Original subtitles

In 1946, Neville Heath murdered two women within the course of a fortnight.

On the 20th of June, he took Mrs. Marjorie Gardner to room number four at the Pembridge

Court Hotel Notting Hill, stripped her, bound her hand and foot, whipped her many times

with a riding crop and fifted brutal injuries on her and then smothered her to death.

On the 3rd of July, on a piece of waste ground in Bournemouth, he savagely beat up Miss Dorian

Marshall, stripped her, cut her throat, then mutilated her body after she was dead.

There is no doubt about these facts.

The circumstantial evidence was in itself almost overwhelming.

Heath was the last man seen with either of the two women.

He had taken the room at the Pembridge Court Hotel under his own name.

The riding crop used on Mrs. Gardner was found among his effects.

He had fled from the scene of that crime.

He was shown to have pawned a ring and a watch, belonging to Miss Marshall.

The list of telling points went on and on, and at Heath's trial, no attempt was made

by the defense to deny the basic truth of the allegations against him.

In fact, although in accordance with the legal practice of the time, Heath was charged only

with the first murder, the defense made a point of introducing details of the second.

They were basing his defense on a plea of insanity.

The interest in this case then, and there was massive public interest at the time.

They not in whether Heath had committed these crimes, but why?

What sort of man or monster was he?

This was the mystery which drew huge crowds of the curious of the obelia on the opening

day of the trial, the 24th of September, 1946.

In our version of the events which followed, little space has been given to the massive

accumulation of prosecution evidence proving beyond any doubt that Heath had indeed been

committed these murders.

We shall follow instead the line of his defense, the questions of motive and personality,

the crucial argument as to whether or not he could be considered responsible for his

actions.

So, the beginning of the trial, the judge Mr. Justice Morris, counsel for the crown,

Mr. Anthony Horpe, counsel for the defense, Mr. J. D. Caswell, K.C., and in the dock,

Neville George Clevely Heath, charged with the murder of Marjorie Gardner.

Neville George Clevely Heath, you are charged with the murder of Marjorie Aimee Brownell

Gardner on the 21st of June last.

Are you guilty or not guilty?

Unguilty, sir.

But unguilty, why shouldn't I plead guilty?

Naturally, that's up to you.

In my opinion, however, such a course of action, we're most still advised.

Not a strong case and all that.

Not a lot of charge of a chap getting off, wouldn't you, sir?

Well, it's very difficult to judge.

I thought it might be the best thing, you know, cut down on the whole business, save

wasting everybody's time.

Look, I've already explained to you, Heath.

If you plead guilty, there can be no possibility of reduction of the charge or of the sentence.

You appreciate that.

Oh, yes, I thought of that.

On the other hand, where you'd plead not guilty, even with the facts as they are, I

can assure you that a defensive insanity would have at least some chance of success.

Now I'm compelled to advise you on the basis of your own best interests.

Hmm.

Besides, you have your mother and father still living.

You have your friends.

Think of them.

And you wanted to say that a man in his right mind could commit to such brutal crimes?

Is that what you want everyone to think?

All right, you better put me down as not guilty, then, old boy.

You're certain of that?

That's not for me to tell your chaps how to do your job.

It is no part of my duty to attempt a forecast to what answer may or may not be put forward

to the charge upon which this man stands indicted today.

It may be, and it is only right perhaps that I should indicate it in case it is the fact

that you at some stage are going to be asked to say, and if I am wrong about this in due

course and at the proper time I shall be corrected, but at the time he did, if he

is proved to have done, these acts in that room at the Pembridge Court Hotel, this man's

reason was so unseated by disease of the mind that he's not to be held responsible for his

deeds and actions.

Now it is presumed in our law that a person is sane and responsible for his actions unless

and until the contrary be proved within reasonable probability.

And in order to prove that either one of two things must be proved, namely either that

he did not know at the time the act was done what it was he was doing or else if he did

understand what he was doing he did not understand or appreciate that what he was doing was wrong

and something punishable by the laws of this country.

Now there is a very common phrase in ordinary human affairs when somebody does something

which is out of the ordinary ambit of ordinary social responsibility.

They say no one in his senses would have done a thing like that or else words to the effect

well he must have been mad.

But members of the jury, the mere fact that a man acts abnormally is not to excuse him

from his responsibility for what he does.

Now nobody would think and indeed the prosecution do not invite you to think that the person

whoever it may be who inflicted these terrible injuries who mutilated this poor girl before

she died was a person in his normal frame of mind.

Indeed you may well think that there is evidence that the person whoever it may be was sexually

perverted to such an extent as to be almost a sexual monstrosity.

