Doctor who described the injuries sustained to Marina prior to her death. Aside from having a fractured skull, she was found to have two cracked ribs, a fractured eye socket and a split lip. Most of her body was badly bruised and to add insult to injury, she had lost three of her acrylic nail extensions.
Corr is asking questions of the medic.
“What was the cause of death?”
“Well we know that she sustained a significant head trauma: there was an injury to her head, caused by a blow with a large blunt object.”
Corr points to the trophy.
“Such as that?” he asks.
“Yes, the patterns of blood staining on the trophy indicate that was the object that was used.”
“Can you say how many times Mrs Hobbs was hit with that object?” Corr queries carefully.
“Not exactly, but it was definitely more than a few times, with significant force. We did initially think that the deceased passed away as a result of those blows but due to the presence of water in her lungs, we were forced to conclude that she did in fact drown after being struck.”
“Would this have been instantaneous?”
“I’m afraid not. She would have been conscious at the time she was thrown into the water, but incredibly weak. It seems that she was held under until she died.”
“Do you have the time of death?”
“Yes, about 5AM.”
“Can you put an age on the bruising?”
“Yes. They were caused around 4 hours prior to her body being discovered.”
“Were any forensic samples taken from underneath Mrs. Hobbs’ fingernails? If so, what did they show?”
The tension in the air is visible as the jury strain to hear the next answer.
“We found skin underneath her nails, the DNA profile of which was matched to the Defendant, Mr. Hobbs.”
I continue to type a note of what is being said, but glance at the jury to see how they are receiving this important evidence. It appears as though the full impact of this jigsaw piece is sinking in; Corr wants them to believe that it was her husband she was fending off. Quinn is quick on the counter attack when he gets to his feet.
“The skin underneath her fingernails, you can’t say how long that had been there for can you?”
“No, I cannot,” he agrees.
“And you accept that during the course of non-aggressive conduct, such skin could have been transferred?”
“What do you mean by non-aggressive conduct?” asks the Doctor, looking puzzled.
“Any number of things. Massage, back scratching, events in the throes of passion and so forth,” hazards Quinn.
“Well, yes,” concedes the Doctor.
Quinn gives a wolfish smile.
“Regarding the death. You think that Mrs. Hobbs was held down underneath the water?”
“I said it was a possibility, yes.”
“And to do that the aggressor would have to have got into the pool?”
“I suppose so, yes.”
“Thereby getting wet in the process?”
“Yes, I imagine so,” agrees the Doctor looking puzzled.
“Thank you!” says Quinn, sitting down.
“I think that is a good place to end for today” says the Judge, closing his notebook on top of his papers. “I’d like to start again in the morning at half past ten please. I remind you not to discuss this case with anyone else and pay little attention to the press reports please.”
The jury are taken away and we all get to our feet to respect the Judge’s exit. Quinn turns to Corr.
“Come on Georgie, you haven’t got a chance of getting this home. You line them up, I knock them down. Why not just throw the towel in and admit defeat?”
To his credit, Corr merely carries on arranging his papers before turning to me.
“Lauren, can you send me a copy of your note of today’s evidence as soon as possible.”
I try not to smile.
“Already done!” I say.
I used the court Wi-Fi to do it a moment ago. It’s a good job I wasn’t expecting any praise, as Corr merely nods at me before stalking out of the courtroom.
As I unplug my laptop from beneath the bench, a hand rests on my shoulder. I look up and see Rivers bending down over me. He’s smiling and his hair has fallen into his eyes beneath his wig. I straighten up and turn to face him, aware that he’s standing very close to me.
“Hey!” I say, “Interesting day wasn’t it? Mind you, you’ve heard all of this twice before so you must know what’s coming!”
“Too true,” he drawls, taking off his wig and running his hand through his thick dark hair. “But this trial already has promise to be more interesting than