Contents (83)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- Acknowledgements
- OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK
‘Please take a moment to confirm that this statement is yours, Mr Price. That it’s the statement you made to the police and signed as being true.’
Price looked at each page closely. Until he was satisfied.
‘Yeah. It’s mine.’
‘Good. Now, please read out the date that appears on the bottom of every page of your statement. You’ll find it next to your signature.’
Price just stared at the page without answering. Cole gave him a few moments before insisting.
‘The date, Mr Price. What is it?’
‘It says March 1st.’ The answer stuck in his throat. Its meaning unmistakable.
‘I’m sorry, did you say March 1st?’ Cole feigned surprise. ‘As in, March 1st the following year? Two and a half months after the conversation with Mr O’Driscoll and Mr Kash? That can’t be right, can it, Mr Price?’
‘You know the date.’ The answer was quiet.
‘What did you say, Mr Price?’
‘I SAID YOU KNOW THE DATE!’ This time the answer was shouted. Price’s composure had disappeared. ‘DON’T PRETEND LIKE YOU DON’T!’
Cole waited for a few moments. For Price’s angry outburst to sink in with the jury. Cole met their eyes as it did and shook his head, as if shocked by the reaction.
‘So you waited two and a half months to give a witness statement?’ he finally continued. ‘But you told us how strongly you felt about this, Mr Price. How disgusted you were. Sick to your stomach, you told us.’
‘I know what I told you.’ The fury was still there. And the volume.
‘Mr Price, you are to keep your answers and your demeanour civil.’ Judge John Levitt had heard enough. ‘Mr Cole is entitled to ask you the questions he is asking. You are to respond to them in a civilised manner.’
‘I didn’t come ’ere to be treated like shit!’ The judge’s warning had not worked; Price was still shouting. ‘I ain’t gotta take this from any of you people.’
‘You most certainly have to take it from me.’ Levitt’s voice was raised. It matched Price’s, in volume if not in aggression. When he spoke again it was quieter, but no less authoritative. ‘Because if you do not then you will not be leaving this courtroom through the front door. Do I make myself clear?’
Price was not a clever man. That much was apparent. But he knew enough to understand the judge’s threat. And to know that Levitt meant it.
Chastened, he turned back to Cole.
‘So please explain, Mr Price. Please explain why it took you over two months to go to the police and make a statement.’
‘’Cause I was scared.’ Price’s voice was now quiet. Almost nervous. And it might have been convincing, had it not been for the eruption moments before. ‘I was afraid what they’d do to me if they found out I was talkin’ to the police.’
‘And yet you made a statement in the end anyway. What changed, Mr Price? What made you come forward, after being so afraid of the consequences?’