But a sexually perverted impulse which results in grievous bodily harm to a victim or in

that victim's death is not to be excused on the grounds of insanity.

You can't have done those things again.

Well honestly I don't know what you could have been thinking of getting me to bring you

along here.

I mean we all know these things go on but there's no need to have our faces rubbed and it is

there.

And for a girl of your age I don't think it's destined really I don't.

Some of the expressions being used, parts of the anatomy, things even the papers don't

print.

Oh whatever would your mother say if she knew?

Really I just don't understand the sort of people who'd want to sit and listen to it.

You'd think that have better things to do with their time a man like that.

Nothing but an animal.

I am surprised that you rose I really am.

It's bad enough having to read about these things in papers.

I'm going back in rose.

I'm sorry I'm going to go back.

You can go away if you want to.

Rose.

Rose.

Mr. Castle and I have given them out of some thought and decided it's probably best for

your not to give evidence on your own behalf.

Oh no.

Frankly I don't think the jury would believe a word you said.

And the prosecution would be about to press you over the details of the actual crimes.

It would be very difficult to counteract about impression.

What?

Whatever you said.

All right then.

Now I don't know if there's any further that you might like to tell me that might help

me at all.

The facts against you are I must say very black.

Well what would you like to know?

This woman.

Marjorie Gardner.

She's a bit of a tart I'm afraid old boy.

Not proud of myself.

Good fun at all.

Harder the top drawer.

You know what I mean?

No harder.

So when you went to the hotel.

Is Dan not?

The whole thing.

I just went up you know for a bit of the old slap and tickle.

Lady was in a verse.

Everything right is right.

And then now I was.

In the room there.

And that's poor old Marj.

Stretched out dead as a dodo.

Damn funny.

I mean I remember going there and all that.

I thought well it's a bit of a mess old boy.

Better make yourself scarce with old speed.

Didn't seem a lot else a man could do.

Bad show though.

Like a spine, can't deny.

Should have hung around and taken the old medicine.

And myself down there.

Bad show all together.

So you're still saying you remember nothing

of the actual events in the hotel room at all?

Not a sausage.

Wish I could have helped you all be.

All right well let's leave that for the moment.

Now when you first registered the hotel the week before.

You were with another lady, a Miss Simmons.

I said I'm not going to drag her into all this, are they?

I'm afraid the prosecution is bound to call her.

God.

It's a bit of a face, huh?

Not really.

I don't think that's quite the thing at all.

Yes, they don't.

You're born in March, you know.

They were like chalk and cheese.

It's a lovely little thing.

No really, I call her pretty low.

So nothing.

Out of the ordinary occurred with her then.

You're quite certain of that.

Good God, no.

With a bond.

She was, you know, she'd never been with a man in her life.

What kind of a brook do you think I am?

Miss Simmons, you live darned worthing

with your father and mother.

Yes.

And you've met this man here, Heath.

Yes.

When did you first meet him?

June.

It might have been Saturday the 15th of June perhaps.

Yes, it was.

Was that in advance of Chelsea?

Yes.

You may leave, Mr. Hawke.

I'm obliged for that.

And did he telephone you on the following day Sunday?

Yes.

And you spent the day?

Yes.

And eventually I think you spent the night with him.

Yes.

Was that in room number four at the Pembridge Court Hotel?

Yes.

And he made a promise to you actually.

Did he not or at any rate he made a proposal to you?

Yes.

Did he propose marriage to you?

Yes.

And it was after that that you stayed the night with him.

Yes.

And you went back to wirthing the following day,

don't you, Nol?

Yes.

Now, had he treated you quite decently or self personally?

Yes.

And on Friday, the 21st of June, did you telephone you again?

Yes.

My lord, I have been told I may lead this witness.

Very well, Mr. Hawke, which perhaps makes it easier.

And it turned out that he was in work.

Yes.

Yes.

And I think you had lunch together and he booked a room

at a hotel down there.

Yes.

And on the following day, which was Saturday, the 22nd of June,

did you meet him again?

Yes.

In the morning.

And did he mention something to you that morning,

that Saturday morning?

Yes.

I do not want to put the question to her,

unless my learned a friend approves of it.

Yes.

Do you want to go to her?

Did he mention a murder to him?

Yes, I think he did.

What did he say?

Had I seen an account of it in the papers?

Had you?

No.

And did he say anything about himself in connection

with it at all?

Yes.

And what did he say?

He told me that he was closely connected with the murder.

Did he tell you what he knew about it?

He told me that it happened in the room

he booked at the Pembridge Court Hotel.

