Chapter 47 Section VIII

Danny Boris, the chaplain of the fire brigade, echoed James Black's sentiments in response to the prosecution's questions: Betty never showed any grief after her husband's disappearance. Prosecutor Bill Bundy walked to the jury box and told Pastor Boris to face the jury for his next question. "Did she ask about insurance?" "Yes, I told her I had to go back and look it up." "So, you have to go to her house again on the third day. What's the result of your investigation?" "At least $110,000 in insurance and a monthly pension of around $800."

"The beneficiary is..." "Betty Pitts." Irri Unrus cross-questions: "So, you're there to talk about insurance. Did you know that Betty Pitts never took any insurance money?" "Know." "Did you know that Betty Pitts was indicted on 'Murder for Proceeds,' which means that she had received insurance money?" "No, sir, I don't know." Bill Bundy stood up so abruptly that he nearly flipped his chair.He protested loudly: "This is a wanton perversion of the law, Your Honor!" Judge Jack Holland said calmly: "I'm sure the jurors will remember what the indictment said."

Iri Unruth continued to ask Pastor Boris: "Did Betty mention the insurance money to you when you first went there?" "No." Danny Boris has said before that when he first went to Betty's house on Sunday morning, Betty was drinking tea and chatting with some friends.Pastor Boris took his leave after staying for a while. The last witness on the first day of the trial was Betty's eldest son, Robin Branson, who did not dare to glance at his mother from the beginning to the end of the witness stand.Prosecutor Bill Bandy guided him patiently, and told the court bit by bit what Robin called "the most terrible night of my life" and what happened the next morning.

Now, Irene Unruth is up for cross-examination.He walked over to the witness stand, staring at Robin as if he were examining a criminal. "Have you ever talked to anyone about this so-called shooting?" "I told my ex-wife. It got on my nerves and I thought I should tell her." "You're restless," Yi Rui took another step closer to Robin, "You're restless because you are the real murderer, you are the one who shot Jimmy Petz!" The words startled everyone.Robin felt as if he had been slapped in the face, and it took a long time before he burst out and shouted: "No——!"

"Your mother and stepfather are on vacation, and you've been feuding with Jimmy." "No, sir, we get on very well." "Didn't you drive his motorboat without permission?" "Yes, sir." Robin's voice dropped. "Isn't he pissed off by it?" "Yes, sir. But we didn't quarrel." "But he was very angry, wasn't he? You also crashed a motorcycle." "Yes, sir." "Okay, now please bring us back to the night of August 5, 1983. You said your mother told you she was going to kill Jimmy. Where were you?"

"kitchen." "Your mother said she was going to kill Jimmy and you happened to be in the kitchen. What did you say? 'Get me something to eat'?" "No, sir." "But you waited until today, almost two years later, before you found out with your conscience?" This is also Yi Rui Unruth's forte.Suddenly changing the subject, throwing a question that has nothing to do with the context, which caught the witness off guard. "I suppose so." "The police believed your story. What kind of promise did they give you to come here and tell your story?"

"No promises." "You're accusing your mother here so you can get away with it." "No, sir." "You don't give a damn what she gets for it. You don't give a damn what she gets guillotined for." "No, sir." "You know that your mother never killed anyone, you know that you are the real murderer in this case, you know that your mother is suffering for you. And you, come here and say that she is 48 years old, Let her die." While talking, Yi Rui approached Robin step by step. At this moment, he was already so close that he almost touched the tip of Robin's nose.Bill Bundy stood up again to protest, saying Irri was harassing a witness by getting too close.

"Okay, I'm tired too, and I just want to sit down." Yi Rui got off the donkey.He returned to his seat and continued, "Do you remember, Robin, you called the prison and your mother asked you if you told the police everything?" "Remember." "But you didn't tell the police everything. You didn't tell them you killed Jimmy." "I didn't say that because I didn't kill Jimmy at all." Robin's voice was full of grievances. "You didn't kill him? You didn't even argue with him? You said to the Attorney General," Iri Unruth waved her finger in Bill Bandy's direction, "it was your mother who killed Jimmy, they So I won't pursue it anymore, let you go. And you, you can also live your life as usual. Is this the promise they made?"

"No, sir, they made no promises." "You never visited prison, you completely abandoned your mother. I really don't understand how you kept such a big secret for two years?" "Because I want to protect my mother." "No, it's your mother who protects you. Please tell me, which time did she not help you when you were in trouble? For example, when you were arrested for theft..." Bill Bandy jumped to his feet: "I protest! Your Honor, this matter has nothing to do with this case!" "Mr. Branson's criminal record and credibility cannot be irrelevant to this case!" retorted Erie Andrews.

The judge overruled the prosecutor's protest, and Bill Bandy was unconvinced.Yi Rui's own credibility is questionable.He was the defense lawyer for Robin's theft case back then, and knew everything about Robin's situation, but all of this should be bound by the confidentiality agreement between the lawyer and the client. How could he make this public at will, and use To attack his former client? Yi Rui walked towards the witness stand again: "It's the easiest to frame others, especially your mother. She has always been very good to you, hasn't she?" "Before that, yes."

"Then what's wrong with her now?" "She lied. Obviously she killed Jimmy, but she insisted on saying it was me." "If one day, she also stands on this witness stand to testify, what do you think?" Robin was speechless. "Actually, you and Jimmy got into an argument, you shot him in the back of the head, you buried him under a planter well, and then you came here to frame your mother. Tell me, Robin, can you find any witnesses to prove that you did not do these things?" "Not found, sir, and there were no other witnesses there that night, unless she confessed herself." "Don't worry, boy, she is the witness. I promise she will tell the truth."