The Summervale Volunteers

CHAPTER ONE - COURT

The distinctive smell of the courtroom, the leather chairs, the sweat of a thousand backsides trembling at the thought of a guilty verdict and the long lonely walk down to the cells assails Alan Hitchcock’s nostrils. But for Hitchcock (known to everyone as H) this time, the last time, the smell is rank, unpleasant, uninviting. Once the scent of a battlefield without bloodshed now more of a ruined castle with ghosts in every corner. Years of the smell meaning challenge; pitting his wits against an opponent, the smell of justice and integrity has now become a combination of body odour, bad breath and failure.

Lost in the reverie of times past Alan Hitchcock, smart but frayed, grey and drawn, older and wiser than he looks, but at 64, at the end of a career he has loved for more than forty years; a barrister, defender of rights and occasional drum beater for the oppressed, is startled to hear his name called.

“Mr Hitchcock. Are you joining us?” A call from the judge above wakes H from his daydream.

“Sorry your Honour.”

“Your closing statement if you wouldn’t mind.”

Taking a deep breath, the smell filling him with one last surge of good intent, he takes a long hard look at the jury. His black robes flowing behind him, he strides toward the twelve jurors, his white court wig perched neatly atop his grey, distinguished head. Looking them directly in the eye he begins his summation of proceedings.

“I know you have heard the defendant to be a habitual criminal, and he was, make no mistake, but, please take note ladies and gentlemen, my use of ‘was’, rather than is. Yes, Maurice Claridge was, a thief, yes, Maurice Claridge did indeed break into the jewellers in Finchley, and yes, he was subsequently arrested trying to sell his ill-gotten gains at a car boot sale on Sunday morning in Romford, but, he has seen the error of his ways. The birth of his first grandson has changed his world view. He now has full time employment and a whole new perspective on life. He, at last, has a reason NOT to fight the system but to embrace it, to enter fully into the community and give his, now extended family, the full benefit of his time and energy. Incarceration will not benefit anyone in this case, he has admitted his guilt and is throwing himself on your mercy, this is a true case of redemption in times of callous, careless murder this man, once thief, has seen a route to a proper life and we should all help him take a step on that path and help him flourish into a decent citizen. Let’s all do the right thing today and walk away from here with our heads held high having done the right thing. Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you.”

H takes his seat next to his assistant, Elliott Longbottom; he looks 12 years old, barely shaving, barely out of law school but soon to oust H from the spot at the head of a trial. He looks at H with reverential wonder; he has seen a true artist at work. “Great speech, even the prosecution want to let him off.”

“What a load of bullshit.” H’s smile only just concealing his true feelings. The young assistant unsure how, or indeed, if, to respond just stares at his older colleague.