken that seriously.

00:27:07And before I could answer, she marched in and said, where are the alterations?

00:27:11And I said, what alterations?

00:27:14And she said, the ones I gave you two weeks ago.

00:27:16My customers are waiting.

00:27:18And I said, you want the alterations?

00:27:20I'll show you the alterations.

00:27:21And I opened the cupboard door and started pulling them out and throwing them around.

00:27:25And she went mad, and Barry took her side.

00:27:27He said, I should have said if I wasn't going to do them.

00:27:29And now she'd probably lose her customers.

00:27:32And then she punched me.

00:27:34So the black eye that your sister mentioned...

00:27:37She did it.

00:27:38She looks frail, but she's quite fit, really.

00:27:41What happened after she hit you?

00:27:44Well, I rang my sister, and then I left.

00:27:47And what happened when you went to your sister's?

00:27:50Well, the first night she gave me some tranquilizers, and all I did was sleep.

00:27:55And then the following day, Leonie told me how she'd known Barry before.

00:27:58And that a month before we were married, he'd said that he wanted to marry her instead...

00:28:03...because his mother thought it would be better.

00:28:05Were you upset?

00:28:06Well, not really.

00:28:08By that time, I'd realized how crazy the whole thing was, and I just wanted to get out.

00:28:12But you continued to see your husband?

00:28:14Yes.

00:28:15Well, he was all right away from her.

00:28:18He's quite a good person, really, on his own.

00:28:21But why did you agree to spend your birthday with him and his mother?

00:28:25He begged me.

00:28:26He said she wanted to have a picnic.

00:28:28Barry and me, and Barry's cousin, Nigel.

00:28:31Will you tell us what happened on that day?

00:28:33Yes.

00:28:35I had the car, and I met them at the park at about one.

00:28:40I'd never seen her so pleasant, not ever.

00:28:43You mean the defendant?

00:28:44Yes.

00:28:45She was really on best behavior.

00:28:46She'd done a whole spread, baked a cake.

00:28:50She was quiet and friendly, like a normal person.

00:28:53I couldn't believe it.

00:28:54How long did the picnic last?

00:28:55About an hour.

00:28:57And then the weather became so threatening.

00:29:00I said, thank you for a lovely lunch, but I thought I'd like to leave.

00:29:04And she said, the accused said, you can't go now.

00:29:07We're going rowing.

00:29:08I booked the boat.

00:29:10Book the boat, she said, as if it were Henley, and everyone were queuing up for the pleasure.

00:29:14What did you say?

00:29:15I said, that's very thoughtful of you, but I don't think it's rowing weather.

00:29:18And I don't like the water.

00:29:20Were those your exact words?

00:29:23And I don't like the water.

00:29:26And you know I don't like the water.

00:29:28That's what I said.

00:29:30So, why did you go in the boat?

00:29:33Oh, for the same reason I tried to sew her hems and waited on other women at table.

00:29:38For Barry.

00:29:40He said the weather would hold for half an hour, that we'd just go up and down the lake,

00:29:44and if I felt worried when we were out there, we'd come right back in.

00:29:47Did you feel worried?

00:29:48Well, no more than usual.

00:29:50But then the storm came up.

00:29:52And Barry said, right, we'll go back in.

00:29:55And she said, do some tricks for us, Nigel.

00:29:58And Barry's cousin, Nigel, started jumping around, tipping the boat back and forth.

00:30:03Barry told him to stop it, but she just laughed.

00:30:06I think she was singing some kind of...

00:30:09I think she was singing some kind of rowing song.

00:30:14It was terrible.

00:30:15The boat was really going like that.

00:30:18And then I was sitting down, trying to hang on,

00:30:22and she pulled me up and started pushing me over the side.

00:30:26And I said, let me go.

00:30:28What are you doing?

00:30:28But she just kept pushing me, and then I was in the water.

00:30:33And that's the last thing I remember until I came round in hospital.

00:30:36She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, I know.

00:30:41But she really did try to kill me.

00:30:45Thank you, Mrs Sellers.

00:30:48Mrs Sellers, the prosecution has made much of your saying to the defendant,

00:30:52you know I don't like the water.

00:30:53Are you frightened of the water?

00:30:54Oh, yes, desperately.

00:30:56I always have been.

00:30:57You say your mother-in-law knew of this?

00:30:59Everybody knows it.

00:31:00How?

00:31:01What do you mean?

00:31:01Well, how did your mother-in-law or anyone else know that you were afraid of the water?

00:31:04Had there been an incident on the water before?

00:31:07No.

00:31:07Had you discussed it before?

00:31:09Not with her.

00:31:10Well, how would she know?

00:31:11Barry would have told her.

00:31:12He told her everything.

00:31:14And yet he is prepared to swear that he did not know until that day that you were afraid of the water.

00:31:19Well, she knew.

00:31:20Well, how did she know?

00:31:22She knew.

00:31:22I'm not going to lie to prove it.

00:31:23It doesn't matter.

00:31:25She pushed me over.

00:31:27So you've told us.

00:31:29Now, can we just go over all that part again?

00:31:31You said Nigel was clowning around, the lightning struck, and then the defendant pulled you up.

00:31:35That's right.

00:31:36How did she pull you up?

00:31:37By the wrists.

00:31:39Well, it seems to me that would have been very difficult for her.

00:31:43I mean, she's not a very large or a very young woman.

00:31:46She'd have to stand up to pull you up.

00:31:48Were you struggling to get away?

00:31:50Of course I was.

00:31:51Well, in order to pull you up and push you over, she'd have had to stand in a boat that was being swayed both by rough weather and cousin Nigel.

00:31:58She'd have had to have kept her balance and overpowered you as you struggled.

00:32:02By the way, did she say anything?

00:32:04She said, don't be such a stupid cow.

00:32:06Calm down.

00:32:08Calm down?

00:32:10Are those the words you'd expect someone to use, who's trying to push someone else over the side?

00:32:15Yes, those are exactly the words she'd use if she wanted Barry to think it was an accident.

00:32:19I never said she was slow-witty, did I?

