Crown Court - My Mother Said I Never Should (1975) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Reuben Hartley (Richard Kane), a traveller, is charged with causing Grievous Bodily Harm to a local councillor Ernest Knox.

Transcript

00:00:00At 10 p.m. on November the 14th last year, a squad of Fulchester policemen arrived at

00:00:21Gander Common to evict a group of gypsies who'd been illegally squatting there. The

00:00:26police officer in charge was Inspector Macbeth. The gypsies refused to obey the police instructions

00:00:31and during the course of the ensuing scuffle, Councillor Knox sustained severe injuries.

00:00:38Now Reuben Hartley, a member of this squatting gypsy community, stands trial in Fulchester

00:00:43Crown Court, charged with causing Councillor Knox grievous bodily harm. Mr Justice Campbell

00:00:49presides in the case of the Queen against Hartley.

00:00:56And this sketch plan shows, to the best of your recollection, the positions of the various

00:01:09people involved in this incident. Does it, Inspector?

00:01:11Yes, Madam.

00:01:13It was at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, November the 14th of last year that you say

00:01:18you arrived on Gander Common with a squad of policemen. Now, what you haven't yet explained

00:01:22to us is why you undertook this operation. We were to help remove a group of squatters

00:01:27from the common, Madam. On whose authority were the squatters to be removed?

00:01:30On the authority of the chairman of Fulchester County Council.

00:01:33Had eviction notices already been served? They had.

00:01:36Now, Chief Inspector Macbeth, would you please tell the court what action the police were empowered

00:01:41to take as a result of these squatters' failure to observe these eviction notices?

00:01:45We were to tow them off.

00:01:46Ah, well, would you elaborate on that a little?

00:01:51We had power to assist the bailiffs to tow away the caravans that the gyppos were living in

00:01:57by fixing them to either tractors or land roads.

00:02:01Please, Inspector, what do you mean by gyppos? I think it is better if we avoid colloquialism.

00:02:06Gypsies, my lord.

00:02:07Romany gypsies?

00:02:09No, my lord, just gypsies.

00:02:10That's a derogatory statement, my lord, to which I must object.

00:02:13Well, I don't see anything derogatory in that.

00:02:15How is it derogatory?

00:02:17Oh, my lord, the word gypsy and the tone in which it was expressed are thoroughly prejudicial to my client.

00:02:22What in heaven's name are they to be called?

00:02:26Travellers, my lord.

00:02:27That's an all-embracing name, and it's a respectful one.

00:02:31Oh, very well, if it'll prevent anyone being upset.

00:02:35Thank you, my lord.

00:02:35Oh, Mrs. Dixon.

00:02:37How long had these travellers been squatting on Gander Common?

00:02:41About ten years, madam.

00:02:42And all attempts to remove them had failed over a decade.

00:02:46The authorities and we ourselves have turned a blind eye to it for many years, ma'am.

00:02:50My lord, Chief Inspector Macbeth may answer for the police, but not, I think, for Forchester County Council.

00:02:55Yes, my next witness will answer for Forchester County Council.

00:02:58Yes, indeed, Inspector.

00:02:59You should confine your evidence to the area of your knowledge.

00:03:02Yes, my lord.

00:03:05Right, what eventually prompted you to enforce these eviction notices?

00:03:08I was instructed on the afternoon of the 14th of November in a letter written by the chairman of Forchester County Council and handed to me by the clerk of Forchester County Council,

00:03:17that as repeated eviction notices had been ignored, we were to help the bailiffs tow away the six caravans from the common by attaching them to our own official vehicles.

00:03:29Which were what?

00:03:29Land rovers.

00:03:31Now, tell me, had these six been the only caravans parked on Gander Common during this ten-year period?

00:03:37No, madam, they were the residual.

00:03:38There had originally been about 28 caravans there.

00:03:41Aha, and what had happened to the other 22?

00:03:43They had been moved to an officially designated site.

00:03:46I see.

00:03:46Just a moment, Mrs. Dixon.

00:03:47Why was this residual, as you call it, left behind?

00:03:52Because there were only 22 hard standings on the official site, my lord, and 28 caravans.

00:03:57So where were the other six to go?

00:03:59They were to be removed from Gander Common, my lord.

00:04:02You haven't answered my question.

00:04:04Where were they to go?

00:04:06Nowhere!

00:04:07No bloody way!

00:04:09There never goes any bloody way!

00:04:10Silence!

00:04:11You don't know the half of this!

00:04:13Anyone interrupting will be ejected.

00:04:18Now, do you understand?

00:04:21Very well.

00:04:22They would have to move over the county boundary, my lord, and try their luck elsewhere.

00:04:26So there's no room for these travellers in this county?

00:04:30That's correct, my lord.

00:04:31I see.

00:04:33Mrs. Dixon!

00:04:34Yes, my lord.

00:04:35What is the law governing these officially designated sites?

00:04:38Um, where's that one?

00:04:40It's under there.

00:04:42In 1968, the Caravan Sites Act Part 2 made it a duty for local authorities to provide sites

00:04:50for gypsies and other travellers residing in or resorting to their area.

00:04:54Hmm, and it looks as if the Fulchester County Council have not complied with the act.

00:05:02Inspector, would you describe the action you took on arriving at Gander Common?

00:05:06I asked the travellers if they were prepared to move on.

00:05:10Did you ask anyone in particular?

00:05:12I asked them as a group.

00:05:13And was there any reply?

00:05:15I was told to piss off.

00:05:16I asked them again.

00:05:22And what happened?

00:05:23They replied in a similar vein.

00:05:28And then what happened?

00:05:30We then proceeded to hitch our Land Rovers to the tow bars of the caravans.

00:05:34Where were you going to tow them?

00:05:36Off the common, my lord.

00:05:37Yes, yes, but then where?

00:05:39We would tow them to the next lay-by, my lord, and then ensure that the travellers towed them away.

00:05:44To the next county?

00:05:46Yes, my lord.

00:05:47I see.

00:05:49What happened whilst you were completing this hitching operation?

00:05:53They tried to take the wheels off the caravans by trying to jack them up.

00:05:57Yes, but when did the scuffling occur?

00:05:59That was later, when Councillor Knox arrived.

00:06:01Which was when?

00:06:03Approximately 10.40.

00:06:04Councillor Knox also tried to make them see reason, but they wouldn't.

00:06:07Did they respond to him as they had to you?

00:06:09And worse.

00:06:11Now, did the travellers' group have a ringleader?

00:06:14Reuben Hartley.

00:06:16Yes, could you be a little more specific, Inspector?

00:06:18What did he do which made you believe that he was the ringleader?

00:06:21He was the noisiest, my lord.

00:06:23I see.

00:06:25What is the last thing you recall before the violence broke out?

00:06:29That would be when Councillor Knox offered the accused and his family temporary accommodation in his own home.

00:06:34How had he come to make this offer?

00:06:37Well, Hartley's caravan had been unavoidably damaged while we were trying to pull it away.

00:06:41In what way was it damaged?

00:06:42They'd wrenched a wheel off, my lord.

00:06:44He'd veered round and hit a tree.

00:06:45This was before Councillor Knox arrived?

00:06:48Yes, ma'am.

00:06:50Right, so Councillor Knox magnanimously offered Hartley and his family accommodation when...

00:06:55Hartley hit him.

00:06:56Where?

00:06:57In the face.

00:06:57I've never had a chance!

00:06:59I've got bloody shame!

00:07:00Do that!

00:07:02He could shame me!

00:07:09And what happened then?

00:07:10Well, before we could intervene, we were attacked by the remaining travellers.

00:07:15During the course of the scuffle, I saw Councillor Knox push to the ground.

00:07:19By whom?

00:07:20By Hartley.

00:07:21And before I could get to him, I saw Councillor Knox being kicked.

00:07:24Who was doing the kicking?

00:07:26Hartley.

00:07:28And what was your next step?

00:07:30When we regained control of the situation, I went to Councillor Knox's aid.

00:07:34I called an ambulance.

00:07:36I then cautioned and arrested Hartley.

00:07:38Did he make a statement?

00:07:40Later at the police station.

00:07:41Inspector Macbeth, would you please read the accused statement to the court?

00:07:44I did not hit Knox.

00:07:52Only once.

00:07:54I never kicked him.

00:07:55I'm not guilty.

00:07:57I was away looking for my girl.

00:08:00I hit him once and ran looking for my little girl.

00:08:03She was scared.

00:08:04I found her.

00:08:06I put her in my trailer.

00:08:08Then I was nicked.

00:08:10And that was written by Hartley?

00:08:12Dictated by Hartley to a police officer and then signed by Hartley.

00:08:16Were other arrests made?

00:08:18The remaining travellers were arrested and charged with assaulting police officers.

00:08:22They were dealt with the magistrate's court.

00:08:23And you are quite sure, Inspector, are you, that it was the accused, Reuben Hartley, who

00:08:31so savagely attacked Councillor Knox?

00:08:33Quite sure, Madam.

00:08:34Thank you, Inspector.

00:08:35Well, I see that Mr. Hartley spent over 16 hours in the police station before he was

00:08:44seen by a solicitor.

00:08:46Yes, sir.

00:08:47Why so long?

00:08:49He wasn't prevented, sir.

00:08:51He didn't ask to see a solicitor.

00:08:53Yes, but some of the travellers had come to the police station and asked if he wanted

00:08:57them to find a lawyer, a solicitor.

00:08:59Isn't that so?

00:08:59Yes, sir.

00:09:00And you said that he didn't?

00:09:02That's correct, sir.

00:09:03He hadn't asked to see a solicitor.

00:09:06Well, did it not occur to you that he might not be aware of his right to see a solicitor?

00:09:10I had told him of his right to contact a solicitor, sir.

00:09:12Oh, I suggest that you hadn't told him and that he remained entirely ignorant of his

00:09:17right for 16 hours until a solicitor, found by his friends, arrived at the police station.

00:09:22There are also notices in the police station, sir, advising prisoners of their rights.

00:09:27But Hartley can't read, can he?

00:09:29I didn't know that at the time, sir.

00:09:32How did he make this statement which you read out to us just now?

00:09:35He dictated it to a constable who wrote it down.

00:09:38He then put his mark on it.

00:09:39He put his mark on it?

00:09:42So you appreciated then, did you not, that he was illiterate?

00:09:45Yes, sir.

00:09:46So why tell us all about notices on the walls of the police station?

00:09:49He couldn't read those, could he?

00:09:51Because it was only later on that he made the statement, sir.

00:09:53I see.

00:09:57Well, let's go back, shall we, over the circumstances of this scuffle, Chief Inspector.

00:10:01If you wish, sir.

00:10:02The night of November the 14th was, in fact, a moonless night, wasn't it?

00:10:09I really can't remember, sir.

00:10:11Ah, well, luckily the meteorological office can.

00:10:14A very dark night.

00:10:16Have any means of illumination?

00:10:19The headlights of the Land Rovers and torches, sir.

00:10:22Yes, but according to your sketch here, the attack on Mr. Knox took place behind the Land Rovers.

00:10:29So the headlights wouldn't have illuminated the incident, would they?

00:10:34There was more than enough light to witness the incident, sir.

00:10:36Well, I wonder if you'd show us this sketch of yours again, Inspector.

00:10:40Hold it up for the benefit of the jury.

00:10:43This, ladies and gentlemen, you will recall, is meant to represent the positions of the alleged combatants.

00:10:51You claim that there were two groups separated by a Land Rover attached to a caravan.

00:10:56Yes, sir.

