Of course, the Director never entertained such dubious correspondence and immediately saw straight through it as nothing more than an ill-conceived attempt to stop the investigation. It was obvious that Mark's pleas were in vain because he was arrested again and brought before the courts where he was charged with conspiracy to murder and with soliciting Savannah Kingston to murder Penelope Garrett, Shona Morgan and Rebecca McNamara.
Savannah Kingston was also charged with conspiring to kill the three women and had to face additional charges of demanding the money with menaces from Penelope Garrett, robbing the office of M&R Photography and handling stolen goods.
However, Savannah's barrister complained that his client had been locked up in jail since her original arrest and the incarceration had not been easy for her. He argued that it was unfair to keep her incarcerated while Mark had only been recently arrested. He warned the judge that his client was becoming withdrawn and depressed and that her health was deteriorating alarmingly. She had diabetes and her condition wasn't being helped by her stint in prison. He demanded that his client's rights should be recognised and that she be released as soon as possible. However, Savannah remained in prison while the Book of Evidence was assembled.
Chapter 10
It was a bright summer’s morning in the vibrant tourist town of Westport, County Mayo. There wasn't a cloud in the clear blue sky and the sea was calm and still. The summer season was in full swing and the tourists who sat outside the pleasant cafes which dotted the sea front were in buoyant mood. Most people enjoying their early morning coffee were utterly oblivious to the fact that the latest sitting of the town's District Court was about to take place. Westport's District Court was in session only six times a year and the court list was usually short; generally lasting no more than a few hours. Offences mainly consisted of public order cases, road traffic charges and the occasional licensing dispute.
However, this was no ordinary day in Westport. Police cars already clogged the streets around the tiny, slightly dilapidated courthouse, and inside, the seats were already full of eager spectators. Television crews and photographers were in place, anxious to be at the forefront of the unfolding action.
This was the morning that police had been anxiously awaiting. An extensive and complex investigation had at long last brought charges of conspiracy to murder against businessman Mark McNamara and nightclub hostess, Savannah Kingston; a very unlikely pair!
A noisy posse of photographers and journalists had gathered around the courthouse; all waiting impatiently for the arrival of Mark and Savannah. The previous afternoon Savannah had been due to go on trial charged with extortion and burglary, but the charges were dropped by the prosecution. She was released and immediately arrested again, charged with conspiracy to murder. It was this sudden change in events which caught the attention of the media.
The arrival of Mark and Savannah at the courthouse sparked a flurry of excitement among the waiting photographers and television crews. Savannah entered the courtroom, neatly dressed in a knee-length skirt and matching tailored jacket. Her face was pale and tear-streaked and devoid of any makeup. Penelope and Shona stared at the petite blonde woman, amazed that this apparently meek woman could be involved in a devious murder plot.
Mark sat opposite her, flanked by two police officers. He wore a dark suit and tie with a blue shirt which emphasised his tanned skin. He glanced at Savannah and muttered under his breath. Rebecca watched her husband carefully. She knew he was a lot of things but she still found it difficult to believe he wanted her dead. There was no way he would want his children to be without their mother and he'd done everything possible to gain her forgiveness for his affairs. She didn't know how she would have coped without him when post-natal depression had taken its dark grip on her. There was a time when she'd thought they might even be friends! How could the man who she'd loved for so long have turned into such a monster? It was mind-boggling.
Rebecca remembered the many happy times they'd shared in Westport throughout the years. They'd spent lots of weekends socialising in the town and had enjoyed sailing on Westport Bay with Christopher when he was a small boy. She didn't want to believe the allegations against her husband. He had always enjoyed the high life but was he really willing to go to such extreme lengths for money? It was only one of the many intriguing questions which Rebecca would ask herself over the following weeks of the gripping trial.
Mark denied the charges brought against him while Savannah had nothing to say in response to the charges brought against her. Both accused were remanded in custody but Mark’s lawyer said he would be applying to the High Court for bail at the earliest opportunity.
No sooner had Mark and Savannah left Westport on their way to prison than news spread like wildfire of the sensational story. The gossips quickly turned the story from fairy tale to local legend. Rumours crept like mould in the damp humidity of the summer, the wettest for many years. However, when the media descended they were met with polite smiles and stone walls. Westport was too small a place to share gossip without having one eye open to see who was listening.
Prosperity may be apparent in some of the narrow twisting streets left over from medieval times but the population of Westport is still only six thousand, many of them immigrants who have flocked there over the years. There are those who mutter darkly about the town becoming more cosmopolitan, who cling to the old Westport where decades were needed before an interloper from the next parish became one of their own. But the story that had hit the headlines did not concern any recent arrival. Rebecca and Mark were well-know and popular in the community and their story was received with a mixture of embarrassment and shock. A few people rubbed their hands over the juicy scandal but most shook their heads in wonder.
