His Bloody Project: A Historical Thriller

For the third day of the trial, Sinclair calls his only witness to the stand: James Bruce Thomson. Thomson describes his credentials and the so-called “hereditary criminal class” (223), which he believes to be genetically predisposed to criminality. He then moves on to the specifics of the case, beginning with his examination of Roderick at Inverness and his journey to Culduie. However, he shocks Sinclair—and the rest of the courtroom—by testifying that he does not believe that Roderick belongs to a genetic class of criminals.

Sinclair attempts to gain control of the exchange, prompting Thomson to testify that one can be legally insane without exhibiting obvious outward signs of madness. He explains that someone can be morally insane, or in possession of their senses yet nevertheless unable to stop themselves from committing crimes and misdeeds—meaning that Roderick’s own statement doesn’t necessarily preclude him from suffering from this condition. Sinclair asks Thomson whether he believes Roderick suffers from moral insanity, and Thomson replies that he believes Roderick’s actions could indicate such a condition if his version of events could be accepted as true.

Leaving Sinclair shocked once more, Thomson proceeds to propose an alternate explanation of Roderick’s crimes. Thomson argues, based on Roderick’s own inconsistencies in describing the murders, that Flora was the primary target of the attack and that Roderick killed Donnie and Lachlan because they interrupted his attack on Flora. He goes on to argue that the fact that Roderick has been hesitant to answer questions regarding Flora’s sexual injuries is proof that he is not morally insane and is acting consciously in dissembling the truth of his crimes.

Thomson is excused from the stand, and the Crown makes its closing argument, stating that while Sinclair wants the jury to believe that Roderick is “an imbecile, given to talking to himself and hearing voices in his head” (231), the murder of Lachlan Mackenzie can be easily explained as an act of revenge against his harassment of the Macrae family. The Crown concludes that Roderick is sane, and that this should be self-evident from Roderick’s closing statement.

In the defense’s closing statement, Sinclair argues that the jury should be mindful of the testimony of those who knew Roderick—highlighting the portions of witness testimony that characterized him as eccentric, wicked, and slow-witted. He argues that Roderick’s crimes can only be explained by his moral insanity: “he did not believe—he does not believe—he had done anything wrong” (233). Sinclair goes on to refute Thomson’s testimony, arguing that the brutality of Roderick’s crimes makes it impossible to refute his departure from reason.

The Lord Justice-Clerk entreats the jury to act according to their best judgment, advising them to weigh the evidence and testimony they have been presented, before charging them with retiring to reach their verdict.