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
