• The prosecution was not able to establish any motive for John killing Mrs Bolshaw, and speculated it was in a drunken rage, although why he would have been in such an angry state was not clear.

• This would be completely out of character for John, who has no previous convictions. In fact, Barbara Taft had already told the police that John was never a heavy drinker.

• The prosecution offered no evidence of violence in John’s past.

There was no motive and no reason whatsoever why John would have harmed Mrs. Bolshaw in any way.