00:10:58How long was it from the outbreak of the scuffle to your discovery of the injured Mr. Knox?

00:11:05About 90 seconds, sir.

00:11:0690 seconds?

00:11:07Well, let's run over those 90 seconds, shall we, Inspector?

00:11:10Would you mind giving us your account again?

00:11:13Well, Councillor Knox had been...

00:11:14Yes, sir.

00:11:14Oh, where was he standing?

00:11:17The other side of the caravan, sir.

00:11:19To you and your men?

00:11:20Yes, sir.

00:11:21And how could you see them?

00:11:22Over the tow bars.

00:11:23You could see everybody.

00:11:25I could see Councillor Knox, one of his colleagues, and Hartley.

00:11:29The bailiffs had withdrawn to the other side of the woods, sir, to their vehicles.

00:11:33Yes, sir.

00:11:33Wait a minute.

00:11:33I don't think you mentioned earlier that Mr. Knox came with his colleagues, did you?

00:11:37One colleague, sir.

00:11:38Did you know him?

00:11:39Mr. Bruton, the borough server.

00:11:41My lord, Inspector Macbeth has been over all this in his evidence-in-chief.

00:11:44Not all of it, Mrs. Dixon.

00:11:46Besides, Mr. Harvesty is quite entitled to ask these questions.

00:11:51Thank you, my lord.

00:11:52Now, as you've already stated, Chief Inspector, Mr. Knox made this magnanimous offer of hospitality.

00:11:59And Hartley hit him in the face.

00:12:01Then why didn't you immediately go and protect him, Inspector?

00:12:04Exactly what I would have done, sir, if we'd not been attacked by the other travellers.

00:12:07You fought them off?

00:12:09We restrained them, sir.

00:12:12After you had restrained them, what was your next move?

00:12:16I then hurried round the Land Rover, sir.

00:12:18With your torch?

00:12:19No, sir.

00:12:20Oh, why not?

00:12:22Because I had dropped it, sir, when we were...

00:12:25When restraining?

00:12:27Yes, sir.

00:12:27Yes.

00:12:29Yes, sir, you went the other side of the Land Rover.

00:12:31Well, I found Councillor Knox lying on the ground.

00:12:35Hartley was some yards away in the door of a caravan, breathing very heavily.

00:12:39Were there any other travellers around?

00:12:41No, sir.

00:12:41Was Mr. Knox conscious?

00:12:43No, sir.

00:12:44Where was Mr. Knox's colleague?

00:12:47A few feet away, sir.

00:12:48Also unconscious?

00:12:49Dazed and shocked, sir.

00:12:51What were the extent of his injuries?

00:12:53He had a cut over the right eye.

00:12:54But nothing more?

00:12:56No, sir.

00:12:56Mm-hmm.

00:12:58Chief Inspector, I put it to you that on a moonless night and without your torch, it would have

00:13:03been quite impossible for you to make out what was happening.

00:13:06There was enough light to see exactly what was happening, sir.

00:13:09Well, you must have eyes like a cat.

00:13:12It was clear enough to see what was happening, sir.

00:13:13My lord, my learned friend is not entitled to make that sort of comment, as he well knows.

00:13:18He ought to know.

00:13:19Yes, I'm...

00:13:19Mrs. Dixon?

00:13:20I'm sorry, my lord.

00:13:22Chief Inspector, what was your next action?

00:13:25I arrested Hartley.

00:13:26Did he resist?

00:13:27No, sir.

00:13:28So there was no need to use any further restraint.

00:13:39I call councillor Ernest Knox.

00:13:49Ernest Knox, please.

00:13:51Let's meet, sir.

00:14:03What is your religion?

00:14:05Church of England.

00:14:05Take the Bible in your right hand and read aloud the words on this card, please.

00:14:10I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole

00:14:15truth, and nothing but the truth.

00:14:18You are councillor Ernest James Knox, and you live at the Grove, Elm Lane, Fulchester.

00:14:25Yes.

00:14:25What is your occupation, Mr. Knox?

00:14:27I'm in building.

00:14:29Would you prefer to sit down?

00:14:31Oh, thank you.

00:14:32I can stand.

00:14:32May I ask you the extent of your injuries, Mr. Knox?

00:14:37Oh, there's no...

00:14:38Mr. Knox, would you please answer the question?

00:14:41Well, I've lost the vision of one eye, and I have a punctured lung.

00:14:44Are either of these two injuries permanent?

00:14:47They both are.

00:14:48You mean there's nothing that can be done?

00:14:50Nothing.

00:14:52I see.

00:14:54Mr. Knox, you've been a Labour councillor in Fulchester County Council for 15 years.

00:14:59Yes.

00:14:59And I see you recently received the MBE. May I ask what that was for?

00:15:04It was for services rendered to the Ravens Court Youth Project.

00:15:08Which is what?

00:15:09It's a youth project based in the Midlands, geared to assist underprivileged young people

00:15:13in a variety of different ways, in terms of education, social work, and so on.

00:15:17And what is your role?

00:15:18I'm chairman of the executive committee.

00:15:21Now, you've also taken a strong interest in travellers.

00:15:24Yes.

00:15:25Well, would you tell the court a little about your work?

00:15:28Well, as you know, a number of travellers were encamped around Fulchester.

00:15:32Illegally?

00:15:32Yes.

00:15:33And it was this fact that determined me to campaign for a legally designated site,

00:15:37which should have been set up under the 1968 Act.

00:15:40Was there resistance to this idea?

00:15:42I'm afraid so, yes.

00:15:43But you overcame it?

00:15:44Yes.

00:15:45Is it through your campaigning and your campaigning alone that the official site now exists?

00:15:50Well, not at all.

00:15:50A number of my colleagues backed the scheme.

00:15:53My chief regret was we couldn't accommodate all travellers.

00:15:57So, you are a councillor.

00:15:59You're chairman of the executive committee of a large charity.

00:16:02You're a campaigner on behalf of, and a friend to, the travelling community in Fulchester.

00:16:08All this, and I believe you also run your own business.

00:16:10Well, I enjoy my work.

00:16:12Now, tell me, Mr. Knox, how well did you know Reuben Hartley and his family?

00:16:17Oh, very well.

00:16:19You always had a friendly relationship with them?

00:16:21Until November, yes.

00:16:23Could you please describe the events leading up to the assault?

00:16:26Oh, it's very simple.

00:16:28There was space for 22 caravans on the site.

00:16:31We had a terrible squeeze getting them all on.

00:16:34In no way could we accommodate another six.

00:16:37Of which Hartley's caravan was one?

00:16:39Yes.

00:16:39Now, how were these spaces allocated?

00:16:42Literally, I had to put them in a hat.

00:16:44The luck of the draw?

00:16:45Yes.

00:16:46So, Hartley was a bad loser.

00:16:49Oh, I wouldn't put it that way.

00:16:51Would you please tell the court what you can remember about the attack itself?

00:16:56Well, I discovered that the chairman had ordered the bailiffs to go up to the common and clear the other six caravans off the site.

00:17:01Having made this discovery, I hurried after them.

00:17:07Taking a colleague?

00:17:08Oh, yes, I took my colleague, Mr. Bruton, with me.

00:17:10And what is Mr. Bruton's position?

00:17:12In a boris surveyor.

00:17:13So, you arrived at the site to find what?

00:17:16That a very ugly situation had developed.

00:17:19I tried to calm Mr. Hartley down.

00:17:21I offered him and his family a night's hospitality in my own home.

00:17:26And what happened?

00:17:27Well, I can't remember very well.

00:17:29I remember falling to the ground.

00:17:31And then, a great deal of pain.

00:17:33Did no one come to your assistance?

00:17:40No.

00:17:41Well, you see, the police vehicles were there.

00:17:42The police were the other side of their own vehicles.

00:17:44And Mr. Bruton...

00:17:45Yes, yes, we shall be hearing from Mr. Bruton later.

00:17:47But what I mean is, did none of the other travelers try to help you?

00:17:50No, it would be very hard.

00:17:52Hartley's very strong.

00:17:54And at this time, he was out of control, hysterical.

00:17:58I don't want to blacken his character.

00:18:00He's a good man.

00:18:01Yes, you did see who it was that made the attack.

00:18:04Oh, I'm afraid so, my lord.

00:18:05It was Ruben, all right.

00:18:07One final question, Mr. Knox.

00:18:10How long were you in hospital receiving treatment for your injuries?

00:18:14Three and a half months.

00:18:16And you still bear no grudge?

00:18:17You're lying!

00:18:18You're lying, bastards!

00:18:19You're lying!

00:18:20You're lying, bastards!

00:18:21That's why you wanted us off, you bastards!

00:18:23That will do, Hartley!

00:18:25I said, that will do!

00:18:28Now, one more word out of you,

00:18:31and I shall send you down to the cells

00:18:32and continue the case without you.

00:18:38Weren't you surprised, Mr. Knox, at Mr. Hartley's action?

00:18:41Oh, no, he was overwrought.

00:18:43And you bear him no grudge?

00:18:45Of course not.

00:18:46Despite your injuries?

00:18:48Well, as you know, I'm a very unwilling prosecution witness.

00:18:51However, I believe that law and order must be sustained.

00:18:55Thank you, Mr. Knox.

00:18:58Uh, Mr. Knox, what kind of business do you own?

00:19:01I'm in building.

00:19:03That's not very explicit.

00:19:05Well, I own a building firm of which I am chairman.

00:19:09Are you in any way a property developer?

00:19:11No, we're on contract work only.

00:19:13So you don't own any land?

00:19:15Oh, no.

00:19:16Well, I own me own house, me own business branches.

00:19:18No, no, no, I meant in addition to that.

00:19:21No.

00:19:22No land?

00:19:24Well, I have occasionally owned land.

00:19:26Ah, so then you are a property developer.

00:19:28In that sense of the word, no.

00:19:30Yes, but surely if you say you've...

00:19:31My lord, how can these questions have any possible relevance to this case?

00:19:34Mr. Harvesty?

00:19:35My lord, I do assure you these questions are relevant.

00:19:39Very well.

00:19:40Thank you, my lord.

00:19:42Mr. Knox, who owns Gander Common?

00:19:45Well, there's a section owned by the official receiver.

00:19:47There's a section owned by the Fulchester County Council.

00:19:50There's a section owned by a property company.

00:19:52Ah, needless to say, I have no connection with this.

00:19:54I see.

00:19:55And, ah, on which part were the travellers encamped?

00:19:58Well, on two sections.

00:19:59One owned by the Fulchester County Council.

00:20:01And one owned by Fulchester Town and Country Properties.

00:20:03Yes.

00:20:03Can you explain why it was necessary for Fulchester County Council to carry out the eviction themselves?

00:20:10Well, Gander Common, as you may or may not know, is surrounded by a council housing estate.

00:20:15There have been numerous complaints.

00:20:17Oh, what sort of complaints?

00:20:18Well, they range from children being frightened going across the common back from school to noise, smell, fire, dogs barking, mess, you name it.

00:20:27Oh, didn't you do anything to forestall these complaints?

00:20:30Oh, yes, I had a meeting in the hall on the estate.

00:20:33I had a group of the travellers on the platform discussing the matter with the Residents Association.

00:20:37I couldn't have done much more.

00:20:39No, no, it's a most commendable idea.

00:20:42So you can assure the court, can you, Mr. Knox, that the only motivation you had in moving these final squatters was on the grounds of law and order?

00:20:52That is correct.

00:20:53And the only motivation you had in appearing here as a prosecution witness was on the grounds of law and order?

