by agatha christie -...

Witness for the ProsecutionWitness for the Prosecution

ByBy AgathaAgatha ChristieChristie

Leonard VoleLeonard Vole

The young man, 27, accused of murderThe young man, 27, accused of murder

Romaine VoleRomaine Vole

His foreign suspicious wife, in her midHis foreign suspicious wife, in her mid--thirtiesthirties

Emily FrenchEmily French

The murdered woman, 56The murdered woman, 56

Janet MackenzieJanet Mackenzie

FrenchFrench’’s long time housekeeper whos long time housekeeper whodislikes Leonard Voledislikes Leonard Vole

Sir Wilfred RobardsSir Wilfred Robards

VoleVole’’s lead defense lawyers lead defense lawyer

Mr. MayhewMr. Mayhew

VoleVole’’s second council, the lawyer who hes second council, the lawyer who heoriginally consulted.originally consulted.

The Mysterious WomanThe Mysterious Woman

The mysterious woman who meets withThe mysterious woman who meets withRobards and Mayhew to deliver letters.Robards and Mayhew to deliver letters.

Additional CharactersAdditional Characters

Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)

Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)

SummarySummary

Though charged with the murder ofThough charged with the murder ofMiss Emily French, Leonard VoleMiss Emily French, Leonard Voleswears his innocence. He tells hisswears his innocence. He tells hislawyers that his devoted wife,lawyers that his devoted wife,Romaine, will give him an alibi.Romaine, will give him an alibi.

SummarySummary

Romaine declares that she hatesRomaine declares that she hatesVole and that he is not her legalVole and that he is not her legalhusband.husband.

Vole goes on trial but things are notVole goes on trial but things are notgoing too well. There is no realgoing too well. There is no realdefense and his wife swears underdefense and his wife swears underoath that he is guilty.oath that he is guilty.

SummarySummary

Towards the conclusion of the trial, aTowards the conclusion of the trial, amysterious woman brings letters tomysterious woman brings letters toSir Wilfred Robards that demonstrateSir Wilfred Robards that demonstrateRomaineRomaine’’s intention to incriminates intention to incriminateher husband.her husband.

In court the next day the letters areIn court the next day the letters arepresented and Vole is found notpresented and Vole is found notguilty.guilty.

SummarySummary

Vole is freed. Romaine meetsVole is freed. Romaine meetsRobards, Mayhew, and Leonard afterRobards, Mayhew, and Leonard afterthe trial and reveals how she workedthe trial and reveals how she workedthe lawyers and the jury.the lawyers and the jury.

Vole tells Romaine that he is leavingVole tells Romaine that he is leavingher for a younger woman. She stabsher for a younger woman. She stabshim and he immediately dies.him and he immediately dies.Romaine pronounces him,Romaine pronounces him, ““Guilty.Guilty.””

Act IAct I

Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings LeonardMayhew, a local lawyer, brings LeonardVole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defenseVole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defenselawyer.lawyer.

Act IAct I Leonard gives his side of the story andLeonard gives his side of the story and

as he is finishing up the police come in toas he is finishing up the police come in toarrest him.arrest him.

Act IAct I A few minutes later his wife RomaineA few minutes later his wife Romaine

turns up at the office also to ask how badturns up at the office also to ask how badis the trouble her husband is in?is the trouble her husband is in?

Evidence against VoleEvidence against Vole

Younger man w/older womanYounger man w/older woman

DoesnDoesn’’t bring wife to see Frencht bring wife to see French

Was there alone on the night of theWas there alone on the night of themurdermurder

Has handled FrenchHas handled French’’s financess finances

Only alibi is his wifeOnly alibi is his wife

No moneyNo money

No jobNo job

Allowed French to believe that he wasAllowed French to believe that he wasunhappily marriedunhappily married

French left him almost all of her moneyFrench left him almost all of her money

How does Leonard refuteHow does Leonard refutethis evidence?this evidence?

DoesnDoesn’’t seem to know that French left himt seem to know that French left himher moneyher money

Wife will say he was at home when FrenchWife will say he was at home when Frenchwas killedwas killed

Claims to have a genuine fondness forClaims to have a genuine fondness forFrench because she reminds him of hisFrench because she reminds him of hisAunt BetseyAunt Betsey

Volunteered information to the policeVolunteered information to the police

What do they anticipated as theWhat do they anticipated as theproblem with Mrs. Vole?problem with Mrs. Vole?

She is a foreigner and wonShe is a foreigner and won’’t be trusted byt be trusted bythe jurythe jury

A wife isnA wife isn’’t the best witnesst the best witness——biasbias

SheShe’’ll be too emotionalll be too emotional

What do we learn about RomaineWhat do we learn about Romainewhen we first meet her?when we first meet her?

