Day 253 - 21 May 96 - Page 53
1 bothered about Frances Tiller and Michelle Hooker. I think
2 some of the pseudonyms we do not know.
3
4 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, they have got all that information. They
5 have got Mr. Bishop who was anonymous; Jack from Mitcham;
6 Alan from Catford, Anthony was simply Mr. Pocklington, and
7 I think Mr. Bishop was anonymous. I will tell the
8 Defendants for nothing that Mr. Bishop is a chap of about
9 my age with a bald head and a beard. Whether that helps or
10 not, I do not know.
11
12 MR. MORRIS: I think that is basically our position.
13
14 [For Ruling- see separate transcript]
15
16 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, in the light of that can I take it that
17 your Lordship would not now want any argument about legal
18 professional privilege?
19
20 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not want any argument about legal
21 professional privilege. I would still appreciate a list of
22 any authorities and text books to be given to Ms. Steel and
23 Mr. Morris as well as myself, tomorrow if possible.
24
25 MR. RAMPTON: We will do it, my Lord.
26
27 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Because I can see that the matter might crop
28 up.
29
30 MR. RAMPTON: It might.
31
32 MR. JUSTICE BELL: During cross-examination or examination of
33 any witness.
34
35 MR. RAMPTON: I quite agree. We will certainly do that.
36
37 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have already indicated that I am not
38 familiar with that aspect of the law, so I would welcome an
39 opportunity to acquaint myself with it before the witnesses
40 who might be asked about it give evidence.
41
42 MR. RAMPTON: It turns out to be really quite surprising. I did
43 not know much either. My Lord, I do not know if there is
44 anything interlocutory left now. We could, if we are going
45 to get all or most of Thursday, perhaps, I do not know ----
46
47 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am going to ask Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris
48 whether they want to, after we have a 5-minute break, which
49 we will have now in any event, question Mr. Nicholson for
50 three-quarter of an hour or not.
51
52 MS. STEEL: We would rather not. It means we can go up and
53 sort out the appeal, apart from anything else.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes. I forgot, you want to go early to do
56 that. We will adjourn now. I make no comment at all on my
57 assessment of Mr. Nicholson's evidence, but I am sorry that
58 he has to live in anticipation of giving evidence and then
59 not giving it, although I suppose one has the consolation
60 of knowing he will be in court anyway. But I do not think
