Dangerous to Know

by Anne Buist

  Barrett shook her head. ‘She is very clear that she didn’t kill her children. The autopsy reports leave room for doubt. There is no solid evidence of what caused these children’s deaths.’

  Barrett’s case didn’t sound as solid as her tone was trying to convey.

  ‘Any feeling for how it’s going?’

  ‘I never try to predict these things.’

  ‘And you wouldn’t answer even if you did know.’

  Jacqueline looked at her sharply and Natalie cursed herself. There was no love lost between them but she couldn’t let her real feelings show. She stretched her fingers and rolled her shoulders, realising how tense she was. If she felt irritable with this lawyer, there would be fire and brimstone when Liam cross-examined her. Was it tension, or worse? She’d now had three days of low-dose lithium and no quetiapine. But there were no odd colours on the edge of her vision. That had to be a good sign she wasn’t going manic.

  It didn’t help that Natalie thought Georgia was most probably guilty, even if she had mixed feelings about the appropriate punishment. Ultimately, it wasn’t up to her. And maybe there was reasonable doubt—it was Jacqueline’s job to lodge this in the minds of the jury. But Natalie wished she could paint a real picture for the jury, not the black and white one they were going to get. Georgia wasn’t the personification of evil. She’d had a shit life, and she was a survivor. Paul may have been completely innocent technically but he hadn’t stopped her killing their three children. He would have to live with that. And Georgia would have to live with the deaths—probably behind bars for most of the rest of her life.

  ‘Paul came across well,’ said Jacqueline finally. ‘The autopsy results will be brought up again with my expert and so I’m not too fussed about that yet.’

  Natalie nodded. She just wanted this over.

  ‘So if we can go through your testimony?’ Jacqueline’s voice was icy. Seemed like she still would have preferred not to call Natalie, but thought she could limit the damage by doing so rather than letting the prosecution bring her in.

  ‘I think she dissociates, but not into different characters. The dissociation is a defence, but not a complete enough process to mean she could have killed each of her children at these times and then had no memory of it,’ Natalie summarised.

  ‘So she doesn’t have dissociative identity disorder, right?’

  ‘That’s what I’m saying.’

  ‘Then just say that. We’ve already heard from Professor Graves’—Natalie didn’t recognise the name—‘that she is legally and psychiatrically competent.’

  ‘And O’Shea is going to let me get away with that?’

  ‘He’ll probably make you elaborate.’ Jacqueline sounded as if she’d like a bus to run Natalie over on the way into court.

  ‘You’re going to bring up the self-harm?’

  ‘Professor Graves said it’s common in borderline personalities. We don’t need to go there again.’

  ‘How was Georgia when Paul presented?’

  ‘Same as always, best I could tell.’

  Georgia had probably dissociated.

  ‘She’s told you that he knew about the self-harm?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Jacqueline sounding impatient. ‘But she isn’t going to testify. It’s not something I want to dwell on.’

  Natalie shrugged as the door opened and Georgia’s solicitor stuck his head around it. ‘We’re on.’

  Natalie followed him, feeling Barrett’s eyes boring into her. What she said probably wouldn’t make any difference anyway.

  Natalie had given evidence before. The court room no longer held her awe-struck as it once had. It was about rules and process more than the whole truth—justice rather than best outcomes. Yes, Georgia had had a bad life but there were people from worse backgrounds who didn’t kill their children. Whatever the background history of any of the criminals who came before this court, they were now adults, responsible for themselves. Responsible for making up for the past, not using it as an excuse.

  If she were judge and jury what would she do? Guilty verdict, maybe, yes. Keep Georgia away from children, definitely, yes.

  But prison? Years behind bars would hardly change her. Nor deter anyone else, not when the cause was psychological in origin.

  She sat behind Georgia, Jacqueline and the rest of the defence team. At the next table she saw Liam and Tania Perkins in easy conversation with their solicitor. Liam briefly looked up but didn’t look directly at Natalie. She was sure it was a deliberate avoidance and steeled herself. Behind them, Paul gave her a half smile before looking away.