00:21:00That is also correct.

00:21:03Hmm.

00:21:05No more questions.

00:21:09So you have no doubt, Mr. Bruton, that it was Hartley and Hartley alone who attacked Mr. Knox?

00:21:16No doubt at all, madam.

00:21:17Would you please tell us all you can recall of these events?

00:21:20Certainly.

00:21:21The attack was precipitated by Mr. Knox's generous offer of hospitality.

00:21:26Hartley threw himself on Knox and Mr. Knox fell to the ground.

00:21:30Since the police were otherwise occupied, I rushed forward to assist Mr. Knox.

00:21:35As I did so, I was struck over the eye by a missile.

00:21:38Thrown by whom?

00:21:40It was impossible to tell, madam.

00:21:42Well, did you think it was thrown by Hartley?

00:21:44My lord.

00:21:44Yes, indeed.

00:21:45That really will not do, Mrs. Dixon.

00:21:48Are you quite sure that you didn't see who threw the missile?

00:21:52Quite sure, madam.

00:21:53Very well.

00:21:54Then what happened?

00:21:56I passed out.

00:21:57When I regained consciousness, I saw Mr. Knox lying on the ground surrounded by policemen.

00:22:02Where was Hartley?

00:22:03He was not there, madam.

00:22:05Thank you, Mr. Bruton.

00:22:05Well, Mr. Bruton, how did you get your trousers back on?

00:22:12I beg your pardon?

00:22:14Well, perhaps we should begin at the beginning.

00:22:17I suggest that rather than rushing to aid Mr. Knox, you rushed in quite the opposite direction.

00:22:24I beg your pardon?

00:22:25Pursued by two women who were threatening to haul your trousers off.

00:22:28Nonsense.

00:22:28I further suggest to you that when you returned, having been pursued in a full circle round

00:22:36the caravans, you tripped and fell and rendered yourself temporarily unconscious.

00:22:40Rubbish, I tell you.

00:22:41There are witnesses.

00:22:42Then there are lying witnesses.

00:22:44But I further suggest to you, Mr. Bruton, that you never saw my client hit Mr. Knox in

00:22:49the first place.

00:22:50This is completely untrue.

00:22:52Do you deny running and being pursued by the women?

00:22:54I totally deny it.

00:22:55Then may I ask you what this is?

00:22:58Well, I've no idea.

00:23:03Well, that, Mr. Bruton, is the seat of your trousers.

00:23:06I've never heard such nonsense in my life.

00:23:09This is absolutely nonsense.

00:23:11I'm absolutely astonished.

00:23:13It's ridiculous.

00:23:14My lord, may I introduce this now?

00:23:16It is.

00:23:28The case of the Queen against Hartley will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.

00:23:48The case of the Queen against Hartley will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.

00:24:04The Queen against Hartley will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.

00:24:06In the Crown Court, Inspector Macbeth of the Folchester Police, Councillor Ernest Knox and Derek Bruton of Folchester County Council have given their version of the events leading up to the attempted eviction of a group of gypsies or travellers from an area of the Crown Court.

00:24:24Inspector Macbeth of the Folchester Police, Councillor Ernest Knox and Derek Bruton of Folchester County Council have given their version of the events leading up to the attempted eviction of a group of gypsies or travellers from an area known as Gander Common.

00:24:37The accused, Reuben Hartley, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Councillor Knox.

00:24:42Defence counsel has cross-examined Ernest Knox over his financial interest and has accused Derek Bruton, borough surveyor of Folchester County Council, of lying.

00:24:51Now he is examining his first witness, the accused, Reuben Hartley.

00:24:56So your relationship with Mr. Knox was friendly up until the time that lots were drawn for this new site.

00:25:03I was friendly with him, aye.

00:25:09Yes, but for how long?

00:25:11Until he ratted on me.

00:25:13And I saw him for what he was, a right muckstirer.

00:25:15Could you make yourself clearer?

00:25:18Well, he was on to the main chance, weren't he?

00:25:20In what way do you consider that Mr. Knox was on to the main chance?

00:25:24Well, it was him who took it.

00:25:26I'm sorry, I don't think we understand.

00:25:28Well, everybody bloody knows.

00:25:30The court does not.

00:25:31But, kindly make yourself clearer.

00:25:35Look, old Knoxie won't be no bloody saint setting up that site, see?

00:25:40No?

00:25:41Well, he was up to his tricks, weren't he?

00:25:43Your witness really must try to be more explicit and less abusive.

00:25:48Now, do you understand?

00:25:52No, sir.

00:25:53You really have to try...

00:25:57Oh, carry on, Mr. Harvesty.

00:25:58What kind of tricks are you suggesting that Mr. Knox was up to?

00:26:04Well, the only reason he was friendly with us folks was this.

00:26:09He fought for that site for his own reasons, not ours.

00:26:13And in the end, he couldn't get us off like he planned.

00:26:19You should have seen his mush-wet gaffers was trying to get us off.

00:26:22What on earth are gaffers?

00:26:24A policeman, my lord.

00:26:26Quite a linguist, Mr. Harvesty.

00:26:28Oh, you flatter me, my lord.

00:26:29Well, carry on.

00:26:31What were Mr. Knox's reasons for removing you all, in your view?

00:26:38He was gonna build a friggin' petrol garage on the site, weren't he?

00:26:42Oh, really, my lord, this is quite intolerable.

00:26:44None of this was put to Mr. Knox in cross-examination.

00:26:47What do you intend to do about these allegations, Mr. Harvesty?

00:26:50Well, if necessary, Mr. Knox can be recalled, my lord.

00:26:52Well, let me remind you, and I think I must remind the jury, too,

00:26:55that we're not here to discuss the social morality of the private ownership of land.

00:27:01We are here to try a case where the defendant is accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Councillor Knox,

00:27:07and that case alone.

00:27:09Now, I hope I make myself clear, Mr. Harvesty.

00:27:12Yes, indeed, my lord. But these matters are...

00:27:13Yes, yes, quite.

00:27:15But we might as well keep our eye on the main issues.

00:27:18Oh, it's my constant endeavour, my lord.

00:27:19Mr. Harvesty, how long have you been squatting on Gander Common?

00:27:28About ten years.

00:27:29And before that?

00:27:31Always down at Rushy Green.

00:27:33Well, there were good days. Then we was free.

00:27:35The Gorgios left us alone.

00:27:37Translate, please.

00:27:38Gorgios, my lord. That's us. Non-gypsies.

00:27:41Ah.

00:27:42What did, er...

00:27:43What was the reason that you had to move from Rushy Green?

00:27:46Well, it's taken over by council.

00:27:48Oh, for a lot much.

00:27:50Yes.

00:27:50You have eight children, Mr. Hartley?

00:27:53Ah, one of them a runt.

00:27:55I beg your pardon?

00:27:56She's a spastic child, my lord.

00:27:58I see, thank you.

00:27:59What was life like on Gander Common?

00:28:03It's rough.

00:28:04You've always had the same job, Mr. Hartley?

00:28:07Ah, yeah, Tinine.

00:28:09What does that mean?

00:28:10That means he's a scrap metal merchant, my lord.

00:28:12I see, thank you.

00:28:13Could you carry out your job in the same way at Gander Common as you've been able to do at Rushy Green?

00:28:21I couldn't, could I?

00:28:22Why not?

00:28:24Well, council only approach, Roe.

00:28:26They won't let stick a motors up there.

00:28:27I see.

00:28:28What other problems did you face there?

00:28:31Oh, there was the Gorgios.

00:28:33And we didn't do nothing to them.

00:28:34They did a lot to us.

00:28:36What did they do to you?

00:28:37Well, pelted us.

00:28:38You mean they stoned your caravans?

00:28:41Yeah, with firebombs.

00:28:42Firebombs?

00:28:43Petrol bombs?

00:28:44And we're babbling, sleeping in trailers!

00:28:46Did you ever catch these people?

00:28:49Yeah.

00:28:50Kids.

00:28:51We give them a thumping light.

00:28:53Indeed, what happened then?

00:28:55Oh, govers come round, told us to lay off.

00:28:58But didn't they tell the local residents to lay off?

00:29:00No.

00:29:02Did you ask the police for help?

00:29:04Said we weren't entitled because we were squatting lot.

00:29:07Hmm.

00:29:08Mr. Hartley, I believe that a daughter of yours was killed as an indirect result of one of these incidents.

00:29:17Sheila, yeah.

00:29:18Would you tell us what happened?

00:29:21Well, I come pelt in!

00:29:26So you ran across the road.

00:29:29I'm alterated.

00:29:30Mr. Hartley, would you have wished to move to the new local authority site?

00:29:36Look, I'm not a fool.

00:29:38It's always, they say, that they say you can take the mortars on, and then they say no more mortars, just like that.

00:29:45Well, it's our living.

00:29:48So they shove us into local factories, and cheap labour line.

00:29:53Well, they're always short of men.

00:29:55And they start moving us into their houses, dump prefabs at the boom end of the estate, where the tarts are.

00:30:03Go, Jill.

00:30:04Now, Mr. Hartley, you are pleading not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm.

00:30:12But did you, at any time on the night of November the 14th of last year, hit Mr. Knox?

00:30:18Oh, yeah.

00:30:23How did this happen?

00:30:26Well, I lost me temper, see.

00:30:29A bleeding hypocrite.

00:30:30He was coming round all mealy-mouthed, offering me his house.

00:30:33House, I never slept in house in me life.

00:30:35So what did you do?

00:30:36Well, I whacked him when he fell over.

00:30:38Where did you hit him?

00:30:39In the eye?

00:30:40Oh, no, on the chin.

00:30:42Yes, and then what?

00:30:44Oh, I went away, didn't I?

00:30:46Why did you go away?

00:30:47Oh, Liz was calling.

00:30:49Liz, that's your daughter.

00:30:50That's your spastic daughter.

00:30:52Well, she was running.

00:30:54Scared of the noise and the fighting.

00:30:57She was running through the woods towards the roll.

00:31:01So I went after her and I brought her back, sobbing to the trailer.

00:31:07Then I was nicked just as I was walking away from the trailer, like.

00:31:10You at no time returned to Mr. Knox?

00:31:13Oh, no, I was nicked before I could.

00:31:15And so you never at any point kicked Mr. Knox in the face, in the chest, or in the stomach.

00:31:22Look, Morsha, how could I when I was...

00:31:23Thank you, thank you.

00:31:24No further questions.

00:31:28You are accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr. Knox.

00:31:33He is left with terrible and permanent injuries.

00:31:36I understand you now admit assaulting him.

00:31:41On either watch.

00:31:42And then again later.

00:31:44No, I went after me girl.

00:31:47Two witnesses have said that you did not.

00:31:50Mr. Knox and Chief Inspector Macbeth.

00:31:52A bleeding copper could say nothing!

00:31:54Please refrain from using that sort of language.

00:31:57Aye?

00:31:59Don't swear.

00:32:00You say you chased after your daughter, you caught her, and brought her sobbing back to your caravan.

00:32:11You went inside...

00:32:12And I was nicked as I come out.

00:32:14Quite.

00:32:14Now, my point is that all this took far longer than the very short time of 90 seconds when Inspector Macbeth had his eyes off you.

00:32:21I suggest that you not only hit Mr. Knox and forced him to the ground...

00:32:26No.

00:32:26...but you remained there, and you kicked him, repeatedly.

00:32:30You're a bloody liar!

00:32:32That will do.

00:32:33She's lying!

00:32:34The bloody women will not say anything!

