Into the Darkest Corner

  He caught one of my hands and was trying to get the other one whilst I slapped him and punched him and tried to get to his eyes, scratching anywhere I could get to. If he got my other hand, if he tied me up, it was all over.

  ‘Where’s Sylvia?’ I shouted at him, snarled. ‘What have you done with her?’

  He laughed, again, as though what I’d said was funny. ‘Sylvia – Christ. Let’s just say she won’t be putting in a complaint.’

  A car’s headlights outside brightened the room for a second and I saw his eyes, the expression in them – and the fear almost took over me. Until then I hadn’t been afraid. But now I saw he was going to kill me. And this time he was going to be quick.

  Instead of going for his face, my left hand grasped into my pocket and found the potato peeler. With as much force as I could muster, I rammed it into his side and almost immediately he fell off me, yelling and clutching his side.

  The handle of the peeler stuck out from his side. He twisted round to look at it and touched it gingerly.

  I crawled away into the shadows, feeling around the carpet for the can and the smooth metal of the lighter, and my fingers made contact with them just as he grabbed at my ankle. I kicked backwards as hard as I could and my trainer made contact with something that made him yell.

  In the meantime I turned, sprayed and clicked.

  The jet of flame shot halfway across my living room, over the figure that was sprawled on his back. I saw his eyes and the shock and the fear in them for a moment before I adjusted my aim full into his face. And then he was just a figure, engulfed in flame, falling backwards with his hands over his face, arms flapping. I thought he would be quiet but he was screaming, his mouth full of flames and the sound coming out of it the most terrible noise I’d ever heard.

  My hands were burning too and I managed to drop the can. I stood for a moment wondering if I should do something, as he dropped to the carpet and rolled left and right, writhing like a man possessed. The flames were gone and he lay still, his face blackened, his shirt tattered.

  I let out a breath, a sob, just as I heard feet on the stairs, louder than the rain hammering on the window outside, louder than the bleeping smoke alarm above my head, and the door flew open. I looked behind me at the shapes coming through the doorway, only two of them, only two of them in uniform – what did they think? But I was never more grateful to see two people in my whole life.

  I fell to my knees onto the carpet, and wept.

  Wednesday 4 March 2009

  From where I sat on a low wall outside the main building, I saw him running across the car park, watching for a gap in the traffic then risking it and weaving between the cars, slowing down as the lights changed.

  He was out of breath when he finally got to me.

  ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Am I late?’

  I shook my head. ‘There’s some sort of a hold-up – they’re not starting until half-past. They’re all still waiting in the corridor outside.’

  ‘Is she in there?’

  ‘Yes.’

  He kissed me, a quick kiss on the cheek and then another one, lingering. His fingers on my cheek were cool.

  ‘Stuart. You’re nervous.’ ‘A bit. Aren’t you?’

  ‘A bit.’

  ‘Let’s go inside. Get it over with.’

  Sam Hollands was waiting for us inside.

  ‘How are you feeling, Cathy?’ she asked. She looked smart today, in a trouser suit and with a fresh haircut. She’d given her evidence this morning.

  ‘I’m okay. Thanks.’

  ‘They’ve delayed the start,’ Sam said to Stuart. ‘It seems Mr Brightman isn’t feeling well again.’

  ‘What a surprise,’ Stuart said.

  I was half-listening to them, scanning the waiting area, watching the people coming and going, looking for her. Where was she? She was supposed to be here.

  ‘Sam, where…?’

  ‘She went to the loo.’

  Stuart still had tight hold of my hand. He kissed it. ‘Go and look for her,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you in there. Don’t look at him. Just look at me, if you need to.’

  ‘Just go in,’ I said. ‘I’ll be fine. Really.’

  He went through the door, looking for a seat in the public gallery. The courtroom was filling up.

  ‘I’d better go in, too,’ Sam said. ‘Unless you want me to wait?’

  ‘No, you go in. I’ll go and find her.’

  She hesitated for a moment. The usher was hovering by the door, looking fidgety.

