Chapter 12 The Hearing
Eric was roughly shaken awake next morning by the duty sergeant, not Sergeant Cole, but another member of the police station staff. It was six o’clock. Bleary eyed and forgetting he was in prison for just a moment, the stark realisation hit him below the belt. He felt physically sick and was. It could have been the rhubarb and custard with the mixture of some chips that had been thrown together by D.S. Smart’s fit of temper when he accidentally on purpose dropped his tray on the floor yesterday evening or it could be that seeing his name in the newspaper reportedly charged with murder, he couldn’t say. Washed, shaved and dressed he sat on his bed and leaned back against the wall waiting for breakfast to arrive.
Eric reflected that Silverstoun Police Station was not a modern building, so there were none of the refinements of modernisation at all. The cells were just barred with no solid walls apart from the back outer wall. Also he noted the gap between each cell was about six feet wide, so no contact could be made. The main aisle was about eight feet in width and there were only six cells. A duty policeman just had to come in through one door to check that you had not hanged yourself or anything else for that matter. As far as Eric could make out, it was a four storey building consisting of prison cells for men on the ground floor coupled with interview rooms and ladies cells with Incident Rooms on the second floor and a canteen on the third floor with administration offices. The fourth floor….. Well that was a mystery floor. How did Eric know all this? Because on the back wall there was a chart of the layout of the building which was quite unusual to be placed there for prisoners to see. The explanation for this was that this was a chart showing all the Fire Exits required by law so that those in charge knew where to take prisoners to safety points outside the building.
Eric waited outside Court 1 – This would be his moment for telling his side of his movements during the time when Jenny was mowed down, although his memory often let him down and to try and remember what happened almost two years ago was in itself going to be a trial! D.S. Smart appeared in the main doorway from the road and walked past Eric without saying anything and spoke to one of the officials of the court and kept pointing in Eric’s direction. Eric decided to look the other way. After a while the D.S. came over to Eric and apologised for his behaviour last evening and informed him he was now being transferred to another police station and this would be the last time that Eric would see him. He wished Eric all the best and walked away.
Eric watched the D.S. go and was so engrossed that he had not seen the usher standing in the hallway – The booming voice echoed through the building “Calling Eric Todd!”
Eric reluctantly rose from his seat as if he was a cripple. His feet seemed to drag as he walked to the court with his police guard.
After all the formalities of the court and Eric was seated in the dock, he happened to glance up to the gallery where his gaze met a sea of faces. He snapped back from scouring the court room and noted that Inspector Rothchild was in the witness stand giving evidence of his findings in relation to the accident of Mrs Tynefield who had been knocked over by Mr. Todd now standing in this court. Mrs Tynefield was in a wheelchair sitting in front by a desk. Her leg was in plaster and her neck was supported by a neck brace. Mrs Tynefield started fidgeting and eventually found what she had apparently been looking for and placed a pair of battered glasses on. She whispered to a court usher who happened to be close by. The usher was looking rather perplexed. He walked over to the defending Counsel and a few words were exchanged. The Counsellor and the prosecutor were gathered in a huddle round Mrs Tynefield then all three approached the Judge, whispered words and much gesturing by both the Counsellor and Prosecutor was visibly displayed. The Judge announced that a technical problem had arisen and the court would have to be cleared of spectators. There seemed to be some disturbance up in the gallery when somebody wearing shabby clothes with a hood tried to stay behind. Two policemen were called to remove this person from the premises.
Mrs Tynefield announced that the man in the dock was not the driver of the vehicle that ran her over. The Judge asked ‘How can you be so certain it was not the defendant standing in the dock?’ ‘Because the man I saw was wearing something that caught the sun and the brightness blinded me for a moment and that is why I hesitated and he knocked into me!’
As Eric Todd was arrested in the clothes he was standing up in this court, it couldn’t be him. ‘How do you know this?’ asked the Judge.
‘Because Mr. Todd’s car is in Mr. Jackson’s garage being repaired.’
The Judge said ‘Has this something to do with the fact that you asked for the court to be cleared of spectators while you were reading out your evidence.’
‘Yes Judge!’ the Inspector replied. ‘We had to break into Jackson’s garage as Mrs. Jackson reported that her husband had gone to work and not been seen for three days and we found him in one of the inspection pits and Mr. Todd’s car had been lowered on top. He was suffering from hyperthermia and concussion. He is now in hospital and I understand from a hospital spokesperson that he is making a speedy recovery.
‘Why was it necessary to arrest Eric Todd when you knew all along that he was innocent?’ the Judge said.
‘I had to make the usual waves as I think that the person responsible for Jenny Todd and for the incident that had happened to Barbara Todd was someone else and was in court.’
‘Are you able to identify the guilty person?’
‘No. I haven’t sufficient evidence, but I’m working to that end.’
‘Can you tell me who it is that you suspect?’
‘I would rather keep it to myself Judge and when I get a positive identification I will contact you immediately.’
‘You mustn’t put yourself in danger Inspector.’
‘It is not my life that is in danger. I believe, if anybody’s life is in danger it will be Mr Todd’s.’
‘How have you come to that conclusion?’
‘Since I placed two policemen at the hospital to guard Barbara Todd.’
‘Why is that relevant to the case?’
‘Because the guilty person can’t harm Barbara Todd any more, but has access to Eric Todd who is out in the open and fair game.’
‘You make it sound like a hunt.’
‘I think it is Judge.’
‘Am I to assume that Mrs Tynefield was in on this charade too?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid she was, your honour.’ ‘Hmm! Not at all the correct way for an officer of your standing to behave, Inspector but it was proved to be fruitful.’ ‘Yes Judge it has indeed.’
‘Well I suppose that is all we can hope for. Mr Todd, you are dismissed. The findings of this court are that Barbara Todd was run down by a person or persons unknown.’