00:32:36Officer, I'm not lying!

00:32:37Listen!

00:32:39Listen!

00:32:40I'm not lying!

00:32:41I'm not lying!

00:32:42I am still lying!

00:32:51Mrs. Robinson, did you and your friend, Mrs. Street, have something to do with the ripping of that piece of cloth from somebody's trousers?

00:33:04We never touched him.

00:33:07I beg your pardon?

00:33:09Oh, we never touched him.

00:33:12Mrs. Robinson, you agreed to come here as a defence witness...

00:33:16As a what?

00:33:18You know very well what I mean.

00:33:20Here, don't you speak to me like that.

00:33:22I will ask you the question again, Mrs. Robinson.

00:33:24Say it!

00:33:25Tell the gentleman what he wants to know!

00:33:27What?

00:33:27Does he want...

00:33:28Hartley, I have already told you that we are entitled to hear your case in your absence.

00:33:35Now, Mr. Harvesty...

00:33:37You really must not harass your own witness.

00:33:40I'd like to treat her as a hostile witness, my lord.

00:33:42Yes, well, I'm afraid you can't, Mr. Hartley.

00:33:44Mr. Harvesty, she has not said anything, let alone anything detrimental to your case.

00:33:49Now, Mrs. Robinson, do you understand that you were called here today to give evidence in heartless defence?

00:33:57I don't understand nothing.

00:33:59What do you...

00:34:00Do you mean to say that you do not understand why you were called here today?

00:34:03No!

00:34:04Well, she may as well go, I suppose, my lord.

00:34:06Oh, right.

00:34:07Oh, my lord, I would like to ask her some questions.

00:34:10If I may, she's been sworn in and she's in the witness box.

00:34:13Well, very well.

00:34:17Mrs. Robinson, is the reason you're refusing to give evidence for the accused because that evidence that you were going to give is false?

00:34:26Hey.

00:34:26Uh, you have decided, have you, to tell the truth instead?

00:34:31That's it.

00:34:32Now, did somebody originally try to make you tell lies?

00:34:35Hey, Lord, these questions are quite improperly phrased.

00:34:37I do apologise, my lord.

00:34:40Mrs. Robinson, how long have you known Mr. Hartley?

00:34:44All me life.

00:34:45And what do you think of him?

00:34:47Oh, he's a right troublemaker.

00:34:49In what way?

00:34:50He's never satisfied.

00:34:52With what?

00:34:53Well, with all that Mr. Knox tried to do for him, like.

00:34:57Helping him with his family and all.

00:34:59How exactly did Mr. Knox help him with his family?

00:35:02Oh, well, he was going to help with Lizzie.

00:35:04Oh, that's his fasted daughter?

00:35:06He was going to send her to a special school.

00:35:09To help her, like.

00:35:10And how did Mr. Hartley react to that?

00:35:12Oh, he didn't want to know, not him.

00:35:14Why not?

00:35:15But what do you want to ask her?

00:35:16Too proud, he said.

00:35:18Too bloody minded, I say.

00:35:20Now, look here.

00:35:20He stood in the way of his own daughter getting help.

00:35:23That's not right.

00:35:24Why is he?

00:35:24And he beat my Herbie half to death.

00:35:26Mrs. Robinson, just calm down.

00:35:30Now, who is Herbie?

00:35:34It's my son.

00:35:36Only 15.

00:35:38Rube said he caught him licking out of the trailer.

00:35:41And he beat him half to death, the poor little sod.

00:35:43Did you go to the police?

00:35:45No.

00:35:46Now, members of the jury, it's explained that this is a completely unsubstantiated allegation

00:35:51to which we must pay no attention.

00:35:53Mrs. Robinson, did you see what went on?

00:35:56Some of it.

00:35:58And where were you at the time?

00:36:00In me trailer, out of arm's way.

00:36:02And could you see both sides of the combat from your trailer?

00:36:05Well, I could see the gabbers.

00:36:09And I could see Mr. Knox and Mr. Bruton.

00:36:12And what happened?

00:36:14Mr. Knox said something to Rube and he bashed him and he knocked him on the ground.

00:36:18And what happened to Mr. Bruton?

00:36:20Well, when he bashed Mr. Knox, he picked up a stone and he threw it at Mr. Bruton and he fell on the ground and all.

00:36:25Now, Mrs. Robinson, do you understand that you are under oath?

00:36:32Yes.

00:36:32And do you understand that there are very serious penalties for lying under oath?

00:36:38But I'm telling the truth, so help me God.

00:36:41I don't understand why you appear as a defence witness and then at the last moment turn into a prosecution witness.

00:36:47Oh, I don't understand a word you say.

00:36:49Well, Mr. Harvesty thought that you were coming here to defend Mr. Hartley, not to accuse him.

00:36:57Oh, yes, well, it's like this, you see.

00:37:00I felt sorry for him at the time.

00:37:03And I thought I'd try and get him off.

00:37:05By lying under oath?

00:37:08Yes, well, I thought better of it, didn't I?

00:37:10Did you?

00:37:12Look, mister, I thought better of it.

00:37:14I decided to tell the truth, right?

00:37:16At the last moment.

00:37:18That's it!

00:37:20Right.

00:37:23Mrs. Robinson, after you saw Mr. Bruton fall to the ground as a result of the missile thrown at him by the accused,

00:37:31what happened then?

00:37:32Oh, well, then it was well-nigh bleeding murder, wasn't it?

00:37:35He was still on the ground and Reuben started kicking him.

00:37:39Kicked his bleeding head and he did.

00:37:40There was blood everywhere.

00:37:43And him, he just went on laughing.

00:37:46He was laughing his bloody head off!

00:37:49Mr. Kimmins, you're a qualified social worker employed by the Social Service Department of Fulchester County Council.

00:38:12That's correct.

00:38:12How long have you been associated with travellers?

00:38:15About ten years, ever since I graduated.

00:38:17I see.

00:38:18Tell me, Mr. Kimmins, how do you see the plight of the travelling people?

00:38:21Well, I'm afraid it couldn't be much worse.

00:38:23I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that the travellers in our present civilised society hold a similar position to the lepers of the past.

00:38:32Go to any gypsy encampment.

00:38:34Have a look at the notices in the surrounding shop and pub windows.

00:38:37Troublesome van dwellers, not welcome.

00:38:40Gyppos, keep out.

00:38:41And yet these are the very same people who in the past were craftsmen and dealers and could supplement this with casual farm work.

00:38:49Well, mechanisation has put a stop to all that and now the only trade they've got is scrap metalling.

00:38:54Also, of course, every single one of their traditional campsites has been swallowed up by urban development.

00:38:59So we now have a situation where we're living in a country with one of the most advanced social services in the world,

00:39:06and yet we have an entire community that has no place where it can legally live.

00:39:10Oh, yes, I know there are the official sites.

00:39:14But those are few and far between and quite disgustingly inadequate, despite the responsibility imposed on the local authorities by the government.

00:39:21To now, of course, the gypsies have to camp wherever they can find an open space, which, of course, is illegal.

00:39:28But then they have no alternative.

00:39:29My lord, my learned friend seems to be trying to turn this court into a platform for the civil liberties of travellers.

00:39:35Yes, indeed, it's scarcely relevant.

00:39:38Very well, my lord.

00:39:40Mr. Kimmins, would you say that Reuben Hartley had had his fair share of the sort of problems you've just outlined to us?

00:39:45Oh, yes, very much so.

00:39:48Although many of Reuben's problems have had to do with his kids.

00:39:51One of them having been killed in the most unnecessary type of way, another being spastic.

00:39:56Even the younger ones have had their problems.

00:39:58Yes, I see.

00:39:58What sort of a man is Mr. Hartley?

00:40:01He's certainly not a violent one, even when goaded.

00:40:04Has he ever expressed a grudge against Mr. Knox?

00:40:08No.

00:40:10But he didn't have much cause to love him.

00:40:12What, over the official site question?

00:40:13Yes, there was no reason for anyone to be excluded.

00:40:16Oh, but Mr. Knox claims that six caravans had to be excluded because of space.

00:40:22Well, then he's a liar.

00:40:23Look, it was Knox who held a grudge against Hartley, not the other way round.

00:40:26Knox knew he couldn't just exclude one family.

00:40:28That really would stink of victimisation.

00:40:30So he cleverly wangled it that six would be excluded, which would look a damn sight more respectable.

00:40:34Really, my lord, none of this was put to Mr. Knox in cross-examination.

00:40:38Can you substantiate this, Mr. Kimmins?

00:40:40Well, no, if I could, I'd have done something about it.

00:40:42Well, if it's just your opinion, do not express it.

00:40:46I see, I'm sorry.

00:40:48Was there some question of Mr. Knox offering money to some of the travellers to leave Gander Common?

00:40:54Well, before he knew the official site was going to be set up,

00:40:57Knox went round offering so much per caravan for the travellers to leave Gander Common.

00:41:03Obviously, he wasn't certain he was going to win over the official site,

00:41:05so he's trying to make sense by paying them off.

00:41:07Did you witness all this, Mr. Kimmins?

00:41:09Well, at first, Hartley told me about it.

00:41:12But then I hid in one of the trailers and overheard him talking.

00:41:14When was this?

00:41:16About two years ago.

00:41:18Well, I mean, why didn't you do anything about it at the time?

00:41:20Well, because I could only hear very indistinctly,

00:41:23and I wasn't sure what he was saying,

00:41:25so I didn't want to act until I had decisive evidence.

00:41:29This grudge, do you have any substantiation for that?

00:41:32Oh, yes.

00:41:34Well, Knox has a 19-year-old daughter called Christine.

00:41:36Hartley is an 18-year-old son named Charlie,

00:41:39and apparently they had an affair.

00:41:41I think Christine saw it as some kind of romantic trip.

00:41:45The travellers fascinated her.

00:41:47You know the rhyme,

00:41:47my mother said I never should play wager.

00:41:49Yes, I do know the rhyme,

00:41:50Mr. Kimmins, just come to the point.

00:41:52That Charlie got her pregnant.

00:41:53How do you know this?

00:41:56Yeah, of course, she came and blurted out the whole story to me.

00:42:00Oh, she was really very frightened.

00:42:02I advised her to tell her father immediately.

00:42:05Very well.

00:42:05And did Mr. Knox know then that Charlie was the father?

00:42:09Oh, Christine made no secret of it.

00:42:12Her father persuaded her to have an abortion.

00:42:14Well, it was probably the best thing to do.

00:42:16Yeah.

00:42:17But ever since then, of course,

00:42:18Knox has really had it in for Hartley.

00:42:20My lord,

00:42:20this is all hearsay of the most objectionable kind.

00:42:24Mr. Kimmins,

00:42:25did you ever have or overhear any conversation

00:42:28which led you to deduce that Mr. Knox believed

00:42:31that young Hartley had seduced his daughter?

00:42:34Not myself, no.

00:42:35Then let's hear no more of it.

00:42:37Now carry on, Mr. Harvesty,

00:42:38but do be careful.

00:42:40Try to keep your witness under control.

00:42:42That's very well, my lord.

00:42:43Mr. Kimmins...

00:42:44Look, I have evidence to suggest

00:42:45that although Knox was knocked to the ground by Hartley,

00:42:47he was in fact kicked in the face, chest and stomach

00:42:49by Mr. Bruton.

00:42:51That's ridiculous.

00:42:53Oh, really, this is going too far.

00:42:56That's just a liar.

00:42:59My lord, I've never been involved in such a case

00:43:02where allegations are thrown around the room like confetti.