  They all rose when Justice Miller entered, a lean man in his sixties wearing a suit that looked like he’d bought it before a cholesterol test had inspired the diet and daily walk with his wife. He nodded to the defence and prosecution, and they all sat. There were a few moments of discussion about something from the previous day before they called Natalie and swore her in, then got her to go through her qualifications and dealings with Georgia, first as an inpatient at Yarra Bend, then as her patient after she was out on bail. Liam was looking at her, smiling. She felt herself perspiring in her suit jacket. It made her feel she was playing at being a grown-up.

  Jacqueline got straight to the point. ‘Do you believe the defendant has dissociative identity disorder?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘But you are treating her, is that correct?’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘Could you describe, then, just what you are treating?’

  Natalie knew Georgia’s lawyer was trying to make her sound more like a therapist to the ‘worried well’—the neurotic, rather than the seriously disabled—and for a moment it unnerved her. She took a breath and went slowly through her diagnosis of a mixed personality disorder, referring to the DSM V, the psychiatrists’ bible. She was aware out of the corner of her eye that something she had said had generated a lot of interest on the prosecution table. There were notes and frantic whispers.

  ‘Dr King?’

  ‘Ah, I’m sorry, where was I?’

  The clerk read back her last statement ‘the narcissism meant that in her relationship with her children it was important that she was seen as a good mother and that if this was put into question it might destabilise her.’

  Had she said that? Judging from Barrett’s glare, yes.

  ‘Yes…it’s possible.’

  ‘Surely that is the case for all mothers?’

  ‘It’s a matter of degree.’ Natalie kept looking at the prosecution table. Liam smiled back at her. She felt herself start to shake. Grabbed hold of the railing in front of her and took a breath. He’s out to get you. You’re not safe. You’ll have to get him first. Her thoughts started to fire in all directions.

  ‘Dr King? Did you hear the question?’ It was the judge, frowning.

  ‘Yes. I, um, no, can you please repeat it?’

  Jacqueline did so, slowly. ‘What is a matter of degree, Dr King?’

  ‘How much such thoughts really shake your foundation. What defences you have to answer them back.’ Attack first. Don’t let him get to you. She sneaked a look at him. His blue eyes bored into her. He thinks he can win.

  She managed to ignore him for the next two questions, mindful of how hard she was gripping the railing. Yes, Georgia had maintained her innocence throughout her therapy sessions.

  ‘That’s all at this stage for the defence,’ said Jacqueline. ‘I retain the right to re-examine this witness.’ She looked at Natalie oddly. She hadn’t asked about the self-harm.

  Natalie looked to the prosecutors, steeling herself. To her surprise it wasn’t Liam who stood. As Tania rose Natalie could feel herself sweating. What had Liam told her? What game was he playing? That’s why he slept with you again, he wants you to fear him. It was all a plan to make you look like an idiot. You shouldn’t ever have trusted him.

  Natalie took a deep breath and looked straight at Tania, whose eyes seemed to say I know all about you two. Shoulders back, eyes blazing.
Fringe flicked to the side.

  ‘Dr King we have heard from Professor Graves that Ms Latimer has a personality disorder. You would agree, is that correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Does she dissociate?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Tania frowned, made sure the jury saw her look of confusion. ‘Can you explain what you mean by that? Didn’t you just say she didn’t have a dissociative disorder?’

  ‘Dissociation is also an unconscious defence. A separation of the mind, separating it away from feelings and actions, like you look at yourself and what is happening as if it wasn’t you.’

  ‘I see.’ Tania scratched her head theatrically, looking to Liam for extra effect. ‘Like no I didn’t pinch that officer, I was just watching someone else do it?’

  There was a ripple of amusement through the court room.

  ‘No, not like that,’ said Natalie stonily. ‘More like—’

  ‘Have you seen Professor Wadhwa’s report?’ Tania interrupted.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Exhibit 24, your Honour.’ Tania offered a copy to Natalie as the judge rummaged in his papers to find his own. ‘To refresh your memory. So you agree with him she has a dissociative identity disorder?’