00:32:22And besides, she had it all planned.

00:32:23Oh, you think she knew the weather would be bad on your birthday?

00:32:26I think she hoped it would be.

00:32:28I mean, there was a fair chance this summer.

00:32:30And if she hadn't done it then, she would have done it another time, maybe another way.

00:32:34She wanted the money and she wanted Barry to herself.

00:32:37How did she know about your money?

00:32:38She knew about it.

00:32:40The same way she knew about your aquaphobia.

00:32:42I have to suggest, Mrs Sellers, that when the storm came up suddenly and Mr Holtz started

00:32:48to rock the boat, you became hysterical and that when the defendant tried to restrain

00:32:53you, you struggled away and fell over the side or even jumped overboard.

00:32:56No.

00:32:56After it was over, you saw the chance of turning it against your mother-in-law.

00:33:02No.

00:33:03Mrs Sellers.

00:33:05Mrs Sellers, if your husband's mother actually is convicted of trying to drown you, what do

00:33:10you think will happen?

00:33:12She'll go to prison, won't she?

00:33:14And if that happens, where will your husband go?

00:33:17Back to the flat.

00:33:18And you?

00:33:20Well, I'd go back with him until we could find a new place to live.

00:33:25So with your mother-in-law out of the way, you and he could go back together and be happy?

00:33:31Well, once he saw how really bad she was, yes.

00:33:35Why not?

00:33:37Thank you, Mrs Sellers.

00:33:39No more questions.

00:33:54You're Caroline Wallace?

00:33:56Yes.

00:33:57You know the accused?

00:33:58Yes.

00:33:59What is your relationship with her?

00:34:01Was.

00:34:02I was going to marry her son.

00:34:03When was this?

00:34:04About two years ago.

00:34:06What happened?

00:34:07We didn't get married.

00:34:08Why not?

00:34:09I didn't get on with his mother.

00:34:11In what way?

00:34:12In no way.

00:34:14Can you tell us the major conflicts between you?

00:34:17I suppose the major conflict was over money.

00:34:20She actually wanted a premarital agreement, a dowry she called it, where I settle some money

00:34:25on Barry.

00:34:27I didn't really see why I should do that.

00:34:29How did she approach you about this?

00:34:31Well, after we told her we were getting married, she said she was thrilled about it.

00:34:35About two days later, she took me to lunch, the daffodil room in Barry's department store.

00:34:41And then she said, what about the financial arrangements?

00:34:45Financial arrangements?

00:34:46Well, that's what I said.

00:34:47What financial arrangements?

00:34:49And she said, well, how are you and Barry going to live?

00:34:52And I said that I had a small trust fund, and that, plus Barry's job, could see us through

00:34:57until he graduated.

00:34:59Well, after that, I assumed that he'd get a fairly decent job, after all that studying.

00:35:03And then she started telling me about all the lovely girls whom Barry knew, and how fortunate

00:35:09I was that he'd chosen me.

00:35:11And then she said that he had a brilliant future, and that she hated to see him working

00:35:17away, exhausting himself, slaving away in the cafeteria, and that didn't I have some

00:35:22special wedding present in mind?

00:35:24I said, yes.

00:35:25I'd seen some lovely cufflinks in the shape of Rupert Bear.

00:35:29She didn't think much of that as a gift.

00:35:30And then she came right out and said, you ought to give him £5,000, then he wouldn't

00:35:35have to work and worry so much.

00:35:37And your reaction to that?

00:35:38Well, I just thought, what am I getting into?

00:35:41The next day, I broke off the engagement.

00:35:43Because of his mother?

00:35:44Partly.

00:35:46But also, I think I realised that I'd been a bit impulsive.

00:35:49I tried to imagine myself living in a three-room flat with Barry and his mother, above a dry

00:35:54cleaning shop.

00:35:56But I think I realised that we weren't terribly well suited.

00:35:58I was very young.

00:36:01And how did Mr Sellers take it when you broke it off with him?

00:36:04Well, he blamed his mother for everything.

00:36:07He said he'd talked to her and sort it all out.

00:36:09And I said that even if he did, I didn't think we really belonged together.

00:36:13Anyway, a few days later, he rang me and said, would I please, please go and see his mother

00:36:17in the shop?

00:36:18As she blamed herself and wanted to apologise and talk to me.

00:36:21So I did.

00:36:23I went round.

00:36:24And as soon as I walked into the shop, she started screaming the most incredible obscenities

00:36:29at me.

00:36:29I mean, a woman her age.

00:36:31It was extraordinary.

00:36:32And then she was ironing.

00:36:36She, um, she held the iron against my arm.

00:36:40She burned me.

00:36:41Was it a serious burn?

00:36:42Well, left a scar.

00:36:44Is your arm still scarred?

00:36:46Well, you can still see it.

00:36:48Well, not very much.

00:36:50It was two years ago.

00:36:52Miss Wallace, did you see Mr Sellers again after that?

00:36:55We never went out together again.

00:36:57I bumped into him a few months later.

00:36:59He was with a girl I'd known at school.

00:37:01After that, I heard that he was marrying someone else.

00:37:04Thank you, Miss Wallace.

00:37:06Miss Wallace, why did Mrs Sellers burn your arm?

00:37:09Because she's a nutter.

00:37:11Daft is a brush and she needs putting away.

00:37:14What was Mrs Sellers doing when you came into the shop?

00:37:17I told you she was ironing.

00:37:18What was she ironing?

00:37:19Good heavens, I haven't a clue.

00:37:21Wasn't it a green silk dress worth £150?

00:37:23I doubt if anything that expensive ever came into that shop.

00:37:27I suggest it did.

00:37:29I also suggest that there was a tea tray at the back of the shop.

00:37:32Do you remember that?

00:37:34Not especially.

00:37:35There was usually a pot of tea going.

00:37:36Yes, indeed.

00:37:37A pot of tea, some scones, and some strawberry jam.

00:37:42Some nice, thick strawberry jam.

