Crown Court - Whatever Happened to George Robins (1973) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Crown Court: the gripping courtroom drama from the 1970s and 1980s.  George Robins is a second-hand car dealer and well-known ladies' man. He has disappeared. Bloodstains were found at his country cottage. A local car thief, Harold Barnes, is charged with his murder, but Barnes claims that Robins has not been murdered but has faked his own death so that his wife can claim a large insurance pay-out. The prosecution will try to prove that Barnes has indeed murdered Robins even though no body has ever been found.

Transcript

00:00:00This is George Robbins.

00:00:13He was a man who liked the high life.

00:00:16Partner in a second-hand car business and divorced for nine years,

00:00:19he worked hard and spent hard.

00:00:21He had no shortage of women friends.

00:00:23George Robbins led a full and eventful life.

00:00:26He also had his fair share of enemies, both in his business and private careers.

00:00:31When he met Mrs Catherine Barnes, another enemy was added to the list,

00:00:35Harold Barnes, her husband.

00:00:37On August 6th, George Robbins disappeared from his country cottage.

00:00:42Police found bloodstains, signs of a struggle,

00:00:44and witnesses heard gunshots in the night.

00:00:47From that day, no one has seen or heard from George Robbins.

00:00:51On November 8th, Harold Barnes was charged with his murder.

00:00:54The trial of Harold Barnes has just opened at Fulchester Crown Court

00:00:57in front of Mr Justice Waddington.

00:01:06Mr Friar.

00:01:08Mates, please, Your Lordship.

00:01:11Members of the jury.

00:01:13You will no doubt appreciate the singular aspects of the case that you're about to hear.

00:01:18Harold Barnes stands accused of the murder of George Robbins

00:01:21on the 6th of August this year.

00:01:24But as you are aware,

00:01:26the body of George Robbins has not been found.

00:01:29However, you will hear evidence that will show that notwithstanding the fact

00:01:32that his body has not been found,

00:01:34George Robbins is dead.

00:01:35And that his death was deliberately caused by the defendant, Harold Barnes.

00:01:40Now, the prosecution must first prove to the court's satisfaction

00:01:43that George Robbins is dead.

00:01:46And you will hear evidence that will show this

00:01:47to be absolutely clear beyond any shadow of doubt.

00:01:51And secondly, the prosecution must go on to show

00:01:53that his death was caused by the man who stands before you in the dock,

00:01:57Harold Barnes.

00:01:58Accordingly, I call the first witness for the prosecution,

00:02:00Philip James Kirby.

00:02:02James Kirby, please.

00:02:03What is your religion?

00:02:15Sealy.

00:02:15Take the testament in your right hand

00:02:17and read aloud the words on the card.

00:02:19I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give

00:02:21shall be the truth, the old truth, and nothing but the truth.

00:02:24You are Philip James Kirby?

00:02:26Yes, sir.

00:02:28And you live at Green Gables Manor Road, Fulchester?

00:02:30Yes, I do, sir.

00:02:31Would you state your occupation, Mr Kirby?

00:02:33I'm a company director.

00:02:35Well, that term is very widely used these days, Mr Kirby.

00:02:38Could you be more specific?

00:02:39Well, I'm a director, managing director, actually, now,

00:02:41of an enterprise connected with the automobile industry.

00:02:44You buy and sell cars?

00:02:46You could put it like that, yes.

00:02:48How would you put it, Mr Kirby?

00:02:51Well, I buy and sell cars, Your Honour.

00:02:55You have made the situation most clear.

00:02:58I'm much obliged to your lordship.

00:03:00Do you deal in any particular sort of cars, Mr Kirby?

00:03:02Do you name it, Squire, and I'll handle it.

00:03:04You will address counsel as sir.

00:03:07Mr Fry is not, I believe, a member of the landed gentry.

00:03:10Sorry, Your Worship.

00:03:12The answer I was trying to elicit, Mr Kirby,

00:03:14was that you dealt exclusively in second-hand cars.

00:03:16Well, sometimes when they come out of the showrooms,

00:03:18they might be a bit shop-soiled, but there's nothing on the clock.

00:03:21Quite, quite.

00:03:21It would be helpful if you would simply answer my questions.

00:03:24Now, what was your relationship with George Robbins?

00:03:26He was my business associate.

00:03:28You were partners?

00:03:30Yes.

00:03:30Oh, 50-50.

00:03:31Right down the middle, me, George.

00:03:32In the Xanadu Car Sales Company of Fulchester?

00:03:36Yeah, at the top of Bolton Road.

00:03:37How long had you been partners?

00:03:38Three years, almost.

00:03:40Well, it would have been three years in September

00:03:42if poor old George Hadley copped it.

00:03:44Well, Lord...

00:03:44I anticipate you, Mr Elliot.

00:03:46Mr Kirby, the court is waiting patiently to hear what you have to say

00:03:50so that it may make up its own mind

00:03:52whether George Robbins is dead or not.

00:03:55It can well do without your opinions and conclusions on the matter.

00:03:58Sorry, Your Worship.

00:04:00Were you friends as well as partners?

00:04:02Yes.

00:04:03You saw each other socially?

00:04:04Oh, all the time.

00:04:06Did you know anything about his private life?

00:04:07Oh, did I?

00:04:09That was the question, Mr Kirby.

00:04:10Oh, blimey, yeah, I did, yeah.

00:04:12It was, you might say, an open book?

00:04:13Yeah.

00:04:14And you were aware of the various women in his life

00:04:15as and when they appeared on the scene?

00:04:17Sometimes before.

00:04:19Really?

00:04:19Yeah, well, George was a bit of an operator, I'm not kidding, you know.

00:04:22I mean, sometimes he'd tell us two or three weeks beforehand

00:04:25that on such and such a date

00:04:27he was going to pull such and such a bird and bingo.

00:04:29He always did, he never missed.

00:04:31I hate to give the impression of being out of touch with modern phraseology,

00:04:35but what is involved when a girl is pulled?

00:04:38Well, I think, my lord, one might substitute the expression

00:04:40to strike up an acquaintance.

00:04:43I see.

00:04:45So, to summarise, Mr Kirby,

00:04:46Mr Robbins kept you fully informed about his private life?

00:04:49Yeah.

00:04:50Now, when he made up his mind

00:04:52to pursue a certain lady,

00:04:55was he particular as to her current married status?

00:04:58Particular?

00:04:59They moved, he had them.

00:05:01Silence in court.

00:05:03Silence in court.

00:05:05He selected married as well as unattached women.

00:05:09Oh, yeah, well, if he thought there was ever going to be any trouble,

00:05:11he'd peg it in, just like that.

00:05:12You mean, if her husband of the matter objected to Mr Robbins' attentions to his wife,

00:05:16Mr Robbins would end the association.

00:05:19Hot potatoes wasn't in it.

00:05:20What on earth of hot potatoes to do with it?

00:05:23Oh, you've heard of the old saying,

00:05:25chopped it like a...

00:05:25Yes, I have.

00:05:26Now, listen to me, Captain.

00:05:28When counsel asks you a question,

00:05:30you will answer in as direct and simple a matter as you can.

00:05:33Now, is that clear?

00:05:34I'm getting a little tired of having to translate

00:05:36your eccentric replies into some kind of sense.

00:05:39I'm sorry, Your Honour.

00:05:42Mr Robbins was not prepared to face antagonism

00:05:45from the husband of any woman with whom he'd been having an association.

00:05:48Is that a fair summary, Mr Kirby?

00:05:49Yes.

00:05:51Well, now, could we come to the events that took place in your office

00:05:54on July the 17th?

00:05:55Oh, you mean when Harry...

00:05:56Just wait for my question.

00:05:58All right.

00:06:00Now, would you tell us briefly what occurred?

00:06:02Well, we were all in the office.

00:06:04Who was all?

00:06:04Oh, there was George, Ted Baxter, Chopper Simms,

00:06:07they're two of our salesmen, and me.

00:06:09Carry on, please.

00:06:10Well, we'd just come back from lunch.

00:06:11This was in the afternoon?

00:06:12Yes, about four o'clock.

00:06:15Well, things were a bit slack that day, you know.

00:06:17And Ted was dolling out some tea,

00:06:20George was telling us about some bird or other.

00:06:22When all of a sudden, the door bashed open,

00:06:24and who come rushing in like a maniac?

00:06:25With him.

00:06:26The defendant.

00:06:27He barged in as though he was going to start World War III.

00:06:31Got hold of George, he said,

00:06:32Now, look here, you something, something, hold something.

00:06:36I'm not going to tell you again.

00:06:37And he got hold of his lapels and dragged him over the desk,

00:06:39and he said...

00:06:40Try and be as accurate as you can, Mr Kirby.

00:06:43Yeah, well, he said,

00:06:44if you don't keep awake with my wife,

00:06:46he said, I'm going to kill you.

00:06:47And he meant that, and he looked as if he did and all.

00:06:50His wife being Mrs Barnes?

00:06:52Yeah.

00:06:52Yes.

00:06:53And what did Mr Robbins do?

00:06:55George?

00:06:55Oh, he was shocked.

00:06:56Well, how do you mean shocked?

00:06:57Shocked with fear?

00:06:58Well, he said he didn't know what it was all about.

00:07:00And did he say anything else?

00:07:01Yes.

00:07:03What?

00:07:04Well, first, he said, let go of me shirt.

00:07:09Then what?

00:07:10Well, then he went up to him and said,

00:07:12Harry, look, I've not had anything to do with your wife,

00:07:14and that's the truth.

00:07:15And what's happened then?

00:07:16Well, Barnes said to him, he said,

00:07:19if I hear that you've been with her once more, I'll kill you.

00:07:21And then he went out.

00:07:23Mr Kirby, to your knowledge,

00:07:24had George Robbins been associating with Mrs Barnes?

00:07:27Well, there had been rumours.

00:07:29Only rumours.

00:07:30Nothing more than that, though.

00:07:31Well, did you ever see them together,

00:07:32or see anything, witness anything,

00:07:34that suggested that they were associating?

00:07:36No, no.

00:07:37Well, did you witness any further example

00:07:39of Barnes's suspicion about his wife and Mr Robbins?

00:07:42Did I do what?

00:07:42Did something happen at the El Condor nightclub on July the 30th?

00:07:48Oh, yeah, yes.

00:07:49Well, we all went there to have a drink, you see,

00:07:53because George had won a court case

00:07:54about some money that somebody owed him,

00:07:57and being George, all the drinks were on him.

00:07:59All on this occasion being?

00:08:01Well, me, my lady wife, and George and his latest.

00:08:05Latest companion?

00:08:06Yeah, gorgeous stripper he had from London.

00:08:08Stick to the relevant facts, Mr Kirby,

00:08:10or we shall be here all day.

00:08:11Well, we was having a bit of an ease up,

00:08:14having a good time, Your Honour.

00:08:17All of a sudden, Barnes weaves in,

00:08:18walks over to the table, grins sideways,

00:08:21said to George,

00:08:22you'd better make the most of it, Cocker,

00:08:23because you'll never live to collect.

00:08:25To collect?

00:08:26Yeah, the money he won in the court case.

00:08:28Did you say anything else?

00:08:29Yeah, well, he didn't have a chance, really,

00:08:31because he was chucked out by the bouncers.

00:08:34Make the most of it,

00:08:36because you won't live to collect.

00:08:38Yeah, well, George was very upset about it, I tell you.

00:08:40So Barnes continued to suspect Robbins

00:08:42of associating with his wife?

00:08:43Yeah, but you couldn't tell him otherwise,

00:08:45because he had it in for George.

00:08:46Did he say where he was going for the weekend?

00:08:48Mr Elliot, do you object to that question?

00:08:51My lord, I think the case of Regina versus Buckley

00:08:53precludes me from objecting.

00:08:55Well, there are other cases on the point, Mr Elliot.

00:08:57However, if you do not object, the witness may answer.

00:08:59Yeah, well, he went down to his cottage.

00:09:02He's got this little place in the country, you know.

00:09:04It's quite near where his ex lives.

00:09:06Ex-wife?

00:09:06Yes, Barbara.

00:09:08He used to go down there every Saturday to see the kids.

00:09:11And did he go alone, do you know?

00:09:12Oh, well, he wouldn't take none of his girlfriends

00:09:14down in front of his kids, you know.

00:09:17Did he make any arrangements with you for the following week?

00:09:19Yes, we was due to meet on the Monday

00:09:21to push a big deal through,

00:09:22and George would never have missed that.

00:09:24But he did miss it.

00:09:26Oh, he did, yeah.

00:09:26Mr Kirby, have you seen or heard from George Robbins

00:09:31from that day to this?

00:09:33No.

00:09:38Oh, no, no, no, stay there, please, Mr Kirby.

00:09:40I'm sure my learned friend would love to ask you some questions.

00:09:43Just a few, Mr Kirby, just a few.

00:09:44When the defendant came to your office on July the 17th...

00:09:50Yes.

00:09:51You've told the court how he burst in very angry,

00:09:53how he grabbed Robbins by the shirt front

00:09:55and threatened to kill him if he didn't stop seeing his wife.

00:09:58He did.

00:09:59And while this dramatic scene was being enacted,

00:10:02what were you, Baxter, and this Chopper Sims doing?

