The Accused

Sherwood I wanted to apologise more formally.

Barrington And what was her reaction?

Sherwood She said there was no need to apologise as she had enjoyed it. She then locked the door and started to unbutton her uniform.

Barrington How did you react?

Sherwood I went straight to the door, unlocked it, held it open and waited for her to leave.

Barrington Did she do so?

Sherwood Yes, she did, but I’ll never forget her words as she stormed out of the room: ‘Mr Sherwood, you will live to regret this.’

Barrington What did you imagine she meant by that?

Sherwood I thought she might report me to the hospital board, even to an industrial tribunal.

Barrington And did she do so?

Sherwood No, she was far more devious than that. But even I couldn’t have imagined she would claim I was with her the night my wife died.

Barrington Where were you that night, Mr Sherwood?

Sherwood I was out on an emergency call visiting a patient in Westminster.

Barrington So why isn’t that patient in court today to verify your story?

Sherwood Because he died later that night.

Barrington And what was the time entered on the death certificate?

Sherwood 10.27 p.m.

Barrington And who signed that death certificate?

Sherwood I did.

Barrington So if it was signed at 10.27 p.m., you would not have needed a more convincing alibi, as Ms Mitchell suggested.

Sherwood Ms Mitchell seems to think I could have been in two places at once.

Barrington Quite. So finally, let me ask you, Mr Sherwood, how do you answer Ms Mitchell’s damning accusation that you used her as a courier over a period of three months, to collect ampoules of Potassium Chloride in order to poison your wife?

Sherwood Sir James, if I had wanted to poison my wife, I could have picked up any amount of drugs from the hospital pharmacy, without ever involving Ms Mitchell. No, the truth is that during that unhappy year I tended to my wife’s every need, often neglecting other patients. I only wish I’d been as successful with Elizabeth as I have been with some of them.

Barrington No further questions, My Lord.

Judge Do you wish to cross-examine, Mr Kersley?

Kersley I most certainly do, My Lord. Mr Sherwood, much as we enjoyed the description of your wedded bliss, I suspect the time has now come for all of us in this courtroom to return to the real world. Let me begin by asking you when you first met Ms Mitchell?

Sherwood It must have been when she was transferred to the cardiac unit.

Kersley And did you find her attractive?

Sherwood No, I didn’t think of her in that way.

Kersley So it wasn’t love at first sight?