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Well said. This scenario is highly plausible and accounts more simply for the few known facts. (Occam's Razor and all!) It's possible he may have harboured an unhealthy interest in her for some time. The reporting that she asked a co-worker to treat any unexpected work absence as serious means...

They are the same glasses I agree and must have transition lenses. Watching the interview again you see a wide shot at the start where strong shadows show beneath a parked car. There are clouds behind her but she's looking into the sun. Further into the piece the cameraman changes perspective...

Me neither. It just seems an avenue to pursue. Better by far would be hair brush, locket or, distasteful as it may sound, a belated inspection of the bath drain at their former home or anywhere where a hair might survive. I trust any of Diane's family reading these threads will see that we are...

RBBM. Humble apologies for repeating myself but considering that certain toxicology tests can be carried out on cremains (how detailed and for how long after cremation I don't know) his dilatory approach to Diane's ashes makes me hope the police have paid a further visit to the garage.

It's a valid question, as are other uncertainties surrounding Diane's death. I haven't linked to avoid advertising but a Google search reveals various labs claiming to be able to analyse cremains for toxicology. With glorious lack of foresight the dunderhead helpfully stored Diane's ashes in the...

I quite agree, Michelle's, and others, reports from within the courtroom give more of a 'feel' to the sometimes dry testimony. I am trusting that the jury is made up of like-minded souls, among whom no single one is wavering. Yep, nothing I have read has shown any warmth, compassion or humanity...

I know, apparently he was given a life sentence but released after 12 years. He then returned to his native New Zealand. The marginal 10-2 verdict was worrying too as it shows how you can't predict a jury.

I just watched the ITV dramatization on YouTube. Quite chilling. But isn't it alarming that a) the jury only found him guilty by 10-2 (one fewer and he'd have walked), and b) he served just 12 years.

Oh, I agree, and I expect Trimmer to do exactly that. Just would have been nice to hear the ridiculous notion that Helen wouldn't know why she was falling asleep put to him.

I agree. I felt its significance wasn't rammed home. The jury need to be joining the dots as surely as we are. A point like this, I feel, can be the tipping point where an uncertain juror can be helped.

Excellent spot. This is precisely the kind of damning detail that Trimmer should be putting to him. He can't now suddenly change the timetable for Ni-Jo! And while offering suggestions to the prosecutor, or his busy clerks who may read here, I wish Trimmer would ask, if Helen was such a smart...

I'm not too surprised there is no immediate dirt on IS. I don't think we've heard about him having any friends have we? Except that guy (Priest was it?) who contradicted one of IS's statements anyway. Maybe the point is they can't find anyone with anything much to say at all? Favours for...

Well.... I am reminded of Jodi Arias and the Ninjas! However that detestable, lying psychopath changed her story (numerous times) and wrote her fictional characters out in the cold light of day. With his preposterous story IS has painted himself into a corner. A corner riddled with holes!

His barrister asks the simple open question in order to give IS the opportunity to make a denial in open court, for the record. I expect Trimmer's technique on cross exam to be leading question after leading question.

A legal clerk from within his defence team may well be reading here. In fact both sides probably are. The jury is a fairly random collection of ages, intelligence and bias and may not pick up on the subtle implications of exam and cross exam. We here are a barrister's delight in that we choose...

Yes Indeed, during deliberation the jury gets to examine everything that was 'entered into evidence' in the trial. That can include written statements, audio and video interviews, photos, letters and numerous other documents. Even a murder weapon if there is one. Court reporting can make a...

I agree it was gentle. But then they were Prosecution witnesses on direct examination so no leading questions. Cross exam might have been rather more adversarial were they to have been witnesses for the defence yet to come. And yep, his hole's big.

Great Summary. It's worth mentioning that if a witness officially turns 'hostile' under direct examination, that is to say a prosecution witness answers in a way which overtly supports the defence case, then the barrister can ask permission from the judge to treat them as a 'hostile witness'. If...

Thanks Tortoise for the hard work and effort put into the 101 call transcription. As these were the very first words IS uttered to the Police about Helen they would have been of immense significance to LE, and now to us too with the bonus that we can read and analyse. Thank you.

Respectfully snipped. BIB If Helen had genuinely walked out this might be a natural reaction (and perhaps that's what IS was acting out) but as the Police clearly didn't believe the 'disappearance' scenario, his statement of intent can be applied both before and after her vanishing thereby...