  ‘We’re going to nail him,’ she said.

  I smiled, and she went inside.

  Inside the ladies’ toilets, Sylvia stood by the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Hey,’ I said.

  She’d made an effort to put on some make-up, brighten her face up a bit, but she still looked terribly pale.

  ‘I’m afraid, Catherine,’ she said.

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You were so brave, yesterday. They listened to you.’

  ‘They’ll listen to you, too.’

  I watched her face start to crumple and stepped forward to hold her. She was shaking, her thin shoulders rigid with fear.

  ‘It’s alright,’ I said. ‘It’s alright to be scared. But you know what? He’s more scared than you are. You’re the one with all the power now. You know that? He can’t hurt us again. We’ve just got to get through this, and it will be alright.’

  She pulled back, fiercely dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. ‘I know, I know. You’re right. But – ’

  ‘Did you hear his voice on the first day? Remember when they asked him his name and he entered the plea? It was just a squeak. That’s all he has left. He is nothing.’

  She nodded, and smiled, a slight smile. A deep breath.

  ‘Don’t look at him, if you don’t want to. Look at me, or Stuart, or Sam. We’re all there for you. We’re all in this together. Right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then let’s go,’ I said.

  ‘One more thing.’ She fiddled around in her handbag, and found some lipstick. Bright red. When she applied it, her hand was steady.

  It was time.

  Inner London Crown Court

  R-v-BRIGHTMAN

  Wednesday 4 March 2009

  Morning Session

  Before:

  THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE McCANN

  MRS SCOTT Would you please state your full name?

  MISS BARTLETT Sylvia Jane Lesley Bartlett.

  MRS SCOTT Thank you. Now, Miss Bartlett, how long have you known Mr Brightman?

  MISS BARTLETT About five and a half years.

  MRS SCOTT And you formed a relationship with him?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Would you speak up, Miss Bartlett?

  MISS BARTLETT I’m sorry. Yes.

  MRS SCOTT You maintained a relationship with the defendant whilst he spent some time in prison, did you not?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes, I did.

  MRS SCOTT And when he was released from custody in December 2007, you were able to spend time with him again?

  MISS BARTLETT I was living in London at that time, and Lee was supposed to stay in Lancaster. He was supposed to sign on at the police station every week, and see probation, things like that. So I didn’t see him that often.

  MRS SCOTT Did Mr Brightman visit you in London?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes, whenever he could.

  MRS SCOTT And how would you describe your relationship at this point. Were you both happy together?

  MRS SCOTT Take your time.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Would you like to sit down, Miss Bartlett?

  MISS BARTLETT Thank you. I’m sorry. Lee was very different when he came out of prison. He was difficult to be around sometimes.

  MRS SCOTT What do you mean by that?

  MISS BARTLETT He could be – er – argumentative. He was prone to mood swings.

  MRS SCOTT Was he physically violent towards you?

  MR JU
STICE MCCANN Miss Bartlett, do you need a glass of water?

  MISS BARTLETT No, no. I’m sorry. He could be nasty in the things he said, and I was scared of him. But he was only ever violent to me that last time.

  MRS SCOTT Thank you, I understand this is very upsetting for you. When he was released from prison, did Mr Brightman mention Catherine Bailey to you?

  MISS BARTLETT No. I saw Catherine in January last year. I was on the bus and she was outside, waiting at the bus stop. When I saw Lee I told him that I’d seen her.

  MRS SCOTT And how did he react?

  MISS BARTLETT He made no comment on it at the time. But he must have been looking for her. I saw a job advert in the paper and noticed Catherine’s name as the person to contact. Catherine worked in personnel, I assumed it was her. When I showed it to Lee, he said he was going to apply for the job, just for a laugh. He wanted to use my address on the application form.

  MRS SCOTT And how did you feel about that?

  MISS BARTLETT I wasn’t happy that he wanted to contact her again. We had an argument about it.

  MRS SCOTT Now, a few moments ago you said that Mr Brightman was only violent that last time. Could you tell the court the circumstances that led up to that event?

