The Accused

Mitchell Yes, I did.

Kersley Did you previously work at St George’s Hospital, Tooting?

Mitchell Yes, I did.

Kersley And was the consultant in charge of the cardiac unit the defendant, Mr Patrick Sherwood?

Mitchell (avoids looking at the dock) Yes, he was.

Judge Can you please speak up, Ms Mitchell, The jury (He waves a hand, sweeping the audience.) will need to hear every word you have to say. (Mitchell nods.)

Kersley When you first began working for Mr Sherwood, what were your responsibilities?

Mitchell I was a junior staff nurse attached to the cardiac unit.

Kersley And did Mr Sherwood ever ask you to carry out any duties not directly related to your work on the cardiac unit?

Mitchell Yes, a few months after I’d started working at St George’s, Mr Sherwood asked me to pick up a sedative for his wife from the hospital pharmacy, which I was happy to do.

Kersley Understandably. You would want to please your boss.

Judge Mr Kersley, that was both leading as well as an opinion. Do not further try my patience.

Kersley (facing the judge) I will attempt very hard not to do so, My Lord. (Turning back to Mitchell.) Ms Mitchell, did Mr Sherwood ask you to collect any other prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy?

Mitchell Yes, but that would be quite normal practice for any of the nurses.

Kersley But then one Friday evening he asked you to pick up a prescription from outside London?

Mitchell Yes, that was just before I was leaving to spend the weekend with my parents in Wellingborough and he instructed me not to have that prescription made up at the hospital pharmacy.

Sherwood I did no such thing - I’ve never asked you to pick up any of my prescriptions in Wellingborough.

Mitchell But you did tell me not to have them made up at St George’s.

Sherwood I most certainly did not…

Judge Mr Sherwood, you must not interrupt the witness while she is being questioned by counsel, now sit down (Sherwood reluctantly sits down). Carry on, Mr Kersley.

Kersley Thank you, My Lord. Did Mr Sherwood give any explanation as to why you shouldn’t have the prescription made up at the hospital pharmacy?

Mitchell No, he just said that it was for a private patient.

Kersley Is that also normal practice?

Mitchell No, I had never been asked to do that before by any doctor.

Kersley Did you question Mr Sherwood about this?

Mitchell No one questioned Mr Sherwood about anything - not even Sister.

Kersley And was this prescription also for a sedative?

Mitchell No, it was for ten millilitres of Potassium Chloride.

Kersley Did he ever ask you to pick up any more ampoules of Potassium Chloride?

Mitchell Yes, he did. It must have been about two weeks later - also on a Friday evening, and he asked me to drop it back to his office on Monday morning.