"Objection, your lordship, the witness cannot know that."
"Sustained. The witnes will disregard the question."
"We come now to ydhr gallant rescue of Miss Jay from the evil clutches of tl* accused."
"Objection the word "evil"."
"You will discontinue the use of the adjective "evil"."
"As your lordship pleases." After that hand-signal, and during the rest of Craig's testimony, Tungata Zebiwe sat immovable as a figure carved in the granite of Matabeleland, with his chin sunk in his chest, but his eyes never left Craig's face.
As Mr. Petal rose to cross-examine, he moved for the first time, leaning forward to rumble a few terse words. Mr. Petal seemed to protest, but Tungata made a commanding gesture.
"No questions, your lordship," Mr. Petal acquiesced, and sank back in his seat, freeing Craig to leave the witness box without harassment.
Sally-Anne was the last of the prosecution witnesses and, after Peter Fungabera, perhaps the most telling.
She was still limping with her sprained ankle, so that Abel Khori hurried forward to help her into the witness box. The dark shadow of the bruise on her neck was the only blemish on her skin, and she gave her evidence without hesitation in a clear pleasing voice.
"When the accused seized you, what were your feelings?"
"I was in fear of my life."
"You say the accused struck you. Where did the blow land?"
"Here on my neck you can see the bruise."
"You state that the accused aimed the stolen rifle at Mr. Mellow. What was your reaction?
will you tell the court whether you sustained any tAnd other injuries." Abel Khori made the most of such a lovely witness, and very wisely, Mr.
Petal once again declined to crossexamine.
The prosecution closed its case on the evening of the third day, leaving Craig troubled and depressed.
ourite steakhouse, and He and Sally-Anne ate at her fay a bottle of good Cape wine did not cheer him.
even "That business about the driver never having met Tungata before, and being released only on a promise to drive the truck-"
"You didn't believe that?" Sally-Anne scoffed. "Even the judge made no secret of how far-fetched he thought that I was.
After he dropped her at her apartment, Craig walked alone through the deserted streets, feeling lonely and AA
betrayed though he could not find a logical reason for the feeling.
r Joseph Petal QC opened his defence by calling Tungata Zebiwe's chauffeur.
He was a heavily built Matabele, although young, already running to fat, with a round face that should have been jovial and smiling, but was now troubled and clouded. His head had been freshly shaved, and he never looked at Tungata once during his time on the witness stand.
"On the night of your arrest, what orders did Minister Zebiwe give you?"
"Nothing. He told me nothing." Mr. Petal looked genuinely puzzled and consulted his notes.
"Did he not tell you where to drive? Did you not know where you were going?"
"He said "Go straight", "Turn left here,"
"Turn right here"," the driver muttered, "I did not know where we were going." Obviously Mr. Petal was not expecting this reply.
"Did Minister Zebiwe not order you to drive to Tuti Mission?"
"Oh ection, your lordship."
"Do not lead the witness, Mr. Petal." Mr. Joseph Petal was clearly thinking on his feet. He shuffled his papers, glanced at Tungata Zebiwe, who sat completely impassive, and then switched his line of questioning.
"Since the night of your arrest, where have you been?"
"In prison."
"Did you have any visitors?"
"MY wife came."
"No others?" "No. "The chauffeur ducked his head defensively.
"What are those marks on your head? Were you beaten?" For the first time Craig noticed the dark lumps on the chauffeur's shaven pate.
"Your lordship, I object most strenuously," Abel Khori cried plaintively.
"Mr. Petal, what is the purpose of this line of questioning?" Mr. justice Domashawa demanded ominously.
"My lord, I am trying to find why the witness's evidence conflicts with his previous statement to the police." Mr. Petal struggled to obtain a clear reply from the sulky and uncooperative witness, and finally gave up with a gesture of resignation.
"No further questions, your lordship." And Abel Khori rose smiling to cross-examine.
"So the truck flashed its lights at you?"
"Yes."
"And what happened then?" I do not understand."
"Did anybody in the Mercedes say or do anything when you saw the truck?"
"My lord-2 Mr. Petal began.
"I think that is a fair question the witness will answer." all, and The chauffeur frowned with the effort of rec "Comrade Minister Zebiwe said, "There it then mumbled, is pull over and stop.""
""There it is'T Abel Khori repeated slowly and clearly.