00:43:05And all hearsay are now this monstrous

00:43:08and absurd allegation against Mr. Bruton.

00:43:10Mr. Harvesty,

00:43:11can your witness substantiate this allegation?

00:43:13Well, I had no idea that he was going to make it, my lord.

00:43:17Now, Mr. Kimmins,

00:43:18perhaps you will be good enough

00:43:20to give us some hard facts.

00:43:22Well,

00:43:23I have something here

00:43:24that spells out the situation.

00:43:25Why was this not handed to the police

00:43:35or to Mr. Hartley's solicitor,

00:43:37if it is relevant?

00:43:38Because I only received it last night.

00:43:40Where from?

00:43:41From Mr. Knox's daughter.

00:43:44Yes, well, I...

00:43:45I think the jury had better retire now

00:43:49for a few moments.

00:43:49Mr. Kimmins.

00:44:13The letter is incomplete,

00:44:15but the content is as follows.

00:44:18Dear Ernie,

00:44:18as you refuse to speak to me on the telephone,

00:44:21I'm running the risk of typing this note.

00:44:24As boris of air,

00:44:24I've done you some good in the past

00:44:26and I can do you some good again.

00:44:28But if you cut me out now,

00:44:29I'll shop you.

00:44:30Those gypsies must...

00:44:33And the rest is missing?

00:44:34Yes.

00:44:35And you say that is from Mr. Bruton

00:44:37to Mr. Knox?

00:44:39Yes.

00:44:39Hmm.

00:44:41Well, I think perhaps Miss Knox

00:44:42had better produce it

00:44:44and until then,

00:44:44the jury need not know of its contents

00:44:46unless, of course,

00:44:47Mrs. Dixon,

00:44:48you wish to refer to it.

00:44:49Thank you, my lord.

00:44:50Bring the jury back.

00:44:59So, you expect us, sir,

00:45:01to believe that Mr. Knox's own daughter

00:45:03gave you incriminating evidence against him.

00:45:06Right, now,

00:45:08let's suppose for one moment,

00:45:09one lunatic moment,

00:45:10that we accept that your allegations

00:45:11are true.

00:45:13Do you really imagine

00:45:14that any man

00:45:15is going to leave

00:45:16such incriminating evidence

00:45:17just lying around?

00:45:19Oh, come on,

00:45:20now, surely even you

00:45:21must admit that that is absurd.

00:45:23No, I admit nothing.

00:45:25I see.

00:45:27Well, then,

00:45:27tell me what led you

00:45:28to suspect

00:45:29these two distinguished

00:45:30public servants,

00:45:31Mr. Kimmins.

00:45:32Because I've been convinced

00:45:33for months

00:45:33that they both had

00:45:34a vested interest

00:45:35in Gander Common.

00:45:36What, financial interest

00:45:37in the land?

00:45:38Yes.

00:45:39And that's why

00:45:40they wanted to squatter us off?

00:45:41Yes, as quickly as possible.

00:45:43Ah, now,

00:45:44what sort of financial interest

00:45:46would this be,

00:45:46do you think?

00:45:47Well, it's public knowledge

00:45:48that the motorway link

00:45:49would run straight past

00:45:51Gander Common.

00:45:52Well?

00:45:53Well, an oil company

00:45:54would pay a lot of money

00:45:55for a bit of that land.

00:45:57Why, Mr. Kimmins?

00:45:58Do you think

00:45:58there's an oil well there?

00:46:01No.

00:46:02An oil company

00:46:03would pay a lot of money

00:46:04to build a petrol station.

00:46:07Oh, yes, I see.

00:46:09But, from what you tell us,

00:46:11Mr. Bruton and Mr. Knox

00:46:12are not on the friendliest

00:46:13of terms.

00:46:14Well, it's my opinion

00:46:15that Knox cut Bruton out

00:46:16at some stage.

00:46:17And?

00:46:18And now Bruton

00:46:19is blackmailing Knox.

00:46:21Oh, yes, how very neat.

00:46:25And, of course,

00:46:26during the eviction

00:46:27it was very convenient

00:46:28that Mr. Hartley

00:46:29knocked Mr. Knox

00:46:31to the ground

00:46:31and then Hartley ran off

00:46:34and there was nobody

00:46:35else around.

00:46:36The police were

00:46:37otherwise engaged.

00:46:39Oh, yes,

00:46:39it was all very convenient

00:46:40for Mr. Bruton

00:46:42to quickly and efficiently

00:46:43brutalize Mr. Knox

00:46:45and then fall to the ground

00:46:46himself with a wound

00:46:48over his right eye.

00:46:50Oh, by the way,

00:46:51how do you think

00:46:51he came by that?

00:46:53Do you think

00:46:53that was self-inflicted?

00:46:55Or did poor Mr. Knox

00:46:56have a chance

00:46:56to hit back?

00:46:58Well, it could have been either.

00:46:59These are simply

00:47:00your own beliefs,

00:47:02Mr. Kimmins.

00:47:03Now, I do hope

00:47:04that you understand

00:47:06the gravity

00:47:06of the allegations

00:47:08that you have just made.

00:47:10Now, Mr. Harvesty,

00:47:11Mrs. Dixon,

00:47:12if either of you

00:47:12wish for Mr. Knox,

00:47:13Mr. Bruton

00:47:14or the accused

00:47:15to be recalled,

00:47:16I shall gladly accede

00:47:17to that request.

00:47:18Thank you, my lord.

00:47:20Mr. Kimmins,

00:47:21in an attempt

00:47:22and a very pathetic attempt

00:47:24to shield

00:47:24your travelling protégés,

00:47:26you have trumped up

00:47:28slanderous charges,

00:47:29have you not,

00:47:30against two of the most

00:47:31respected men

00:47:31in Fulchester?

00:47:33Charges which are

00:47:33quite untrue.

00:47:35I believe them

00:47:35to be true.

00:47:37Well, your beliefs

00:47:37are not evidence.

00:47:40Well, I think

00:47:40this would be

00:47:41a convenient moment

00:47:42to adjourn.

00:47:43All stand.

00:47:44All stand.

00:47:44The case of the Queen

00:48:06against Hartley

00:48:07will be concluded

00:48:08tomorrow

00:48:08in the Crown Court.

00:48:10In Fulchester Crown Court,

00:48:35Reuben Hartley,

00:48:35a Romany gypsy,

00:48:36is on trial

00:48:37accused of causing

00:48:38grievous bodily harm

00:48:39to a local councillor,

00:48:40Ernest Knox.

00:48:41Robert Kimmins,

00:48:42a social worker,

00:48:43yesterday claimed

00:48:44to have been handed

00:48:44a letter incriminating

00:48:46Knox and Derek Bruton,

00:48:47the borough surveyor.

00:48:49The final defence witness

00:48:50is in the box.

00:48:52Miss Knox,

00:48:53how well do you know

00:48:54Mr. Kimmins?

00:48:56Pretty well.

00:48:57How well is that?

00:48:59About ten years.

00:49:00Oh, that's a long time.

00:49:01Why is that?

00:49:02Well, he used to work

00:49:03for my father's

00:49:04youth project,

00:49:05Ravenscourt.

00:49:06Then Dad got him

00:49:07a job here.

00:49:08Mr. Kimmins is

00:49:08an honest man?

00:49:09Is he?

00:49:10Yeah.

00:49:10Good social worker.

00:49:12Yeah.

00:49:13The travellers

00:49:13think he's terrific.

00:49:14He's done a lot of work

00:49:15for them.

00:49:16Now Mr. Kimmins

00:49:16is making serious

00:49:17allegations against

00:49:18your father,

00:49:19Miss Knox.

00:49:20I know.

00:49:20What's your reaction

00:49:21to this?

00:49:22I'm sorry.

00:49:24You're sorry?

00:49:25For them both.

00:49:26Speak up,

00:49:27Miss Knox.

00:49:28For them both.

00:49:29Could you expand

00:49:30a little?

00:49:32No.

00:49:32I want to ask you

00:49:35about something

00:49:36that happened

00:49:36two days ago.

00:49:38Now, were you at home

00:49:39two days ago?

00:49:40Yes.

00:49:40And did something happen?

00:49:42No.

00:49:44Did you notice anything?

00:49:46Oh, yes.

00:49:47I found the letter.

00:49:48Would you take a look

00:49:49at this, please?

00:49:52Is that the one

00:49:53that you found?

00:49:54Yes.

00:49:58It's a letter

00:49:59to your father?

00:50:01Yes, from Mr. Bruton.

00:50:02What did you do with it?

00:50:05You mean,

00:50:06did I give it to Bob?

00:50:07If you did,

00:50:08you must tell the court.

00:50:09Yes, I gave it to him.

00:50:11Where did you find it?

00:50:13Screwed up.

00:50:14In the fireplace.

00:50:15I see.

00:50:17And you gave it

00:50:17to Mr. Kimmins

00:50:19that night.

00:50:20Now, it was Mr. Kimmins

00:50:21that you first told

00:50:22about your expecting

00:50:23a baby, yes?

00:50:24Yes.

00:50:25What did he suggest?

00:50:27That I saw my father.

00:50:29And did you?

00:50:30Yes.

00:50:31Was he sympathetic?

00:50:33No.

00:50:34What was his attitude?

00:50:35He was ashamed.

00:50:37I see.

00:50:38What did he say to you?

00:50:40He said I was a whore.

00:50:42He said he ought

00:50:43to kick me out

00:50:44of the house.

00:50:45He said I had

00:50:46to have an abortion.

00:50:48Didn't you want one?

00:50:49No.

00:50:51Whose baby was it?

00:50:52Charlie Hartley's.

00:50:55And you wanted

00:50:56Charlie's baby.

00:50:57Yes.

00:50:58Did Charlie

00:50:58want you to have it?

00:50:59Yes.

00:51:00He came to our house

00:51:01with his father.

00:51:03Did he meet

00:51:04your own father?

00:51:05Yes.

00:51:06What happened?

00:51:08There was an awful row.

00:51:10My father told

00:51:11Mr. Hartley

00:51:11to get out.

00:51:15Do you know anything

00:51:16of your father's

00:51:17financial situation?

00:51:19Well the business

00:51:20wasn't doing very well

00:51:21but it must have been

00:51:23all right

00:51:23because he said

00:51:24we wouldn't have

00:51:25to worry about money

00:51:26soon.

00:51:26Really?

00:51:28When did he say that

00:51:29that you wouldn't have

00:51:30to worry about money

00:51:31anymore?

00:51:31A few months ago.

00:51:33Did he say anything else?

00:51:35Yes.

00:51:35He said that once

00:51:36he got the travelers

00:51:37off Gander Common

00:51:38then our financial

00:51:39problems would be over.

00:51:42Did you confide

00:51:43that to Mr. Kimmins?

00:51:45Yes.

00:51:46Then why was action

00:51:47taken so late?

00:51:48Well Bob

00:51:49Mr. Kimmins

00:51:50he couldn't bring himself

00:51:51to get my father

00:51:52into trouble.

00:51:53He admired him

00:51:54you see.

00:51:55Yes.

00:51:56Yes I do see.

00:51:57Did your father

00:51:58know Mr. Bruton well?

00:51:59They had a row.

00:52:01When?

00:52:02Last year

00:52:03when the travelers

00:52:03were being kicked off.

00:52:04What was it about?

00:52:05I don't know.

00:52:07One final question

00:52:08then Miss Knox.

00:52:10Why did you

00:52:10so suddenly

00:52:11and at

00:52:12such a late stage

00:52:14give Mr. Kimmins

00:52:15that evidence

00:52:16that we've just seen

00:52:16at the letter?

