"And isn’t it true that you assaulted the defendant by punching him when you did arrive at the registry office?"

"He had just tried to kill me. I punched him to prevent him from strangling me again"

"I have no further questions your Honour"

"Your witness Miss Wishnia"

"Thank you, your Honour. Miss Porter, when Mr Kennard was strangling you, were you in fear for your life?"

"Absolutely. I was trying to fight him off, but he was just too strong. His hands were around my throat and I couldn’t breathe. He’d completely lost it and I have no doubt that he would have killed me if the other hadn’t intervened"

"Thank you Miss Porter, I have no further questions for you"

When Bette was excused by the Judge, she joined Tina in the public gallery. They squeezed one another’s hands, relieved that at least their part of the trial was over. Now they just had to trust in Joyce Wishnia and the remaining witnesses for the prosecution.

Shane was called to the stand, and her testimony about the events that occurred in the registry office mirrored both of her friends’. Once again, Faye Buckley attempted to assassinate her character, but Shane was more than used to being spoken down to. She kept her cool, and gave a small nod to Bette and Tina as she left the courtroom.

The court adjourned for lunch, and Bette and Tina headed to the cafe. Neither woman felt like eating, but they managed to share a salad. They barely spoke, both of them lost in their own thoughts. They were painfully aware that it wouldn’t be long before Henry took the stand, and although it was in the terms of his deal with the prosecution, they were still afraid of what he might say.

When they returned to the court, it was Tina’s mother that was called to give her evidence. She too gave a matching account of the events in the registry office, and was also asked about her estranged husband’s behaviour towards her in prior years. She described his volatile personality, and how he had in fact raised a hand to her in the past.

Faye Buckley’s cross examination was short.

"Mrs Kennard, did you ever require medical attention following your husband’s alleged assaults on you?"