- 1 day ago
Crown Court: the gripping courtroom drama from the 1970s and 1980s.
Roddy Maitland, the rising temperamental star of British tennis, stormed off court during a Wimbledon semi-final. He then drove up to Fulchester to confront Dr. Holt-Matthews, the father of his pregnant girlfriend, Gail. On being told that her pregnancy was now over, he attempted suicide in a hotel room by slashing his wrists. However, it is Maitland who is now on trial for criminal libel after writing a letter in which the Prosecution alleges he maliciously and falsely claimed the doctor to be "an abortionist" and "a murderer".
Watch out for appearances by Bernard Archard (Doctor Who) and Doreen Mantle (Mrs Warboys in One Foot in the Grave).
Roddy Maitland, the rising temperamental star of British tennis, stormed off court during a Wimbledon semi-final. He then drove up to Fulchester to confront Dr. Holt-Matthews, the father of his pregnant girlfriend, Gail. On being told that her pregnancy was now over, he attempted suicide in a hotel room by slashing his wrists. However, it is Maitland who is now on trial for criminal libel after writing a letter in which the Prosecution alleges he maliciously and falsely claimed the doctor to be "an abortionist" and "a murderer".
Watch out for appearances by Bernard Archard (Doctor Who) and Doreen Mantle (Mrs Warboys in One Foot in the Grave).
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TVTranscript
00:00:00Everyone who watched Wimbledon last year remembers the amazing moment when the British champion
00:00:19Rodney Maitland stormed off the centre court after an angry argument with the umpire.
00:00:23Two games down in the second set, he threw his racket down and made an insulting gesture
00:00:28to the booing crowd, then ran off to the clubhouse, refusing to talk to pressmen and smashing
00:00:33the camera of one of them.
00:00:35Next morning, 200 miles away in Fullchester, near the home of his girlfriend, Gail Holt
00:00:40Matthews, he was found unconscious in a hotel bath, with both wrists slashed.
00:00:46A suicide note was found in the bedroom, and as a result of what he wrote in it, Rodney
00:00:50is today in the dock, facing a charge of criminal libel.
00:00:53He's pleaded not guilty, and further pleads justification.
00:00:58Mr Jonathan Fry, you see, has finished his opening speech for the Crown, and is examining
00:01:03his first witness.
00:01:04Detective Inspector Revel, after you went to the Merton Lodge Hotel at midnight, in answer
00:01:30to this telephone call, what did you find?
00:01:32Well, I went to room number 21 on the first floor, with the proprietor's Mrs Hooper.
00:01:37One of the hotel servants was trying to force open the door of the bathroom, which was bolted
00:01:41from the inside.
00:01:42I, and the police constable who was with me, succeeded in breaking down the door, and we
00:01:46went in.
00:01:47Without going into too many details, Inspector, would you tell us what you found once you'd
00:01:51broken down the bathroom door?
00:01:52Well, the accused was lying in the bath, naked and apparently unconscious.
00:01:56The taps were open, and the water was overflowing and running onto the floor.
00:02:00It was heavily discoloured, with blood.
00:02:03And what did you do then?
00:02:04The constable and I pulled him out and laid him on the floor.
00:02:07Did you see anything that might account for the blood?
00:02:09Yes, the accused had gashes on both wrists.
00:02:11Deep or superficial, would you say?
00:02:13Well, I had no chance to make a full examination.
00:02:16The doctor arrived a minute or two after I did.
00:02:18While he was attending to the accused, I had a look around the bedroom.
00:02:22And what did you find there, Inspector?
00:02:23Well, the bed had not been slept in, and there was an overnight case standing on a chair.
00:02:28Also some clothes hanging from a cupboard.
00:02:30Did you find anything else?
00:02:32Yes, on the table by the bedside, there was a sealed envelope.
00:02:35Was it addressed in any way?
00:02:37Yes, it was addressed to Dr. D. Holt Matthews, the old forge, Medley Green.
00:02:41And what became of that letter?
00:02:43I took it away.
00:02:44I thought it might be evidence.
00:02:45With regard to the apparent attempt at suicide?
00:02:48Yes.
00:02:49Did you subsequently read this letter?
00:02:51Yes.
00:02:52It is Exhibit One, my lord.
00:02:53Could it be given to the witness, please?
00:02:55Very well, Mr. Fry.
00:02:59Inspector Revell, would you read the letter to the court?
00:03:04Dr. Holt Matthews, I don't suppose it'll bother you too much, but when you read this, I'll be dead.
00:03:09As dead as that baby of mine and Gail's you butchered so casually.
00:03:13At least I only have the killing of myself on my conscience.
00:03:16What's on yours?
00:03:17How does it feel to be a murderer?
00:03:20Yours without forgiveness, Rodney Maitland.
00:03:22May the jury see the letter now.
00:03:24Certainly, Mr. Fry.
00:03:26Inspector Revell, did you subsequently show this letter to anyone else?
00:03:30Yes, the following day I took it to the accused, the person to whom it was addressed.
00:03:34To Dr. Holt Matthews?
00:03:35That is correct.
00:03:36And did he read this letter in your presence?
00:03:38Yes.
00:03:39And did he make any comment about it?
00:03:41Well, he seemed very angry and upset.
00:03:43He said that if he had Maitland there, he'd beat the living daylights out of him.
00:03:47At that time, Maitland was in hospital, wasn't he?
00:03:49Yes.
00:03:50Do you know what his condition was, then?
00:03:52That precise time, I couldn't say.
00:03:54In general terms, was he expected to live?
00:03:57Well, I believe his condition was serious, but a couple of days later he was off the danger list.
00:04:02Being an unusually athletic and robust young man.
00:04:04I suppose so.
00:04:06He's a very well-known sportsman.
00:04:07He recovered quite quickly, in fact, didn't he?
00:04:09Yes.
00:04:11Turning now to the letter, what do you understand it to mean?
00:04:14Well, it seemed to make a very serious allegation against the doctor of professional misconduct.
00:04:19And what did you understand to be the nature of this allegation?
00:04:22Well, it appeared to accuse the doctor of performing an illegal operation on his own daughter.
00:04:27This is the gale that is mentioned in the letter?
00:04:29Yes.
00:04:29Have you made any inquiries into the truth of these allegations?
00:04:33Yes.
00:04:34As a result of these inquiries, Inspector, would you tell us briefly what are your conclusions?
00:04:38Well, I've known the family for several years.
00:04:41And as a result of my inquiries, it appeared there was no basis for the allegations whatsoever.
00:04:51Inspector Revel, do you make a habit of purloining other people's correspondence?
00:04:57It depends on the circumstances.
00:04:58If a crime has been committed.
00:05:00But it hadn't, had it.
00:05:02The suicide is no longer a criminal offence, is it, Inspector?
00:05:06No, sir.
00:05:06No.
00:05:07The letter was in the sealed envelope addressed to Dr Holt Matthews.
00:05:11Why did you not deliver it to Dr Holt Matthews?
00:05:14I did, sir.
00:05:15Yes.
00:05:15After reading it yourself.
00:05:17Well, I thought it might be needed as evidence.
00:05:19Evidence of what?
00:05:20Well, of his state of mind when they held the inquest.
00:05:24But you soon found out there wasn't going to be an inquest because Mr Maitland was not going to die.
00:05:29Now, when precisely did you learn that he was out of danger?
00:05:32I believe it's as I've already stated.
00:05:35That is, a couple of days later.
00:05:36You're quite sure you weren't already in possession of that knowledge when you took it upon yourself to show this letter to Dr Holt Matthews?
00:05:43Quite sure, sir.
00:05:44Because if you had known that, it would have been very irresponsible of you to have shown the letter to the doctor, would it not?
00:05:50It couldn't be suppressed, sir.
00:05:52But surely you must have realised the trouble which would result by your showing it.
00:05:57Well, I'd already shown the content to my superior.
00:06:00Ah.
00:06:01Now, you didn't say that in your evidence-in-chief when my learned friend asked you who else had read the letter.
00:06:07Well, I'm sorry, sir, but naturally the matter was discussed at a higher level in view of the seriousness of the allegations.
00:06:12Even if the accused had died, the police would still have been bound to look into them.
00:06:17Using the letter, no doubt, is deathbed evidence.
00:06:20Well, if there were any other grounds for the prosecution, if there was anything to corroborate the charge...
00:06:23Well, there have been no proceedings against Dr Holt Matthews for criminal abortion, have there?
00:06:26No, sir.
00:06:27Why not?
00:06:28Well, there wasn't a single ground of corroboration in anything that he'd written.
00:06:32Dr Holt Matthews is very well respected locally.
00:06:35Final question, Inspector.
00:06:37Are you acquainted with Dr Holt Matthews socially?
00:06:41Oh, yes, sir.
00:06:43That's all.
00:06:45Right.
00:06:45Have you any further questions for this witness?
00:06:47I know, my lord.
00:06:48I'd like to call Dr Holt Matthews.
00:07:07Take the Bible in your right hand, please, and read the words on the card.
00:07:10I swear by almighty God, the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
00:07:17Is your full name Dennis MacArthur Holt Matthews?
00:07:21Yes.
00:07:21Do you live at the old forge, Medley Green?
00:07:23I do, yes.
00:07:24And you are a doctor of medicine?
00:07:25Yes.
00:07:26How long have you been practising, Doctor?
00:07:28I qualified in 1951.
00:07:31Since then, I've been in general practice.
00:07:32I believe you're married with one child, your daughter Gail.
00:07:35Yes.
00:07:36She's 16 and a half now, isn't she?
00:07:38Yes.
00:07:40What are your interests, Doctor, apart from medicine?