00:52:19Because I was determined

00:52:20that he wouldn't

00:52:21get away with it.

00:52:22Thank you Miss Knox.

00:52:30Miss Knox

00:52:31you've said that

00:52:32you were fond

00:52:33of Mr. Kimmins.

00:52:35We were friends.

00:52:37I see yes.

00:52:38Were you in love

00:52:39with Charlie Hartley

00:52:41the accused son?

00:52:42He made me pregnant.

00:52:43and your father

00:52:45suggested that you

00:52:46abort the child.

00:52:48Suggested?

00:52:49They made me do it.

00:52:50And because of

00:52:51your father's attitude

00:52:53and because of

00:52:54your relationship

00:52:55with the accused son

00:52:56and possibly

00:52:57your romantic attachment

00:52:59to the travelers

00:52:59in general

00:53:00did you not

00:53:02conspire

00:53:02with your friend

00:53:03Mr. Kimmins

00:53:04to forge

00:53:04this very dubious letter?

00:53:07No.

00:53:08No.

00:53:08Finally Miss Knox

00:53:11you say that

00:53:12you found this letter

00:53:12screwed up

00:53:14in the fireplace.

00:53:15Now would you just

00:53:15hold up the note

00:53:16for us?

00:53:18Apart from the

00:53:19unlikelihood

00:53:19of any such discovery

00:53:20I must say Miss Knox

00:53:21I have never seen

00:53:22a less screwed up

00:53:24letter in my life.

00:53:25Have you?

00:53:28You didn't find

00:53:29this letter at all

00:53:30did you?

00:53:32You or Mr. Kimmins

00:53:33forged it.

00:53:34Hmm?

00:53:36I have no further

00:53:37questions for this witness.

00:53:40I remind you

00:53:41that you are still

00:53:42on oath

00:53:43Mr. Bruton.

00:53:45Now Mr. Bruton

00:53:45you've been recalled

00:53:46because of certain

00:53:47allegations made

00:53:48by defense witnesses.

00:53:50I see.

00:53:51I'm very sorry

00:53:52that you have had

00:53:53to be recalled

00:53:53but let us treat

00:53:55these allegations

00:53:56one by one.

00:53:57I'd be glad to.

00:53:58Now were you

00:53:59at any point

00:54:00attacked by

00:54:01gypsy women

00:54:02during the course

00:54:03of the fracas?

00:54:04No.

00:54:05And this piece

00:54:07of cloth

00:54:07is no part

00:54:09of any trousers

00:54:11you possess?

00:54:12Certainly not.

00:54:14So as you said

00:54:15you were stunned

00:54:16and dazed

00:54:17and only came round

00:54:18when Inspector

00:54:19Macbeth arrived.

00:54:20Yes.

00:54:21Did you

00:54:22write this letter

00:54:23to Mr. Knox?

00:54:28I have written

00:54:30to him

00:54:30from time to time.

00:54:31It's very recent.

00:54:32No.

00:54:36I definitely

00:54:37didn't write it.

00:54:41Was Mr. Kimmons

00:54:42a great friend

00:54:43of the accused?

00:54:44You could say

00:54:45they were very thick.

00:54:47I see.

00:54:47Now you know

00:54:48quite a lot

00:54:48about the traveling people

00:54:50Mr. Bruton

00:54:50are you also

00:54:51a member

00:54:51of the support group?

00:54:52I am.

00:54:53And how did you

00:54:53join the support group?

00:54:55Mr. Knox

00:54:55asked me to join.

00:54:56Was Mr. Kimmons

00:54:57a member?

00:54:58He was

00:54:59but he resigned.

00:55:00Oh I see

00:55:01but he still

00:55:02claims membership.

00:55:04Did he

00:55:04give any reason

00:55:05for his resignation?

00:55:07No.

00:55:08Now this letter

00:55:10that has been produced

00:55:11if as you say

00:55:12it was not written

00:55:13by you

00:55:14then it must be

00:55:14an attempt

00:55:15at forgery.

00:55:16Absolutely.

00:55:17This is

00:55:17simply another one

00:55:19of Kimmons

00:55:19is extraordinarily

00:55:20misguided stunts.

00:55:22Except this time

00:55:23he's gone too far.

00:55:24Apart from the

00:55:25action that I expect

00:55:26the police to take

00:55:27I shall consider

00:55:27taking legal action

00:55:28myself.

00:55:30No doubt

00:55:30he's already

00:55:31lost his job.

00:55:32Thank you Mr. Bruton

00:55:33no more questions.

00:55:34Well Mr. Bruton

00:55:36you are very critical

00:55:37of Mr. Kimmons.

00:55:38I think I have

00:55:39good reason.

00:55:40You make him out

00:55:41to be an irresponsible

00:55:42young fool.

00:55:43That I consider

00:55:44him to be.

00:55:45Basically

00:55:46I'm sure

00:55:47he's very well meaning

00:55:48but let's face it

00:55:49he does have a tendency

00:55:50to get a bit

00:55:50carried away.

00:55:53Isn't that true

00:55:54of all campaigners

00:55:55in their fight

00:55:56against social injustice?

00:55:58That's a little

00:55:58melodramatic isn't it?

00:56:00In your opinion

00:56:01then he's just

00:56:01a fanatic.

00:56:03Very much so.

00:56:04Why do you think

00:56:05he is a fanatic?

00:56:06Well there are

00:56:07several prime examples

00:56:08my lord.

00:56:09Let me give you

00:56:10a couple of them.

00:56:11Last year

00:56:12Mr. Kimmons

00:56:12ran a campaign

00:56:13against a private

00:56:14hostel for

00:56:15unmarried mothers.

00:56:16His point was

00:56:17that unmarried mothers

00:56:18ought to be accepted

00:56:19naturally in society

00:56:20and that a hostel

00:56:22was both

00:56:22discriminatory

00:56:23and shaming.

00:56:25A perfectly good point.

00:56:25Indeed it's a point

00:56:26with which I myself

00:56:27fully agree.

00:56:30Unfortunately

00:56:30Mr. Kimmons

00:56:31has a rather

00:56:31eccentric way

00:56:32of going about things.

00:56:34Instead of

00:56:34effectively

00:56:35campaigning

00:56:36he sat

00:56:37on the roof

00:56:38of the hostel

00:56:38for two days

00:56:39with several

00:56:40insulting posters.

00:56:42I believe he was

00:56:43later sent a bill

00:56:43for damaged tiles.

00:56:46I see.

00:56:48And the other occasion?

00:56:50Oh yeah

00:56:50my lord

00:56:50the other occasion

00:56:51was connected

00:56:52with the travelling people.

00:56:55Mr. Hartley

00:56:56said earlier

00:56:56that the police

00:56:57were unconcerned

00:56:58with vandalism

00:56:59and petrol bomb attacks

00:57:00on his community's

00:57:01caravans.

00:57:02I know that

00:57:02Chief Inspector

00:57:03Macbeth

00:57:04will corroborate

00:57:04that the police

00:57:05attitude

00:57:05was exactly the reverse

00:57:08and that the site

00:57:08was regularly patrolled.

00:57:10However

00:57:11this was not good enough

00:57:12for Mr. Kimmons.

00:57:13He organized

00:57:14a group of the gypsies

00:57:15into a vigilante patrol

00:57:16with himself

00:57:17as leader.

00:57:19Inevitably

00:57:20this led

00:57:20the travelling people

00:57:21into

00:57:22a number of

00:57:23quite unnecessary

00:57:24clashes with the local people.

00:57:26Yes I see.

00:57:27Mr. Harvesty.

00:57:29Mr. Bruton

00:57:30you still deny

00:57:31that that piece of cloth

00:57:32displayed earlier

00:57:33is from the seat

00:57:34of your trousers?

00:57:36Yes of course.

00:57:38And you deny

00:57:39that the letter

00:57:40was written

00:57:41by you.

00:57:43Yes.

00:57:44We've been over

00:57:45all this before

00:57:45Mr. Harvesty.

00:57:46I don't think

00:57:46we can take it

00:57:47any further

00:57:48do you?

00:57:49Well perhaps not

00:57:50my lord.

00:57:52Mr. Knox

00:57:53you do realize

00:57:54the extent

00:57:55to which Mr. Kimmons

00:57:56has implicated you?

00:57:57I most certainly do.

00:57:59He's been very foolish

00:58:00and I think

00:58:01his foolishness

00:58:01will cost him his job.

00:58:03Yes well

00:58:03his foolishness

00:58:04as you put it

00:58:05could land you

00:58:05in the center

00:58:06of a police investigation.

00:58:07I'm aware of that.

00:58:10I'm also aware

00:58:10of course

00:58:11of the fact

00:58:11that the social services

00:58:12department

00:58:13could lose

00:58:13a damn good

00:58:14social worker.

00:58:15Now he says

00:58:16that he overheard you

00:58:17offering the travellers

00:58:19money to leave

00:58:20the common.

00:58:20Is that true?

00:58:21Completely untrue.

00:58:23Now is there any

00:58:24reason why

00:58:25Mr. Kimmons

00:58:26should dislike you

00:58:27harbour resentment

00:58:27against you?

00:58:29Oh I don't think so.

00:58:30Be frank about this.

00:58:32Well I think

00:58:33we should remember

00:58:34my lord

00:58:34that I was

00:58:35first introduced

00:58:36Mr. Kimmons

00:58:37to the social

00:58:37services department

00:58:38in Folchester.

00:58:39Yes you got him

00:58:40the job.

00:58:41No no he got it

00:58:41on his own merit.

00:58:42I meant you

00:58:43introduced him

00:58:44to the job

00:58:44in the first place.

00:58:46Yes.

00:58:46How did that

00:58:47come about?

00:58:48Well he used

00:58:49to work

00:58:49for my

00:58:51youth project.

00:58:54He was a

00:58:54volunteer worker

00:58:55and he was so good

00:58:55and so keen

00:58:56that I recommended

00:58:57him to have training

00:58:57and the rest you know.

00:58:58I do not

00:58:59Mr. Knox.

00:59:00Now is there

00:59:01anything else

00:59:02you know about him

00:59:03that the court

00:59:04should hear?

00:59:04Well there is

00:59:06one thing.

00:59:07Well?

00:59:08It happened

00:59:10before he

00:59:10joined the

00:59:11youth project.

00:59:13In his late teens

00:59:15he served a short

00:59:16prison sentence

00:59:17for theft.

00:59:19Did Mr. Kimmons

00:59:19have a close

00:59:20relationship

00:59:21with Mr. Hartley?

00:59:22It was a social

00:59:23worker client

00:59:23relationship.

00:59:24Did Mr. Kimmons

00:59:25give any practical

00:59:27help to Mr. Hartley?

00:59:28Yes I think

00:59:29he was helped

00:59:30enormously when

00:59:31Mr. Hartley's

00:59:32little girl

00:59:33was so tragically

00:59:34killed.

00:59:35You yourself

00:59:35also offered

00:59:36to help

00:59:36Mr. Hartley's

00:59:37spastic daughter

00:59:38is that so?

00:59:39Well I've tried

00:59:39I've done

00:59:40what I could.

00:59:41Yes.

00:59:42Well thank you.

00:59:43Mrs. Dixon?

00:59:45No no questions

00:59:46thank you my lord.

00:59:47Mr. Harvesty?

00:59:48Yes my lord

00:59:48just tell me

00:59:49this Mr.