And did he mention any detail in connection with it,

anything that had been done to her, to this woman?

He told me it was a very gruesome sight.

But did he say he'd been in the room then?

Yes, I think he said he had seen the body.

After it was there?

Yes.

And did he mention any detail to you

in connection with the body, something

that had been done to it?

That, um, Poca had been used on her.

And did he say in what way the Poca had been used?

Miss Simmons?

He told me that the Poca had been stuck up her.

And did he say anything about what had caused her death?

Did he mention that at all?

He said he thought the Poca had probably killed her.

And did he express any idea about the sort of person

who might have done a thing like that?

Yes.

Sexual maniac?

Of course, as you have told us, he treated you perfectly

courteously and decently.

Yes.

Oh, good morning, Heath.

How are you today?

Fine.

I've stand up when Dr. Grossan speaks to you.

No problems?

Not to speak, Oliver.

You sleeping, Oliver?

Like a dead old boy.

Fine, fine.

I thought we might have another little chat.

So Monday morning, all right?

I have to consult my diary.

Fine, fine.

Yes, yes.

Well, I'll see you then.

Toodle-oo.

No, no, no, no, blokes.

See so many head doctors?

Still, I suppose they know what they're doing.

What's your name, old boy?

Watson.

No need to be formal.

Best to keep it formal.

This is a rotten business.

I'm terribly sorry.

I simply wanted to say that if there was any way

I could help to make it easier for you at all,

I don't know be too glad.

Detective Inspector Spooner was called

to give factual evidence about the murder and investigation.

And sir, with him, sir.

Caswell took the opportunity to put Heath's past history

on record.

In 1935 at the age of 18, did Heath join the Royal Air Force

for the short service commission?

February 1936.

I think it was made retrospective to the end of 1935.

We're going about a year and a half later

on the 20th of August 1937.

We find him caught marshal for being absent without leave

from the 22nd of March to the 22nd of July of that year.

Yes.

As a result of that, was he dismissed from the Royal Air Force?

Yes, sir.

He was.

In July 1938, we find him in trouble again.

Was he sentenced at this court to three years'

borstile treatment for robbing the house of a friend

at Eduair of articles valued at about 51 pounds?

That and other offenses, yes.

How many other offenses?

There were two indictments.

First, house breaking and stealing jury,

et cetera, to the value of 51 pounds.

Secondly, obtaining clothing, value 27 pounds

by a forged banker's order.

Ten other offenses were taken into consideration.

Ten?

Were these crimes a fraud or theft, take of inspector?

Fraud, Neil.

I see.

Very good.

He was sentenced to three years' borstile,

but was released in September 1939.

That was a special release owing to the national emergency.

Yes.

He then enlisted as a driver in the Royal Army's service court.

Did he not?

On the 24th of October 1939.

In January and February, he was commissioned a second lieutenant

and posted to the Middle East.

On the 23rd of March, 1940.

After some time, did he get into trouble with a brigadier?

Was he placed under arrest?

He was placed under arrest, yes.

Yeah, but no sort of suggestion of any sexual offense

or anything like that.

No, sir.

Now, in August 1941, having been cashier,

did he come back on the troopship Muletan?

Yes, sir.

Don't let that in properly at Durban.

That was in November 1941.

He went to Johannesburg, where he passed himself

off as a Captain Selway emcee of the Argyland

Sutherland Highlanders.

He then changed his name to Armstrong

and joined the South African Air Force, didn't he?

That was in December 1941.

Yes, now, late in 1943, he was posted to Egypt,

to Polytenia and Algeria.

No, I don't think so, sir.

Well, what have you got of his movements in 1943 then?

He was in the Middle East, was he not?

He was in South Africa the whole time.

Well, are you sure of this?

Yes, sir.

Because my instructions are that he was at Alameda.

No, sir.

In 1942?

No, sir.

He was in South Africa the whole time, you say?

Yes, sir.

Engaged on transport and instructional duties.

Hmm.

Well, I hope you have a record of this.

Now, in 1945, was he again court-martialed in South Africa?

Yes.

On the 4th of December 1945, he appeared before a general court

marshal in South Africa and was convicted on six charges.

Three of conduct prejudicial to good order

and military discipline and three of wearing

military decorations without authority.

As a result of that, was he dismissed from the service again?

A third time?

Yes, he was, sir.

Did he then come back to London?

He returned to this country on the 5th of February,

this year, and returned to London in the same month.

Now, his next trouble was wearing the uniform

of a lieutenant colonel, sometimes of a major

and a string of decorations.

Yes.