00:37:46And I suggest to you, during your course of your row with Mrs Sellers,

00:37:50when she accused you of being shallow, fickle, stupid,

00:37:53and not worthy of the attentions of her son,

00:37:56you dipped your fingers into that strawberry jam

00:37:59and you smeared it all over the green silk dress worth £150.

00:38:03And when Mrs Sellers put that arm ironed down on your arm,

00:38:07she did it out of sheer panic

00:38:09in order to prevent you from destroying both the dress and her livelihood.

00:38:14Codswallop, that never happened.

00:38:16She's a nasty, violent old cow.

00:38:19And I hope they've put you away for 200 years,

00:38:21you rabbi-faced old biddy!

00:38:23I nearly refrain from this disordinary behaviour, Miss...

00:38:25Yes, sir.

00:38:28Wallace.

00:38:30Most terribly sorry.

00:38:32Is there anything else?

00:38:35After your arm was burned, where did you go?

00:38:37Must have needed treatment.

00:38:39Did you go to a hospital?

00:38:40I managed to drive to my own doctor.

00:38:42I see.

00:38:43And what did the police do?

00:38:45The police weren't involved.

00:38:46Well, if this was a case of malicious wounding,

00:38:48surely it was the duty of the doctor to inform the police.

00:38:51I, um...

00:38:52I didn't tell him.

00:38:53I just told him it was an accident.

00:38:55A woman attacks you with a hot iron

00:38:57and you say it was an accident?

00:38:58Well, I just wanted to get away,

00:39:00not see them anymore.

00:39:01I felt I was into something I didn't understand.

00:39:06I just...

00:39:07I just wanted to get away.

00:39:10From your feelings?

00:39:12From theirs.

00:39:18Well, Mrs. Sinclair,

00:39:20have you any further questions for the witness?

00:39:22No.

00:39:24No, my lord.

00:39:26Miss Flannery?

00:39:28That is the case of the prosecution, my lord.

00:39:30Oh.

00:39:32The last witness has alleged

00:39:34that your mother attacked her with an iron.

00:39:37Is that what happened?

00:39:39Well, my mother was provoked.

00:39:41Will you tell us when you arrived on the scene?

00:39:43About an hour later, I suppose.

00:39:45Mum was crying.

00:39:46It took some time to calm her down.

00:39:48And then she said,

00:39:48I burned her.

00:39:49I burned her with the iron.

00:39:50She could have me arrested.

00:39:52Then she told me what had happened

00:39:53and showed me the dress.

00:39:54Great smears of strawberry jam across it.

00:39:56I just couldn't believe it.

00:39:57Did you see Caroline Wallace after that?

00:39:59No, she rang a few times,

00:40:01but I didn't want to know any more.

00:40:02I mean, I'd been fascinated by her,

00:40:04but she was too neurotic.

00:40:05I just couldn't cope with it.

00:40:06Now, the day when Miss Wallace went to see your mother,

00:40:09had you asked her to do that?

00:40:11No.

00:40:12I had no idea she was going to turn up.

00:40:13Neither had my mother.

00:40:15We'd broken off, you see.

00:40:16Oh, could you describe that?

00:40:17I mean, how you broke off?

00:40:19Well, I realised I was just out of my depth,

00:40:21socially, financially.

00:40:23I mean, how was a girl like that

00:40:24going to come and live with me and my mother?

00:40:26Anyway, I told her, as far as I knew,

00:40:28it was finished until she turned up at the shop that day.

00:40:31In other words, you broke off with Miss Wallace?

00:40:34That's right.

00:40:35How did she react?

00:40:37Well, she was none too pleased.

00:40:38She said I was silly to worry about money

00:40:40and that she had enough for both of us

00:40:42and she'd buy us a house.

00:40:44She said that as a wedding present,

00:40:45she'd give me £5,000 of my own

00:40:47and I could do what I like with it.

00:40:49So it wouldn't be like I was coming to her for money.

00:40:51I said I just couldn't do that.

00:40:53And I don't know,

00:40:54she seemed to think it was all to do with my mother.

00:40:56Anyway, as far as I knew,

00:40:57that was the end of it

00:40:58until she turned up at the shop.

00:40:59Now, Mr Sellers,

00:41:01when your wife left you

00:41:02and then you got together for the picnic,

00:41:04whose idea was that?

00:41:06Oh, that was entirely different.

00:41:07That was my mother's idea.

00:41:08She knew she'd been difficult

00:41:09and she wanted to make it up.

00:41:11Was she sorry?

00:41:12She was worried

00:41:13that I might go off and leave her on her own.

00:41:14I mean, I put up with a lot from her

00:41:16because, well,

00:41:18people put up with things from their mothers.

00:41:19Anyway, I did, but...

00:41:21But Valerie, that was too much.

00:41:23I mean, I love Valerie

00:41:23and my mother forced her out

00:41:25and she knew she'd better help get her back.

00:41:27Now, Mr Sellers,

00:41:29can you describe for us

00:41:30what happened just before you went into the boat?

00:41:33Yes, I must get it right.

00:41:35At about two, the sky clouded over

00:41:37and Valerie said,

00:41:38thank you for a lovely picnic,

00:41:39but I think I should be going.

00:41:41Well, of course, that upset my mother

00:41:43because she told me

00:41:43she'd get Valerie to come back to the flat with us.

00:41:47She said she'd...

00:41:47So she tried to get her to stay.

00:41:48She said she'd got this boat booked

00:41:50and Valerie said,

00:41:51well, it's not really boating weather,

00:41:53but as long as the boat was booked,

00:41:55she'd chance it.

00:41:55And did she say,

00:41:56you know I don't like the water?

00:41:59I didn't hear her say that.

00:42:00Had you known previously

00:42:02that she had a phobia about water?

00:42:04No.

00:42:05Or did your mother know?

00:42:07Well, if she did,

00:42:07I don't know how she found out.

00:42:09So, would you say then, Mr Sellers,

00:42:11that your wife went quite happily,

00:42:13no, no, I'll amend that,

00:42:15quite willingly into the boat?

00:42:18Well, we certainly didn't drag her.