ColdCold——seemingly unlovingseemingly unloving

Thinks Leonard, like all men, is a foolThinks Leonard, like all men, is a fool

Leonard helped to get her out of theLeonard helped to get her out of theRussian sector of BerlinRussian sector of Berlin

Really isnReally isn’’t married to Leonardt married to Leonard——waswasand still isand still is——married before andmarried before andLeonard doesnLeonard doesn’’t know.t know.

Suggests that she is tired of beingSuggests that she is tired of beinggratefulgrateful

What can we conclude at the endWhat can we conclude at the endof Act Iof Act I

Leonard is in some serious troubleLeonard is in some serious trouble

Robards, Mayhew and the clerk thinkRobards, Mayhew and the clerk thinkhe is innocenthe is innocent

They are concerned on how theyThey are concerned on how theyshould treat Romaineshould treat Romaine

ACT IIACT IIWho is in the line of witnesses?Who is in the line of witnesses?

Inspector Hearne (police)Inspector Hearne (police)

Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)

Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)

Janet Mackenzie (housekeeper)Janet Mackenzie (housekeeper)

Romaine Vole (LeonardRomaine Vole (Leonard’’s wife)s wife)

Leonard Vole (the accused)Leonard Vole (the accused)

Evidence of Inspector HearneEvidence of Inspector Hearne

Window broken on the insideWindow broken on the inside

No fingerprints other than FrenchNo fingerprints other than French’’s,s,MacKenzieMacKenzie’’ss and Voleand Vole’’ss

Nothing stolenNothing stolen——jewelry still onjewelry still onFrenchFrench

Blood on VoleBlood on Vole’’s sleeves sleeve

Chisel marks on the outsideChisel marks on the outside

Refute Inspector HearneRefute Inspector Hearne

Wind blew window in and it brokeWind blew window in and it brokeinsideinside

A thief would wear glovesA thief would wear gloves

Thief probably was spooked byThief probably was spooked byFrenchFrench’’s deaths death

Vole cut himself with a knifeVole cut himself with a knife

Chisel didnChisel didn’’t match one Vole ownedt match one Vole owned

Evidence of Dr. WyattEvidence of Dr. Wyatt

French was hit behind her left earFrench was hit behind her left ear

Died between 9:30Died between 9:30——10:00 pm10:00 pm

No evidence of a struggleNo evidence of a struggle

LeftLeft--handed killer (probable but nothanded killer (probable but notnecessarilynecessarily

Blow could have been delivered byBlow could have been delivered byeither a woman or a maneither a woman or a man

Refute Dr. WyattRefute Dr. Wyatt

LeftLeft--handed killer (probable but nothanded killer (probable but notnecessarily) Leonard is not leftnecessarily) Leonard is not left--handedhanded

Blow could have been delivered byBlow could have been delivered byeither a woman or a maneither a woman or a man

Evidence of JanetEvidence of Janet MacKenzieMacKenzie

Heard VoleHeard Vole’’s voice just after nines voice just after nine

Knew that Vole was aware of the willKnew that Vole was aware of the will

Knew that Vole helped with FrenchKnew that Vole helped with French’’ssfinancesfinances

Said French was buying books aboutSaid French was buying books aboutolder women marrying younger menolder women marrying younger men

Refute JanetRefute Janet MacKenzieMacKenzie

Needs a hearing aidNeeds a hearing aid

Knew that the will originally was inKnew that the will originally was inher favorher favor

Feared that Vole would change herFeared that Vole would change herrelationship with Frenchrelationship with French

Evidence of Romaine VoleEvidence of Romaine Vole

Leonard came in 10:10 pmLeonard came in 10:10 pm

His sleeve had blood on itHis sleeve had blood on it

She said he announcedShe said he announced ””II’’ve killedve killedher.her.””

Leonard told her to lie to the police.Leonard told her to lie to the police.

Refute Romaine VoleRefute Romaine Vole

Romaine used Leonard to get out ofRomaine used Leonard to get out ofGermanyGermany

She has admitted that she is tired ofShe has admitted that she is tired ofbeingbeing ““gratefulgrateful””

The court—Old Bailey

The courtroomThe courtroom

The JudgeThe Judge

Hearne on the standHearne on the stand

Mackenzie on the standMackenzie on the stand

Myers in courtMyers in court

Robards in courtRobards in court

Vole watches RomaineVole watches Romaine’’ssTestimonyTestimony

Papers follow trialPapers follow trial

Mystery woman with lettersMystery woman with letters

Mystery womanMystery woman’’s scars scar

Romaine watches the verdictRomaine watches the verdict

Vole foundVole found ““not guiltynot guilty””

Romaine meets Robards andRomaine meets Robards andexplains her plan.explains her plan.

Romaine surprises RobardsRomaine surprises Robards

Romaine meets Vole after trialRomaine meets Vole after trial

Romaine, Vole, and theRomaine, Vole, and theStrawberry BlondStrawberry Blond

We meet the strawberry blondWe meet the strawberry blond

Romaine stabs VoleRomaine stabs Vole