Page 65 of The Accomplice
‘Right.’
‘The prosecution doesn’t have any witnesses who heard a victim screaming, do they ?’
‘Not to my knowledge.’
‘Isn’t it more likely that a single attacker moved silently and swiftly through these victims, administering an instant killing stroke as they lay asleep in their beds ?’
‘I wouldn’t say it’s more likely …’ said Climpton, then saw Harry’s expression change. I could see it registering with Climpton. Like he’d just looked up to see a piano about to fall on top of his head.
The mistake here would be to allow Climpton to elaborate, spin some bullshit to muddy the point and call it a draw.
‘Doctor, we saw the photos. There were no signs of a struggle. There is no evidence from the injuries inflicted that there was a second attacker, in an effort to be helpful to the victims in this case you have made a mistake, isn’t that correct ?’
‘I can’t tell from the injuries who wielded the knife. It could have been the defendant, with her husband holding the victim down, and covering their mouth.’
About the best Climpton could do. He breathed out, took a sip of water.
Harry walked over to the witness stand. He could reach out and touch it if he wanted.
He asked, ‘So now you’re saying Carrie Miller wielded the knife, not her husband ?’
‘It’s possible.’
‘How long have you been a medical examiner ?’
Larry David wasn’t working. Climpton was wriggling too much. Harry was moving in, like Joe Frazier. I saw his play, took hold of the iPad and searched for a document. A section of Climpton’s report.
‘Fifteen years,’ said Climpton.
‘And you’ve read your reports on the victims in preparation for your testimony today ?’
‘I have.’
Harry reached out a hand, and I got up and gave him the iPad with the relevant section of Climpton’s report open on the screen.
‘This is from your report on Stacy Nielsen. At the concluding paragraph,“The blade pierced the skin easily and passed through the breastbone with great force in a single stroke. This suggests the perpetrator is physically strong. Perhaps much stronger than your average male.” ’
Climpton swallowed, but kept his head very still. Maybe he had been sweating before now, but I noticed his forehead was glazed in perspiration.
‘You go on to say, “This corresponds with the wounds found on the other victims. A violent blow delivered with enormous power.” ’
‘Yes, well …’
‘Carrie Miller couldn’t weigh more than a hundred and ten pounds. She didn’t cause those wounds, did she, Doctor ?’
A Joe Frazier uppercut.
‘Ah, I suppose not,’ said Climpton.
‘Just so we’re clear, and the jury is clear, there is nothing in your expert opinion to suggest that Carrie Miller was a second attacker in any of these murders, isn’t that right ?’
Climpton had done his best for the DA. And he wanted out of that witness box. You could see it. He was practically squirming in that seat like it was covered in fire ants.
‘In hindsight, having taken stock of everything – no. I can’t say that she was a second attacker here.’
Frazier wins by knock out.
‘Thank you for clarifying your position, Doctor,’ said Harry, and he walked back to the defense table.
