It was the most we could do. The story of the fight in the disco hadn’t (yet) formally been allowed as part of the evidence that could be used to elicit further testimony later. But the thought had insinuated itself into the heads of the judges and jury. It would be a good starting point for suggesting an alternative narrative. Material I could work on in my closing statement.

“We have no other questions, Your Honour, thank you.”

The hearing was adjourned until the following Wednesday, when the accused would testify.

“You did well,” I said to Consuelo. “You couldn’t have done more.”

She shook her head. “Let’s hope it helps.”

228

23

On Tuesday afternoon I went to the prison to give Iacopo a full run-down on what would happen in court and how he should behave. I made him go over everything he had told us and advised him to talk about what he remembered, without making any effort to tinker with it or embellish it.

“How’s it going to end, Avvocato Guerrieri?”

“It’s very hard to make predictions in proceedings like this.”

“But is there any hope?”

I looked at him for a moment, thinking that, since the time we had first met, his face actually seemed to have changed.

“We have a shot. We aren’t the favourite team in this championship, but we have a shot.”

When I got to the court – I was on my own: Consuelo had a trial in Trani that morning – Lorenza was at the door waiting for me.

“Hello, Guido.”

“Hello, Lorenza.”

“Today’s when Iacopo testifies.”

“Yes.”

She was silent, as if she had a question she couldn’t quite formulate.

“Everything all right?” I asked.229

“Are we … sure?”

“Sure of what?”

“About him testifying. Is it the right thing to do? Iacopo’s fragile. The prosecutor could confuse him. Isn’t there a risk we’ll only make the situation worse, maybe with something coming out that they could use against him?”

It took me a moment or two to realize. She didn’t trust her son. She didn’t think he was able to support the situation. As far as she was concerned, he was a child. This, I told myself, probably explained many other things. I had to control my irritation before answering, and what came out sounded so paternalistic that I hated myself for it later.

“I think it’s not only the right thing to do, I think it’s necessary. If we’re going to introduce an element of reasonable doubt by proposing an alternative narrative to the one in the original ruling, then Iacopo’s testimony is indispensable. If you want to talk about it with him again, then do. My professional opinion is that we should go ahead.”