‘I think you killed him,’ I say as my whole body begins to shiver and tremble uncontrollably.
She puts two fingers to his neck and after a moment she nods.
This can’t be real. I barely understand what’s happened here tonight, but I think ... I think Francesca might have just saved both our lives.
Chapter Forty-Four
NOW, SEVENMONTHSLATER, MAY
Ringwood Herald
Francesca Davies cleared of killing ex-boyfriend in Ringwood after claiming self-defence
Talia Saminaden
Laurence Kennedy, below left, died of a head wound in Ringwood, Hampshire.
A woman has been cleared of murdering her ex-boyfriend after telling a court she was acting in self-defence when she threw a brass lamp at his head after he came at her with a kitchen knife on the evening of 22 October last year.
Francesca Davies, an animal-shelter worker, 31, was visiting her ex-boyfriend Laurence Kennedy, 32, at his home in order to aid his new girlfriend,Alice Porter, 31, who she believed was in mortal danger from Kennedy.
Kennedy, a registered psychotherapist, died instantly of his head wound, the court was told.
Porter said Davies was defending them both after Kennedy became aggressive and violent with his current girlfriend, grabbing her by the arms and refusing to let her leave.
Shortly after, he picked up a sharp kitchen knife and advanced on Davies who said she was terrified for her life.
Following a ten-day trial, Davies was cleared of murder, Hampshire Police said.
Thomas Green QC, prosecuting, said Davies threw the lamp as it was the heaviest item within reach.
Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the man’s death, the force added.
The four of us stare critically at the paint samples on one of the walls of what’s going to become the office of my new accountancy firm – A Porter Associates.
‘I think I like the dark blue, and then we could have bright orange accents,’ I say, imagining how stunning it’s going to look with plants and comfy chairs, clever lighting and, best of all, a decent coffee machine.
‘You want to be careful it doesn’t end up looking like a Mexican restaurant,’ Daisy says, trampling over my interior design vision with her size-seven cork wedges.
I instantly picture the decor of our favourite restaurant, Hibiscus, and realise she might be right. ‘Okay, well maybe not the orange, but another pop of colour would be good.’
‘Gold, maybe,’ Elizabeth suggests.
Elizabeth and Graham have finally sorted out their issues. After events with Laurence, she confronted him with her worries that Graham might still have feelings for me and he was so horrified that he told her he would never talk to me again if that would make her feel better. He also said they could move to the other end of the country if it would help. Obviously, she didn’t want that situation for any of us, but it made her understand how far her husband was prepared to go to prove his love for her. He wasn’t jealous of Seth, or in love with me; he was simply worried about my well-being because I’m Elizabeth’s sister and he wants me to be happy, so that she’s happy.
‘Ooh yes,’ Miriam agrees. ‘A touch of gold would be perfect.’ Miriam has already handed in her notice at Faraday’s to join my new firm. Apparently, Paul was completely panicked by her resignation. He even offered her a pay rise, but she declined. It will just be the two of us to start with, but we’re hoping to grow the business eventually.
Francesca’s court case is now over and she was cleared by the jury, thank goodness. The past few months have been a strain on all of us, but it was worse for her, because she was the one who had a murder charge hanging over her head.
That terrible night, Francesca and I called the police straightaway. There was a massive investigation – CSI, interviews, lawyers, the whole nine yards. The tech officers examined Laurence’s computer and discovered his search history – his research into usinghypnosis to change a person’s perception of someone else. Of using the power of suggestion. No wonder he didn’t want to show me his computer. Of course, as far as the police were concerned, that search history didn’t prove he’d used hypnosis on me. It was all circumstantial. But it was obvious to me and everyone else that that’s what happened. None of that changed the fact that Laurence had threatened Francesca with a knife.
Daisy felt as shocked and betrayed as me by Laurence’s actions. Our lifelong friendship had been corrupted. And while she and I loathed what he did and who he had become, we also mourned the loss of one of our best friends.
After last year’s events, I decided to put all my energy into my career. I enjoy my work, I’m ambitious. It allows me to tune out the anxiety and fear that’s become a constant companion. I can’t quite believe I’m branching out on my own. The huge bonus of this office is that it comes with a tiny studio flat at the rear of the building that I’m going to do up and eventually live in. It needs alotof work, but right now my priority is the office and my new business.
In the meantime, I’m back living at my parents’ place, but this time I’m actually happy to be there. Grateful to them for supporting me. For picking up the pieces every time I’ve broken down over the past ten months.
I’ve been trying to build my relationship with my parents. Dad explained that he never wanted me to be unhappy, he just wanted me and Seth to work things out so that I would have security. I told him that I appreciate him worrying about me but I don’t need a man to provide for me. That I’m capable of providing security for myself. He replied that there’s more to security than a career. Companionship and love are part of that. I reassured him that I have good friends and a good family, and that’s enough right now.
