Crown Court - Mother Figures - Complete (1080p) - video Dailymotion

Forgotten British TV

1984 COURTROOM DRAMA"Antiques dealer Stephen Hodges is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm against Jacqueline Coombes, the estranged wife of his partner Andrew Coombes. He is accused of striking her following an argument when she came round to visit Mr. Coombes" IMDB Starring Peter Howell, Shaughan Seymour, Pamela Salem, Ronald Pickup, Lysette Anthony, Lennard Pearce, Sarah Atkinson.  Episodes aired Mar 6-8, 1984

Transcript

00:00:01Put up the defendant, Stephen Gerald Hodges.

00:00:17Stephen Gerald Hodges, in this indictment you are charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm

00:00:24contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861,

00:00:30the particulars being that on the 15th of December 1983

00:00:34you assaulted Jacqueline Ann Coombs, occasioning her actual bodily harm.

00:00:41How say you, Stephen Hodges? Are you guilty or not guilty?

00:00:45Not guilty.

00:00:54I swear by almighty God, the evidence I give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the

00:01:00truth.

00:01:00The case you're about to see is fictional, but the procedure is legally accurate.

00:01:04The characters are played by actors, but the jury is selected from members of the public.

00:01:12Are you Mrs. Jacqueline Ann Coombs?

00:01:15I am.

00:01:16You live at 34 Hutton Crescent, Forchester?

00:01:20I do, yes.

00:01:22Do you know the defendant, Stephen Hodges?

00:01:24Yes.

00:01:24How long have you known him?

00:01:26We first met over a year ago.

00:01:29Well, since you were first introduced, how often have you met the defendant?

00:01:33Not often.

00:01:35Occasionally I would call at his house to see my husband Andrew or to pick up Susan.

00:01:40That's really the only times we met.

00:01:42Susan being?

00:01:44My daughter.

00:01:45Oh, yes, I'm sorry.

00:01:47Then Andrew Coombs was living at the defendant's home at 16 Carlton Street, Forchester.

00:01:51Yes.

00:01:52Would you mind telling us briefly how your husband came to be living now?

00:01:56Andrew and I are separated.

00:01:58We've been living apart for about 18 months.

00:02:01But you still continue to see your husband?

00:02:03Yes.

00:02:03May we take it then that you continue to be on reasonably good terms?

00:02:06We managed to agree over most things, the financial side and so on.

00:02:11We arranged everything between us without using solicitors or anything.

00:02:15And the defendant, Mrs Coombs, what was your attitude towards him?

00:02:17I accepted him, of course.

00:02:19As your husband's friend.

00:02:20If that's what Andrew wanted.

00:02:22Now, was there ever an occasion when you behaved other than amicably towards Stephen Hodges?

00:02:26None that I can think of.

00:02:28We were always polite to each other, though we didn't have much in common.

00:02:32Apart from Andrew, that is.

00:02:34Which brings us to the night of December the 15th.

00:02:37Now, will you tell us, in your own words, why you went to the defendant's house that night?

00:02:43I'll try.

00:02:45It was Susan's birthday that day.

00:02:49Unfortunately, Andrew had to go out of town.

00:02:51But we'd arranged for him to come around to the house when he got back to give Susan her present

00:02:56and wish her happy returns.

00:02:59Then Susan announced she was going out that evening.

00:03:02Well, I didn't want to let her.

00:03:04I knew Andrew would be disappointed if she wasn't there.

00:03:06But she begged and pleaded and promised she'd be back in time.

00:03:10So I gave in.

00:03:12She said she was going around to a school friend's, a girl.

00:03:16I knew the family quite well.

00:03:18Anyway, off Susan went.

00:03:19What time is this?

00:03:21Just before six, I think.

00:03:22Yes, that's right.

00:03:25I sat about for a bit and watched television.

00:03:29Then it occurred to me that if Andrew was arriving back about nine,

00:03:32I could easily pick him up and collect Susan from her school friends en route.

00:03:36It would save her making her own way home.

00:03:38So I decided to phone Susan and let her know.

00:03:42This was around eight-ish, I think.

00:03:45I rang and spoke to Mrs. Hartley, the school friend's mother.

00:03:50It appeared Susan wasn't there, nor was she expected.

00:03:53Now, how did that news affect you?

00:03:54Well, it worried me a bit, I'll admit.

00:03:57I mean, she had told me quite definitely where she was going.

00:04:01Of course, she might have changed her mind and gone out somewhere with the school friend.

00:04:05Well, did you have any idea where she might be?

00:04:08Well, it did occur to me, not straight away, but eventually, that she might have gone to her father's.

00:04:13In fact, I tried to telephone there, but the line was engaged and I couldn't get through.

00:04:16Are you saying eventually?

00:04:17Not an obvious assumption, then, that your daughter might have visited the defendant?

00:04:21Well, of course, I thought she'd tell me if she planned to go there.

00:04:25I know it sounds silly, but by now I was imagining all sorts of things.

00:04:29At last, I decided to get in the car and drive around town.

00:04:33I thought I might see Susan somewhere.

00:04:36Well, I did that, for a bit.

00:04:38And then I found myself quite close to where Andrew lives now, at Carton Street.

00:04:43It seemed sense to stop and ask if she'd been there.

00:04:46If not, I could wait for Andrew.

00:04:47It was already nine o'clock by then, and I thought Andrew would know what to do.

00:04:51So, you got to the defendant's house at nine.

00:04:53Did you speak to him?

00:04:54Yes, he answered the door.

00:04:56How did he seem to you?

00:04:58He was very jolly and very good spirits.

00:05:00He asked me inside and showed me through into the sitting room.

00:05:04There was a party going on, people and music playing.

00:05:08Did you ask the defendant about your daughter?

00:05:09I did.

00:05:10I had to shout to make myself heard, though.

00:05:13And what was his reply?

00:05:15He just laughed.

00:05:18He said something about a birthday surprise,

00:05:20and then grinned.

00:05:22He disappeared before I could say anything else.

00:05:24Well, what did you understand him to mean?

00:05:26I didn't understand him at all at the time.

00:05:28I thought he meant he had a present for Susan.

00:05:30Of course, later I realised the surprise was for me.

00:05:34And what did you do then?

00:05:37Sat about for a bit.

00:05:39I didn't know any of the people there.

00:05:42Someone offered me a glass of wine,

00:05:44but I refused because I had a headache.

00:05:46I wasn't really in the mood for a party.

00:05:49At last, I decided to go to the bathroom

00:05:51simply to get away from the noise.

00:05:53My headache was much worse.

00:05:54Where was the bathroom?

00:05:55On the first landing of the stairs leading up from the hall.

00:05:59Mm-hmm.

00:06:00I was only in there a few minutes.

00:06:02And when I came out, I was just about to go back down.

00:06:05When I heard Susan's voice coming from a door beside me,

00:06:08she sounded very upset as if she'd been crying.

00:06:10Did that surprise you?

00:06:11Well, of course it surprised me.

00:06:12I didn't even know she was there.

00:06:14I hardly knew what to think.

00:06:16I called her name a few times,

00:06:18and I tried the door handle, but it was locked.

00:06:21I banged on the door, but nobody answered.

00:06:25I didn't hear any sound at all,

00:06:27but I was sure that somebody was there.

00:06:30Well, I was just about to go back down

00:06:32to fetch someone to break the door down if necessary

00:06:35when, thank God, she opened it.

00:06:37I could see straightaway that something was wrong.

00:06:40Susan's eyes were all puffy and red.

00:06:42Her clothes were in a mess.

00:06:43Her blouse was hanging out of her skirt, half unbuttoned.

00:06:46Was your daughter alone?

00:06:47No, I'm afraid to say she wasn't.

00:06:48The Barnes boy was there lurking behind her in the background.

00:06:51Who do you mean?

00:06:52Oh, Martin Barnes.

00:06:53Someone that Susan knew slightly.

00:06:55I think he'd taken her out a couple of times.

00:06:57It wasn't hard to imagine why she was crying.

00:06:59Tell us what you did, Mrs. Coombs.

00:07:01I sat Susan down and I tried to calm her.

00:07:04I asked her what had happened,

00:07:06but she was too upset to tell me,

00:07:08not that I couldn't work it out for myself.

00:07:09Well, did you say anything to your daughter?

00:07:11Yes, I offered to take her home.

00:07:12It seemed the best idea.

00:07:13And was she willing for you to do that?

00:07:15Of course.

00:07:16I mean, she wanted to leave.

00:07:18Then why didn't you leave at this point?

00:07:20Because he, Stephen Hodges, came in then.

00:07:23That's why.

00:07:25Now, how did the friend react to seeing you?

00:07:28He was smiling.

00:07:30He seemed to find the whole thing very amusing.

00:07:32Did he speak to you?

00:07:33Oh, yes.

00:07:34He kept making these little remarks.

00:07:36Didn't I think Susan was old enough

00:07:38to manage her own love life?

00:07:40I mean, how insensitive can you be?

00:07:42Did you make any reply to these remarks?

00:07:44I waited until Susan was ready.

00:07:47And then I told him that I was leaving with Susan

00:07:49and that I'd make sure that Andrew knew

00:07:51all about what had happened.

00:07:52That annoyed him.

00:07:53He began to get really nasty.

00:07:55He said that whatever went on in his house

00:07:57was his business

00:07:58and that I had no right to interfere.

00:08:00I didn't bother to answer that.

00:08:02I simply walked past him to the door.

00:08:04He let me pass

00:08:05but when Susan tried to follow

00:08:07he planted himself between us.

00:08:09He said that I could go

00:08:10but that Susan,

00:08:11I had no right to force Susan to go with me.

00:08:14But your daughter was ready to accompany you.

00:08:16Of course.

00:08:17It was a ridiculous situation.

00:08:19I couldn't take the whole thing seriously.

00:08:22Then I tried to move past him

00:08:24and he blocked my way.

00:08:25Did he make any physical contact?

00:08:27No, not yet.

00:08:27It was like two people in the street.

00:08:29You know, dodging from side to side.

00:08:32Then I made the mistake

00:08:33of trying to squeeze past him.

00:08:35Well, that was it.

00:08:36He grabbed hold of me.

00:08:37He went very red in the face

00:08:38and he started shouting.

00:08:39Yes, now what did he say exactly?

00:08:41Oh, he said to be well,

00:08:43get out of his house

00:08:43or words to that effect.

00:08:44I don't want to repeat them here.

00:08:45I told him not to be stupid

00:08:47and to let go of me

00:08:49which he did.

00:08:51But he gave me a push

00:08:52at the same time.

00:08:54There was a small table beside the door

00:08:56and I staggered against it.

00:08:58There were some things on it.

00:08:59I don't remember exactly what

00:09:00but they fell to the ground.

00:09:02When he saw that,

00:09:03he lost interest in me

00:09:04and he knelt down on the floor

00:09:05and started to pick them up,

00:09:06cursing to himself

00:09:07all the while he was doing it.

00:09:08Where was your daughter

00:09:09during all this?

00:09:10She was watching.

00:09:12But when he grabbed me, though,

00:09:13she ran out.

00:09:14I tried to follow her.

00:09:15I did follow her

00:09:16as soon as I could.

00:09:17The bathroom door was locked

00:09:18and I could hear Susan

00:09:19sobbing behind it.

00:09:21She wouldn't open the door.

00:09:23I don't blame her, really.

00:09:24I was a bit frightened myself.

00:09:25Why was that?

00:09:25Because of the violent way

00:09:26he'd reacted.

00:09:27It was a shock to me.

00:09:29I suppose I didn't know him that well.

00:09:33And what did you do next,

00:09:34Mrs. Scrooge?

00:09:36At this point,

00:09:37I heard Andrew's voice

00:09:38downstairs in the hall.

00:09:40He must have just arrived

00:09:41at that moment.

00:09:43I ran down the stairs

00:09:44and I followed him

00:09:45into the sitting room.

00:09:46He was talking

00:09:47to some people in there.

00:09:49I did try and explain

00:09:51to him what had happened

00:09:52but he didn't seem

00:09:52to be able to take it in.

00:09:55Eventually,

00:09:55I managed to persuade him

00:09:56to go out into the hall

00:09:57where it was quieter.

00:09:58Did you tell your husband

00:09:59how the defendant had acted?

00:10:00No, I didn't have a chance to

00:10:01because again,

00:10:02Stephen Hodges appeared

00:10:03on the scene.

00:10:04He was in an absolute fury.

00:10:07He said to Andrew,

00:10:08I want this bloody bitch

00:10:09out of my house.

00:10:10I want her out now.

00:10:12If you won't throw her out,

00:10:14I will.

00:10:15Of course,

00:10:16Andrew didn't know

00:10:16what was happening

00:10:17and I couldn't get a word

00:10:18in edgeways.

00:10:19You didn't leave

00:10:19when asked?

00:10:20No, I thought I had a right

00:10:22to speak to my husband.

00:10:23I mean,

00:10:24it was his house

00:10:25in a sense too,

00:10:25wasn't it?

00:10:26He lived there.

00:10:27Did your husband intervene?

00:10:30No, I blamed him

00:10:31for that at the time

00:10:31but it all happened

00:10:34so quickly

00:10:34I don't suppose

00:10:34he could have done anything.

00:10:35Poor Andrew's not much

00:10:36good in a crisis anyway.

00:10:38But please continue.

00:10:38What did the defendant do then?

00:10:40He seized me by the arm

00:10:41and dragged me

00:10:42towards the door.

00:10:43Did you resist?

00:10:43I tried

00:10:44but he's very strong.

00:10:46He opened the door

00:10:47and thrust me

00:10:48through it.

