Teabags & Tears

by Woods, Karen

  “Definitely not. She’s the most laid back person I know” Maxine ranted.

  The barrister continued. “Does Kevin have other women in his life?”

  Maxine went for gold now holding nothing back. She mentioned a few names and looked over to Tracy. “Kevin even slept with his own sister in law. The cheap whore she is.” The barrister apologised to the court for Maxine’s foul mouth and finished his interrogation. Now it was the prosecution’s turn to cross- examine her.

  “Maxine would you say, you are a trustworthy person.”

  She swayed about in the dock and hesitated. “Yeah I would.” He continued.

  “So is shoplifting something an honest person would do and supplying drugs.” Her head was all over the place. The barrister had told her to expect this from the prosecution and she now stood her ground.

  “Listen I’m not the one on trial here. I’m here because my friend has been shit on all of her life and suffered more than anyone will ever know. So deal with that issue and not my past.” She was crumbling. The barrister knew he had to get her out from the witness box as quick as possible. He could see her dragging at her clothes and looking like she was about to give him a piece of her mind. He objected to the courtroom. The prosecution stopped just in time and Maxine was told to leave the stand. As she left she looked over to Sandra and Tina and raised her eyes to the roof. Tina nodded back at her. As she sat back in her place you could see her red faced talking to Zac.

  Jenny was now called to give her evidence. She’d interviewed lots of people from the Monsall estate where Sandra lived. She had passed all the signed statements to the barrister. Now he was asking her questions. Jenny told him about the life Sandra had led. She told the courtroom about the screams from her house that had been reported in the late hours and how one neighbour had seen her estranged husband Kevin dragging Sandra up the path by her hair one late night. Jenny had done well in giving her evidence. Sandra could see the jury members shaking their heads as they looked at her. She felt like she had them onside. The barrister now read out the statements from her two sons. As he started reading Kevin re-entered the courtroom. He kept his eyes to the floor as he made his way to his seat.

  The barrister held his hand towards his heart as he read the statements from Paul and John. You could see he was deeply touched by what they had said. His voice was low and the emotion from the letter was held in his voice. It was Paul’s letter who caused a few people in the courtroom to cry. He’d told them that his mother was his world and his rock. She was also a devoted mother and a caring kind loving parent. Paul had told the barrister that he’d heard the violence between his parents on many a night and struggled to sleep because of it. All he wanted was his mother to be home where she belonged. One woman was now sobbing her heart out and the usher passed her a box of tissues. The courtroom was touched by both her sons’ testimonies. Now it was Sandra’s turn to take the stand. The Group Four guards now led her to the dock. He knew she wasn’t likely to escape and stood at her side with ease.

  Sandra looked like a nervous wreck. Her lips were trembling and they looked a dark blue colour. She could feel the eyes of the courtroom on her. She turned her head to her parents and gave a half-hearted smile. Her father smiled back at her but her mother sat stone-faced looking straight through her.

  “Old hag” she muttered under her breath. Sandra’s clothes hung from her frail body frame. She was easily a size twelve now. Her face looked drawn and her cheekbones stood from her face like a supermodels.

  Everyone’s eyes in the courtroom were now fixed on Sandra. Kevin had settled back in to his seat and stared at his wife. He could be seen sighing as she told the courtroom her full name. “Sandra Jane Marie Partington” she told them in a distressed voice. She looked cold as she folded her grey cardigan around her body.

  Her barrister now began. “Sandra can you tell me more about your marriage to Kevin?” Everyone was hanging on her every word. People hung over from the public gallery to get a better look at her. She paused and looked over at Kevin. You could see the hate in her eyes as she began.

  “My marriage has been a sham from day one. He never really loved me if the truth was known. He just married me because I was pregnant; I suppose I have always known that from the start.”

  The barrister stepped in with another question. “If you knew he didn’t love you, why did you stay?”

  Sandra huffed and her lips quivered as her warm breath passed through them. “I just always thought he would change. I had two children with him and I wanted to be a family.” Sandra’s mother was shaking her head as she looked over to her. Sandra could see the look of disgust written all over her face.

