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Rachel Hunter QC
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posted 4/8/03 10:53 PM
The Prosecutions Fifth WitnessJudge McGavin: The Prosecution has asked to call a late witness, whose identity has been kept confidential between the prosecution team and myself, for his own protection. The Prosecution will now call this witness, Mr Ehmus WalkerAL: Your honour, we really must protest, we have had no warning of this witness and have had no time to prepare.MM: You were advised there would be a late witness, I will allow you time to prepare your cross examination, which will be given tomorrow, is that understood?AL: Yes your honour.EW: I swear that the evidence I give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.RH: Thank you for joining us today Mr Walker. Can you tell us, do you know the defendant at all?EW: Yes, He is a long-term business associate of my fathers.RH: And who is your father?EW: Richie WalkerRH: THE Richie Walker? Crime overlord of Sim Dale?EW: Uh, that’s rightRH: And Mr Hansworth is a business associate of Richie Walker?EW: Yeah, I mean, yes.RH: What kind of business does Mr Hansworth conduct with a criminal?EW: Well dad helps Mr Hansworth with problems that he hasRH: What kind of problems?EW: Well, there was the time Mr Hansworth was running for office a couple of years ago and this guy had some information about him, Mr Hansworth I mean, and was going to go to the papers with it, Mr Hansworth called dad and said “If this ever gets out, I’ll be ruined” so dad whacked the guy.RH: What do you mean he “whacked” the guy?EW: He, uh, shot himRH: He shot him? You mean your father killed a man for Mr Hansworth?EW: Uh, yeah.RH: Has Mr Hansworth had any dealings with your father recently?EW: Yes he hasRH: What kind of dealings?EW: Well Mr Hansworth called dad about the photo’s of him and that Hayley, but Dad said he couldn’t help, he had other things going on, so Hansworth said “I’ll have to sort it myself then”RH: You heard Mr Hansworth say he would have to sort out the problem for himself?EW: Yes.RH: Has he contacted your father since?EW: Yes, He called the day before the trial startedRH: And what did he say?EW: He said he needed help.RH: And did your father agree to help him?EW: He did, yeah, but he said it would cost Hansworth.RH: And what help did your father give Mr Hansworth?EW: Hansworth wanted to get the trial stopped, he asked my dad to kidnap the sister of the investigating officer, to trade, her life for the trial being stopped and all charges droppedRH: And did your father do this?EW: Yes, dad my two brothers and I went to Mayfair Plaza and took the woman and her boy, Dad arranged for a note to be sent to the police.RH: And what happened then?EW: NothingRH: Nothing?EW: Well late that night the cops did a raid on the place we were holding them.RH: So the plan didn’t have any effect really?EW: No, they got the woman and boy back and arrested my dad, two brothers and me.RH: So to summarise, Mr Hansworth paid your family to kidnap a woman and child to offer in exchange for the charges against him being dropped?EW: Yeah, That’s rightRH: Does that sound like an innocent man to you?AL: ObjectionMM: Sustained, I’m warning you counsellor.RH: Sorry your honour, I withdraw the question, no further questions.
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