00:10:49I was determined

00:10:50to speak to Andrew though

00:10:51and I held on

00:10:51to the edge of the door.

00:10:52I was shouting to Andrew

00:10:54over his shoulder

00:10:55trying to tell him

00:10:56to make sure

00:10:57Susan was all right.

00:10:58He, Hodges,

00:10:59tried to pull my hand

00:11:01away from the door

00:11:01and when that didn't succeed

00:11:03he pushed me.

00:11:05Yes.

00:11:05Now how did he push you

00:11:07exactly?

00:11:08He reached out

00:11:08an arm like this

00:11:09and he shoved me

00:11:10with the flat of his hand

00:11:11on my shoulder,

00:11:13on my chest,

00:11:14just below the shoulder.

00:11:15And what was the effect

00:11:16of this push?

00:11:17It knocked me off balance

00:11:17completely.

00:11:18I staggered back

00:11:19a few steps

00:11:20and then I found

00:11:21myself falling.

00:11:22Did you fall on your front

00:11:23or on your back?

00:11:24Oh, on my front.

00:11:25I must have twisted

00:11:26as I fell,

00:11:28that's how I hurt my ankle

00:11:29and I reached out a hand

00:11:30to try and save myself.

00:11:33Stupid thing to do,

00:11:34I know,

00:11:34but it's instinctive,

00:11:35isn't it?

00:11:36Anyway,

00:11:36I landed on the pavement

00:11:38about a foot

00:11:39from the first step.

00:11:40That gives you some idea

00:11:41of how hard he pushed me.

00:11:42Now,

00:11:42was the door open

00:11:44when you fell?

00:11:47Yes.

00:11:48I heard it slam shut afterwards.

00:11:53How high were these steps

00:11:54from the street?

00:11:55Not more than a few feet

00:11:56at the most.

00:11:57There were three of them.

00:11:58I had plenty of time

00:11:59to count them.

00:12:00They were broad

00:12:01and shallow,

00:12:01but not high at all.

00:12:03And how long were you lying

00:12:03at the foot of these steps?

00:12:05I don't know.

00:12:06Seemed a long time.

00:12:08I tried to get up,

00:12:10but the pain from my wrist

00:12:11and ankle stopped me.

00:12:14At first,

00:12:14I didn't worry

00:12:15because I thought someone

00:12:15would come out in a minute.

00:12:17They didn't.

00:12:19I called out a few times,

00:12:21but the door stayed closed.

00:12:23Then,

00:12:24somebody appeared at the window.

00:12:25Who was that?

00:12:27Stephen Hodges.

00:12:28I saw him quite clearly

00:12:30and I'm sure he saw me.

00:12:33He smiled.

00:12:35He even nodded slightly.

00:12:38Then he drew the curtains

00:12:41and I began to realize

00:12:42that no one was coming

00:12:43to help me.

00:12:54It was very cold,

00:12:55I remember.

00:12:57I'd left my coat in the house.

00:13:00Snow was falling.

00:13:03I remember thinking to myself

00:13:04quite calmly

00:13:05that I'd probably freeze to death

00:13:07unless someone came out

00:13:08and found me.

00:13:10That wasn't very likely

00:13:11because it was late

00:13:12and Carlton Street's a cul-de-sac anyway.

00:13:16Eventually,

00:13:17I thought,

00:13:17I've got to do something.

00:13:20I began to crawl

00:13:22along the pavement,

00:13:24but after a few yards,

00:13:25I stopped.

00:13:26The pain was too bad.

00:13:27Did anyone come to your aid?

00:13:29Yes,

00:13:29in the end,

00:13:30a neighbor,

00:13:31a Mr. Wardle.

00:13:32He was marvelous.

00:13:35He wrapped me up

00:13:36in blankets,

00:13:37he called the ambulance

00:13:39and stayed with me

00:13:40till it arrived.

00:13:42I don't know

00:13:42what I'd have done

00:13:43without him.

00:13:44Mrs. Coombs,

00:13:44is there no doubt

00:13:45at all in your mind

00:13:46that the defendant

00:13:46deliberately pushed you?

00:13:48None.

00:13:48And seeing you

00:13:49from the window afterwards

00:13:50and being fully aware

00:13:51of the results

00:13:51of his actions,

00:13:52he chose not to come

00:13:53to your assistance?

00:13:53That's correct.

00:13:54Thank you,

00:13:55Mrs. Coombs.

00:13:58Mrs. Coombs,

00:14:07you said earlier

00:14:08you were on good terms

00:14:09with the defendant

00:14:10until this incident occurred.

00:14:11Is that correct?

00:14:13Reasonably, yes.

00:14:14And you think

00:14:15why he should behave

00:14:15so unreasonably then

00:14:17on this occasion

00:14:18when you've done

00:14:18nothing to provoke him?

00:14:20Well,

00:14:20as I've already said,

00:14:21I didn't know him that well.

00:14:22Perhaps he's always

00:14:23had a violent temper.

00:14:24You've known the defendant

00:14:25for a year.

00:14:26Who introduced you to him?

00:14:27My husband, Andrew.

00:14:29What relationship

00:14:30does your husband

00:14:30have with the defendant?

00:14:34My husband and the defendant

00:14:36are lovers.

00:14:38Their relationship

00:14:39is homosexual

00:14:40if you want me

00:14:40to spell it out.

00:14:41How long have you

00:14:42been aware of the fact?

00:14:44If you mean

00:14:45did it break up

00:14:46our marriage,

00:14:46then no, it didn't.

00:14:48I don't think Andrew

00:14:49knew he was gay himself,

00:14:51not for a long time.

00:14:52I can't say it came

00:14:54as a great shock to me,

00:14:55and that's not

00:14:56why we separated.

00:14:57To the best of your knowledge,

00:14:58was your daughter

00:14:58also aware of this?

00:15:00Naturally,

00:15:00she's not blind,

00:15:01but it didn't worry her either.

00:15:02She accepted it

00:15:03just as I did.

00:15:04Then you had no objection

00:15:05to your daughter's association

00:15:06with your husband's

00:15:07new partner.

00:15:07Why should I?

00:15:10You're not hinting

00:15:11I'm prejudiced.

00:15:13Really.

00:15:13Not at all.

00:15:14I merely wish to clarify

00:15:15your attitudes,

00:15:16Mrs. Gooms.

00:15:16Well, I think

00:15:17they're quite clear.

00:15:21During the week

00:15:21prior to the 15th,

00:15:23did you see

00:15:23or speak to the defendant?

00:15:25No.

00:15:26No?

00:15:27Then on the afternoon

00:15:28of December the 12th,

00:15:29you didn't visit

00:15:30the defendant

00:15:30at his place of business,

00:15:31the Red Lion Antique Shop

00:15:33in Fulchester High Street?

00:15:34No, I didn't.

00:15:35Have you ever been there?

00:15:36Yes, once or twice,

00:15:37but not on that day.

00:15:38So you didn't speak

00:15:40to the defendant

00:15:40or make any kind

00:15:41of threats to him?

00:15:43You're joking.

00:15:44What threats?

00:15:45I suggest

00:15:46you said you'd better

00:15:47leave my daughter alone.

00:15:48I never want you

00:15:49to see her again.

00:15:51That's absurd.

00:15:53Completely untrue.

00:15:54You didn't threaten him

00:15:55with legal action

00:15:56for, as you put it,

00:15:57corrupting your daughter

00:15:58and turning her against you?

00:15:59What rubbish?

00:16:00Legal action?

00:16:01I couldn't have done anything

00:16:02if I'd wanted to.

00:16:03Did you wish to take

00:16:04some kind of action?

00:16:04I've already said

00:16:05I wasn't there

00:16:06and I never made

00:16:07any such remarks.

00:16:10Do you consider yourself

00:16:11to have a good relationship

00:16:12with your daughter,

00:16:12Mrs. Coombs?

00:16:14Yes, I'd say so.

00:16:16Of course,

00:16:16we row occasionally.

00:16:17That's normal, isn't it?

00:16:19Teenage daughters

00:16:19are always a bit of a handful.

00:16:21Did your daughter

00:16:21spend a lot of time

00:16:22in the company

00:16:22of the defendant?

00:16:23He took her out sometimes.

00:16:25With your consent?

00:16:26I never objected.

00:16:27Well, not without good reason

00:16:29if Susan had exams

00:16:30to revise for or something.

00:16:32I will admit,

00:16:33I didn't always like

00:16:34some of the people

00:16:34he took at a visit.

00:16:35Why was that?

00:16:36Well, they sounded

00:16:37a bit bizarre.

00:16:38The sort of people

00:16:39who try to shock you

00:16:40the whole time.

00:16:40So boring, I think.

00:16:42Then you never prevented

00:16:44your daughter

00:16:44from seeing the defendant?

00:16:46No.

00:16:47What about Martin Barnes,

00:16:49your daughter's friend?

00:16:50Did you forbid her

00:16:51to see him?

00:16:51Good heavens, no.

00:16:53I might have expressed

00:16:54an opinion, that's all.

00:16:55Frankly, I thought

00:16:56Susan could do much better.

00:17:00On the night

00:17:00of December the 15th,

00:17:02you say you went

00:17:03to the defendant's house

00:17:03in order to ask

00:17:04if he'd seen your daughter.

00:17:05That's correct.

00:17:06Why didn't you make

00:17:07a greater effort

00:17:07to carry out that intention?

00:17:09From your account,

00:17:09you only asked him once

00:17:10and didn't receive

00:17:11a firm answer from him then.

00:17:12Well, of course,

00:17:13I thought naturally

00:17:14he would tell me

00:17:14if he knew where she was.

00:17:15I didn't suspect then

00:17:16he was trying to conceal

00:17:17her whereabouts.

00:17:18Did you in fact

00:17:18ask him at all

00:17:19anything about your daughter?

00:17:20Of course I did.

00:17:21I told you so.

00:17:22I suggest, Mrs. Coombs,

00:17:23you did not.

00:17:24And for a very good reason.

00:17:25You were already quite sure

00:17:27your daughter was in the house.

00:17:28Not sure, no.

00:17:29I thought she might be.

00:17:31I've already admitted that.

00:17:33Look, I really don't know

00:17:34why you're making

00:17:34such an issue of it.

00:17:35Yes, Miss Parkinson,

00:17:36perhaps you will tell us

00:17:37why you wish

00:17:37to make this particular point.

00:17:39Your Honor,

00:17:40I believe it will become apparent

00:17:41as we proceed,

00:17:42with your Honour's permission.

00:17:46Mrs. Coombs,

00:17:47you say you discovered

00:17:48your daughter

00:17:49with Barnes in the bedroom.

00:17:50You had no idea

00:17:52your daughter was in the house

00:17:53until that moment.

00:17:53No.

00:17:54Look, surely this is irrelevant.

00:17:56The fact is I did.

00:17:57It's what happened,

00:17:58what he did to me afterwards

00:17:59that matters.

00:18:00If in fact he did anything at all,

00:18:02you knew,

00:18:02or at least suspected,

00:18:03where your daughter had gone

00:18:05and you went there

00:18:06to provoke a confrontation.

00:18:07Well, in that case,

00:18:07why didn't I just have it out

00:18:08with him straight away?

00:18:09Perhaps the presence

00:18:10of so many people

00:18:11prevented you.

00:18:11You needed to be certain.

00:18:12But I suggest

00:18:13that at the first opportunity,

00:18:15you went to search

00:18:15for your daughter

00:18:16and to confirm your suspicions.

00:18:17Look.

00:18:21Look, I don't know

00:18:22what sort of a person

00:18:23you think I am,

00:18:24but I can tell you

00:18:25I would not have caused

00:18:26all this unpleasantness

00:18:27without good reason.

00:18:28I bear no resentment

00:18:30towards Stephen Hodges

00:18:31except for the hurt

00:18:31he caused me

00:18:32and the upset to Susan.

00:18:34That's all,

00:18:35whether you believe it or not.

00:18:36I suggest, Mrs. Coombs,

00:18:37the defendant did not hurt you.

00:18:39That's why I ended up

00:18:40in hospital, I suppose.

00:18:41I put it to you

00:18:42that the injuries you sustained

00:18:44were the result of an accident,

00:18:45not an assault.

00:18:46You left the house

00:18:47and when you were alone,

00:18:49you suffered some kind

00:18:50of accidental form.

00:18:51Possibly your foot slipped

00:18:52on the side.

00:18:52That's simply not true.

00:18:54You deny the suggestion.

00:18:55Yes, I do.

00:18:56Absolutely.

00:18:58Dr. Sutcliffe,

00:18:59you treated Mrs. Coombs

00:19:00when she was admitted

00:19:01to the casualty department

00:19:02of Fulchester General Hospital

00:19:03on the night of December the 15th.

00:19:04Is that correct?

00:19:05Yes.

00:19:05Now, would you care

00:19:06to tell us the extent

00:19:07of Mrs. Coombs' injuries?

00:19:08The patient was admitted

00:19:10by ambulance at 10.45.

00:19:13As junior registrar on duty,

00:19:14I examined her shortly afterwards.

00:19:17The patient was conscious

00:19:18but appeared to be in some pain.

00:19:21X-rays revealed a fracture

00:19:22of her radius

00:19:24slightly above the wrist joint.

00:19:25The ankle of the left leg

00:19:27was swollen,

00:19:28but this was discovered

00:19:28to be badly bruised,

00:19:30not fractured.

00:19:31Now, how did Mrs. Coombs behave

00:19:32while you were examining her?

00:19:33She was quiet,

00:19:34quiet, said very little.

00:19:36She seemed a bit dazed.

