Day 171 - 11 Oct 95 - Page 51
1 called, but it leads to frightful trouble if we have to
2 have recalls all the time to deal with it.
3
4 So, I am not saying I will not allow you to adduce evidence
5 about this or that from Mr. Whittle. All I am saying it is
6 in everyone's interest, including your own, if on Monday
7 you can come with a list of the matters, hand it over and
8 then while we are dealing with Mr. Megan's evidence no
9 doubt some consideration can be given to it if it looks
10 like causing any difficulty. That is in your interest and,
11 as it happens, Ms. Steel's as much as anyone else's.
12
13 MR. MORRIS: Yes. I think it is -- I take all that on board and
14 I think that it is also fair -- I mean, it has been said
15 many times but, in brief, it is clear that we do not have
16 the facilities to get the kind of detailed statements----
17
18 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I am bearing all that in mind, but here is a
19 golden chance to do it because you have a preparation day
20 on Friday which is, in fact, five days before Mr. Whittle
21 goes into the witness box and a whole weekend before the
22 time I am asking you to produce a list. Do your best to
23 get someone in either to follow Mr. Whittle, say at 2 p.m.
24 on Wednesday would probably be better.
25
26 MR. RAMPTON: Can I just say in total, my Lord, I will know by
27 tomorrow morning whether I need your Lordship's leave, or
28 Mr. Atkinson does, to ask Mr. Megan any supplementaries.
29 I doubt it, but I say that because if we do ----
30
31 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If you do, I would like you to tell me
32 tomorrow. Then you have two days to fill in the following
33 week and I left the choice of days to you and I said that
34 they did not have to be back to back necessarily. But
35 I think you should be able to tell me early next week who
36 you have got and which days you opted for. Mr. Rampton
37 said it did not matter to him, but since it is his working
38 life he is entitled to know about a week ahead anyway which
39 days he is expected to be in court and which he is not.
40
41 MR. MORRIS: Yes.
42
43 MR. JUSTICE BELL: And I would like to know as well.
44
45 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, there is only one reservation I have
46 about that. It is this: If there was offered for a day in
47 the week beginning the 23rd a witness who was at risk of
48 running over, then it would be, in my submission, desirable
49 to say at least that the days should be back to back; they
50 should be consecutive.
51
52 MR. JUSTICE BELL: That is just common sense, so bear that in
53 mind, Mr. Morris, please.
54
55 MR. MORRIS: Yes.
56
57 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Unless there is anything else, we will start
58 again at 10.30 in the morning. Thank you.
59
60 (The court adjourned until 10.30 the following day)
