Somehow I can’t see my Saab nosing into the Kimberley. Beth tells me the Barradja will be at their dry season camp a couple of hundred kilometres outside Kununurra.’
Andrew looked serious. ‘Have the people in that community agreed to you going? You could be seen as representing white law and that could be a problem. You’d better make sure Beth has permission to bring you along.’
Susan was surprised. ‘I hadn’t thought about me being allowed to go in or not. I’ve never faced the idea of not being allowed to go somewhere in my own country.’
‘You’ve stormed the portals of the all-male law clubs, I assume?’ He gave a smile.
She pouted at him. She was trying not to take offence at his flippant male remarks. ‘My sisters did that for me a few years back. Mind you, the old boys’ network is alive and well in the legal profession. We’ve just started a women’s legal network which is proving quite effective.’
‘I bet. I wouldn’t tangle with a mob likeyou.’ Seeing her raised eyebrows he added, ‘Just kidding. So. When are you coming?’ He looked eager.
‘I don’t know. I have to get time off, liaise with Beth.’ Susan was already making plans in her head. ‘We’ll just have to see what the fates work out.’
The kiss goodnight left her breathless.
He promised to call. This pleased her. The more she saw of him here, the easier it would be visiting him in the Kimberley.
Susan met Beth and Barwon outside Waverley Local Court for the hearing of his case. They had already appeared at the List Day, where Susan had entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of her client and had the matter announced as ready for hearing.
‘Nervous?’ asked Susan, glancing across at Barwon. He shrugged slightly, adjusting his tie. He wore a navy blazer, charcoal pants and white shirt. She had complimented him on his outfit. ‘You look like an ad for Country Road.’
‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t apprehensive.’ He gave a brief smile that turned to a grimace as he saw several photographers outside the entrance to the court.
Inside, Barwon sat in a chair behind Susan, who was at a long table with the police prosecutor at the other end. Shirley Bisson was seated in the first row behind the prosecutor. Elegantlydressed in a pale blue suit, she sat with lowered head, looking at her hands in her lap. The clerk checked that the recording apparatus was working and nodded to the prosecutor.
The police officer from Rose Bay, who had attended the scene, gave his evidence, reading his statement onto the court record, followed by the second officer who had corroborated his superior’s statement.
Susan then addressed the magistrate and quickly explained that, because of the superficial nature of the defendant’s wound, she was consenting to the tender of a medical report from the hospital, to save calling the doctor to court. The report was tendered into evidence with the consent of both parties and received by the magistrate.
Shirley Bisson flinched slightly as the court recorder called her as the third witness. The prosecutor, a portly ex-footballer, took her through the evening of the alleged assault after only the briefest questioning of her relationship with Barwon.
‘Why did the relationship fall apart?’ asked the prosecutor.
Shirley’s hands worried her handkerchief into a knotted ball and she looked down before replying. ‘He changed. He didn’t seem as interested as before.’
‘Did you lose interest as well?’
‘Yes.’
‘When he left your home twelve monthsago, did you make it clear you did not want to see him again?’
‘Yes.’
‘After he left, did he contact you?’
‘No.’
‘Did you ever expect him back?’
‘No.’
‘So it was a total surprise to find him in the apartment on the night in question?’
‘Yes.’
‘Were you frightened?’
Barwon whispered something to Susan and the movement seemed to distract the witness. She stole a glimpse in his direction,
Andrew looked serious. ‘Have the people in that community agreed to you going? You could be seen as representing white law and that could be a problem. You’d better make sure Beth has permission to bring you along.’
Susan was surprised. ‘I hadn’t thought about me being allowed to go in or not. I’ve never faced the idea of not being allowed to go somewhere in my own country.’
‘You’ve stormed the portals of the all-male law clubs, I assume?’ He gave a smile.
She pouted at him. She was trying not to take offence at his flippant male remarks. ‘My sisters did that for me a few years back. Mind you, the old boys’ network is alive and well in the legal profession. We’ve just started a women’s legal network which is proving quite effective.’
‘I bet. I wouldn’t tangle with a mob likeyou.’ Seeing her raised eyebrows he added, ‘Just kidding. So. When are you coming?’ He looked eager.
‘I don’t know. I have to get time off, liaise with Beth.’ Susan was already making plans in her head. ‘We’ll just have to see what the fates work out.’
The kiss goodnight left her breathless.
He promised to call. This pleased her. The more she saw of him here, the easier it would be visiting him in the Kimberley.
Susan met Beth and Barwon outside Waverley Local Court for the hearing of his case. They had already appeared at the List Day, where Susan had entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of her client and had the matter announced as ready for hearing.
‘Nervous?’ asked Susan, glancing across at Barwon. He shrugged slightly, adjusting his tie. He wore a navy blazer, charcoal pants and white shirt. She had complimented him on his outfit. ‘You look like an ad for Country Road.’
‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t apprehensive.’ He gave a brief smile that turned to a grimace as he saw several photographers outside the entrance to the court.
Inside, Barwon sat in a chair behind Susan, who was at a long table with the police prosecutor at the other end. Shirley Bisson was seated in the first row behind the prosecutor. Elegantlydressed in a pale blue suit, she sat with lowered head, looking at her hands in her lap. The clerk checked that the recording apparatus was working and nodded to the prosecutor.
The police officer from Rose Bay, who had attended the scene, gave his evidence, reading his statement onto the court record, followed by the second officer who had corroborated his superior’s statement.
Susan then addressed the magistrate and quickly explained that, because of the superficial nature of the defendant’s wound, she was consenting to the tender of a medical report from the hospital, to save calling the doctor to court. The report was tendered into evidence with the consent of both parties and received by the magistrate.
Shirley Bisson flinched slightly as the court recorder called her as the third witness. The prosecutor, a portly ex-footballer, took her through the evening of the alleged assault after only the briefest questioning of her relationship with Barwon.
‘Why did the relationship fall apart?’ asked the prosecutor.
Shirley’s hands worried her handkerchief into a knotted ball and she looked down before replying. ‘He changed. He didn’t seem as interested as before.’
‘Did you lose interest as well?’
‘Yes.’
‘When he left your home twelve monthsago, did you make it clear you did not want to see him again?’
‘Yes.’
‘After he left, did he contact you?’
‘No.’
‘Did you ever expect him back?’
‘No.’
‘So it was a total surprise to find him in the apartment on the night in question?’
‘Yes.’
‘Were you frightened?’
Barwon whispered something to Susan and the movement seemed to distract the witness. She stole a glimpse in his direction,
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