Dr Mason disappeared to attend to Mr Snell and the coroner called for quiet. ‘I had already removed Mr Snell’s name from my list of witnesses and his demise, if indeed he is dead, is regrettable but of no account to these proceedings. I now ask the jury to return to the task of deciding on their verdict.’ In California, the jury had taken some two hours of furious debate to reach their verdict; two hours that had seemed a lifetime to Ursula. At this inquest it took no more than twenty minutes or so before the vicar, as foreman, was able to announce the jury’s verdict that the deceased had taken her life whilst the balance of her mind was disturbed. There were gasps of shock from the audience. ‘Owing to her delicate condition,’ one of the jurors added from behind the vicar. ‘Quite,’ said the coroner. ‘Note down the verdict,’ he directed the clerk. The inquest was over. Ursula looked round at the Colonel. He was banging his hand against his leg as though he held his army baton.
What do You think about Deadly Inheritance (2012)?