00:19:38Would you consider that

00:19:39abnormal in the circumstances?

00:19:41No, I don't think so.

00:19:42Thank you, Doctor.

00:19:43That's all.

00:19:47Dr. Sutcliffe,

00:19:47on the night of December the 15th,

00:19:49can you remember

00:19:50the state of the weather?

00:19:55Yes.

00:19:55It was freezing.

00:19:57I remember it clearly.

00:19:58Indeed.

00:19:59Now, Doctor,

00:20:00from what you've described

00:20:01to us of Mrs. Coombs' injuries,

00:20:02would you say

00:20:03there was anything about them

00:20:04that was inconsistent

00:20:05with a fall,

00:20:05caused, for example,

00:20:07by slipping accidentally?

00:20:08Nothing suggested to me

00:20:10that her injuries

00:20:11could not have been

00:20:12the result of a fall.

00:20:13As to what caused it,

00:20:14I couldn't say.

00:20:15Were there any wounds

00:20:16or injuries

00:20:16that might only have been

00:20:17caused by an assault?

00:20:19She hadn't been shot

00:20:20or stabbed,

00:20:21if that's what you mean.

00:20:22Quite.

00:20:23I only wish to establish that.

00:20:23I think you have

00:20:24made your point,

00:20:25Mr. Sutcliffe.

00:20:26Thank you, Your Honour.

00:20:27Thank you, Dr. Sutcliffe.

00:20:28No more questions.

00:20:33Is your name

00:20:34Ronald Arthur Wardle

00:20:35and you live at

00:20:3715 Carlton Street,

00:20:38Fulchester?

00:20:38Correct.

00:20:39Will you tell us

00:20:40where your house is situated

00:20:41in relation to the defendants?

00:20:42Directly opposite.

00:20:43What distance would you say,

00:20:44approximately?

00:20:4514 yards,

00:20:46including the pavements.

00:20:47You did want them included.

00:20:49Yes, thank you.

00:20:51Now, on the night

00:20:51of December the 15th,

00:20:52did anything unusual happen?

00:20:55Yes.

00:20:57Perhaps you'll tell us

00:20:58what it was.

00:20:59I heard a lady's voice

00:21:00calling that lady.

00:21:02Mrs. Coombs,

00:21:04at what time was this?

00:21:062200 hours, exactly.

00:21:07And where were you

00:21:08when you heard the sound?

00:21:09In my vivarium,

00:21:10first floor,

00:21:10front of house.

00:21:12I beg your pardon?

00:21:12In my vivarium,

00:21:14I said.

00:21:15I see.

00:21:16What were you doing?

00:21:18Working.

00:21:19Cleaning out

00:21:20the specimen's cages.

00:21:21Usually do that

00:21:22at night.

00:21:23May anyone ask

00:21:24what kind of specimens

00:21:25they were, Mr. Wardle?

00:21:27Reptiles, Your Honour.

00:21:27Mostly snakes,

00:21:28a few lizards.

00:21:29They don't do too well

00:21:31in this climate.

00:21:32And do you keep

00:21:33these creatures

00:21:34professionally?

00:21:35Oh, no, Your Honour.

00:21:36Just a hobby.

00:21:37Of course,

00:21:37I'm retired now,

00:21:38you know.

00:21:39Perhaps, Your Honour,

00:21:40is interested

00:21:41in herpetology.

00:21:42Yes, Mr. Wardle,

00:21:43I am,

00:21:43but we must continue.

00:21:46Please carry on.

00:21:48Mr. Wardle,

00:21:49you say you're able

00:21:50to hear Mrs. Coombs

00:21:51clearly,

00:21:51even at that distance.

00:21:52Yes.

00:21:53Well, it had all

00:21:54stopped by then.

00:21:55What had?

00:21:55The racket.

00:21:56Music, they call it.

00:21:58Some fair old times

00:21:59they had over there.

00:22:00I wouldn't like

00:22:00to say what going's on.

00:22:02And all hours

00:22:03of the night, too.

00:22:04Some people

00:22:04have no consideration.

00:22:06Reptiles are

00:22:07very sensitive to noise.

00:22:09The smallest vibration

00:22:10disturbs them.

00:22:11That's fact.

00:22:12And what did you do

00:22:13when you heard

00:22:13Mrs. Coombs?

00:22:14Well, I went over

00:22:15to the window

00:22:15and looked out, of course.

00:22:16And were you able

00:22:17to see her?

00:22:17Well, I wouldn't be here

00:22:18otherwise, would I?

00:22:20True.

00:22:21Nor would she, most likely.

00:22:22It was coming down by then.

00:22:24Two inches of snow,

00:22:25they said the next day.

00:22:26Mr. Wardle,

00:22:27did you notice anything else,

00:22:27for instance,

00:22:28about the defendant's house?

00:22:30Well, I remember

00:22:30he had his curtains open.

00:22:32You could see straight

00:22:33into the front room.

00:22:34You're sure?

00:22:35They were open

00:22:36and then he came across

00:22:37and closed them.

00:22:38Who did?

00:22:39Mr. Hodges, of course.

00:22:41You're quite certain

00:22:41it was Mr. Hodges?

00:22:42Never needed glasses, me.

00:22:44Anyways, it was pitch black,

00:22:45wasn't it?

00:22:46I only spotted the lady

00:22:47by the light from the windows.

00:22:49And having seen her,

00:22:50what did you do next?

00:22:51I waited for a bit

00:22:52to see if anyone

00:22:53came out of the house.

00:22:55A few minutes later,

00:22:56she was still lying there,

00:22:57so I went across

00:22:59to see if I could help.

00:23:00I asked her

00:23:01what had happened

00:23:02and was she all right?

00:23:04She was in a right state,

00:23:05poor thing.

00:23:07Badly shook up.

00:23:08Then I went back inside

00:23:09and called the ambulance.

00:23:11I fetched some blankets

00:23:13and went some stuff

00:23:15to keep her warm

00:23:16and I stayed with her

00:23:17until the ambulance

00:23:18got there.

00:23:19Twenty-five minutes

00:23:21we waited.

00:23:22She could have

00:23:23froze to death.

00:23:38The case of the Queen

00:23:39and Hodges

00:23:40will be resumed tomorrow

00:23:41in the Crown Court.

00:24:11The case you're about to see

00:24:12is fictional,

00:24:13but the procedure

00:24:13is legally accurate.

00:24:15The characters

00:24:16are played by actors,

00:24:17but the jury is selected

00:24:18from members of the public.

00:24:19Yesterday,

00:24:20the jury heard evidence

00:24:21in which Jacqueline Coombs

00:24:23alleged that the defendant,

00:24:24Stephen Hodges,

00:24:25her husband's lover,

00:24:26assaulted her

00:24:27by pushing her

00:24:28down the front steps

00:24:28of his house.

00:24:30Today,

00:24:30the defence

00:24:30is cross-examining

00:24:31a neighbour,

00:24:32Ronald Wardle.

00:24:39Mr Wardle,

00:24:40if someone were

00:24:41in a brightly lit room,

00:24:42as Mr Hodges

00:24:43was in this case,

00:24:44even if he stood

00:24:45in front of a window,

00:24:46it's unlikely he could see

00:24:47more than a few feet outside.

00:24:48But the light

00:24:49from the window

00:24:49was shining straight on her.

00:24:51I could see her

00:24:52as plain as day.

00:24:53But you said yourself

00:24:54it was snowing heavily.

00:24:55Visibility must have been poor.

00:24:57If Mr Hodges

00:24:58didn't know

00:24:59Mrs Coombs was out there

00:25:00and was anyway engaged

00:25:01in drawing the curtains,

00:25:03is it not possible

00:25:04he might have failed

00:25:04to observe her?

00:25:06Well,

00:25:06he might have

00:25:06missed seeing her.

00:25:08But he must have

00:25:09heard her.

00:25:10I did across the road.

00:25:11I suggest,

00:25:12Mr Wardle,

00:25:12your companions

00:25:13will probably be making

00:25:14far less noise

00:25:14than Mr Hodges.

00:25:15I believe snakes

00:25:16aren't known

00:25:16to be noisy animals.

00:25:18They're not animals

00:25:18for a start.

00:25:19They're reptiles.

00:25:20But you might be right,

00:25:22I suppose.

00:25:23Thank you,

00:25:23Mr Wardle.

00:25:25One final question.

00:25:26May we ask

00:25:27why you never

00:25:28summoned help

00:25:28from the defendant's house?

00:25:29It would seem logical

00:25:30seeing you were

00:25:31on their doorstep.

00:25:32Well,

00:25:32I'd called the ambulance.

00:25:33What could they do

00:25:34that I wasn't doing already?

00:25:35Except get in the way,

00:25:36that is.

00:25:37First rule,

00:25:38isn't it?

00:25:39Don't move them

00:25:39if they're hurt.

00:25:40Keep them warm.

00:25:41Wait for the experts.

00:25:43Besides.

00:25:44Yes,

00:25:44go on.

00:25:46Well,

00:25:46now that you've explained,

00:25:47I can see it makes sense.

00:25:48But at the time,

00:25:50like,

00:25:50I thought it was funny,

00:25:52them leaving her

00:25:53out there like that.

00:25:54Well,

00:25:55I didn't know,

00:25:56but you can't be

00:25:57too careful,

00:25:58can you?

00:25:59Well,

00:25:59for whatever reason,

00:26:00Mr Wardle,

00:26:00you didn't inform

00:26:01the defendant,

00:26:02did you?

00:26:02So we could assume

00:26:04that if he weren't

00:26:05already aware

00:26:05of Mrs Coombs' injuries,

00:26:07he would have remained

00:26:08ignorant of them

00:26:09until the ambulance arrived.

00:26:10Isn't that true?

00:26:12Well,

00:26:12he couldn't have missed

00:26:13that anyhow.

00:26:14Thank you,

00:26:15Mr Bordle.

00:26:15No more questions.

00:26:20Miss Coombs,

00:26:21will you tell us

00:26:22why you went

00:26:22to the defendant's house

00:26:23on the day in question?

00:26:24Well,

00:26:25I had just popped in,

00:26:25really,

00:26:26on my way to see Tanya.

00:26:27I never meant to stay

00:26:28for very long.

00:26:29Who is Tanya?

00:26:30Oh,

00:26:31she's my best friend.

00:26:33Well,

00:26:33sort of.

00:26:34Is this the school friend

00:26:35that you told your mother

00:26:35you intended to see that night?

00:26:37Yes.

00:26:38And what reason did you have

00:26:39for just popping in,

00:26:41as you put it,

00:26:41to visit Hodgins?

00:26:42Well,

00:26:43you see,

00:26:43I wanted to pick up a jersey.

00:26:45I'd borrowed it from Tanya

00:26:46and she wanted it back again.

00:26:48I'd left it there

00:26:49the last time I was visiting.

00:26:50So you stopped off

00:26:51to collect your friend's jersey.

00:26:52And what made you stay on?

00:26:54Stephen did.

00:26:55He asked me.

00:26:56The defendant asked you

00:26:57to remain?

00:26:58Yes.

00:26:59You see,

00:26:59when I got there,

00:27:00he was getting ready

00:27:00for some sort of party

00:27:02and he said,

00:27:03well,

00:27:03because it was my birthday,

00:27:04um,

00:27:05well,

00:27:05why didn't I stay?

00:27:06And it could be a sort of

00:27:07birthday party for me

00:27:09instead of a present.

00:27:10And did you agree?

00:27:12Yes.

00:27:12Well,

00:27:13I thought it'd be rude not to.

00:27:14But I did say that,

00:27:15first of all,

00:27:15I'd have to phone Tanya

00:27:16and my mother

00:27:17because obviously

00:27:18I didn't want her to worry.

00:27:19And did you make

00:27:19those telephone calls?

00:27:20Well,

00:27:20I tried.

00:27:21Honestly,

00:27:22I did.

00:27:22I did speak to Tanya

00:27:24but she never told her parents.

00:27:26She was going out

00:27:27so that's why

00:27:27they never knew.

00:27:28What about your mother?

00:27:29Well,

00:27:29I tried

00:27:29but, um,

00:27:30it was engaged every time.

00:27:32But you stayed

00:27:32anyhow?

00:27:34Yes.

00:27:35Wish I hadn't though

00:27:36because, I mean,

00:27:36after that,

00:27:37Martin turned up.

00:27:38Do you mean

00:27:38Martin Barnes?

00:27:39Yes.

00:27:40Stephen invited him

00:27:41to stay to the party

00:27:42as well.

00:27:43I think Stephen

00:27:44fancied him.

00:27:45How well did you

00:27:46know Martin Barnes?

00:27:47Oh,

00:27:48well,

00:27:48we'd been out

00:27:49together a few times.

00:27:50I mean,

00:27:50that's all.

00:27:51It was all over

00:27:52between us by then.

00:27:54Did you

00:27:55enjoy yourself

00:27:56at the party?

00:27:57Not really.

00:27:58I might have

00:27:59if Martin

00:28:00had just left me alone.

00:28:02It reached such a point

00:28:03when he was irritating

00:28:04me just so much

00:28:05I went to the loo.

00:28:07I didn't think

00:28:07he'd follow me

00:28:08but I was wrong.

00:28:09When I came out

00:28:10there was Martin.

00:28:12He said,

00:28:13um,

00:28:14why didn't we go

00:28:15into the bedroom

00:28:15to talk things over?

00:28:17Well,

00:28:18I suppose I ought

00:28:18to have known better

00:28:19but I'd been so mean

00:28:21and I felt sorry

00:28:22so I said yes.