00:59:51Mr. Knox

00:59:51did you at any

00:59:53stage

00:59:54receive

00:59:55this letter?

00:59:56yes I did

01:00:06Mr. Knox I suppose

01:00:20you realise that

01:00:21many excellent

01:00:22social workers

01:00:23have been vocational

01:00:24because of the

01:00:25experience that they

01:00:26themselves have had

01:00:26in the past.

01:00:27I have no doubt

01:00:28of that.

01:00:29The same could

01:00:29apply to Mr. Kimmons

01:00:30and his unfortunate

01:00:31experience don't you

01:00:32think?

01:00:33Well that's very

01:00:33true.

01:00:34I have already

01:00:35stressed my highest

01:00:36admiration for Mr.

01:00:37Kimmons.

01:00:38Yes.

01:00:39Mr. Knox

01:00:39since Mr.

01:00:42Kimmons' evidence

01:00:42my instructing solicitors

01:00:43have been checking

01:00:44records at

01:00:45company's house.

01:00:47I see from these

01:00:48records that

01:00:49you and the

01:00:50chairman of

01:00:50Fulchester Town

01:00:51and Country

01:00:52Properties were

01:00:53both directors of

01:00:54a company called

01:00:55Progressive Building

01:00:56Limited.

01:00:58That was true.

01:01:00You were a director

01:01:01of this company

01:01:02way back in 1958.

01:01:03For a very brief

01:01:04period.

01:01:05Oh I wouldn't

01:01:06call two years

01:01:07a very brief

01:01:08period.

01:01:09Would you?

01:01:10Perhaps not.

01:01:11I was never a

01:01:12very active director

01:01:13of the syndicate.

01:01:14They persuaded me

01:01:15to join and I

01:01:16took little interest

01:01:16in it.

01:01:17Such little interest

01:01:18that you put

01:01:1925,000 pounds

01:01:20into it?

01:01:20Oh my lord

01:01:21these questions

01:01:21can have no

01:01:22conceivable relevance

01:01:23to the issues

01:01:23in this case.

01:01:24I'm sure Mr.

01:01:25Knox does not

01:01:26object.

01:01:27Do you?

01:01:28Not in the least

01:01:29my lord.

01:01:30Ah then will you

01:01:30tell the court

01:01:31what this company

01:01:32was set up to do?

01:01:34It's very simple.

01:01:35It's quite innocent.

01:01:37The company was

01:01:38originally created

01:01:38to invest in a

01:01:39private housing

01:01:41estate.

01:01:42It would be built

01:01:43on the town

01:01:44and country section

01:01:45of Gander Common.

01:01:46However

01:01:46not enough money

01:01:47was raised

01:01:48the planning permission

01:01:49was unattainable

01:01:50therefore the project

01:01:51was dropped.

01:01:53I see.

01:01:54Why did you tell

01:01:55your daughter

01:01:55just a few months

01:01:57ago that soon

01:01:58all your troubles

01:02:00would be over

01:02:00you wouldn't have

01:02:01to worry about

01:02:02money anymore?

01:02:03I'm afraid I didn't.

01:02:05She's never had to

01:02:05worry about money.

01:02:07Really?

01:02:08This letter

01:02:09that you received

01:02:10from Mr. Bruton

01:02:11you do realize

01:02:12I suppose that he

01:02:13completely denies

01:02:14sending it to you?

01:02:15I can't think

01:02:16why it's a perfectly

01:02:16straightforward letter.

01:02:18It describes my

01:02:19desperate attempts

01:02:20to get the remaining

01:02:21six caravans

01:02:21onto the side.

01:02:22Frankly I was

01:02:23going to bend

01:02:24the law a little

01:02:25and put them

01:02:26in a field

01:02:26just above the side.

01:02:28You never

01:02:28mentioned this

01:02:29before?

01:02:30No obviously

01:02:30not but it's out

01:02:31now.

01:02:32Of course

01:02:33Mr. Bruton

01:02:33is a more

01:02:35rigidly law-abiding

01:02:36citizen was

01:02:37livid and he

01:02:38risked writing me

01:02:39a very furious

01:02:40letter.

01:02:41By cutting out

01:02:42he refers to my

01:02:43going to law

01:02:43and bending

01:02:44the law a little

01:02:44and shopping

01:02:46well I suppose

01:02:47he might have

01:02:48reported my

01:02:48actions to the

01:02:49chairman of the

01:02:50council.

01:02:51At the last

01:02:52moment

01:02:53Derek

01:02:54perjured himself

01:02:56on my behalf.

01:02:58He shouldn't

01:02:58have done that.

01:02:59I suggest to you

01:03:00You can suggest

01:03:01what you like.

01:03:02I told you the

01:03:02truth.

01:03:03Did not that

01:03:04note refer to

01:03:05Mr. Bruton's

01:03:05being cut out

01:03:06of a land deal

01:03:07involving this

01:03:07particular part

01:03:08of Gander Common

01:03:09and wasn't he

01:03:10threatening you

01:03:10with physical

01:03:11violence because

01:03:12he was being

01:03:13cut out?

01:03:15Oh no nonsense.

01:03:17Was it not in

01:03:18fact Bruton

01:03:18who hit you

01:03:20on the night

01:03:21of the 14th

01:03:21of November?

01:03:23Well yes

01:03:23that's of course

01:03:23your version

01:03:24of this event.

01:03:26If you told

01:03:27the truth

01:03:28to the police

01:03:29they would have

01:03:29had to have

01:03:30arrested Hartley

01:03:32and then you

01:03:33would have

01:03:33become

01:03:33implicated

01:03:34wouldn't you?

01:03:35Rubbish!

01:03:38Derek Bruton

01:03:39is not the

01:03:39sort of person

01:03:40who would beat

01:03:40up a colleague.

01:03:42Whatever was

01:03:43at stake.

01:03:44He is however

01:03:44quite capable

01:03:45of perjury

01:03:46as we've seen.

01:03:48No further

01:03:49questions.

01:03:51And you

01:03:52are accusing

01:03:53Mr. Knox

01:03:53not only

01:03:54of corruption

01:03:55but also

01:03:56of falsely

01:03:57accusing you

01:03:58of a crime

01:03:58which you

01:03:59claim was

01:03:59committed

01:04:00by Bruton.

01:04:01Now

01:04:02why should

01:04:03he do that?

01:04:04Because

01:04:04he ate

01:04:04he big

01:04:05goats.

01:04:06If he

01:04:06grasped up

01:04:07Bruton

01:04:08would

01:04:08grass him

01:04:08up in

01:04:08turn.

01:04:09Why

01:04:10didn't

01:04:10you claim

01:04:10that Mr. Knox

01:04:11had offered

01:04:12you money

01:04:12to leave

01:04:13Gander Common

01:04:14on the first

01:04:15time that

01:04:15you were

01:04:15examined?

01:04:18I didn't

01:04:18think of it

01:04:19did I?

01:04:19You mean

01:04:20you hadn't

01:04:21thought it

01:04:21up?

01:04:22I'd

01:04:23forgot.

01:04:23Were you

01:04:26evicted in

01:04:27the same

01:04:27way from

01:04:28Russia

01:04:28Green as

01:04:29you were

01:04:29from

01:04:29Gander Common?

01:04:31Oh no

01:04:31they'd never

01:04:32removed 200

01:04:32trailers by

01:04:33force.

01:04:34How did

01:04:34they go

01:04:35about it?

01:04:36Well first

01:04:36of all

01:04:36they cut

01:04:37off the

01:04:37wattie.

01:04:38You mean

01:04:39you had

01:04:39piped

01:04:39water?

01:04:40Oh no

01:04:41we had

01:04:41a few

01:04:41pipes

01:04:42and a

01:04:42few

01:04:42taps

01:04:43well

01:04:43they

01:04:43cut

01:04:43them

01:04:43off.

01:04:45Then

01:04:45they

01:04:45told

01:04:45the

01:04:45dust

01:04:46not

01:04:46to

01:04:46collect

01:04:46so

01:04:47we

01:04:47had

01:04:47piles

01:04:47of

01:04:48stinking

01:04:48rubbish.

01:04:49Then

01:04:49they

01:04:49dug

01:04:50a

01:04:50bloody

01:04:50great

01:04:50ditch

01:04:51round

01:04:51her

01:04:51so

01:04:51we

01:04:51couldn't

01:04:51get

01:04:52the

01:04:52motors

01:04:52in

01:04:52her

01:04:52out.

01:04:53They

01:04:53made

01:04:53it

01:04:53impossible

01:04:54for you

01:04:54to

01:04:54carry

01:04:55on

01:04:55your

01:04:55trade?

01:04:56That's

01:04:56it

01:04:56yeah.

01:04:57Was

01:04:57Mr.

01:04:58Knox

01:04:58originally

01:04:59against

01:04:59your

01:05:00camping

01:05:00on

01:05:01Gander

01:05:01Common?

01:05:02Oh he

01:05:02pleaded

01:05:03with us

01:05:03not to

01:05:03on his

01:05:04bleeding

01:05:04knees

01:05:04he

01:05:04was.

01:05:05Did

01:05:05he

01:05:05give

01:05:05any

01:05:05reason?

01:05:07He

01:05:07said

01:05:07it

01:05:07wasn't

01:05:08fit

01:05:08damp

01:05:09like

01:05:10kids

01:05:10a

01:05:10girl.

01:05:11Was

01:05:11it?

01:05:11It's

01:05:12no

01:05:12worse

01:05:12than

01:05:13Russia

01:05:13Green.

01:05:13Some

01:05:14kids

01:05:21Joe

01:05:21Zavagotis.

01:05:22Did

01:05:23they?

01:05:23Oh yeah.

01:05:25How much

01:05:25money

01:05:26did Mr.

01:05:27Knox

01:05:27offer

01:05:27you

01:05:27to

01:05:28leave

01:05:28Gander

01:05:28Common?

01:05:30It

01:05:30started

01:05:31off

01:05:31at

01:05:3150

01:05:31quid

01:05:32a

01:05:32trailer

01:05:32and

01:05:33it

01:05:33went

01:05:33up

01:05:33to

01:05:34100.

01:05:36I'd

01:05:36like

01:05:36to

01:05:36ask

01:05:37you

01:05:37briefly

01:05:37about

01:05:37your

01:05:38relationship

01:05:38with

01:05:38Mr.

01:05:39Bruton.

01:05:40Yeah.

01:05:41Well he

01:05:42was

01:05:42Noxy

01:05:42boy's

01:05:43little

01:05:43stooge

01:05:43wasn't

01:05:43he?

01:05:44I

01:05:45caught

01:05:45him

01:05:45measuring

01:05:45up

01:05:46the

01:05:46land

01:05:46one

01:05:46day.

01:05:47What

01:05:48was

01:05:48he

01:05:48doing

01:05:48that

01:05:48for?

01:05:49Well if

01:05:50I

01:05:50says

01:05:50I

01:05:50get

01:05:51a

01:05:51bollocking

01:05:51won't

01:05:52I?

01:05:54Well what

01:05:54was his

01:05:55reaction

01:05:55when you

01:05:56challenged

01:05:56him?

01:05:57Oh right

01:05:57screwed

01:05:58up he

01:05:58was.

01:05:59Said

01:05:59it

01:05:59had

01:05:59something

01:05:59to

01:06:00do

01:06:00with

01:06:00road

01:06:00but

01:06:00I

01:06:01knew

01:06:01better.

