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Create an on-line newspaper based on:  Witness for the Prosecution,
a play by Agatha Christie

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Murder Times

Based on Witness For The Prosecution by Agatha Christie

October/November1954 London, England Volume1, #1  
News Article: A Young Man Murders Rich Older Woman Emily French
Feature Article:  Mistake In The British Justice System Sir Wilfred Defense Attny.
Obituary:  Leonard Vole Murdered Outside Courtroom Leonard Vole
Opinion Article: Witness For Prosecution Two Thumbs Up!! Romaine Vole


 

                       A Young Man Murders Rich Older Woman

Leonard Vole  a young married man, was accused of murdering a rich middle- aged woman by the name of Emily French. Mr. Vole was in disbelief. He claims that it wasn't him. “I can't see why they don't think it was a burglar,” said Mr. Vole. The police say that that window was smashed and everything was thrown around. Mr. Vole only has one witness who says it wasn't him, his wife.

       On the night of October 14 at approxitmely 9:30 P.M. someone forcefully entered Miss French's apartment and killed her. Janet Mackenzie, her maid, entered the apartment at 11:00 that evening and found Miss French lying on the floor. “It seems as if she was  coshed on the back of the head and killed,” stated Ms. Mackenzie. Leonard visited Sir Wilfrid's chambers and explained everything to him. Mr. Vole said that he met Miss Frenc one day when her parcels fell in the middle of the street. He helped her pick them up and walked her to the curb before a bus could hit her. He visited her home a few times, and once the day she was killed. He said “ I got there at a quarter to eight. I had a cup of coffee and played a game of Double Demon. Then at nine o' clock I said good night to her and went home."

       He says that his walk home was 25 minutes. He didn't come across any body on the way home. Mr. Vole claims he was home with his wife at 9:30. Romaine Vole , his wife, is his only alibi, and it will be hard for her to help him, for the simple fact that his wife is probably not a credible witness said a police source. The police had a warrant for Mr. Vole's arrest. He was picked up from Sir Wilfrid's chambers and charged for Miss French's murder. Sir Wilfrid and Mr. Mayhew, a solicitor, will be representing Leonard Vole at his trial. There is a good chance that Mr. Myers will be the prosecutor of the case.

                           Mistake In The British Justice System -Editorial

     It was the beginning of November and a young fellow named Leonard Vole went to Sir Wilfrid's chambers and asked him for help. He had been accused of murdering Miss Emily French, a middle aged woman, on Oct 24, 1954. Mr. Vole went on trial, and only had one witness who said he's innocent, his wife, Romaine Vole. The jury made many mistakes. One of them was acquitting Mr. Vole. He was found innocent of all the charges. 

    His story was so weak, yet the jury still believed him. What caused them to acquit him? It turns out that Mrs. Vole had testified against her husband and told the court that he did murder Miss French. She claims that he admitted to the murder, but before the trial she had told cops that he didn't do it. She said that he was home with her at the time of the murder. This lady was not a credible witness. She tricked the court into believing that he did kill Emily French. While on the stand she put on a different role. She acted nasty and snotty. She did this for one reason only. She wanted the jury to hate her, and it worked. That was where the mistake occured. The jury is not supposed to reach a verdict because of a witness' attitude but on the facts of the case. Mrs. Vole had every one fooled in that courtroom. 

                        Leonard Vole Murdered Outside Courtroom

Leonard Vole, the man acquitted of the murder of Emily French, was killed by his wife. The cause of death was a stab to the back. Mr. Vole was an unemployed fellow, who lived with his wife in an apartment. He was charged with the murder of Emily French, and acquitted by a jury. He seemed vey happy to win the case. Apparently after the case he was  involoved in an argument with his wife and was killed. He didn't have many friends, except for Emily French. She left all her money to him in her will. 

                        Witness For Prosecution Two Thumbs Up!! - Review

I really enjoyed reading the play by Agatha Christie. It had me guessing a lot of times. The use of irony by the author had me thinking one thing and another happens. I guess that was what made the play exciting.

    I was disapointed by the fact that Romaine went against her husband for a little while, but when I found out why I felt happy. The ending really dissapointed me , because I wanted to read  how Leonard used the money. Other than that, like  Siskel and Ebert, I give the play two thumbs up. I recommend other teens to read it.