00:28:24Anyway,

00:28:24as soon as I got in there

00:28:25he went and locked the door.

00:28:27Well,

00:28:27I mean,

00:28:28I said,

00:28:28you know,

00:28:28grow up.

00:28:30It was no good.

00:28:31He's started,

00:28:32you know,

00:28:33to maul me about.

00:28:35Um,

00:28:36well that was

00:28:37thank goodness

00:28:37when we heard

00:28:38mummy knocking

00:28:38on the door.

00:28:40Martin went

00:28:41as white as a sheet.

00:28:42I've always been

00:28:43frightened of her.

00:28:44I said,

00:28:45give me the key

00:28:45and he handed it over

00:28:47without a murmur.

00:28:48What was your mother's reaction

00:28:49to finding you alone

00:28:49with Barnes?

00:28:51Well,

00:28:51she was pretty angry

00:28:52of course.

00:28:54I had quite a job

00:28:55trying to calm her down.

00:28:56I'd just managed

00:28:58to cool things a bit

00:28:59when in walked Stephen

00:29:00and made things

00:29:00twice as worse.

00:29:02Now,

00:29:02how did the defendant

00:29:02behave exactly?

00:29:04Oh,

00:29:04he seemed to find

00:29:05it all terribly funny.

00:29:06He kept making

00:29:07these stupid jokes

00:29:08like,

00:29:09oh dear Martin,

00:29:10you have bitten off

00:29:11more than you can chew,

00:29:12haven't you?

00:29:13Something like that anyway.

00:29:14Did he seem concerned

00:29:14about you?

00:29:15No,

00:29:16he was grinning

00:29:16all over his face.

00:29:17And what effect

00:29:18did that have

00:29:18on your mother?

00:29:20Which has made her

00:29:20even angrier.

00:29:22Gave Stephen

00:29:22a piece of her mind.

00:29:23Did she go near him

00:29:24or touch him?

00:29:26No,

00:29:26she didn't need to.

00:29:27Believe me,

00:29:28mummy can be quite sharp

00:29:29when she wants to.

00:29:31Well,

00:29:32I mean,

00:29:32I could see

00:29:32there was going

00:29:33to be trouble

00:29:33so I said

00:29:35I thought it'd be better

00:29:36if she'd take me home.

00:29:37I thought it'd be better

00:29:39for everyone,

00:29:39really.

00:29:41And then I went

00:29:42to the bathroom

00:29:42to tidy up.

00:29:43I beg your pardon,

00:29:44Ms. Coombs,

00:29:44so you went to the bathroom?

00:29:45Yes.

00:29:46What was happening

00:29:46between the defendant

00:29:47and your mother

00:29:48at this point?

00:29:50Well,

00:29:50they were arguing.

00:29:53Stephen was shouting

00:29:54at mummy.

00:29:55I remember that surprised me

00:29:56because he's normally

00:29:56so calm.

00:29:58Never loses his temper.

00:29:59Did anyone

00:30:00or anything

00:30:00prevent you

00:30:01from leaving the room?

00:30:04Um...

00:30:04Please,

00:30:05take your time.

00:30:07Um,

00:30:07yes.

00:30:08Sorry?

00:30:09Yes,

00:30:09he did.

00:30:11Stephen.

00:30:12In what manner?

00:30:14Well,

00:30:15he just,

00:30:15he wouldn't let me

00:30:16get past him.

00:30:17He, um,

00:30:17standing in the door.

00:30:19Well,

00:30:19how did you eventually

00:30:20manage to leave?

00:30:21It was awful.

00:30:23They were shouting

00:30:24at one another

00:30:26and then Stephen,

00:30:27he,

00:30:28he grabbed hold

00:30:29hold of mummy.

00:30:30Well,

00:30:30I don't know

00:30:31what happened

00:30:31after the gap

00:30:32because that's

00:30:32when I ran out of the room.

00:30:33You actually saw

00:30:34the defendant

00:30:34seize hold of your mother.

00:30:35Is that true?

00:30:37Yes.

00:30:41How long did you

00:30:41remain in the bathroom?

00:30:43Um,

00:30:44not long,

00:30:44about ten minutes.

00:30:46When you came out again?

00:30:47I heard voices downstairs,

00:30:49my mother and my father

00:30:51having a row.

00:30:52Oh,

00:30:52and Stephen.

00:30:53Did you go downstairs?

00:30:55No,

00:30:56I went into the bedroom.

00:30:57I'd left my handbag in there

00:30:58and when I came out

00:31:00I waited on the landing.

00:31:01I didn't really want

00:31:02to get mixed up in it.

00:31:03Could you hear

00:31:03what was being said?

00:31:05Yes.

00:31:06Stephen was saying

00:31:07that he was going

00:31:08to sue mummy.

00:31:09He sounded absolutely furious.

00:31:11It was about,

00:31:12oh,

00:31:12some things of his

00:31:14she'd supposedly broken.

00:31:15Well, it's so silly,

00:31:16isn't it?

00:31:16Because it'd be my father

00:31:17who had to pay.

00:31:18I mean,

00:31:18he supports mummy,

00:31:19doesn't he?

00:31:19Did you come down

00:31:19the stairs of talk?

00:31:21Well,

00:31:22eventually,

00:31:22yes.

00:31:23And I saw...

00:31:24Yes.

00:31:25Come on,

00:31:26please.

00:31:26I saw Stephen

00:31:28standing in the doorway.

00:31:29He was holding it

00:31:29half open.

00:31:31He was talking to mummy.

00:31:32I could hear her voice.

00:31:34And then,

00:31:35well,

00:31:35all of a sudden

00:31:36it just stopped.

00:31:37I mean,

00:31:38a voice,

00:31:38I mean.

00:31:40And then Stephen

00:31:41closed the door.

00:31:43Did you see

00:31:44any physical contact

00:31:45take place

00:31:46this time?

00:31:47Well,

00:31:47no,

00:31:48I couldn't

00:31:48because Stephen

00:31:49was standing in the way.

00:31:50But I did see him

00:31:52kind of reach

00:31:52through the door

00:31:53with his arm.

00:31:54And that's when

00:31:55it happened.

00:31:56I mean,

00:31:56the horrible way.

00:31:57Her voice just stopped.

00:31:59I wanted to go after her.

00:32:01But no,

00:32:02Stephen and Daddy

00:32:03said I better not.

00:32:04I kept saying,

00:32:05are you sure

00:32:06she's all right?

00:32:07But I never realised

00:32:08she'd been hurt honestly.

00:32:09And neither did Daddy,

00:32:10but Stephen did.

00:32:11He knew.

00:32:11Miss Coombs,

00:32:12you can't be certain

00:32:13of that as a fact.

00:32:15Why else would he have said

00:32:17what he did?

00:32:17He said,

00:32:18serves her right.

00:32:19No,

00:32:19he said that

00:32:19when he shut the door.

00:32:20I heard him.

00:32:21Miss Coombs,

00:32:22whatever the defendant

00:32:23might have said,

00:32:24it's not for you

00:32:24to speculate

00:32:25on his reasons

00:32:26for saying it.

00:32:28Simply report

00:32:29what you heard

00:32:30to us truthfully.

00:32:31That is why

00:32:32you're here.

00:32:34Is that clear,

00:32:34Miss Coombs?

00:32:35Yes,

00:32:36sorry.

00:32:37Carry on,

00:32:37please,

00:32:38Mr Radcliffe.

00:32:39Miss Coombs,

00:32:39when the ambulance arrived,

00:32:40did the defendant

00:32:40show any sign

00:32:41of surprise

00:32:42or concern?

00:32:43Well,

00:32:43he had to,

00:32:44didn't he?

00:32:45But he was glad,

00:32:46though.

00:32:46He never liked Mummy.

00:32:47You liked Mr Hodges,

00:32:48didn't you?

00:32:50Oh,

00:32:50I used to.

00:32:52He was always so nice,

00:32:53you know,

00:32:54taking me out

00:32:54and buying me things.

00:32:56But that was only

00:32:57to prove to Daddy

00:32:57that we got on,

00:32:58wasn't it?

00:32:59I mean,

00:32:59he was only using me.

00:33:01I can see that now.

00:33:02What about your mother,

00:33:02Miss Coombs?

00:33:03Would you say

00:33:03that your relationship

00:33:04with your mother

00:33:04was a good one?

00:33:08Well,

00:33:08I mean,

00:33:09we fight sometimes,

00:33:10but that's just normal,

00:33:11isn't it?

00:33:11I mean,

00:33:12everybody fights

00:33:13with their parents.

00:33:14All the hell,

00:33:14though,

00:33:14you get on

00:33:15reasonably well.

00:33:17Yes,

00:33:17I love my mother

00:33:18and I am really sorry

00:33:20about what's happened

00:33:21to her.

00:33:22And if there was

00:33:23anything I could do

00:33:23to put it right,

00:33:24I would.

00:33:25Thank you,

00:33:26Miss Coombs.

00:33:38Miss Coombs,

00:33:40you said you only

00:33:41called in at the

00:33:41defendant's house

00:33:42in order to collect

00:33:43a jersey belonging

00:33:44to your friend.

00:33:45Yes.

00:33:46After which,

00:33:47presumably,

00:33:47you intended returning

00:33:48to your friend's house

00:33:49as you'd informed

00:33:50your mother.

00:33:51That's right.

00:33:52May we ask how

00:33:53you made this journey?

00:33:54By bus.

00:33:55I've got a season ticket.

00:33:57By bus.

00:33:58And yet Carlton Street,

00:33:59where the defendant lives,

00:34:00is on the opposite side

00:34:01of Fulchester from you.

00:34:02Which means,

00:34:03if I'm correct,

00:34:03you'd have to take

00:34:04two buses.

00:34:05One to the centre

00:34:06of Fulchester

00:34:06and another one

00:34:07to take you out

00:34:08the other side.

00:34:09A journey of about

00:34:10an hour,

00:34:10it seems a lot

00:34:11of trouble to go to.

00:34:12But I promised Tanya

00:34:13I'd bring it to her.

00:34:14But you didn't,

00:34:15did you?

00:34:16And if you had,

00:34:17it would have meant

00:34:18retracing your steps

00:34:19since your friend

00:34:20lives on the same side

00:34:21of Fulchester

00:34:22as yourself.

00:34:23Isn't that true?

00:34:26Please tell us

00:34:27why you did visit

00:34:29the defendant's house

00:34:29that night,

00:34:30Miss Cooles.

00:34:31I've already told you.

00:34:33That's not what you told

00:34:34Mr. Hodges,

00:34:34is it?

00:34:36I don't know

00:34:37what you mean.

00:34:39Didn't you in fact

00:34:39say to Mr. Hodges

00:34:40that you'd just had

00:34:41a violent argument

00:34:42with your mother

00:34:43and you wanted

00:34:43to get away

00:34:44from her for a while?

00:34:45Um, I don't

00:34:48remember exactly.

00:34:50You asked him

00:34:51to allow you

00:34:52to stay

00:34:53and he consented

00:34:54against his better judgment.

00:34:55Isn't that the truth?

00:34:56No, it's not the truth.

00:34:57I just popped in,

00:34:58that's all,

00:34:59on my way to see Tanya.

00:35:00Perhaps that's what

00:35:01you led your mother

00:35:01to believe.

00:35:02I suggest if you told her

00:35:04where you really

00:35:04intended going,

00:35:05she'd never have allowed

00:35:06you to leave the house.

00:35:07No, actually,

00:35:07she didn't.

00:35:08I mean,

00:35:08she wouldn't have minded.

00:35:12Miss Coombs,

00:35:13you said that

00:35:14when you came out

00:35:15of the bathroom,

00:35:16you remained for a while

00:35:17on the landing.

00:35:18Yes.

00:35:19Because, as you put it,

00:35:20you didn't want

00:35:21to get mixed up in it.

00:35:22By it,

00:35:23maybe suppose you meant

00:35:24the altercation

00:35:25between the defendant

00:35:26and your mother?

00:35:27Yes.

00:35:28You were reluctant

00:35:29to show yourself?

00:35:31Yes.

00:35:32The jury might find

00:35:33that quite credible.

00:35:34After all,

00:35:35weren't you,

00:35:36in a sense,

00:35:36the chief cause

00:35:37of the conflict

00:35:37between them?

00:35:39Never meant to cause

00:35:41any trouble.

00:35:42Were you not afraid

00:35:43to come down?

00:35:45A little, yes.

00:35:46And not without reason.

00:35:48I suggest,

00:35:49Miss Coombs,

00:35:49that the person

00:35:50who frightened you

00:35:51wasn't the defendant,

00:35:52but your mother.

00:35:53She was extremely angry

00:35:55with you,

00:35:55wasn't she?

00:35:56Well, what for?

00:35:57I mean,

00:35:57I hadn't done anything.

00:35:59Nothing.

00:36:00Except deceive her.

00:36:02As you deceived

00:36:03the defendant,

00:36:04I suggest you lied

00:36:05to both of them.

00:36:07No,

00:36:07it's not true.

00:36:08I suggest,

00:36:09Miss Coombs,

00:36:09that if anyone

00:36:10is to blame

00:36:10for what has happened,

00:36:11it is you yourself.

00:36:12Mr Hodges only

00:36:13became involved

00:36:14because he,

00:36:15perhaps mistakenly,

00:36:17interceded

00:36:18between you

00:36:18and your mother.

00:36:19He defended you

00:36:20and took your part

00:36:21in the face

00:36:22of her legitimate anger.

00:36:23Isn't that the truth?

00:36:25No.

00:36:26It's not my fault.

00:36:29He hurt,

00:36:30and now you can't

00:36:30blame me for that.

