64
Henry managed to speak to Ian secretly one day and
said: ‘Ian, I know it is too much to ask to be found not
guilty, but could you possibly try to convince the jury to
find me guilty with only a minor offence so I will get a
short prison sentence. I couldn’t survive being in prison
for long time.’
Ian smiled and replied, ‘I can’t promise anything, my
dear friend, but I will certainly try.’
The jury spent a long time deliberating Henry’s case and
found him guilty, but recommended he be sentenced
to only two years in prison and pay a large fine. Henry
was very pleased and wanted very much to thank his old
friend Ian.
He got the opportunity much later when Ian came to
visit him in prison. Henry thanked him for his help and
told him repeatedly how grateful he was.
‘Well Henry,’ said Ian, ‘my fellow jurors were very
difficult to persuade. Do you know, those fools all
wanted to find you not guilty!’
tax fraud
: skattasvik
trial
: réttur
alleged
: meintur
guilty
: sekur
jury
: kviðdómur
deliberate
: rökræða