For all of its new-found multiculturalism not much had changed in Westport over the boom years. The big supermarkets had only opened in the last few years and greengrocers still thrived among the narrow streets while the regular market stalls on the main street were still going strong. The pubs sported wood-panelling and old Guinness signs with floors of flag stones or tattered red carpets.
Westport was clearly feeling the failing fortunes of a flagging economy, although the tourists still streamed into town. The maze of streets hid the numerous for sale signs and there was consternation when several well-established businesses failed, but the boutique clothes shops remained. They catered for the ladies who lunch and there were many lunching in Westport. Several shops had dresses which sold for thousands of euro. They were not the shops that feared closure as the penny-pinching began; their patrons who didn’t need to worry about where the next pay cheque was coming from.
Mark enjoyed a powerful social standing which he enjoyed flaunting and there were many who had stories about his lord of the manor attitude. The locals knew Mark enjoyed the high life but few could comprehend what had happened in court that morning. Nobody wanted to believe the allegations against him. Many of the questions asked around the town that summer’s day would present shocking answers in the weeks of the fascinating trial which would take place in Dublin’s Four Courts; the highest court in Ireland.
Chapter 11
Finally, the much awaited opening day of the trial arrived. It was the final showdown. Mark's letters and pleas had fallen on deaf ears and the only thing left for him to do was try to charm the jury. The airless courtroom was packed with lawyers, police, the accused and the general public with members of the media pushing forward, straining to hear what was going on. Hoards of barristers had gathered for the day to day business of the courts, ensuring that every legal detail had been dealt with before the case came before the judge and jury.
The wooden benches were packed with the rather bemused jury panel who were staring at the organised chaos which was exploding around them. Most were there unwillingly and were waiting impatiently for their chance to explain to the judge why they couldn't perform their civic duty. Others were glancing around anxiously, trying to spot the accus
ed people among the crowd. Some were trying to guess at the story they would watch unfolding in front of them. They chatted amongst each other, attempting to work out if any of the stories which they'd read in the newspapers would be presented for their entertainment. “Jury service may be an important part of the justice system but I have better things to do than waste my time watching something boring,” one woman sighed.
Several people glanced in Mark's direction. He cut quite a dashing character in his dark suit and could easily have been mistaken for one of the lawyers. Savannah was a petite blonde presence who sat smiling easily while her lawyer stood a short distance away, deep in last minute discussions with the rest of the legal team. The jurors surveying the courtroom, trying to ascertain the accused parties, didn't even notice her. A few reporters who were gathered glanced curiously in Mark's direction but the case had barely registered in the media's consciousness. The newsrooms were slow to get excited about a conspiracy which had failed to lead to murder.
However, when the case was called there was a small murmur of interest throughout the thronged courtroom as the two accused answered the charges against them. This was the first time that most people had had the opportunity to get a good look at Savannah as she was led forward by two prison officers; on pure face value, she certainly did not seem like a likely assassin.
Mark half-heartedly stepped forward. Even at that early stage he certainly had no wish to stand beside his co-accused. They both stood and stared straight ahead while the charges against them were read aloud. There was a brief pause which allowed them to say whether they were guilty or innocent. The crowd was beginning to have an inkling of the extent of the allegations but couched in dry legal terms the full impact of the case still hadn't been made.
When Savannah and Mark had denied the charges being made against them, Edward Clifford, the State's senior barrister, stood up and cleared his throat to begin his opening speech.
“The jury has a right to know exactly what they are letting themselves in for,” he began, addressing Judge Charles Enright. “This will be a long and complex trial and we estimate that it will take a month. I will run through the main points of the case so the jurors know what they will be facing.” Judge Enright raised an eyebrow at the barrister’s dramatic tone but nodded his consent. As Mr. Clifford’s speech progressed and the details of the case were outlined, everyone stared at Mark in shocked curiosity but he gazed straight ahead and ignored their interest. By the time the barrister finally resumed his seat, the room was agog and the chances of finding a jury who would stay the distance had just increased exponentially!
The legal teams began their negotiations the following day and it was standing room only in the courtroom. It was quite a small room on the second floor of the courthouse as nobody could have foreseen the amount of interest which the case would generate. It was modern and unimposing with large windows overlooking the River Liffey. Although the traffic was muted by double-glazing, the windows gave an impression of a world outside. However, the courtroom did not accommodate in any real or practical way the hoards of witnesses who were jostling for space with reporters and the families of the victims and the accused. Space rapidly became limited.
Savannah sat next to the door with a prison officer sitting on either side of her. Mark sat on the same bench with police officers and detectives. Then came Penelope, Shona and Rebecca; the victims of the appalling conspiracy. They were sitting beside the Public Relations advisor who they'd hired for the proceedings and were surrounded by the reporters who had managed to fight their way to some seats. The temperature was rapidly rising in the cramped surroundings as Judge Enright appeared.