01:06:02He

01:06:02was

01:06:02measuring

01:06:02up

01:06:03for

01:06:03when

01:06:03they

01:06:03got

01:06:03us

01:06:03off

01:06:04so

01:06:04him

01:06:04and

01:06:04Noxy

01:06:05could

01:06:05collect.

01:06:05And

01:06:06Mr.

01:06:06Kimmins

01:06:07what do

01:06:07you think

01:06:08of him?

01:06:09Bob?

01:06:09Oh he's

01:06:10a great

01:06:10bloke.

01:06:11Genuine

01:06:11like

01:06:12you

01:06:12know.

01:06:13Well he

01:06:13had a bit

01:06:14of trouble

01:06:14himself

01:06:14earlier

01:06:15on so

01:06:15he

01:06:15understood

01:06:16us

01:06:16better

01:06:16like.

01:06:17Well

01:06:17better

01:06:17than

01:06:17whom?

01:06:18Well

01:06:18Noxy

01:06:19and

01:06:19Bruton

01:06:19they

01:06:20had

01:06:20their

01:06:20own

01:06:20pockets

01:06:21to

01:06:21line.

01:06:21Mr.

01:06:22Kimmins

01:06:22trustworthy

01:06:23would you

01:06:23say?

01:06:24I'd

01:06:24never

01:06:25tell

01:06:25you

01:06:25a

01:06:25lie

01:06:25old

01:06:25Kimmins

01:06:26never

01:06:26know.

01:06:27Mr.

01:06:28Hartley

01:06:28it

01:06:29was

01:06:29your

01:06:29son

01:06:30Charlie

01:06:30who

01:06:31was

01:06:31the

01:06:31father

01:06:32of

01:06:32Christine

01:06:32Knox's

01:06:33child.

01:06:33Yeah

01:06:33yeah

01:06:33he

01:06:34ran

01:06:34away

01:06:34he

01:06:34was

01:06:34chicken

01:06:35he

01:06:35was

01:06:35a

01:06:35bad

01:06:35and

01:06:35Charlie

01:06:36were

01:06:36best

01:06:36shot

01:06:36on

01:06:37him.

01:06:37A

01:06:37last

01:06:37question

01:06:38then

01:06:38Mr.

01:06:38Hartley

01:06:39do

01:06:39you

01:06:39still

01:06:39totally

01:06:40deny

01:06:40causing

01:06:41Ernest

01:06:42Knox

01:06:42grievous

01:06:43bodily

01:06:44harm?

01:06:45I

01:06:46hit him

01:06:46once

01:06:47and

01:06:48then

01:06:48I

01:06:48went

01:06:49after

01:06:49me

01:06:49girl

01:06:49and

01:06:50that's

01:06:50God's

01:06:50truth

01:06:51sir.

01:06:52Thank

01:06:52you.

01:06:53Will

01:06:53you

01:06:53wait

01:06:53there?

01:06:57Mr.

01:06:58Hartley

01:06:58I

01:06:58suggest

01:06:59that

01:06:59because

01:06:59you

01:06:59bore

01:07:00a

01:07:00grudge

01:07:00against

01:07:01Mr.

01:07:01Knox

01:07:01and

01:07:01Mr.

01:07:02Bruton

01:07:02you

01:07:02have

01:07:02allowed

01:07:03yourself

01:07:03to

01:07:03be

01:07:03manipulated

01:07:04by

01:07:05a

01:07:05devious

01:07:06and

01:07:06possibly

01:07:07hysterical

01:07:08man

01:07:08namely

01:07:09Robert

01:07:09Kimmins

01:07:10I

01:07:12don't

01:07:12understand

01:07:12you

01:07:14don't

01:07:14understand

01:07:15Mr.

01:07:16Knox

01:07:17has

01:07:17lost

01:07:17the

01:07:17sight

01:07:18in

01:07:18one

01:07:18eye

01:07:18he

01:07:19has

01:07:19a

01:07:19punctured

01:07:20lung

01:07:20I

01:07:21didn't

01:07:21do

01:07:21none

01:07:21of

01:07:21that

01:07:22Mr.

01:07:23Hartley

01:07:23I

01:07:24put

01:07:24it

01:07:24to

01:07:24you

01:07:24that

01:07:24you

01:07:24never

01:07:25went

01:07:25to

01:07:25the

01:07:25aid

01:07:25of

01:07:25your

01:07:25daughter

01:07:26she

01:07:26was

01:07:26safely

01:07:26in

01:07:27your

01:07:27caravan

01:07:27all

01:07:27the

01:07:27time

01:07:28you

01:07:29didn't

01:07:29just

01:07:29hit

01:07:29Mr.

01:07:30Knox

01:07:30once

01:07:30you

01:07:32knocked

01:07:32him

01:07:32to

01:07:32the

01:07:32ground

01:07:32you

01:07:33stunned

01:07:33Mr.

01:07:34Bruton

01:07:34with

01:07:34a

01:07:34missile

01:07:35you

01:07:35then

01:07:35kicked

01:07:36Mr.

01:07:36Knox

01:07:36savagely

01:07:37into

01:07:37unconsciousness

01:07:38and

01:07:38then

01:07:38you

01:07:39ran

01:07:39towards

01:07:39your

01:07:40caravan

01:07:40that

01:07:40bloody

01:07:40lies

01:07:41no

01:07:42Mr.

01:07:42Hartley

01:07:42that

01:07:43is

01:07:43the

01:07:43truth

01:07:43bleeding

01:07:44copper

01:07:45he

01:07:46couldn't

01:07:46see

01:07:46nothing

01:07:47it

01:07:47was

01:07:47dark

01:07:47there

01:07:47was

01:07:48no

01:07:48muck

01:07:48well

01:07:48he

01:07:48said

01:07:49so

01:07:49Macbeth

01:07:50is

01:07:50in

01:07:50no

01:07:50doubt

01:07:51that

01:07:51it

01:07:51was

01:07:51you

01:07:52who

01:07:52so

01:07:52savagely

01:07:52assaulted

01:07:53Mr.

01:07:53Knox

01:07:53he

01:07:54couldn't

01:07:54see

01:07:54a

01:07:54bleeding

01:07:54thing

01:07:55well

01:07:55he

01:07:55did

01:07:56see

01:07:56you

01:07:57I

01:07:57never

01:07:57laid

01:07:58a

01:07:58finger

01:07:58on

01:07:59Knox

01:07:59Mr.

01:08:00Hartley

01:08:00you

01:08:00have

01:08:01already

01:08:01admitted

01:08:01knocking

01:08:02Mr.

01:08:02Knox

01:08:02to

01:08:03the

01:08:03ground

01:08:03or

01:08:04are

01:08:04you

01:08:04now

01:08:04refusing

01:08:04to

01:08:05admit

01:08:05even

01:08:05this

01:08:05I

01:08:06hit

01:08:06him

01:08:06once

01:08:07but

01:08:07I

01:08:07never

01:08:08kicked

01:08:08him

01:08:08thank

01:08:09you

01:08:09I

01:08:09have

01:08:09no

01:08:09more

01:08:10questions

01:08:10you

01:08:11may

01:08:11leave

01:08:12the

01:08:12witness

01:08:12box

01:08:13Mr.

01:08:13Hartley

01:08:13now

01:08:29grievous

01:08:30bodily

01:08:30harm

01:08:31means

01:08:32really

01:08:33serious

01:08:33injury

01:08:34and

01:08:35you

01:08:35may

01:08:35well

01:08:36think

01:08:36that

01:08:37Mr.

01:08:37Knox

01:08:37did

01:08:38suffer

01:08:38really

01:08:39serious

01:08:39injuries

01:08:40he

01:08:41lost

01:08:41an

01:08:41eye

01:08:42and

01:08:42he

01:08:42suffered

01:08:43a

01:08:43punctured

01:08:43lung

01:08:44but

01:08:45Hartley

01:08:46says

01:08:46that

01:08:46he

01:08:47only

01:08:47hit

01:08:47knocks

01:08:48once

01:08:48on

01:08:49the

01:08:49chin

01:08:49and

01:08:50that

01:08:50he

01:08:50was

01:08:51not

01:08:51responsible

01:08:52for

01:08:52those

01:08:52serious

01:08:53injuries

01:08:53so

01:08:55it

01:08:55boils

01:08:55down

01:08:55to

01:08:55this

01:08:56Hartley

01:08:56admits

01:08:57that

01:08:57he

01:08:57is

01:08:57guilty

01:08:58of

01:08:58assault

01:08:59common

01:08:59assault

01:09:00we

01:09:00call

01:09:01it

01:09:01but

01:09:01he

01:09:02is

01:09:02not

01:09:02guilty

01:09:02of

01:09:02the

01:09:03more

01:09:03serious

01:09:03crime

01:09:04of

01:09:05causing

01:09:05grievous

01:09:06bodily

01:09:06harm

01:09:07so

01:09:07the

01:09:09vital

01:09:09question

01:09:09is

01:09:10this

01:09:10who

01:09:11did

01:09:11cause

01:09:12the

01:09:12serious

01:09:13injuries

01:09:13well there

01:09:15are witnesses

01:09:15who say

01:09:16it was

01:09:16Hartley

01:09:17Mr.

01:09:18Bruton

01:09:18says so

01:09:19Mr.

01:09:20Knox

01:09:20says so

01:09:21Inspector

01:09:21Macbeth

01:09:22says so

01:09:22but the

01:09:23defence

01:09:24claims that

01:09:25they are

01:09:25lying

01:09:26that

01:09:27Inspector

01:09:27Macbeth could

01:09:28not have seen

01:09:29what he claimed

01:09:29to have seen

01:09:30because it was

01:09:30too dark

01:09:31and that it

01:09:32was Bruton

01:09:33who attacked

01:09:34Knox

01:09:35because they had

01:09:36disagreed over

01:09:37some property

01:09:37deal

01:09:38well members

01:09:39of the jury

01:09:40you have

01:09:41listened to

01:09:41the evidence

01:09:42and it is

01:09:43for you

01:09:43to decide

01:09:44now remember

01:09:46you cannot

01:09:47return a

01:09:47verdict of

01:09:48guilty

01:09:48unless you

01:09:50are satisfied

01:09:50beyond

01:09:52reasonable

01:09:53doubt

01:09:53that Hartley

01:09:55was the

01:09:55person

01:09:56who caused

01:09:56these serious

01:09:57injuries

01:09:58to Knox

01:09:59now would

01:10:01you please

01:10:01retire

01:10:02elect a

01:10:04foreman

01:10:04and consider

01:10:05your verdict

01:10:06all stand

01:10:07members of

01:10:21the jury

01:10:21will your

01:10:21foreman

01:10:22please stand

01:10:23just answer

01:10:24this question

01:10:25yes or no

01:10:26have you reached

01:10:27a verdict upon

01:10:27which you are

01:10:28all agreed

01:10:28yes

01:10:29do you find

01:10:30the defendant

01:10:31Reuben Hartley

01:10:32guilty or not

01:10:33guilty of

01:10:33causing grievous

01:10:34bodily harm

01:10:35with intent

01:10:36not guilty

01:10:37of causing

01:10:37grievous

01:10:38bodily harm

01:10:39with intent

01:10:39but guilty

01:10:40of common

01:10:41assault

01:10:41is that the

01:10:42verdict of

01:10:42you all

01:10:43it is

01:10:43you bastards

01:10:44officer

01:10:45I'll be

01:10:46waiting for you

01:10:47not you

01:10:48all you

01:10:50and all

01:11:06you

01:11:17you

01:11:18you

01:11:19you

01:11:20you

01:11:22you

Crown Court - My Mother Said I Never Should (1975)

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