Chapter 8: Going over the facts

Elisabeth swung her head once, keeping it down. 'It was some time,' she continued, 'before anyone realised they were on the wrong road. Waite said it was nearly midnight before he woke and realised they were heading back to Melbourne. When he pointed this out Russell said he hadn't noticed but that they'd gone too far to turn around. He said they could keep going and take the coast road from Melbourne up to Sydney. At this stage Waite climbed into the front passenger seat leaving Moody sleeping in the back. He tried to engage Russell in conversation but Russell didn't respond and he stopped trying. Being night blind Waite couldn't take over so when Russell wanted a rest they booked into a motel in Albury.

'Once they'd emptied the car of their gear Waite put the television on. He and Moody said they'd sit up for a bit and began to drink the beer they had brought in from the car. Russell was in the bathroom when a news bulletin reported a fatal stabbing in Canberra. The fact that it took place at a suburban supermarket and a video of the scene were being flashed as Russell emerged. Lisa told Russell the news, excited about it happening where they had been. Waite, not suspicious at this time, asked Russell to show him the Bowie knife he kept in his boot. It wasn't there and Waite demanded that Russell tell him what had happened. Russell didn't say anything.' Elisabeth's voice had gone husky and she had trouble clearing it. Robert asked if she wanted some water.

'No, I'm fine. Moody began to cry and Waite became angry. He pushed Russell, who stumbled back against the bed and fell onto Moody who screamed and tried to get away. Waite then grabbed Russell and they started to struggle. At some point Russell got his hands on one of the rifles by their packs. The fight got really nasty as Waite tried to wrest it away from Russell. He succeeded and then commenced to pummel Russell with the butt end. There was a lot of noise and Moody continued to scream. Other guests called the manager who called the police. Meanwhile, according to Waite, Russell was fighting like a maniac. However, Waite finally succeeded in subduing him. When the police arrived and broke in they found Waite still laying into him with his boots, despite the fact that it was obvious to all that Russell was beyond retaliating. It took two police to pull Waite away and initially they thought Russell dead. Waite was taken into custody and Russell was found to be alive. He was taken to hospital and airlifted later to Sydney. The charges against Waite were dropped - I'd have thought they'd have been reduced, not dropped - Russell's injuries amounted to five badly damaged ribs, both lungs punctured, a multi-fractured skull, haemorrhaging internally, a face split from chin to crown, arm and hand injuries.' She shook her head and gazed unfocused in his direction. 'Why so vicious?'

'Thought he was going to end up with a bullet in him.'

She blinked and let him share her puzzlement. 'Not once Russell was unconscious.'

'Lizzie,' he said quietly, his elbows dropping to his knees. 'They were scared. Do you know how you'd react in a situation like that? I hope I never have to find out what I'd do.'

She didn't answer. Instead she said, 'Elisabeth. Not Liz, Lizzie, or anything else.'

'Sorry.' He sat back, politeness blanketing his face again.

'Have I missed anything?'

'The stabbing.'

'I was getting to that.'

He stood. 'Want a coffee?'

'No. Thank you.'

Robert spent more time than was necessary before returning. When he was reseated Elisabeth said, as though without a break, 'Mrs Stavros' evidence is that a young man came into the shop while she was mopping the floor. He wandered around the aisles for several minutes and then came to the counter where her husband was totalling up for the day. The register at which he was working was open. She said that the young man did not arouse her suspicions. He put the groceries on the counter, took his wallet from his shirt pocket, withdrew some notes and laid them on the counter too. During this he was also experiencing difficulty opening a packet of potato chips. She saw him bend and take a large knife with a curved blade from his boot. This startled her but she relaxed when she saw him using it to open the chips. She isn't sure what happened next because she went back to washing the floor. What regained her attention was her husband's voice, sounding both angry and frightened.'

Elisabeth took a breath and resumed, in a monotone. 'She looked up to see the young man brandishing the knife and leaning over the counter taking the money from the cash register. She saw her husband try to close it. The young man snatched his hand away as if hurt - I didn't see any evidence of this in the medical reports - he walked calmly around the counter, lifted the knife, and stabbed her husband. Then he seemed to panic. - Why, if he'd been so cool moments before and had meant to do it? - He began yelling at her husband, who was lying on the floor. She isn't sure what he was saying because her English isn't good. Then he seemed to notice her. Before she could run away he grabbed the groceries and ran out of the shop. She heard a car start up and speed away. She went to her husband who was still on the floor. Hysterical when she couldn't rouse him she rang her eldest son Christopher who says he couldn't make any sense of what she was saying except that something was wrong at the shop. He drove around immediately and called the police when he saw what had happened.' She stopped reading. 'Russell left the money,' she said, now with her back to Robert, overlooking the internal quadrangle through open blinds. 'After killing a man for it, he left it.'

'He panicked. He hadn't meant to hurt anyone.'

'Which would make it unintentional. The prosecution has to prove intent. Waite and Moody say that when he returned to the car he was a bit uptight. A bit uptight. And when questioned about speeding away, both said no, they hadn't thought that they sped.'

'Kids and adults'll never agree on what constitutes speeding.'

Elisabeth swivelled around. With back straight and palms flat on the desk she said, 'Mrs Stavros said Russell was taking the money from the till. The police say it was neatly stacked and appeared untouched. What about the money he took from his wallet and put on the counter?'

'Maybe Stavros put it in the register and Russell made a grab before Stavros could take out any change.'

'All right,' Elisabeth said. 'What about blood? There's no mention of blood by any of them.'

'Except the police.'

'To say the only blood they found was Russell's, after the beating. Why wasn't there any on him from Stavros?'

Robert was lounging. 'He left the knife in the body.'

Still with her palms on the desk Elisabeth said, 'And why didn't he take the knife? We've been told he treasured it. He refused to let others use it. And it would be evidence against him. Why leave it?'

Robert straightened out of his chair. 'You're grasping at straws. He panicked. He'd just killed a man. The last thing he's doing is thinking.'

Elisabeth also stood. 'He was thinking enough to take the food and drinks. And he was only a bit uptight.'

'And he meant to go back to Melbourne too I suppose.' Robert wheeled from her, to be confronted at shoulder height by Colin Petrie.

'Conflict?'

Elisabeth wanted no interference. 'No.'

Petrie held eye contact and appeared to consider before nodding curtly and turning on his heel. Elisabeth looked at her watch. 'We'll have to leave it there. I've got to go home and pack a bag. We'll continue when I get back tomorrow.'

Robert eyed the carpet while she spoke, and left without comment.