00:07:43I've always been interested in sport, particularly in tennis.
00:07:47I'm chairman of the Forchester Lawn Tennis Club.
00:07:49Is that interest shared by your daughter Gail?
00:07:51Yes, she's very keen.
00:07:53I think she has the makings of a first-class player.
00:07:56She was entered for the Junior Championships of Bournemouth, but she was obliged to withdraw because, well, she wasn't well.
00:08:02That would have been shortly after the events which you are now considering.
00:08:05Yes.
00:08:06When she was just 16, in fact.
00:08:09Yes.
00:08:10Right.
00:08:11Well, can we return to the time?
00:08:14Was it through your interest in tennis that you first met the accused?
00:08:17Yes.
00:08:18He is, of course, a very well-known player.
00:08:20When my daughter brought him to the house, I was at first delighted.
00:08:24At first, Doctor?
00:08:25Well, I admired him very much as a sportsman.
00:08:27I was prepared to make allowances.
00:08:29Allowances for what?
00:08:31One of the things I admire about sport is that it gives young people an ideal.
00:08:36It shows them what can be achieved by self-discipline and a generally healthy outlook.
00:08:41If you lose that, you've got nothing.
00:08:43I can't get used to these so-called superstars with their degenerate appearance and their lack of self-control.
00:08:50So that although you admired Roddy Maitland as a player...
00:08:53Well, not even that for long.
00:08:55I thought his behaviour at Wimbledon was quite disgraceful.
00:08:58I'd like to come now to your first meeting with the accused.
00:09:02Did you have any reason to complain of his conduct at that time?
00:09:07No, I don't think so.
00:09:08I went out of my way to make myself agreeable.
00:09:11I suppose I was gratified that he should take so much interest in my daughter's game.
00:09:16And he was an excellent coach.
00:09:19She took his advice far more readily than ever she took mine.
00:09:22She was just 16 at the time.
00:09:25Yes.
00:09:26Yes.
00:09:27Though she was always young for her age.
00:09:28And she behaved in a rather silly way over Maitland.
00:09:31More like a schoolgirl crush, collecting his photographs, that kind of thing.
00:09:36As though he was some kind of pop star.
00:09:38A few months after this first meeting, did you have occasion to give a medical examination
00:09:43to your daughter?
00:09:44Yes.
00:09:46My daughter had been complaining of headaches and general debility.
00:09:50She was due to play in this tournament at Bournemouth.
00:09:53I thought at first she was making excuses to get out of it.
00:09:56She'd become rather easily depressed and wasn't showing her usual competitive spirit, I'm afraid.
00:10:03So I insisted on making a general examination.
00:10:05You are, of course, her doctor as well as her parents.
00:10:08Yes.
00:10:08Though on this occasion she did say she'd prefer to go to someone else.
00:10:11However, I saw no point in that.
00:10:13What did you find when you examined her, doctor?
00:10:16I found she was about two months pregnant.
00:10:18And what did you say to her about it?
00:10:20Well, I told her it was quite obvious who the father was.
00:10:23She'd made a damn fool of herself.
00:10:26Probably ruined her career.
00:10:28My daughter could have been a first-class player.
00:10:31But with an unwanted baby to bring up.
00:10:36Obviously she wouldn't stand a chance.
00:10:38Was the subject of marriage mentioned at this time?
00:10:40Yes.
00:10:41She said it was up to Maitland.
00:10:43As far as she was concerned, it didn't matter one way or the other.
00:10:46That showed me how much she'd come under his rotten influence.
00:10:49She almost gloried in the prospect of being an unmarried mother.
00:10:53Did you say anything about it to Maitland?
00:10:55No.
00:10:56He was out of the country at the time, playing in California, I believe.
00:10:59Do you know if Gale tried to get in touch with him?
00:11:01No, I forbade her to.
00:11:03I don't think there was any communication between them until he returned to England.
00:11:06And when was that?
00:11:07About ten days or a fortnight later, at the start of June.
00:11:11He came back for Wimbledon, of course.
00:11:12I told Gale not to accept any calls from him.
00:11:16And her mother had the same instructions.
00:11:17But in spite of these precautions, the call came through.
00:11:20Yes.
00:11:21She announced she'd had a long talk with him.
00:11:22She'd decided to leave home and go to London.
00:11:27After the championships, they'd decide whether they should get married.
00:11:31Your consent, of course, would be required for that.
00:11:33Yes, I pointed that out.
00:11:35She said if I withheld it, they'd live together openly.
00:11:39I thought that was a dreadful prospect.
00:11:41Did you make any alternative suggestion, Doctor?
00:11:44Yes, I said that we could arrange for the baby to be adopted.
00:11:48Did you at any time suggest a termination of the pregnancy?
00:11:51Certainly not.
00:11:53Now, Doctor, will you tell us what was the course of your daughter's pregnancy?
00:11:57She miscarried on June the 15th.
00:12:00Would you tell the court the circumstances, please?
00:12:02Yes.
00:12:04My daughter had been in a very nervous, depressed condition.
00:12:09She refused to eat.
00:12:11That evening, just before dinner, she complained of nausea.
00:12:14Said she was going to her room.
00:12:17She went along the passage.
00:12:18The house is a single-story one.
00:12:21And a few minutes after, I heard the sound of a body falling.
00:12:24I hurried to Gail's room and found her lying on the floor.
00:12:28She had evidently fainted, but in falling, she'd struck her head on a table.
00:12:33There were several minor lacerations.
00:12:36Did you leave her in the bedroom?
00:12:37No, my wife came in.
00:12:39And together we carried her into the surgery.
00:12:42Was she conscious?
00:12:43No, it was about 30 minutes before she recovered consciousness.
00:12:46During that time, she had a miscarriage.
00:12:50In the surgery?
00:12:51Yes.
00:12:52Now, Doctor, I have to ask you this.
00:12:54Did you in any way procure that miscarriage?
00:12:58No, I did not.
00:12:59Is there any truth whatever in the allegations written by the accused that it was in fact a deliberate abortion?
00:13:06No, sir.
00:13:07None whatever.
00:13:09And when after these events did you next see the accused?
00:13:12It was on June the 29th, the day of the semi-finals of the men's singles.
00:13:17I'd been watching him on television, making a fool of himself, shouting at the umpire.
00:13:21And about 10 o'clock that evening, he turned up at the house, demanding to see Gail.
00:13:27I told him to clear out.
00:13:29What else did you tell him, Doctor?
00:13:31I told him it was no use his pestering the girl.
00:13:33The affair was over.
00:13:34And what did he reply to that?
00:13:37I forget exactly.
00:13:39I think he said something about what was to become of the child.
00:13:43I'm afraid that made me lose my temper.
00:13:45He was so sure of himself, so truculent.
00:13:46What did you say, Doctor?
00:13:48I said, that little problem had been settled by an act of God.
00:14:07Doctor Holt Matthews, is it not somewhat unusual for a doctor to treat the members of his own family?
00:14:13It is perhaps uncommon.
00:14:15There's nothing unethical about it.
00:14:16Your wife, then, is she also a patient of yours?
00:14:20Not my wife, no.
00:14:21But Gail is.
00:14:22Perhaps I should explain that as Gail is under my guidance as far as diet and physical training are concerned,
00:14:28it always seemed a good idea that I should be responsible for her general health as well.
00:14:32All part of her grooming as a future champion?
00:14:35You could put it that way, yes.
00:14:36Doctor, would you describe yourself as an indulgent parent or a strict one?
00:14:44I wouldn't describe myself as either.
00:14:47I try to take a common-sense view.
00:14:49I might be strict or indulgent according to the circumstances.
00:14:53But it might be fair to say that on the whole you find yourself out of sympathy with the so-called permissive society.
00:14:59I'm not ashamed of that.
00:15:00I think it leads to a good deal of unhappiness.
00:15:03Permissiveness, you mean?
00:15:04I prefer to call it sexual immorality.
00:15:09It must be difficult for a doctor sometimes to divorce his private opinions on such matters from his professional responsibilities.
00:15:16I'm sorry, I don't quite follow.
00:15:20Well, if a patient comes to you with a venereal disease, for instance, it would be your duty to cure him, would it not?
00:15:28Naturally, if possible.
00:15:29Would you also consider it your duty to comment on his condition, to give him a moral lecture, for example?
00:15:35I might point out the dangers of loose living, yes.
00:15:38I see.
00:15:39And you really consider that part of your duty as a doctor?
00:15:42If it prevented him from contracting the disease again, yes, it certainly would be.
00:15:47And in the case of an unmarried mother, you would likewise feel obliged to express your moral disapproval?
00:15:53As a doctor or as a parent?
00:15:56In this case, both.
00:15:58Well, I've already said, when I found Gail to be pregnant, I expressed my distress and anger, very forcibly.
00:16:05But it was too late, there was nothing I could do about it.
00:16:07Doctor, surely there was something you could do about it?
00:16:09I've already told you it was a natural miscarriage, no question of anything else.
00:16:13Doctor, you misunderstand me.
00:16:15There was another course open to you.
00:16:18You could have given your consent to their marriage, could you not?
00:16:21I could have done, yes.
00:16:23Then why didn't you?
00:16:24You've stated that your daughter was prepared to leave home.
00:16:27Go and live with Rodney Maitland openly if you refuse to give your consent to their marriage.
00:16:31Presumably, there's no difficulty in Mr Maitland supporting your daughter.
00:16:34That's not the point.
00:16:35Brilliant tennis player, he can make a great deal of money, a most promising career.
00:16:39And what about her career?
00:16:41I beg your pardon?
00:16:42My daughter has the makings of a first-class player.
00:16:45Strength, self-discipline, the will to win.
