Day 073 - 13 Jan 95 - Page 54


     
     1        to sit, let me put it that way being the right way to put
     2        it, in some part of the week beginning 20th February, for
     3        example, two days, then we could put Mr. Chambers in
     4        there.  If it were a split week, it would be more difficult
     5        because he does not come from London and he is not a
     6        McDonald's person, and he has to get his employer's
     7        consent.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Why does he have to come before Monday 27th,
    10        because having been inconvenienced by expecting to come in
    11        10 days time, he could then be given a fixed date, could he
    12        not?
    13
    14   MR. RAMPTON:  Yes, he could be given what might have the
    15        appearance of a fixed date, is all I would say -- they do
    16        not seem to be very fixed -- but we can try to do.  The
    17        trouble is then we might not have anybody at all because
    18        I would not want to start Dr. Gomez Gonzales before Monday
    19        27th unless it was possible for him -----
    20
    21   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You had him pencilled in for Monday 27th?
    22
    23   MR. RAMPTON:  Yes, because I know he could come then and I know
    24        he has the whole week.  There is probably a question
    25        against him because it is a matter for your Lordship in the
    26        end, but I know he can come then and I know he has the
    27        whole week.
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  How long do you estimate Mr. Chambers will
    30        take, Mr. Morris and Ms. Steel?  If I may say so, it is my
    31        experience that in this case when we have, for instance,
    32        got into a day and, say, it has been the middle of a
    33        morning and you have wanted to finish a witness by 4.15
    34        that afternoon, you have achieved it.  You may not have
    35        asked all the questions you proposed to ask when you came
    36        to court that morning, but I am not conscious that you
    37        have, in fact, missed out any parts that you wanted to
    38        put.  You managed to achieve it.
    39
    40        It is more difficult for you if, say, two days are
    41        allocated or three days at the beginning of those days to
    42        be looking at the end of the period of time you are
    43        allocated, even at half past 11, looking to see whether you
    44        can finish by a quarter past four.  I appreciate that, but
    45        what you have to do, having shown some ability to finish
    46        within the day you are on, is raise your gain, if I may put
    47        it that way, so that if you have somebody for two or three
    48        days, you are aiming at finishing that witness within that
    49        time from the start.  It is not an invitation to miss great
    50        chunks out. 
    51 
    52   MR. MORRIS:  It depends also on examination, how long that 
    53        takes; also if new issues are brought out (which they often
    54        are) which are not in the statement.
    55
    56   MS. STEEL:  Also, with respect, on the witness and the types of
    57        answers they give, whether they give extremely long-winded,
    58        evasive answers.
    59
    60   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is Mr. Kenny liking to take more than three

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