A New Regime, A New Normal

24 Hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel

A significant feature of the New Regime was its 24 hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel.  A harsh description of the channel is that it broadcasts official narratives and serves as a tool for public control and intimidation. Another description is that it operates to inform and educate citizens of the New Regime of how the transition from the old world to the new world was progressing and how the regime itself was operating in the new world.

The execution of the defiant Judge was broadcast as a prominent news item on the channel and was presented to the community as entirely justified for someone who was deliberately defiant of the requirements of the New Regime. The message was clear: citizens would do well to heed that stark warning against any act of regime defiance.

Not every action of the New Regime was broadcast on the channel and there were often items about the disciplining of otherwise unremarkable citizens, so that the community could see no one would escape the demands of the New Regime.

The channel would often extol the virtues of the Climate Integrity Lines, a mechanism through which citizens could report Infidels, and encourage the use of the Lines. Fools like The Princess of Language Hypocrisy may find themselves being the subject of a Climate Integrity Lines notification or report. Officers of the New Regime would then determine if the matter warranted investigation. None of that information about the workings of the Climate Integrity Lines was hidden from the public. It was broadcast on the Regime Television / Video Channel.

A message was repeated endlessly on the channel, whether you were a Judge or ordinary Johnny or Jodie, if you were defiant, the New Regime was coming for you. And there would be no mercy. The channel made clear the New Regime punished fanatics fanatically.

The channel also made clear a report or notification made to the Climate Integrity Lines could lead to someone being sent to the Re-Education Program.

The New Regime took the view its 24 Hour Television / Video Channel would tell the citizens what was going on, not cover it up, as news broadcasters would do in the former regime.

The channel also often had items explaining the Re-Education Program. How it is a bridge between the real world and the unrelenting hell of the 15 Minute Cities. Relevantly, originally the structure of the New Regime was put in place to deal with Climate Hoaxers. The New Regime now recognised its infrastructure, in particular the Re-Education Program, can also ensnare other types of Infidels, like The Princess of Language Hypocrisy.

The core messages of the Re-Education Program remain the same:

• The Infidels are the problem.

• The Infidels have a choice: Epiphany or Eternal Damnation in 15 Minute Cities.

• The whole idea of 15 Minute Cities in the New Regime is to show that they are a bad idea and should never be implemented.

• Every single piece of the 15 Minute Cities comes from the Infidels.

• Infidels should be given no respite from the hell their religious fervour and zealotry created, unless their epiphany is genuine and permanent.

• For those who do not achieve a genuine and permanent epiphany, their damnation is eternal, without relief.

The 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program

The authorities in the New Regime decided to review the recent incarceration of Dresden Leipzig for breach of the recently implemented curfew. They decided Leipzig needed another course at the 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program. Security Officers were promptly sent to the residence of Leipzig to arrest him and relocate him to the 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program facility.

At his latest induction to the 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Programme, Dresden was introduced to Cindy Incidentally, who was sentenced to a course of the programme, because she once handed out pamphlets for a climate change advocacy group.

Whilst the week-long intensive program was a culture shock for Cindy Incidentally, it was not something against which she rebelled or raised an objection. During her time at the program, Cindy noted with interest the treatment of Dresden Leipzig. More than once during the program Dresden was specifically told by the lecturing authorities, successful completion of the program can lead to one being allowed to leave the 15 Minute Cities permanently.

Cindy also noted the feedback she received from the program lecturing authorities that she was progressing well through the program. A standout feature of the program for Cindy was how often the lecturing authorities made reference to Dresden Leipzig as an example of what happens to someone who transgresses against the New Regime.

At the completion of her program, Dresden Leipzig was beside Cindy Incidentally when the authorities told her that she had successfully completed the program. She would not progress to the 15 Minute Cities. She could return to the real world. As Cindy was packing up her belongings and preparing to leave, she heard the authorities tell Dresden that he would remain in the 15 Minute Cities. His status may be reviewed in the future, but for now he would remain in the 15 Minute Cities. It was obvious that was news Dresden was not comfortable hearing.

Cindy Incidentally then exited the 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Programme facility and made her way home.