00:36:32Very well,

00:36:32Miss Coombs.

00:36:33Let us return

00:36:34to what you say

00:36:35you saw

00:36:35took place

00:36:36in the hallway.

00:36:37When you eventually

00:36:38came down the stairs,

00:36:39you saw the defendant

00:36:41in the doorway

00:36:41and heard your mother's voice.

00:36:44Yes.

00:36:45What was your mother saying?

00:36:47Um,

00:36:48I couldn't hear properly.

00:36:50Did she sound

00:36:51calm,

00:36:52excited,

00:36:53angry?

00:36:54No, no,

00:36:55not angry.

00:36:56Sort of, um,

00:36:58normal.

00:36:58But it was Stephen.

00:36:59He was shouting,

00:37:00and that's why

00:37:01I couldn't hear.

00:37:03I see.

00:37:05And after that,

00:37:06you allegedly

00:37:07witnessed Mr. Hodges

00:37:08make some kind of motion.

00:37:10Yes.

00:37:10What was it?

00:37:11Would you demonstrate for us?

00:37:14Um,

00:37:14well,

00:37:14it was sort of

00:37:15like that.

00:37:18That's all?

00:37:19Yes.

00:37:20You didn't see

00:37:21the defendant

00:37:22push your mother

00:37:23or make any sort

00:37:24of bodily contact?

00:37:25No.

00:37:26Look,

00:37:27it was just the way

00:37:28her voice suddenly stopped.

00:37:29I mean,

00:37:30why else would it

00:37:31have done that?

00:37:33Miss Coombs,

00:37:34you're aware

00:37:35how serious

00:37:36this charge is?

00:37:37Yes.

00:37:39And I'll put it

00:37:40to you once more.

00:37:41Is everything

00:37:43you have told us

00:37:44the truth?

00:37:46Yes,

00:37:47it is.

00:37:50I've no more questions.

00:37:52Well,

00:37:53that concludes

00:37:53the evidence

00:37:54of the prosecution,

00:37:54Your Honor.

00:37:58I call the defendant,

00:38:00Stephen Gerald Hodges.

00:38:12Are you

00:38:12Stephen Gerald Hodges

00:38:14and do you live

00:38:14at 16 Carton Street,

00:38:15Fulchester?

00:38:16I am

00:38:16and I do.

00:38:17What is your occupation,

00:38:18Mr. Hodges?

00:38:19A shopkeeper.

00:38:20At the

00:38:21Red Lion Antique Shop

00:38:22Fulchester High Street?

00:38:23That's right.

00:38:24You're a dealer

00:38:25in antiques then?

00:38:26If you prefer it that way,

00:38:27yes,

00:38:28it's how I earn a living.

00:38:29Were you in your shop

00:38:30on the afternoon

00:38:31of December the 12th?

00:38:33I was,

00:38:33most definitely.

00:38:34Perhaps you tell us

00:38:35what happened that day.

00:38:36Well,

00:38:36I made a small fortune

00:38:37out of two German tourists

00:38:39and I had a visit

00:38:40from Jacqueline Coombs.

00:38:42At what time

00:38:43did Mrs. Coombs arrive?

00:38:44About 4.30

00:38:45as I remember,

00:38:46yes,

00:38:46I was just cashing up

00:38:47my ill-gotten gains.

00:38:48Was it a business

00:38:49or social call?

00:38:50Oh,

00:38:50hardly business.

00:38:51Not very social either.

00:38:53You might call it

00:38:53a sort of

00:38:55personal delivery,

00:38:56an ultimatum,

00:38:57I think might be

00:38:57the appropriate word.

00:38:58What did Mrs. Coombs

00:38:59say to you?

00:39:00Quite a lot.

00:39:01I confess,

00:39:01I stopped listening

00:39:02after a while,

00:39:02but the gist of it was

00:39:04I might have her husband,

00:39:06but she'd be damned

00:39:07if she'd throw in

00:39:07her daughter as well.

00:39:09Had she ever made

00:39:10play in her feelings before?

00:39:11Oh,

00:39:12perfectly.

00:39:12But she'd never been

00:39:13to the shop before.

00:39:14Now that,

00:39:15that was new.

00:39:16Her usual method

00:39:17was sending me

00:39:18chilly little notes

00:39:20like,

00:39:20did I really think

00:39:21it was necessary

00:39:21for Susan to go

00:39:22to the new art exhibition

00:39:24when she had O-levels?

00:39:25Next year,

00:39:26O-levels,

00:39:26I guess.

00:39:27Did you pay any attention

00:39:28to her wishes?

00:39:29Oh,

00:39:30of course.

00:39:31Yes,

00:39:31I mean,

00:39:31we discussed it eventually,

00:39:33the three of us,

00:39:34and decided it might be

00:39:35for the best

00:39:36if Susan didn't

00:39:37call round quite so often.

00:39:38The three of you?

00:39:39Oh,

00:39:39yes,

00:39:39the three of us,

00:39:40Susan included.

00:39:41Yes,

00:39:42she was the problem

00:39:43actually.

00:39:44It took quite a bit

00:39:45of convincing

00:39:46to persuade her

00:39:47that it might be

00:39:47all for the best,

00:39:48at least until her mother

00:39:50was a little more rational.

00:39:52So her outburst

00:39:52wasn't entirely unexpected?

00:39:54No.

00:39:54How did you react?

00:39:56Well,

00:39:56I tried not to,

00:39:57but I then assured her

00:39:59that I had no intention

00:40:00of stealing her daughter.

00:40:02I was fond of Susan,

00:40:04I told her,

00:40:04but I no wish

00:40:05to cause trouble

00:40:05between her and Andrew.

00:40:07Did you see Mrs. Coombs

00:40:09again before the 15th?

00:40:10No,

00:40:11nor did I see Susan.

00:40:13At what time

00:40:13did Susan Coombs

00:40:14arrive on that day?

00:40:15Ah,

00:40:16about seven o'clock,

00:40:18as I recall.

00:40:19Had she told you

00:40:20she was coming?

00:40:20No,

00:40:21and I can't say

00:40:22I was all that delighted

00:40:22to see her either.

00:40:23I was getting ready

00:40:24for some do that evening,

00:40:26a few friends I'd invited.

00:40:27Did she give a reason

00:40:28for coming?

00:40:28Yes,

00:40:29she said she'd had

00:40:30another row with her mother,

00:40:31said she needed

00:40:31to get out of the house.

00:40:33Did you believe her?

00:40:34Well,

00:40:35quite frankly,

00:40:35I was far too preoccupied

00:40:37to give it a lot of thought.

00:40:38I told her she could

00:40:39stay for a while

00:40:40and then she really

00:40:41must go home.

00:40:42Oh,

00:40:42she did ask

00:40:43if she could use

00:40:44my telephone

00:40:45and I said yes

00:40:46and left her

00:40:47to her own devices.

00:40:48Was there anyone else

00:40:50in the house?

00:40:50No one.

00:40:51Not until the Barnes boy

00:40:53arrived about

00:40:55half an hour later.

00:40:56Yes,

00:40:56Martin can smell

00:40:57a free drink

00:40:58from miles away.

00:40:59How did Susan Coombs

00:41:00react to seeing him?

00:41:01I believe she was

00:41:02glad to see him.

00:41:03Anyway,

00:41:03they went off

00:41:04for some sort of

00:41:04confabulation

00:41:05and I went back

00:41:05to my preparations.

00:41:07So they remained

00:41:08together in the house

00:41:09for how long?

00:41:10Oh,

00:41:10they were still there

00:41:11when my guests

00:41:11started arriving.

00:41:13I should have

00:41:13thrown them out then

00:41:14but Susan pleaded

00:41:15with me to let her stay on.

00:41:16Well,

00:41:17I agreed on the condition

00:41:18that she telephoned

00:41:19her mother.

00:41:20I suppose I thought

00:41:20Andrew could take her

00:41:21home later.

00:41:22And do you know

00:41:22if she obeyed you?

00:41:24Well,

00:41:24she went into the hall

00:41:25certainly where the

00:41:26telephone was.

00:41:27I heard her

00:41:27speaking to somebody.

00:41:28She came back

00:41:29into the room.

00:41:30She said it was all right.

00:41:31I took that to mean

00:41:31that her mother

00:41:32hadn't objected.

00:41:33She gave you

00:41:34to understand

00:41:35that she had

00:41:35consulted her mother.

00:41:37That is correct.

00:41:38Quite cunning,

00:41:39asks Susan

00:41:40when she goes to me.

00:41:42And when did

00:41:42Mrs. Coombs arrive herself?

00:41:44Ah,

00:41:45about an hour later.

00:41:48Martin had gone off

00:41:49with Susan somewhere.

00:41:50I must admit

00:41:51I was glad to see them go.

00:41:52They'd been

00:41:52particularly tiresome.

00:41:54In what way?

00:41:55Oh,

00:41:55some lover's tiff.

00:41:57They'd kept up

00:41:57a furious argument

00:41:58in whispers.

00:41:59Susan stormed

00:42:00out of the room.

00:42:01Martin followed.

00:42:02Anyway,

00:42:02some time later

00:42:03Jacqueline rang

00:42:03on the doorbell.

00:42:04Did Mrs. Coombs

00:42:05give a reason

00:42:06for her visit?

00:42:07Well,

00:42:07she said she'd

00:42:08come to meet Andrew.

00:42:09Now,

00:42:10I did think

00:42:11that peculiar

00:42:11at the time

00:42:12because Andrew

00:42:12had told me

00:42:13that he was going

00:42:14over to her house

00:42:15to meet her later

00:42:16when he arrived back.

00:42:17Anyway,

00:42:17I showed her through,

00:42:19I introduced her

00:42:20to some of my friends,

00:42:21offered her a drink

00:42:22and let her get on

00:42:22with it.

00:42:23Did she ask

00:42:24about her daughter

00:42:25or mention her?

00:42:27No,

00:42:27no,

00:42:27no.

00:42:28I naturally assumed

00:42:29she knew she was there.

00:42:30What was her behaviour?

00:42:31Did she appear

00:42:32calm or agitated at all?

00:42:34Calm,

00:42:34faced like a wet weekend,

00:42:36sat herself in a corner

00:42:36looking about as cheerful

00:42:37as Anna Karenina.

00:42:39Yet one of my friends

00:42:40asked,

00:42:40has somebody died?

00:42:42Only my party,

00:42:43I replied.

00:42:45Anyway,

00:42:46when I turned round later,

00:42:47she'd disappeared

00:42:48and I thought no more

00:42:50about her

00:42:50until the cacophony

00:42:51started upstairs.

00:42:53Did you go and investigate?

00:42:54Well,

00:42:54I couldn't very well ignore it.

00:42:56I reached the first floor

00:42:58landing,

00:42:59the door of my spare bedroom

00:43:01was open

00:43:01and a full-scale melodrama

00:43:03was in progress

00:43:03and Susan was crying

00:43:05on the bed

00:43:06in a state of

00:43:07déshabillement,

00:43:07Jacqueline towering over,

00:43:09a lot of good old-fashioned

00:43:09epithets were flying about,

00:43:11and Martin,

00:43:12if I remember,

00:43:13was cowering

00:43:14in the background somewhere.

00:43:15What was Mrs. Coombs saying?

00:43:17A lot.

00:43:18Not a name-throwing bitch,

00:43:19a filthy slut.

00:43:21I think she was enjoying

00:43:22as I was playing

00:43:23the outraged mama.

00:43:25Vocabulary went with the role,

00:43:26I think.

00:43:27Did you speak to her?

00:43:28I do recall saying,

00:43:30Jacqueline,

00:43:31what is all the fuss?

00:43:33Something fairly innocuous,

00:43:35anyhow,

00:43:35but it was enough

00:43:36to provoke her,

00:43:36it seemed, yes.

00:43:37I got treated

00:43:38to a lot of dreary allusions

00:43:40as to my sexual preferences,

00:43:42warped nature

00:43:43and so forth.

00:43:44Did that make you angry?

00:43:46I won't say I was charmed.

00:43:49I waited for her

00:43:50to draw a breath

00:43:51and then I asked her

00:43:52if she wouldn't mind leaving.

00:43:53Those were the words you used?

00:43:55Your huff has arrived,

00:43:56would you mind leaving in it?

00:43:58Not really original, perhaps,

00:43:59but I must confess

00:44:00my patience was wearing

00:44:01a little bit thin by then.

00:44:02And did she offer to leave?

00:44:04Well, after loosing off

00:44:05some more invective,

00:44:06yes, yes.

00:44:07She said she was going

00:44:08and taking Susan with her.

00:44:10Now she seized the curl

00:44:11by the arm

00:44:12and began dragging her

00:44:14towards the door.

00:44:15Did Susan go willingly?

00:44:16Not willingly at all.

00:44:18It was perfectly obvious to me

00:44:19that she intended to drag her

00:44:20kicking and screaming

00:44:21down the stairs.

00:44:22Well, I was determined

00:44:23that that was one little scene

00:44:24she wouldn't play in my house.

00:44:26What did you do?

00:44:27Simply stood in her way.

00:44:29Now, when she realized

00:44:30I wouldn't budge,

00:44:31she became quite hysterical.

00:44:33Yet there's no other word for it.

00:44:36She let go of Susan.

00:44:38She made her rush at me

00:44:39with her hands towards my face.

00:44:40Well, I grabbed her wrists,

00:44:42I remember,

00:44:42I held her at arm's length,

00:44:44then she tried to kick my shins.

00:44:46That's when Susan

00:44:47made good her escape

00:44:50and the demolition

00:44:51of my property occurred.