  MISS BARTLETT (inaudible)

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Miss Bartlett, could you speak up for the court, please?

  MRS SCOTT Are you alright to continue?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes. Thank you.

  MRS SCOTT My question was in relation to the last time that you saw Mr Brightman prior to his arrest.

  MISS BARTLETT I looked in his bag. He brought a bag with him when he came. Usually he took it with him when he went out, but on that occasion he left it behind, and I looked inside it.

  MRS SCOTT And what did you find?

  MISS BARTLETT It was mainly clothes, a pair of shoes, just things you would take for a weekend away. But at the bottom of the bag I found – other things. There was a photo of Catherine. A pornographic photograph. And some equipment, electronic devices, I don’t know what they were. And a knife.

  MRS SCOTT I see. And just to be clear, what date did this happen? Do you recall?

  MISS BARTLETT It was Tuesday the sixth of May last year.

  MRS SCOTT And when you next saw Mr Brightman, did you tell him what you’d found?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes. It was the next morning. I don’t know where he’d been that night, but he didn’t come back to the flat.

  MRS SCOTT And how did he respond?

  MISS BARTLETT He was very angry. He hit me across the back of my head. I lost consciousness for a few moments and when I came round, he was… he was…

  MRS SCOTT Take your time.

  MISS BARTLETT I’m sorry. He was on top of me. He was raping me.

  MRS SCOTT He raped you?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MRS SCOTT What happened next?

  MISS BARTLETT He left. He just took his bag and walked out.

  MRS SCOTT Did you call the police?

  MISS BARTLETT No. I was too afraid. I didn’t know where he’d gone. I thought he might come back at any moment.

  MRS SCOTT What did you do?

  MISS BARTLETT I had a bath. Got dressed in clean clothes. I went to a public telephone box and phoned Catherine at work, and asked her to meet me.

  MRS SCOTT You met up with Catherine in Oxford Street, is that correct?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes. I wanted to meet somewhere public, in case he was following me.

  MRS SCOTT And was it your intention to tell Catherine what had happened to you?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes. I wanted to warn her.

  MRS SCOTT To warn her?

  MISS BARTLETT I thought he was going to go after her. I thought he was planning to attack her again.

  MRS SCOTT When you met with Catherine, did you explain this to her?

  MISS BARTLETT (inaudible)

  MRS SCOTT Sylvia, for the benefit of the court, would you please answer?

  MISS BARTLETT No. I didn’t. I didn’t get a chance to tell her. Lee phoned me just as Catherine arrived. He was normal on the phone, but I knew he was watching us. He asked why I was wearing those clothes.

  MRS SCOTT Could you explain what you thought he meant by that?

  MISS BARTLETT I normally wear quite bright clothing. I’d chosen to wear a plain black skirt and a white blouse. I thought it would make it harder for him to spot me, if he was following me.

  MRS SCOTT And he commented on your clothing?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes. And he asked who I was meeting. I told him no one he knew. He said I was lying, it was someone we both knew very well. I knew he was watching us.

  MRS SCOTT What did you do?

  MISS BARTLETT I left. I thought if I could leave Catherine behind, she would be safe. I thought he would follow me rather than her.

  MRS SCOTT And is that, in fact, what happened?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MRS SCOTT Where did you go?

  MISS BARTLETT I walked around for a while. I tried to lose him. I went to a gallery, I went to the shops. When I finally went home it was nearly dark. He was waiting for me on the steps. I was terrified to see him. He was… very calm about it, almost reassuring. Then he said he wanted to show me something and he took me down the steps to the basement flat.

  MRS SCOTT Could you explain what you mean to the court? This is not your flat, is that correct?

  MISS BARTLETT No. The basement flat in our building was empty. It was being done up, I think. There was no furniture in it. I don’t think the electricity was switched on.

  MRS SCOTT What happened when he took you into the flat?

  MISS BARTLETT I’m sorry, I just…

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Miss Bartlett, do you need to take a break?

