DAY FIFTEEN – TUESDAY
Cages were indeed rattled. Miss Prabani Sundaran was at her place at the long table fronting the bench when James Vansittart entered the court and seated himself a few feet away, where the defending solicitors sit. She blinked several times. The barrister gave her a friendly nod and a smile.
On the bench, Mr Jonathan Stein had been writing notes from the previous case. Years of training caused him to restrain a flicker of expression. Lou Slade sat behind Vansittart.
‘Put up Price and Cornish,’ called the chief clerk.
The two thugs were led up into the dock, cuffed and flanked by prison officers. Vansittart rose.
‘May it please the court, I am James Vansittart and I represent the accused, assisted by my friend Mr Louis Slade.’
He sat. The stipe contemplated him thoughtfully.
‘Mr Vansittart, I understand this hearing is for a further remand of the accused for one week more in custody.’
He almost used the word ‘mere’. Vansittart bobbed back up.
‘Indeed it is, sir.’
‘Very well. Ms Sundaran, you may proceed.’
‘Thank you, sir. The Crown would like to apply for a further week on remand in custody in the case of Mark Price and Harry Cornish.’
Jonathan Stein glanced at Vansittart. Surely he was not going to suggest . . .?
‘No application for bail, sir,’ said the barrister.
‘Very well, Ms Sundaran. Granted.’
Stein wondered what on earth all this had been about. But Vansittart was back on his feet.
‘But the defence would like to make another application to the court.’
‘Very well.’
‘The defence wishes to know, sir, whether there are any further matters that the prosecution needs to investigate, or whether the Crown’s case, as made available to the defence under the rules of disclosure, is now complete.’
He sat down and gazed at Miss Sundaran. She kept her composure, but inside she was a mass of butterflies. She was accustomed to a preordained script as taught at law school. Someone had just torn it up.
From behind her DI Jack Burns leaned forward and whispered in her grateful ear.
‘I understand, sir, that the deceased has not yet been identified and inquiries in that direction are still proceeding.’
Vansittart was back up.
‘May it please the court, the defence does not deny that a man has tragically been brought to his death. For that reason he could not now recover and give evidence or contribute in any way to the case. His precise identity is not therefore germane. The defence must therefore repeat its question: is theCrown readytoproceedtocommittal?’
There was silence.
‘Ms Sundaran?’ asked Stein gently.
She was like a trainee pilot on first solo flight. Her engine had just blown up and someone was asking her what she intended to do about it.
‘I believe the Crown case is complete, sir.’
Vansittart was back up.
‘In that case, Mr Stipendiary, I would like to apply for full committal proceedings this day week. We will both be aware of the adage “justice delayed is justice denied”. My clients have been locked up for two weeks now, for a crime they will vigorously claim they did not commit. With Crown and defence now ready to proceed, we ask for no further delay.’