“I will prove that you, Joseph Gregory Hardin did on the twenty-second day of November 2012, wilfully kill George Arthur Wilson. That you used your powerful Holden Utility to force the car driven by Mr Wilson off the road at Hawkins Bend and so caused his untimely end.
“I will also prove that you did before many witnesses in The George Hotel saloon bar threaten to kill Mr Wilson just two days previously and that you were heard to shout, “I will kill you, you bastard!” There are many patrons who will testify you deliberately bumped into him and spilt a jug of beer down his shirt-front and when he demanded an apology you gave him a two-finger sign and told him to get stuffed. You did kill Mr Wilson! I will prove that you did.”
I shuddered as the prosecutor glared in my direction. What was I doing in this courtroom, I had done nothing wrong, I hadn’t killed anyone, I had never done anybody harm. I have had a few disagreements with several guys since I arrived in town but that’s all they were, just arguments after a few beers mostly but I don’t get involved with anything more serious. I have never done anyone harm but the police wouldn’t listen to me, they had an open and shut case, they said. They have witnesses to say that I caused the trouble in the George Hotel that night, but they have only one side of the story and they want to pin the killing on me. Someone did kill George Wilson and I won’t say I’m sorry, but it certainly wasn’t me.
“I will prove that you used your powerful Holden Utility as a weapon, that you forced the smaller vehicle off the road at Hawkins Bend where it smashed into the trees and burst into flames so causing Mr Wilson to lose his life.” the prosecutor continued.” You have a reputation of being a hothead and you have had several encounters with the police especially in regards to your driving…you like to speed don’t you Mr Hardin and you drink to excess sometimes, up until now you have been lucky. This time you have gone too far…you killed George Arthur Wilson…I’m going to put you away for a very long time.
I Am Innocent! I wanted to shout, but they need to convict someone and they are dead set on finding me guilty. Won’t someone listen to me? I have done no wrong. Sure I shouted that I would kill him but that was only after he had bashed me and called me a stupid bastard. He hit me several times but it seems none of the police witnesses saw him do that. I was no match for him, he being the local tough guy and he often boasted that this was his town because he reckoned everyone was scared of him. I’ve seen him bash lots of guys and take beer and money off them. I know of plenty fellows who could have knocked him off, maybe even the police themselves, but it wasn’t me. But who’s going to help me, they won’t listen to me?”
“Hey! Hardin wake-up, your lawyer Mr Gibson is here…I don’t know how you can sleep with such a serious charge hanging over your head”. Senior Constable Jones sneered. “You must be a cold-blooded bastard.”
“No, I’m not cold-blooded and I’m not guilty of anything. I am innocent!” I retorted. ‘You lot are the bastards trying to pin that crime on me. I have done no wrong!
The lawyer was unsmiling and didn’t look very friendly as he shook my hand and I wondered if he would be sympathetic to my cause. He came straight to the point and asked.
“Mr Hardin. The police have made serious allegations against you, what’s your story… if I am to represent you and try to get you out of this mess I must have the truth. Did you kill George Arthur Wilson last night?”
“No I did not, I‘ve told the cops so many times I didn’t see him or his car last night!”
“Well the police do appear to have a good case against you and when they locate your vehicle they say they will have it all sewn up.”
“Stitched-up is more like it! That’s what they are doing to me.”
“Maybe you got drunk and hit his car unknowingly, that’s a serious crime but not wilful murder…you might get away with five years for that?”
“No I did not.” I insisted. “I didn’t drive my car last night; I had to thumb a lift into town. I had been cadging lifts all the week”
“But the police insist your utility was the vehicle involved?”
“Maybe it was but I wasn’t the driver. I didn’t drive my ute last night”
“Why was that, why didn’t you drive your vehicle?” The lawyer inquired.
“Because it’s in Wrights Garage having a new motor fitted, has been there for more than a week.”
The lawyer nodded his head in agreement he smiled and said
“Let’s get you out of here, Mr Hardin. I don’t think they will object. I have a few words to say on your behalf. Someone has a lot of explaining to do. Let’s go.