REASONABLE FORCE

by Richard Banks

Leo emerged from the Crown Court knowing that a new trial was about to begin. He had been well prepared for this second inquisition, as had his mother who escorted him towards the waiting phalanx of TV cameras and journalists. His advisers followed on, ready to prompt him if he should falter. “Look solemn,” they said, “no laughing, no celebration. Be dignified, act the decent, law abiding citizen. The Great British public is watching. Show them you are one of them, that you are the victim, not the sad loser you battered. Most of all, keep to the script.”

      “Mr Davies, how do you feel, now that the case against you has been abandoned?”

      “Relief, great relief, like a nightmare ending. Can’t wait to get back home.”

      “The CPS waited four months before charging you with attempted murder. Do you consider this case should ever have been brought to court?”

      Leo struggled to remember his lines. Then they came. “I have always maintained, and will always maintain, that I used reasonable force to protect myself from an armed intruder who attacked me in my mother’s home. Had I not defended myself I seriously doubt whether I would be with you today.” He glanced nervously at the journalists. Were they buying it? He couldn’t tell. They wore their masks even better than he.

      “What do you say to those who claim that by bludgeoning Collins with a hammer you went well beyond what was reasonable?”

      Leo swallowed hard. He felt anger but knew he must not show it. Anger equals aggression. He must remain passive, thoughtful, quietly spoken. “I repeat, I used reasonable force. His injuries were not life threatening.”

      The reporter who asked the question, continued his probing. “Mr Davies, you say that Collins attacked you with a knife, yet you sustained no injuries. How do you explain this?”

      Leo tried to stay composed. For a moment his mask slipped. He observed the reporter with an infuriated stare. What is the matter with the man? he thought. Do I have to be dead or paralysed to be believed?

      His solicitor placed a reassuring hand on Leo’s shoulder and spoke for him. “My client was extremely fortunate to escape serious injury. Nevertheless he did sustain abrasions to both arms. Fortunately, these were not sufficiently serious to require hospital treatment.”

      The reporter attempted to ask a further question but was drowned out by one of the TV men who spoke into a microphone. “Mr Davies you were indicted on the evidence of a twenty year old criminal with a string of previous convictions. How do you feel about that?”

      “Puzzled, frustrated, even now I have no idea why the police believed Collins rather than me. The young man’s lies have cast a deep shadow over my life.”

      “Why do you think he waited until now - one day into your trial - before dropping the accusations against you?”

      Leo imagined a halo hovering above his head and assumed an appropriate expression. “As a practicing Christian, I have always placed my faith in the Lord. I believe that through him the truth has been revealed. I thank God that my prayers have been answered.”

      “Amen,” shouted a woman in the expanding scrum behind Leo. There was cheering and applause.

      The TV man gave way to a female colleague who smiled reassuringly at Leo’s mother. “Mrs Davies, I understand that you have been burgled four times in the last two years. Do you think the law is doing enough to protect law abiding people like yourself?”

      Leo’s mother fingered the crucifix that hung from her neck and spoke into camera. “This has been a traumatic time for all of us. Leo was brought to trial because he attempted to defend us and our home from an armed robber. Surely, that cannot be right. The young man who was injured will soon be released from prison. Has his suffering been more than ours? Nevertheless, we continue to pray for him, for his redemption.”

      The young woman began another question, but was interrupted by Leo’s solicitor.

      “Ladies and gentlemen there will be a further opportunity to ask questions at the ‘Reasonable Force’ press conference to be held at the Daily Clarion. For the moment may I ask you to respect the family’s privacy and give them the time and space to recover from what has been a harrowing ordeal.” He ushered Leo and his mother to a waiting car and opened the door. They entered, along with several other persons.

      The driver carefully engaged first gear and moved out into the busy carriageway.  There was a collective sigh of relief from within the car. They were alone now, unheard, unobserved.

      “Well done, people,” said a large, bearded man, who was last into the car. He took a small packet of white powder from his jacket and tossed it onto Leo’s lap. “It’s chill out time, everything’s cool.”

      The scowl that had been forming on Leo’s face turned to rage. His clenched fist struck the seat in front of him, causing the driver to jolt forward towards the steering wheel. “Why so long? He’s just a nobody, no crew, nothing. Surely you could have shut him up before now?”

      The man grimaced. “It wasn’t easy. He was kept separate. It took time to get our guy in. Once he was there it was easy peasy. We gave him a choice. Change your story or we’ll chop your hands off. He was never going to give evidence against you. No way was that going to happen.”

      Leo’s fury was unabated. He clenched his fist again and was about to unleash another punch when his mother laid a firm hand on his arm.

      “Stop it, boy. Your temper is the reason you was in court. Don’t take it out on Winston. You had no need to hammer that chancer. He was never going to find them drugs. He wasn’t even armed. You just lost it, lost it big time and put our whole operation at risk. Now remember who you are and act the part; we are law abiding folks above suspicion. That’s why the police search other people’s houses and not ours.”

      Leo slumped back into his seat and stared, stony faced, past the driver, at the road ahead. He wanted to hurt everyone who ever got in his way. He had a list, a long list, but for the moment he must be measured and calm, a reasonable man who had used reasonable force. That’s what the people wanted, and for a while, that’s what they would get. In time them fools would have good reason to fear him. They could have stopped him, they nearly did. He wouldn’t give them a second chance.          

 

 

 Copyright Richard Banks