Kersley On the glove, I see … and did the lab tests reveal anything else of significance?
Payne Yes, the glass of wine found on the table by Mrs Sherwood’s side contained thirty millilitres of Temazepam, which is three times the recommended dosage.
Kersley And did you identify any fingerprints on that glass?
Payne Yes, Mrs Sherwood’s.
Kersley But did you also check the fingerprints on the wine bottle?
Payne Yes, I did, and we could only find Mr Sherwood’s.
Kersley Only Mr Sherwood’s. But what about the rest of the flat?
Payne The only other fingerprints identifiable were those of the porter, Albert Webster.
Kersley So there was no reason to believe there had ever been an intruder?
Payne None that we could discover, sir.
Kersley Once you had gathered all your evidence, what did you do next?
Payne I obtained a warrant for the arrest of Patrick Sherwood, which I executed on June the ninth at St George’s Hospital. I cautioned him, and then charged him with the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Sherwood.
Kersley Thank you, Chief Inspector. No more questions, My Lord.
Judge Sir James, do you wish to cross-examine the Chief Inspector?
Barrington I most certainly do, My Lord. Chief Inspector, I must begin by asking you if it is usual to open a full murder inquiry on information supplied by one young woman.
Payne No, but…
Barrington No buts, Chief Inspector, it was a simple enough question and the answer was no. My next question is equally simple. The bruises on Mrs Sherwood’s arm. Surely the most likely explanation is that they resulted from a struggle with an intruder? You told us there had been several burglaries in the area recently.
Payne I could find no evidence of a burglary, sir.
Barrington Chief Inspector, is it common for burglars to leave their fingerprints all over the place, hoping you will find them?
Payne No, but.,.
Barrington I thought we’d agreed on no buts, Chief Inspector, Can I also confirm, that it was you who discovered the kitchen window open?
Payne Someone had unlatched it from the inside.
Barrington It hardly matters who unlatched it, Chief Inspector, only who might have used it as a means of entry, and I do hope you’re not going to suggest that Mr Sherwood entered his own flat by the fire escape, when he could so easily have walked in through the front door.
Payne Unless he had a reason for not wanting to be seen walking in through the front door.
Barrington And on that flimsy supposition you decided to charge Mr Sherwood with murder?
Payne No, that decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service after they had considered all the evidence.
Barrington I see. So let me finally ask you, Chief Inspector, when you charged Mr Sherwood, did he make any statement?
Payne Yes. (Checks his notebook.) He said, ‘This is ridiculous. I adored my wife; someone must have been feeding you with false information’.
Barrington Someone must have been feeding you with false information. Now, I wonder who that can have been? No further questions, My Lord. (He resumes his seat.)
Judge Do you wish to re-examine, Mr Kersley?