00:42:20She never said she was afraid.

00:42:21Now, how long would you say

00:42:23you were in the boat

00:42:23before the difficulty arose?

00:42:25I'd say ten minutes.

00:42:26What happened during that time?

00:42:28Well, it was fun.

00:42:29Everybody was singing.

00:42:30And what was the first sign

00:42:31of any difficulty?

00:42:32Well, Nigel started being silly,

00:42:34standing up and rocking the boat

00:42:35in rhythm with the song.

00:42:36Then there was thunder

00:42:37and lightning, pouring rain.

00:42:39It all seemed terribly sudden.

00:42:40I turned around

00:42:41and saw Valerie trying to get out of the boat

00:42:43and my mother trying to restrain her.

00:42:45And Valerie was saying,

00:42:46let me go

00:42:47and Nigel still seemed to be rocking the boat

00:42:49as if he hadn't caught up

00:42:49with what was happening.

00:42:51Then I saw this man in the water

00:42:52trying to help her

00:42:53and she was completely panicky,

00:42:55struggling and trying to get him under.

00:42:57I was afraid I might hit them with an oar

00:42:59so I took about three strokes out

00:43:01then turned the boat round

00:43:02and headed in again.

00:43:03So, when Mr Warren testified

00:43:05that you seemed to be rowing away

00:43:06from the victim,

00:43:07you were in fact trying to avoid hitting her.

00:43:10That's right.

00:43:11Then we gave her artificial respiration

00:43:12and the ambulance came.

00:43:14When I got to the hospital,

00:43:15they wouldn't let me see her.

00:43:17The doctor had left instructions

00:43:18that nobody but her sister could see her.

00:43:20A couple of nights later,

00:43:21the police came round

00:43:22and charged my mother.

00:43:23I just couldn't believe it.

00:43:25I don't know what Val told the police

00:43:26but I think her sister

00:43:28must have gotten to her.

00:43:30And what was your mother's reaction

00:43:31to all this?

00:43:32Well, what's anybody's reaction

00:43:33when they're accused of a crime

00:43:34they didn't do?

00:43:35She's frightened.

00:43:37She's very frightened.

00:43:39Thank you, Mr Sellers.

00:43:40Mr Sellers,

00:43:45you've testified that Caroline Wallace

00:43:47offered you the sum of £5,000.

00:43:50She says that your mother

00:43:51demanded it from her

00:43:52as a wedding gift.

00:43:54Caroline offered me the money

00:43:55when I told her

00:43:56I wanted to break off with her.

00:43:57She says it was she

00:43:58who broke off the engagement.

00:44:00Well, that isn't the way I remember it.

00:44:01It was, of course, some time ago.

00:44:03Not that long.

00:44:04Have you had quite a few female friends,

00:44:06Mr Sellers?

00:44:07How many is quite a few?

00:44:09Did you ever have a girlfriend

00:44:10who had less money than you?

00:44:11My lord, this is a most irrelevant

00:44:13and improper question.

00:44:15Yes, I quite agree.

00:44:16And, Miss Fannery,

00:44:17I think you know it too.

00:44:19As your lordship pleases,

00:44:20I withdraw the question.

00:44:22About the dress, Mr Sellers,

00:44:24you say you actually saw it

00:44:26smeared with jam?

00:44:27Yes, that's right.

00:44:28I remember it well.

00:44:29You've also said that

00:44:30about an hour elapsed

00:44:31between the time that

00:44:32Miss Wallace ran from the shop

00:44:34and you arrived

00:44:35to find your mother in tears.

00:44:37Did it occur to you

00:44:38that your mother might have

00:44:39smeared the dress

00:44:40with jam herself?

00:44:42No, it didn't occur to me.

00:44:43Is it possible?

00:44:44I don't think so.

00:44:45I know you don't think so.

00:44:46Is it physically possible?

00:44:48Oh, yes, I suppose so.

00:44:51Mr Sellers,

00:44:52your wife has told us

00:44:53that your mother

00:44:54brought other girls

00:44:55round to meet you

00:44:55when your wife

00:44:56was living there.

00:44:57Is this true?

00:44:58There was nothing in it.

00:44:59But did it happen?

00:45:01Once.

00:45:01Your wife has also told the court

00:45:03that when she came in

00:45:04she was treated

00:45:04like a servant

00:45:05and that you went along

00:45:07with that,

00:45:07is that what happened?

00:45:08My lord,

00:45:09the prosecution

00:45:09is repeatedly attacking

00:45:11this witness

00:45:11who is not on trial

00:45:12and is not charged

00:45:13with any crime.

00:45:14The elements of the allegation

00:45:15are based on the relationship

00:45:16between Mr Sellers,

00:45:17his mother and his wife.

00:45:18I feel the incident

00:45:20is relevant.

00:45:21In this particular case,

00:45:22I'm inclined to hear

00:45:23any evidence

00:45:24that may help enlighten us.

00:45:26Please continue,

00:45:27Miss Fannery.

00:45:28Thank you, my lord.

00:45:29Do you remember the question,

00:45:31Mr Sellers?

00:45:32Yes, I did behave

00:45:33the way she said I did.

00:45:34I felt angry at her.

00:45:36At your wife?

00:45:37Yes.

00:45:37It was irritating.

00:45:39She loved the whole

00:45:39Cinderella thing.

00:45:41She thrived on it

00:45:42and she never wanted

00:45:43to get to the ball.

00:45:44I wanted her to show

00:45:45some spirit,

00:45:46talk back,

00:45:47yell, scream,

00:45:48do something.

00:45:48You admit that your mother

00:45:50mistreated Valerie?

00:45:51Well, of course she did.

00:45:53My mother was impossible.

00:45:54She tried to wreck

00:45:55every relationship

00:45:56I ever had.

00:45:57She is possessive

00:45:58and she is eccentric.

00:45:59But all that's

00:45:59a very long way

00:46:00from attempted murder.

00:46:02Now, your sister-in-law

00:46:03has told the court

00:46:04that Mrs Sellers

00:46:04turned up at our house

00:46:06with a black eye.