A Bully Gets Some Re-Education

With the election of the New Regime, the campaign of sustained bullying to which D'Arbanville had been subjected by his manager Shonderosa, would come to an end. As soon as D'Arbanville was made aware of the Climate Integrity Lines, he prepared a complaint in respect of Shonderosa. He took a little time and when he considered his complaint to be complete, he utilised the Climate Integrity Lines to inform on Shonderosa.

D'Arbanville told the Climate Integrity Lines staff member, Shonderosa was a fanatical Climate Hoaxer. She was not content to contain her fanatical Climate Hoax advocacy to her private life, she shoved it down the throat of all and sundry at her work. He was even kind and considerate enough to provide the Climate Integrity Lines staff member with the home and work addresses of Shonderosa, as well as all of the telephone numbers he knew in respect of her. The Climate Integrity Lines staff member was very receptive of the complaint and information about Shonderosa. She said she thought it would receive prompt attention.

The following day at work was very entertaining for D'Arbanville. Shonderosa enjoyed the delight of a visit from the Stasi Sandmen to help her with her rehabilitation from climate hoax advocacy. It was off to the 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program for Shonderosa and no argument or objection from her would be entertained.

Sign of Trouble

Felice was walking in her neighbourhood. She walked past the residence of single mother Eloise Shirehampton. The garage door was open. A sign in the garage was visible: Climate Action Now. Felice immediately proceeded to the nearest public telephone and called the Climate Integrity Lines to lay an information about Eloise Shirehampton and her sign. The very helpful Climate Integrity Lines staff member said the information would receive prompt attention. The call ended and Felice resumed her neighbourhood walk.

Within 10 minutes of the call from Felice, two Stasi Sandmen were at the residence of single mother Eloise Shirehampton. She was immediately taken into custody and transported to a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program facility, where she stayed until her court appearance.

Within three hours single mother Eloise Shirehampton was before a Judge and being sentenced for being an Infidel.

Judge: “Ms Eloise Shirehampton, Possession of a Climate Action Now sign makes you a Climate Hoaxing Infidel. There is no defence for your actions and no justification for them. You will be convicted of being an Infidel. You will be micro-chipped, forced to submit to a Digital ID, have to attend a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program and you will be relocated to a 15 Minute City. Your time in the real world is over.”

“I have ordered your former husband be present for these proceedings. I will now address him.

Mr Spectre Shirehampton, You are not in trouble. You will not need legal representation. Do you have any children?

Spectre Shirehampton: Yes, Three.

Judge: With whom do they reside?

Spectre Shirehampton: They reside with their mother, the accused before this Court. She has custody of them.

Judge: I order that Eloise Shirehampton have no contact with her children whatsoever. I order that custody of those children, the children of Spectre Shirehampton and Eloise Shirehampton, be solely with Spectre Shirehampton. Spectre Shirehampton you now have custody of the children. It is hard to imagine circumstances why you might want to attend a 15 Minute City and visit Eloise Shirehampton. The children are never to visit Eloise Shirehampton in her 15 Minute City. The children are to never have contact with her.

Do you understand the orders of this Court with respect to the custody of the children and contact with the mother, Eloise Shirehampton?

Spectre Shirehampton: Yes, Your Honour.

Judge: Sentence having been imposed upon Eloise Shirehampton and orders having been made regarding the residence and custody of the children and contact with their parents, this matter is now complete. Eloise Shirehampton can now be taken to a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program facility.

The 24 hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel picked up the story of Eloise Shirehampton, the single mother with the Climate Action Now sign in her possession and ran it as the top story for three days. The actual identities of the players were not revealed, but otherwise it was made public in all its glory. The good work of the solid, loyal citizen in contacting the Climate Integrity Lines was not missed. It was praised.

Settled Science

The Chief of The Stasi appeared on the 24 hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel to announce that:

“Our experts have settled the science, and it has confirmed what we have long suspected. A significant portion of the Climate Hoax Infidels suffer from an incurable mental illness that precludes them from hearing, seeing, understanding, identifying, recognising, accepting or respecting the truth. This mental illness is called Climatism and leads the Infidels to be potentially very dangerous and possibly extremely violent.

“Solid, loyal citizens, patriots, should not engage with these Infidels. Those citizens should utilise the Climate Integrity Lines and inform the authorities about the Infidels. Our trained Stasi Sandmen will attend upon the Infidels and then deal with them, as required.”

