Annie Thornton is called to the witness stand. She is questioned about her comments that she had seen Lisa and James together in town a while back. She saw them holding hands and laughing and joking with each other, but nothing further. When asked if it looked like there was anything deeper in it, she says she couldn’t tell because it was too far away.
| Judge | Mr Larkin, do you have any further witnesses to call? |
| Defence | No. |
| Judge | Mr Worthington? |
| Prosecution | I have one more witness your honour. Annie Thornton. |
| Court Clerk | Annie Thornton, please come to the witness stand. |
| Judge | Mr Larkin, do you have any questions for Miss Thornton? |
| Defence | No, your honour. In fact, I don’t even know what she has been called for. |
| Judge | Maybe Mr Worthington will be able to share this with us. |
| Prosecution | Yes, your honour, I can. Miss Thornton, in a statement you have given you stated that you had seen Lisa Burton with James in town. Is this correct? |
| Annie | Yes, sir. |
| Prosecution | Can you describe what they were doing? |
| Annie | Shopping, I would imagine, they… |
| Defence | (Butts in) Objection. Don’t see the relevance of this question. |
| Prosecution | My apologies. I believe my question was not as clear as it may have been. |
| Judge | OK, Mr Worthington. Objection sustained, but I accept your slip was an accident. Continue. |
| Prosecution | Miss Thornton, what I was really meaning to ask is how they were acting towards each other. |
| Annie | How do you mean? |
| Prosecution | Your honour, I fear if were to use an example to make my question clear, it may be taken as leading the witness. |
| Judge | (Thinks for a moment, looking wise, then asks softly) Miss Thornton, were Mrs Burton and James walking closely to each other? |
| Annie | Yes, in fact they were holding hands. |
| Prosecution | (Smiles at judge thankfully) Did they talk to each other? |
| Annie | Yes, they seemed to be laughing and joking together. I didn’t get that close to them though, so I can’t be sure. |
| Prosecution | And about how long ago was this incident? |
| Annie | Roughly two months. |
| Prosecution | OK, thank you Miss Thornton. That will be all. |
| Judge | OK Miss Thornton, you may leave the witness stand. Congratulations for not leaving this one in tears, Mr Worthington. |
| Prosecution | (Dryly) Thanks your honour. |
| Judge | Do either of you wish to recall any witnesses? |
| Prosecution | Your honour, I wish to question Miss Loftus further. |
| Defence | Your honour, I believe it would be beneficial for the court to hear Mr Worthington’s reasoning for this. |
| Prosecution | The evidence seen from my cross examination of Lisa and Annie has given rise to a few questions in my mind about what Rachel knew or suspected about the possible relationship there may have been between Lisa and James. I also have questions about here earlier outbreak. |
| Judge | OK, Mr Worthington. Mrs Loftus… |
| (Rachel comes to witness stand) |
Copyright 1998-2004 Nigel Coates / Jonathan Worthington