Day 006 - 05 Jul 94 - Page 17
1 opposite is true. Unfortunately, we are dealing with human
beings here who make mistakes.
2
Q. Can I ask some advice from the judge?
3
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, please.
4
MR. MORRIS: On admissions, do they have to be formally read at
5 some stage to the court or do we leave that until later?
6 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, it can be left until later. They do
not have to be formally read out because I have got them
7 in the papers, if you want to refer me to them in due
course.
8
MR. MORRIS: Yes.
9
MR. JUSTICE BELL: I had rather assumed you know the general
10 layout of the trial, that all witnesses are called and
then at the end of the day you have the right, indeed both
11 of you, to address me and then Mr. Rampton would have the
right to address me. It is normally done that way because
12 you are the defendants in the main action and his clients
are the plaintiffs and if there is a counterclaim that
13 does not change the order. If, after you have heard Mr.
Rampton, you have suddenly thought of something you failed
14 to mention, then obviously I would let you.
15 So what you are doing during this, by far the longest part
of the proceedings, is trying to elicit from the
16 prosecution witnesses any evidence you want, the
plaintiffs witnesses any evidence you want, testing their
17 evidence where you do not accept it by cross-examination,
in so far as experts are concerned, testing any opinions
18 which they give by way of cross-examination. You call
your own witnesses to fact and then, at the end of the
19 day, you make comments as to which evidence I should
accept or reject and what conclusions I should draw from
20 the evidence I accept. So you have to go through the
exercise with self-discipline (and barristers have to do
21 it just the same), trying not to make too much comment as
you go along with your questions.
22
MR. MORRIS: Yes. Just very briefly, are you aware that in
23 Guildford in 1982 you were fined for various offences in
the employment of young people? I think it was a total of
24 14 offences, and that in October 1984 in Slough,
specifically 14 offences against the Children's Act 1972,
25 and in September 1982 at Luton 46 offences, plus 40 to be
taken into consideration, for employment of young people
26 offences under the Shops Act 1950. I presume you are
aware of those admissions?
27 A. Well, they are 10 and 12 years ago. If they are
admitted, they are admitted. I am not aware of the
28 circumstances of each case but, if we admitted them, I am
sure we did it.
29
Q. Yes. I mean, Helen makes a point that they were in the
30 immediate years prior to the original production of the
leaflet. Does your company take the responsibility on