00:44:53Please tell us how exactly,

00:44:55Mr Hodges.

00:44:56Well, I let

00:44:58Jacqueline go

00:45:00after Susan had left.

00:45:02There was a small table

00:45:03next to her

00:45:04with several fairly

00:45:05valuable articles on it.

00:45:07A clock.

00:45:0818th century.

00:45:09Two porcelain figures

00:45:11quite irreplaceable.

00:45:13Anyway, Jacqueline

00:45:14picked one of these up

00:45:15and evidently intended

00:45:16to shy it at me

00:45:17but the look of alarm

00:45:18on my face

00:45:18must have stopped her.

00:45:19So she, er,

00:45:21she smiled

00:45:23and then

00:45:24quite deliberately

00:45:25and callously

00:45:26dropped it.

00:45:28Before I had time to move

00:45:29she'd overturned the table.

00:45:31Both the porcelain figures

00:45:32were smashed,

00:45:33the clock damaged

00:45:35irreparably

00:45:35so I bent down

00:45:37to pick up the fragments

00:45:39and Jacqueline

00:45:40swept out of the room.

00:45:42Were you angered

00:45:43by this destruction?

00:45:48Saddened

00:45:48more than anything else

00:45:49by the loss

00:45:50of three beautiful objects.

00:45:56Anyway,

00:45:56to finish this

00:45:58sorry little tale

00:45:59when I came out

00:46:00onto the landing

00:46:01a few moments later

00:46:01Jacqueline and Andrew

00:46:03were downstairs

00:46:04in the hallway.

00:46:05My evening was not over yet

00:46:06it seemed.

00:46:07She was berating him loudly

00:46:08demanding that he

00:46:10hand over Susan to her.

00:46:11I must admit

00:46:11that by this time

00:46:12I wished I'd never set

00:46:13eyes on Andrew's family.

00:46:14I was heartily sick

00:46:15of the whole sticky

00:46:16little mess.

00:46:17Did you attempt

00:46:18to intervene?

00:46:19No, I'd had enough.

00:46:20I marched straight

00:46:20past them to the front door

00:46:22and opened it.

00:46:22I told Jacqueline

00:46:23quietly but firmly

00:46:24that if she didn't

00:46:26leave my house

00:46:26within 15 seconds

00:46:27I would telephone

00:46:28the police.

00:46:29It was surprisingly

00:46:30seemed to quieten her down.

00:46:32she left Andrew

00:46:34and came to the front door

00:46:35quite meekly.

00:46:37When she reached

00:46:38the front step

00:46:40she turned round

00:46:41to deliver a parting

00:46:41Sally.

00:46:43She was determined

00:46:44that I would never

00:46:44see Susan again

00:46:45and Andrew would be

00:46:47hearing from her solicitor

00:46:48or so she informed us.

00:46:49I waited until she

00:46:51seemed to have finished

00:46:52I bade a good night

00:46:54and I shut the door

00:46:56in her face.

00:46:57Mrs. Coombs

00:46:58was standing

00:46:59on the doorstep.

00:47:00That is correct.

00:47:02Were you able

00:47:03to close the door

00:47:04without any obstruction?

00:47:05Did she attempt

00:47:06to prevent you

00:47:07from closing it?

00:47:08No.

00:47:09I simply shut it

00:47:10without any

00:47:11particular force.

00:47:13Mr. Hodges

00:47:14did you at any time

00:47:16attempt to push

00:47:17or shove

00:47:18Mrs. Coombs

00:47:19or make any

00:47:20physical contact

00:47:21with her

00:47:22with your hands

00:47:23or the door itself?

00:47:25No.

00:47:25I held the door

00:47:27wide open

00:47:28for her.

00:47:28I wished

00:47:29for her to go

00:47:30remember

00:47:30I had no wish

00:47:31to make it difficult

00:47:32for her.

00:47:33To your knowledge

00:47:34was Susan Coombs

00:47:35present when what

00:47:36you described took place?

00:47:37If she was

00:47:37I never saw her.

00:47:39No.

00:47:39She came down the stairs

00:47:40a few moments later

00:47:41and asked if her mother

00:47:41had gone.

00:47:42When we told her

00:47:42she had

00:47:43she seemed relieved.

00:47:44And when was

00:47:45the first time

00:47:46you were aware

00:47:46of what had happened

00:47:47to Mrs. Coombs?

00:47:48When we heard

00:47:49the ambulance draw up

00:47:50outside.

00:48:05The case of the Queen

00:48:06and Hodges

00:48:07will be concluded

00:48:08tomorrow

00:48:08in the Crown Court.

00:48:31Mr. Hodges

00:48:32you said earlier

00:48:32in your evidence

00:48:33that Mrs. Coombs

00:48:35and me to see you

00:48:35at your place of business

00:48:36the Red Lion

00:48:38antique shop

00:48:39Forchester High Street?

00:48:40That's right.

00:48:41You told us

00:48:41that she made

00:48:42various allegations

00:48:43or threats

00:48:43regarding your association

00:48:44with her daughter

00:48:45Susan Coombs.

00:48:45I did, yes.

00:48:46Was anyone else

00:48:47present when this

00:48:48meeting took place?

00:48:48No, not a soul.

00:48:50I was closed.

00:48:51But you'd been

00:48:51open for business

00:48:52earlier, you said.

00:48:53I'd made a sale, yes.

00:48:55I would like the defender

00:48:56to be shown this copy

00:48:56of the Forchester Gazette.

00:49:05Did you place the

00:49:06advertisement that

00:49:07I've marked?

00:49:08I did, yes.

00:49:09Advertisement for your

00:49:10shop, isn't it?

00:49:11The Red Lion

00:49:12antique shop.

00:49:14Printed clearly there

00:49:15the times when you're

00:49:15open for business.

00:49:16Would you care

00:49:16to read them aloud

00:49:17just please?

00:49:17Well, I don't need

00:49:18the publicity

00:49:19but I will.

00:49:20My hours are from

00:49:2110 until 5.30

00:49:22Tuesdays to Saturdays.

00:49:23Why are you not

00:49:24open on Mondays?

00:49:25Well, that's the day

00:49:26I reserve for going

00:49:27to auctions

00:49:27to pick up

00:49:28more stock

00:49:28if I'm lucky.

00:49:29December the 12th

00:49:30was a Monday

00:49:30yet you were open.

00:49:32An exception.

00:49:34Greed

00:49:34got the better of me

00:49:36you could say.

00:49:37You see, my German

00:49:38customers had purchased

00:49:39some very expensive

00:49:40items.

00:49:40They needed to go

00:49:41to their bank

00:49:41to withdraw the balance.

00:49:43They were returning

00:49:43to Munich on Tuesday.

00:49:45Naturally, I made

00:49:46a special arrangement

00:49:47to meet them on Monday.

00:49:48I see.

00:49:49And did you inform

00:49:49Mrs. Coombs of this

00:49:50arrangement you've made?

00:49:51Good God, no.

00:49:52I see.

00:49:52So it asks us to believe

00:49:53that by some special

00:49:55divination Mrs. Coombs

00:49:56knew that you were

00:49:57due to be over

00:49:57for business that day

00:49:59unlike the readers

00:50:00of the Fulchester

00:50:00Gazette.

00:50:01Perhaps she saw me

00:50:02from the street

00:50:03as she was passing

00:50:04outside through the window.

00:50:05Perhaps your German

00:50:06customers witnessed

00:50:07Mrs. Coombs' arrival.

00:50:07Oh, no, no, no.

00:50:08They'd gone by then.

00:50:09I see.

00:50:10So we only have your word

00:50:10that such a meeting

00:50:11ever took place.

00:50:12It looks like it.

00:50:13Yeah.

00:50:15On the evening of the 15th,

00:50:16Susan Coombs came to

00:50:17your house at about

00:50:19seven o'clock.

00:50:19Is that right?

00:50:20That's right.

00:50:21And shortly afterwards,

00:50:21Martin Barnes arrived.

00:50:23Now, you said they'd

00:50:23been there before

00:50:24in order to meet

00:50:25with Mrs. Coombs.

00:50:26I did, yes.

00:50:26How often, may we ask?

00:50:28I never kept count.

00:50:30I suppose about

00:50:30half a dozen times

00:50:31they used my house

00:50:32as a rendezvous

00:50:33before they went out

00:50:33to do whatever

00:50:34young people do nowadays.

00:50:35And you consented

00:50:36to this arrangement?

00:50:37Well, I didn't mind.

00:50:38Do you know if Mrs. Coombs

00:50:39was aware

00:50:40of these meetings?

00:50:40I couldn't possibly say.

00:50:42Probably not.

00:50:42You didn't feel it

00:50:43necessary to inform her?

00:50:44No.

00:50:46Did you arrange

00:50:46their meetings at your house?

00:50:47No.

00:50:48And if I'd forbidden

00:50:49Martin to come to my house,

00:50:50they'd only have met

00:50:51somewhere else.

00:50:52That was Jacqueline's

00:50:52problem, not mine.

00:50:53Did it not occur to you

00:50:54that Mrs. Coombs

00:50:54might not be

00:50:55by these carryings on

00:50:56behind her back?

00:50:57Oh, a great deal

00:50:57of what Susan did

00:50:58or wanted

00:50:59seemed to make Jacqueline

00:50:59unhappy.

00:51:00Any sign the girl

00:51:01was asserting herself.

00:51:02Mr. Hodges,

00:51:02the girl was under

00:51:03the age of 16.

00:51:05Did you not realise

00:51:05that your collusion

00:51:06in this affair

00:51:06might have had

00:51:07serious consequences?

00:51:08I find this change

00:51:09of casting

00:51:09rather confusing.

00:51:10A few moments ago

00:51:11I was just a vicious

00:51:12old queen.

00:51:13Now, apparently,

00:51:13I'm a panda as well.

00:51:14Your Honour,

00:51:15this is not material, surely.

00:51:16No, I don't believe

00:51:17that it is.

00:51:17Mr. Radcliffe,

00:51:18you will please

00:51:18withdraw your last question.

00:51:20Members of the jury,

00:51:21you will disregard

00:51:22both the question

00:51:23and the defendant's answer.

00:51:24I apologise, Your Honour.

00:51:25Very well.

00:51:26Mr. Hodges,

00:51:27you're facing

00:51:28a serious charge.

00:51:30Try to reply

00:51:30with a little less

00:51:32levity, do you understand?

00:51:33Perfectly,

00:51:33I apologise, Your Honour.

00:51:35Proceed then,

00:51:35Mr. Radcliffe.

00:51:36Mr. Hodges,

00:51:37when Jacqueline Coombs

00:51:37arrived at your home,

00:51:38you showed her through

00:51:39into the sitting room

00:51:39and the rest of the guests

00:51:40at your party were assembled.

00:51:42Now, tell us,

00:51:42was she acquainted

00:51:43with any of these people?

00:51:44Oh, I shouldn't think so.

00:51:45No, no,

00:51:46they were my friends.

00:51:47So her natural shyness

00:51:48in her part

00:51:48could not be considered

00:51:49abnormal, could it?

00:51:50I'd never describe

00:51:50Jacqueline as shy.

00:51:51Nevertheless,

00:51:52her reticence

00:51:52was not so remarkable

00:51:53when you consider

00:51:54the state of anxiety

00:51:54about her daughter.

00:51:56There was nothing

00:51:57irrational about her behaviour,

00:51:58wouldn't you agree?

00:51:59Perhaps not at that point.

00:52:00Nor later,

00:52:00I would suggest,

00:52:01her reaction.

00:52:02The shock

00:52:02of discovering her daughter

00:52:03undressed and distressed

00:52:04in the stranger's bedroom.

00:52:05If it was such a shock.

00:52:07Not suggesting

00:52:08Mrs. Coombs knew

00:52:08what she'd find.

00:52:09I'm suggesting

00:52:10that Jacqueline

00:52:10was primed and fused

00:52:11long before she went

00:52:12up to the bedroom.

00:52:12Her outbirth demonstrated

00:52:13that amply to me.

00:52:14It was just unfortunate.

00:52:15Susan gave her an excuse

00:52:16for it.

00:52:16What about yourself,

00:52:17you do not really know

00:52:18how upset Mrs. Coombs

00:52:19might be?

00:52:20Well, there was no

00:52:20good logical reason

00:52:21for her to behave that way.

00:52:22No, I can't say

00:52:23I expected it.

00:52:25Do you deny

00:52:25making the remark

00:52:26about a birthday surprise?

00:52:28I never said anything

00:52:29about a birthday surprise.

00:52:30I may have let's

00:52:31sip something

00:52:32about a birthday party.

00:52:33So you admit

00:52:33you gave Susan Coombs

00:52:34a birthday party?

00:52:35No.

00:52:36Well, it was Susan Coombs'

00:52:37birthday, wasn't it?

00:52:38Amongst others,

00:52:38it also happened

00:52:39to be mine,

00:52:39or rather it had been

00:52:40a week or so before.

00:52:41I've just invited

00:52:42some friends around

00:52:43to mark the occasion

00:52:44to bid the years

00:52:44goodbye graciously.

00:52:46Why didn't you

00:52:46mention this before?

00:52:47Nobody asked.

00:52:47Besides, at my age

00:52:48you don't advertise.

00:52:51Can you explain

00:52:52your behaviour

00:52:52when you found

00:52:53Mrs. Coombs at her

00:52:53Barnes?

00:52:54From your own

00:52:55account and theirs,

00:52:56it seemed to amuse

00:52:57you more than anything.

00:52:59Well, I'm afraid

00:53:00I always react that way

00:53:01when people start

00:53:02behaving over emotionally.