00:16:47Is she going to throw all that away?
00:16:49You know, Doctor, I could have understood it if you had said that you were against the marriage
00:16:53because you thought it would lead to unhappiness for Gail,
00:16:55but to say it would spoil her chances of a silver cup seems trivial in comparison.
00:17:01Not to me, sir, I assure you.
00:17:03Oh, no, sir, I can see that.
00:17:05You're a remarkably single-minded man, aren't you, Doctor?
00:17:07You'd do just about anything to have a champion in the family.
00:17:09Oh, Lord, my learned friend really mustn't put words into the witness's mouth.
00:17:13I quite agree, Mr Fry.
00:17:14Mr Elliot, if you'd like to rephrase that as a question...
00:17:17No, Lord, let it pass.
00:17:19Now, Doctor, when your daughter fainted, you say she was carried into your surgery
00:17:24and subsequently had a miscarriage.
00:17:26Now, was anyone else present?
00:17:28My wife. She helped me carry her.
00:17:30Did your wife remain in the surgery?
00:17:32No, she went back to the kitchen, I believe.
00:17:34It was the servant's night off.
00:17:36My wife was preparing dinner.
00:17:37So when the miscarriage took place, you were alone with Gail?
00:17:40That is correct.
00:17:41Who was unconscious?
00:17:42Yes.
00:17:44So you're the only person who can tell us what took place?
00:17:47Yes.
00:17:49Since Gail fainted in her bedroom,
00:17:52surely it would have been wiser to have left her there
00:17:54until she regained consciousness.
00:17:55Why did you take her to your surgery?
00:17:57As I said, she had minor head injuries.
00:18:00Besides, in a pregnancy, a fall can be dangerous.
00:18:03So it had already occurred to you that she might lose the baby?
00:18:06Yes, naturally.
00:18:07I think I said so to my wife.
00:18:09Who then went back to the kitchen to prepare dinner?
00:18:11There was nothing she could do to help.
00:18:14She has no medical training.
00:18:15But, Doctor, you say that when you were in the surgery with Gail,
00:18:20you addressed her wounds
00:18:21and afterwards dealt with this alleged miscarriage.
00:18:24Did anyone else see what you did?
00:18:27No.
00:18:27Because I told my wife immediately afterwards...
00:18:29I asked you the question,
00:18:30did anyone else actually see what you did?
00:18:32Please answer the question.
00:18:34No, no one else saw.
00:18:34So we only have your word for it then
00:18:36that the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage
00:18:37and was not deliberately terminated by an abortion.
00:18:39I will not have these disgusting allegations made about me.
00:18:44I've been in the medical profession for 20 years.
00:18:46Well, then perhaps you can tell us, Doctor,
00:18:47is it possible to tell whether a woman has had a miscarriage
00:18:49or whether an abortion has been performed on her?
00:18:51Yes, of course it is.
00:18:52An expert examination would reveal this?
00:18:55Certainly.
00:18:55Yes.
00:18:56Even with the modern techniques of abortion,
00:18:57even if a woman was only two months pregnant?
00:19:00I believe so, yes.
00:19:00Now, would this expert examination
00:19:02have to be carried out soon after the event?
00:19:04Well, yes.
00:19:05Was such an examination, in fact, ever carried out?
00:19:08You must answer the question, Doctor.
00:19:12My Lord,
00:19:13there was absolutely no reason for anyone else
00:19:17to carry out an examination.
00:19:19I had done everything that was necessary myself.
00:19:21Very well.
00:19:23After it was all over, what did you do?
00:19:26I called my wife and told her what had happened.
00:19:29Presumably you also told your daughter.
00:19:31Yes.
00:19:32When she recovered consciousness.
00:19:34Then what did you do?
00:19:35Go off and have your dinner?
00:19:36Certainly not.
00:19:39Gail was in a state of shock.
00:19:42My wife brought me something on a tray.
00:19:45You ate in the surgery?
00:19:47Yes.
00:19:48I see.
00:19:51Well, let us turn to the evening
00:19:53when Mr Maitland showed up unexpectedly at your house.
00:19:58You had not up until then taken any steps
00:20:00to inform him of the miscarriage,
00:20:02or perhaps I should say the end of Gail's pregnancy.
00:20:04No, why should I?
00:20:06He was, according to you, the father of the child.
00:20:09Did you allow your daughter to inform him?
00:20:12No.
00:20:12She's given me her word she'd have no further dealings with him.
00:20:15So when he arrived at your house on the 29th of June,
00:20:18he knew nothing of all this?
00:20:19I suppose not.
00:20:20You broke the news to him by saying
00:20:22that little problem
00:20:23has been settled by an act of God.
00:20:27Now, Doctor,
00:20:28was that not a remarkably callous thing to say?
00:20:31He's never struck me as being a particularly sensitive young man.
00:20:35You're aware that Maitland was found later that evening
00:20:37in a bath with both wrists slashed?
00:20:40Yes, but I certainly don't blame myself for that.
00:20:41You don't think your behaviour had anything to do with it?
00:20:44He'd already showed that afternoon on the centre court
00:20:46how unbalanced he was.
00:20:48It was almost hysterical.
00:20:49Unbalanced enough to kill himself if he received a sudden shock.
00:20:52Unbalanced enough to write accusations
00:20:53against the man who gave him such appalling news
00:20:56in such a callous way.
00:20:57If you want my professional opinion,
00:20:59I don't think he did intend to kill himself.
00:21:01Doctor, doctor, doctor.
00:21:01I think he was only...
00:21:02Did you examine the injuries of the accused?
00:21:05Did the police call you in?
00:21:06No.
00:21:07Then of what possible relevance is your professional opinion?
00:21:09I am bound to agree with you, Mr. Eddie.
00:21:11Members of the jury,
00:21:13you will ignore the last statement of this witness.
00:21:16I'm obliged to your ownership.
00:21:18Another point, Doctor.
00:21:18You told my learned friend
00:21:19that after you broke this unhappy news to Mr. Maitland,
00:21:22you told him to clear out.
00:21:24Yes, I told him not to approach Gail again.
00:21:27Well, you didn't say anything, though,
00:21:28that could lead him to suppose
00:21:30that you'd carried out an abortion on your daughter.
00:21:32Certainly not.
00:21:33Now, is it possible in his state of mind
00:21:34that he honestly believed you to be guilty of such a thing?
00:21:37Only if he was seriously unbalanced.
00:21:39We've already stated that he was unbalanced.
00:21:40You gave it as your professional opinion.
00:21:42Mr. Elliot, really.
00:21:43Dr. Hope Matthews,
00:21:48when you first realized that Gail was pregnant,
00:21:53why did you make no attempt to contact Mr. Maitland?
00:21:56I've already told you he was in California.
00:21:59Yes, but you could have written to him.
00:22:01The American Lawn Tennis Association or some such body
00:22:04could presumably have found him even in California.
00:22:08And what would be the point?
00:22:08He was the father of the child.
00:22:12And as such, he had certain responsibilities, obligations, did he not?
00:22:16Yes, certainly.
00:22:17But I had no confidence he'd honor them.
00:22:19He couldn't if he didn't know.
00:22:21I don't think it would have made any difference one way or the other.
00:22:24It's quite obvious the kind of man he is.
00:22:26You consider yourself a shrewd judge of character, no doubt.
00:22:29Yes, a doctor has to be.
00:22:32As far as Maitland is concerned,
00:22:34he'd made a very unfavorable impression.
00:22:36Oh.
00:22:36And when did you form this impression?
00:22:40When he first visited your house?
00:22:42When you were encouraging him to make use of your tennis court?
00:22:45Showing him off to your friends?
00:22:47No, it was later.
00:22:49I decided he was entirely irresponsible.
00:22:53I suggest, doctor,
00:22:54that your daughter's career was more important to you than her pregnancy.
00:22:58That it was you that decided against this marriage
00:23:01and furthermore,
00:23:02that you'd already decided that Gail would never have this child.
00:23:05Nothing of the kind.
00:23:06It was exactly as I said it was.
00:23:08An act of God.
00:23:10Thank you so much for this.
00:24:15A question by Junior Counsel for the Crown, Mr. Dealey.
00:24:48Now, could you tell the court how you first met the accused?
00:24:52Well, he was playing in a charity match at the Forchester Lawn Tennis Club, and I asked
00:24:57him for his autograph.
00:24:58And after that, a friendship developed?
00:25:00Yes.
00:25:01He came once or twice to stay with friends nearby, and we met several times.
00:25:05At the tennis club?
00:25:07Usually, but he also came to our home and met my parents.
00:25:11And at some time during these visits, intercourse took place?
00:25:16Yes.
00:25:17When did you first learn that you were pregnant?
00:25:20In the middle of May.
00:25:21My father told me after he'd examined me.
00:25:24And this was the first that you knew of it?
00:25:26I wasn't sure.
00:25:28Mr. Dealey, could you persuade your witness to speak up?
00:25:31I'm having difficulty in hearing her replies.
00:25:33She said she wasn't sure, my lord.
00:25:35Was there any doubt in your mind as to who was the father of your child?
00:25:40Of course not.
00:25:41It was Roddy.
00:25:42And did he know of your condition?
00:25:44Well, he was in America when I found out, and I wanted to write to him, but Daddy wouldn't
00:25:48let me.
00:25:49When he got back to England, he phoned me, and I told him then.
00:25:52Did he make any suggestions as to what should be done?
00:25:55What kind of suggestions?
00:25:57Well, did he talk about getting married?
00:25:59No, I don't think so.
00:26:00Did you talk about it?
00:26:02Well, I didn't want to worry him.