00:10:05Doing?

00:10:06Doing.

00:10:07Oh, well, we was trying to reason with him.

00:10:09Yes, how?

00:10:10Well, we was trying to tell him how wrong he was.

00:10:13I see.

00:10:14Mr Kirby, George Robbins was six feet two inches tall

00:10:18and he weighed 14 stone six pounds.

00:10:21Now, that makes him a formidable opponent, wouldn't you say?

00:10:24Well, he never threw his weight around, old George.

00:10:27A man of peace.

00:10:28Anything but a quiet life.

00:10:30Oh, yes, you've told us how he dropped his girlfriends

00:10:31at the slightest hint of trouble from their husbands.

00:10:33Now, what I'm trying to get is a mental picture

00:10:36of the scene in your office on that particular day.

00:10:39In Storm's Bounce, assaults your partner, threatens his life,

00:10:45while you and the other men present

00:10:46peacefully remonstrate with him.

00:10:49Well, none of us likes violence, if it can be avoided.

00:10:52I put it to you, sir, that you, Baxter, and Sims

00:10:54grabbed him, held his arms,

00:10:55while George Robbins punched him several times in the stomach.

00:10:58And thereafter, you and your accomplices threw him out.

00:11:01That's a pack of lies.

00:11:02We never touched it.

00:11:03The movie next to your celebrations at the El Condor Club,

00:11:05of your good time, as you called it,

00:11:07was mainly achieved by shouting insults at Barnes

00:11:10while he stood alone at the bar.

00:11:11Well, you fetch me a witness that can prove that.

00:11:13You are in no position to demand anything of the sort.

00:11:16Answer the question.

00:11:17What question?

00:11:17He didn't ask one.

00:11:18Did you or did you not provoke the defendant

00:11:20by shouting insults about his wife

00:11:21until he could no longer stand it

00:11:22and came over to your table in a justifiably furious temper?

00:11:25No, we didn't.

00:11:26Did George Robbins or did he not derive great amusement

00:11:30from flaunting his supposed affair with Mrs Barnes

00:11:33while you and your companions laughed

00:11:37until finally Barnes lost his temper,

00:11:39came over to your table and started shouting back?

00:11:42I've never heard such a load of rubbish!

00:11:44I have, Mr Kirby, in this courtroom out of your own mouth.

00:11:47He can't say that, can he?

00:11:49May we dispense with comment, Mr Elliot?

00:11:52Quite so, my lord.

00:11:53The used car business, I think it right to say, Mr Kirby,

00:11:59is one where keen competition is engendered.

00:12:01You do earn your money, that's a fact.

00:12:03Like most occupations which create keen competition,

00:12:06there is often rivalry, even hostility, would you say?

00:12:09Quite a bit.

00:12:10Yes.

00:12:11In fact, in any given month,

00:12:12proprietors of used car firms have to contend with threats

00:12:15from many different sources.

00:12:16Well, I just, this line of observations

00:12:18my learned friend is pursuing

00:12:20will eventually lead to a relevant question.

00:12:22Well, look, it is not the intention of the defence

00:12:24to rest this case exclusively on the question

00:12:26of whether George Robbins is alive or dead.

00:12:29It is our case, however, that if he's dead,

00:12:32his death was not due to the actions

00:12:33of the defendant, Harold Barnes.

00:12:35Mr Kirby awaits your question, Mr Elliot,

00:12:37as do we all.

00:12:39Thank you, my lord.

00:12:40It's simply this, Mr Kirby.

00:12:42Was George Robbins ever, to your knowledge,

00:12:45threatened by anyone else other than the defendant?

00:12:48No.

00:12:49He was a very popular man in the trade.

00:12:51Because of his scurrilous stories

00:12:53or because of his immaculate business methods?

00:12:56Well, both.

00:13:02That's a very frank answer.

00:13:04Retaining this mood of frankness,

00:13:06would you tell the court this?

00:13:08Did either you or George Robbins

00:13:10ever ask the police for protection

00:13:11for your business premises

00:13:13because of a threat that violence was due

00:13:15to break out their involving rival car dealers?

00:13:18I think carefully about your answer, Mr Kirby.

00:13:21Remembering the police have extensive records.

00:13:24Yes.

00:13:25Well, we did once.

00:13:28Were the police also assigned to keep

00:13:30Mr Robbins' home under surveillance

00:13:32for fear that he might be attacked physically there?

00:13:34I wouldn't know anything about that.

00:13:37Perhaps.

00:13:38But you did ask the police for protection,

00:13:41didn't you, Mr Kirby?

00:13:42Yeah, but nothing happened, though.

00:13:43Well, not that time, no.

00:13:45No further questions, thank you.

00:13:47Hello, Norman.

00:13:49Very well, Mr Kirby.

00:13:50You may leave the witness box.

00:13:51Thank you, Your Worship.

00:13:54Call Mrs Barbara Robbins.

00:13:58Mrs Barbara Robbins, please.

00:14:00What is your legend?

00:14:30C of E.

00:14:30Take the testament in your right hand

00:14:32and read aloud the words on the card.

00:14:34I swear by Almighty God

00:14:35that the evidence I shall give

00:14:36should be the truth, the whole truth,

00:14:38and nothing but the truth.

00:14:42You are Mrs Barbara Robbins.

00:14:44Yes.

00:14:44And you live at Whitefield Lodge,

00:14:46Cross Gates, near Scorby.

00:14:49Yes.

00:14:50Mrs Robbins, how long have you been divorced

00:14:51from George Robbins?

00:14:52Nine years.

00:14:53Do you have any children from that marriage?

00:14:55Two.

00:14:57Two boys.

00:14:58How old are they?

00:14:59Twelve and thirteen.

00:15:00After the divorce, they lived with you?

00:15:02Yes.

00:15:02But their father had regular access to them?

00:15:04Yes, he saw them every weekend.

00:15:06And once a year,

00:15:07he took them on holiday for two weeks.

00:15:09This was an acceptable arrangement to him?

00:15:10Oh, yes.

00:15:12Have you married again since your divorce?

00:15:13No.

00:15:15Now, the boy's father saw them every weekend?

00:15:17Yes.

00:15:17Did you ever know him, until his disappearance,

00:15:19not to turn up for one of these visits?

00:15:21Well, in nine years, I can only think of three or four times he missed.

00:15:25And on each of them, he always telephoned to say why.

00:15:28It was, you would say, an important date in his diary.

00:15:31It had to be something pretty vital to make him miss.

00:15:33He loved his kids far more than he ever loved me.

00:15:37Can I now take you back to the 6th of August this year?

00:15:40Yes.

00:15:40That was a Friday.

00:15:42Did Mr Robbins phone on that day?

00:15:44Yes.

00:15:45Every Friday, he telephoned to check we'd be home and...

00:15:48And he rang as usual on the 6th?

00:15:49Yes.

00:15:50I answered the phone and said it was all right

00:15:52and that he could pick him up

00:15:54and that I'd see him tomorrow.

00:15:56But he didn't appear?

00:15:57No.

00:15:58Nor did he subsequently phone to explain

00:16:00why he didn't turn up on the 7th August?

00:16:03No.

00:16:04Mrs Robbins, have you seen or heard from George Robbins

00:16:08since speaking to him on the telephone

00:16:09on the 6th of August this year?

00:16:12No.

00:16:13Would you stay there, please?

00:16:16Mrs Robbins, as you know,

00:16:18the court must establish beyond a reasonable doubt

00:16:20that your ex-husband is no longer alive.

00:16:24Yes, I understand that.

00:16:26Your ex-husband was heavily insured, was he not?

00:16:30He looked after his family.

00:16:33Including this recent insurance policy,

00:16:35the total of them is about £60,000.

00:16:38Something like that.

00:16:41Which you and your children stand to collect

00:16:43in the event of his death?

00:16:44Yes.

00:16:44In the event of his death, that is, saved by suicide.

00:16:47That's true.

00:16:49But I don't see what you're getting at.

00:16:50I never heard of suicide without a body before.

00:16:53Indeed, Mrs Robbins.

00:16:54Should your husband have decided to take his own life,

00:16:58and should he not wish to deprive you of the insurance money

00:17:00because of the suicide clause,

00:17:02is it not conceivable that he could have staged his death

00:17:05and made it look like murder?

00:17:07Lord.

00:17:09No further questions.

00:17:11Unless your Lordship has any questions.

00:17:13Thank you, Mrs Robbins.

00:17:14That would be all.

00:17:15Call Mrs Gwendolyn Farr.

00:17:16Mrs Gwendolyn Farr, please.

00:17:20What is your religion?

00:17:35Take the testament in your right hand

00:17:36and read aloud the words on the card.

00:17:40I swear by Almighty God

00:17:41that the evidence I shall give

00:17:42should be the truth,

00:17:44the whole truth,

00:17:45and nothing but the truth.

00:17:46Would you state your full name and address, please?

00:17:49Gwen Farr, 26 Chetland Street,

00:17:52Wilton, near Fulchester.

00:17:54Is that addressing the vicinity of Norwood Farm?

00:17:56Yes.

00:17:57Lord, the cottage owned by Robbins

00:18:00and known as Treefell Cottage

00:18:01is one of several cottages on the land

00:18:03adjoining Norwood Farm.

00:18:06And, Mrs Farr,

00:18:07were you anywhere in the neighbourhood of Treefell Cottage

00:18:09on the evening of Friday, August the 6th this year?

00:18:11Well, I was going past it.

00:18:13What did you see or hear?

00:18:15Well, first thing was,

00:18:16a car that went down the track.

00:18:18Towards Treefell Cottage?

00:18:20Yes.

00:18:20I thought it was odd

00:18:21because it didn't have its lights on.

00:18:23It's awfully dark down the track

00:18:24and there are lots of bushes and things

00:18:26on each side, you know.

00:18:26And what did you see or hear?

00:18:29Well, um,

00:18:31it was some time later

00:18:32and, uh,

00:18:33I wasn't quite sure what it was

00:18:35and it scared the life out of me.

00:18:36What did?

00:18:37Three enormous bangs.

00:18:39They went off very quickly,

00:18:40one after the other.

00:18:41And then what happened?

00:18:42Well,

00:18:43I didn't realise at the time

00:18:44what it could be.

00:18:46I mean,

00:18:46I knew it was a gun.

00:18:48I thought it might be poachers,

00:18:49but,

00:18:50well,

00:18:50you don't shoot things in the dark,

00:18:51do you?

00:18:52And did anything happen

00:18:53to make you suspicious?

00:18:54Yes.

00:18:55Would you tell the court

00:18:55what it was, please?

00:18:56Well,

00:18:57all of a sudden,

00:18:58the car started up

00:18:59and it came charging down the track

00:19:01and this time

00:19:02it had its lights on.

00:19:03It was going very, very fast

00:19:04and, uh,

00:19:05when it reached the main road

00:19:06I heard the tyres

00:19:07make a loud screeching sound

00:19:09and then it shot off.

00:19:11It was gone in a flash.

00:19:12Mrs Farr,

00:19:13I'd like you to answer

00:19:13the next question very carefully

00:19:14in view of the fact

00:19:15that you said it was getting dark.

00:19:17Yes.

00:19:17Were you able to describe this car?

00:19:19Yes.

00:19:20It was an Austin.

00:19:22One of the big black ones,

00:19:23you know.

00:19:24Now, are you sure of that?

00:19:25Yes, I'm positive.

00:19:26Well, Lord,

00:19:27we shall hear evidence

00:19:28to show that

00:19:28the defendant

00:19:29owns an Austin Princess.

00:19:32Were you able to see

00:19:32the driver, Mrs Farr?

00:19:33Well, it was a man.

00:19:35He had dark hair

00:19:37and long sideburns.

00:19:40I wasn't near enough, though,

00:19:41to be able to identify him.

00:19:42And what did you do then?

00:19:45I went home and thought about it.

00:19:47Do you live alone, Mrs Farr?

00:19:48Most of the time.

00:19:49My husband's in the Merchant Navy.

00:19:51Yes, so you thought about it.

00:19:52And then?

00:19:53And then I phoned the police.

00:19:55I told them that I'd heard shots

00:19:56and where they came from.

00:19:58And did the police contact you later?

00:19:59Yes.

00:20:00And they said that

00:20:00they found bloodstains

00:20:01in the cottage.

00:20:02Lord, I must have, Jim.

00:20:04No, Mrs Farr,

00:20:04we don't want to hear

00:20:05what the police told you,

00:20:06but you were contacted

00:20:07by the police

00:20:07and told that you might be required

00:20:09at a later stage

00:20:10to give evidence

00:20:11in a court of law.

00:20:12Yes.

00:20:12Thank you very much.

00:20:13Would you stay there, please?

00:20:17You were unable to identify

00:20:19the driver of the car,

00:20:20is that correct?

00:20:21Yes, that's right.

00:20:23Now, Mrs Farr,

00:20:23you say the car

00:20:24was a big black Austin

00:20:24and the driver had dark hair

00:20:27and long sideburns.

00:20:28Yes.

00:20:29You observed all this

00:20:30in the moment

00:20:30it took this fast-moving car

00:20:32to pass you

00:20:33on this dark track

00:20:34at nightfall.

