The DCI Warren Jones Series Books 1–3. Paul Gitsham

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       Chapter 12

      After taking the call from Forensics, Jones and Sutton held a hurried strategy conference. Jones had already tipped off the Crown Prosecution Service’s lawyers, briefing them on the evidence that they had and their proposed interview strategy. Whilst they did so, the desk sergeant went to wake up Severino and round up his solicitor and interpreter for a client meeting. Eventually the two police officers entered the interview suite.

      Severino didn’t look like a murderer — but then they rarely did. A twenty-eight-year-old of average height and build, with darkly Mediterranean good looks, he resembled a frightened child as he sat perched on the edge of his chair in the small interview room. His eyes were ringed with dark shadows and his waxy, pale complexion contrasted strongly with several days’ worth of stubble. His hair was slightly too long and it was obviously a couple of days since its last wash. His breath smelt sour, a mixture of whiskey and stale vomit. Sutton set up the recording, whilst Jones eyed their suspect.

      “Why am I here? My lawyer says I have been arrested for murder. How can this be?” Severino’s English, although accented, was precise. Nevertheless, Jones decided against dismissing the translator just yet. The last thing he wanted was Severino’s lawyer to claim his testimony was inadmissible because he didn’t fully understand a question or he misspoke and inadvertently claimed to be ‘guilty’.

      Severino’s lawyer, a young, earnest man who looked to be in his twenties, by the name of Daniel Stock, leant forward. “For the record, my client is unwell and was not in the clearest frame of mind when he was arrested. It is my belief that he was unable to understand his rights when read them at the time of his arrest. Anything he has said is therefore inadmissible.”

      It was true that Severino had been drunk and incapable at the time of his arrest, but the desk sergeant had read him his rights a couple of hours ago and the prisoner had been sober enough to request that the police arrange a solicitor for him. Nevertheless, since he had done nothing more incriminating than burp, puke and fart since his arrest that morning, Jones decided there was nothing to be gained by arguing the point.

      “Firstly, the police surgeon has proclaimed Dr Severino fit enough to be questioned. Do you feel well enough to be interviewed?”

      Although the young man was clearly fighting a brutal hangover, his desire to end the ordeal and get home was greater and he nodded his assent. Good, thought Warren, pleased that they wouldn’t lose any advantage that Severino’s illness might give them.

      “Of course, I am happy to read Dr Severino his rights again.” Jones recited the lines slowly and precisely, so that there could be no confusion, then reiterated what Severino was being accused of.

      With the formalities over, it was time to get on with the questioning.

      “What were you doing last night, Dr Severino, between about nine p.m. and ten-thirty p.m.?”

      The young Italian licked his lips nervously, stealing a glance at his lawyer.

      “Um, no comment,” he said uncomfortably.

      So that’s the way it is going to be, thought Warren wearily. Severino’s lawyer had clearly decided that with no evidence yet disclosed, his best advice was for the accused to keep quiet, avoiding the risk of incriminating himself.

      “OK. Perhaps then you could tell us what your relationship is with Professor Alan Tunbridge?”

      Again the young man looked at his lawyer, before repeating his previous response, “No comment.” This time he seemed even less sure of himself and Warren felt a flicker of satisfaction. Despite his lawyer’s recommendations, Severino’s instincts were clearly telling him to speak up and end the interview sooner. Good, they could work on that inner conflict.

      Warren leaned forward, feigning exasperation. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. We know that you worked for Professor Tunbridge as one of his postdoctoral research assistants. If you can’t even acknowledge something as easy for us to verify as that, we’re in for a very long, very uncomfortable few days. So please, stop being silly and answer the questions, so we can all go home.”

      The doubt in Severino’s eyes grew stronger, and he looked at his lawyer again, his eyes imploring. The young solicitor studiously avoided his gaze for fear of being accused of leading his client.

      Sutton leant forward. “Look, son, we know all about Tunbridge. He shafted you over your job and then wouldn’t let you write up any of your own research. Guy’s a serious bully from what we’ve heard. We know all about you vandalising his car, but that isn’t our concern. Call it karma; what goes around comes around, I say, but we need to know what happened last night. Tell us what you were doing between nine-thirty and ten-thirty p.m and we can all go home.”

      Severino shook his head again; this time his “No comment” was almost inaudible.

      Warren took over again. “Answering our questions at this stage can only help you, Antonio. If you can tell us where you were we can end all of this right now.”

      It was too much for Severino; his already pasty face turned bone-white and he clutched his stomach. Jones and Sutton pushed their chairs back quickly. Severino’s lawyer wasn’t quite as fast. With a loud groan, Severino vomited across the metal table, before turning to his lawyer to apologise, and doing the same thing again, all over the man’s lap.

      That pretty much concluded the interview, decided Jones as he called for a cleaner and offered a tissue to the hapless solicitor. They had until the following morning to charge Severino or apply for an extension. The young man was clearly conflicted. Perhaps a night of lonely contemplation would loosen his tongue. Who knew, they might even get a confession in time for the superintendent’s press conference.

      As they left the interview room they met DS Kent coming the other way. “How did it go?”

      “Spilled his guts,” deadpanned Sutton.