00:53:03I have a highly

00:53:04developed sense

00:53:05of the ludicrous.

00:53:06I didn't realise

00:53:07it was an offence.

00:53:08Perhaps not,

00:53:09but it appears

00:53:09to have given offence.

00:53:10I'm sorry if it did.

00:53:11I thought one of us

00:53:12should try to stay calm.

00:53:13It appeared to have

00:53:13stayed admirably calm.

00:53:15Even after the destruction

00:53:16of your property.

00:53:18Objects who appear

00:53:18to have valued greatly.

00:53:21Throwing a tantrum

00:53:21wouldn't have restored them.

00:53:24Now, you came down

00:53:25the stairs.

00:53:26You said to find

00:53:26Mrs. Coombs arguing

00:53:27with her husband.

00:53:29Without intervening

00:53:29or interfering,

00:53:30you moved straight

00:53:30past them

00:53:31and opened the front door.

00:53:32Is that truly

00:53:32what happened?

00:53:32Yes.

00:53:33You didn't speak

00:53:33to Mrs. Coombs

00:53:34or reprimand her

00:53:35for her willful destruction?

00:53:36As I said,

00:53:37scolding her

00:53:37wouldn't have helped.

00:53:38And she obeyed you

00:53:39without protest?

00:53:41Hardly seems compatible

00:53:42with your picture

00:53:42of a violent

00:53:43and hysterical woman,

00:53:44does it?

00:53:44Perhaps she was

00:53:45saving it up

00:53:46for her doorstep diatribe.

00:53:48I really don't know.

00:53:48And you listened

00:53:49to this alleged diatribe

00:53:50for how long?

00:53:50Oh, for several minutes.

00:53:51It seemed longer.

00:53:52On a cold winter night

00:53:53with a front door wide open.

00:53:54Courtesy is a hard habit

00:53:55to break.

00:53:57I was brought up

00:53:58to open doors

00:53:59for females.

00:53:59I waited until

00:54:01she'd finished.

00:54:01I closed the door

00:54:02and I bet her goodnight.

00:54:03She was still vertical

00:54:04when I did that

00:54:05and so no signs

00:54:06of becoming otherwise.

00:54:07That's all I can say.

00:54:10Jory might consider

00:54:11that your courtesy

00:54:11didn't extend

00:54:12to offering Mrs. Coombs

00:54:13her coat

00:54:13before you evicted her.

00:54:18Mr. Hodges,

00:54:19do you deny

00:54:20using the phrase

00:54:22serves her right

00:54:23after you closed the door?

00:54:25Yes, I may have said

00:54:26thank God for that.

00:54:27Something similar

00:54:28I can't recall exactly.

00:54:30Nevertheless,

00:54:30you were grateful

00:54:30that the problem

00:54:32had been removed.

00:54:33If you wish

00:54:34to put it that way,

00:54:35yes.

00:54:37Do you know,

00:54:39I treated Jacqueline

00:54:40and Susan

00:54:40as individuals

00:54:42in their own right

00:54:43and responded

00:54:44to them as such.

00:54:45It so happened

00:54:45that I got on well

00:54:46with Susan.

00:54:47I tried

00:54:48to get on

00:54:48with Jacqueline

00:54:50but I never saw

00:54:51myself as a surrogate

00:54:52father

00:54:52or mother

00:54:53if you prefer it

00:54:55simply as a friend.

00:54:57Now it was Susan's wish

00:54:58that her private life

00:54:59be kept private.

00:55:00I respected that wish.

00:55:02Now if that caused

00:55:03her mother to resent me

00:55:04I very much regret it.

00:55:07I'd no wish

00:55:08to cause any trouble

00:55:09between Andrew

00:55:10and his wife.

00:55:11Why should I?

00:55:14What possible satisfaction

00:55:16could it give me?

00:55:19May we take it then

00:55:20that you categorically deny

00:55:21causing any harm

00:55:22to Mrs. Coombs?

00:55:22I do.

00:55:23You neither assaulted her

00:55:24nor pushed her

00:55:24down the front steps

00:55:25of your house?

00:55:26No.

00:55:26Not even at a moment

00:55:27of anger

00:55:27or a temporary loss

00:55:28of self-control?

00:55:29No such moment

00:55:29occurred.

00:55:32Very well.

00:55:35That's all,

00:55:36Mr Hodges.

00:55:41Are you Martin

00:55:42Kingsley Barnes?

00:55:43That's right.

00:55:44And you live

00:55:45at 15 Albury Road,

00:55:46Islington, London?

00:55:47Yeah.

00:55:48It's only temporary

00:55:49though.

00:55:50On December 15th

00:55:51last year

00:55:52you were living

00:55:52in Fultester

00:55:53at 22 Homewood Gardens.

00:55:54Is that correct?

00:55:56That's right.

00:55:56On the evening

00:55:57of the 15th

00:55:58did you leave

00:55:58that address

00:55:59at any time?

00:56:00Yeah.

00:56:00I went out

00:56:02about seven.

00:56:03Where did you go?

00:56:04Around to Colton Street,

00:56:06the Hodges place.

00:56:06What time did you arrive there?

00:56:08About half seven.

00:56:10What was the purpose

00:56:11of your visit?

00:56:12I went there

00:56:13to pick up

00:56:13some stuff

00:56:13I'd left there.

00:56:14Some clothes

00:56:15and things.

00:56:17I used to live there.

00:56:19Was the defendant

00:56:20in when you called?

00:56:21Yeah, he was there.

00:56:23With Susie.

00:56:24Do you mean

00:56:25Susan Coombs?

00:56:26That's right.

00:56:27You knew Miss Coombs?

00:56:29Yeah, used to.

00:56:31We went out

00:56:31together for a while.

00:56:33Were you still

00:56:34going out

00:56:34with her at the time?

00:56:36No.

00:56:36It was all over

00:56:37between us by then.

00:56:38It had been a bit

00:56:39heavy, you know,

00:56:39when I told her

00:56:40we ought to pack it in.

00:56:42She didn't take it

00:56:43too well.

00:56:43You told her

00:56:44you wanted to

00:56:45end the relationship?

00:56:46Yeah.

00:56:47See,

00:56:48I knew I had to

00:56:49split from here soon.

00:56:50I was going mad

00:56:51in this place, you know.

00:56:52I had to get out,

00:56:53get away.

00:56:55Well,

00:56:56I'm not into

00:56:56long-distance lovers.

00:56:57It seemed better

00:56:58to make a clean break.

00:57:00I mean,

00:57:00I told her she could

00:57:01come with me

00:57:01if she wanted to,

00:57:02but that would

00:57:04upset Mummy,

00:57:05wouldn't it?

00:57:05Did she accept

00:57:06the fact you were leaving?

00:57:07I thought she had, yeah.

00:57:09How did she react

00:57:10when she saw you?

00:57:11Seemed okay at first.

00:57:13I thought everything

00:57:14was going to be cool.

00:57:15Well,

00:57:15otherwise I'd have

00:57:16gone straight away.

00:57:17But then,

00:57:20well,

00:57:21you know what

00:57:22women are like.

00:57:23You think you've got

00:57:24it all straightened out

00:57:24and before you can

00:57:25turn around

00:57:25they've started again,

00:57:26being heavy.

00:57:28I mean,

00:57:28what's the point?

00:57:30Well,

00:57:31anyway,

00:57:31I went upstairs.

00:57:33Susie followed me.

00:57:34Miss Coombs

00:57:35followed you.

00:57:37That's what I said.

00:57:37Go on,

00:57:38please.

00:57:40Well,

00:57:41I went in the bathroom

00:57:42and she hung around

00:57:43outside.

00:57:44Well,

00:57:45she was crying.

00:57:45We're in a right state.

00:57:47When I came out,

00:57:48I tried telling her

00:57:49everything was okay.

00:57:51I just wanted her

00:57:52to calm down a bit,

00:57:52you know,

00:57:53before we went back

00:57:53to the party.

00:57:54I mean,

00:57:54that's why I took her

00:57:55in my room.

00:57:57Well,

00:57:57it used to be

00:57:58in my room.

00:57:59I just wanted to

00:58:00give her a chance

00:58:01to sort herself out.

00:58:03I mean,

00:58:03that's all.

00:58:04And my stuff was in there.

00:58:05I thought I'd pick it up

00:58:06and make myself scarce.

00:58:08Seemed like a good idea.

00:58:09What happened then?

00:58:11Listen,

00:58:11I can guess what

00:58:11she told you happened.

00:58:12Please,

00:58:13Mr Barnes,

00:58:13tell us in your own words.

00:58:16Okay,

00:58:16then.

00:58:18When we got in there,

00:58:20I started talking to her,

00:58:22you know,

00:58:23explaining things to her

00:58:24so she understood.

00:58:26Well,

00:58:26that was fine.

00:58:27I managed to get

00:58:28the waterworks

00:58:29turned down a bit.

00:58:32Well,

00:58:32I thought everything

00:58:33was great.

00:58:34I thought we finally

00:58:35got it all settled.

00:58:36Next thing,

00:58:38she walks to the door,

00:58:40locks it,

00:58:40right?

00:58:41Puts the key

00:58:42in her pocket.

00:58:43She turns around

00:58:44and she's smiling at me.

00:58:46I said,

00:58:47come on,

00:58:47girl,

00:58:47it's a bit late

00:58:48for this,

00:58:48isn't it?

00:58:49What did you mean by that?

00:58:50Well,

00:58:50it was obvious

00:58:50what her game was,

00:58:51wasn't it?

00:58:52If emotional blackmail

00:58:53didn't work.

00:58:55Anyway,

00:58:55when she started

00:58:56undoing her blouse,

00:58:56I thought things

00:58:57had gone far enough.

00:58:58I made it clear

00:58:58I wasn't buying any.

00:58:59What was her reaction?

00:59:01Turned on the tears again.

00:59:02What did you expect?

00:59:03I mean,

00:59:04I knew I had to get

00:59:04out there fast

00:59:05but I couldn't make her

00:59:05give me the key.

00:59:07Anyway,

00:59:07it was too late by then

00:59:08because mummy

00:59:09was breaking the door down.

00:59:11I mean,

00:59:12great,

00:59:13beautiful timing.

00:59:14Did Susan Coombs

00:59:15open the door

00:59:15for her mother?

00:59:16In the end,

00:59:17yeah.

00:59:18But she was scared,

00:59:19though,

00:59:19you could see.

00:59:20She was shaking.

00:59:21How did Mrs Coombs

00:59:22behave?

00:59:23Laid into her

00:59:24straight off,

00:59:25no messing about.

00:59:27Felt really sorry

00:59:28for Seuss.

00:59:29Did you speak

00:59:29to either of them?

00:59:30Yeah,

00:59:31I had a go at explaining.

00:59:32All I got

00:59:33was an earful.

00:59:33Then Hodges comes in

00:59:34and she turns

00:59:35both barrels on him.

00:59:36Did you see

00:59:37any physical contact

00:59:38take place

00:59:39between the defendant

00:59:39and Mrs Coombs?

00:59:41Hodges was trying

00:59:41to talk sense to her

00:59:42but she was

00:59:43one hung up lady,

00:59:44you know.

00:59:44I mean,

00:59:45in the end

00:59:45he told her to

00:59:46cool off or get out.

00:59:47Well,

00:59:47that was fine

00:59:48except she wanted

00:59:48Susie to go with her.

00:59:49She grabs hold of Susie

00:59:51and starts pulling her.

00:59:52Susie's pulling back

00:59:52the other way

00:59:53and screaming the place down.

00:59:54Hodges tells her

00:59:55to leave Susie alone

00:59:56and she goes for him.

00:59:58Well,

00:59:59that was it really.

01:00:00Well,

01:00:00Susie runs out.

01:00:01There was a bit of a fight,

01:00:03nothing serious.

01:00:04A few things got broken

01:00:05but nobody was hurt.

01:00:06How exactly

01:00:07did these things get broken?

01:00:08Well,

01:00:09there was some stuff

01:00:09on the table.

01:00:10A clock,

01:00:11I think,

01:00:12and there was some stuff.

01:00:14It got knocked over

01:00:15when they were fighting.

01:00:16Who knocked them over?

01:00:17Well,

01:00:17she did,

01:00:17Susie's mum.

01:00:18Was her action deliberate?

01:00:21Hard to say.

01:00:23Oh,

01:00:23I don't know.

01:00:25Well,

01:00:25like I said,

01:00:26there was a bit of a struggle.

01:00:27I mean,

01:00:28I kept well out of the way.

01:00:29I mean,

01:00:29like it was

01:00:30Battle of the Dinosaurs time,

01:00:31you know.

01:00:33Sorry,

01:00:33it's not funny,

01:00:34of course,

01:00:35but,

01:00:35I mean,

01:00:35you had to be there to see it.

01:00:36I mean,

01:00:37all it needed

01:00:37was Susie tied to a stake

01:00:38with one of those

01:00:39leopard-skin bikinis on.

01:00:41I mean,

01:00:42it has all got blown up a bit,

01:00:43you have to admit.

01:00:43Possibly it has,

01:00:45Mr Barnes.

01:00:46Unfortunately,

01:00:47the charge facing Mr Hodges

01:00:48is far from amusing,

01:00:50to him at least.

01:00:52Yeah,

01:00:52well,

01:00:53I only meant,

01:00:55sorry.

01:01:03So as soon as Mrs Coombs

01:01:04had gone,

01:01:05you left the bedroom

01:01:06and went downstairs.

01:01:07Where did you go next?

01:01:09Well,

01:01:09into the sitting room.