  “Was he violent towards you or your children?” he asked her with a firm voice.

  Kevin’s eyes glared at her now and that was the sign for her to turn the tears on. “Yeah from day one he treated me like a skivvy. I was more his slave than a wife.” She looked at Kevin directly and started to cry. “He’s used me as a punch-bag for years. If anything in his life went wrong, I would always cop for it.” Tissues were passed to Sandra and she got the message over to the court members that Kevin was an out and out bastard. When she’d finished giving her evidence the prosecution were next to try and rip her apart. Sandra held her own with the barrister but several times through her interrogation she lost it and started shouting. This was a woman suffering from domestic violence and everyone knew in the courtroom her emotions were no act.

  Tracy screwed her face up at Sandra. She whispered to her mother at the side of her. “Fuck off she’s lying mam. I mean, you know Kevin isn’t like that. He’s so laid back, it’s fucking her, the stress head. I hope she get what she deserves the lying cunt.”

  Anita looked at her daughter. She’d never heard all the allegations before. She looked at her husband. “Do you think all that’s true what she’s saying or what?”

  Her husband looked at her with a sarcastic face. “Well our Sandra’s no liar, what does she have to tell lies for? He’s hit her alright. Just look at the coward sat there fronting it all, as if he’s the victim. I’ll tell you what Anita, if our Sandra gets sent down today he’s getting a piece of my mind.” Anita calmed him down and told him to be quiet. They all watched Sandra leave the dock. Her head was held low and as she passed James she gave a half-hearted smile.

  The court adjourned for dinner and everyone was told to come back before two o’clock. They all stood as the judge left. Noise filled the courtroom now and Sandra and Tina were taken back to the holding cells. Kevin stood up and waited for James to walk at the side of him. He’d read all about him in his wife’s diary. “Fucking lover boy” he muttered as James was now at his side. Kevin made sure Sandra’s family was out of the way. Tracy was moaning at her mother and you could see she wasn’t happy with everything that was going on inside the courtroom. He saw his chance and grabbed James’s arm pulling him to the side of the stairs. “Oi, can I have a word?” James looked at him.

  James knew who he was and made no secret that he wasn’t afraid of him. “Yeah, what do you want?”

  Kevin now waited for a few people to clear from the area. Once they were gone he stood in front of James and placed his hand in front of him on the wall. James felt intimidated and quickly pushed his hands out of the way. “Shift your hands away from me alright.”

  Kevin looked shocked. He must have thought James was an easy target, he back-pedalled.

  “No worries, I just want a word that’s all.” James’s nostrils flared. His chest looked firm and you could see his fist clenching at the side of him. He was ready for whatever this prick had to throw at him. “So you’re Sandra’s new fella?”

  James nodded his head. “And?”

  Kevin kicked his foot at the ground. “Well I’m Kevin her husband. Surely she must have mentioned me?”

  James dipped his head to Kevin’s face, he spoke directly to him. “No she hasn’t spoken about you, you’re her past mate. Why would she want to w
aste time chatting shit about you?” Kevin hated that he wasn’t in control. He thought he was going to bully James but by the looks of it all, he was the one who looked more afraid. James now started to walk away from him. As he passed him he spoke in a cocky tone. “Sandra’s with me now, I can look after her and treat her how she should have been treated. Abuse it and lose it remember.” With that James was gone.

  Kevin stood looking lost. It was real, Sandra was gone out of his life and he looked sad. Shaking his head he walked to meet the others. As he walked up to Tracy he sighed. He knew he’d made a big mistake by losing Sandra and he wanted her back in his life. Was it too late and was she gone forever with her new lover boy James? He stood with Tracy. Anita and Graham were stood looking at him. He could see the evil look his ex father in law was giving him.

  At last Tracy piped up. “Where the fuck have you been?”

  Kevin struggled to answer. “I just went for a piss. Why what’s the problem?” she huffed and linked his arm.

