Day 286 - 24 Oct 96 - Page 38


     
     1        that you can see where your spots are likely to be, to deal
     2        with your separate topics.  Are you dividing them more or
     3        less evenly?  Your plan is, is it, that each of you will,
     4        basically, do one whole topic, like environment and rearing
     5        and slaughter, and so on, rather than topics within
     6        topics?  Is that the plan?
     7
     8   MR. MORRIS:   That is generally the plan.
     9
    10   MS. STEEL:   I think so.  I am not a hundred per cent sure what
    11        you mean, but -----
    12
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Well, for instance, when we come to animals,
    14        you are basically going to do that; you are not going to do
    15        cattle, and Mr. Morris pigs, or you are not going to do
    16        rearing and he is going to do slaughter -- something of
    17        that kind?
    18
    19   MS. STEEL:   No.  I mean, the intention is that we each do the
    20        whole of a particular subject, although it is possible
    21        that, you know, the other one might want to throw in a few
    22        additional points at the end of it or something, but
    23        nothing very extensive.
    24
    25   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I suppose I should give you an opportunity
    26        to say anything you want to, Mr. Rampton.
    27
    28   MR. RAMPTON:   About what, my Lord?
    29
    30   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just about how we go on.
    31
    32   MR. RAMPTON:   It is entirely a matter -- the Court of Appeal,
    33        if I may say so -- Mr. Morris -- this is not a criticism --
    34        gave your Lordship a slightly abbreviated version of what
    35        the Court of Appeal said.  Effectively, they said this --
    36        and I use the words used by Lord Justice Gibson -- your
    37        Lordship's decision, exercise of discretion -- I am not
    38        saying this to flatter your Lordship, but so your Lordship
    39        should know exactly how far the Court of Appeal thinks the
    40        matter is within your Lordship's control -- said that what
    41        your Lordship had done was impeccable, but hereafter the
    42        whole control and conduct of the trial was entirely a
    43        matter for your Lordship.  I have said before, and I say
    44        again, I do not mind how the Defendants go about their
    45        closing speeches, subject to your Lordship's directions to
    46        them and, indeed, as far as it may arise, to me, provided
    47        they stop one way or another willy nilly on the 22nd
    48        November -- because the one thing that matters to us is
    49        that the date of judgment should not be postponed because I
    50        am forced to run over until January.  That is the only oar 
    51        I have to stick in the water.  Otherwise, it is entirely a 
    52        matter for your Lordship.  Your Lordship has set a 
    53        deadline.  How your Lordship and the Defendants, as it
    54        were, arrange that that deadline should be met is really
    55        not by business, I do not believe.
    56
    57   MR. MORRIS:   The impression I got from the Court of Appeal was
    58        that even the deadline was a matter for your discretion, in
    59        any event.
    60

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