00:20:35Well, the inside light was on.

00:20:37It sort of lit it all up,

00:20:37you know?

00:20:38Were you on the track

00:20:39or alongside it

00:20:41when the car passed you

00:20:42going towards the cottage?

00:20:44Well, alongside it, really,

00:20:46not on it.

00:20:47I see from the photos

00:20:48of the cottage

00:20:49and its surroundings

00:20:50that there's only

00:20:50a small verge to the track

00:20:52before one arrives

00:20:53at a rather thickly

00:20:54populated wood.

00:20:55Um, I was walking

00:20:58through the woods.

00:21:00Oh, you were in the woods?

00:21:01Yes.

00:21:03You were alone?

00:21:05Yes.

00:21:07How long have you lived

00:21:08in that area?

00:21:10Uh, five years

00:21:11since my marriage.

00:21:12Oh, then you must have heard

00:21:13of the unpleasant incidents

00:21:14that have taken place

00:21:15in those woods.

00:21:16Well, yes, I've heard about them

00:21:17but I didn't take much notice.

00:21:19I have here clippings

00:21:20from a local paper

00:21:22concerning cases

00:21:23where young couples

00:21:23are using the woods

00:21:24for, should we say,

00:21:26private purposes

00:21:27were held up and robbed.

00:21:29Are you familiar

00:21:30with these newspaper reports?

00:21:31Yes, I can remember

00:21:32reading them.

00:21:34Were you not the tiniest

00:21:34bit afraid to go walking

00:21:35through the woods

00:21:36after dark all alone?

00:21:37I don't scare easily.

00:21:39How long was it

00:21:40from the time

00:21:41you first saw the car

00:21:42arrive at the cottage

00:21:43to the time it left?

00:21:45It's hard to say.

00:21:46Well, an hour?

00:21:47Oh, no, no,

00:21:48nothing like that.

00:21:49Um, 20 minutes maybe?

00:21:51And throughout that time

00:21:52you were walking

00:21:52through the woods?

00:21:54Oh, well,

00:21:54it might only

00:21:55have been five minutes.

00:21:57I see.

00:21:58After the car had gone,

00:21:59do you, uh,

00:22:00do you go out to the cottage?

00:22:01No, I went home.

00:22:02I said so.

00:22:03Oh, why not?

00:22:04You've said everything

00:22:04seems suspicious.

00:22:05The arrival of a car

00:22:06without lights, gunshots,

00:22:07the car leaving rapidly,

00:22:08and there you are,

00:22:09a person who doesn't

00:22:10scare easily.

00:22:10I never went anywhere

00:22:11near the place.

00:22:12Oh, you say you went home

00:22:13and you thought

00:22:13about what had happened?

00:22:14Yes.

00:22:15Was your husband at home?

00:22:18No, he was at sea.

00:22:19Mrs. Farr,

00:22:20you rang the police

00:22:21at 1 a.m.

00:22:22on the morning

00:22:23of August the 7th,

00:22:24now that's several hours

00:22:25after the event.

00:22:27I ask again,

00:22:27what made you decide

00:22:28to ring them?

00:22:30I mean,

00:22:30why volunteer

00:22:30to become involved

00:22:31in what might have been

00:22:32a perfectly harmless incident?

00:22:33Is my friend suggesting

00:22:34that it was wrong

00:22:35that Mrs. Farr

00:22:36to notify the police

00:22:37of suspicious events?

00:22:38My lord,

00:22:39my learned friend

00:22:40knows better than that.

00:22:41But without going

00:22:42to the cottage

00:22:43to find evidence

00:22:44to confirm her suspicions,

00:22:46I'm at a loss

00:22:47to understand

00:22:47why Mrs. Farr,

00:22:48after several hours

00:22:49and much thought,

00:22:51should then decide

00:22:51to call in the police.

00:22:53Some people do these things,

00:22:54some do not.

00:22:56Mrs. Farr apparently

00:22:57does have a sense

00:22:58of public obligation.

00:22:59Thank you, my lord.

00:23:00Is your lordship pleases?

00:23:01Mrs. Farr,

00:23:04I put it to you

00:23:04that you were not alone

00:23:05that night.

00:23:06That is not true.

00:23:07Married woman,

00:23:08your husband away.

00:23:10But the fact

00:23:10that you were accompanied

00:23:11has a direct bearing

00:23:12on your evidence.

00:23:14I'm telling you

00:23:15the truth.

00:23:16I must put it to you,

00:23:17Mrs. Farr,

00:23:18that while otherwise

00:23:18engaged in the woods,

00:23:20your powers of observation

00:23:21were,

00:23:22she was,

00:23:23seriously impaired.

00:23:25Big black car.

00:23:26A driver you cannot identify

00:23:28who has dark hair

00:23:29and sideburns.

00:23:30How on earth

00:23:31could you have observed

00:23:31these details?

00:23:33The police said

00:23:35that if I told the court

00:23:36what I'd seen,

00:23:36none of this

00:23:37would be brought out.

00:23:40I was alone.

00:23:42I'm telling you,

00:23:43I was.

00:23:45I was.

00:23:51Mr. Colson,

00:23:52will you please

00:23:53give the witness

00:23:53a glass of water?

00:23:55No further questions or not.

00:23:56The case of Regina

00:24:06versus Barnes

00:24:06will resume tomorrow

00:24:08in the Crown Court.

00:24:09On August the 6th,

00:24:29George Robbins

00:24:30disappeared from this

00:24:31isolated country cottage.

00:24:33He's not been seen since,

00:24:34nor has his body

00:24:35been found.

00:24:36During the first day

00:24:38of the trial of Harold Barnes,

00:24:39who has been charged

00:24:40with his murder,

00:24:41the court heard evidence

00:24:42from Robbins' business partner,

00:24:44Philip Kirby,

00:24:45of threats issued by Barnes

00:24:47on the life of Robbins,

00:24:48whom he suspected

00:24:49of having an affair

00:24:49with his wife.

00:24:50The court also heard

00:24:51from Mrs. Gwen Farr,

00:24:53who described how she

00:24:54had been near the cottage

00:24:55on that night,

00:24:56and had heard shots fired,

00:24:57and a man resembling Barnes,

00:24:59and in a car of the same make

00:25:00as that owned by the accused,

00:25:02drive up to,

00:25:03and afterwards

00:25:03hurriedly leave the cottage.

00:25:06Counsel for the Defence,

00:25:07James Elliott,

00:25:08cast doubt on the evidence

00:25:09of this supposed eyewitness,

00:25:11Mrs. Farr,

00:25:12when he questioned her account

00:25:13of being in the nearby woods

00:25:15alone.

00:25:16He suggested that she could not

00:25:18swear to the details

00:25:18of her observation,

00:25:20since she was otherwise occupied

00:25:21with a companion.

00:25:23Mrs. Farr,

00:25:24whose husband is abroad,

00:25:25left the witness box

00:25:26in a state of distress.

00:25:28The trial is now

00:25:28in its second day,

00:25:30and Detective Inspector Robert,

00:25:31of Fulchester CID,

00:25:32is being called

00:25:33by Jonathan Frye,

00:25:34you see,

00:25:35leading for the prosecution.

00:25:37Detective Inspector Robert,

00:25:38please.

00:25:47I swear by your mighty God,

00:25:49the evidence I shall give

00:25:50shall be the truth,

00:25:50the whole truth,

00:25:51and nothing but the truth.

00:25:52Detective Inspector Robert,

00:25:53Fulchester CID.

00:25:55Inspector Robert,

00:25:55would you tell the court

00:25:56of your involvement

00:25:57in this case?

00:25:58On August the 7th last,

00:26:00at 3 a.m.,

00:26:00I received a telephone call

00:26:02from the local police station

00:26:03of Scorbion District.

00:26:04Local to Treefell Cottage?

00:26:06Yes, sir.

00:26:06Acting on a call

00:26:07they received

00:26:08concerning an alleged

00:26:09shooting at the cottage,

00:26:10they investigated,

00:26:11found evidence of a struggle,

00:26:13then contacted me.

00:26:14Mr. Frye,

00:26:15is the hearsay evidence

00:26:16we have just heard

00:26:16put in evidence

00:26:17under the provisions

00:26:19of the Criminal Investigation Act,

00:26:211967?

00:26:22That is correct,

00:26:23Mr. Lord.

00:26:24The cottage comes

00:26:24within your division,

00:26:25Inspector.

00:26:26Yes, sir.

00:26:27Accordingly,

00:26:27I went immediately

00:26:28to the cottage

00:26:28which I discovered

00:26:29to be owned

00:26:30by George Robbins,

00:26:31a resident of Fulchester.

00:26:33And what did you find?

00:26:34The Lord,

00:26:34much of this

00:26:34is also dealt with

00:26:35under the 1967 Act.

00:26:37A car which was later

00:26:39found to be owned

00:26:39by Robbins.

00:26:40Also a series

00:26:41of bloodstains

00:26:42on the floor

00:26:43near the main entrance.

00:26:44The blood was later

00:26:45found to belong

00:26:46to the same group

00:26:47as George Robbins.

00:26:49In addition,

00:26:50there were indications

00:26:50that someone had recently

00:26:51been inhabiting the cottage.

00:26:53The fire was still

00:26:54warm in the grate

00:26:55and there was

00:26:55the remains of a meal

00:26:56recently cooked

00:26:57in the kitchen.

00:26:58But the place

00:26:59was empty?

00:26:59Yes.

00:27:00Well, did you then

00:27:01go on to make

00:27:01a thorough examination?

00:27:03Yeah, we found

00:27:03one set of fingerprints,

00:27:04sir, only throughout.

00:27:06And were you able

00:27:07to identify them?

00:27:08Yes, sir.

00:27:08These were later compared

00:27:09with the set of prints

00:27:10taken from Robbins' house

00:27:11in Fulchester

00:27:12and they tallied.

00:27:13And what did you do

00:27:14then, Inspector?

00:27:14I took charge

00:27:15of the investigation

00:27:16to trace Mr. Robbins.

00:27:17Were they successful?

00:27:18No, sir.

00:27:19Exhaustive inquiries

00:27:20failed to locate

00:27:21Robbins alive or dead.

00:27:23Will you now

00:27:24describe the circumstances

00:27:25leading up to your

00:27:25arrest of the defendant,

00:27:27please?

00:27:27Yes, sir.

00:27:28During my search

00:27:29for Robbins,

00:27:29I interviewed

00:27:30his business associate,

00:27:31Philip Kirby.

00:27:32Mr. Kirby has already

00:27:33given evidence

00:27:34concerning threats

00:27:35made by Barnes

00:27:36on the life

00:27:37of the missing person.

00:27:38Did he tell you

00:27:38about these threats?

00:27:39Yes, sir.

00:27:40I then interviewed

00:27:40the defendant

00:27:41and asked him

00:27:42several questions

00:27:42relating to

00:27:43Robbins' disappearance.

00:27:44And what were

00:27:45these questions?

00:27:45I asked him

00:27:46if he'd been

00:27:47in the vicinity

00:27:47of Treefell Cottage.

00:27:49What did he say

00:27:50to that?

00:27:51Well, he replied

00:27:51that he had never

00:27:52heard of the place.

00:27:53I told him

00:27:54where it was situated

00:27:55and he said

00:27:55that he'd never

00:27:56ever been

00:27:57to that part

00:27:57of the country.

00:27:58Did you subsequently

00:27:59have reason

00:28:00to doubt

00:28:00the defendant's word?

00:28:01Yes.

00:28:02How did this arise?

00:28:03There is no dispute

00:28:05about this piece

00:28:05of evidence.

00:28:07Investigations

00:28:07turned up

00:28:07a parking fine

00:28:08which Barnes

00:28:09had incurred

00:28:10in the town

00:28:10of Silverton,

00:28:11which is about

00:28:11two miles

00:28:13from Treefell Cottage.

00:28:14Had the fine

00:28:15been paid?

00:28:15Yes, sir.

00:28:16June the 13th

00:28:17of this year.

00:28:18And do you have

00:28:18copies of that?

00:28:19Yes, sir.

00:28:19They exhibit one

00:28:20on the table.

00:28:22What other questions

00:28:23did you ask

00:28:23the defendant?

00:28:24I inquired

00:28:25if he possessed

00:28:26or ever had

00:28:27possessed a firearm.

00:28:28And what did he reply?

00:28:29He replied

00:28:30that he'd never

00:28:30owned one.

00:28:31And did you

00:28:32subsequently have

00:28:32reason to doubt

00:28:33the defendant's

00:28:33word on this reply?

00:28:34Yes, sir.

00:28:35The defendant

00:28:35had now incurred

00:28:36suspicion,

00:28:37so I received

00:28:38a warrant

00:28:38to search his house.

00:28:40And what did you find?

00:28:41A packet of

00:28:41.38 cartridges, sir.

00:28:44Exhibit two,

00:28:44my lord.

00:28:46Inspector,

00:28:47is that the packet

00:28:48of cartridges?

00:28:49Yes, sir.

00:28:51And did you ask

00:28:52the defendant

00:28:52why he was in

00:28:53possession of

00:28:53these cartridges?

00:28:54I did, sir.

00:28:55He said he'd

00:28:55owned them for years,

00:28:56that someone had

00:28:57left them there

00:28:58and he'd forgotten

00:28:59all about them.