00:26:04It was just before Wimbledon.
00:26:06He must have been worried already, just finding out about the child.
00:26:09No, I don't think so.
00:26:11He always said he was very fond of children.
00:26:13Would you have married him if he'd have asked you?
00:26:16I don't think my father would have let me.
00:26:18Not even with the baby on the way?
00:26:20I think he'd rather it was adopted.
00:26:23You see, he never liked Roddy, really.
00:26:24And what are your feelings towards the accused now?
00:26:29I have no feelings about him one way or the other.
00:26:33There's nothing to hold us together anymore.
00:26:35Because you've lost the baby?
00:26:37Yes.
00:26:39Would you tell the court all that you can remember of the evening in question?
00:26:45I don't remember very much.
00:26:48It was just before dinner time.
00:26:49I wasn't feeling very well.
00:26:51Mummy was in the kitchen and Daddy had just finished evening surgery and was reading the paper in the lounge.
00:26:58I went into my bedroom and I must have fainted because when I came to, I was lying on the couch in Daddy's surgery.
00:27:04And you can't remember anything that happened in between that?
00:27:07No, nothing.
00:27:08Daddy told me afterwards that I...
00:27:14Oh, honestly, I can't tell you anything.
00:27:18It's all so mixed up and...
00:27:21I'm sorry.
00:27:26Miss Hope Matthews.
00:27:30Are we to understand that since the day you found out you were pregnant by Mr. Maitland,
00:27:37your only contact with him has been one telephone call which he made to you?
00:27:42Yes, that's right.
00:27:43And yet until your alleged miscarriage, there was at first the possibility that you and he would marry.
00:27:48A possibility? Nothing definite.
00:27:50Now, doesn't it seem rather strange that you made no attempt to talk things over with him?
00:27:56My father said I couldn't.
00:27:58Do you always do everything your father tells you?
00:28:01Yes, usually.
00:28:02Not only on the tennis court, but at home as well.
00:28:06He's my father. He knows what's best for me.
00:28:09So whatever your own inclination might be, you'd fall in with your father's suggestions.
00:28:15Well, what do you mean exactly?
00:28:16Do you really remember nothing of what happened when you fainted in your bedroom?
00:28:20No, absolutely nothing.
00:28:22You were unconscious for a whole half hour, totally oblivious of what was going on?
00:28:27I'd bang my head, apparently.
00:28:29You remember your father being there?
00:28:33Well, yes, dimly.
00:28:35What do you mean, dimly? What was he doing?
00:28:39I don't think he was doing anything.
00:28:41When I opened my eyes, he was sitting in the armchair having supper.
00:28:44And before that, Miss Holt-Matthews?
00:28:46I've told you, I don't remember anything.
00:28:49You don't remember, or you prefer not to?
00:28:52You know, Miss Tate, it does seem that this witness can tell us very little of what happened.
00:28:57I think you will have to accept her statement that she was unconscious at the material time.
00:29:02Very well, my lord.
00:29:04Now, Miss Holt-Matthews, I have only one more question for you.
00:29:07If at any time an abortion was performed on you, would it have been with your consent?
00:29:15I don't think I understand.
00:29:17Now, I'm putting it as clearly as I can.
00:29:21Would you, under any circumstances, have agreed to the deliberate destruction of your child?
00:29:27No!
00:29:29Have you any further questions for this witness, Mr. Dealey?
00:29:34No, my lord.
00:29:35Very well.
00:29:35You may leave the witness box, Miss Holt-Matthews.
00:29:45We should like to call Mrs. Holt-Matthews, please, Your Honor.
00:29:49Very well.
00:29:49What religion are you, please?
00:30:11Ciavi.
00:30:12Take the Bible in your right hand and read the words on the card.
00:30:14I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
00:30:24Is your full name Mrs. Verity Jane Holt-Matthews?
00:30:29Yes.
00:30:29And do you live at the Old Forge, Medley Green?
00:30:33Yes, I do.
00:30:34You are the mother of the last witness.
00:30:36Yes.
00:30:37Well, now, Mrs. Holt-Matthews, will you cast your mind back to your first meeting with the accused?
00:30:42Roddy?
00:30:42Yes.
00:30:43It must have been sometime last spring.
00:30:47Gail brought him to the house.
00:30:49Well, can you tell us, what was your impression that you formed of him on this first occasion?
00:30:55Well, I was really rather surprised to find that he was so nice.
00:31:00Surprised?
00:31:01Why was that?
00:31:02Well, I know one shouldn't believe everything one reads, but the sports writers did make him sound rather...
00:31:09Rather what, Mrs. Holt-Matthews?
00:31:11Well, they were always calling him the bad boy of tennis.
00:31:15Things of that sort.
00:31:17So it came as quite a shock to find that he was really very nice.
00:31:21And what were your feelings about his friendship with your daughter?
00:31:23At first, you mean, it didn't bother me at all.
00:31:28She was only a child, and she'd never shown any interest in, well, in boys.
00:31:35Her whole life was devoted to tennis, really.
00:31:39I just thought it rather splendid that he should take such an interest in her.
00:31:42Did you have any reason to change this first opinion?
00:31:46Yes.
00:31:47When I found out that Gail was going to have a baby, naturally I was deeply shocked.
00:31:53She's no more than a child herself.
00:31:55I thought it quite dreadful.
00:31:56Did you speak to the accused about it?
00:31:59No, I had no opportunity.
00:32:01My husband wouldn't let him in the house after we found out.
00:32:05And anyhow, the shock and worry of it all made me quite ill.
00:32:09I had to go into a private nursing home for a week.
00:32:12Yes.
00:32:13Get over it.
00:32:13But you were back by June the 15th.
00:32:16Oh, yes.
00:32:17Can you remember that day, Mrs. Holt-Matthews?
00:32:20Very clearly.
00:32:22It was the servant's day off.
00:32:25We have a Portuguese woman who cleans and does the cooking.
00:32:29I was getting the supper ready.
00:32:31I asked Gail to help me, but she said she wasn't feeling very well,
00:32:35so I told her she'd better go and lie down.
00:32:38Lie down where?
00:32:39In her bedroom.
00:32:41Go on, please.
00:32:44After a few minutes, I heard a crash.
00:32:47As though someone had fallen over.
00:32:49Did you go and investigate?
00:32:51Yes.
00:32:52After I turned the cooker off and so forth.
00:32:55By the time I got to Gail's room,
00:32:58my husband was already there.
00:33:00Gail was lying on the floor.
00:33:02He said she'd fainted.
00:33:03Did you notice any injuries?
00:33:05No, but she seemed to be breathing very strangely.
00:33:08And, of course, my first thought was that,
00:33:11being pregnant, she might have damaged herself internally.
00:33:14Yes, of course.
00:33:15Did you then go to the surgery?
00:33:18Yes, we picked her up and carried her between us
00:33:21and put her there on a couch.
00:33:24After which you felt that there was nothing you could do to help,
00:33:27so you went back to the kitchen.
00:33:28Well, I wanted to help, but my...
00:33:30But having no medical experience,
00:33:32you felt that you might possibly be in the way.
00:33:35Yes, I suppose.
00:33:36But you did return to the surgery later.
00:33:39Oh, yes.
00:33:40About 15 or 20 minutes later,
00:33:42I went in and asked my husband whether she was all right.
00:33:46He said she was still unconscious and he'd better stay with her.
00:33:49I asked what about supper and he said he'd have something on a tray.
00:33:54Which you subsequently brought.
00:33:56Yes.
00:33:57Now, when you went into the surgery on that occasion,
00:33:59did you see your daughter?
00:34:01I didn't go into the surgery.
00:34:02I put the tray down in the passage.
00:34:06It was afterwards that I went in, about 20 minutes later.
00:34:11Was Gail still there?
00:34:13Yes.
00:34:13She was lying on the couch, looking very pale.
00:34:17She must have lost a lot of blood.
00:34:19Was she conscious?
00:34:21Just, yes.
00:34:23Now, Mrs. Holt Matthews,
00:34:24I have to ask you this.
00:34:27Did you see any evidence that an operation had taken place?
00:34:30What kind of evidence?
00:34:34Any surgical equipment, any anaesthetic apparatus?
00:34:38No, nothing of that kind.
00:34:40Did you have any reason to believe that an abortion had taken place?
00:34:44No, absolutely none.
00:34:47Did you discuss all this later with your daughter?
00:34:51No, we didn't talk about it really very much.
00:34:55I think she wanted to forget about it all.
00:34:57I'm sure I did.
00:34:58Did you give any indication of her feelings towards the accused?
00:35:03She said she didn't want to see him anymore.
00:35:06Now, Mrs. Holt Matthews,
00:35:08do you remember June the 29th?
00:35:11Was that the semi-finals?
00:35:12Yes.
00:35:14Yes.
00:35:15My husband and I watched it on the television.
00:35:18Gail said she didn't want to.
00:35:19I must say it really was a rather shocking exhibition.
00:35:24We were still talking about it hours later when he actually turned up.
00:35:28Who turned up?
00:35:30Roddy.
00:35:30He must have driven up from London.
00:35:33Did you see him?
00:35:34No, no.
00:35:35My husband went to the door, but of course wouldn't let him in.
00:35:38There was no point.
00:35:39Gail didn't want to speak to him, and I certainly didn't.
00:35:42Now, will you tell the court what happened after that?
00:35:46Yes.
00:35:48My husband was called out unexpectedly to see a patient,
00:35:53and Gail was in her room playing records.
00:35:55So I was sitting by myself in the lounge.
00:35:59This was about 11.30.
00:36:05Yes, Mrs. Holt Matthews?