  ‘No, I—’

  ‘Sorry, so you think she has a personality disorder like Professor Graves, who doesn’t think she dissociates, but you don’t agree with Professor Wadhwa who thinks she does?’ Tania was shaking her head, puzzled look in place. More flicking. ‘Wadhwa, who is an expert on dissociative disorders, tell us that Georgia has D.I.D. Yet you are telling us she has a personality disorder, but also dissociates, is that right?’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘Can I clarify, you don’t think she has D.I.D.?’

  ‘No, but—’ She stopped, took a breath. Didn’t trust herself to speak.

  Tania raised her eyebrows, continuing to fake a surprised look for the jury. Natalie was giving the prosecutor exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was the truth. Liam will never let you live it down. No defence lawyer will ever touch you again.

  Tania looked into her notes though Natalie was sure she wasn’t reading them. ‘I can’t see a PhD here amongst your qualifications, is that right?’

  ‘I have a fellowship of the Royal Australian…’

  ‘Ah, here it is. You’re thinking of enrolling in one is that right?’

  Bitch. Natalie gritted her teeth. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Perhaps you’d like to tell us how someone who hasn’t even yet enrolled in further education thinks they are better qualified than Professor Wadhwa, who I believe was your boss until recently?’

  Tania was using one psychiatric witness to tear down another and discrediting her in the process. Natalie could see the jury looked confused. Would Tania drop that Wadhwa was no longer her boss because she had been ill, but omit the fact that he had resigned under pressure because of incompetence? Would she mention Natalie’s psychiatric illness? Natalie had to fight a rising panic.

  ‘I never said I was more qualified, Miss Perkins. But Associate Professor Wadhwa has spent maybe six hours with her. I have spent more than thirty.’

  ‘Of course, Dr King. And you’d be less qualified than Professor Graves too, would I be right? I suppose it’d only be, what six thousand or so hours to complete a PhD?’ Tania walked closer to her. But her eyes were on Liam and she was picturing the Worm coming at her, motioning across his throat and smiling dangerously, and involuntarily swayed back. Liam stared at her, frowned and signalled to Tania.

  ‘May I ask your Honour for a moment’s indulgence to confer with co-counsel?’

  ‘Make it quick Mr O’Shea.’

  Liam leaned over to Tania. She looked up at Natalie, then back at Liam, frowning and shaking her head.

  ‘Mr O’Shea the court is waiting.’

  ‘Thank you, your Honour. Miss Perkins is ready to continue’

  Co-counsel did not look happy with whatever she had been told. She continued with her questions, tone less strident; what evidence did she have that Georgia had borderline, sociopathic and narcissistic traits? Why didn’t she have D.I.D? And of course, was she responsible for her actions?

  ‘There’s something in your notes I need clarified.’

  Natalie’s stomach turned. Shit.

  ‘You say here that the defendant was receiving cards from her husband.’

  ‘Yes.’ In the corner of her eye she saw Jacqueline Barrett’s expression. If looks could kill Natalie would have been relieved of the pain she was currently enduring.

  ‘But then…’ Tania made a great fuss of turning over pages. ‘Here you say…Actually, could you read it out?’ She thrust the page at Natalie and pointed.

  Natalie stared at where Tania was indicating, mouth dry.

  ‘There is a question mark. Then Did Paul or Georgia send these.’

  ‘Objection.’ Jacqueline Barrett was up standing before Natalie had finished. ‘These are clearly the doctor’s personal deliberations at the time, not anything my client said.’

  Justice Miller looked to Tania.

  ‘Your Honour what the treating doctor who spent thirty hours with the defendant was thinking is surely relevant to what was going on in the defendant’s mind?’ Tania flashed a look a Liam that Natalie couldn’t interpret.

  ‘I’ll allow it,’ said Justice Miller. ‘Providing you get to the point.’