That was on the 5th of April this year

at Wimbledon Magistrate's Court, when he was fined £5

for unlawfully wearing military decorations and uniforms,

all of which he was not entitled to.

Now, that brings us down to May in June 1946.

The death of Marjorie Gardner was on the 20th of June 1946.

Yes, sir.

Hello, May.

Dad.

Hello, Nann.

Everything all right?

They're cheating you all right.

Oh, can't complain.

You mustn't want it.

No.

That's good.

I saved up my coupons and bought you some chocolates.

But the man at the gate said that I had to hand them over to him.

Told him to be sure you got them.

Well, I hope that was all right.

Oh, yes, fine, fine.

That was joy, nice, Marjorie.

You shouldn't have really.

Don't be silly.

There's nothing at all.

Only I did want to give them to you myself.

It seems a little form.

How are things at home?

Everything all right?

Oh.

Fine.

You know.

Missing you, of course.

Dad in me.

Looking forward to getting you home again as soon as all this is.

Of course, everyone's been very kind.

All the neighbors.

There's hardly been any.

Ever so considerate, really.

I think it's wonderful how good people can be.

All things considerate.

I'm sorry, Neville.

I didn't mean that.

Oh, I'm sorry.

What about this lawyer, trap Kaswell?

Knows his stuff, does he?

Seems like a good man.

He was recommended to me as one of the best.

I'm sure he is.

Certainly costing me enough.

Oh, Daddy.

Sorry.

Of course the money doesn't come into it.

Just as long as he gets you off.

You will, Dad, don't you worry.

I'll soon be back within the old homestead.

Are you really sure, Neville?

I'm so frightened.

I'm sure of it, Mommy.

Now, I wouldn't lie to you.

You know that.

Not to my own parents.

Time for you to go and see Dr. Young.

He is?

Tell Dr. Young he knows what he can do.

Well, I can't tell him that, can I?

I'm damn well fed up with it.

Doctors.

It's not Dr. Hubert.

It's not a grisness.

It's not a grisness.

It's not a young.

All the fellows do is talk about my bloody

love life all the time.

Well, it's not on.

Tell him I'm not coming.

Well, he won't like that, will he?

He's a busy man.

I think he's damned unfair.

Well, are you coming or not?

What's no, man?

I'm not coming.

Please apologize to the gentleman for you.

Run and tell the doctor a bit of trouble, all right?

Right.

Chappas is pride.

Make me feel like a bloody specimen.

You shouldn't have done what you did then, should you?

Well, they caught me.

They didn't know what more they want.

They're not always paulaba.

Well, that's a funny sort of attitude.

No, don't you start, old boy.

I thought you'd be feeling more cheerful,

seeing your parents this morning.

Yeah, it should be, of course.

No reason to feel low.

Best folks I've felt I'd better have.

Sultivir.

Still, can't help feeling I've let them down a bit,

landing myself in here.

Not good, though, they said.

Still, bit of a bad shore and all.

It's bound across their minds.

Can get a chap down a bit.

You're all right now.

You don't think I'm such a bad chap, dear old boy?

Not for me to say, I'm sure.

Damn funny, don't you, then?

Two chaps like us.

Out there, easiest thing in the world.

Popping to the old Fitzroy for a few snifflers,

never battering them.

Chatter away like long-lost brothers.

Damn not the way things turn out all together.

Still.

Always merry and bright, huh?

You've been no trouble to me.

This is an astonishing case, is it not?

The probability is, of course, that Heath knows no more

about the state of his mind than any of us do

about the state of our own.

It is something which is a part of his nature.

It is natural.

To him it would not appear extraordinary.

But you, no doubt, may have noticed some astonishing features

of the world.

But you, no doubt, may have noticed some

astonishing features in this case.

Well, why have the public taken such an interest in it?

Why?

Is it not because two terrible and apparently

motiveless crimes have been committed by the same man

within the short space of a fortnight?

Not a man you know to be unintelligent,

but a man who's seen a great deal of the world.

A man who's been commissioned three times.

Now, in that second case, as you will hear,

the injuries were far more terrible than an individual.

It was far more terrible than in the first.

That second crime was committed when that man must have known

that the police were hunting for him throughout Britain.

When he himself, a noticeable figure you will admit,

without any of his guys except the change of a name,

had been staying in a hotel in that place.

When he himself had taken the girl out from the hotel,

had spoken to the whole porter as he left,

and had done everything to show that he was the man

who was associated with that girl.

Is it not almost unimaginable?

If you were to read such things in fiction,

you would have thrown the book aside,

would you not have said, this is impossible?

It does not happen.

