Maxwell Sterling - Defence Solicitor

Fact. Charlotte lived under the same roof as her mother and father in the family home.

Fact. Charlotte and her father did not see eye to eye and they were estranged. 

Fact. Charlotte Hill ignored her father and he ignored her. 

Fact. Neither Mr or Mrs Hill asked Charlotte to leave the family home. 

Fact. Mrs Hill was fully aware that her husband did not speak to Charlotte and Charlotte did not speak to her father.  

Fact. There is no evidence at all that Charlotte poisoned her father.

Charlotte is an upstanding member of the community, volunteering at the local church, helping those less fortunate than herself. 

The container that the ricin was found in, had a variation of finger prints, non of which belonged to Charlotte Hill. 

On the day of Mr Hill’s funeral, Charlotte showed respect by attending and that is all that is morally required of her.

The fact that she did not like or get along with her father is not evidence or proof of guilt.

Jennifer Lloyd - Francis Street Church youth worker.

Charlotte and I have been best friends for most of our lives. Charlotte’s the best friend you could ever ask for. If she says she’ll do something she does. She’s reliable, helpful, genuine and every one in our congregation loves her.

I can tell when she’s stressed out or upset and it usually stems from her not being able to help someone. She’s one of those rare people in our society that wants to do the best by everyone. That’s not a crime is it?

I know that she and her father had a difficult relationship, that he has in the past betrayed her trust and let her down but I can never recall a time, in all the years that I’ve known her when she has been angry or spoken of her father in anger. 

It’s just not in her, it’s just not her thing. She’s one of the good ones.

Fr Declan Doyle - St Francis church, Francis street

I’ve known Charlotte and her parents since she was just a nipper of about two years old. Her parents have never attended the church but little Charlotte found her own way and has been a dedicated parishioner for many years. Helping out where she can, supporting the elderly and the youth.

Hearing that Charlotte has been accused of such an awful crime against her father, not only shocks me but concerns me. Charlotte was a little lost child when she first came to Sunday school and found her way, choosing for herself, deciding to be baptised without the support of any family members.

She is a strong and upstanding member of this community and I have no experience of her being violent or deceptive.

Charlotte is a special and gifted caring person and I look forward to her being able to put these terrible accusations behind her so that she can take her own time to mourn and deal with her father’s passing in her own way.

Eleanor Redwood - Prosecution Solicitor

Charlotte Hill is a conniving and vindictive daughter. 

Nearly everybody in attendance of Mr Hill’s funeral can and some will testify that she literally flaunted herself in inappropriate clothing.  

She smiled, laughed, skipped and showed the utmost disrespect to her father on a very somber and sad day for all.

Whilst her fingerprints may not be on the container of her fathers medication, it is simple enough and reasonable enough that she could have coaxed or coerced someone else to plant the medication in her father’s room.

To all who attended Mr Hill’s funeral including the priest, Charlotte seemed to have enjoyed the whole sad affair and was also spotted spitting on her father’s lowered casket when she thought no one was looking.

I ask you, are these the actions of a grieving daughter?

Mrs Hill - Charlotte’s mother

She used to be such a sweet and loving child. Sensitive, caring, funny and then she just changed. Almost over night. I don’t think I can remember exactly when but she just became withdrawn and sulky. At times I’d say she was downright ignorant. 

Never wanting to come out with her father and I. She’d just sit up in that damn bedroom all day and night. The only time she seemed to cheer up was going to school or going to Sunday school. Come to think of it, anytime she was doing anything that did not involve us, her own parents. She shunned us.

So ungrateful, after all we did for her. Clothed her, fed her, she’s never ever done without. Her father doted on her he did. Did everything he could to make sure she had everything. And on the day he died, she literally ignored him. Had nothing to say. Not a kind word or message, she didn’t come near him whilst he was sick either, even though he asked for her all the time.

The day of the funeral was the last straw for me. Bright red dress and matching shoes as if she was all dolled up for a night on the tiles. I was so ashamed in front of our friends, family and neighbours. I mean who does that? I ask you, who does that?

When the chemist came back to me telling me they’d found poison, I came over all cold, I did. I just knew it was her, she hated us. She hates me. 

I don’t feel safe in my own home. I don’t sleep well anymore. I fear her.

Albert Markham - Mr and Mrs Hill’s neighbour and friend

She’s a disgrace she is. Never seen anything like it in my life. And I told her I did. Put her straight. Told her to make her own way home after that show at the funeral. 

I cringe thinking about what her poor father would feel if he was looking down on the day of his own funeral. He'd be turning in his grave he would. It was shocking. Shameful.

Of course I can’t say what she's like behind closed doors. You’d hardly see her to be fair.

 Just coming and going from work I suppose, she's a quiet one alright. But that’s what they say, don’t they? Be careful of the quiet ones. 

If she were a daughter of mine I’d disown her for what she did to her poor mother on that day. She showed no respect, or sorrow. Don’t know about mourning, she was in a party mood.

Eleanor Redwood - Prosecution Solicitor

Charlotte hated her father. She deliberately and spitefully spoiled his funeral because she wanted to show her total disregard for her parents. 

She poisoned her father cruelly and slowly over a matter of months, watching him die and watching her mother suffer and when he finally died she showed her pleasure to every single person in attendance of the funeral. 

She did not care and she is guilty of the pre mediated murder of her own father.

Maxwell Sterling - Defence Solicitor

There is absolutely no evidence against Charlotte, in fact this whole trial is a farce.

Charlotte and her father did not get along, he fell ill, she did not involve herself with him. She attended his funeral and perhaps she felt relieved, glad that he had passed but that does not make her responsible or guilty. 

Her father fell ill and died. It is sad. This is a deeply sad situation but there is not one iota of evidence.

Find Charlotte Hill not guilty.