00:46:07Oh, yes.

00:46:08Can you tell us

00:46:09how it happened?

00:46:10Well, I'm afraid I did it.

00:46:11Your wife has said

00:46:12that your mother did it.

00:46:14My mother?

00:46:15No.

00:46:16It was an accident,

00:46:16but I did it.

00:46:17It was the same afternoon

00:46:18as the tea party.

00:46:20Val and my mother

00:46:21finally had a two-way fight.

00:46:23She was supposed to be

00:46:24helping with some alterations

00:46:25and when my mother

00:46:26asked to see them,

00:46:26she went spare.

00:46:28Started pulling them

00:46:28out the cupboard

00:46:29and throwing them around.

00:46:31There was a coat

00:46:31on a large hanger

00:46:32and I was trying

00:46:33to get it away from her

00:46:34and the hanger

00:46:35hit her on the cheek.

00:46:36Of course,

00:46:37I was sorry,

00:46:37but she rang her sister

00:46:38and left.

00:46:39This whole story

00:46:40is probably Val's way

00:46:41of getting back at us.

00:46:43You think she lied

00:46:44at the police?

00:46:45I don't know.

00:46:46Maybe she thought

00:46:47it happened.

00:46:48She's very panicky

00:46:49and not very stable

00:46:50to begin with.

00:46:51Mr. Sellers,

00:46:53your life seems plagued

00:46:55by wealthy

00:46:55and unstable women.

00:46:57Well, that may be true,

00:46:58but it does not follow

00:46:59that my mother

00:47:00tried to drown my wife.

00:47:01and I'll see you next time.

00:48:05Today, the jury reaches its verdict.

00:48:08She's doing an awfully good job, just sitting there looking frail.

00:48:12She'll be just as good on the stand.

00:48:14She could be a rather unpredictable witness.

00:48:16Unless she confesses to a couple of axe murders, I don't see how it can go wrong.

00:48:21What worries me is cousin Nigel.

00:48:25Well, you have to produce him.

00:48:27He's an eyewitness.

00:48:28I suppose we ought to say hello.

00:48:44Yes.

00:48:46Now that we've both testified, you said about coming home, you said if they hauled mum off

00:48:51to prison, that you thought the two of us would just go back together?

00:48:55That's what I said.

00:48:56Are you serious?

00:48:58As a matter of fact, I wasn't.

00:48:59I thought it made me look more sympathetic.

00:49:03Oh, I know she treated you badly.

00:49:05I did too.

00:49:06You were all right.

00:49:07But you're going too far.

00:49:09You can't destroy the woman just because she didn't like you.

00:49:12She tried to kill me.

00:49:13She planned it.

00:49:14She yanked me up and pushed me over.

00:49:17Look, what if you're wrong?

00:49:18I mean, just suppose that somehow you're mistaken and she was trying to help you.

00:49:21Your back was turned.

00:49:22You didn't see it.

00:49:22Well, I heard her yell, calm down.

00:49:24She meant you to hear that.

00:49:26Look, what if she didn't do it and she goes to prison?

00:49:30What if she did do it and she goes free?

00:49:32Mrs Sellers, will you tell us how you felt when your son told you he was going to marry Valerie

00:49:37Sellers?

00:49:38Well, I must be honest.

00:49:40I felt my son could do better.

00:49:43I didn't think she was as bright as he is.

00:49:45And I felt that Barry should be with a very bright woman.

00:49:49Now, did you in any way try to stop him?

00:49:51What, Barry?

00:49:53Try to stop him when he'd set his mind to something?

00:49:55He must be joking.

00:49:57It was a nout that I could do but hope for the best.

00:50:01Now, did you encourage your daughter-in-law to stop studying and to help you in the shop?

00:50:06Oh, that, as I recall, was Barry's idea.

00:50:08About six weeks after they were married, we were having our tea, the three of us, and

00:50:15Valerie said, you know, I'm not all that interested in my classes anymore and I'm not doing very

00:50:21well, which is true enough, Lord knows.

00:50:25Ask her how many O levels she's got.

00:50:27Anyway, Barry said, well, why don't you leave and help Mum in the shop?

00:50:32You might like it.

00:50:34Well, she said she'd think about it.

00:50:36Well, I was a bit relieved.

00:50:38But to be honest, for one, she was a bit cack-handed.

00:50:41And for two, well, we didn't really have much to say to each other.

00:50:45Now, what about the alterations, the diabolical hems we've heard so much about?

00:50:51Yes, well, she wanted to be more help.

00:50:55She would cook the odd meal.

00:50:57She could do a perfectly nice leg of lamb.

00:51:00Though I did think that if she'd been a better cook, she could have used less expensive cuts.

00:51:05Still, she said that she felt guilty with me working so hard and she was waltzing around

00:51:11at the university, so I said, would she like to help me with some hems?

00:51:16Now, just shortening things, you understand, not taking them in or letting them out.

00:51:22Well, she said that she wasn't any good with a needle, but she'd like to try.

00:51:27So I gave her a few things.

00:51:30Well, they were so sloppy, I had to do them all again.

00:51:35Then, a few weeks later, I think she was upset about something,

00:51:39maybe something between her and Barry, I don't know.

00:51:42But she came to me in something of a state and she said,

00:51:46could she try some more hems?

00:51:48Said she'd be careful.

00:51:50Well, I didn't really want to give her any more, but she needed humouring.

00:51:54So I did.

00:51:56Well, one week went by and then two.

00:52:00I asked her about them.

00:52:02Well, she went mad.

00:52:03She pulled them out of the cupboard and started throwing them around

00:52:07and then the doorbell rang and it was two young girls that I'd invited round for tea.

00:52:12I'm sorry, the incident with the hems, did that happen before the tea?

00:52:16Well, part of it before and part of it after.

00:52:19Well, your daughter-in-law says she came in from a class

00:52:22and found you and your son having tea with two girls.

00:52:25No, she's confused.

00:52:27She was throwing the things around and Barry came running when he heard her shouting

00:52:32and then the doorbell rang and I said, that'll be the two young ladies.