If a man has committed a crime like this,

he does not go straight off and commit another crime

of a similar and even more awful nature

at a time when he knows that the police are hunting for him,

when he has seen his name in the paper day after day.

No.

This is not the sort of thing a sane and reasonable man does.

Now, I invite you to say that that is the first fact

calling for careful consideration.

All there are many other curious acts,

the sort of acts that one would not expect a man to do

if he were an intelligent man,

things which may lead you to believe that this man

either cannot remember the details of these crimes,

or else is able to put them entirely out of his mind,

so that he has shown neither remorse for the deaths

of these two young girls, nor apparently appreciated

that you and I, and the rest of the world,

consider the most awful crimes.

You will consider that.

Rose, a composite character who must stand for the very many young women

who had succumbed to Heath's undeniable charm.

Hello, Rose.

This is a nice surprise.

I didn't know if you'd want to see me.

Always glad to see you, old girl, you know that.

How's tricks?

Oh, no, well, it's horrible, always.

I don't understand it at all.

These things, they're saying you did these women.

Why, you should believe all you hear, old girl.

I don't know what to believe.

Everyone seems so short.

I can't...

Oh, I see.

It's a load, don't you think?

Come and get a kick a chap when he's down.

Oh, no!

That's all I meant to talk.

Honestly, I just wanted to see you.

I felt I couldn't get pretty unhappy in here, you know,

with all this.

Not knowing what's going to happen.

It'd be nice to think there was someone...

Someone out there, you know, who cared just a little bit.

Oh, must be awful.

I'm sorry.

I've heard that girl, that Miss Simmons...

Said you promised to marry her.

I thought after everything it said...

Well, Rose.

Rose, look at me.

I know, Saint.

I've done some pretty rotten things in my life, and I won't deny it.

But do you think I could ever, ever prefer a girl like that to you?

Do you?

I've been thinking about you, you know.

Have you?

You haven't been in touch very soon, long.

That day we went down to Brighton, do you remember?

We walked along by the sand down.

I thought, what a lovely girl.

What an absolutely perfect stomach of a girl.

God, I'm a lucky old chap.

God, aren't I just?

Really?

You know I do.

You got down on your knees?

Right down the sand.

Hang the trousers, I thought I'm going to do this properly.

And I meant it, Rose, about wanting to share my life with you

and...

Well, I thought you meant it too, my love.

Then you come along like this,

and a chap's at a pretty low ebb, saying these things.

Well, it's a bit below that belt.

I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel.

Oh, Neville, did you really mean it?

Really?

I'm only holding on to this, and I hope that someday we can be together again.

You know that.

And they're not true.

All these things they're saying about you.

Why do you even have to ask?

I do love you, Neville.

I do so much.

Trust me, that's all I ask.

You do trust me?

Yes.

Yes.

That's my girl.

Better go now, alright?

Alright.

I can't come again.

If you could bear not to, I'm sorry.

Try to understand.

It only makes it harder for me, seeing in a place like this.

When I get out, alright?

Oh, Neville.

Please, please.

It's better this way.

We mustn't spoil it, eh?

Alright?

Come on, no tears.

That's my brave girl.

But I might never see you again.

1000 to 1L girl.

Not even worth thinking about.

Trust me?

Trust you.

That's it.

Come on, chin up.

I'll see you very, very soon.

But by Neville.

I love you.

Recreation period.

Time to stretch your legs.

Check.

Made in two, I think.

Got you again, you see, Mr. Wuxley?

Too good for me.

What's it like, the Adniard?

Pissing down on my frame.

You want to just stick in, give me my revenge.

Oh, good luck.

No, hold on.

Have an idea.

You're a big strong Chad.

Exercise and all that.

You've done any arm wrestling.

You know, you try and push the other Johnny's arm down from the elbow.

Don't say a better dad.

No, I don't think so, Heath.

Better just stick to chess.

Oh, damn the chess.

Well, be a sportsman.

Just for luck.

Go on, Mr. Wux, never go.

You could beat him.

Oh, well, flab from being in this place.

We could have kept him.

Come on, old boy.

Oh, you're all of your hurting, then.

No, I don't think the governor was...

He's not here, is he?

Just one bud.

That's all.

I won't tell.

You'd better not.

Oh, good man.

Right, come on.

Jack it off.

Sleeves rolled up.

Well, let's do this properly.

You know how it goes?

I've done it once or twice.

I knew when I was drunk, Ryan.

You say good.

Ready?

Cut.

Mr. Wux, son?

You're playing with me.

Not at all, old boy.

I'm trying as hard as I can.

Stop it, other than enough.

Oh, come on.