00:36:08The telephone rang,
00:36:10and when I answered it,
00:36:11it was Roddy asking if he could speak to Gail.
00:36:14I said, no, certainly not.
00:36:17And then he became very abusive
00:36:19and started saying all sorts of dreadful things.
00:36:23Now, Mrs. Holt Matthews, this is most important.
00:36:26Can you remember exactly what he said?
00:36:30He...
00:36:31He accused my husband of murdering the baby.
00:36:37He said something about seeing that he was punished.
00:36:41Punished?
00:36:42In what way?
00:36:43He said he would see to it that everybody knew
00:36:46what sort of man my husband was.
00:36:49He would make it impossible for him to practice any more.
00:36:52He kept on saying,
00:36:54murderer, murderer, murderer.
00:36:59He said, no.
00:37:01He said, no.
00:37:01He said, no.
00:37:02He said no.
00:37:03Mrs. Holt Matthews we've heard a good deal in this case about your daughter's unquestioning
00:37:19obedience to your husband are you broadly speaking in favor of this situation she's
00:37:26very young seems quite natural that she should be influenced by him he's a man of strict principles
00:37:33almost Victorian would you say he's perhaps a little old-fashioned in some ways he likes to be the
00:37:41master in his own house yes he has a rather dominant personality Mrs. Holt Matthews when your daughter
00:37:50fainted now you say you noticed no injuries you say you helped to carry her into the surgery now
00:37:58could you describe to the court what your feelings were yes of course I was I was very concerned
00:38:05but concerned or not you went back into the kitchen to prepare supper perhaps it does sound strange
00:38:13but I didn't want to get in my husband's way while he was doing what
00:38:18whatever needed to be done did the doctor suggest that you should keep out of his way
00:38:26I can't remember I think he told me to get his supper yes now when you returned with the doctor's
00:38:35supper you told the court that you were you put it down outside yes but you were very concerned
00:38:43Mrs. Holt Matthews your daughter could have been seriously ill or why didn't you go in and see how
00:38:48she was getting on surely that would have been the natural reaction of a mother yes but you see I
00:38:54couldn't you couldn't the door of the surgery was locked it was locked the doctor locked the door from
00:39:03the inside I suppose so during the time they were in the surgery you had no idea what was going on
00:39:13because your husband had deliberately locked you out Mr. Elliot all that the witness can tell us is
00:39:18that the door was locked she is not competent to tell us what the doctor's motives may have been
00:39:24my lord I did not mean to imply you said deliberately Mr. Elliot the witness cannot possibly know whether the
00:39:31doctor's action was deliberate or not please your lordship let us come to the events of June the 29th
00:39:41now you say that Mr. Maitland came unexpectedly to the front door how do you know that my husband told
00:39:49me you didn't see him no did you hear his voice no I was in the lounge you didn't hear any kind of
00:39:59quarrel going on no I just heard someone at the door that's all according to your husband's evidence
00:40:06he and Mr. Maitland were having a heated argument on your doorstep now are you sure you didn't hear
00:40:11Mr. Maitland demanding to see Gail no I didn't hear anything at all you didn't hear him asking what
00:40:17had happened to the baby no you didn't hear your husband reply that that little problem had been
00:40:23disposed of I'm sure he didn't say that how can you be sure when you say you heard nothing
00:40:28what were you doing in the lounge doing nothing really having a quiet drink perhaps
00:40:39really I don't think it honestly I can't remember do you have any clear recollection of anything that
00:40:47happened after that lord I must object this is a gross insinuation by the defense that's quite
00:40:50irrelevant with you I'm inclined to agree with you Mr. Fry Mr. Elliot well lord the witness has
00:40:56described a telephone conversation she had later that evening with the accused now had you been
00:41:01drinking for some time I submit it would be most relevant oh very well Mr. Elliot now while this
00:41:09conversation was going on on your doorstep were you in fact in the lounge having a solitary drink
00:41:15I may have been I just can't remember were you drinking later when your husband was called
00:41:22unexpectedly away to see a patient I don't remember
00:41:25Mrs. Holt Matthews there's nothing to be ashamed of but you remember when you said that earlier in
00:41:37the year you were obliged to go into a nursing home now that was in fact a clinic for the treatment of
00:41:42alcoholism was it not yes Hapsworth clinic near Solihull yes would you say the treatment was
00:41:54successful I was so desperately worried about Gail that you were in fact drinking quite heavily that
00:42:01night perhaps I was you must believe me I just can't remember but you ask this court to believe
00:42:06that when Mr. Maitland rang up later you remember everything he said and I quote he said that he
00:42:12was going to let everyone know what kind of man my husband was he said that he was going to make
00:42:16it impossible for him to practice as a doctor he called him a murderer how does it happen Mrs. Holt
00:42:23Matthews that you remember all this with such extraordinary clarity there are some things you just don't
00:42:32forget thank you no further questions you may leave the witness box
00:42:52now tell me Mr. Maitland during these visits to Gail's home were you on good terms with Dr. Holt
00:42:59Matthews well he was always very pleasant to me when there were other people around I think he was
00:43:04rather pleased to have me playing on his court he used to ask all his friends in rather embarrassing
00:43:10really showing you off in fact I don't think he meant it like that he's just mad keen on tennis
00:43:15but somewhat less mad keen perhaps when he found out about your relationship with his daughter
00:43:20I don't think he realized anything was going on until of course he found out that Gail was pregnant
00:43:24that's why it was such a shock when did you first hear about the pregnancy when I got back from the
00:43:30States just before Wimbledon I telephoned the house several times but every time I spoke the line went
00:43:37dead that was when the doctor or Mrs. Holt Matthews answered the phone at first I thought there was
00:43:42something wrong with the phone but after a time it became evident that they weren't speaking to me
00:43:48had you any idea why not really but you um you finally did manage to get through to Gail yes and
00:43:56of course she told me about it told you what Mr. Maitland that she was going to have a baby my baby
00:44:03having received this news on the telephone did you make arrangements to meet with her no because I had
00:44:08my first match the next day so I couldn't go up to Forchester Gail said that she'd tried to get
00:44:13away and come to Wimbledon in fact she asked me to get her some tickets did she come to Wimbledon no
00:44:20did you telephone her again no because she'd begged me not to she said that she'd had an almighty
00:44:26row with her father and that it would only make matters worse so all the time you were playing in
00:44:31that championship you were expecting Gail to turn up yes I was looking around for her but
00:44:37she never arrived what effect did this have on you Mr. Maitland well I don't want to make any
00:44:44excuses but frankly in my opinion it absolutely wrecked my game I'm always rather keyed up and
00:44:52what with wondering where she got to I just couldn't concentrate it's understandable nevertheless
00:44:57you reached the semi-finals yes and I shall never know how because apart from anything else I was having
00:45:04a very bad time from the press they used to hang about in my hotel in the evening hoping that I'd
00:45:09turn up in the bar one of them even sent a girl up to my room you see they have this strange idea that
00:45:17all tennis players are sex-mad drunks so by the time I got into the center court the next day I was as
00:45:24jumpy as a cat and when a linesman gave a decision I didn't like well well I just blew up and you walked
00:45:31off the court yes I I'm ashamed of it now but at the time I just couldn't go on I just had to see
00:45:39Gail and find out what was happening did you go to see her yes I traveled to Fulchester I arrived
00:45:46about 10 o'clock at night and went straight to the Hope Matthews's house but did you see Gail no
00:45:53because the doctor opened the door and told me to clear off what else did he say there was something
00:45:59about me ruining Gail's career I said that was ridiculous because we hadn't had a chance to talk
00:46:03about everything I said if only I could see her we could discuss what to do about the whole matter but
00:46:10he said he wouldn't let me and he said that she didn't want to see me either
00:46:16did he say anything about the baby yes he said that that little problem has been disposed of
00:46:24Mr Maidland are you quite sure that little problem has been disposed of yes that is exactly what he said
00:46:41so
00:46:47THE END
00:47:17FOR CRIMINAL LIBEL
00:47:19The court has heard how he was found in a hotel bathroom
00:47:22with both wrists slashed
00:47:23Nearby there was an apparent suicide note
00:47:26addressed to Dr Holt Matthews
00:47:28father of the girl who had been expecting
00:47:30Roddy's child
00:47:31The note, which was opened by the police
00:47:34contained accusations that the doctor
00:47:36had performed an illegal abortion
00:47:38on his daughter
00:47:38Yesterday, Mrs Holt Matthews
00:47:41the doctor's wife, gave evidence that Roddy
00:47:44had telephoned her that evening
00:47:45and told her that her husband was a murderer
00:47:47Roddy denies saying this
00:47:50and maintains that Mrs Holt Matthews
00:47:52was drunk when he spoke to her
00:47:53Later, the jury will decide
00:47:56whether Roddy was justified in calling
00:47:57Dr Holt Matthews an abortionist
00:48:00and murderer
00:48:01He's in the witness box now
00:48:03being examined by Mr James Elliott QC
00:48:06I decided to stay in Fulchester
00:48:28and go back to the house the next day
00:48:30You see, I couldn't understand
00:48:33it seemed incredible
00:48:35that Gail should have allowed him
00:48:37to perform an abortion
00:48:38There had to be other reasons
00:48:40I mean, other doctors
00:48:42I was sure that he
00:48:45well, murdered it
00:48:47that's how it seemed to me
00:48:48That was the construction
00:48:49you put on the doctor's words?
00:48:51Yes
00:48:51Now, did the doctor say anything
00:48:54about an act of God?
00:48:55No
00:48:56Where did you spend the night?
00:49:00I spent at the Merton Lodge Hotel
00:49:01I'd stayed there once or twice before
00:49:03I knew the proprietress, Mrs Hooper
00:49:05What time did you get there?