00:52:38And Valerie said, well, I'm not coming out.

00:52:40She slammed the door.

00:52:42Well, she did come out just as we were beginning to enjoy ourselves

00:52:45and she didn't half look aside.

00:52:49She'd hit herself on the cheek with a clothes hanger when she was carrying on

00:52:53and it was beginning to bruise.

00:52:55You didn't give her the black eye?

00:52:56No.

00:52:57And your son didn't?

00:52:58No, I don't think so.

00:53:01She did it to herself.

00:53:03I see.

00:53:04Well, what happened when she joined you?

00:53:06Oh, well, by that time I really was cross.

00:53:09I mean, all that bother about the alterations

00:53:11and then her appearing like that in front of my guests.

00:53:15I refused to introduce her.

00:53:17Just asked her to bring things in and take them out.

00:53:20As if she were the maid.

00:53:21Well, she co-operated.

00:53:23She brought the tea things in, did as she was told.

00:53:26As if she was in a trance.

00:53:29Afterwards, I heard her yelling at Barry,

00:53:31Why do you let her treat me that way?

00:53:34And he yelled back.

00:53:35He said, Why do you let her treat you that way?

00:53:37Why are you so blank, blank wet?

00:53:40The blank blanks are words that the jury might not like to hear.

00:53:45Well, I didn't think I behaved all that badly.

00:53:48She hopped and left.

00:53:50Now, how did you feel about her leaving?

00:53:52Well, I must be honest.

00:53:54I felt it was a good riddance.

00:53:55I mean, she and Barry weren't getting on.

00:53:58But he was terribly upset.

00:54:00So, well, I promised that when a day or two,

00:54:05when she'd calmed down a bit, I'd apologise.

00:54:08Now, when was the next time you saw her?

00:54:10That Saturday, her birthday.

00:54:12Now, Mrs Sellers,

00:54:14did you know she had a trust fund that matured on that day?

00:54:19No, no, I only found that out when I was charged.

00:54:23Now, did you know that your son was a beneficiary under her will?

00:54:28No.

00:54:29There wasn't any way I could have known that.

00:54:31Now, Mrs Sellers, will you tell us, as carefully as you can, what happened on the day of the accident?

00:54:37Yeah. Well, you see, I'd promised Barry that I'd help him to bring her back.

00:54:42And when he told me that that day was her birthday, I said, right, we'll have a picnic.

00:54:48It takes the open air to clear the air.

00:54:50Yeah. So, I bought a nice lunch and made a cake.

00:54:55Barry was a bit shy at first, but when she saw there wasn't going to be any trouble with me,

00:55:00she relaxed, had a drop of wine.

00:55:03Did she? How much wine, would you say?

00:55:06Oh, well, it's difficult to say.

00:55:08I didn't care for it, it was too dry for me, so I just had a sip,

00:55:12and the other three finished the bottle between them.

00:55:15I don't know how much she had.

00:55:17She did seem a bit flushed, but not staggering, you understand, just happy like.

00:55:25I see. What happened next?

00:55:27Well, I'd booked a rowing boat, because I thought that would be nice,

00:55:31but the sky had become quite overcast, so I said,

00:55:35well, I'd booked a rowing boat, but it's not really rowing weather.

00:55:38You said that? You were the one who said it's not really rowing weather?

00:55:42That's right.

00:55:43Please continue.

00:55:44Well, after I'd said it's not really rowing weather,

00:55:48Valerie said, no, it's not rowing weather, but as you've booked the boat,

00:55:52why don't we take a chance?

00:55:54Well, the afternoon was going such a treat.

00:55:57I didn't want to spoil it, so I said, yes, come on, let's go out there.

00:56:02Perhaps the weather will hold.

00:56:05And that's what happened.

00:56:06Now, when you got out onto the lake...

00:56:09Well, Barry was rowing, and we were all singing,

00:56:13row, row, row your boat.

00:56:15I did think that Valerie looked a little shaky, thought perhaps it was the wine.

00:56:20And then the sky clouded over very quickly,

00:56:24and a storm came up, lightning and thunder.

00:56:28Well, Barry turned the boat towards the shore.

00:56:30Well, the next thing, well, Valerie was standing up and shouting,

00:56:35I'm getting out of here.

00:56:37Well, I stood up and I grabbed hold of her, and I said,

00:56:40where do you think you're going, you daft thing?

00:56:43And she started screaming, let me go, let me go.

00:56:46She tried to push me over the side of the boat.

00:56:49Lord, Valerie Sellers is not charged.

00:56:52We are aware of that,

00:56:53but my client must be permitted to tell the events as they happened to her.

00:56:58Yes, I think she must.

00:57:01Thank you, my lord.

00:57:02So, Mrs Sellers, your daughter-in-law was struggling with you.

00:57:06Yes.

00:57:06Well, first of all, she was pulling away,

00:57:08and then she started pushing me.

00:57:11And I lost my balance for a moment.

00:57:13I suppose me losing my balance caused her to lose hers.

00:57:17Perhaps that's why the young man said I pushed her.

00:57:20Anyway, she went over,

00:57:23and the young man jumped right in and brought her back to the shore.

00:57:27Well, I tried to get blankets and hot coffee,

00:57:30because I thought that was the right thing to do.

00:57:33Then the ambulance came.

00:57:36And then two nights later,

00:57:38the police came and said I'd tried to kill her.

00:57:41I just couldn't understand why.

00:57:44I couldn't think what she'd told them.

00:57:47I don't know what's going to happen to me.

00:57:50But God will punish you.

00:57:51That's definite.

00:57:54That's all, Mrs Sellers.

00:57:58Oh, Mrs Sellers, just a minute.

00:58:01Oh, is there more?

00:58:02Yes, the prosecuting counsel may like to ask you some questions.

00:58:06Oh.

00:58:06Oh, yes, the other lady, of course.

00:58:08Yes.

00:58:09I won't keep you long, Mrs Sellers.

00:58:13Just one or two things I'd like to get straight.

00:58:16Do you know your son's sister-in-law, Leonie Ryland?