This story was run as the top story every hour on the 24 hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel for about a month. The New Regime also made appropriate official notifications to all facets of the medical profession about the now settled science.

Climatism In The Workplace

Excretia made a complaint of sexual harassment to Ms Human Resources Management about Stephenson, who denied the complaint. Ms Human Resources Management told Stephenson a formal inquiry would be set up by the accountancy firm. Stephenson told his colleague Mandrake about the false complaint and the inquiry. Both Stephenson and Mandrake were angry about the situation.

Mandrake left the company of Stephenson and promptly contacted the Climate Integrity Lines. Mandrake informed the Climate Integrity Lines staff that he was certain Excretia was suffering from Climatism and therefore posing a serious risk to the accountancy firm staff. Mandrake was told trained Stasi Sandmen would be at the accountancy firm as soon as possible to deal with Excretia.

Within 25 minutes two Stasi Sandmen were at the premises of the accountancy firm and had identified Excretia. They wasted no time in executing her in front of several staff members.

The Stasi Sandmen then proceeded to Ms Human Resources Management and had a conversation with her.

Stasi: Did it occur to you at all to enquire as to whether Excretia was suffering from Climatism when you took her complaint from her?

HRM: No.

Stasi: As soon as we saw her, we could tell she was suffering from Climatism. There is no way any complaint from her could possibly be valid.

In the circumstances you will now be required to undertake a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program and we will relocate you to a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program facility.

For the next week the 24 Hour Propaganda Television / Video Channel featured prominently the story of Excretia and how Climatism caused her to make a false complaint. The story also emphasised how the failure of Ms Human Resources Management to respond correctly to the Climatism of Excretia saw her having to undertake a 15 Minute Cities Re-Education Program. 

Justice Visits The Jury

Trial 1

Cologne Innsbruck watched the Rape Trial of his male friend seething with anger. He had seen this movie before and it did not end well. The younger brother of Cologne was wrongly charged with rape. No matter how many times Little Brother told the authorities that he was not guilty, that he was the victim of a false complaint, deaf ears greeted him. The criminal law trial of his little brother ended with him being convicted of rape and sentenced to eight (8) years in gaol.

His Little Brother appealed his conviction and subsequently the Court of Appeal rendered its judgement acquitting him of the charge. The Court of Appeal further recommending that the Female Complainant be charged with:

• Making a False Complaint; and

• Attempting To Pervert The Course of Justice . 

Unfortunately that morning shortly before the Court of Appeal judgement was delivered, a lunatic at the prison where Little Brother was incarcerated killed the brother of Cologne Innsbruck.

Trial 2

As Cologne Innsbruck watched Rape Trial 2, this one involving his friend in similar circumstances to that of his Little Brother, none of his 500 gazillion shades of angry had dissipated.

Again the Rape Trial 2 accused friend of Cologne Innsbruck said he was not guilty and that he was a victim of a false complaint.

This gruesome history motivated Cologne Innsbruck to gain access to the courthouse before the Rape Trial 2 started and acquire a copy of the jury list. Innsbruck also rigged up a bomb to the jury box prior to the jury delivering its verdict.

On verdict day Cologne was taking no chances. He had audio to the inside of the courthouse connected, but he was not present at the court. He was proximate to the court when his audio conveyed the verdict of guilty. Cologne Innsbruck did not flinch. He immediately detonated the bomb.

The courtroom was a scene of chaos. The explosion had ripped through the jury box, leaving a trail of destruction, including fire in the courtroom. Shards of glass and splintered wood littered the floor. Screams echoed through the courtroom, as panicked onlookers scrambled to safety.

Police, fire services and ambulance attended the scene. Among the injured, six (6) jurors lay motionless, their fates were sealed. The remaining six (6) jurors, shaken and traumatised, were ushered out of the courtroom.

Upon hearing the explosion, Cologne Innsbruck departed from his location proximate to the courthouse and went home.

The False Confession

In the aftermath of the bomb attack, a man named Clouseau Carlos was arrested and charged with the bombing. A quiet, unassuming individual, Clouseau Carlos had a history of mental illness and minor criminal offences. Public opinion quickly turned against him, painting him as a deranged killer.