Oh, boy, play the game.

You nearly had me.

There.

Colin, tell me.

I do.

Yeah, it's totally good.

That was a bit of fun, wasn't it?

You bastard.

Oh, I didn't hurt you, did I?

You bloody near broke my arm.

Oh, goodness, I'm terribly sorry, old chap.

Just a bit of fun.

It didn't feel like that to me.

You were honest, towards me.

Yeah, I'm all right.

No, thanks to you.

No more of that, though.

All right?

I've tried to deal with you decent.

Not leave you on your own all the time.

Look what you're going to do.

With shake hands with me, though.

Oh, yeah.

I'm going to do it.

With shake hands with me, though, yeah?

No hard feelings.

I'm not so easy enough to say.

Oh, godly, I don't even know what I'm supposed to have done.

Come on, old boy.

Please.

Shake hands with me, no harm done, eh?

All right.

No harm done, I suppose.

Fine.

You are William Henry DeBarg-Hibbert.

I am.

Would you state your medical qualifications, please?

I'm a bachelor of arts of Cambridge,

a member of the Royal College of Surgeons,

a associate of the Royal College of Physicians,

and also a member of the Royal College of Physicians.

You were psychotherapist at Wilmwood Scrupp's prison

from 1934 to 1939.

Until the outbreak of war.

Yes, you were psychotherapist at Felton Prison

and the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum

from 1945 to 1945.

Yes.

On instructions received from the defendant's solicitor,

have you visited the defendant Heath on several occasions

of bricks and prison?

Yes.

Now, you had an opportunity, quite early, I think,

of reading an account of the injuries which were inflicted

on each of these two women.

Yes, I had.

In your opinion, what was the nature of these acts of violence?

Extremely savage, and of a nature which could almost certainly

only be done by a sadist.

They were not ordinary violence.

You have also inquired into and heard this morning

about the general delinquency that this man's history shows,

as far as we can trace it in a rate, back to the age of about 18.

Yes.

When one finds this general history of delinquency

combined with this sexual or sadistic activity,

what presumption does it raise in your mind?

That the man is born with the deficiency of violence.

That the man is born with the deficient moral sense,

and will commit any type of crime, or quite a wide range of crime.

It is not confined to any one particular field.

In the course of your discussions with him,

have you endeavored to find out some reason for these crimes?

Have you discussed them with him?

Merely that they produce in him the normal,

well, the ordinary satisfaction that normal sexual intercourse

would produce.

Did he, at any time, during your examination of him,

show any remorse for these crimes?

He appeared to show no remorse,

nor an appreciation of what other people would think of his behavior.

I don't quite see what you're driving out of, boy.

We'll take the second girl, for instance,

and during Marshall.

What was your attitude towards her?

Well, I liked her.

It was pretty little, then.

You barely knew the girl, Uncle.

You were attracted to her?

Well, wouldn't have shoved her out of my bed, oh, man.

That's what you mean.

And yet you killed her?

Well, let's put it a bit strong.

How would you put it?

Well, just doesn't seem to sort of think a chap would do.

It is damn bad, though, you know?

The whole love business, don't you?

In my way.

You're a man of the world, old boy.

You know what I mean?

No business.

A couple of decent, ordinary human beings

lying about starkers, slobbering over each other.

A chap has themself.

It's about to get thoughts in his head.

What kind of thoughts?

Well, what do you do to someone?

Hurt them, you mean?

Anything.

There's no reason not to do anything.

There's no one else there, no one to see.

And you like to do that?

You get pleasure from that?

Oh, look, it's not me, old boy.

That's what I'm saying.

It's just something that happens.

As a result of your investigations,

consideration and experience, to what conclusion have you come?

That it is not an ordinary case of sexual perversion,

but that he suffers from moral insanity,

and that at times he is quite unaware that what he is doing is wrong.

In your view, is he certifiable as morally insane?

Yes.

Thank you, Dr. Hubert, and I have no more questions.

When he lashed her, having tied her up and made her helpless first

and eventually suffocated her, he knew it was wrong?

No.

So would you tell us why?

Because people during sexual behavior generally consider what they are doing

is right and their own business.

Oh, then may I take it that this is your evidence.

At the time he was inflicting these terrible injuries, he thought it was right.

He thought it was...

Yes, he thought it was right.

He thought it was right.

Yes.

Because he had only obtained his sexual satisfaction by inflicting cruelty,

you say he thought it was right to inflict it, do you?

Yes, I do.

Is that your answer, Dr. Hubert?

Well, he was doing what he wished to do.

I asked if that was your answer.

If you like, yes.

