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Revision as of 10:19, 22 September 2019
, 10:19, 22 September 2019no edit summary
The Honourable William Herbert Millgate Gordon-Russell (Bill Russell to those who knew him well) was acting as a volunteer steward at Warwick Racecourse when he was told of the violent death of his much-loved wife. It would get worse though: the successful insurance actuary would be accused of killing her and hounded by the media. Then he would lose his job and his home. His best friends would turn against him, as they came to believe him guilty of the murder. Yet there was no really compelling evidence that he was guilty.
Felix Francis gives us a compelling realistic (and rather frightening) exploration of what it’s it's like to find yourself on the wrong end of a police investigation. Russell found himself in the position of having to prove his innocence when the authorities had made up their minds that he was the most likely person to be guilty of the crime - and that he had a financial motive. Impressively, Francis demonstrates how the police came to their position and shows how their interviewing techniques are used to good effect. It was impossible not to feel that you were in the room with Bill Russell.
When the case does eventually come to court the atmosphere is faithfully presented: Francis’s research has obviously been extensive and thorough, but without giving the feeling that every bit of information has been mercilessly shoehorned in. Far less easy to research and portray are the reactions of family, friends and colleagues and how willing so many are to believe the worst and not the best. The media obviously play a big part in forming public opinion and I couldn’t help but be put in mind of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Joanna_Yeates Christopher Jeffries case] from 2011] which was a particularly low point in press responsibility.