  “I don’t want to stay here all day; I’ve listened to enough bullshit, we don’t have to stay do we? Let’s fuck off and go and get something to eat at Nando’s, I’m starving.” He couldn’t tell her he wanted to stay throughout the trial and the look on his face told everyone he was struggling to give into her. Graham could read him like a book and stepped in.

  “Yeah she’s right. No need for you to stay son. You can go home.” Kevin sucked his bottom lips. His eyes met Graham’s. He wanted to tell him to fuck off but he could see he was in a no win situation and agreed with a low tone.

  “Yeah all right, let’s do one Tracy.” Anita and Graham watched them leave arm in arm. She looked at her husband and suggested they went for a coffee.

  Maxine and Zac sat in a nearby Cafe. As Sandra’s parents walked in Maxine mumbled under her breath as she clocked them both. “Fucking hell here she is the old battle axe.” Zac turned his head and smiled. Maxine lost the plot straight away and stood up to go and speak to Anita. She hadn’t spoken to her for months and wanted to set the record straight. Graham was ordering their drinks and Anita was seated at the other side of the room. Maxine slumped down beside her in the leather armchair. Anita’s face was on fire and her temper was about to explode. Maxine stopped her dead in her tracks and spoke first.

  “Anita I know I haven’t been to see you about all this mess, but come on, you’re not the easiest of people to speak to are you?” Anita’s eyes searched for Graham, she needed his back-up. Maxine continued. “Listen all I want to say is that Sandra has put up with a lot, you don’t know the half of it, Tracy is a little tart and I don’t know how you can just accept, that Kevin has moved from one daughter to another.”

  Anita held her hand up in front of Maxine’s face with a flat palm. “You cheeky cow. I don’t just accept it at all; I can’t help it if Kevin loves Tracy.”

  Maxine moved her arse on the chair and looked like she was getting up to leave. “She’s your daughter too you know, perhaps if you could see the wood through the trees you would see who the wrong one is. Sandra needs you, all her life it’s been Tracy this and Tracy that, it’s time to see her for what she really is.”

  Anita wasn’t listening and shook her head; she was now speaking over Maxine. “Piss off back over there. You don’t know what you are talking about woman.” Maxine stood and hovered for a minute. Seeing Graham coming towards her with two drinks she turned to leave. She paused.

  “Like I said, Tracy is the wrong one. Be a mother and step up to the mark.” Anita didn’t reply. Maxine left and smiled at Graham as she passed him to go back to her seat. Anita looked deflated and she was pulling at her jumper round her neck. Graham asked her what Maxine wanted, but she just changed the conversation and spoke about Tracy and the baby.

  Sandra sat in the cells. She could hear crying in the next pad. Apparently the woman had just been sentenced to seven years. Sandra stared at the floor. Holding her head in her hands she felt weak. Tina was the next to hit the stand and her heart told her it wasn’t looking good for her best friend. The trial was set for three days and Sandra didn’t know if her heart would stand all the stress. Her fate sat with the jury members. She just hoped she’d done enough to become a free woman again.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Today was the day when Sandra and Tina would learn their fate. The last few days had been hard on them both and it showed across their faces. Sleep had been a million miles away for them both and they looked tired. Dark circles were present under their eyes and they seemed to have aged in the last few days. Tina knew her case wasn’t looking good. After all, she’d drugged and kidnapped somebody, so she had to expect some kind of custodial sentence.

  The Group Four guards led them both up to the courtroom for sentencing. Some other prisoners were wishing them well as they passed; Tina couldn’t raise a smile and ignored them completely. The door opened to the dock and both women were led inside. Tina looked edgy. She couldn’t keep still and she was constantly chewing her nails.

  The spectators eyes were all glued to the women. They watched their every movement. One woman shouted to them both. “Good luck girls. We’re all here behind you.” The Usher seated the spectator straight away and warned her to be quiet.

  The press gallery was packed. Notepads at the ready, they were waiting on an exclusive story for the papers. This trial was something the entire nation was talking about. Jenny was sat up straight and she could be seen crossing her fingers together and holding them up to the girls.