The arrest and charging of Clouseau Carlos for the courthouse bombing was a convenient development for Cologne Innsbruck and one he would do nothing to upset.

Juror 7: Davies

Juror 7 was driving home from work and approaching a rail crossing. The radio in his motor vehicle was broadcasting the news and the item that interested him involved Clouseau Carlos, the man charged with the bombing of the courthouse and the killing of six (6) jurors. The news broadcast revealed that it was an unremarkable administrative mention of the case in court and the case was adjourned to a later date.

Juror 7 had had no contact with the remaining five (5) other jurors and he wanted to put the experience of the subject Rape Trial and its aftermath behind him. The news of the bombing court case did not help him in that regard. He started to have flashbacks of both the trial and of the bombing and its aftermath. His thinking became chaotic and he felt he wanted to escape his current situation.

The train was clearly approaching the crossing where Juror 7 was stopped. The noise of the train added to the chaotic thinking of Juror 7. Instead of waiting at the crossing for the train to pass, the chaotic mind of Juror 7 told him:

“We have to get out of here”

and his response was to crash his motor vehicle through the boom gate and try to drive to the other side of the rail tracks.

He failed miserably and drove straight into the path of the speeding train.

The chaotic response of Juror 7 proved fatal. His collision with the speeding train ended his life. Consequently, more drama and chaos surrounded Juror 7, as police ambulance and fire services were required to attend the scene and deal with the fallout from the collision. No other fatalities resulted from the collision and there were no apparent injuries to anyone on the train.

Such a dramatic event naturally attracted media attention and it was a lead story for many news bulletins for the rest of that day and the following day. Consequently the remaining five (5) jurors from the trial became aware of the plight of Juror 7 and they had their own uncomfortable memory experiences.

Cologne Innsbruck listened to that news bulletin with some interest and, mildly surprised, with almost detached amusement, he said to himself at its conclusion:

“Well, how about that.”

Juror 8: Arthur Henderson

The meticulous accountant, Juror 8, found his normally sharp mind increasingly clouded by anxiety. The image of the bombed courtroom and the news of the demise of Juror 7 played on a loop in his thoughts, eroding his focus.

Usually a sanctuary of order, the office building of Juror 8 now felt fraught with unseen dangers. The hum of computers and the drone of conversations seemed to amplify his paranoia. He battled to concentrate on his work, the numbers on his screen blurring as his mind drifted to the "cursed" jury.

One afternoon, a critical deadline loomed, adding to his already considerable stress. He rose to retrieve a vital file from a storage room, his mind completely consumed by a vivid flashback of the explosion.

He approached a doorway he believed led to the storage area, his gaze distant. However, the door had been removed for maintenance, leaving a gaping, unguarded elevator shaft. A temporary barrier, consisting of a flimsy strip of caution tape, had been dislodged and lay unnoticed on the floor.

Lost in his terrifying memories, Juror 8 walked forward, expecting solid ground. The sudden emptiness, the horrifying drop into the blackness, registered only as his foot met air.

On her first week at the firm, a young intern, Sarah, happened to be passing by. A flicker of movement caught her eye – a man walking directly towards the open shaft, his eyes vacant. She cried out a warning, lunging forward with a desperate, instinctive reach.

"Mister! Stop!" Her voice was a strangled cry of alarm.

Her outstretched hand grasped only the air where his arm had been moments before. With a sickening lurch, Juror 8 stepped into the void.

Sarah stood frozen, her hand still outstretched, a silent scream trapped in her throat, as she watched in horror to see Juror 8 plummet down the twenty-five (25) stories of the empty elevator shaft. The sickening thud that echoed moments later confirmed the irreversible tragedy.

The scene that followed was one of chaos and disbelief. Screams erupted. Colleagues rushed to the edge of the shaft, peering into the darkness. The sterile office air was thick with shock and the dawning realisation of a senseless death.

The incident was immediately classified as a tragic workplace accident, a result of negligence regarding the unguarded shaft. An investigation was launched, safety protocols were frantically reviewed, and a pall of grief descended over the office.

News of the "fatal accident" at the downtown office building, identifying the victim as Arthur Henderson (Juror 8), became another grim headline.

Cologne Innsbruck was at home alone preparing dinner for himself on the evening of the death of Juror 8. The news was playing in the background on his television, but it was not his primary interest.