00:29:01Did you find

00:29:01anything else?

00:29:02We found fibres

00:29:04attached to a pair

00:29:04of his shoes,

00:29:05which were later

00:29:06matched by forensics

00:29:07to fibres found

00:29:08on a rug

00:29:09on the floor

00:29:10in Robbins Country

00:29:10Cottage.

00:29:11I will, of course,

00:29:12be calling the

00:29:12forensic expert

00:29:13attached to the

00:29:14Fulchester CID,

00:29:14team lord to verify

00:29:16this.

00:29:17And what did you do

00:29:18then, Inspector?

00:29:18I cautioned the

00:29:19accused and told him

00:29:20I was arresting him

00:29:21for the murder

00:29:21of George Robbins.

00:29:22And what did he

00:29:23reply?

00:29:24He replied,

00:29:25you can't do anyone

00:29:26for murder

00:29:27without a body.

00:29:29And then what

00:29:30happened?

00:29:31Well, he was taken

00:29:31to Fulchester Police

00:29:32Station, cautioned

00:29:33and formally charged.

00:29:35Did he say

00:29:36anything further?

00:29:37No, sir.

00:29:38Inspector Robert,

00:29:40did you at any time

00:29:40invite Harold

00:29:42Barnes to account

00:29:43for his whereabouts

00:29:43on the 6th and 7th

00:29:45of August this year?

00:29:46Yes, sir.

00:29:46When?

00:29:47Well, these were

00:29:47the first words

00:29:48I asked him

00:29:49when I first

00:29:49went to see him, sir.

00:29:50Before you arrested him?

00:29:52Yes, sir.

00:29:53And what did he say?

00:29:55He said,

00:29:56I am not going

00:29:56to tell you.

00:29:58Thank you, sir.

00:30:03You thoroughly examined

00:30:04the inside

00:30:04of the cottage, Inspector?

00:30:06Yes, sir.

00:30:06Did you examine

00:30:07the outside as well,

00:30:08the surrounds,

00:30:09the track?

00:30:10Yes, sir,

00:30:10at first light.

00:30:11Tell the court

00:30:11what was found.

00:30:12Well, owing to

00:30:13the heavy rains

00:30:14which began at 3am

00:30:15and were continuing

00:30:16while the investigation

00:30:17was proceeding,

00:30:18no tyre marks

00:30:19except those

00:30:20of a farm tractor

00:30:21were discovered

00:30:21on the track

00:30:22leading to Treefell Cottage.

00:30:23Similarly,

00:30:24no footprints

00:30:25were found either.

00:30:26Did you subsequently

00:30:26examine the car

00:30:27belonging to the defendant?

00:30:29Yes, sir.

00:30:30Did you find anything

00:30:30which connected it

00:30:31with this alleged

00:30:32shooting incident?

00:30:33Well, the car

00:30:34wasn't examined

00:30:34until a fortnight later, sir.

00:30:35No, did you find anything?

00:30:37No, sir.

00:30:39Now, if we're to believe

00:30:40the sequence of events

00:30:41claimed by the prosecution,

00:30:43Barnes drove his own car

00:30:44to the cottage,

00:30:46he shot Robbins

00:30:46and then he transported

00:30:48the body elsewhere

00:30:49to a hiding place

00:30:49so far undiscovered?

00:30:52Yes.

00:30:53Well, has the upholstery

00:30:54of Mr Barnes' car

00:30:55been recently

00:30:56either changed

00:30:57or scrubbed?

00:30:59Not changed, no, sir.

00:31:00Or scrubbed?

00:31:02I don't know, sir.

00:31:04All right, Inspector.

00:31:05How old is the car?

00:31:07Eight years.

00:31:08What condition

00:31:08is the upholstery in?

00:31:10Well, it's worn.

00:31:11Is it stained

00:31:12from natural wear

00:31:13and usage?

00:31:14Yes, sir.

00:31:15Thus, Inspector,

00:31:16it has not recently

00:31:17been cleaned,

00:31:18would you say?

00:31:19No, sir.

00:31:19Or the boot?

00:31:20No, sir.

00:31:21Thank you, Inspector.

00:31:24Now, when you asked

00:31:25the defendant

00:31:26if he'd ever been

00:31:26in the vicinity

00:31:27of the cottage

00:31:27and he said never,

00:31:28did he not actually reply,

00:31:29I've never heard

00:31:30of Treefell Cottage?

00:31:32Not that he'd never been

00:31:33in that particular part

00:31:33of the country before.

00:31:35He did not.

00:31:36Did you tell him

00:31:36it was near Silverton?

00:31:38I told him

00:31:39where it was situated

00:31:40on the map.

00:31:40Would you answer

00:31:40my question, please?

00:31:41I don't believe

00:31:42I mentioned

00:31:43Treefell Cottage.

00:31:44No?

00:31:45Mainly because

00:31:45it was a later date

00:31:46that I turned up

00:31:47the parking offence

00:31:48in that place.

00:31:51What did he say

00:31:52when you confronted him

00:31:53with this parking fine?

00:31:55He said something like,

00:31:57oh, that,

00:31:57I've forgotten

00:31:58all about that.

00:31:59He then went on

00:32:00to say that he did

00:32:01a lot of road travelling

00:32:01and he couldn't be expected

00:32:03to remember

00:32:03every place he passed through.

00:32:05That's a very fair answer,

00:32:06wouldn't you say?

00:32:07That is a matter

00:32:08of opinion, sir.

00:32:10The date of payment

00:32:11of the fine

00:32:11is June the 13th?

00:32:13Yes, sir.

00:32:14This is no proof

00:32:15that Barnes was in the area

00:32:16at the material time.

00:32:17It was neither just before

00:32:19nor just after

00:32:20August the 6th.

00:32:21No, sir,

00:32:21but it contradicted

00:32:22his initial statement.

00:32:25When you cautioned him,

00:32:26you say he replied,

00:32:27you can't do anyone

00:32:28for murder

00:32:28without a body.

00:32:30Yes, sir.

00:32:31He said a lot more

00:32:32than that, didn't he?

00:32:33I only noted

00:32:34the relevant remarks, sir.

00:32:35Relevant for your purposes,

00:32:36Inspector?

00:32:37No, sir.

00:32:38Did Barnes not also say

00:32:40how do you know he's dead?

00:32:41I don't believe he's dead at all.

00:32:43He's just dropped out of sight

00:32:44because the heavy mob

00:32:45are after him.

00:32:46I've no record of that, sir.

00:32:48And it was only

00:32:48when you persisted

00:32:49with your intention

00:32:50to charge him with murder

00:32:51that he said out of sheer desperation

00:32:52you can't do that

00:32:53without first proving

00:32:53that Robbins is dead.

00:32:55The defendant was in an angry

00:32:56and aggressive mood.

00:32:57He never stopped yelling

00:32:58and shouting.

00:32:59It would have been impossible

00:32:59to have got done everything,

00:33:00he said.

00:33:01Inspector,

00:33:02did he not say to you

00:33:03that the frighteners

00:33:04have been put on Robbins

00:33:05for reasons connected

00:33:06with his business?

00:33:08I have no record of that, sir.

00:33:10So it appears.

00:33:13Well,

00:33:13did you pursue

00:33:14any other avenues

00:33:15of inquiry?

00:33:16Such as what, sir?

00:33:17Did you investigate

00:33:18other people

00:33:18who have been known

00:33:19to threaten Robbins?

00:33:20We interviewed

00:33:20several persons, yes.

00:33:22And?

00:33:22These were people

00:33:23in the used car business

00:33:24but they all had

00:33:25substantiated alibis

00:33:26and so were eliminated

00:33:27from police inquiries.

00:33:28They could have employed

00:33:29others to do their work

00:33:30for them.

00:33:31We brought our charges

00:33:33based on a series

00:33:34of incriminating circumstances

00:33:35connected with the defendant,

00:33:37Harold Barnes.

00:33:37Which do not appear

00:33:38to be so incriminating

00:33:39on closer examination.

00:33:41The defendant was asked

00:33:42to account for his activities

00:33:43between August 6th and 7th

00:33:45and he declined to do so.

00:33:47Inspector,

00:33:48the defendant has a full explanation

00:33:50which the court will hear

00:33:51in due course.

00:33:52His failure to do so

00:33:53to the police

00:33:54greatly increased

00:33:55the likelihood

00:33:55that he would be charged.

00:33:57Final question, Inspector.

00:33:58Do you make any promise

00:34:01to Mrs. Farr

00:34:02to the effect

00:34:02that it would not

00:34:03be necessary

00:34:04for her to reveal

00:34:05all of her activities

00:34:06on the night

00:34:06of August 6th

00:34:07providing she would

00:34:08give evidence

00:34:09at this trial?

00:34:14No, sir.

00:34:17No further questions?

00:34:18Just one matter, Inspector.

00:34:19You replied

00:34:20to Defence Council's inquiry

00:34:21about other avenues

00:34:22of investigation.

00:34:24Yes, sir.

00:34:25Who supplied the names

00:34:27of these other

00:34:27possible suspects?

00:34:28The defendant, sir.

00:34:30Only the defendant?

00:34:30Yes, sir.

00:34:31Oh.

00:34:32Well, how did he give you

00:34:33this information?

00:34:33He volunteered it.

00:34:35Well, did you follow

00:34:35these suggestions

00:34:36that he volunteered?

00:34:37Well, he suggested

00:34:38that there might be people

00:34:39in the used car business

00:34:40who had stronger reasons

00:34:41for getting rid of Robbins

00:34:42than he had

00:34:43and there had been trouble

00:34:44in that respect

00:34:44in the past.

00:34:45Can you say

00:34:46from your inquiries

00:34:46if there was evidence

00:34:47that Barnes's life,

00:34:49that Robbins's life

00:34:50was in any danger

00:34:50from business rivals?

00:34:52Well, not recently, no, sir.

00:34:53When were you last

00:34:54asked to intervene

00:34:55in such a situation?

00:34:56Well, it was April

00:34:57of last year, sir.

00:34:59I detailed the constable

00:35:00to maintain surveillance

00:35:02outside Robbins'

00:35:03business and home addresses

00:35:04because there had been

00:35:05trouble in the past.

00:35:07And was there any trouble?

00:35:09None, sir.

00:35:10None since?

00:35:11In the 16 months

00:35:12between them

00:35:12and Robbins' disappearance?

00:35:13None that came

00:35:14to our attention, sir.

00:35:16That is,

00:35:17until Barnes suggested it.

00:35:18Thank you, Inspector.

00:35:22I call Dr. John Gold.

00:35:25Dr. John Gold, please.

00:35:27Dr. John Gold, please.

00:35:57A final question, Dr. Gold.

00:36:00Did you apply a laboratory test

00:36:02to some 0.38 cartridges

00:36:04and to a pair of shoes

00:36:05which the police had found

00:36:06in the defendant's possession?

00:36:08Yes.

00:36:09And did these shoes

00:36:09contain fibre fragments

00:36:11which match those

00:36:12from a carpet

00:36:13found in Robbins' cottage?

00:36:14Yes.

00:36:15Thank you, Doctor.

00:36:18Tell us about the carpet, Doctor.

00:36:20It was three feet by two,

00:36:22rubber-backed,

00:36:23coarse nylon bristles.

00:36:25Sorry.

00:36:26Was it made

00:36:26for any specific purpose?

00:36:28It was placed

00:36:30by the main entrance

00:36:30on the inside.

00:36:31I would think visitors

00:36:32would wipe their feet on it.

00:36:34It's safe to say

00:36:34it's a doormat?

00:36:35Not the outdoor kind.

00:36:37No,

00:36:37but it was used thus

00:36:38by visitors.

00:36:40Yes.

00:36:41How can one buy

00:36:42such a mat?

00:36:42Any ironmongers,

00:36:44I would have thought.

00:36:44Are they mass-produced?

00:36:45I would think so.

00:36:46Is there any unique quality

00:36:48about the mat

00:36:49found in Robbins'

00:36:50country cottage

00:36:51which sets it apart

00:36:52from all others?

00:36:53I didn't examine

00:36:54all the others.

00:36:56Doctor,

00:36:56you can see my question

00:36:57looming up,

00:36:58can't you?

00:36:59The fragments

00:37:01taken from the defendant's shoes

00:37:02match the fibres

00:37:04found in the carpet

00:37:05in the cottage.

00:37:06And a million other mats

00:37:07made by that same carpet firm.

00:37:09I repeat.

00:37:10Yes, I know.

00:37:10You didn't examine

00:37:11all the others.

00:37:12I can give the court

00:37:14only the results

00:37:15of my own examinations.

00:37:16All right, Doctor,

00:37:17let's try it this way.

00:37:19The fibres you took

00:37:20from the shoes,

00:37:21did they contain

00:37:22any marks,

00:37:23mud,

00:37:24even blood,

00:37:25which would nail

00:37:26them more firmly

00:37:27as having come

00:37:27from Robbins' mat

00:37:29and not from any other?

00:37:31No.

00:37:32No.

00:37:34Are you saying

00:37:34that you have

00:37:35specialised

00:37:36in the study

00:37:39of explosives

00:37:40and firearms?

