Page 73 of The Right to Remain

Jack gave the witness a moment to review it, then asked, “Who is Diana Vizzi?”

“Ms. Vizzi is someone I admire,” she said.

“Why?”

“She was a talented dancer, a graduate of Juilliard. She later discovered that many of the same traits that made her a great dancer—balance, a sense of timing, leg strength—made her one heck of a good skeet shooter. She made the U.S. Olympic team for the Paris Olympics.”

“Is it fair to say that you and your husband shared a common interest in skeet shooting?”

“It was one of the places we were both happy.”

Jack took his time to set up the next question, trying to be delicate yet skillful. “Did you ever use the specific shotgun that was found next to your husband’s body?”

“Objection,” said the prosecutor.

“Grounds?” the judge asked.

“It’s just obnoxious.”

“Overruled. The witness may answer.”

Helena leaned forward, closer to the microphone. “I’ve used it before.”

“You knew where that shotgun was kept in the house?”

“In the locked firearms cabinet, with our other guns.”

“You knew where the shells were kept, right?”

“Yes, of course. We have a child in the house. Owen and I knew exactly where everything was.”

“Both your husband and you knew where the key to the locked gun cabinet was kept, I assume?”

“Yes, of course.”

Jack paused to set up the next question. “Do you have any reason to believe my client, Mr. Stafford, knew where that key was kept?”

She seemed to understand the importance of the point Jack was establishing, but there was only one answer. “No, I don’t.”

Jack took the score and moved on. “Now, Ms. Pollard, as a skeet shooter, you understand the force of a shotgun blast, right? You appreciate its devastating power?”

“I’m not sure I understand the question,” she said.

“My apologies, Ms. Pollard. This isn’t an easy question to ask, but I must: Is it fair to say that you have enough experience to know that if a shotgun is placed in one’s mouth and the trigger is pulled, there will be nothing left of the back of the skull?”

“Objection,” said the prosecutor, groaning. “This is just unacceptable.”

The judge didn’t look pleased. “Mr. Swyteck, there had better be a point here.”

“I will make it quickly,” said Jack.

“Very quickly,” the judge said. “Ms. Pollard, you may answer.”

“I’ve never seen it happen,” said Helena. “But yes, the devastating effect of a shotgun blast at close range is rather self-evident.”

“Let me ask you one last question,” said Jack. “I want you to assume there is a victim who has suffered blunt trauma to the back of the head. It could be a bruise from being hit with a frying pan, a fractured skull from a blow with a hammer, or just about anything else imaginable. It doesn’t matter. Any kind of head wound that either knocks the victim unconscious or even kills them. Here’s my question:

“A shotgun blast at close range, like the one suffered by your husband, would destroy all evidence of that trauma to the back of the head, wouldn’t you agree?”