1:16:03
He had taken every precaution
to protect his wife,
1:16:06
he could not have known
that Mr Ferguson's fear of heights
1:16:11
would make him powerless
when he was most needed.
1:16:14
As to Mr Ferguson.
1:16:17
You have heard his former superior,
1:16:19
Detective Captain Hansen
from that great city to the north,
1:16:23
testify as to his character and ability -
he was most enthusiastic.
1:16:28
The fact that once before,
under similar circumstances,
1:16:32
Mr Ferguson allowed a police colleague
to fall to his death,
1:16:36
Captain Hansen dismissed
as an unfortunate incident.
1:16:41
Mr Ferguson is to be congratulated upon
having saved the woman's life,
1:16:46
when, in a previous fit of aberration,
she threw herself into the Bay.
1:16:50
It is a pity that,
knowing her suicidal tendencies,
1:16:55
he did not make
a greater effort the second time.
1:17:01
But we are not here to pass judgment
on Mr Ferguson's lack of initiative.
1:17:05
He did nothing.
1:17:07
The law has little to say
on things left undone.
1:17:10
Nor does his strange behaviour
after he saw the body fall
1:17:16
have any bearing on your verdict.
1:17:19
He did not remain
at the scene of the death - he left.
1:17:23
He claims he suffered a blackout
and knew nothing more
1:17:27
until he found himself back
in his apartment several hours later.
1:17:32
You may accept that, or not.
1:17:36
Or you may believe that having
once again allowed someone to die,
1:17:40
he could not face the tragic result
of his own weakness, and ran away.
1:17:47
That has nothing to do with your verdict.
1:17:50
It is a matter between him
and his own conscience.
1:17:55
Now, from the state of mind
of Madeleine Elster prior to her death,