00:49:08I don't know exactly
00:49:09between
00:49:09eleven and midnight, I should think
00:49:12What did you do when you arrived?
00:49:14I went straight up to my room
00:49:16I'd had a hell of a day
00:49:18what with one thing and another
00:49:19first the disastrous match
00:49:21then a couple of hours' drive
00:49:22and on top of that
00:49:23finding out about Gail and the baby
00:49:25I started to run a bath
00:49:31I felt that a bath would help me sleep
00:49:34then I rang the desk
00:49:37I was going to ask them
00:49:38for a bottle of whiskey
00:49:39but when the night porter answered
00:49:41I found myself asking
00:49:43for the number of the Hope Matthews' house
00:49:44Who did you speak to?
00:49:47To Mrs Hope Matthews
00:49:48I asked her if I could speak to Gail
00:49:50but she said that she wouldn't let me
00:49:51I couldn't understand
00:49:53a lot of what she was saying
00:49:54she sounded drunk
00:49:55Mr Maitland
00:49:58did you make any threats
00:49:59against her husband?
00:50:00No, certainly not
00:50:01Did you threaten to prevent him
00:50:03practicing as a doctor?
00:50:04No
00:50:04Did you describe him as a murderer?
00:50:07Look, I hardly said anything
00:50:08She was rambling on and on
00:50:10and I thought there was no point
00:50:12in carrying on with the conversation
00:50:13And during this your bath was running?
00:50:15Right
00:50:16So the conversation was a fairly brief one?
00:50:18Yes, all that was said was
00:50:19I asked her if I could speak to Gail
00:50:21and she said no
00:50:22After this telephone call
00:50:24what happened next?
00:50:26I sat down and wrote a letter
00:50:28To whom?
00:50:30I wrote to Dr Hope Matthews
00:50:31accusing him of murdering our child
00:50:34Mr Maitland
00:50:35when you wrote that letter
00:50:37to Dr Hope Matthews
00:50:38was it your intention
00:50:40that anyone else
00:50:41should see it?
00:50:42No
00:50:42No one else would have
00:50:44if the police hadn't come in
00:50:46and taken it away
00:50:47Why couldn't they mind
00:50:48their own damn business?
00:50:49Mr Maitland
00:50:50Is there any possibility
00:50:51of you resuming your career
00:50:53as a tennis player
00:50:54of world championship class?
00:50:56What with these?
00:50:58There's a permanent disability?
00:51:00Yes, in the right hand
00:51:02the tendon
00:51:02And your partnership
00:51:04in the sports good shop?
00:51:07The shop's being sold
00:51:08because my partner
00:51:09doesn't seem to think
00:51:10that my name means anything anymore
00:51:12Thank you
00:51:14Mr Maitland
00:51:20as far as the premature end
00:51:22to your very brilliant career
00:51:23as a sportsman is concerned
00:51:25I'm sure you have
00:51:27the sympathy of the court
00:51:28Thank you
00:51:28It must have been a terrible
00:51:30and tragic moment for you
00:51:32when you thought
00:51:33that you'd thrown away
00:51:34all your opportunities
00:51:34It was my own fault
00:51:35I realised that
00:51:36Well, that probably
00:51:37made it all the harder for you
00:51:39Yes
00:51:40So with this bleak future
00:51:43before you
00:51:43you thought that you'd
00:51:44prefer to take your life
00:51:46There seemed to be
00:51:47no alternative
00:51:47This decision was taken
00:51:49purely on the grounds
00:51:50that you'd failed
00:51:50in your career
00:51:51It was nothing to do
00:51:52with your relationship
00:51:53with Gail Holt Matthews
00:51:54It was all mixed together
00:51:56Everything was such a mess
00:51:57I could see no future
00:51:59But you're only 25
00:52:00now, aren't you?
00:52:02It must be very disagreeable
00:52:03once one has tasted
00:52:04the fruits of success
00:52:05in public adulation
00:52:06to settle down
00:52:07to a more humdrum
00:52:08sort of life
00:52:09but
00:52:09it's not impossible, is it?
00:52:12I don't really know
00:52:12but it looks as though
00:52:14I'm going to have to find out
00:52:15Because you did not succeed
00:52:17in your attempt
00:52:18to kill yourself
00:52:19Yes, that's correct
00:52:20Are you sure
00:52:23you really wanted to?
00:52:25It's almost a commonplace
00:52:26isn't it
00:52:26that some people
00:52:26pretend to be about
00:52:27to commit suicide
00:52:28in order to draw
00:52:28attention to themselves
00:52:29Look, I cut my wrists
00:52:30Oh yes, you cut your wrists
00:52:32but you must have realised
00:52:32that in such a small hotel
00:52:33there was a very good chance
00:52:34that you'd been discovered
00:52:35Then the whole thing
00:52:36would have been pointless
00:52:37wouldn't it?
00:52:37You must have also realised
00:52:38that the management
00:52:38once they found you
00:52:39in the bath
00:52:40would have been bound
00:52:41to call the police
00:52:42I suppose so
00:52:43I wasn't thinking about it
00:52:44Well, think about it
00:52:44now, Mr Maitland
00:52:45the police would be called
00:52:46wouldn't they?
00:52:47Yes
00:52:47And when they found you
00:52:48in the bath
00:52:49with your wrists cut
00:52:50and possibly about to die
00:52:51they'd be bound to take away
00:52:52any evidence they found
00:52:53in the bedroom
00:52:53a possible suicide note
00:52:55I don't see why
00:52:56it wasn't addressed to them
00:52:57Nevertheless, you hoped
00:52:58that the police
00:52:58would open it first
00:52:59Why should I?
00:53:01You just accused
00:53:01Dr Holt Matthews
00:53:02of carrying out
00:53:02an illegal operation
00:53:03on his daughter
00:53:04Now, what was your purpose
00:53:06in making those allegations?
00:53:07Because I thought
00:53:07he should be exposed
00:53:08I didn't think
00:53:10that he should be allowed
00:53:11to get away with it
00:53:11You admit
00:53:12that you wanted to expose him
00:53:13Therefore, although you addressed
00:53:15the letter to him
00:53:15you hoped that somebody else
00:53:17would read it first
00:53:17I wasn't thinking clearly
00:53:22I just wanted to tell him
00:53:24what I thought of him
00:53:25Was that all?
00:53:28Wasn't it also your intention
00:53:29to ruin his career?
00:53:31I thought that he shouldn't
00:53:32be allowed to carry on
00:53:33as a doctor
00:53:33if he was capable
00:53:34of doing something like that
00:53:35That is, assuming of course
00:53:36that your allegations
00:53:37against him were correct
00:53:38They were
00:53:39He as good as told me
00:53:41He told you what, Mr Maitland?
00:53:43That he performed an abortion
00:53:44on his own daughter?
00:53:45Not in so many words
00:53:46When I asked him about the baby
00:53:48he said that he'd have
00:53:49been disposed of
00:53:49What else was I supposed to think?
00:53:51He denies that he says that
00:53:53Mr Maitland
00:53:53He would?
00:53:55We hear only your word
00:53:57against his
00:53:57Moreover, on your own admission
00:53:59you were in a highly
00:54:00excitable and nervous state
00:54:01Is it not possible
00:54:03that you were mistaken?
00:54:04No
00:54:04Well, even if you thought
00:54:06you heard him say those words
00:54:07they're very slender evidence
00:54:08indeed, aren't they?
00:54:09To have built this whole
00:54:11extraordinary story
00:54:12of a professional man
00:54:13putting his entire career
00:54:13in jeopardy
00:54:14He did it
00:54:14I know he did it
00:54:15How do you know
00:54:16he did it, Mr Maitland?
00:54:17What evidence have you got?
00:54:18Look
00:54:18If Gail had lost the baby
00:54:20through a miscarriage
00:54:21why should she be
00:54:22carrying on like this?
00:54:23She's told you
00:54:24that she loved me
00:54:25Why should she stop
00:54:25refusing to see me
00:54:26hiding herself away?
00:54:27What would be the point?
00:54:28But even if an abortion
00:54:29had been carried out
00:54:30as you say it had
00:54:31why should that make
00:54:32any difference?
00:54:33Because she's feeling
00:54:34as guilty as hell
00:54:35about it
00:54:36That's why
00:54:36Are you now suggesting
00:54:39that this alleged operation
00:54:40was carried out
00:54:41with Gail's consent?
00:54:43I think that he told her
00:54:44afterwards
00:54:45I think they're all
00:54:47in it together
00:54:48Mrs Holt Matthews too?
00:54:51Why else should she
00:54:51tell all those lies
00:54:52about my threatening
00:54:53the doctor?
00:54:54It's perfectly obvious
00:54:56to me to see
00:54:56what happened
00:54:57They got scared
00:54:58about what they'd done
00:54:59and he bullied them
00:55:00into keeping their mouths shut
00:55:01You can see
00:55:03the kind of man he is
00:55:04And what kind of man
00:55:05are you Mr Maitland?
00:55:07What's that supposed to mean?
00:55:09When things go badly
00:55:09for you
00:55:10do you have an overwhelming
00:55:11compulsion to lash out?
