Read Online Trespass (P.I. Johnson Carmichael Series - Book 2) by Stephen Edger - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephen Edger
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door, but that was all.’
‘And at what point did you look in the bathroom?’
‘I don’t understand the question.’
‘Apologies,’ said Charleston. ‘Let me rephrase: can you tell the court the manner in which you undertook your search of the property. Which rooms did you look in and when?’
‘I see. We opened the door into a small hallway, which led to the living room and bathroom. There was a smell coming from the living room and it was there that we found the body.’
‘Who is ‘we’?’
‘Police Constable Taylor and of course Mrs Bascombe; she was Miss Tropaz’s neighbour.’
‘The same neighbour who had discovered the body?’
‘That’s right, yes.’
‘I see, I see. So she entered the property with you?’
‘No. Mrs Bascombe opened the door of the flat for us but then we asked her to remain outside while my partner and I entered the living room.’
‘Just clarify for me, Constable Barnes, was this neighbour standing in the hallway or outside the property?’
Barnes thought for a second, not certain, but answered, ‘Outside.’
‘And was the door left open or was it closed?’
‘Open.’
‘Please continue Constable Barnes; where did you go next.’
‘My partner remained with the body while I entered the first bedroom, which was attached to the lounge and then headed to the kitchen. When they were both clear, I headed for the bathroom to check that it was also empty.’
‘And how long do you think this would have taken?’
‘How long? I’m not sure. Twenty seconds maybe? Maybe thirty seconds. It was certainly under a minute.’
‘And all this time, your colleague was standing by the body?’
‘That’s correct. It’s protocol that the body and any evidence are secured as quickly as possible.’
‘I know it is, Constable Barnes, but thank you for confirming it to the court. Where was Mrs Bascombe during this time?’
‘I told you, she was standing outside the property.’
‘That’s right, you did say that. Mrs Bascombe, the same neighbour who had discovered the body and called the police was standing outside the property with the front door open and probably three metres at most from the bathroom where the blood thumb print was located.’
‘That’s correct.’
‘Did your partner have her eyes on Mrs Bascombe the whole time that you were searching the bedroom and kitchen?’
‘No…well, I don’t…I’m not sure. You’d have to ask her that.’
‘Don’t worry Constable Barnes, I will do in due course. I have one more question for you, please: in your experience is it possible that while your partner was guarding the victim and you were out of sight for twenty to thirty seconds that somebody could have entered the bathroom and interfered with the apparatus in there?’
Barnes paused.
‘Would you like me to repeat the questions, Constable Barnes?’
He remained silent and then looked apologetically over at Collinghurst and Cat Jurdentaag. He then returned his gaze to Charleston as he answered, ‘Yes, it is possible.’ He was about to add that this had not happened and that he or his partner would have heard or noticed if someone entered the bathroom, but Charleston was already sitting down when he uttered, ‘No further questions.’
Collinghurst’s heart sank. She knew the defence had just played their first card: they had called into question the legitimacy of the thumb print found at the scene.
Judge Adams declared it was time to break for lunch and everyone shuffled from the court, leaving Cat and Elizabeth alone.
‘That wasn’t good, was it?’ Cat eventually offered.
Elizabeth turned, startled by the voice. ‘It wasn’t my finest moment,’ she admitted.
‘Do you think it will affect the jury’s decision?’
‘That depends on how well I can prove that he didn’t have an alibi for his whereabouts at the suspected time of death. Don’t worry, there is still a long way to go.’
‘How does someone do something like
‘And at what point did you look in the bathroom?’
‘I don’t understand the question.’
‘Apologies,’ said Charleston. ‘Let me rephrase: can you tell the court the manner in which you undertook your search of the property. Which rooms did you look in and when?’
‘I see. We opened the door into a small hallway, which led to the living room and bathroom. There was a smell coming from the living room and it was there that we found the body.’
‘Who is ‘we’?’
‘Police Constable Taylor and of course Mrs Bascombe; she was Miss Tropaz’s neighbour.’
‘The same neighbour who had discovered the body?’
‘That’s right, yes.’
‘I see, I see. So she entered the property with you?’
‘No. Mrs Bascombe opened the door of the flat for us but then we asked her to remain outside while my partner and I entered the living room.’
‘Just clarify for me, Constable Barnes, was this neighbour standing in the hallway or outside the property?’
Barnes thought for a second, not certain, but answered, ‘Outside.’
‘And was the door left open or was it closed?’
‘Open.’
‘Please continue Constable Barnes; where did you go next.’
‘My partner remained with the body while I entered the first bedroom, which was attached to the lounge and then headed to the kitchen. When they were both clear, I headed for the bathroom to check that it was also empty.’
‘And how long do you think this would have taken?’
‘How long? I’m not sure. Twenty seconds maybe? Maybe thirty seconds. It was certainly under a minute.’
‘And all this time, your colleague was standing by the body?’
‘That’s correct. It’s protocol that the body and any evidence are secured as quickly as possible.’
‘I know it is, Constable Barnes, but thank you for confirming it to the court. Where was Mrs Bascombe during this time?’
‘I told you, she was standing outside the property.’
‘That’s right, you did say that. Mrs Bascombe, the same neighbour who had discovered the body and called the police was standing outside the property with the front door open and probably three metres at most from the bathroom where the blood thumb print was located.’
‘That’s correct.’
‘Did your partner have her eyes on Mrs Bascombe the whole time that you were searching the bedroom and kitchen?’
‘No…well, I don’t…I’m not sure. You’d have to ask her that.’
‘Don’t worry Constable Barnes, I will do in due course. I have one more question for you, please: in your experience is it possible that while your partner was guarding the victim and you were out of sight for twenty to thirty seconds that somebody could have entered the bathroom and interfered with the apparatus in there?’
Barnes paused.
‘Would you like me to repeat the questions, Constable Barnes?’
He remained silent and then looked apologetically over at Collinghurst and Cat Jurdentaag. He then returned his gaze to Charleston as he answered, ‘Yes, it is possible.’ He was about to add that this had not happened and that he or his partner would have heard or noticed if someone entered the bathroom, but Charleston was already sitting down when he uttered, ‘No further questions.’
Collinghurst’s heart sank. She knew the defence had just played their first card: they had called into question the legitimacy of the thumb print found at the scene.
Judge Adams declared it was time to break for lunch and everyone shuffled from the court, leaving Cat and Elizabeth alone.
‘That wasn’t good, was it?’ Cat eventually offered.
Elizabeth turned, startled by the voice. ‘It wasn’t my finest moment,’ she admitted.
‘Do you think it will affect the jury’s decision?’
‘That depends on how well I can prove that he didn’t have an alibi for his whereabouts at the suspected time of death. Don’t worry, there is still a long way to go.’
‘How does someone do something like
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