Yesterday, as some of you will have picked up, wasn't the best of days. Usually - and I hope you don't think this sounds callous - by the time a case reaches court, you just...you know everything there is to know, nothing's surprising any more. You can stand up, give your evidence, watch others give theirs, and in a way it's nice, to know you're nearly done of it. Another case over. Of course, if your suspect gets off, then that's very hard to cope with, because you just go over and over everything in your head, wondering what you could have done differently.
But they don't usually get off. Usually it's as much 'closure' as the family will ever get, watching someone be taken down from the dock. And as a police officer, you move on.
Yesterday's case I had to give evidence for wasn't my case - I was the officer on duty and called to the scene, which is why I was there to give evidence. I arrested the suspects, although then, because of various reasons, another team took over the investigation - a specialist team. But I still had to go to court to give my account of the murder scene, the suspects and why I arrested them, all of that. It's taken a long time to come to court, so there was a lot of evidence I hadn't known about - had no reason to. And it was a very brutal, violent case. Hard to hear it all. You can't help but look at the jury, wonder how they'll ever wipe it from their minds, and the family, the friends, how they must feel finding out the detail of what happened to their loved one.
I just hope the case goes well.
Anyway, have a picture of the inscription above the door of the Old Bailey.
67 comments:
Now that you've given your evidence does that mean you're no longer involved? And does that therefore mean that you won't get the normal sense of closure that you have at the end of a case?
Well, I can be called back to give further evidence, if they want to question me further, following other evidence they hear/other things which come up in the course of the trial. And obviously someone will tell me the outcome - it'll probably be in the press too, to be honest. But I won't hear any more of the trial, no. Won't hear the testimony of the defendants or go to the sentencing or anything. So...well, it's different, it not being my case. But not dramatically so.
Did you get to have lunch with your favorite people today?
Yeah :) Sherlock is planning for us to re-jig the degu cage. (We're meant to change it around/give them new things to do every so often, to keep them interested.) and Mycroft has some guitar playing planned for tomorrow, before he goes back to school.
Can I just say how lovely it is that Sherlock is so attached to the goos? And seems interested in caring for them as they need/deserve? Because that says amazing things for the model you and John are providing.
Toodles,
Bronwyn
I hope it does. I admit he's been more steadfast about his interest so far than I expected him to be.
Thanks, Bronwyn. We do try to change his cage around often, as a good example ;)
Danger...just imagine what he'll manage to train them to do over the years. Argon for PM?
Mayor of London, anyway.
I'd vote for her over most of the others. She seems more thoughtful than BoJo, anyway.
It'll be odd (again) when the dogs go tomorrow, and we're just left with a small Sherlock and two small rodents.
Very odd. And very quiet once Sherlock's at school Monday.
Mmm. But we can make gloriously adult plans for my day off...well, between 9 and half three, anyway...
You make an excellent point.
Yup.
We can clean the oven, vacuum, clean the bathroom, I might wash the bike...all sort of boring adult things ;)
Mmhmm. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. Myself, I'll be in bed.
Oh yeah, wash the sheets, must do that, too...
Don't make me use my substitute copper.
Ooh, you're a hard man, Doc. ;)
On the other hand, I could watch you using your substitute copper and probably really quite enjoy myself...until I could cope any longer and just had to lend a hand.
and just had to lend a hand.
With changing the sheets, I presume...
Well, if you were in bed and I wanted to change the sheets a certain amount of...wrestling might ensue.
Moral of the story: even cleaning can be fun (or do I mean filthy) if you put your mind to it.
Well, obviously the only way to clean efficiently is in the nude, before a long hot shower. But you know, you'll miss me doing most of that cos you'll be in bed.
(And the door will be locked, Mrs Hudson.)
It appears that Lestrade has a mind uniquely suited to making things fun via filth.
(Does it come from being The Filth do you think?)
Ha! Are you very, very sure Mrs H doesn't have keys?
Rider - I think my mind being filthy happened before I joined up, I'm afraid. Still, uniquely suited ;)
Danger - I think I can hear her filing a set now.
Ooh, you're a hard man, Doc. ;)
Sounds like he's going to be, at least.
(Mrs. H, if you happen to acquire any photographic documentation of a Lestallion in his native habitat, please remember those of us who do not have access to such natural wonders. Thanks!)
Oh, that reminds me. Time for another picture.
There's really no need for that, Danger.
DW - Mrs H with a camera would be a dangerous thing.
On the other hand, I'd be almost surprised if the other Mrs H doesn't have cctv all over this flat. If she doesn't, I should tell her that the tap in the bathroom is dripping. But I suppose I could fix it...
Too late! I've posted that one with the shirt.
Let's not even think about CCTV in the bathroom, please.
You say 'that one' as if I have any idea which 'ones' you might have!
I suppose I have to look, just to know what you'll all be laughing at this time.
You will suffer for this.
If Mrs H has CCTV *all* over the flat.. well, let's just hope that she's not planning on generating some extra income from the DVD sales :-p
Bad, Nameless, now my poor, overworked brain is coming up with terrible titles for said DVDs.
Not, of course, that I'd know anything about such things, y'know, being innocent and all.
I think my mind being filthy happened before I joined up
Probably a good thing. All those uniforms, interview rooms, one way glass, and truncheons, no one would get any work done if being in The Filth did it.
Like what, Lestrade?
"Courting Danger"?
"Italian Stallion Rides Again"?
One way glass? You've been watching too much American TV Rider, we don't have it here. I don't see the point, really.
DW - as previously stated, I'm far too innocent to know... ;)
Although you're making me think of terrible puns 'The Lone Danger, riding Silver Fox...'
