A stressful night has finally passed and we are all nervous when we reach court, with the exception of Ray, who already knows what lies in store. While waiting on the concourse to enter the courtroom, I am told by a volunteer that a young man has arrived to give evidence. I am puzzled that another witness has been called at this stage but she assures me not to worry; he is here for the prosecution. We soon discover that she is wrong and that he will speak on behalf of the defence – Little’s first and only witness. It doesn’t sound too good to me. This was the reason, then, for yesterday’s delay. Small wonder our team had all looked so concerned.
Into court, then, in time to see Mr Kadri girding his loins. He is almost dancing with delight at this turn of events and even Little, when he shows his face, looks hopeful. I am beside myself with fear now. Surely nothing can happen at this stage to change things? Not after we have endured so much …
The first witness this day is the officer to whom Jim, the young man, had casually divulged this latest evidence. He has a very smart, almost military bearing, instilling confidence immediately in those watching. According to his notes, Jim spoke of someone entering the house next door at around midnight. Marc Fuller lived in the house next door. Jim heard the door open and close, but saw nobody. While looking out of his bedroom window, Jim said he then saw someone leave the house at, according to the officer’s notes, 1.45am. If this were so, it could not have been Marc on the CCTV footage at 1am that morning – not if he were still at home three-quarters of an hour later and had been there since midnight!
At once, Mr Kadri goes to work on the PC, trying hard to refute his notes. He claims that a mistake has been made and, in fact, Jim had said the person left the house at 12.45am and not 1.45am, as written down. This officer, however, is not one to be rattled by Mr Kadri. He insists that he recorded everything correctly and did so as soon as his conversation with Jim was over, so there was no time to forget what was said. In any event, Marc still could not have covered almost six miles between 12.45am and 1am!
There is a hush as Jim appears to take the stand. A stocky young man of 21 years, he has a baby face and a very nervous manner. Mr Kadri has first crack of the whip and makes the most of it, painting Jim in a saintly light. One could be forgiven for thinking he is no more than an upright citizen doing his duty. The strange thing is that, given all the publicity Rachel’s case has generated for many months, Jim’s memory was only jogged a day ago.
Aided and abetted by Mr Kadri, Jim puts himself across as a mild-mannered, teetotal family man who, together with his partner and child, just happened to be next door over the holidays. He tells the court of his achievements, of working in the community and helping youngsters. It all sounds very commendable and above board. Nothing untoward here, it would seem.
We are now greatly shocked by Mr Marson’s opening words. Standing, he begins to read out a list of convictions. It seems Jim’s cherubic appearance masks what lies beneath. The misdemeanours range from criminal damage to assault. Some go way back, but his latest court appearance is a mere few months ago. Probably the most unbelievable is his beating up and later shooting a teacher! We hear that a 13-year-old child was hit at the same time. This young man is, in fact, no stranger to the courts.
When pressed about his last court appearance, in February 2003, he maintains that he can recall little about it; he cannot remember if he pleaded guilty or not. He does, however, remember the make and number of the rifle with which he shot his teacher, several years previously. He was eventually expelled from school following numerous suspensions and never completed his education.
We all gasp at what follows: ‘Isn’t it a fact that there is a long-standing feud between your family and Marc’s?’
Seemingly, this concerns a dispute over a garden fence and we are further shocked to learn that in April 2003, only six months ago, there had been an altercation involving Marc and the partner of Jim’s mother. Marc had retaliated by punching this man on the nose. Marc was given a caution over this, though Jim says that he knew nothing about it. It is up to the jury to consider what they make of all this.
We can only hope this will be the end of it and the closing speeches can finally take place. I cannot imagine that anyone would want it to drag on indefinitely but the defence are not going to give in that easily. Having Jim turn up at the eleventh hour has given them an unexpected bonus and the opportunity to perhaps put a doubt in the minds of the jurors. Mr Kadri stands to address the court and, in no uncertain terms, demands that the case be closed and a retrial be held. Why should his client sit accused of murder, when the real murderer walks free? He demands that the police reopen the case, investigate Marc more thoroughly and charge him with the crime.
This is most upsetting, not to mention frightening. What if that really were to happen? God forbid that we should have to go through all of this again!
For once, fate smiles on us. The judge is not going to let this happen and Mr Kadri will just have to be satisfied with his decision but he does not seem happy and will not give in. To give credit where it is due, he has gone over and above the call of duty in his efforts to get Little acquitted.
He recalls Marc, his mother and sister, in order to question them all once more in light of Jim’s evidence. He would also like the witness brought back from Spain, though this is not deemed feasible. It is obviously his prerogative to recall these people but it seems to me that he is only prolonging the agony. Little can be gained by all this and it will have to end at some point. It all seems cruel and unnecessary.
In the afternoon, we are told that Marc’s mother has arrived at court and his sister is on her way. Marc himself has not yet been located but the police are out searching for him at this moment. That shouldn’t pose too big a problem for the defence. Our barrister asks if, in Marc’s absence, his mother and sister can be questioned now, as they have no idea as to why they have been brought back and both are in a bad way.
Mr Kadri is having none of this. He insists that he question them in the same order as before and that means that Marc must be first. So for us it is another wasted half-day. We must return home and wait to see what tomorrow brings. Our nerves are stretched tight and starting to fray. Everything seems to be spiralling out of control.