  “Could the courtroom please rise”, the usher spoke in a stern voice. Judge Cassidy now entered the courtroom. Once he was seated everybody else did as well.

  Tina was whispering to Sandra. “Orr I hope his wife sucked him off last night or something, perhaps then he might be more lenient with us, if he’s in a good mood.”

  Sandra giggled. “Will you fuck off making me laugh? My arse is twitching, I think I’m gonna shit my knickers.”

  Tina held her hand and spoke with a low tone. “No matter what happens” she held her tears back as she looked at her. “You’re my best friend and I know you won’t sell me out.”

  Sandra choked. “That goes without saying love. If I get out of here I’ll make sure I look after you, I promise.” The judge lifted his head up from his notes and asked for Tina to be removed from the courtroom.

  Tina turned her head from side to side. “What the fucks up?” she asked the security guard. He told her that she would be sentenced on her own. Her face dropped. This wasn’t good. She quickly kissed Sandra on the cheek and wished her luck. She now left the dock. Whispering could be heard throughout the courtroom. The jury members were all sat inside the courtroom now. They’d taken all afternoon to come to a decision. This was a nail biting moment for everyone.

  The judge now asked the spokesman for the jury if they had come to a decision about Sandra. A middle-aged man now stood up. He was dressed in a grey suit and looked very smart. Sandra was clenching her fists. She looked white as a ghost. The member of the jury now spoke. “Yes we have your honour.” The courtroom was on edge. A pin could have been heard dropping. Women huddled together and one woman hid her face in her friend’s shoulder. The suspense was too much to cope with.

  The judge read out the charges and asked what the verdict was. The man looked at his paper in front of him and cleared his throat before he replied.

  “Not guilty”

  Sandra looked about the courtroom. Did she hear him right? Her head was turning rapidly. Jenny shook her hands above her head. That was one of the charges out of the way. Now the charge of her injuring her husband’s manhood was read out. The judge asked if they had come to a verdict. The spokesman looked nervous. The paper was shaking slightly in his grip.

  “Guilty” he answered.

  The noise in the courtroom was out of control and one woman was told to leave the public gallery. Her anger was there for everyone to see. She was removed from the courtroom still shouting. The usher spoke to the spe
ctators and told them that quiet must be maintained, otherwise they would all have to leave. Sandra fell back onto her chair. She looked as if she was going to faint and the guard used his radio for help to get her a drink of water. The judge adjourned for half an hour and told Sandra he would sentence her when they came back after the break. She was led from the dock back to the holding cell.

  Once the judge had left, Maxine was bouncing about the courtroom. “It’s a fucking liberty. The man beats the living shit out of her every other night and she’s suppose to do nothing. The law in the country is shite.”

  Zac calmed her down. “Come on Maxine she might not get slammed yet, there are other options you know.” She wasn’t listening and continued ranting.

  “Who the fuck do they think they are playing around with people’s life’s. They know fuck all about the real world these fuckers.”

  Anita sat sneering at her, Maxine could feel her eyes burning into her and looked directly at her. Their eyes clashed and at one point it looked like Sandra’s mother was going to launch at her. Graham smiled gently at Maxine. He knew she was talking sense, but to side with her was more than his life was worth. Anita was a stubborn bitch and for years he knew it was her way or the highway.

  Jenny was now talking to the supporters. After all, she was a journalist and needed a big story for the national newspaper. Her hand was moving quickly as she wrote everything down that was going on. Kerry from Women’s Aid, was right in her face now. “See what I mean, Domestic violence means nothing to anyone. When is someone going to start listening and start helping these women?”

  Jenny looked up from her notebook. “I know Kerry; I don’t think people really understand what goes on behind closed doors. Anyway, that’s why I’m here to help get the message out.” Kerry stomped off and started talking to the other women who were stood nearby. As she watched Kerry talking, she could see a scar across the side of one woman’s face. Being nosey she closed her writing pad and joined them. Jenny stood listening. The woman with the scar on her face was quiet. Jenny just knew she had a story to tell and made her way to the side of her.