  ‘Certainly.’ Tania smiled but her eyes were cold by the time she had turned to Natalie. ‘So Dr King. Can you read the other highlighted sections?’

  Natalie looked over the pages. Three lines over several appointments. She took a breath. ‘Why bunny cards? Could this be because I reacted? Is she feeding me what she thinks I want?’

  Tania smiled. ‘Thank you Dr King. That will be all.’

  Jacqueline Barrett was back on her feet. ‘Permission to re-examine?’

  The judge nodded, straightening his robe and eye on the clock. The lunch break was imminent.

  ‘Those comments all had question marks, correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Do you know who wrote those cards?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘So it could have been her husband?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You testified earlier that you thought the defendant had a personality disorder, correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Can you tell the court what factors are likely to tip someone with a personality disorder like Georgia’s to dissociate occasionally?’

  ‘Stress. Of any sort, but children are unique in that way because there is the psychological meaning, the raising of unresolved issues from one’s own childhood. But also because they are a constant demand, twenty-four seven.’

  ‘So are there things that can improve or ameliorate the stress?’

  ‘The stress of children? Yes. Support. Particularly by mother and partner.’

  ‘But Georgia didn’t have a mother available did she?’

  ‘No.’ She saw Tania pushing a note angrily at Liam.

  Don’t trust any of them.

  ‘So what help was Paul?’

  Natalie looked at Paul. He met her gaze in stony silence.

  ‘Paul was part of the problem.’

  There was an immediate objection from Tania. The judge overruled her and instructed Natalie to elaborate.

  ‘Georgia needed him to adore her.’

  Tania smirked. She couldn’t read Liam’s expression.

  Natalie pushed on. ‘From therapy it was clear that Paul liked to control her emotionally.’

  ‘Clear? How?’

  Natalie flashed a look at Georgia but she was looking over her head into nothingness. ‘Subtle things. Which is why I believe them to be true. The type of things that occur in abusive relationships. Looks, withdrawal of affection. Georgia was vulnerable.’

  ‘Were there any indicators that might have alerted him there was a problem?’

  Finally Jacqueline had got there. ‘Yes. Georgia self-harmed.�
��

  Jacqueline’s expression said something like, ‘Fuck with me now and I’ll make sure you never practise again.’

  She could join the queue with Tania and Liam.

  ‘Objection, your Honour. We already know this from Professor Graves. Where is counsel going with this?’

  The judge leaned forward. ‘Ms Barrett?’

  ‘One moment and it will be clear.’

  He nodded, mouth in a grim line. He was a man who needed his lunch.

  ‘Georgia cuts herself, quite severely and in intimate places.’

  ‘Now—’ Barrett took a moment to refer to her notes. ‘We heard earlier from Mr Latimer that he didn’t know anything about it or any hint of mental illness. What do you think of that?’

  ‘Georgia had been doing it for years. If you look at her general practitioner’s notes and the obstetric record carefully, there is evidence of it happening prior to the birth of her first child.’

  Tania made a grab for her copy of the file and there was a murmur throughout the courtroom.

  Liam stood up ‘Your Honour, can I request a chance to look at this through the lunch break and return to question the witness then?’

  Jacqueline was on her feet saying they had had plenty of time and that the court was chewing up a professional witness’s time, but she was overruled. The judge was hungry.

  48

  The police have closed their investigations. There is a sense of anticlimax, rather like the time after the funeral when there is no longer anything to contemplate but absence. We have not talked about it but we do not have to. The atmosphere is no longer tense, and though Vesna still takes long naps, Mala and I both feel less obliged to ensure my mother is watched.

  She suffered from postpartum psychosis after each of our births; was this on my mind as I watched my wives’ bellies distend? Did I have a fear, however illogical, that in my family childbirth was fraught with danger? That Vesna would also be more unpredictable? Of course when I discovered Reeva’s family history I realised that any concern I might have had was not illogical. She was dismissive about it. But postpartum psychosis is considered a form of bipolar disorder, and there is a familial link.