00:37:41That is correct.

00:37:43Did you examine

00:37:44those cartridges,

00:37:45exhibit number two,

00:37:46my lord?

00:37:56Did you examine

00:37:57those cartridges?

00:37:58Yes,

00:37:59they're the same,

00:37:59the .38 calibre.

00:38:02Could you tell

00:38:02how old they are,

00:38:03Doctor?

00:38:04Well,

00:38:04not precisely.

00:38:06Well,

00:38:06roughly.

00:38:07Well,

00:38:07the colour

00:38:08and the texture

00:38:10of the cases

00:38:10give some indication.

00:38:12Roughly how old

00:38:13are they,

00:38:13Doctor?

00:38:14Well,

00:38:15it's hard to say,

00:38:15but,

00:38:16well,

00:38:17five,

00:38:18six years.

00:38:19How many

00:38:19does the box hold?

00:38:21Twenty.

00:38:22How many cartridges

00:38:22are there now?

00:38:24Twenty.

00:38:25Thank you,

00:38:26Doctor.

00:38:26An unused box

00:38:27of six-year-old cartridges.

00:38:29I wanted the jury

00:38:30to hear just how substantial

00:38:31this evidence is

00:38:32against the defendant.

00:38:34The police seem to feel

00:38:35that because Barnes

00:38:36is found in possession

00:38:37of a box of six-year-old

00:38:38unused bullets,

00:38:40this is enough

00:38:40to prove him a liar

00:38:41when he says

00:38:42he's never owned

00:38:42a firearm.

00:38:44No more questions.

00:38:45Thank you,

00:38:46Doctor.

00:38:47That,

00:38:48Lord,

00:38:48is the case

00:38:48for the prosecution.

00:38:50Very well.

00:38:56Are we ready,

00:38:57Mr. Elliot?

00:38:57I apologise,

00:39:01my lord.

00:39:01I call the defendant,

00:39:02Harold Barnes.

00:39:10What is your religion?

00:39:12Silly.

00:39:13Take the testament

00:39:13in your right hand

00:39:14and read aloud

00:39:15the words on the card.

00:39:15I've spoken by

00:39:16the mighty God

00:39:16that the evidence

00:39:17I should give

00:39:18should be the truth

00:39:18and the truth

00:39:19and the truth

00:39:19and the truth.

00:39:21You're Harold Barnes.

00:39:22Yes.

00:39:2372 Arborath Crescent,

00:39:24Fultrister.

00:39:26Mr. Barnes,

00:39:26did you murder

00:39:27George Robbins?

00:39:28No.

00:39:30Where were you

00:39:31between the morning

00:39:31of August the 6th

00:39:32this year

00:39:32and the evening

00:39:33of the following day,

00:39:34August the 7th?

00:39:35Mr. Elliot,

00:39:36no alibi notice

00:39:37has been served

00:39:37in this case.

00:39:38The Act provides

00:39:39that you cannot give

00:39:40evidence of alibi

00:39:40if a proper notice

00:39:42has not been given

00:39:43so that the police

00:39:43may inquire into it.

00:39:44If I may assist,

00:39:45my lord,

00:39:45my friend,

00:39:45it warned me of this

00:39:46during the adjournment

00:39:47and I agreed not to object

00:39:48if the evidence

00:39:49went no further

00:39:50than he claimed it would.

00:39:51Very well.

00:39:52You may answer

00:39:52the question,

00:39:53Barnes.

00:39:53How was he,

00:39:54Scotland?

00:39:55What were you doing there?

00:39:56Delivering a car.

00:39:58Why didn't you tell

00:39:58this to the police?

00:39:59The car was stolen.

00:40:00Who stole it?

00:40:01I did.

00:40:02Who was with you?

00:40:02My wife.

00:40:03Who did you see

00:40:04in Scotland?

00:40:06I'm not prepared to say.

00:40:08Who took delivery

00:40:08of the car?

00:40:09Forget it,

00:40:10I'm not saying.

00:40:12Your defence

00:40:12will depend largely

00:40:13on your own evidence.

00:40:15My wife was with me.

00:40:16She'll bear me out.

00:40:18You would be well advised

00:40:19to say whom you saw

00:40:20in Scotland.

00:40:21The jury may not be satisfied

00:40:22with yours

00:40:23and your wife's evidence.

00:40:24Tough.

00:40:25I advise you

00:40:26to reconsider

00:40:27your decision.

00:40:30Look,

00:40:31I did not kill

00:40:33Robbins

00:40:33and if there's

00:40:34any justice

00:40:35in this world,

00:40:36they'll find that out.

00:40:38Is it true

00:40:38that you threatened

00:40:39his life?

00:40:39Yes.

00:40:40Did you mean it?

00:40:41At the time,

00:40:41yes.

00:40:42And later?

00:40:43I wasn't going

00:40:43to go to prison

00:40:44for that rotten bastard.

00:40:46You can use,

00:40:47you can give

00:40:48your evidence,

00:40:48Barnes,

00:40:49without using

00:40:49that sort of language.

00:40:50It won't assist you

00:40:52and I won't tolerate it.

00:40:53I wasn't going to rot

00:40:54in prison

00:40:54for that festering pig!

00:40:56Mr. Elliot,

00:40:57does your client

00:40:58understand plain English?

00:41:00Mr. Barnes,

00:41:02if you do not wish

00:41:03to rot in prison,

00:41:04I suggest you pay

00:41:05more attention

00:41:05to your replies.

00:41:06You mean you want me

00:41:07to go down on my knees

00:41:07and bawl like an old woman

00:41:08and you'll get me off?

00:41:09No, sir.

00:41:10He means that you

00:41:11should be aware

00:41:11that you are

00:41:12in the most serious situation.

00:41:14You're also convinced

00:41:15that Robbins is dead?

00:41:16You're not then, Barnes?

00:41:17You think he's still alive?

00:41:18Oh, he's alive, all right.

00:41:19He's in Brazil

00:41:20or somewhere at this minute

00:41:21reading the papers

00:41:22and laughing himself

00:41:22sick about his trial.

00:41:24Why do you think

00:41:24he's still alive?

00:41:26Look, everyone jumps

00:41:26on me as though

00:41:27I'm the only one

00:41:28who wants Robbins

00:41:29out of the way.

00:41:30There were dozens!

00:41:30We've already heard

00:41:31how the police

00:41:31checked the other people

00:41:32and found that they

00:41:33had proof of being

00:41:33elsewhere on August 6th.

00:41:35Yeah, playing cards

00:41:35with each other's mates.

00:41:36Some proof, eh?

00:41:37What makes you think

00:41:38he is still alive?

00:41:40Well, he owed them.

00:41:42Robbins owed who what,

00:41:43Mr Barnes?

00:41:45Look, the police

00:41:47know all about this.

00:41:48Though you wouldn't

00:41:49think so from their evidence,

00:41:50but they do.

00:41:51All about what?

00:41:54He was in on a racket.

00:41:56He was creaming off the top

00:41:58to pay for his girlfriends

00:41:59and the mob went after him.

00:42:01Mr Barnes, what racket?

00:42:04The cards he sold were hot.

00:42:06You mean they were stolen?

00:42:07Most of them, yeah.

00:42:08Can you substantiate that?

00:42:10God almighty, I ought to be able to.

00:42:11I used to knock him off for him,

00:42:12didn't I?

00:42:13Please explain that to the court.

00:42:17I'm a car thief.

00:42:18I still cast to order.

00:42:20If a bloke says he wants a...

00:42:22Or if he says he's got,

00:42:24say, a punter for...

00:42:26Well, a 1969 Mercedes,

00:42:28well, I look out for one.

00:42:30I knock it off.

00:42:32He does a respray,

00:42:34changes the serial numbers,

00:42:35the number plates,

00:42:36then he sells it to the customer.

00:42:38And you worked in that capacity

00:42:40for George Robbins?

00:42:41Yeah.

00:42:41How long ago was this?

00:42:42A couple of years back.

00:42:44Robbins was the head of this racket,

00:42:45was he?

00:42:46No, no, he was a small time.

00:42:48There was a boss.

00:42:49And you believe that Robbins

00:42:50faked his death

00:42:51to avoid trouble from his employers

00:42:53because of some irregularity

00:42:55in the accounts

00:42:55or something like that?

00:42:56He was scared out of his skull.

00:42:58Was he?

00:42:59When was this?

00:43:00Best battle last year,

00:43:01when he knew

00:43:02they were after him.

00:43:04Well, could these

00:43:04unknown employers

00:43:05have killed him?

00:43:06Well, they'd never get

00:43:07their money back

00:43:08if they did.

00:43:09It was to say

00:43:09as a lesson to others.

00:43:11But why hide the body?

00:43:13Look, Robbins is alive

00:43:15and well

00:43:15and stands to collect

00:43:16a packet out of his insurance.

00:43:19That's the name

00:43:20of the game, mate.

00:43:21That's the only way

00:43:22he can pay off the mob.

00:43:23Mr. Barnes,

00:43:24why did you threaten him?

00:43:25Because he was

00:43:29sniffing around my wife.

00:43:31You thought they were

00:43:32having an affair?

00:43:33I thought so, yeah.

00:43:34You went to him

00:43:35to protest?

00:43:36I make no secret of this.

00:43:38I told him

00:43:39if he didn't lay off,

00:43:39I'd do him.

00:43:40You would kill him?

00:43:42Yeah.

00:43:43You went to his office

00:43:44on July the 17th

00:43:45and you saw him again

00:43:45on July the 30th

00:43:46at the El Condor Club.

00:43:48Yeah.

00:43:49You were no longer

00:43:50working for him

00:43:50at that time, were you?

00:43:51No, not for a year or more.

00:43:54Now, what happened

00:43:54on the first occasion?

00:43:57Well, the first time

00:43:57a couple of his guerrillas,

00:43:59they come and by the arms,

00:44:01you know,

00:44:01while he worked me over.

00:44:03Then they threw me out.

00:44:04By guerrillas,

00:44:05you mean strongmen,

00:44:06something like that?

00:44:07Yeah, yeah, guerrillas, yeah.

00:44:08Did anyone see you

00:44:09as you were thrown out?

00:44:11Well, the place was full

00:44:12with pandas.

00:44:13With customers?

00:44:14Yeah.

00:44:15Did you complain

00:44:16to the police?

00:44:17What's the point?

00:44:17Where's the witnesses?

00:44:19You lot live

00:44:20in ivory towers.

00:44:21Not all the time, Barnes.

00:44:23We sometimes come down

00:44:24out of them

00:44:25to see that people

00:44:26like you get a fair trial.

00:44:28Nobody saw nothing.

00:44:30Listen,

00:44:30I could have been

00:44:31undrawn and quartered

00:44:33and nobody would have

00:44:35seen a thing.

00:44:35You know what I mean?

00:44:37Would you tell the court

00:44:38what happened

00:44:39at the El Condor Club?

00:44:41Well,

00:44:42Rowan's in,

00:44:43um,

00:44:44his mate,

00:44:45Kirby.

00:44:46Had a couple of

00:44:47brasses with him.

00:44:48Lord,

00:44:48one of these ladies

00:44:49was Mr Kirby's wife.

00:44:50That's right.

00:44:50She's been on the gang

00:44:51since she was ten.

00:44:52Now listen to me, Barnes.

00:44:53If you persist in uttering

00:44:55gratuitous and defamatory remarks,

00:44:57I shall have no alternative

00:44:58but to adjourn the court

00:44:59until you agree

00:45:00to behave yourself.

00:45:01Mr Barnes,

00:45:02please confine yourself

00:45:04to giving relevant information,

00:45:06a new simple language

00:45:07that everyone can understand.

00:45:08Okay.

00:45:09Mr Elliot,

00:45:09I was not complaining

00:45:10that I did not understand

00:45:11what he was saying.

00:45:12Of course,

00:45:13my lord.

00:45:13Mr Barnes,

00:45:16you say

00:45:16at the El Condor Club

00:45:18you were provoked

00:45:18into saying to Robbins,

00:45:19make the most of it

00:45:20because you won't live long

00:45:21to collect,

00:45:22meaning money that Robbins

00:45:24had been awarded

00:45:24in a court case.

00:45:25Yeah, yeah.

00:45:26Were you provoked?

00:45:28Yeah.

00:45:29By what?

00:45:30Well,

00:45:31Robbins and Kirby,

00:45:34they kept

00:45:35shouting things across like,

00:45:38where's your old woman tonight?

00:45:40Having an offer

00:45:40with the milkman issue,

00:45:41you know,

00:45:42things like that,

00:45:42then they'd fall about laughing

00:45:44and then they'd shout

00:45:46something else,

00:45:46you know.

00:45:47Was the club crowded?

00:45:48It was full.

00:45:50So many people

00:45:51heard this jeering.

00:45:52Yeah,

00:45:52that was the general idea.

00:45:54Did anyone come to your aid?

00:45:56Like hell.

00:45:57What did they do?

00:45:58Well,

00:45:59they joined in.

00:46:01So you had no friends there?

00:46:05Robbins was,

00:46:06well,

00:46:07he had all his mates there.

00:46:08He was buying

00:46:09all the drinks that night.

00:46:11And finally,

00:46:11you were thrown out.

