Chapter 23 Day fifteen, Tuesday

Some people are indeed fidgeting.Miss Prabani Sunderland was sitting at a long table a few feet away when James Vansittart entered the courtroom and took the defense attorney's seat.Her eyes blinked several times.The lawyer nodded and smiled at her friendly. On the bench, Judge Jonathan Stein had been taking notes on a previous case.Years of training have made him develop the habit of keeping calm when things happen.Lou Slade sat behind Vansittart. "Bring Price and Cornish up," cried the Registrar. The two thugs were handcuffed and led into the dock, flanked by prison guards.Vansittart stood up.

"Your Honor, my name is James Vansittart, Counsel for the Defendant. My assistant is Mr. Louis Slade." He sat down.The magistrate eyed him thoughtfully. "Mr. Vansittart, I understand that this hearing is to keep the accused on remand for another week." He was on the verge of using the word "merely".Vasita nodded. "Indeed, sir." "Very well. Miss Sunderland, you may begin." "Thank you, sir. The Prosecution Service has applied for remand for a further week in the case of Mark Price and Harry Cornish." Judge Jonathan Stein stole a glance at Vansittart.Surely he would suggest nothing... "No application for bail, sir," said the barrister.

"Very well, Miss Sunderland. Agreed." Judge Stein couldn't figure out what was going on here.But Vansittart was on his feet again. "But the defense is willing to make another application to the court." "OK." "The defense would like to know, sir, whether there is any matter for the prosecution to investigate further, or whether the allegations submitted to the defense by the prosecution in accordance with the principle of publicity are now complete?" He sat down and gazed at Miss Sunderland.She remained calm, but inside she was uneasy.She's used to the step-by-step, established way of working that she's been taught in law school.Now, someone just messed up that way of doing things.

Behind her, Detective Inspector Jack Burns leaned forward and spoke in her ear. "I understand, Your Excellency, that the identity of the deceased has not yet been ascertained, and inquiries in this regard are still ongoing." Vansittart stood up again. "My Honor, the defense does not deny that a man has tragically died. Therefore, it is impossible for him to return from the dead to give any evidence in this case. His exact identity is therefore not very relevant. The defense must therefore repeat The question: Is the prosecutor's office ready to go to trial?" There was silence in the courtroom.

"Miss Sunderland?" Judge Stein asked mildly. Sunderland was like a student pilot flying a plane alone for the first time.The plane's engine had just exploded, and she was being asked what she was going to do. "I believe the prosecution's case is complete, sir." Vansittart stood up again. "In that case, Mr. Magistrate, I would like to apply for a full trial proceeding within this week. Both of us understand the adage 'justice delayed is justice denied'. My client has now been in custody for two weeks, For a crime they claim they did not commit. Now that the prosecution and defense are ready, we ask that there be no further delay."

Judge Jonathan Stein was lost in thought.What Vansittart is pursuing is a high-stakes strategy.While in custody, the magistrate's job is not to discover whether the defendant is innocent or guilty, but to decide whether a prima facie case exists, and whether there is enough evidence to bring the case to the Central Criminal Court, known as the "old Bailey" for a full trial.Under normal practice, senior lawyers will not appear in court until then.If the Crown Counsel Vansittart has decided to condescend to appear at Highbury Court, it looks as though he is about to engage in a "no defense" tactic.

"Then agree," he said, "for this week." "Sir, the defense will request, not now, that the prosecution bring all of its witnesses for cross-examination." Well, this is going to be a real dress rehearsal.When cross-examined by a defense lawyer, he will reveal the main points of the defendant's speech.Logically, it is up to the prosecution to present its evidence to the defense, which keeps its strategy secret until trial.The only situation where the defense suddenly produced an alibi that gave the police no time to check it was not permissible. "Agreed. Miss Sunderland, please prepare your witnesses within this week and bring them to court."