00:58:20I used to know her.

00:58:22When did you meet her?

00:58:23Oh, about three years ago.

00:58:26My son brought her around once or twice.

00:58:28Well, once, I think.

00:58:30Mrs Ryland has said that you wanted your son to marry her.

00:58:34Well, I did think she was the more suitable of the two.

00:58:37She was older, but she had more spirit.

00:58:40Barry likes a girl with spirit.

00:58:41She was also married.

00:58:43Did you suggest that she divorce her husband?

00:58:46Well, they obviously weren't getting on.

00:58:48She wouldn't have been out with Barry.

00:58:50But that was three years ago.

00:58:51She was back with her husband when your son decided to marry her sister.

00:58:55Yes, well, I thought we might all live together if she still wanted her husband around.

00:59:01Well, I thought she'd be better for Barry than her sister.

00:59:05Oh, you thought you could all live together in a sort of collective?

00:59:09Oh, well, I don't know if I really thought that.

00:59:13I like to think of myself as an advanced sort of person.

00:59:18I'd done some reading, you know, about where society was headed and nuclear families and that.

00:59:24Well, it didn't seem such a bad idea.

00:59:28And what would the financial arrangements have been?

00:59:30Oh, well, I don't know.

00:59:33That was Leona's trust fund.

00:59:35Oh, you knew about her trust fund?

00:59:36Yes.

00:59:37But not about her sister's.

00:59:38You've said you didn't know about your daughter-in-law's trust fund.

00:59:41No, I didn't.

00:59:44Now, your daughter-in-law has told the court that you asked her to turn her trust over to Barry.

00:59:49Can you explain that?

00:59:51Yes, I can.

00:59:51She was lying.

00:59:54People do lie, you know, even under oath.

00:59:58You know, I could pretend that I didn't care about the money and appear more virtuous.

01:00:03But it did matter to me because of Barry.

01:00:06I worked hard for it all my life so that he could get on with his studies and have the career that he deserved.

01:00:13I wanted my Barry to have the best-looking, most intelligent, richest girl he could find.

01:00:19Well, let these good people decide if that makes me the sort of woman that would kill her son's wife.

01:00:26Yes, we will.

01:00:27But we've wandered from the track, Mrs. Sellers.

01:00:30Now, the two young ladies whom you invited to tea with your son, who were they?

01:00:35Oh, I don't know.

01:00:37They were just two pleasant girls that came into the shop, very lively and friendly.

01:00:41I wondered if you knew that they were prostitutes.

01:00:45Were they?

01:00:46Well, I mean, you can't tell nowadays, can you?

01:00:52Everybody has their clothes dry-cleaned.

01:00:55No, I didn't know.

01:00:57I certainly did not know.

01:00:59I suggest that you did.

01:01:01I suggest that in bringing prostitutes home to meet your son, you deliberately intended to humiliate his wife.

01:01:07I also suggest to you, Mrs. Sellers, that you got considerable pleasure from the scene which you created.

01:01:14My lord, this harangue is both tasteless and immaterial.

01:01:17Yes, I agree.

01:01:18I shouldn't like to see you go very much further, Miss Lannery.

01:01:20No further questions for the accused.

01:01:31Mr. Holt, you were facing the two women the whole time.

01:01:35You saw everything that happened.

01:01:37Yes.

01:01:39I suppose Valerie were really scared, like, you know.

01:01:43She was standing up screaming, let me go.

01:01:46And my aunt were trying to calm her down, you know.

01:01:49They were pulling at each other.

01:01:51And then they were standing apart, like, trying to stay balanced.

01:01:57And then Valerie sort of came at her like that, you know.

01:02:01You mean Valerie Sellers was pushing the defendant?

01:02:03She looked like she either meant to push her or to get past her.

01:02:10Anyway, my aunt sort of moved to the left, like, you know, ducked, like.

01:02:14And Valerie pitched over at her side.

01:02:17Oh.

01:02:18It went terrible, you know.

01:02:20I mean, we were all sort of confused.

01:02:22I mean, I could see her splashing there, like, but I couldn't believe it were happening, you know.

01:02:26It seemed so unlikely.

01:02:27And then this bloat were in the water with her, like, trying to get her back to shore.

01:02:35And I tell you, it's a good job he were a strong swimmer.

01:02:38Because our val were doing the best to check him under.

01:02:42Anyway, then we got to the shore, like.

01:02:46And, er, Barry and this other fella were giving a kiss of life, like.

01:02:52And I dialed 999.

01:02:55Is there anything else you want to know?

01:02:56I only want to ask you, Mr Holt, did it at any time, in any way, appear to you or occur to you that Mrs Sellers was trying to drown her daughter-in-law?

01:03:08No. No, it never did.

01:03:14Mr Holt, how did the matter of the boat come up?

01:03:18Well, my aunt said, I've booked a rowing boat, but it isn't really rowing weather.

01:03:27And what did Valerie Sellers say?

01:03:29She said, no, it isn't really rowing weather.

01:03:35And anyway, you know I don't like the water.

01:03:38She said, you know I don't like the water.

01:03:40You heard Valerie Sellers say that.

01:03:42Yes.

01:03:43Why, is that important?

01:03:44Well, both Barry Sellers and Amy Sellers have said that they didn't know that she was afraid of the water.

01:03:52Perhaps they didn't hear.

01:03:54Properly like, you know.

01:03:56Anyway, she didn't say she were afraid.

01:04:00She said she didn't like it.

01:04:02Yes, all right.

01:04:04What happened next?

01:04:06We went rowing.

01:04:08Was Valerie persuaded to get in the boat?

01:04:10I don't think so.

01:04:11But did she need persuading?

01:04:16Nobody forced her.

01:04:18Now, you were in the boat, facing the two women, and everyone was singing.

01:04:22You were standing up, rocking the boat.

01:04:25Why were you behaving that way, in a boat, during a storm?

01:04:30Suppose I'd had too much to drink, like.

01:04:34And she said, come on, Nigel, let's have some of your tricks.