Are you saying with your responsibilities, standing there,

that a person in that frame of mind is free from criminal responsibility,

even if what he does causes grievous bodily harm or death?

At the time, yes.

His criminal responsibility does not occur at a particular time, Dr.

I asked whether with your responsibility you are saying that a perverted Satan

is too nose perfectly well what he is doing after he has satisfied his perverted instinct

is free from criminal responsibility because he finds the necessity to satisfy it.

Say no for heaven's sake.

My answer is yes.

Because I'm questioning sexual perverts, they appear to show no remorse or regret quite frequently.

Dr. Hubert, does it mean this then that every sexual pervert who in order to obtain his satisfaction

has to indulge his perversion is free to say that he is free from any responsibility for the consequences?

No.

Well, what does it mean there with great respect? I thought that was exactly what you've been saying.

No, that coupled with the same view in other branches in life,

he had committed all kinds of offenses and has shown the same tendency.

A mere sexual perversion is a different matter.

His is a perversion coupled with crime in other fields showing the same irresponsibility

and apparent lack of knowledge of the difference between right and wrong.

Yeah, would you say that this was a fair description of this man's history as displayed by his record?

Correct me in anything that is wrong.

That it is the history of a man who whenever he found himself hard up did not scruple to pass checks

which he knew would be dishonored. Is that right so far?

So far, yes.

A man who when it suited him to wear medals to which he was not entitled

then the claim of rank which did not belong to him would do so?

Yes.

Yes. And who in fact has led an ordinary rather dishonest and distinctly bogus existence

for a fairly considerable number of years now is that accurate?

Yes.

Well, Dr. Hubert, just for the sake of arguable, I'm sorry to pass into these fields but I'm afraid it is necessary.

Suppose that at the same time that he was convicted of these offenses at which we have heard

there was another indictment to which he pleaded guilty that of having indecently assaulted a woman.

Now would you then go into the witness box on his behalf and say that because he felt like assaulting her at the time

and because he happened to feel like faulting checks at the time and because he felt like burgling other people's houses at the time

therefore he thought it was right and was entitled to be found insane?

It depends upon the degree of the offenses does it not?

Well does it?

I think so, yes.

Well, that needs to be the reverse of what you've been saying.

I'm sorry if I misinterpreted but I understand your proposition to be this.

If a man has an instinct which he finds it convenient to gratify and the gratification of that instinct leads him to crime

he is entitled to say, well, I'm not responsible because I was insane at the time.

I think if it includes sexual offenses of the sexual pervert type plus ordinary delinquency, one is entitled to consider the moral degeneracy.

Well you would appreciate of course that I, if I may say so, would be the first to concede that heath is certainly not a normal person.

Of course.

But you would agree that there was no answer in law for an abnormal person who gratifies his abnormality to seek to be excused from it.

It depends on its degree, its type and how large the field.

Um...

...covers.

Dr. Hubert with great respect does it?

What we have to consider is whether that person either does not know what he is doing, which you say is not the state that exists here.

Quite.

Or else knowing what he is doing does not know or appreciate that what he is doing is wrong and punishable by law.

Yes, he may know it is punishable by law but he does not think it is wrong.

Well does that mean morally wrong?

Morally wrong, yes, as far as he is concerned.

Are you saying he is entitled to be excused because he does not consider it is morally wrong?

No, I do not.

I must confess I was surprised.

Homosexuals do not consider themselves morally wrong but they are punishable by law.

Oh no.

Dr. Hubert, you have introduced that.

I had rather carefully avoided it.

The homosexual finds his satisfaction also in a perverted way.

And very often when he satisfies it in that perverted way, he offends against the law, does he not?

Yes.

Well is it your view then that every homosexual who offends against the law is entitled to say,

oh well I am not responsible because I felt at the time I wanted to do it and therefore it was right and therefore I am insane?

No, certainly not.

What is the difference with great respect?

Well there is such a condition as moral insanity.

Moral insanity covers the case of a man who will commit any offense,

which he feels at the time he wants to.

If any perverted person feels at the time he wants to satisfy his perversion, you say he is entitled to say he is insane.

With other offenses not the one.

Yes thank you Dr. Hubert.

Lost it.

And that more or less was that.

The prosecution called Dr. Grayson and Young, who testified that both had found Heath legal is sane.

But nothing could have faced from anyone's mind the memory of Dr. Hubert, the defense's key with us, who is ill and faltering,

under the stress of cross-examination.

Guilty.

The jor is verdict when it came as no surprise.

You stand convicted of the law.

They have been out for less than an hour.

Have you anything to say why the court should not give you judgment of death according to the law?

