The Craig and Bentley Case

The Craig and Bentley Case

Your honour, members of the jury, my learnered friends,

A vulnerable and mentally disabled boy, with no gun, and under the

strict watch of P.C Fairfax - accused for the murder of Police

Constable Sidney Miles?... It is just inexplicable! What ever happened

to scientific evidence?

It is obvious that Christopher Craig, a gun collecting lunatic is the

maddened killer. Might I bring to your attention that, Craig had a

motive, a very profound statement - to avenge his brother's 12 year

sentence……It is irrefutable also that the gangster films, which Craig

watched four times a week could have motivated him. I concede that

Craig was never good at target shooting, nevertheless the fact that he

did carry a gun and plenty ammunition, on the night of the shooting

cannot be dismissed. Therefore I question the crown and state that,

this 'shoot out' was not a collaborated act.

According to Craig, their common intent that night was burglary.

I say it was Craig's intent and certainly not my clients'.

It is evident that Bentley knew nothing forehand of that evening's

happenings.

"Just for the ride, sir. An ordinary ride"

These were the words of Bentley's innocent answer when asked, why he

had taken the 109 bus.

My client clearly states that they walked down to Reeves' Corner and

crossed over and then they came back up. They looked into the window

of the sweet shop.

A Confectionery Store - that would have sounded divine to any young

boy, and this point mitigates Bentley. Bentley had been bombed twice

during a blitz, which resulted to two head injuries, leaving him below

average intelligenc...

... middle of paper ...

...Come on you copper! I'm

only 16"

In this statement, Craig is clearly insinuating that he is not afraid

of going to jail, (which would only be about 12 years as he is still a

juvenile.) Let us also not let the fact of -'Craig's motive' slip our

mind.

Also, with no ammunition left, and Fairfax threatening Craig with a

.32 automatic, Craig glorifies himself by jumping off the roof of the

warehouse, in attempt to commit a deliberate but unsuccessful suicide

and killing a policeman.

In Concluding, Bentley a boy of below average intelligence, who is

easily led by his hero - Craig. It is Craig who is the cold-blooded

killer, who deliberately shot dead P.C. Miles and wounded P.C.

Fairfax. All this evidence proves that Bentley is innocent and I plead

with you, the member of the jury not to condemn the defenceless.