MR. MACLEAN How did you hit her, Mr. Brightman? Was it a punch, a slap?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I hit her with a closed fist.
MR. MACLEAN I see. And what happened then?
MR. BRIGHTMAN She didn’t stop; she just yelled louder and came at me again. So I hit her again. I guess it was probably harder. She fell over backward and I went to see if she was all right, to help her up. I think I must have trodden on her hand. She screamed and yelled at me and threw something. It was the key to the front door.
MR. MACLEAN What did you do next?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I took the key, unlocked the front door and left.
MR. MACLEAN What time was that?
MR. BRIGHTMAN It must have been about a quarter past seven.
MR. MACLEAN And when you left her, what condition was she in?
MR. BRIGHTMAN She was still shouting and screaming.
MR. MACLEAN Was she injured, bleeding?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I think she may have been bleeding.
MR. MACLEAN Could you elaborate, Mr. Brightman?
MR. BRIGHTMAN She had some blood on her face. I don’t know where it came from. It wasn’t a lot of blood.
MR. MACLEAN And did you have any injuries yourself?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I just had some scratches.
MR. MACLEAN Did you consider that she might have needed medical attention?
MR. BRIGHTMAN No.
MR. MACLEAN Even though she was apparently bleeding, and crying out?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I don’t recall that she was crying out. As I left the house she was shouting and swearing at me. If she needed medical attention I believe she could have gotten it herself, without my help.
MR. MACLEAN I see. So after you left the house at a quarter past seven, did you see Miss Bailey again?
MR. BRIGHTMAN No. I didn’t see her again.
MR. MACLEAN Did you contact her by telephone?
MR. BRIGHTMAN No.
MR. MACLEAN Mr. Brightman, I want you to think very carefully before answering my next question. How do you feel now with regard to the incidents of that day?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I have deep regret for everything that happened. I loved Catherine. I had asked her to marry me. I had no idea she was so emotionally disturbed and I wish to God I hadn’t retaliated. I wish I had just tried harder to calm her down.
MR. MACLEAN Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor.
—CROSS-EXAMINATION—
MR. LEWIS Mr. Brightman, would you have described your relationship with Miss Bailey as a serious one?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I thought it was, yes.
MR. LEWIS Do you understand that it is part of your terms and conditions of employment that you will inform your employers of changes in your personal circumstances, including providing the details of your relationships?
MR. BRIGHTMAN Yes.
MR. LEWIS And yet you chose not to inform anyone you work with about your relationship with Miss Bailey, is that not the case?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I had planned to do so when Catherine agreed to marry me. My vetting review was due at the end of September; I would have mentioned it then in any case.
MR. LEWIS Now, I would like to draw your attention to Exhibit WL/1—this is on page fourteen of the exhibit packs—which is the statement by PC William Lay. PC Lay arrested you on Tuesday 15 June 2004 at your home address. In his statement he asserts that when he asked you about Miss Bailey, you at first stated, and I quote: “I don’t know who you are talking about.” Is that correct?
MR. BRIGHTMAN I don’t remember exactly what I said.
MR. LEWIS This is the woman you have subsequently stated that you were in love with, that you intended to marry. Is that correct?
MR. BRIGHTMAN PC Lay and PC Newman turned up at my house at six in the morning. I’d been working for the past three nights and I had only just gone to bed. I was disoriented.
MR. LEWIS Did you also state when questioned at Lancaster Police Station later that same day—and I’m quoting again from your statement: “She was just someone I was investigating. When I left her she was fine. She had emotional issues, mental health issues”?
MR. BRIGHTMAN (inaudible)
MR. JUSTICE NOLAN Mr. Brightman, could you speak up?
MR. BRIGHTMAN Yes.
MR. LEWIS And were you conducting an investigation into Miss Bailey?
MR. BRIGHTMAN No.
MR. LEWIS I have no further questions.
MR. JUSTICE NOLAN Thank you. In that case, ladies and gentlemen, we will adjourn for lunch.
Thursday 21 June 2001
As far as days to die were concerned, the longest day of the year was as good a day as any.