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LeRoy looked uncomfortable. “I don’t remember that.”
Jack was handed a paper by DuBose and glanced over it. “You want to try that again? You are under oath, and perjury is a crime.”
LeRoy glanced nervously at the paper and said, “Well, Gene might have gotten a little carried away and said some things he shouldn’t have about the man’s wife.”
“And then your partner beat the living daylights out of the defendant with his billy club even though he was handcuffed and presented no threat?” said Jack.
“I don’t know about that, either.”
Jack went over to DuBose, who handed him another document.
“I have his medical records right here with the injuries suffered during his arrest. The list is a long one. I can read them out. Or do you want to take another swing at my question?”
LeRoy fussed with his tie and said, “Okay, Gene beat him up pretty good, yeah.”
“And why is Deputy Taliaferro not here today to speak for himself?”
LeRoy glared at him. “You damn well know why.”
“Oh, that’s right—he’s in jail after trying to murder me and Miss DuBose.”
Battle got to his feet. “Objection. We have Deputy LeRoy here to testify. Deputy Taliaferro’s testimony would just be superfluous.”
“Sustained,” said Ambrose.
Jack looked at LeRoy, who was now smirking. “When you entered the room where the bodies were, what did you see?”
“Two dead people!”
“And what was the defendant doing?”
“Well... it looked like he was settin’ Mrs. Randolph in the chair. Probably to do somethin’ weird to her.”
“Move to strike the last statement—nonresponsive, argumentative, speculative, and probably five other bad things that this court should not tolerate,” barked Jack.
Ambrose told the jury to disregard the remark and added, “And please stick to the facts, Deputy. Personal commentary like that is not helpful.”
DuBose turned to see Hilly staring pointedly at Ambrose. Then she noted the reporters probably writing their next headlines.
“So it looked like he was lifting her into the chair, yes or no?” said Jack.
“Yes,” said LeRoy, now looking confused.
“Thank you, I have nothing further to ask this man.”
Next, Herman Till, the medical examiner, was called to the stand and sworn in by the bailiff.
“Move to show the jury the crime scene and autopsy photos that have already been stipulated into evidence,” said Battle.
“Objection,” said DuBose. “That would be prejudicial to the defendants and far outweighs the probative value of the photos. Mr. Till can testify to everything having to do with the crime scene and autopsy reports.”
Ambrose said, “It’s well-established law in Virginia to allow a jury to see this material, and I’m a stickler for observing precedent. Your objection is thus overruled.” He turned to Battle. “Be efficient about it, sir.”
Battle had his associates hand the photos out to the jury. Jack and DuBose watched as expressions of revulsion appeared on all of them. More than half glanced at the Washingtons with obvious anger.
Battle led Till through his forensic findings before sitting back down.
When DuBose rose she could feel the eyes of every juror on her as she strode purposefully to the witness box. She turned quickly to look at the jurors and found, by her swift tally, at least nine who held looks of outright hostility toward her.