The defence teams waited while Mr. Clifford once again took the floor to continue his opening speech for the Prosecution. He repeated the main facts of the case but this time went into much more detail. He described the robbery of the computers and paintings at the offices of M&R Photography and gave an account of the strained relationship between Mark and Rebecca following the revelation of his affairs some months previously. The emails between “devils-revenge” and “assassin_hire” were read aloud to give an accurate idea of the depths of the conspiracy before the jury. Mr. Clifford highlighted the flirtatious tone of the emails and ran through the main witnesses who the jury would be hearing from. The reporters scribbled frantically in their notebooks while the two accused sat still, staring straight ahead in the oppressive heat.
When the judge sent the jury to lunch, everyone else got stiffly to their feet. The room quickly emptied as people poured into the corridor outside, enjoying the fresh air and the ability to stretch their cramped legs. They seemed slightly dazed from a morning of being bombarded with information, but there was plenty more to come.
After lunch the spectators gathered again and were taken through the remaining emails by the barrister. Lined up against the back wall, squashed onto the only bench available for non-legal people, were the two accused. They sat uncomfortably close to their intended victims, who were listening intently to the litany of evidence which was piling up.
Mr. Clifford then moved on to the terms of the contract and the cut price “bargain” deal which was coldly negotiated for the murder of three people. The co-conspirators and their victims didn’t betray even a flicker of emotion as the reporters glanced back and forth between them, looking for some colour for their columns.
The hours dragged by. The heat was stifling in the airless room and still the opening speech wore on. “My apologies for the length and detail of my speech,” Mr. Clifford was finally reaching the end. “I realise that I have given an unusually detailed account of the evidence against the two accused but we wanted to demonstrate the strength of our case. The stories told by both accused are lies and confabulation.” The courtroom clock was chiming five o'clock by the time he finished and the day's proceedings had came to a close. The jury went home that night with an idea of what was ahead of them but for Mark and Savannah it was a daunting first day. There hadn't been a single witness yet but the newspapers painted a damning picture indeed.
Chapter 12
The following day the courtroom was still as hot and overcrowded as it had been for the opening speech and it was decided that one of the main courtrooms on the ground floor would be better suited to the trial. Space was no longer at a premium downstairs and the victims were spared having to sit on the same bench as the accused. Savannah arrived, laughing and chatting with the prison officers, and took her seat at the far end of the bench while Mark sat at the opposite end. Penelope, Shona and Rebecca sat two rows behind the barristers while behind them the public galleries were full of reporters and police. They craned forward to hear what was going on as the lawyers studiously ignored the microphones placed on their table to counteract the room's less than perfect acoustics.
Daniel Williams was the first witness to be called by the Prosecution and his evidence was vital to the case. He sat quietly while the barristers argued but he was secure in the knowledge that he had full immunity. His nerves became more and more apparent as the days dragged on. Savannah was noticeably aware of his presence, knowing exactly what was coming when he took the stand. Every now and then, she glanced surreptitiously at him. When he finally took the stand it was to a packed courtroom. Everyone knew that this was the main event, the most damning witness in the Prosecution's arsenal.
The courtroom quickly filled with people as word spread like wildfire about the bizarre and gripping opening speech of the previous day. Everyone was talking about the incredible allegations and the conspiracy to murder which had begun to unfold. There was a hum of excitement as the crowd took their seats and waited for the next installment. The courtroom was already gripped and the momentum was flowing as Daniel Williams took the stand. Given the spectacular reference to poison in the previous day's opening speech the evidence from Savannah Kingston's accomplice was bound to be dramatic, compelling and of paramount importance. The star witness didn't fail to deliver as he coolly
told the court that he and Savannah had manufactured ricin in their home in London and had then transported it to Ireland. However, very few of those in attendance were prepared for the sensational details that were about to be revealed.
Daniel took to the witness box with a great show of humility. Wearing black trousers and a grey shirt with his dark hair gelled back he steadied himself before speaking quietly into the microphone in front of him. He barely glanced at his former lover, all his attention was focused on the barrister as he led him through his evidence. His voice was calm as he laid out the incriminating evidence against Savannah and Mark. The entire courtroom was on the edge of their seats listening to every word he had to say.
London native, Daniel Williams, long-term partner of Savannah Kingston, gave evidence over a two hour period. The jury was advised that Mr. Williams had been given immunity from prosecution in the case on the basis that he would give evidence in the trial and that the decision was unconditional and irrevocable. He was questioned and cross-examined at length and his replies were always delivered in a monotone, giving the impression that he was almost bored by the entire situation. The line of questioning became intense at times and he was accused of being a fraudster and a liar. However, nothing seemed to perturb him and he kept his cool throughout, remaining categorical in his sometimes bizarre assertions.
"What is the nature of your relationship with Savannah Kingston?" Mr. Clifford began his cross-examination.
Unfaithful (The Complete Trilogy) Page 29