Witness for the ProsecutionWitness for the Prosecution

By Agatha Christie By Agatha Christie

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 mid-His foreign suspicious wife, in her mid-thirties thirties

Emily FrenchEmily French

The murdered woman, 56The murdered woman, 56

Janet MackenzieJanet Mackenzie

French’s long time housekeeper who French’s long time housekeeper who dislikes Leonard Voledislikes Leonard Vole

Sir Wilfred RobardsSir Wilfred Robards

Vole’s lead defense lawyerVole’s lead defense lawyer

Mr. MayhewMr. Mayhew

Vole’s second council, the lawyer who he Vole’s second council, the lawyer who he originally consulted.originally consulted.

The Mysterious WomanThe Mysterious Woman

The mysterious woman who meets with The mysterious woman who meets with Robards 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 of Though charged with the murder of Miss Emily French, Leonard Vole Miss Emily French, Leonard Vole swears his innocence. He tells his swears his innocence. He tells his lawyers 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 hates Romaine declares that she hates Vole and that he is not her legal Vole and that he is not her legal husband.husband.

Vole goes on trial but things are not Vole goes on trial but things are not going too well. There is no real going too well. There is no real defense and his wife swears under defense and his wife swears under oath that he is guilty.oath that he is guilty.

SummarySummary

Towards the conclusion of the trial, a Towards the conclusion of the trial, a mysterious woman brings letters to mysterious woman brings letters to Sir Wilfred Robards that demonstrate Sir Wilfred Robards that demonstrate Romaine’s intention to incriminate Romaine’s intention to incriminate her husband.her husband.

In court the next day the letters are In court the next day the letters are presented and Vole is found not presented and Vole is found not guilty. guilty.

SummarySummary

Vole is freed. Romaine meets Vole is freed. Romaine meets Robards, Mayhew, and Leonard after Robards, Mayhew, and Leonard after the trial and reveals how she worked the trial and reveals how she worked the lawyers and the jury.the lawyers and the jury.

Vole tells Romaine that he is leaving Vole tells Romaine that he is leaving her for a younger woman. She stabs her for a younger woman. She stabs him and he immediately dies. him and he immediately dies. Romaine pronounces him, “Guilty.”Romaine pronounces him, “Guilty.”

Act IAct I Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings Leonard Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings Leonard

Vole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defense Vole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defense lawyer.lawyer.

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

he is finishing up the police come in to he is finishing up the police come in to arrest him.arrest him.

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

turns up at the office also to ask how bad turns up at the office also to ask how bad is 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 Doesn’t bring wife to see FrenchDoesn’t bring wife to see French Was there alone on the night of the murderWas there alone on the night of the murder Has handled French’s financesHas handled French’s finances Only alibi is his wifeOnly alibi is his wife No moneyNo money No jobNo job Allowed French to believe that he was Allowed French to believe that he was

unhappily marriedunhappily married French left him almost all of her moneyFrench left him almost all of her money

How does Leonard refute How does Leonard refute this evidence?this evidence?

Doesn’t seem to know that French left him Doesn’t seem to know that French left him her moneyher money

Wife will say he was at home when French Wife will say he was at home when French was killedwas killed

Claims to have a genuine fondness for Claims to have a genuine fondness for French because she reminds him of his French because she reminds him of his Aunt Betsey Aunt Betsey

Volunteered information to the policeVolunteered information to the police

What do they anticipated as the What do they anticipated as the problem with Mrs. Vole?problem with Mrs. Vole?

She is a foreigner and won’t be trusted by She is a foreigner and won’t be trusted by the jurythe jury

A wife isn’t the best witness—bias A wife isn’t the best witness—bias She’ll be too emotionalShe’ll be too emotional

What do we learn about Romaine What do we learn about Romaine when we first meet her?when we first meet her?

Cold—seemingly unlovingCold—seemingly unloving Thinks Leonard, like all men, is a foolThinks Leonard, like all men, is a fool Leonard helped to get her out of the Leonard helped to get her out of the

Russian sector of BerlinRussian sector of Berlin Really isn’t married to Leonard—was Really isn’t married to Leonard—was

and still is—married before and and still is—married before and Leonard doesn’t know.Leonard doesn’t know.

Suggests that she is tired of being Suggests that she is tired of being grateful grateful

What can we conclude at the end What can we conclude at the end of Act Iof Act I

Leonard is in some serious troubleLeonard is in some serious trouble Robards, Mayhew and the clerk think Robards, Mayhew and the clerk think

he is innocenthe is innocent They are concerned on how they They are concerned on how they

should 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 (Leonard’s wife)Romaine Vole (Leonard’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 French’s, No fingerprints other than French’s,

MacKenzie’s and Vole’sMacKenzie’s and Vole’s Nothing stolen—jewelry still on Nothing stolen—jewelry still on

FrenchFrench Blood on Vole’s sleeve Blood on Vole’s sleeve Chisel marks on the outsideChisel marks on the outside

Refute Inspector HearneRefute Inspector Hearne

Wind blew window in and it broke Wind blew window in and it broke insideinside

A thief would wear glovesA thief would wear gloves Thief probably was spooked by Thief probably was spooked by

French’s deathFrench’s death Vole cut himself with a knife Vole cut himself with a knife Chisel didn’t match one Vole ownedChisel didn’t 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 9:30—10:00 pmDied between 9:30—10:00 pm No evidence of a struggleNo evidence of a struggle Left-handed killer (probable but not Left-handed killer (probable but not

necessarily necessarily Blow could have been delivered by Blow could have been delivered by

either a woman or a maneither a woman or a man

Refute Dr. WyattRefute Dr. Wyatt

Left-handed killer (probable but not Left-handed killer (probable but not necessarily) Leonard is not left-necessarily) Leonard is not left-handedhanded

Blow could have been delivered by Blow could have been delivered by either a woman or a maneither a woman or a man

Evidence of Janet MacKenzieEvidence of Janet MacKenzie

Heard Vole’s voice just after nineHeard Vole’s voice just after nine Knew that Vole was aware of the willKnew that Vole was aware of the will Knew that Vole helped with French’s Knew that Vole helped with French’s

financesfinances Said French was buying books about Said French was buying books about

older women marrying younger menolder women marrying younger men

Refute Janet MacKenzieRefute Janet MacKenzie

Needs a hearing aidNeeds a hearing aid Knew that the will originally was in Knew that the will originally was in

her favorher favor Feared that Vole would change her Feared that Vole would change her

relationship 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 announced ”I’ve killed She said he announced ”I’ve killed

her.”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 of Romaine used Leonard to get out of GermanyGermany

She has admitted that she is tired of She has admitted that she is tired of being “grateful”being “grateful”

The court—Old Bailey

The courtroom The 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 Romaine’s TestimonyVole watches Romaine’s Testimony

Papers follow trialPapers follow trial

Mystery woman with lettersMystery woman with letters

Mystery woman’s scarMystery woman’s scar

Romaine watches the verdictRomaine watches the verdict

Vole found “not guilty”Vole found “not guilty”

Romaine meets Robards and Romaine meets Robards and explains her plan.explains her plan.

Romaine surprises RobardsRomaine surprises Robards

Romaine meets Vole after trialRomaine meets Vole after trial

Romaine, Vole, and the Romaine, Vole, and the Strawberry BlondStrawberry Blond

We meet the strawberry blondWe meet the strawberry blond

Romaine stabs VoleRomaine stabs Vole

Guilty, my Guilty, my Lord!Lord!