Bold Counsel (The Trials of Sarah Newby) by Tim Vicary

way from York to Selby, fifteen miles or more. We used motorboats and helicopters to search further downstream, all the way to the Humber estuary. We searched the riverbank, too, and many areas in the surrounding countryside. It was a very difficult, tedious, and expensive process, as you can imagine. But unfortunately we did not find a body.’
    ‘Why did you search the river Ouse in particular?’
    ‘Because, under questioning, Jason Barnes told us he had driven Brenda to a secluded spot called Landing Lane near the river. When we searched the surrounding area we found a bloodstained torch with his fingerprint on it. A torch which came from the stolen car.’
    ‘Were you certain it was her blood, at the time?’
    ‘As certain as we could be, ma’am. We didn’t have the benefit of DNA in those days, but it matched her blood group. Since then, DNA tests have revealed that the blood does indeed bear a close family resemblance to that of her mother.’
    ‘So you assumed from this that Brenda Stokes had been murdered, and the killer had thrown her body in the river?’
    ‘That seemed highly likely, yes.’
    ‘And you assumed that Jason Barnes was her killer?’
    ‘I was sure of it, ma’am. All the evidence pointed that way.’
    ‘Nonetheless, your case was rather thin, Inspector, wasn’t it? One fingerprint, and some blood on a torch. Which Mr Barnes explained quite plausibly by saying that he and Miss Stokes had a violent argument, during which he got blood on his hands from her nosebleed. Then when she ran off into the night he searched for her with the torch.’
    ‘I didn’t believe that tale for a minute.’
    ‘But you were worried that the jury might believe him, weren’t you, Mr Baxter? Without a body, you couldn’t even prove for certain that Brenda Stokes had been killed, let alone dumped in the river, could you? It was only an assumption on your part.’
    Robert Baxter sighed. ‘You must remember there was an inquest, which returned an open verdict. The coroner accepted that it was possible she had been murdered, and her body washed out to sea. That was the basis on which we proceeded to trial.’
    ‘Nonetheless, you were desperate for more evidence, Inspector Baxter, weren’t you? Without this alleged confession, you would never have obtained a conviction.’
    The old policeman shook his head forcefully. ‘I disagree. We already had a lot of other evidence against Jason Barnes. He was the last person seen with Brenda. We had the torch, and the lies he told about the car. He admitted himself that he had quarrelled with her and attempted to have sex with her against her will. He also had a string of convictions for theft and violence, including violence against women.’
    ‘None of which you could lay before the jury, of course.’
    ‘No, but all the same ...’ Baxter shrugged.
    ‘He was a useful suspect, wasn’t he?’ Sarah sneered.
    It was an unwise comment, she realised, as soon as she made it. Robert Baxter drew himself up to his full height, and turned, with great dignity, towards the judges. ‘He was the obvious suspect, Mr Lords. All the evidence pointed clearly in his direction. The jury recognised this in their verdict.’
    ‘Let’s return to this alleged confession, shall we?’ Sarah said, trying to recover. ‘You must have been hugely relieved when it confirmed all your previous assumptions.’
    ‘I was pleased, naturally.’
    ‘Were you surprised?’
    ‘Not really, no.’ A wary look crossed Robert Baxter’s face, as if he guessed what was coming. But Sarah was not ready, yet, to make the obvious accusation.
    ‘Presumably you confronted Jason Barnes with it, before the case came to trial?’
    ‘We did, ma’am, yes.’
    ‘And what did he say?’
    ‘He denied it. He refused to admit that he’d confessed to Brian Winnick at all.’
    ‘Is that all? Did he say nothing else?’
    The question had a gratifying effect on the burly policeman. Baxter’s ruddy face darkened