Weigh the Lies, Find the Truth, Judge Tells Jury

Ian Huntley’s lies after Holly Wales and Jessica Chapman died do not prove that he murdered them, the judge at his Old Bailey trial warned yesterday. But if the jurors (1) _________________ (to believe) he lied to them when he described how the teenagers met their death, that (2) _________________ (to be) “totally different”, Mr Justice Moses told them.

(3) _________________ (to sum up) the case, Mr Justice Moses told the jurors to set aside the emotions it inevitably aroused and reach their verdict on the evidence alone. He said the “ease” with which Mr Huntley and his then girlfriend Maxine Carr lied between the girls’ disappearance and their arrest was relevant in judging their testimony.

Mr Justice Moses suggested that the jurors (4) ________________ (to focus) on Mr Huntley’s account of how the schoolgirls died, telling them: “If you (5) __________________ (to come) to the conclusion his version of what happened was a lie, that (6) ________________ (to be) totally different. You (7) __________________ (to be entitled) to ask why he (8) ________________ (to lie). You may conclude that to lie about how one or both girls came to die was because he murdered them.”

He added: “You (9) ________________ (to leave) with the sudden deaths of two healthy girls without a credible explanation as to how the deaths came about from the one person who (10) _________________ (can/explain) them to you.” But that still (11) _________________ (not to be) evidence of murder if the jury (12) _________________ (to believe) the caretaker (13) ______________ (to lie) because he did not think the police (14) _______________ (to believe) what (15) _______________ (to happen), for example.

The judge said if the jurors (16) _______________ (to believe) the deaths were accidental, they should acquit Mr Huntley entirely. But if they (17) _______________ (negative auxiliary) and (18) _______________ (to be) sure he (19) _______________ (to cause) Jessica’s death, they should find him guilty of manslaughter.

If they (20) _______________ (to be) also certain that he (21) _______________ (to intend) to kill her or cause her serious bodily harm, then he (22) _______________ (to be) guilty of murder. He added: “If you (23) _______________ (to reject) his account altogether and (24) _______________ (to conclude) that he murdered Jessica then … you may have little difficulty in concluding he also murdered Holly.”

Mr Huntley claims Holly fell into his bath and appeared to drown while he was frozen in panic. His lawyer suggested that the judge (25) _______________ (can/convict) him of manslaughter through gross negligence for not rescuing her.

Mr Justice Moses said that (26) _______________ (to apply) only if the jurors (27) _______________ (to believe) the defendant “is, or may be, telling the truth” about her death.

He told them to turn to Ms Carr only if they already (28) _______________ (to decide) Mr Huntley was guilty of murder or manslaughter. They had to be sure that she (29) _______________ (to help) her boyfriend by lying to “impede or prevent” his arrest or prosecution, (30) _______________ (to know or believe) that he (31) ________________ (to kill) the girls, or that she conspired with him to prevent the course of justice – a lesser count. He reminded them to put sympathy aside.

Given her fondness for the girls, (32) ________________ (to work) as their classroom assistant, it was ‘almost preposterous’ to think Ms Carr (33) _______________ (to conceal) what Mr Huntley had done if she (34) _______________ (to believe) he (35) _______________ (to kill) them. The Jury will retire today to consider its verdict.

(From ‘The Guardian’, abridged)