  MRS SCOTT In fact there are just a few more questions, if the witness is able to continue.

  MISS BARTLETT I’m alright. I’m sorry.

  MRS SCOTT Are you able to tell us what happened when you went into the flat?

  MISS BARTLETT He punched me and kicked me. He shouted at me, told me I was stupid over and over again. He told me I didn’t deserve to live.

  MRS SCOTT How long did this attack last?

  MISS BARTLETT I’m not sure. It felt like a long time. He dragged me into the bathroom. There was a toilet and basin there, and fittings for a shower, but otherwise it was bare. No windows; it was a small room. Then he locked the door behind me.

  MRS SCOTT And was that the last time you saw him?

  MISS BARTLETT No. He came back some time later. He was wearing gloves. I thought he was going to kill me.

  MRS SCOTT Did he attack you again?

  MISS BARTLETT No. He told me he was going to find Catherine, said he wanted to sort things out.

  MRS SCOTT And what did you think he meant by that?

  MR NICHOLSON Your Honour, the witness is being asked for her opinion.

  MRS SCOTT Your Honour, I feel that the witness was in a situation where she could have interpreted what was meant by the words spoken by the defendant.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN I understand what you are saying, but I would prefer it if Miss Bartlett were directed to stick to the events in question. Please continue.

  MRS SCOTT Mr Brightman came into the room and told you he was going to find Catherine. What happened after that?

  MISS BARTLETT He went. He locked the door behind him and he went. He left me there. I tried to get out, I tried banging on the door but nobody could hear me. I couldn’t get out.

  MRS SCOTT I believe you were there for four days, is that correct?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MRS SCOTT So you had access to water but he left you no food?

  MISS BARTLETT No.

  MRS SCOTT Thank you. Your Honour, I have no further questions.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Thank you, Mrs Scott. Ladies and gentlemen, we will take a break at this point. We will reconvene at three o’clock.

  – CROSS-EXAMINATION –

  MR NICHOLSON Miss Bartlett, how did
you and Mr Brightman first meet?

  MISS BARTLETT Catherine introduced us.

  MR NICHOLSON When you commenced your relationship with Mr Brightman, was he still romantically involved with Miss Bailey?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes, but he told me –

  MR NICHOLSON Thank you. And you were aware that he was continuing his relationship with Miss Bailey whilst he was also seeing you?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes, but –

  MR NICHOLSON Would you describe yourself as a truthful person, Miss Bartlett?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes, of course.

  MR NICHOLSON In 2005, did you give a statement to police concerning your friendship with Miss Bailey?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MR NICHOLSON Do you recall stating that in your previous years of friendship with Miss Bailey, you were aware that she had harmed herself by cutting her skin with a knife?

  MISS BARTLETT Yes.

  MR NICHOLSON Was your statement truthful, Miss Bartlett?

  MISS BARTLETT No.

  MR NICHOLSON You admit that you lied in a police statement?

  MRS SCOTT The witness has already answered that question.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Mr Nicholson, I must say I’m very concerned about this line of questioning.

  MR NICHOLSON Your Honour, I would suggest that there is a point of law that needs to be raised and I would ask for a private hearing.

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Very well. Ladies and gentlemen, at this point we are going to discuss a matter further, and I would ask that you all go to the jury room. I will ask that you are called back in as soon as we are able to continue. Thank you.

  – The jury departs –

  – PRIVATE HEARING –

  MR JUSTICE MCCANN Mrs Scott?

  MRS SCOTT I would like to point out that Mr Nicholson is fully aware that there is a second statement made by Miss Bartlett in which she states clearly that she was directed to lie by the defendant. Miss Bartlett has been interviewed under caution about this very matter.

  MR NICHOLSON Your Honour, it is clear that Miss Bartlett cannot be relied upon to provide a consistent testimony. That is merely the point I am keen to bring to the attention of the jury.

  MRS SCOTT She was terrified of Mr Brightman, Your Honour, I would suggest that she would have made a statement denying her own existence if he had told her to do so.