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
‘Where have you heard that term, Simon?’
‘Just . . . just in prison. From some of the other inmates.’ Kash looked from Michael to Draper. Then back. He seemed suddenly nervous. ‘Why?’
‘It just isn’t something we’ve spoken about, that’s all.’ Michael made an effort to smooth his tone. To put Kash back at ease. ‘But since you ask, I don’t think we have scope to make a submission of no case. They get made when there is no evidence against you that a jury could use to convict. Or when the evidence that did exist has been so discredited that it can’t be believed.
‘We’re not at that point in your case. There is evidence. The phone material and cell-site, for example. OK, one interpretation helps you. But the other interpretation doesn’t. Same as Colliver. He stuck to his guns. He still says that you did it, with O’Driscoll. Now, he might be a bad witness. We might have made the jury think he’s probably lying. If I were a betting man I’d say that we had done. And I would be placing a lot of money on you walking out of here at the end of this trial. But that’s not the same as a submission of no case to answer. There is still evidence for the jury to consider and, although they will probably find in your favour when they do that, the judge can’t just assume they will. It’s for them – the jury – to do. So no. You don’t have a submission of no case.’
Kash sat in silence for a moment as Michael’s explanation came to an end. When he spoke again his voice was quiet. Considered.
‘So that means there’s still a chance the jury could convict me. If it gets that far.’
‘That’s right.’
Michael looked at Kash again, surprised to find him so engaged. He seemed more mature, more able to grasp what he was being told. It was probably natural, Michael thought. Few things would age a person more than facing a murder charge in the Old Bailey.
‘And you need to bear in mind, Simon, that things are good now,’ Michael continued. ‘As good as we could have possibly hoped for. And that there’s no more evidence to come from the prosecution. But Darren O’Driscoll still hasn’t given his evidence, and what he says could still be damaging to you. It could change things. You understand that, right?’
‘Darren won’t testify,’ Kash said.
‘What?’
‘I mean, I don’t think Darren will give evidence. It’s his temper. He loses it so easy, and after he’s seen what you did to Terry? I just don’t think he’ll risk it, Mr Devlin.’
‘Do you know that for sure?’ This time it was Draper.
‘No. I don’t know anything for sure,’ Kash sounded less confident now he had been challenged. Michael regretted that Draper had asked so quickly; the new, engaging Kash had been an improvement. ‘But you know, I just don’t think he’ll risk it. If he loses it with Mr Devlin he’ll be making himself look like a killer.’