Day 311 - 06 Dec 96 - Page 27
1 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Sorry?
2
3 MR. RAMPTON: That is in the witness statement.
4
5 MR. JUSTICE BELL: It is in the witness statement, but even if
6 I could not rely on his recollection then I would have to
7 ask myself, well, did it sound to me as if he was recalling
8 Mr. Morris speaking out loud and clear on 26th April even
9 in the middle of 1996?
10
11 MR. RAMPTON: Exactly.
12
13 MR. JUSTICE BELL: And, indeed, Mr. Morris put to him that the
14 second paragraph on page 114 of the notes was right, where
15 he was talking about other matters to be dealt with at the
16 fair which was coming up soon.
17
18 MR. RAMPTON: And it was put that the Moscow thing came up and
19 because somebody had written in and suggested it.
20
21 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. And I am aware, I have reminded myself,
22 of the evidence of Mr. Gravett and Miss Laporte on that and
23 what Mr. Morris challenged and what he did not challenge,
24 although I invited him to do so.
25
26 MR. RAMPTON: Can I say two things? This is against the general
27 background of what your Lordship has been saying. I am,
28 for obvious reasons, very anxious that I do not -- mislead
29 is not the word I am looking for -- lead your Lordship to
30 make any wrong decisions of law. That is a discretion, of
31 course, completely different; that is a matter for
32 your Lordship.
33
34 Also, I have to say this. As I hope your Lordship has
35 gathered from the general drift of my submissions on
36 publication, the evidence of the inquiry agents has been of
37 some value, but only some value.
38
39 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I understand that you say it is but part of
40 your case, but what would help me, Mr. Rampton, and we are
41 clearly going to have to come back next week at some stage,
42 whatever happens.
43
44 MR. RAMPTON: Yes.
45
46 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I would like you to help me as to which dates
47 and which witnesses are in the same position.
48
49 MR. RAMPTON: If any.
50
51 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If any. As we have with Mr. Russell and 26th
52 April report. And, if there are any, what they actually
53 said as to whether they checked any agency report against
54 their own notes.
55
56 MR. RAMPTON: Of course. I am sorry it is not in here. I have
57 a recollection that he, Russell, was the only problem
58 but -- so did Mr. Atkinson. I will not say any more at the
59 moment, we will make sure we are right or, if we are wrong,
60 we will tell your Lordship.