00:55:13Oh very clever
00:55:15Look I've apologized
00:55:16for what happened
00:55:17at Wimbledon
00:55:17and I'm ashamed of it
00:55:18and God knows
00:55:20I've been punished
00:55:20enough for it
00:55:21I'm not only talking
00:55:22about what happened
00:55:22at Wimbledon
00:55:23Mr Maitland
00:55:23I'm talking about
00:55:25what happened
00:55:25when you found
00:55:26that the young girl
00:55:26you'd seduced
00:55:27no longer wanted
00:55:28to have anything
00:55:29to do with you
00:55:30You have an overwhelming
00:55:31compulsion to lash out
00:55:32and destroy someone
00:55:33Almost anyone in fact
00:55:35It wasn't anyone
00:55:36It was the man
00:55:37that killed my child
00:55:38Mr Elliot
00:55:46No further questions
00:55:48my lord
00:55:48Very well
00:55:49Officer you will now
00:55:50take the defendant
00:55:51back to the dock
00:55:52That concludes the case
00:55:54for the defence
00:55:54my lord
00:55:55Thank you Mr Elliot
00:55:56May I please
00:56:02Lord Chip
00:56:03Members of the jury
00:56:05Rodley Maitland
00:56:07is charged
00:56:08with maliciously publishing
00:56:09a defamatory libel
00:56:11on Dr Holt Matthews
00:56:13He has pleaded
00:56:14justification
00:56:15which means
00:56:16that he maintains
00:56:17that what he wrote
00:56:18in the letter
00:56:18was true
00:56:19and that it was
00:56:20in the public interests
00:56:21that it should be published
00:56:22Well I don't think
00:56:24we need to spend
00:56:24much time
00:56:25in establishing
00:56:25publication
00:56:26Publication
00:56:28in the case
00:56:28of criminal libel
00:56:29need consist
00:56:30of nothing more
00:56:31than disclosing
00:56:32the libelous material
00:56:33to the person
00:56:34it refers to
00:56:35in this case
00:56:36to Dr Holt Matthews
00:56:39Nor I think
00:56:39can there be much doubt
00:56:40as to the libelous
00:56:41character of the contents
00:56:42A libel
00:56:43in terms of the jury
00:56:45is a remark
00:56:46calculated to injure
00:56:48the reputation
00:56:49of someone
00:56:49by bringing him
00:56:50into hatred
00:56:51ridicule
00:56:52or contempt
00:56:53and this letter
00:56:54perfectly fits
00:56:55the description
00:56:56because it accused
00:56:57Dr Holt Matthews
00:56:58of carrying out
00:57:00an illegal operation
00:57:01Now
00:57:03as to the defence
00:57:05of justification
00:57:05I think you must
00:57:07ask yourselves
00:57:07what grounds
00:57:08the accused had
00:57:09for making
00:57:10these allegations
00:57:11You've seen him
00:57:11in the witness box
00:57:12and I think you
00:57:14will have observed
00:57:14that he's a young man
00:57:15of uncertain temper
00:57:16given to emotional
00:57:18outbursts
00:57:18when he finds himself
00:57:19at a disadvantage
00:57:20You remember
00:57:22how he behaved
00:57:22at Wimbledon
00:57:23It was on the same night
00:57:25that he went
00:57:25to the Holt Matthews
00:57:26house
00:57:27where there was
00:57:27a conversation
00:57:28on the doorstep
00:57:29of which we have heard
00:57:30differing accounts
00:57:31He asked about the baby
00:57:33and Dr Holt Matthews
00:57:34says that he replied
00:57:35that little matter
00:57:37has been settled
00:57:38by an act of God
00:57:39Well this was perhaps
00:57:42not the most tactful
00:57:43of replies
00:57:43but certainly not
00:57:44as offensive
00:57:44as the remark
00:57:45given in evidence
00:57:46by the accused
00:57:47that this little problem
00:57:48had been disposed of
00:57:50But members of the jury
00:57:51even if the doctor
00:57:52had made such a
00:57:53careless remark
00:57:54would it have given
00:57:55any grounds
00:57:56for supposing
00:57:56that an abortion
00:57:57had been carried out
00:57:58What evidence
00:58:01members of the jury
00:58:01is there
00:58:02that an abortion
00:58:03had taken place
00:58:04My lonely friend
00:58:05was quite unable
00:58:07to extract
00:58:07any such evidence
00:58:08from either
00:58:09Mrs Hope Matthews
00:58:10or her daughter
00:58:11and the doctor
00:58:12denies it
00:58:13unequivocally
00:58:14Now you'll have noticed
00:58:17that Dr Holt Matthews
00:58:17is not the most tactful
00:58:19of men
00:58:19you might have
00:58:20considered him
00:58:21brusque
00:58:21and even offensive
00:58:23but you must not
00:58:25let this blind you
00:58:26as to his integrity
00:58:27He comes from
00:58:29an old fashioned school
00:58:30of which the principal
00:58:31tenet is
00:58:31uncompromising honesty
00:58:33and you may be sure
00:58:35that he will invariably
00:58:36tell the truth
00:58:36whatever suffering
00:58:37he might bring
00:58:38upon himself
00:58:39and others
00:58:39Now
00:58:41as to the question
00:58:43of malice
00:58:44we've heard a good
00:58:45deal in this case
00:58:46about the so-called
00:58:47suicide attempt
00:58:48of the accused
00:58:48and I suppose
00:58:49we shall never know
00:58:49now whether he really
00:58:50meant to kill himself
00:58:51or not
00:58:51but I would like
00:58:52to remind you
00:58:53of the police
00:58:53inspector's evidence
00:58:54he was summoned
00:58:56to the hotel
00:58:56because blood-stained
00:58:57water was flowing
00:58:58out from underneath
00:58:59the door
00:59:00of the locked
00:59:00bathroom
00:59:01Now the accused
00:59:02in his evidence
00:59:03said that he ran
00:59:04his bathroom
00:59:05before he wrote
00:59:06the letter
00:59:07before
00:59:08members of the jury
00:59:10Why then
00:59:11after he had cut
00:59:13his wrists
00:59:13was the bath
00:59:15still running
00:59:15You may think
00:59:17it was because
00:59:17he wanted to draw
00:59:18attention to his
00:59:19so-called suicide attempt
00:59:20because he wanted
00:59:21the alarm to be raised
00:59:21and above all
00:59:22members of the jury
00:59:22because he wanted
00:59:23somebody else
00:59:24other than Dr. Hope Matthews
00:59:25to get to the letter first
00:59:26somebody who would be
00:59:28in a position
00:59:28to bring proceedings
00:59:29against the doctor
00:59:30That would be a clear
00:59:31indication of malice
00:59:32would it not?
00:59:34And in this connection
00:59:35I would remind you too
00:59:36of the evidence
00:59:36of Mrs. Hope Matthews
00:59:37about the telephone call
00:59:38in which the accused
00:59:40threatened to expose
00:59:40Dr. Hope Matthews
00:59:41and ruin him professionally
00:59:43Now Mrs. Hope Matthews
00:59:45was perfectly frank
00:59:46about saying that
00:59:47she'd had several drinks
00:59:48that evening
00:59:49but I would remind you
00:59:51of the conviction
00:59:51with which she asserted
00:59:52there are some things
00:59:54you don't forget
00:59:56Well it's not for me
01:00:00members of the jury
01:00:00to speculate upon
01:00:01the motives of the accused
01:00:02in publishing this libel
01:00:03but I would remind you
01:00:04that he'd just received
01:00:05a severe setback
01:00:06in his career
01:00:07as a tennis champion
01:00:08and I submit
01:00:09that the news
01:00:10coming on top of this
01:00:11that Gail Holt Matthews
01:00:12had lost her baby
01:00:13and no longer wanted
01:00:14anything to do with him
01:00:15made him want
01:00:17to lash out
01:00:18and hurt the man
01:00:20who had turned her
01:00:21against him
01:00:22We've all had
01:00:23such feelings
01:00:24but the difference
01:00:26between ourselves
01:00:27and Rodney Maitland
01:00:28members of the jury
01:00:29is that we do not
01:00:30then sit down
01:00:31and proceed
01:00:32maliciously
01:00:34to smash
01:00:36another man's career
01:00:37Mr. Elliot
01:00:54please will not
01:00:57members of the jury
01:00:59now throughout this case
01:01:02the defense has made
01:01:04no attempt
01:01:04to underestimate
01:01:05the gravity of the allegations
01:01:07contained in the letter
01:01:08addressed to Dr. Holt Matthews
01:01:11by the accused
01:01:12and the only possible
01:01:14justification
01:01:15for these allegations
01:01:16is the justification
01:01:17which we have pleaded
01:01:18namely that they're true
01:01:20now you've seen the accused
01:01:23Rodney Maitland
01:01:24and you may perhaps
01:01:26have formed the impression
01:01:27that he is
01:01:28as my learned friend
01:01:28has said
01:01:29a young man
01:01:30of uncertain temper
01:01:31but that is not
01:01:32what he's on trial for
01:01:33members of the jury
01:01:34and what you must
01:01:36ask yourselves
01:01:37is not whether
01:01:38he is impulsive
01:01:39and hot tempered
01:01:40but whether he is
01:01:41a witness
01:01:42of the truth
01:01:43now you've also heard
01:01:46from Dr. Holt Matthews
01:01:48and his family
01:01:49and you may think
01:01:51that we have here
01:01:52a very unusual situation
01:01:53almost a Victorian situation
01:01:55of the domestic tyrant
01:01:57whose women folk
01:01:59stand so in awe of him
01:02:00that they're prepared
01:02:02to do his bidding
01:02:03in everything he asks
01:02:04now what on this occasion
01:02:07did he ask of them
01:02:08here's a man
01:02:11who has planned
01:02:11a future career
01:02:12for his daughter
01:02:13he imposed a discipline
01:02:16on this girl
01:02:16determined
01:02:17that she would realize
01:02:20his ambitions
01:02:21the doctor assured us
01:02:25that silver cups
01:02:26and the will to win
01:02:28were more important
01:02:30than his daughter's happiness
01:02:31with Rodney Maitland
01:02:32Gail Holt Matthews
01:02:36courageously told this court
01:02:37that she wanted
01:02:38to have her child
01:02:39and that she loved
01:02:41the defendant
01:02:41yet when her father
01:02:44forbade this relationship
01:02:45she was prepared
01:02:47to do his bidding
01:02:48and you may well ask
01:02:51why such a man
01:02:52after 20 years
01:02:54of practice
01:02:54would jeopardize
01:02:56his reputation
01:02:57well I suggest
01:02:58that Dr. Holt Matthews
01:03:00is so obsessed
01:03:02with his daughter
01:03:03and her future career
01:03:04in tennis
01:03:04that he would stop
01:03:05at nothing
01:03:06perhaps we should not
01:03:10make too much
01:03:11of what to us
01:03:12might look like
01:03:12callousness
01:03:13or at least insensitivity
01:03:14on the doctor's part
01:03:15medical practitioners
01:03:16are no doubt
01:03:17far less squeamish
01:03:19than the rest of us
01:03:19but it's a strange picture
01:03:21isn't it
01:03:22here's the doctor
01:03:24his daughter
01:03:26having just had
01:03:27a miscarriage
01:03:28so he says
01:03:28and he's sitting
01:03:30beside the examination
01:03:31couch
01:03:32finishing off his dinner
01:03:34is that not consistent
01:03:39with Rodney Maitland's
01:03:40version of a later conversation
01:03:42when the doctor said
01:03:43referring to the termination
01:03:45of the pregnancy
01:03:46that little problem
01:03:47has been disposed of
01:03:49as to Mrs. Holt Matthews
01:03:53you may think
01:03:55she is a woman
01:03:55who has lived
01:03:57for some time
01:03:57under an almost
01:03:58intolerable strain
01:04:00now we must sympathize
01:04:02with her
01:04:02as a person
01:04:03subject to alcoholism
01:04:05but can we believe
01:04:07her account
01:04:08of the telephone conversation
01:04:09with Mr. Maitland
01:04:10he was a young man
01:04:12in a state of desperation
01:04:13and even as it turned out
01:04:15on the verge of suicide
01:04:17too
01:04:17wanted quite naturally
01:04:19to talk to the girl
01:04:20he loved
01:04:20he telephones her house
01:04:22but he talks to the mother
01:04:24they have a rambling conversation
01:04:27and according to
01:04:28Mr. Maitland's evidence
01:04:29the mother sounds drunk
01:04:31now she says
01:04:32she cannot remember
01:04:33whether she was drunk
01:04:34or not
01:04:35yet she remembers
01:04:37with great clarity
01:04:38the precise words
01:04:39of the conversation
01:04:40members of the jury
01:04:44ask yourselves
01:04:45just one question
01:04:46why were the surgery doors locked?