Backing up a bit...I was just thinking today how wonderful it was to see Sherlock staying so intent on caring properly for the degus. Also that it's unusual for someone his age to stay so focused for so long--not that that really surprised me, but it's really very lovely to see.
"Doctoring DI Guyliner"
"Riding Lestallion"
"In Danger"
I have to stop now. This is a family blog.
Bronwyn
Sorry your day was shit; I hope today is better (or went better, given the hour at which I'm posting). I like that inscription- wish our courthouse had pithy quotes on it. Is that a quote from anything, or an official motto, or just something whoever built the place thought was cool?
I think if we had one it should say "to support, protect and defend the Constitution." (A quote from my attorney's oath.)
Thanks, Lindsay. It was - rather slow and a bit boring, but productive.
You know, I have no idea if it's a quote. I think just a sort of motto, but I don't know who came up with it. Maybe Google can help?
I can't find anything to say where that comes from on a quick google--just that it's an "admonition".
The US Supreme Court has "Equal Justice Under Law" inscribed over the front door, which is pithy enough, if colder.
According to this website (http://www.newenglishreview.org/Anglin/The_Sword_of_Justice%3A/), the inscription comes from "Coverdale's translation of Psalm 72 in the Book of Common Prayer."
This means something to someone who knows more than the fact that the Book of Common Prayer is used in Church of England services (in other words, not me). Help?
As for the naming discussion... *backs away from the gutter* =)
~A from NW
Given when the current building was built, I bet it's a Bible quote....
Not KJV though, it's Psalm 72 line 4 in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, no idea why that has a different Psalm translation to the KJV or Authorised, someone who is actually Anglican might know why that is.
And it was complete serendipity to find it!
http://www.episcopalnet.org/1928bcp/Psalter/Ps72.html
That's the good kind of bad, right?
You dragging my innocent brain to think about Danger in blue movies? It's the very best kind of bad...
Oh! My Hebrew isn't all that great, but it certainly wouldn't be how I would translate it--I think it should be "save" rather than "protect", and I think "oppressor" is closer than "wrongdoer." Ah, well, it sounds good the way it is.
It looks like the "Coverdale translation" refers to Myles Coverdale, who was the first translator to produce a complete, printed Bible to English. (wiki)
So it looks like his translation came before KJV, and then manage to survive King Henry VIII to come down into the Anglican Common Book of Prayer before the KJV was produced?
Someone who knows more church history than I do? Help? =)
~A from NW
From everything you've said, I'm certain I know far less church history than you do!
You dragging my innocent brain to think about Danger in blue movies?
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. So much dragging.
Lestrade - \o/
ReRe - I suspect the translators were less interested in complete fidelity to the source material and more in emphasising their own interpretation of what the words ought to mean.
The KJV translates it as opressor. The KJV version of that line is
"He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor."
Anon seems to have the right of it, it was being used well before the KJV was done, and this being England they saw no need to change it...
I can see why they didn't want to use "oppressor" on a government building!
Nameless, you are probably correct. And I have to admit this is more appropriate for its use here.
Rider, the KJV is more accurate--and retains the parallelism of the Hebrew original. but yeah, not so good for a courthouse!
That's actually kind of creepy. The selection of the quote they used implies that the courthouse is an instrument of god's justice. At least in the KJV version.
I think the Coverdale version sounds a lot better. Less wrath-of-god-y.
The Psalm, of course, IS about G-d, not courts.
Don't stop, Bronwyn! Clearly.there's an entire series of Dr. Hotson
"Dr. Hotson's Thermometer of Luv"
Lindsay - that's how it would have been seen, yes. That's why you had to swear on the bible and things, because you were just a mere mortal and God would do the final judging. The 'guilty' were taken out front and hanged.
I must say that I'm rather enjoying the surreal juxtaposition between the Bible quote conversation and the blue movie titles. You don't often see them discussed side by side.
Ah, apologies for interrupting the intelligent discussion. I posted that comment much earlier than that, don't know why it took so long.
DW - don't apologise! I think you can all guess which subject I know more about...
Lestrade - and there was me all ready to believe your protestations of innocence...
I'm shocked. Shocked, I tells ya.
Anglican here. The thing with the Coverdale translation is that since he didn't know either Greek or Hebrew he translated a translation, with the result that some words don't accurately reflect the original (at least they're better than using Babelfish/google translate!). I'm sure the Coverdale translation was referred to when the KJV was produced.
And now back to Dr Hotson's blue movies. Could someone please explain to me on what the Lestallion is basing his innocence?
My knowledge is purely professional (being a copper, not working for the adult film industry).
Suuuure
You know, that's an interesting thought. How often *do* your duties intersect with the adult entertainment industry, Lestrade? Sounds like a story that needs telling.
Ah, nowadays, not so often. Occasional murder.
On my old beat - daily. Nightly. Both.
The 'guilty' were taken out front and hanged.
How very godly of them.
Sorry, I was raised Lutheran but I'm very much a skeptic these days. Even the well-intentioned start to turn things to shit when they consider themselves to be the terrible swift sword. There are days when I'm not even comfortable being the interpreter of man's law, much less god's.
Lindsay - if it's any consolation, these days, despite having an Established church (ie, the head of State is also the Head of the Church Of England), we actually have a pretty good separation of church and state in the UK. Religion and faith here is seen as pretty much a private thing, and we're a fairly secular country. Certainly it tends to cause a bit of a kerfuffle when politicians talk about religion.
Yeah - you no longer have to swear on the bible. You have to make an oath or affirmation - which I think is sort of pointless, given it's against the law to lie in court, you should just be told that.
And juries these days have to go away and consider their verdict, not have a quick huddle, decide they don't like the look of the defendant and pass judgement!
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