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