01:04:54now can you
01:04:55can you doubt
01:04:56that Mr. Maitland
01:04:57acted rightly
01:04:57in accusing
01:04:58Dr. Holt Matthews
01:05:00of this dreadful act
01:05:01here was a young man
01:05:03preparing to kill himself
01:05:05remember
01:05:06at such a moment
01:05:08do you think
01:05:08a man
01:05:09more likely
01:05:10to tell lies
01:05:11or to tell the truth?
01:05:18Thank you Mr. Elliot
01:05:20members of the jury
01:05:24you have now heard
01:05:27all the evidence
01:05:27that is to be given
01:05:28in this case
01:05:29and you have had
01:05:30the benefit of speeches
01:05:31from two
01:05:32very experienced
01:05:33and able counsel
01:05:34it is now your duty
01:05:36to decide the facts
01:05:38of the case
01:05:38and it is my duty
01:05:40to decide the law
01:05:41as to the law
01:05:43I can safely tell you
01:05:45that the allegation
01:05:47contained in the letter
01:05:48was libelous
01:05:49unless it was true
01:05:51of course
01:05:53ladies and gentlemen
01:05:54of the jury
01:05:54it is for you
01:05:56to decide
01:05:56whether it was true
01:05:58or not
01:05:59secondly
01:06:00I must direct you
01:06:02that the letter
01:06:05was published
01:06:06by virtue of the fact
01:06:08that it was written
01:06:08and addressed
01:06:10to Dr. Holt Matthews
01:06:11and left in a conspicuous place
01:06:13in the hotel room
01:06:14thirdly
01:06:16that in law
01:06:17the libel
01:06:18was defamatory
01:06:20in that
01:06:21it was calculated
01:06:22to bring the doctor
01:06:23into public ridicule
01:06:24hatred
01:06:24and contempt
01:06:25and would damage him
01:06:27in his professional capacity
01:06:29now members of the jury
01:06:31the defendant
01:06:33admits
01:06:34publishing the document
01:06:35and admits
01:06:37that it is
01:06:37a defamatory libel
01:06:38but he denies
01:06:40that he is guilty
01:06:41on the basis
01:06:42that he was justified
01:06:44in writing
01:06:45what he did
01:06:46the issue therefore
01:06:48members of the jury
01:06:49is this
01:06:50did Dr. Holt Matthews
01:06:53perform
01:06:54an illegal abortion
01:06:56on his daughter
01:06:56on the night
01:06:58of June the 15th
01:06:59as to this question
01:07:01the defense
01:07:03must prove
01:07:04beyond reasonable doubt
01:07:06that the doctor
01:07:08did do such a thing
01:07:10and you must acquit
01:07:12the defendant
01:07:13if you are sure
01:07:15that the doctor
01:07:16did such
01:07:17an operation
01:07:18and conversely
01:07:20you must convict
01:07:22the defendant
01:07:22if you are not
01:07:24sure
01:07:25that the doctor
01:07:27did it
01:07:28and that
01:07:29ladies and gentlemen
01:07:30of the jury
01:07:31is the test
01:07:32I turn now
01:07:34to the facts
01:07:35of the case
01:07:35you have heard
01:07:37from the doctor
01:07:37how Gail
01:07:38fell down
01:07:39in a faint
01:07:39in her bedroom
01:07:40and cut her head
01:07:41as she fell
01:07:42how he carried her
01:07:43to his surgery
01:07:44and there
01:07:45dressed the wounds
01:07:47on her forehead
01:07:47and later
01:07:48in his own words
01:07:49dealt with
01:07:50the miscarriage
01:07:51he denied
01:07:53that there had
01:07:54been an abortion
01:07:55two weeks later
01:07:57on June the 29th
01:07:59the defendant
01:07:59came to the house
01:08:00and here
01:08:02there is a conflict
01:08:03of evidence
01:08:04on what took place
01:08:05you heard the doctor
01:08:07say in evidence
01:08:09that he told
01:08:10the defendant
01:08:10that
01:08:11that little problem
01:08:12has been settled
01:08:13by an act of God
01:08:15the defendant
01:08:16however says
01:08:17that the words
01:08:18used by the doctor
01:08:18were
01:08:19that little problem
01:08:21has been disposed of
01:08:23now if you accept
01:08:25the latter
01:08:25the latter statement
01:08:28as correct
01:08:29you may think
01:08:30that the words
01:08:31are capable
01:08:32of bearing the meaning
01:08:33that an abortion
01:08:35had taken place
01:08:36now in conclusion
01:08:38members of the jury
01:08:39I need only say again
01:08:41that if you are
01:08:42convinced
01:08:44of the truth
01:08:45of the allegation
01:08:46made by the defendant
01:08:47then you must
01:08:49find him
01:08:50not guilty
01:08:51but if on the other hand
01:08:53you find
01:08:54that the termination
01:08:55of Gail's pregnancy
01:08:57was caused
01:08:58by a miscarriage
01:08:59resulting from
01:09:01her fall
01:09:01then you must
01:09:03bring in a verdict
01:09:04of guilty
01:09:06now members of the jury
01:09:09will you kindly retire
01:09:10and consider your verdict
01:09:11all stand
01:09:13will the foreman
01:09:23please stand
01:09:23just to answer
01:09:26this question
01:09:27yes or no
01:09:28have you reached
01:09:29a verdict upon
01:09:29which you are
01:09:30all agreed
01:09:30yes
01:09:31do you find
01:09:32the accused
01:09:33Rodney James
01:09:34Maitland
01:09:34guilty
01:09:35or not guilty
01:09:36guilty
01:09:37and that is
01:09:38the verdict
01:09:38of you all
01:09:39yes
01:09:39very well
01:09:41will you sit down
01:09:43Rodney Maitland
01:09:57was fined
01:09:58£1,000
01:09:59by Mr Justice Waddington
01:10:00as well as being
01:10:01ordered to pay
01:10:02the prosecution's
01:10:03costs
01:10:03next week
01:10:05a chance for you
01:10:06to join another
01:10:06jury in assessing
01:10:07the facts
01:10:08when our cameras
01:10:09return
01:10:09to watch a leading
01:10:10case in the
01:10:11Crown Court
01:10:12who
01:10:14is
01:10:17as well
01:10:17as the
01:10:17Cosplay
01:10:18as well
01:10:18as they
01:10:20were
01:10:20as well
01:10:21as they
01:10:23did
01:10:24as well
01:10:25as they
01:10:27they
01:10:28we
01:10:29know
01:10:30black
01:10:30ished
01:10:3013
01:10:31years
01:10:31and
01:10:32and
01:10:32young
01:10:33thoughts
01:10:33and
01:10:34hey
01:10:34K
01:10:35well
01:10:35we
01:10:36could
01:10:36and
01:10:38am
01:10:38minimum
01:10:39there
01:10:40woo
01:10:40affen
01:10:40in
01:10:40this
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