The Accused

Mitchell Yes, I was surprised that Mrs Sherwood was cremated and it made me anxious for the first time.

Kersley What were you anxious about?

Mitchell Well, I began to wonder if Patrick was making sure that no one could ever check what had caused the bruising on her arm.

Sherwood half rises, catches Judge’s eye and sits back down.

Barrington My Lord, this is a disgraceful slur on my client. There is absolutely no proof that…

Judge I agree, Sir James. The jury will disregard Ms Mitchell’s last statement. Ms Mitchell, this court is not interested in your opinions, only in facts. And Mr Kersley, you are as much to blame. You must have known only too well where that question was leading.

Kersley I did, My Lord, but then I considered Mrs Sherwood’s cremation to be a fact, and one the jury might even find relevant.

Judge Mr Kersley, you are bordering on impertinence. Stick to facts in future.

Kersley Ms Mitchell, is it a fact that while you continued working at St George’s Mr Sherwood began to threaten you?

Mitchell Yes, he did. When I raised the subject of the prescriptions he flew into a rage, warning me that if I mentioned them to anyone, not only would I lose my job at St George’s but he would personally make sure that no other hospital would ever employ me again.

Kersley So you decided to leave St George’s.

Mitchell I didn’t have a lot of choice, as he’d made it abundantly clear that I had no hope of promotion while he remained the head of department.

Kersley So what did you do next?

Mitchell I resigned and took a short holiday abroad. While I was away, a vacancy arose at Wellingborough Cottage Hospital for the position of senior staff nurse. I was delighted when they offered me the post and hoped this would be my chance to start a new life.

Kersley But that didn’t prove possible, did it, Ms Mitchell, because Mr Sherwood got in touch with you again. When was that?

Mitchell It must have been about a month after I’d started my new job. He began phoning me at the hospital.

Sherwood (rises) I never phoned you. I didn’t even know you’d got another job.

Judge Mr Sherwood, this is the last time I shall warn you. If you interrupt again, I will have you taken below as long as Ms Mitchell remains in the witness box. Do I make myself clear?

Sherwood Yes My Lord, but…

Barrington My Lord, may I be allowed to have a word with the defendant?

Judge For what purpose, Sir James?

Barrington To leave Mr Sherwood in no doubt of the harm it will do his cause if he is unable to hear all the evidence offered by this particular witness.

Judge Do you have any objection, Mr Kersley?

Kersley If it means I can continue uninterrupted, My Lord, I would welcome it. However, it may be that these unseemly outbursts, repeated by Mr Sherwood at regular intervals despite Your Lordship’s continual warnings, will only serve to shed light on the character of the accused and thus assist the jury when the time comes to consider their verdict.

Barrington My Lord, my learned friend can never resist making a speech and this one did indeed shed some light, if not on Mr Sherwood’s character, then on the Crown’s lack of any real evidence, which they try to cover up by resorting to personal abuse. However, I will have a word with my client My Lord, and warn him of the gravity of your words. (Barrington goes over to the dock.) Very

good, but that was one more interruption than we agreed on, so don’t do it again. (Sherwood nods and sits back down, Barrington returns to his place.) I’m obliged, My Lord. I think Mr Sherwood now fully understands what is expected of him.

Judge Thank you, Sir James. Carry on, Mr Kersley.

Kersley You were telling us, Ms Mitchell, that Mr Sherwood telephoned you at the hospital - for what purpose?

Mitchell To warn me that the police had begun an investigation into his wife’s death and might want to question me about our relationship.

Kersley Really? Did he say anything else?