Nothing.

Neville, George, Cleveland, Heath, you have been found guilty of a terrible crime.

The sentence of the court upon you is that you be taken from this place to a lawful prison and thence to a place of execution.

And that you be there hanged by the neck until you are dead, and that your body shall be afterwards buried within the precincts of the prison,

in which you shall have been confined before your execution.

And made the Lord have mercy on yourself.

Oh, man.

Your family man, Mr. Watson?

Got a wife, two boys, suppose I am.

Got married myself once.

South Africa.

Got a kid of mine.

Must be three now.

Didn't work out there.

I've often thought, you know, if I could have made a go of that.

Well, I'm sure I couldn't be helped.

Oh, my feeling is exactly.

Oh, absolutely, oh boy.

I don't mind it, you know.

I mean, no one wants to sign off before his time, but well, it seems to me if I was some ordinary Johnny in the street reading his daily rag,

I'd have to go along with the rest of them.

Good riddance, I'd say.

That fellow Heath's a rotten curd, as elves all he gets.

Our people are gnurm.

That's different.

They know I'm a decent enough cove to pay my round.

That kind of thing.

It's not the law, isn't it?

You would have rules.

Break the rules and get caught. They punish you.

Got to have it.

It's a backbone of the country.

Now he's crying because it happens to be you.

You could have appealed.

No, no, no, no.

Bad form.

Best to take it on that chin.

No squealing.

Never been wanting all these damn trick-cybers chaps.

Waste of time.

Mumbo jumbo.

I mean, how can they know what's going on in a chaps head?

Chaps doesn't know himself out of her tongue.

Dan's insulting the whole thing.

Silly.

I mean, I'm not mad, oh boy am I.

Anyone can see that.

I never was much of a one for the old literary snuff.

So I've got to be done, hasn't I?

Yeah, give a listen to this.

It's a letter to my brother.

Tell me how it sounds to you, huh?

You don't want me to hear your private letters.

I'd feel as if I was eavesdropping.

How rubbish.

I do want you to hear it.

So difficult to know if you're striking the right nectar.

It still doesn't seem right.

I don't be such an old woman.

You ready?

Right.

My dear Mike, just a short note to let you know for the last time

that you're writing as abominable and you're spelling even worse.

Thought I'd keep it light, you know.

He's beating the breasts and all that.

I won't be seeing you again, but perhaps in the days to come

you'll feel a friendly gremlin ease your aircraft out of a sticky position.

You may recognize that touch.

Quite good, I thought.

Yeah, fine.

It gets a bit more serious now, you know.

Bit of fraternal advice, I suppose, expected.

You'll shortly be going into a damn good service.

Your future is up to you.

Don't make the mistakes that I've made.

If you get in any urges in the wrong direction, just say to yourself, Christ,

I've seen the resolve of these and open your throttle and go round again.

You know what I mean.

All right?

What was that last bit about the throttle?

Well, it's just a weird talking old boy.

Yeah, difficult to say things straight out, you know.

Now, you'll get a drift, all right?

Use King's regulations and air council instructions as your Bible and stick to it.

If you do that, you won't come unstuck.

I'm more qualified to give advice than anyone else I know because I've learned the lessons and how.

Now, you take advantage of them.

God, it's awful, this.

Sounds all right to me.

Doesn't seem natural somehow.

Me up on a soapbox, preaching away.

Nah, suppose so.

Ralph will always help you. He's a no-mate of mine.

Never be shy to ask him.

So will any other Air Force pilot who knew me?

That's true, too.

You'll find Air Force friendships mean something and they're not easily broken.

Get your air license and go ahead.

You can do great things.

It's in you and it's up to you to do something to make Mother and Dad proud of you.

By doing that, you'll be helping me as well.

Bit of lump in the throat stuff there.

Can't be helped.

Last bit.

Cheery, I'm Nick, and very many happy landings.

Don't you bloody well let me down or I'll haunt you.

And I have a feeling I can be a most unpleasant ghost ever yours then.

I don't know.

What do you mean the last bit about the ghost?

It doesn't seem quite right. It's saying something like that.

I mean, in your place, I don't know.

Not superstitious, I think.

Oh, man.

Thank you so much, old chap.

Everything all right, chief?

Yes.

Red inable?

The Governor asked, you know, if there was anything you wanted, anything in particular.

Oh, Johnny, good.

Last request, eh?

Tell you what I would like.

Wouldn't have to be a snorter whisking at that, would you?

That'd be super.

Collins, the Governor's office in the cupboard, make it smartish.

Right.

Oh, and, erm, my man got a double.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.