00:46:13Yeah.

00:46:15Mr Barnes,

00:46:15did you believe at that time

00:46:16that your wife

00:46:17was having an affair

00:46:17with Robbins?

00:46:18I wasn't sure.

00:46:20Do you know the truth

00:46:20about the matter now?

00:46:21I know now

00:46:22that she wasn't.

00:46:23On August the 6th,

00:46:25did you know

00:46:25that there was no truth

00:46:26to these rumours?

00:46:27Yes.

00:46:29Mr Barnes,

00:46:29why did you take your wife

00:46:30on a trip to Scotland,

00:46:31which you now admit

00:46:32to be one made

00:46:33for a criminal purpose?

00:46:35Well,

00:46:35we'd made it up

00:46:37that week,

00:46:37you know,

00:46:37about Robbins,

00:46:39so I thought

00:46:39we could have

00:46:40a weekend

00:46:40on our own together.

00:46:42You mixed

00:46:42business with pleasure?

00:46:45Yeah.

00:46:45Meanwhile,

00:46:46Robbins disappears.

00:46:48And I know

00:46:49how it all looks,

00:46:51you know.

00:46:51Oh,

00:46:51what all looks?

00:46:52Well,

00:46:52I know that people

00:46:53heard me say

00:46:54that I was going

00:46:55to kill Robbins

00:46:56and then they find

00:46:56all that blood

00:46:57and stuff

00:46:58at the cottage.

00:46:59Yes,

00:46:59and an eyewitness.

00:47:00Oh,

00:47:01yes,

00:47:01she was the right one,

00:47:02wasn't she,

00:47:02eh?

00:47:03Police must be

00:47:04pretty desperate.

00:47:05If all they can find

00:47:06is a tarp

00:47:08who's having it off

00:47:09on the side

00:47:10while the old man's

00:47:10away at sea.

00:47:11Hello?

00:47:12Mr Barnes,

00:47:12would you please

00:47:13watch your tongue?

00:47:15What are you talking about?

00:47:16You proved that yourself,

00:47:17didn't you?

00:47:18You would be well advised

00:47:19to listen to your counsel.

00:47:21Listen,

00:47:21what kind of assertiveness

00:47:22is this?

00:47:23I'm just trying to

00:47:24spell out

00:47:25what he said

00:47:26to support my case.

00:47:29Now,

00:47:29listen,

00:47:30she was lying

00:47:31on her back

00:47:31on her grass.

00:47:32Be quiet.

00:47:33Now,

00:47:33the jury ought to know that

00:47:34and not have to

00:47:35work it out for themselves

00:47:36with nods and bloody winks.

00:47:37Be quiet!

00:47:39I will decide

00:47:40what the jury

00:47:41ought to be told,

00:47:41not you.

00:47:43In the meantime,

00:47:44you will cease

00:47:44making distasteful

00:47:45and, I repeat,

00:47:46defamatory remarks.

00:47:48Mr. Elliot,

00:47:49I shall not speak

00:47:50to the defendant again.

00:47:51I understand.

00:47:54Mr Barnes,

00:47:55answer the following questions,

00:47:56yes or no.

00:47:58Have you ever owned a gun?

00:47:59No.

00:48:00On August the 6th this year,

00:48:01did you have any reason

00:48:02to wish to kill George Robbins?

00:48:03No.

00:48:03And do you maintain

00:48:04that George Robbins

00:48:05is still alive?

00:48:06Yeah.

00:48:09I'd like to call

00:48:10George Robbins.

00:48:20The case of

00:48:21Regina versus Barnes

00:48:23will resume tomorrow

00:48:24in the Crown Court.

00:48:30Was George Robbins

00:48:47murdered in this cottage?

00:48:48Robbins was a tough man

00:48:50in a tough business.

00:48:51He made enemies.

00:48:52Six months ago,

00:48:53he disappeared.

00:48:54He's not been seen since,

00:48:56either dead or alive.

00:48:57At Fullchester Crown Court,

00:48:59the trial of Harold

00:49:00Barnes continues.

00:49:02Barnes has been accused

00:49:03of murdering Robbins.

00:49:04Robbins, it was rumoured,

00:49:05had an affair

00:49:06with Barnes' wife.

00:49:07The prosecution

00:49:08say Barnes killed him

00:49:09because of it.

00:49:11Barnes maintains

00:49:11Robbins is still alive,

00:49:13that he faked his death

00:49:14to swindle the insurance companies

00:49:16and find money

00:49:17to get out of some

00:49:18business trouble.

00:49:19The prosecution

00:49:19has begun its cross-examination

00:49:21of Harold Barnes,

00:49:22and Jonathan Fryk,

00:49:24you see,

00:49:24has just created

00:49:25a sensation

00:49:26by calling for

00:49:26George Robbins

00:49:27to appear in court.

00:49:29George Robbins, please.

00:49:31Call George Robbins, please.

00:49:46My Lord,

00:49:47if I may intrude

00:49:48upon my Leonard friend's charade,

00:49:50may I ask

00:49:50what this is all about?

00:49:52Mr Fryk,

00:49:53what do you mean

00:49:53by your irregular call

00:49:54for George Robbins

00:49:55to appear?

00:49:56I apologise, my Lord.

00:49:57I would like an explanation

00:49:58rather than an apology.

00:50:00Lord,

00:50:01my Leonard friend

00:50:01has said that he's not

00:50:02seeking to prove

00:50:03that George Robbins

00:50:03is still alive.

00:50:04On the contrary,

00:50:05he's prepared

00:50:06to accept evidence

00:50:07put before the court

00:50:08in support of the assumption

00:50:08that Robbins is dead.

00:50:10Well?

00:50:11The only person

00:50:11to question this

00:50:12has been the defendant Barnes.

00:50:14Yet when I appear

00:50:14to accept his view

00:50:15and make as if

00:50:16to call Robbins

00:50:17into the court,

00:50:18Barnes is the only person

00:50:19in the court

00:50:19who does not turn

00:50:20to look at

00:50:21what to anyone else

00:50:21would be a remarkable

00:50:22appearance.

00:50:23Why?

00:50:24Because I submit

00:50:25he knows that Robbins

00:50:26is dead.

00:50:27I just wasn't stupid

00:50:28enough to believe

00:50:29Robbins had been found,

00:50:30that's all.

00:50:31Very well,

00:50:32Mr Fryk.

00:50:32I'm prepared to overlook

00:50:34your unseemly behaviour

00:50:35on this occasion,

00:50:37but kindly remember

00:50:38that I am extremely

00:50:39averse to theatricals

00:50:40in my court.

00:50:41Thank you, Lord.

00:50:44You have said

00:50:45that you are

00:50:46a car thief.

00:50:47But no,

00:50:47a murderer.

00:50:48One thing at a time.

00:50:49And on the 6th and 7th

00:50:51of August this year,

00:50:52you were in Scotland

00:50:52with your wife

00:50:53delivering a stolen car.

00:50:55Yeah.

00:50:56You told this

00:50:56to the court here today.

00:50:57Oh.

00:50:58But you didn't tell the police

00:50:58when you were charged

00:50:59with murder.

00:51:00No.

00:51:01Why not?

00:51:02It was an alibi

00:51:03supported by your wife.

00:51:05As Inspector Robert

00:51:06told the court,

00:51:07the fact that you

00:51:07had no alibi

00:51:08increased the suspicion

00:51:10that you were the man

00:51:10the police were seeking.

00:51:11I just didn't believe

00:51:13I'd be charged.

00:51:14And I wasn't going to

00:51:15be conned into

00:51:17admitting that I'd

00:51:18nicked a car

00:51:19and involved my wife

00:51:21with it, eh?

00:51:21But you were charged.

00:51:23Yeah, when I'd refused

00:51:24to give an alibi.

00:51:25Which you spent

00:51:26the last few months

00:51:27polishing up

00:51:28before delivering it here

00:51:29in court.

00:51:30It's up to you

00:51:31to disprove my alibi,

00:51:32not for me to prove it.

00:51:34I see you know the law.

00:51:35I do, sir.

00:51:36Don't you try

00:51:36and stone me.

00:51:37You were not, however,

00:51:38so well informed

00:51:39and you were cautioned.

00:51:40You can't do anyone

00:51:40for murder

00:51:41if there isn't a body.

00:51:42The fact is,

00:51:42Mr Barnes,

00:51:43you can.

00:51:45That's why I keep

00:51:46saying Robbins

00:51:46is still alive.

00:51:48What do you mean by that?

00:51:49Look, you find Robbins

00:51:50dead and no matter

00:51:51who did it,

00:51:52you'll pin it on me

00:51:52because of me

00:51:54threatening him

00:51:55and all that.

00:51:56You find him

00:51:56with a belly full of bullets

00:51:57and I don't stand a chance

00:51:59but so far

00:52:00no one

00:52:01has said that

00:52:03definitely Robbins

00:52:04is dead,

00:52:04have they?

00:52:05I mean all this stuff

00:52:06about evidence.

00:52:08Barnes?

00:52:09The jury

00:52:10will eventually decide

00:52:11whether the evidence

00:52:12is sufficient

00:52:12to assume that he is dead.

00:52:13Yeah, assume.

00:52:14That's what it's all about,

00:52:15isn't it?

00:52:16Assuming he's dead

00:52:16so he disappears

00:52:17for six months

00:52:18so who wouldn't?

00:52:19I've told you already

00:52:20he had his hand in the till

00:52:21he was found with it.

00:52:23I'd do the same himself

00:52:24if I was an issue.

00:52:25Mr Barnes,

00:52:26I'm not going to debate

00:52:26the issue of Robbins'

00:52:27present whereabouts

00:52:28with you.

00:52:28No, you don't have to,

00:52:29do you?

00:52:29You can just assume

00:52:30he's dead.

00:52:31It's all very well

00:52:31for you

00:52:32but it's not for me,

00:52:32is it?

00:52:33You delay giving

00:52:34an alarm a buy

00:52:35because you never thought

00:52:37you'd be charged

00:52:37with murder.

00:52:38Is that right?

00:52:39Right.

00:52:39But now that you

00:52:40have been charged,

00:52:41out comes this story

00:52:42about delivering stolen cars

00:52:44in Scotland

00:52:44in the company

00:52:45of your wife

00:52:46who was with you

00:52:47on our kiss

00:52:48and make-up weekend.

00:52:50That's the truth.

00:52:52That's the truth,

00:52:53is it?

00:52:55Then why don't you

00:52:55go one stage further?

00:52:56What do you mean?

00:52:57Where did you stay

00:52:58in Scotland?

00:53:00I'm not saying.

00:53:01A single entry

00:53:02in an hotel register

00:53:02would verify your alibi.

00:53:03Oh, we didn't stay

00:53:04in our town.

00:53:05How very unfortunate.

00:53:07Look,

00:53:07you don't drive

00:53:08net cars around

00:53:09and leave a trailer

00:53:10of bloody crews

00:53:10behind you,

00:53:11do you?

00:53:11I'm in no position

00:53:12to say,

00:53:13Mr Barnes,

00:53:13but I'll take

00:53:14the word

00:53:14of an expert thief.

00:53:15Oh, six and stones

00:53:16have banked my bloody...

00:53:17Behave yourself.

00:53:19Listen,

00:53:19why is it

00:53:20the only one

00:53:21in this court

00:53:21who's not allowed

00:53:22to make a joke

00:53:22is me?

00:53:23Nobody is making jokes.

00:53:25This old trouser joke.

00:53:27Are you prepared

00:53:28to submit

00:53:28to cross-examination

00:53:29or are you not?

00:53:30I'll go ahead,

00:53:31I've got nothing else on.

00:53:37You said earlier

00:53:38that you did not kill

00:53:40George Robbins.

00:53:41I'm still saying it.

00:53:42Because so you said,

00:53:43you didn't intend

00:53:44to rot in jail

00:53:45because of him.

00:53:46Right.

00:53:46So despite the threat

00:53:47you issued,

00:53:48leave my wife alone

00:53:49or I'll kill you,

00:53:50make the most of it

00:53:51because you won't

00:53:51live to collect,

00:53:52despite making these threats

00:53:53which you admit

00:53:53you meant seriously,

00:53:54you did not really

00:53:55intend to fulfil them.

00:53:56My wife convinced me

00:53:57that she had not

00:53:58been having it off

00:53:59with Robbins.

00:54:00She convinced me

00:54:01that she was

00:54:02telling the truth.

00:54:03And so to make it up

00:54:04to her,

00:54:05you took her

00:54:05on a joyride

00:54:06to Scotland

00:54:07in a stolen car.

00:54:09Yeah.

00:54:12When did you first

00:54:13learn that Robbins

00:54:14had disappeared?

00:54:15A couple of weeks

00:54:16later.

00:54:17A couple of weeks

00:54:17after August the 7th?

00:54:19Yeah, about that.

00:54:20And how did you learn

00:54:20of it?

00:54:21Gossip,

00:54:22got around.

00:54:23And when were you

00:54:23first aware

00:54:24how bad it could be

00:54:25for you?

00:54:26Not till the cop

00:54:27was called.

00:54:29But you had an alibi.

00:54:30Or so you said.

00:54:32Oh yes,

00:54:32of course,

00:54:32I forgot you

00:54:33didn't intend

00:54:33to use it.

