Resurrection by Roger Simpson

Author:Roger Simpson [Simpson, Roger]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘Doctor Halifax.’

‘Mr Debreceny.’

It might have been something to do with the tone we used, or in our fixed but paper-thin smiles, but I think we both knew that the battle lines had been drawn. We were both in our late thirties; old enough to know better but young enough to make mistakes. We were building careers and reputations. Individually, there was a lot at stake.

‘Doctor Halifax, it’s a big call, is it not, when you dismiss one confession and promote another?’

‘Not when you look at the reasons.’

‘But one is completely damning to the accused while the other is a get out of jail free card, is it not?’

‘If you focus on the outcome, you could come to that conclusion, but not if you look at the underlying reasons.’

‘Can I remind you, doctor, that while you are engaged by the defence to present this evidence, as a professional expert you also have an obligation to the court?’

‘You can remind me, Mr Debreceny, though you don’t need to. I am well aware of my responsibilities of impartiality as an expert witness.’

‘Maybe I was stating that, doctor, for the benefit of the jury?’

‘Then maybe, Mr Debreceny, you should have addressed your comments to them and not me.’

I knew I was making things worse for myself. But sometimes you have to draw that line in the metaphorical sand and see what happens.

‘Doctor, do you place any significance in the fact that what you term “the false confession” was the first statement the accused made to the police?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Could you elaborate?’

‘Because that was the statement made in the heat of the moment, when the accused was still in shock from finding his parents’ bodies.’

‘His shock aside, would you describe your “client” as an intelligent man?’

‘Are you referring to the accused, Mr Debreceny?’

‘I’m only using a word you used yourself, doctor.’

‘To avoid using the term “patient”, which pre-judges his condition. When I am asked to undertake a psychiatric examination, it’s the term I prefer to use.’

‘But not anymore?’

‘As you have already pointed out to the jury, I have a wider responsibility as an expert witness, an obligation to the court. So now we’re in a judicial setting, I think “accused” is the more appropriate term.’

‘But isn’t he still your “client”, doctor? Isn’t his defence still paying your bills?’

‘Mr Debreceny…’

‘Yes, Your Honour.’

‘I think you could use your time more productively than getting bogged down in this.’

‘Yes, Your Honour.’

Round one to me.

‘Doctor Halifax, you have stated that the accused has no known psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia or a delusional disorder…’

‘Yes.’

‘That he is of above average IQ?’

‘Yes.’

‘And has successfully held down a number of jobs, including producing and directing a documentary.’

‘Yes.’

‘When he confessed to murder in the first confession, would he have had any understanding of the consequences of what he was saying?’

‘Probably.’

‘Specifically, the seriousness of the crimes to which he was confessing?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

‘And the likelihood of the consequences if found guilty, that is, a very substantial term of years in prison?’

‘Yes, he would.

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