Chapter Sixty-three
What the jury would make of Joe Simpson’s evidence was a complete mystery to Matthew, but it was the last roll of the dice for the defence. Like a gambler who had lost all but his last few dollars at the casino, Matthew felt that even a miniscule chance was better than none at all.
‘You do realise you have sworn on oath to tell the truth?’ Oscar asked Simpson after he was sworn in and had given his name and address.
‘I do.’
This first question clearly showed that Oscar was concerned about what the witness was about to say.
‘Then can you please tell the court about something that occurred earlier this year?’
‘About the copper changing a tyre with my tools?’
‘If you could go through the incident in detail for the members of the jury, please?’
Simpson went into som
