Lizzie's Tale

by Graham Wilson

  Chapter 24 - Vindication

  Yesterday had been a bitter disappointment to Julie, though Lizzie seemed to accept this as just a part of life’s ups and downs. Julie’s only consolation was a flood of support that had come from close friends and colleagues. There was also a well spring of public opinion in the editorials and letters against this decision.

  The dismissal of the court case was something that really rankled with Julie, she had assembled her evidence through years of patient investigation, she had found a lawyer who believed in her and the justice of the cause, she had persuaded the public prosecutor to put together a brief of evidence against these three evil men, she had surmounted endless obstacles, threats and inertia to get the cases listed for trial, and to see these three men, along with their evil friend, standing in court. She knew they all needed to have their separate trials, the one who was charged with leading the offences and his two accomplices who faced similar charges, but were really just his patsies.

  Then, to watch it all come unstuck in the first hour of the trial, really it was just the time for opening submissions, when the other side had used a technicality, which the judge had allowed, to rip their case apart.

  The surprise from all in the court, particularly families and reporters, when this flimsy technicality was used to dismiss the case before any further consideration, ruling the whole basis of the charges as unsound, and determining that the defendant should be discharged, forthwith, no conviction recorded. Then, adding insult to injury, the judge had publicly censured the prosecution and her for bringing what he considered was an ill founded and ill prepared case.

  It was front page headlines today, “Martin Wallis acquitted, judge dismisses case before any evidence is heard and censures prosecution for ill-founded, vindictive case.” This lead article chose to cast no judgement on whether this decision was good or bad.

  The paper also announced that the Director of Public Prosecutions had accepted the judge’s recommendations and had withdrawn charges against the other named men in the related cases. So effectively all cases had been dismissed.

  The rage was burning inside Julie now; she could taste that sour taste of failure, bitter in the back of her throat. It made her feel like gagging when she thought of these three horrible men, walking from the court with their glowing smirks, giving her an obscene sign, as they savoured their victory.

  She had thought of staying in bed this morning, this loss had made her work seem so pointless, the bad guys always won. But, driven by her nascent rage, she had gone into the office, trying to maintain a brave defiance to this shambolic situation.

  As she walked to her desk she could almost sense the gloating of the women haters, those backward men in the office, the ones who had made so many ‘behind the back’ sneers, as the years had passed, whenever she had sought to pursue these issues. However she knew there was also strong support for her from others who worked away quietly at their own desks, both men and women; those young women who themselves had been threatened or worse by men like these, the fathers and mothers of daughters like Lizzie, Miranda and Alicia. She sensed a vast well of support against this judicial outrage and it roused her courage.

  On her desk was a folded note. She picked it up absently, barely paying attention. It was from her editor, Michael Daly, who she knew was her staunch ally. “Please come to my office ASAP. Have been discussing with the MD and lawyers some options for not letting the bad guys win.” Julie took a deep breath, she dared not hope, but could it be there was a way forward?

  Michael was deep in conversation with two lawyers when she went in; Melissa their in-house counsel, and an older man she did not know personally, but recognised as a well respected Queens Counsel from her days in the courts. She stood and listened quietly.

  Michael was speaking. “Well, if I understand you correctly it is not defamatory to print something that will be hugely offensive to the men concerned, provided it satisfies a public interest test and if it is also demonstrably true. And you are satisfied that the public interest test is easily met, now that the judge has dismissed the case and it is no longer before the court, and it is also demonstrably true as evidenced by the sworn affidavits of these three girls, particularly the testimony of Lizzie, including her age when her child was born.”

  The barrister was nodding his head. “Yes that is my advice.” With that he packed up his papers and walked out the door, closely followed by the house counsel.

  Michael waved Julie to a chair, then walked over, closed the door, and sat down alongside her. “I don’t know how much you got of that, but this matter is far from finished, we might have lost in a court of law but now we can go to the court of public opinion and tell the full story that we could not tell before when they were facing charges.

  “Now you need to write and we will print the story that lives in all those files. I was thinking of two articles, one which is a summary of the evidence against these three men which the jury never got to hear, because of the actions of the judge. The second, if your friend will agree to it, is the remarkable tale of that young woman, Lizzie, whose name I have read for months but who I have only had the pleasure to meet in the last few days.

  I know you have already made a start on this, the rebuilding of the reputation of your friend. Who could ever forget that wonderful piece you wrote about her almost two years ago when you first made a part of her story known to the public. The response to that was huge. Now you must tell the full story, the parts you left out and of her continuing courage.

  I never told you before, but many years ago I knew her father slightly, his father and mine were close friends. I would not live well with these two men’s memories if I did not tell the daughters tale. She is a woman of rare bravery. Her story, more than anything, will bring justice, through the opinions and actions of that broad jury we call the peoples of this city, state and country.

  They will now get to pass their own judgement. When it is done I think these men may well wish that they had instead stood before the judgement of the court. I have discussed this with the Managing Director of the paper. Despite being a naturally cautious man he has said he is with me all the way on this one. Plus he knows it will make great copy.

  Julie returned to her desk and sat down to write the story.