00:54:35Are we to assume

00:54:35then that you prefer

00:54:36to be tried for murder

00:54:37rather than theft?

00:54:39I'm waiting for you

00:54:40to prove that Robbins

00:54:41is dead.

00:54:43You find his body

00:54:44and you prove

00:54:45that I did it!

00:54:46You killed Robbins.

00:54:48You dispose of his body

00:54:49so well

00:54:50that you have the

00:54:51confidence to say that.

00:54:53Find his body

00:54:53and then prove

00:54:54that I did it.

00:54:57You can't prove

00:54:58nothing.

00:54:59And it's bugging

00:55:00the hell out of you!

00:55:02You acted

00:55:02on the assumption

00:55:03of no body,

00:55:04no trial.

00:55:06And then you found

00:55:06that you were wrong.

00:55:08And that

00:55:09is bugging you,

00:55:10Mr. Barnes.

00:55:10We'll see.

00:55:12We'll see if

00:55:12they believe he's dead.

00:55:14He's not.

00:55:15He's alive.

00:55:15Be quiet.

00:55:16I mean,

00:55:16you've got Kirby,

00:55:18the biggest liar

00:55:19in the business

00:55:19and his ex-wife

00:55:20who wants to cover

00:55:21the insurance

00:55:22to say

00:55:22that they've not seen

00:55:23him for so long

00:55:24that he must be dead.

00:55:26And you call that proof?

00:55:27It's the biggest

00:55:29fraud in the world.

00:55:30And you think

00:55:31this isn't a joke?

00:55:32It's a bloody farce, mate!

00:55:33I have the power

00:55:35to order this trial

00:55:36to continue

00:55:36in your absence

00:55:37if you persist

00:55:38in this behaviour.

00:55:39Are you going

00:55:40to control yourself?

00:55:48Mr. Elliott.

00:55:51I must to call

00:55:51Mrs. Catherine Barnes.

00:55:53Mrs. Catherine Barnes,

00:55:55please.

00:55:55What is your religion?

00:56:07Church of England.

00:56:08Take the testament

00:56:09in your right hand

00:56:09and read aloud

00:56:10the words on the card.

00:56:12I swear by almighty God

00:56:13that the evidence

00:56:14I shall give

00:56:14shall be the truth,

00:56:15the whole truth

00:56:16and nothing but the truth.

00:56:19Catherine Barnes,

00:56:20you live at 72 Arbor

00:56:21of Crescent,

00:56:21Fulchester.

00:56:22Yes.

00:56:23And you're the wife

00:56:23of the defendant

00:56:24Harold Barnes.

00:56:25Yes.

00:56:26Are you acquainted

00:56:27with George Robbins?

00:56:28I know him, yes.

00:56:29Do you know him well?

00:56:31He bought me a drink

00:56:32now and then.

00:56:32You went out with him

00:56:33from time to time?

00:56:35A few times.

00:56:36Was your husband

00:56:37aware of this?

00:56:38Not at the time, no.

00:56:39But he found out later?

00:56:41Yes.

00:56:43Mrs. Barnes,

00:56:43I have to ask you

00:56:44this question.

00:56:46Did you sleep

00:56:47with George Robbins?

00:56:48No.

00:56:49No.

00:56:50No, he wanted me to

00:56:51but I refused.

00:56:52Was Robbins angry

00:56:53when you rejected him?

00:56:55Very.

00:56:56What did he say?

00:56:57He said he'd tell

00:56:58Harry we'd already

00:56:59been having an affair.

00:57:00Did he in fact

00:57:01tell your husband

00:57:02that you and he

00:57:03had been sleeping together?

00:57:04Yes.

00:57:05What was your husband's

00:57:06reaction?

00:57:07He threatened

00:57:08he'd kill him

00:57:08if he didn't

00:57:09leave me alone.

00:57:10Presumably you tried

00:57:11to convince him

00:57:12that Robbins was lying.

00:57:13Yes, of course I did.

00:57:14Did he believe you?

00:57:15I think he wanted to

00:57:17but every time

00:57:18he ran into

00:57:18George Robbins

00:57:19and his friends

00:57:20they started saying things.

00:57:22They rubbed it in

00:57:22that me and George

00:57:23had...

00:57:24Well, they got him mad.

00:57:28Coming down

00:57:28to the weekend

00:57:29of August the 6th

00:57:30the weekend

00:57:30that Robbins disappeared.

00:57:32Yes.

00:57:32What happened

00:57:33between you

00:57:34and your husband?

00:57:35I managed

00:57:36to convince him

00:57:37that George Robbins

00:57:38had been lying about me.

00:57:40He said he had a job

00:57:41that coming weekend

00:57:42driving up to Scotland

00:57:43and that we should

00:57:44get rid of the kids

00:57:45with my sister

00:57:46and drive up there together.

00:57:47And did you?

00:57:48Yes.

00:57:49And when did you

00:57:50leave Fulchester?

00:57:51Friday afternoon.

00:57:52That would be

00:57:52August the 6th.

00:57:53Yes.

00:57:54When did you get back?

00:57:55Sunday night.

00:57:56Mrs. Bounds

00:57:57were you with your husband

00:57:58the entire time

00:57:59that weekend?

00:58:01Every minute.

00:58:03No further question.

00:58:04Will you tell us

00:58:07where you stayed

00:58:08in Scotland?

00:58:09No.

00:58:12Why not?

00:58:13I just can't.

00:58:14If you did

00:58:15and could prove it

00:58:15your husband

00:58:16would almost certainly

00:58:17be acquitted

00:58:18of the charge

00:58:18he now faces.

00:58:19Harris told me

00:58:20I mustn't say.

00:58:21Of fear

00:58:22of incriminating others

00:58:23in the car theft business?

00:58:26I can send you

00:58:28to prison

00:58:28if you don't

00:58:28answer the question.

00:58:29Do you say

00:58:33there is no truth

00:58:34in the rumours

00:58:34about you

00:58:35and George Robbins?

00:58:36They weren't true.

00:58:37And that after

00:58:37much persuasion

00:58:38you convinced

00:58:38your husband

00:58:39that they weren't true?

00:58:40Yes.

00:58:40After which

00:58:41his attitude

00:58:41towards George Robbins

00:58:42altered immediately?

00:58:44He still hated him.

00:58:45Quite.

00:58:46As he himself

00:58:46would say

00:58:47when he threatened

00:58:47his life

00:58:47he meant it.

00:58:48But come the weekend

00:58:49of the 6th and 7th of August

00:58:50when George Robbins

00:58:51disappeared

00:58:51your husband

00:58:52no longer

00:58:53had any wish

00:58:54to kill George Robbins

00:58:55because by then

00:58:56you had convinced him

00:58:57that the stories

00:58:58weren't true.

00:58:59That's right.

00:59:00What a fortunate

00:59:01last minute conversion.

00:59:03That's what happened

00:59:04whether you like it

00:59:05or not.

00:59:07Why did you agree

00:59:08to let Robbins

00:59:09take you out

00:59:09in the first place?

00:59:10I saw nothing wrong

00:59:11with it.

00:59:12But he must have

00:59:12known his reputation

00:59:13as a ladies man

00:59:14everyone else did.

00:59:15I can look after myself.

00:59:17So you went with Robbins

00:59:18knowing

00:59:19that if you did

00:59:20and your husband

00:59:21found out

00:59:22he would be

00:59:22extremely angry.

00:59:23I saw nothing wrong

00:59:25with having a drink

00:59:26with him.

00:59:26didn't you?

00:59:28No.

00:59:29In public?

00:59:30Always in public.

00:59:31Where all the world

00:59:32could see you

00:59:32see you

00:59:33with a notorious

00:59:33womanizer

00:59:34you couldn't see

00:59:35anything wrong

00:59:35in that.

00:59:36I really don't care

00:59:37what people think.

00:59:38Not even when

00:59:39those same people

00:59:39could go and tell

00:59:40your husband

00:59:40the minute he came home?

00:59:41I had nothing to hide.

00:59:44Is it not the case

00:59:45Mrs Bounds

00:59:45that you did have

00:59:46an affair with George Robbins?

00:59:47That your husband

00:59:48found out

00:59:48that you didn't care

00:59:49that he found out?

00:59:50That he went after Robbins

00:59:51and threatened to kill him

00:59:52if he didn't stop seeing you?

00:59:53That you continued

00:59:54to encourage Robbins

00:59:55to pay attention to you?

00:59:56So that your husband

00:59:57fulfilled his threat

00:59:58followed him down

00:59:58to Treefell Cottage

00:59:59and there murdered him?

01:00:00None of that's true.

01:00:02Is it not also true

01:00:02that finding yourself

01:00:03without a lover

01:00:04you agreed to help

01:00:05your husband

01:00:05by supporting

01:00:06his cock and bull yarn

01:00:07about a reconciliation

01:00:08and a weekend

01:00:09spent in Scotland?

01:00:10We were in Scotland

01:00:11the day George Robbins

01:00:13is meant to have been killed.

01:00:14And yet so strong

01:00:15is honour among thieves

01:00:16that you won't find

01:00:17anybody in Scotland

01:00:18to bear out your story

01:00:18for fear of implicating them.

01:00:20You put their welfare

01:00:22before that of your husband

01:00:23who if convicted

01:00:24stands to spend

01:00:25the rest of his life

01:00:26in prison.

01:00:27We were in Scotland

01:00:29the day George Robbins

01:00:30disappeared.

01:00:32I have no more questions

01:00:34to put to this witness

01:00:34my lord.

01:00:38You may go.

01:00:40That concludes the case

01:00:41of the defence my lord.

01:00:43Members of the jury

01:01:07the prosecution

01:01:09in this case

01:01:09has sought to establish

01:01:11two things.

01:01:12Firstly that George

01:01:13Robbins is dead.

01:01:15Secondly

01:01:15that he was murdered

01:01:16by the defendant

01:01:17Harold Barnes.

01:01:20It is our submission

01:01:21that George Robbins

01:01:22met his death

01:01:22on Friday the 6th of August

01:01:24last year

01:01:24that he was shot

01:01:25and that his body

01:01:26was transported

01:01:27to a place

01:01:28from which to date

01:01:30it has not been recovered.

01:01:32Now

01:01:33you will recall

01:01:34the following facts.

01:01:35On two occasions

01:01:36the defendant

01:01:37Harold Barnes

01:01:38threatened George Robbins

01:01:39in public

01:01:40contact my wife again

01:01:41and I will kill you.

01:01:43you have heard

01:01:44that signs

01:01:44of a violent struggle

01:01:45were found

01:01:46at Robbins'

01:01:46country cottage

01:01:47and an eyewitness

01:01:48described

01:01:49how she saw a car

01:01:51like Barns' car

01:01:53leave the cottage

01:01:54driven by a man

01:01:54with dark hair

01:01:55and long sideburns.

01:01:56Note that this description

01:01:57was given

01:01:58weeks before

01:01:59the defendant

01:02:00was apprehended

01:02:01and you will notice

01:02:02the defendant

01:02:03has dark hair

01:02:04and long sideburns.

01:02:06Then we heard

01:02:07the evidence

01:02:07of the forensic expert.

01:02:08fibres from a carpet

01:02:10found in Robbins' cottage

01:02:11were detected

01:02:13in Barnes' shoes

01:02:15and from the police

01:02:16we heard that

01:02:16although he maintained

01:02:17he'd never been

01:02:17anywhere near the place

01:02:18in his life

01:02:19he had in fact

01:02:20paid a parking fine

01:02:21not two miles

01:02:22from there.

01:02:24He also claimed

01:02:25that he had no gun.

01:02:28Why then was he

01:02:28in possession

01:02:29of ammunition?

01:02:31And finally

01:02:31and most incriminating

01:02:32of all members

01:02:33of the jury

01:02:33we come to

01:02:35the defendant's alibi

01:02:35whilst refusing

01:02:37to disclose

01:02:38his whereabouts

01:02:38on Friday the 6th

01:02:40of August

01:02:41to the police

01:02:42when he was charged

01:02:42with murder

01:02:43he waits until

01:02:44he comes to this court

01:02:45to say that

01:02:45he took a trip

01:02:46to Scotland

01:02:47which covered this period

01:02:48a trip members

01:02:50of the jury

01:02:50witnessed only

01:02:51by his wife.

01:02:54Now you will recall

01:02:55the defendant's word

01:02:55but when he was asked

01:02:56why he diverged

01:02:58from the tactics

01:02:58of his counsel

01:02:59and maintained

01:03:00that Robbins

01:03:00is still alive

01:03:01he said that

01:03:03if it were proved

01:03:04that Robbins

01:03:04were dead

01:03:05he Barnes

01:03:06wouldn't stand a chance

01:03:07that he would be

01:03:08convicted

01:03:09because of the evidence

01:03:09against him

01:03:10even though he maintained

01:03:11that he didn't kill Robbins

01:03:13and there members

01:03:14of the jury

01:03:15we have the truth

01:03:16of the matter

01:03:16if Robbins is dead

01:03:18even the defendant

01:03:20agrees

01:03:20there is sufficient

01:03:21damning evidence

01:03:22to prove

01:03:23that he killed him.

