Adam's argument that Sheila would not be able to overcome Nevill

[Erik Narramore]

Reasons why Nevill would instantly negate Sheila while fully fit -

It would be an automatic response as a father.

It would be an automatic response as a husband.

It would be an automatic response as a grandfather.

It would be an automatic response to protect himself.

It would be automatic response as head of the family.

Behind this are lots of assumptions: for instance, you don't know under what circumstances she grabbed the rifle in the first place.  She would have had to load it with the magazine, which suggests she would have been out of Nevill's sight.

He had work in a few hours and needed rest.

He was tired.  I agree.

The rifle Sheila was holding was to kill vermin.

Nevill would know the rifle was not powerful.

I agree.

Sheila had no experience with the rifle.

You don't know that.

He had a 9 inch and 7 stone advantage over Sheila.

Have you ever been in a fight?  A shorter and slighter person can have an edge in that situation.  If she was holding the rifle, and if it was loaded, she could have escaped from Nevill and Nevill would know this and may have tried to reason with her.

He had a military background.

Decades earlier.

He was physically fit.

So was Sheila.

He was physically alert & coordinated. Unlike Sheila.

Sheila was physically alert and coordinated.  She did her nails.  A witness says she skipped up Pages Lane with the children earlier that day.  If she had used the rifle before, or seen it used, or had its use shown to her, she could have used the rifle on the night.

He had several objects to use if charging Sheila - stool, chair. He had no other option. June was upstairs asleep. Friends and relatives were miles away & it was 3am.

He would be careful about injuring Sheila.  It's his daughter.  She's a woman.  She's mentally-ill.  These weaknesses perhaps gave her a psychological edge over her father.

We don't know if June was asleep or not.  I thought June was a light sleeper?

He did not need any physical help to take the rifle off Sheila.

Nobody is suggesting he did, but he was 61 and Sheila was physically fit and light on her feet, and it's his daughter, so it would not have been as simple as you think.

If he couldn't calm Sheila down, no one could. His only option was to take the rifle back.

First, ringing Jeremy doesn't mean he intended for Jeremy to calm Sheila down or even speak to Sheila at all.  He may have just needed Jeremy there because an extra person was needed to help deal with things - for instance, guard the upstairs rooms and keep Sheila downstairs.

One possible scenario is that Nevill rang Jeremy because he had already got Sheila under control.  He has left the rifle leaning nearby and Sheila is stood there.  As soon as he speaks to Jeremy, Sheila goes for the rifle again, and that's why the call ended.

Unlikely he would need to charge Sheila. It was a long rifle in a confined space.

Depends on how Sheila is holding the rifle.  She may have her finger on the trigger and be pointing it him.  Does he charge her then?

He would not consider phoning the police, as had no time.

Well does he call them or not?  You keep telling us he would.

Once in a physical battle for the rifle, Nevill would win within a few seconds.

Not necessarily.  Sheila would have a tight grip on the rifle and she also has long nails.

Nevill will be angry that he had left the rifle out. So would want to recitify this straight away.

The gun cupboard is not lockable.

Nevill would know a lucky accurate torso shot from Sheila would not stop him getting the rifle back.

It would certainly hurt and it would be a shock to him.

Nevill may not believe Sheila would fire the rifle. He was not going to guve her the chance anyway.

He has to get the rifle off her first.

If he felt comfortable enough & had the time to ring anyone, he would have taken the easier option - take the rifle.

If he couldn't get the rifle off Sheila, maybe ringing Jeremy was his only option?  It could also be that he it was a psychological tactic that back-fired: he threatened Sheila with calling Jeremy, but this only made her more angry.