01:01:10Well,

01:01:10I needed a drink by then.

01:01:12But there was no getting away from her.

01:01:14When I walked in,

01:01:15there she was,

01:01:15at it,

01:01:16a slanging match,

01:01:17with her husband this time.

01:01:19You could see people

01:01:19crawling into the corners

01:01:20to hide.

01:01:22Well,

01:01:22luckily,

01:01:22he took her outside

01:01:23so we had a bit of peace

01:01:24for a change.

01:01:25Yeah,

01:01:26I wanted to go,

01:01:26you know.

01:01:27I'd had enough.

01:01:28But,

01:01:29well,

01:01:29I couldn't get past

01:01:29the happy couple.

01:01:30So I walked to the doorway

01:01:31and waited there,

01:01:32hoping for a chance

01:01:33to nip out.

01:01:34You were watching

01:01:34from the sitting room doorway?

01:01:36Yeah,

01:01:37and I saw what happened.

01:01:38Perhaps you tell us

01:01:39what you saw.

01:01:41Well,

01:01:42after she'd been going

01:01:43on at him for a bit,

01:01:44the husband,

01:01:45I mean,

01:01:46you could see the poor sod

01:01:47didn't know what it is in.

01:01:48Hodges comes down the stairs.

01:01:50They both stopped

01:01:51and looked at him.

01:01:52He stopped at the bottom

01:01:53of the stairs

01:01:54and looked back.

01:01:55He was rigid,

01:01:57you know,

01:01:57really trembling with anger.

01:01:59It even made her shut up.

01:02:02Without saying a word,

01:02:03he walked past them both

01:02:04and opened the door.

01:02:05He told her to get out

01:02:06and she did.

01:02:07He didn't have to shout.

01:02:09She knew he meant business.

01:02:11Did he touch her in any way?

01:02:12I told you,

01:02:13he didn't have to.

01:02:14She was scared stiff.

01:02:15I was scared myself.

01:02:17Did Mrs. Coombs say anything?

01:02:20Well,

01:02:20after she got outside,

01:02:21she started up again.

01:02:22Beach,

01:02:23I slammed the door in her face.

01:02:25After that,

01:02:26I went back into the sitting room.

01:02:27I didn't want them seeing me.

01:02:29Did you witness

01:02:29the defendant

01:02:30actually make physical contact

01:02:32with Mrs. Coombs at all?

01:02:34He never touched her.

01:02:35That's the truth.

01:02:37Thank you,

01:02:37Mr. Barnes.

01:02:38That's all.

01:02:43Mr. Barnes,

01:02:45are you true to say

01:02:46that Mrs. Coombs

01:02:48disliked you?

01:02:50We didn't exactly

01:02:51hit it off, no.

01:02:52And also are you true to say

01:02:53that she was less than pleased

01:02:54to find you alone

01:02:55with her daughter?

01:02:57I guess.

01:02:58You see,

01:02:58what I puzzle the court,

01:02:59Mr. Barnes,

01:02:59is why would a lady

01:03:00so ill-disposed towards you

01:03:02choose to stand

01:03:03in a lighted doorway

01:03:03and listen in

01:03:04on a private conversation?

01:03:05I mean,

01:03:05it's not the kind of exposure

01:03:07that a person

01:03:07in your position

01:03:08would welcome.

01:03:10Not if you're wise,

01:03:11I suggest.

01:03:12Well,

01:03:12I didn't think about it

01:03:13like that at the time.

01:03:15Well,

01:03:15anyway,

01:03:16she didn't see me,

01:03:16did she?

01:03:17Nevertheless,

01:03:17you insist that you were there

01:03:18and you did see the events

01:03:19take place in the man

01:03:20you've just described.

01:03:21Yes.

01:03:22Yeah.

01:03:24Well,

01:03:24I suggest that you are

01:03:26mistaken.

01:03:28Thank you,

01:03:29Mr. Barnes.

01:03:40You're Andrew Edward Coombs?

01:03:42I am.

01:03:43And you live at 16 Carton Street,

01:03:45Fullchester,

01:03:45also the home of the defendant.

01:03:47Yes,

01:03:47I do.

01:03:48What is your profession,

01:03:49Mr. Coombs?

01:03:50I'm an architect.

01:03:51I have my own business.

01:03:53Where were you on the 15th of December

01:03:55last year?

01:03:56In Birmingham.

01:03:57I went there to meet

01:03:59with some clients.

01:04:00What time did you arrive

01:04:01back at Fullchester?

01:04:03At 20 past nine,

01:04:04I got a taxi from the station

01:04:05and I was at home

01:04:06just before 10.

01:04:08Did you tell your wife

01:04:09what time you were returning?

01:04:11Yes,

01:04:11I told her I'd be on

01:04:12the nine o'clock train.

01:04:13It was 20 minutes late,

01:04:14though.

01:04:15Signal failure,

01:04:16they said.

01:04:16You'd arranged to meet your wife

01:04:18when you came back?

01:04:20Yes,

01:04:20I said I'd drop over there

01:04:22on my...

01:04:23in the evening

01:04:24with Susan's birthday present.

01:04:27You'd arranged to meet her

01:04:28at her house,

01:04:29not the defendant's.

01:04:30Is that correct?

01:04:31Yes.

01:04:32That's what we agreed.

01:04:33Were you surprised then

01:04:35to find your wife

01:04:36at the defendant's home?

01:04:38Yes,

01:04:38I suppose I was a little.

01:04:40Why was that?

01:04:41Well,

01:04:42she never nearly

01:04:44went there

01:04:44once or twice only.

01:04:45I usually met at the office

01:04:48or I went to her

01:04:48if there was something important.

01:04:50When did you first realize

01:04:51that your wife

01:04:52was present in the house,

01:04:53Mr. Coombs?

01:04:54When she came into the sitting room

01:04:56a few minutes

01:04:56after I arrived.

01:04:58How did she appear to you?

01:05:00Seemed a little

01:05:03upset,

01:05:04agitated.

01:05:05What were you doing

01:05:06when she entered the room?

01:05:07I was chatting

01:05:08with some of Stephen's friends.

01:05:10And how did she behave

01:05:11when she saw you?

01:05:13Well,

01:05:15she was

01:05:17trying to tell me something

01:05:18and I couldn't make

01:05:19any sense of it.

01:05:21and I asked her

01:05:22what the trouble was

01:05:23several times

01:05:24but didn't appear

01:05:26to hear me.

01:05:28It was all

01:05:28rather embarrassing,

01:05:29actually.

01:05:31One man offered to help

01:05:32and she was really

01:05:33quite unpleasant to him.

01:05:35Eventually,

01:05:35I thought it was better

01:05:36to leave

01:05:37and try and sort it out

01:05:38outside.

01:05:39You went out

01:05:40into the hallway?

01:05:42Yes,

01:05:42I tried to find out

01:05:43what the matter was

01:05:44but I'm afraid

01:05:45we both

01:05:46ended up shouting

01:05:47at one another.

01:05:47It's never happened before.

01:05:50I was very tired though.

01:05:52Couldn't be helped.

01:05:54Please go on,

01:05:55Mr. Goons.

01:05:56There's really

01:05:57not very much more to say.

01:06:00After a while,

01:06:01Stephen came down

01:06:02from upstairs.

01:06:02He asked Jacqueline

01:06:05to leave

01:06:05and she went.

01:06:08I could see

01:06:08that he was very angry

01:06:09with her about something

01:06:10but I didn't know

01:06:11what, of course,

01:06:12until later.

01:06:13Did you ask

01:06:14the defendant

01:06:14for an explanation?

01:06:17No.

01:06:19I was

01:06:21rather upset myself.

01:06:24I did say to Jacqueline

01:06:25that I'd speak

01:06:26to her later.

01:06:27I suppose I thought

01:06:28it was better

01:06:29that we should all

01:06:29calm down a little.

01:06:32Did the defendant

01:06:33shout at your wife

01:06:34or threaten her?

01:06:36Oh, no.

01:06:38Stephen is very

01:06:40controlled.

01:06:42He isn't like that.

01:06:44Did you see him

01:06:45lay hands on her

01:06:46at any point?

01:06:46No.

01:06:48Last time that we saw her

01:06:49she was quite all right.

01:06:51None of us knew

01:06:51what happened afterwards.

01:06:53We were all very sorry

01:06:54when we found out.

01:06:57Stephen offered

01:06:57to drive me to the hospital

01:06:58but I said I thought

01:06:59it was better

01:07:00that I took Susan home.

01:07:02He was very concerned

01:07:03about Jacqueline.

01:07:05It had all been

01:07:06a silly mistake really.

01:07:07Did you visit your wife

01:07:09at the hospital?

01:07:10Yes.

01:07:11I took Jacqueline's car.

01:07:13I had a

01:07:15some spare keys luckily.

01:07:17How did she appear

01:07:18when you saw her?

01:07:20A bit pale.

01:07:22Rather quiet

01:07:23and inatural I suppose.

01:07:24Apart from remaining quiet

01:07:25did she show

01:07:26any other emotion

01:07:27towards you?

01:07:29I'm sorry

01:07:30I don't understand you.

01:07:31Was she friendly

01:07:32towards your hosta?

01:07:34No neither really.

01:07:35More

01:07:37sort of

01:07:39neutral.

01:07:40And towards the defendant

01:07:41did she give

01:07:43any indication

01:07:43that she blamed

01:07:44Mr. Hodges

01:07:45for what had happened

01:07:45to her?

01:07:46None.

01:07:47So you were not aware

01:07:48that she regarded

01:07:49Mr. Hodges

01:07:50as her assailant?

01:07:51Not then anyway.

01:07:53No.

01:07:53Not until this

01:07:54business.

01:07:56I think it

01:07:57surprised all of us.

01:08:00Thank you Mr. Coombs.

01:08:06Mr. Coombs

01:08:08when your wife

01:08:09entered the sitting room

01:08:09you said she appeared

01:08:11agitated.

01:08:13Oh

01:08:14you really have no inkling

01:08:15why she might have been

01:08:16in that state?

01:08:17No I can't say

01:08:17that I did.

01:08:19How would you

01:08:20discover the relationship

01:08:20between the defendant

01:08:21and your wife?

01:08:22Well I'd always thought

01:08:23it was fairly good.

01:08:24Only fairly good?

01:08:25Yes.

01:08:26Well there were

01:08:27some

01:08:27that didn't always

01:08:29see eye to eye.

01:08:30Mr. Coombs

01:08:31when the defendant

01:08:31came downstairs

01:08:31and confronted

01:08:32your wife in the hallway

01:08:33you said

01:08:34he appeared to be

01:08:35angry with her.

01:08:36Were you not

01:08:37concerned about that

01:08:38at all?

01:08:39Yes I suppose

01:08:40I was a little.

01:08:40But you made no effort

01:08:41to discover the reason

01:08:42for his anger?

01:08:43No.

01:08:44I...

01:08:44Nor did you make

01:08:44any attempt to stop

01:08:45the defendant

01:08:45from evicting your wife.

01:08:46Why not?

01:08:47I didn't know

01:08:47what it was about.

01:08:49Are you entirely

01:08:50satisfied now

01:08:50that he behaved

01:08:52reasonably

01:08:54towards Mrs. Coombs?

01:08:56I think he behaved

01:08:57very well

01:08:59considering.

01:09:00I see.

01:09:01So as far as your

01:09:01concern has done

01:09:02nothing which might

01:09:02alter your feelings

01:09:03of loyalty towards him?

01:09:06Nothing.

01:09:09One last question

01:09:10Mr. Coombs

01:09:17is against you.

01:09:20Yes.

01:09:22Yes I'm afraid

01:09:23that is true.

01:09:24It's all very

01:09:27regrettable.

01:09:27It's a great pity.

01:09:33Ladies and gentlemen

01:09:34of the jury

01:09:35it only remains

01:09:36for me now

01:09:37to direct you

01:09:37as to the law

01:09:39relating to the

01:09:40verdict

01:09:40which you must

01:09:41consider.

01:09:43If you are

01:09:44satisfied

01:09:44so that you are

01:09:45sure that an

01:09:46assault

01:09:47was committed

01:09:48by the defendant

01:09:48which resulted

01:09:49in her suffering

01:09:50bodily injury

01:09:51deliberately

01:09:52and in such a way

01:09:53that it was obvious

01:09:53to him that his

01:09:54victim would

01:09:55suffer harm

01:09:57then your proper

01:09:58verdict must be

01:09:59one of guilty.

01:10:01If you are not

01:10:03so satisfied

01:10:04then I direct you

01:10:05to return a verdict

01:10:06of not guilty.

01:10:09Will you please

01:10:10now retire

01:10:10elect a foreman

01:10:12to speak for you

01:10:13and consider

01:10:14your verdict?

01:10:23Members of the jury

01:10:24will your foreman

01:10:25please stand?

01:10:26Please answer

01:10:27this question

01:10:28yes or no.

01:10:29Have you reached

01:10:29a verdict upon

01:10:30which you are all

01:10:31agreed?

01:10:31Yes.

01:10:32Do you find the

01:10:33defendant guilty

01:10:34or not guilty

01:10:35of assault

01:10:36occasioning actual

01:10:37bodily harm?

01:10:39Not guilty.

01:10:40And is this

01:10:41the verdict of you

01:10:41all?

01:10:42Yes it is.

01:10:58Next week

01:10:59you can join

01:11:00another jury

01:11:00when our cameras

01:11:01return to bring

01:11:02you a further case

01:11:03in the Crown Court.

01:11:19The H–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–S–

Crown Court - Mother Figures - Complete (1080p)

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