01:03:26Counsel for the defense

01:03:27in their attempt

01:03:28to show that

01:03:29Robbins was killed

01:03:30not by the defendant

01:03:31but by some unknown

01:03:32group of business rivals

01:03:33have been unable

01:03:34to offer any proof

01:03:35at all

01:03:36they could only refer

01:03:37to some hostility

01:03:39between these unknown

01:03:40gentlemen and Robbins

01:03:41over the 15 months

01:03:42prior to Robbins' disappearance

01:03:44but this in no way

01:03:45substantiates the claim

01:03:47that anyone

01:03:47other than Barnes

01:03:49had any desire

01:03:50to kill Robbins.

01:03:52No members of the jury

01:03:53it is our submission

01:03:54that the facts

01:03:56given before you

01:03:57prove quite clearly

01:03:59that Harold Barnes

01:04:01incensed by his wife's

01:04:03affair with Robbins

01:04:03followed Robbins

01:04:04to Treefell Cottage

01:04:05murdered him

01:04:07removed the body

01:04:08to a place

01:04:09where it has remained hidden

01:04:10and then assumed

01:04:12wrongly

01:04:12that he could never

01:04:13be tried for murder

01:04:14as long as the body

01:04:16was not found.

01:04:18There he made

01:04:18his mistake

01:04:19and it is that mistake

01:04:21members of the jury

01:04:21which will

01:04:23make sure

01:04:24that he is rightly

01:04:25convicted

01:04:26of the crime

01:04:27with which he is charged.

01:04:32Please the Lord

01:04:33members of the jury

01:04:34let me in summing up

01:04:37ask you first

01:04:37to consider

01:04:38what my lonely friend

01:04:38has just maintained

01:04:39is true.

01:04:42Harold Barnes

01:04:43decides to murder

01:04:44George Robbins

01:04:44because of jealousy.

01:04:46On the evening

01:04:46of August 6th

01:04:47he drives his own car

01:04:49to Robbins'

01:04:49country cottage.

01:04:50He shoots Robbins

01:04:51three times

01:04:51before bundling

01:04:52his body into his car

01:04:53and removing it

01:04:54elsewhere.

01:04:55He then sits around

01:04:57and waits for the police

01:04:57to catch up with him

01:04:58which he knows

01:05:00they will

01:05:00for he has

01:05:01on more than one occasion

01:05:02threatened his life

01:05:03in public.

01:05:04Now when they do

01:05:05he withholds

01:05:06an alibi story

01:05:07because the alibi

01:05:07involves a fiction

01:05:09about delivering

01:05:10a stolen car

01:05:11to Scotland.

01:05:15Members of the jury

01:05:15whatever conclusions

01:05:17you may have arrived at

01:05:18concerning the character

01:05:19of the defendant

01:05:20you cannot possibly

01:05:22believe him

01:05:23to be such a fool.

01:05:25If nothing else

01:05:26and I repeat

01:05:28if nothing else

01:05:29Harold Barnes

01:05:30is cunning.

01:05:32He has to be.

01:05:33His occupation

01:05:34demands it.

01:05:36Now would this

01:05:36professional criminal

01:05:37plan and execute

01:05:39a murder

01:05:39and then concoct

01:05:40as an alibi

01:05:41a story that he was

01:05:42unable to substantiate?

01:05:44I mean surely

01:05:45he would have

01:05:45planned an alibi

01:05:46that was unshakable.

01:05:49Playing cards

01:05:50all weekend

01:05:50fishing with

01:05:51three companions

01:05:52anything.

01:05:54This is the most

01:05:54incredible assumption

01:05:56made by the prosecution

01:05:57in their attempt

01:05:59to prove

01:05:59that the defendant

01:06:00is guilty

01:06:01of this alleged

01:06:01murder.

01:06:03There are of course

01:06:04other assumptions.

01:06:06Would a professional

01:06:07and expert car thief

01:06:08drive his own car

01:06:10to the scene

01:06:10of a crime?

01:06:11What did he do?

01:06:12Did he draw off

01:06:14Robin's blood

01:06:15before he put

01:06:16his body in the car?

01:06:17It seems unlikely.

01:06:21The forensic expert

01:06:23stated that he could

01:06:24furnish no

01:06:24conclusive proof

01:06:25that the fibres

01:06:27found in the

01:06:27defendant's shoes

01:06:28matched those

01:06:29of the doormat

01:06:30in Robin's cottage.

01:06:32I don't intend

01:06:33to spend any time

01:06:34debating the seriousness

01:06:35of finding an unused

01:06:36box of six-year-old

01:06:37bullets.

01:06:38Barnes said at the time

01:06:39he had never

01:06:39owned a gun.

01:06:41This has not been

01:06:42disproved.

01:06:44As we've said

01:06:45we do not rely solely

01:06:47on contesting

01:06:47the evidence

01:06:48that George Robbins

01:06:49is no longer alive.

01:06:51We have proceeded

01:06:52to give what is

01:06:52evidence of a

01:06:53reasonable doubt

01:06:54as to the guilt

01:06:55of the defendant.

01:06:57Now Mrs Barnes

01:06:58has stated that

01:06:59by August the 6th

01:07:00her husband

01:07:01had no interest

01:07:02in carrying out

01:07:03his threat

01:07:03to murder Robbins.

01:07:04He was at that time

01:07:05convinced of the

01:07:06falseness of the rumours

01:07:07which had first

01:07:08aroused his anger.

01:07:10So he and his wife

01:07:11drove to Scotland

01:07:13to deliver

01:07:13a stolen car.

01:07:15Now Barnes

01:07:16has made no secret

01:07:17of his activities

01:07:18as a car thief

01:07:20and his wife

01:07:21supports this

01:07:22account of the trip.

01:07:24Now the very nature

01:07:24of the business

01:07:25has made it impossible

01:07:27for Barnes

01:07:27to furnish a witness.

01:07:30Now this is

01:07:30worthy of note.

01:07:32Barnes was willing

01:07:33to face the serious

01:07:34charge of murder

01:07:35rather than give

01:07:36the name of

01:07:37the person

01:07:38or persons

01:07:39who could exonerate

01:07:40him of this charge.

01:07:43My learned friend

01:07:44has suggested

01:07:44that there is

01:07:45honour among thieves.

01:07:48Well I put it to you

01:07:49that if you reject

01:07:50this cliché approach

01:07:51you'll find that

01:07:53fear among thieves

01:07:54plays a far greater

01:07:55role than honour.

01:07:58The eyewitness.

01:08:00Now she has referred

01:08:01to the man

01:08:01she saw driving away

01:08:02from the cottage

01:08:03on August the 6th

01:08:04as being unidentifiable

01:08:06save for the fact

01:08:07that he had dark hair

01:08:09and long sideburns.

01:08:10Now remember

01:08:11this description

01:08:11was given to the police

01:08:12weeks before Barnes

01:08:13was first interviewed.

01:08:16Members of the jury

01:08:17look around

01:08:18this courtroom.

01:08:21There are many people

01:08:21who fit that description

01:08:22including Inspector Robert.

01:08:28Members of the jury

01:08:29my submission

01:08:29the evidence

01:08:30has shown

01:08:30that George Robbins

01:08:31may have been killed

01:08:33on August the 6th last.

01:08:34but there is clearly

01:08:36insufficient evidence

01:08:37to place the blame

01:08:38for that killing

01:08:39on the head

01:08:40of the defendant

01:08:41Harold Barnes.

01:08:43Thank you Mr. Edward.

01:08:47Members of the jury

01:08:48it is now my duty

01:08:49to advise you

01:08:50on points of law

01:08:51and to remind you

01:08:52of the evidence.

01:08:53It is for you alone

01:08:55to decide

01:08:56what you believe

01:08:56and whether the charge

01:08:58against Harold Barnes

01:08:59has been proved

01:09:00or not.

01:09:02In a case

01:09:03where a person

01:09:03is accused

01:09:04of murder

01:09:04but the body

01:09:06of the victim

01:09:07has not been produced

01:09:08the law requires

01:09:10the prosecution

01:09:11to present

01:09:13positive evidence

01:09:15that a murder

01:09:16has in fact

01:09:17taken place.

01:09:20This evidence

01:09:20will of course

01:09:21be circumstantial.

01:09:23However

01:09:23a combination

01:09:24of events

01:09:25can be sufficient

01:09:26to conclude

01:09:27that a person

01:09:28has met his death.

01:09:30In the case

01:09:31of George Robbins

01:09:33you have heard

01:09:34you have heard

01:09:35that he never

01:09:36failed to visit

01:09:37his children

01:09:37on every Saturday

01:09:39of the year.

01:09:40Since the week

01:09:41of his disappearance

01:09:42he has never

01:09:43once done so.

01:09:45Secondly

01:09:46you have heard

01:09:46that he had been

01:09:47expected to attend

01:09:48a very important

01:09:49business meeting

01:09:50the week

01:09:50after he disappeared.

01:09:52He did not

01:09:53attend it.

01:09:55Thirdly

01:09:55you have heard

01:09:56the evidence

01:09:56of the blood

01:09:57bloodstains

01:09:58which were found

01:09:59in Robbins'

01:09:59country cottage.

01:10:01Bloodstains

01:10:02of the same group

01:10:03as Robbins'

01:10:04own blood.

01:10:06And lastly

01:10:06members of the jury

01:10:07you have heard

01:10:08that since

01:10:09August the 6th

01:10:10no one

01:10:11has heard from

01:10:13or seen

01:10:14George Robbins

01:10:15again.

01:10:16Now you may well

01:10:17feel

01:10:17that these

01:10:19circumstances

01:10:19are sufficient

01:10:20to prove

01:10:21that he is dead.

01:10:22but

01:10:23if however

01:10:25you feel

01:10:26that Robbins

01:10:26is still alive

01:10:27then you have

01:10:28no alternative

01:10:29but to bring in

01:10:30a verdict

01:10:30of not guilty.

01:10:32However

01:10:32I would urge

01:10:33you

01:10:34to consider

01:10:35very carefully

01:10:36the evidence

01:10:37brought forward

01:10:38to the view

01:10:39that he is dead

01:10:40and if you decide

01:10:42to your own

01:10:43satisfaction

01:10:43that he is dead

01:10:44it will then

01:10:45be your duty

01:10:46to decide

01:10:47whether Harold

01:10:48Barnes

01:10:49is guilty

01:10:49of his murder.

01:10:51The defence

01:10:52has sought

01:10:53to show

01:10:54that there were

01:10:54other parties

01:10:55bent on taking

01:10:56his life

01:10:56whereas the prosecution

01:10:58has presented

01:10:59a case

01:11:00which seeks

01:11:01to eliminate

01:11:01any reasonable

01:11:03doubt

01:11:03whatsoever

01:11:04from the charge

01:11:06that Barnes

01:11:07is guilty.

01:11:08You must choose

01:11:10between them.

01:11:11Now one final

01:11:12word of advice

01:11:12you will of course

01:11:14have noted

01:11:15that Barnes

01:11:16is a self-confessed

01:11:18thief

01:11:18who has lived

01:11:19most of his adult

01:11:20life among criminals

01:11:21but I must remind you

01:11:22that you are not

01:11:23here to judge him

01:11:24on what his

01:11:25previous life

01:11:26has been.

01:11:27You are simply

01:11:28required

01:11:29to consider

01:11:30the evidence

01:11:30you have heard

01:11:31and to decide

01:11:33whether this man

01:11:34murdered George

01:11:36Robbins.

01:11:37In conclusion

01:11:38I will remind you

01:11:38that the two points

01:11:39which the prosecution

01:11:40must establish

01:11:41beyond reasonable

01:11:42doubt

01:11:42are these.

01:11:44One

01:11:44that George

01:11:45Robbins

01:11:45is dead

01:11:46two

01:11:47that Harold

01:11:48Barnes

01:11:49killed him.

01:11:49and now

01:11:51members of the jury

01:11:52you will kindly

01:11:52retire

01:11:53and consider

01:11:54your verdict.

01:11:55The calls

01:11:55will rise.

01:12:01Bring up

01:12:02the prisoner.

01:12:09The prisoner

01:12:10will remain

01:12:11standing.

01:12:13All stand.

01:12:14members of the jury

01:12:26will your foreman

01:12:27please rise.

01:12:28Just answer this

01:12:29question

01:12:30yes or no.

01:12:31Have you reached

01:12:31a verdict upon

01:12:32which you are

01:12:32all agreed?

01:12:33Yes.

01:12:34Do you find

01:12:35the prisoner

01:12:35at the bar

01:12:35Harold Barnes

01:12:36guilty or not

01:12:37guilty of the

01:12:38charge of murder?

01:12:39Not guilty.

01:12:41Very well.

01:12:41Harold Barnes

01:12:44you have been

01:12:45found not

01:12:46guilty.

01:12:47You are free

01:12:48to leave the

01:12:48court.

01:12:49All stand.

01:12:50All stand.

01:12:50good.

01:13:15Just a moment

01:13:16I want to

01:13:17roll you.

01:13:17I was going.

01:13:18Next week, join another jury in assessing the facts

01:13:29when our cameras return to watch another leading case

01:13:31in the Crown Court.

Crown Court - Whatever Happened to George Robins (1973)

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