01:04:37The accused version of that is, come on, Nigel, let's have none of your tricks.

01:04:41Is that what she was saying?

01:04:42That's what she said she was saying.

01:04:44Oh.

01:04:44Well, that must be right.

01:04:46I couldn't have heard her properly.

01:04:48I mean, why should she encourage me to rock the boat?

01:04:50Only to make sure that her daughter-in-law was as frightened and as much off her guard as possible.

01:04:55Oh, no, no, that's rubbish.

01:04:56Now, the accident itself, stop me if I'm wrong.

01:04:59You said they were pulling at each other, and then they were apart, each trying to stay balanced, and then Valerie came at her.

01:05:07My aunt sort of moved to the left, you know, ducked, and Valerie pitched over the side.

01:05:14Is that right?

01:05:15Is that the way you remember it?

01:05:17Yes, that's it.

01:05:18You mean she fell past Mrs Sellers, pitching forward over the left side of the boat?

01:05:23Yes.

01:05:24But she didn't. Everyone else, including the accused, has said that Valerie Sellers fell backwards over the right side of the boat.

01:05:30Did she?

01:05:32Oh.

01:05:33I thought she went forward.

01:05:35I mean, it's difficult to check it in, like, at the time, you know.

01:05:38Yes, it is. We all understand that.

01:05:41I don't mean to confuse you, Mr Holt.

01:05:44And I know my colleague will object if I seem to be badgering you.

01:05:48But there's something else you said.

01:05:50You said, when you saw her splashing around in the water, I wasn't sure it was happening.

01:05:55It seemed so unlikely.

01:05:57What seemed unlikely?

01:05:59That she'd have fallen from the boat.

01:06:01Why did it seem unlikely? Surely people have fallen out of boats before.

01:06:05Oh, yes, of course they have.

01:06:07And so did she.

01:06:08But, I mean, you know, it was only a little lake.

01:06:13More of a pond light, really.

01:06:16And, I mean, even with the storm, it was still quite still.

01:06:19I mean, I know I were playing about, rocking the boat backwards and forwards.

01:06:27But, I mean, a rowing boat is a steady little craft, you know.

01:06:30It's difficult to fall out of a rowing boat.

01:06:32Exactly, Mr Holt.

01:06:35No.

01:06:35No, no, I mean, that shows you how hysterical she was, you see.

01:06:39I mean, she was standing there screaming, let me go.

01:06:42And she got away from me and she jumped out of the boat.

01:06:44Jumped out of the boat?

01:06:45Yes.

01:06:46Backwards?

01:06:46I still think it were forwards.

01:06:51I see.

01:06:52Miss...

01:06:52Now, Mr Holt, we haven't really established your relationship to the accused.

01:06:59Well, she's my aunt.

01:07:02I'm her nephew.

01:07:04Is she your mother's sister, then?

01:07:06No.

01:07:07My father was her brother.

01:07:11So, my mother was her sister-in-law.

01:07:17Are they deceased?

01:07:19Well, they're dead, like.

01:07:23How long have they been dead?

01:07:25My father for about five years.

01:07:28My mother for three.

01:07:30When your mother was alive, did she see much of the accused?

01:07:34No.

01:07:35No.

01:07:36They met once after my father had died and never again after that.

01:07:39My lord, this evidence is complicated enough without introducing a relationship that cannot

01:07:43possibly be relevant to the charge.

01:07:45I hope to provide information concerning the character of the accused, which is very much

01:07:50related to the charge.

01:07:51Very well, Miss Vannery.

01:07:52Mr Holt, why did your mother not see her sister-in-law for so many years?

01:07:59Well, my mother wasn't very well like in the later part of her life.

01:08:05She imagined some very strange things.

01:08:09She thought my aunt was trying to kill her.

01:08:12Did your mother on one occasion summon the police?

01:08:15Yes.

01:08:16Why was that?

01:08:18She said Aunt Amy had attacked her with a bread knife.

01:08:21Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:08:25What?

01:08:26Re-examination, Mrs St. Clare?

01:08:29Yes, please, my lord.

01:08:32Mr Holt, what did your mother die of?

01:08:36Brain tumour.

01:08:38Where did she die?

01:08:39From Chestermental Hospital.

01:08:42Did she think anyone else was trying to kill her?

01:08:45Yes.

01:08:47The man from the electricity board.

01:08:49And me towards the end.

01:08:52Now, why was she put in a mental hospital?

01:08:57Well, the day she ran out of the house screaming for police, like,

01:09:02she found a policeman and he came back to the house with her.

01:09:05And she said Aunt Amy had tried to stab her with a bread knife.

01:09:09So a policeman had come back with her, see.

01:09:12And Aunt Amy was there.

01:09:15Only she was the one who had a great gash across her arm.

01:09:19The one to mark on me mother.

01:09:21Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:09:25That is the case for the defence.

01:09:32Will the foreman please stand?

01:09:35Please answer this question, yes or no.

01:09:38Are you all agreed upon your verdict?

01:09:40Yes.

01:09:41On the charge of attempted murder,

01:09:43do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?

01:09:46Not guilty.

01:09:47Is that the verdict of you all?

01:09:49It is.

01:09:50Mrs Sellers,

01:09:52the jury has found you not guilty of the charge.

01:09:55At the end of the prosecution evidence,

01:09:57I was in two minds as though whether

01:09:59there was sufficient of a case to answer.

01:10:02However, I thought it only right that the

01:10:04trial should continue,

01:10:06that the jury should decide the matter.

01:10:08I must say I am rather surprised the case

01:10:11you have ever brought.

01:10:12We are now free to go.

01:10:13Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:14Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:15Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:16Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:17Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:18Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:19Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:20Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:21Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:22Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:23Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:24Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:25Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:26Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:27Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:28Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:29Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:30Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:31Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:32Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:33Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:34Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:35Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:36Thank you, Mr Holt.

01:10:37Mum, you didn't push her over, did you?

01:10:54No, I don't think so.

01:10:55I certainly hadn't planned to.

01:10:57No, I'm sure I didn't.

01:11:07No, I don't think so.

Crown Court - Still Waters (1978)

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