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The Trials of Eric Mareo

[introduction]

Mareo did Not Take the witness stand during the trial. According to his junior counsel, (later Sir) Trevor Henry, this was in large part because he could remember very little about the events of the fatal weekend. In light of that fact, it appears that Mareo's senior counsel, Humphrey O'Leary KC, decided to take advantage of the procedural rule that permitted him to address the jury last where no Defence witnesses were called. O'Leary's decision to call neither Mareo nor any other witnesses perhaps indicates his assessment of the strength (or rather weakness) of the Crown's case. O'Leary's strategy seems to have been to attempt to raise doubts about Mareo's alleged motive, the Crown's interpretation of his guilty behaviour, and the scientific veracity of the Crown's medical witnesses. He also attempted to present a plausible alternative explanation of Thelma's death.