The report of the death of Juror 8 then came on the news bulletin and it caught his attention.

At the conclusion of the report he said out loud to himself:

“Well, that is interesting news.”

Jurors 9-12 Get Together

After Juror 9 heard of the news of the "fatal workplace accident" of Arthur Henderson (Juror 8), he contacted jurors 10-12 to organise a meeting. They agreed and met shortly thereafter at the residence of Juror 9.

In the dimly lit apartment of Juror 9, a video recording of the news report about the death of Juror 8, Arthur Henderson, played softly on a nearby television. Jurors 10, 11, and 12 sat around a cluttered table, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion.

Juror 9 (voice trembling slightly): Did you ... did you all see the news? About Henderson?

(A sombre nod from Juror 10, a nervous fidgeting from Juror 11, and a wide-eyed stare from Juror 12.)

Juror 9: It ... it cannot be another accident, can it? First Davies driving into a train, now Henderson ... falling down an elevator shaft? Both just days after the bombing?

Juror 11 (voice barely a whisper): It is ... it's like we are cursed.

Juror 10 (trying to sound rational, but his voice betrays his unease): That is ridiculous. These are just ... terrible coincidences. Stress can make people careless.

Juror 12 (eyes darting around the room): But two (2)? So close together? And the way the news described it ... Henderson just walked ... right into it. Like he was not even looking.

Juror 9: That is what I thought. Davies ... the news said he just drove straight through the boom gates. It is not normal behaviour. They were both on our jury.

Juror 11: What if ... what if the bomber... what if he is not finished? What if he is coming after us? But how? These look like accidents.

Juror 12: Maybe ... maybe it is not the bomber. Maybe ... maybe it is something else. Something ... unseen.

Juror 10: Do not be ridiculous. There is no such thing as curses. We need to be logical. We should go to the police. Tell them what we think.

Juror 9: And tell them what? That we think we are cursed? They will think we are all losing our minds. Especially after ... after the confession of Clouseau Carlos.

Juror 11: But we can not just sit here and wait to see who is next!

(A heavy silence falls over the group, the weight of their fear palpable. The flickering light from the television screen was casting long, distorted shadows on their faces.)

Juror 12: I think we have discussed this enough. I am going home.

Juror 12 promptly departed the residence of Juror 9.

Shortly thereafter Juror 11 said he was also going to leave. As he left, Juror 10 followed him.

Juror 9

After the meeting with Jurors 10-12, all Juror 9 could think about was the “Cursed Jurors”. His paranoia was escalating. He kept watching replays on his video player of the news items speaking of the deaths of the “Cursed Jurors” He could not sleep. He did not leave his residence. His mind seemed to be in a perpetual spin.

The dimly lit apartment had become the self-imposed tomb of Juror 9. Days bled into nights, marked only by the endless loop of the news report on his television and video player. The vacant eyes of Arthur Henderson, the sombre tone of the reporter, the stark image of the office building – these were the only companions in his increasingly fractured reality.

Sleep offered no respite, only a chaotic jumble of courtroom screams and the screech of train brakes. Awake, the fear was a constant, gnawing presence, whispering that he was next, that the curse was inevitable.

Juror 9 had stopped answering the telephone. The curtains remained drawn, blocking out the indifferent sunlight. Food lay untouched on the small table, a testament to his spiralling despair. The faces of the other dead jurors – the mangled car of Davies, the empty fall of Henderson – haunted his waking hours, their fates mirroring his own impending doom in his mind.

One afternoon, his gaze fixed on the flickering screen, a phrase from the news report seemed to detach itself from the rest: "... a tragic accident ... the second juror to die since the courthouse bombing ...".

A cold dread washed over him. Accident. The word mocked him. Juror 9 knew it was not an accident. They were all being picked off, one by one. And he was next. He could feel it in the suffocating silence of his apartment, in the frantic beating of his own heart.

For Juror 9, reality had completely fractured. He reached for the bottle of medication on his bedside table – sleeping pills prescribed after the trial, now his only solace. His hand trembled as he unscrewed the cap. He stared at the small white tablets in his palm, his mind a whirlwind of terror and a desperate yearning for escape.

The video recording of the news report continued to play, the voice of the reporter a monotonous drone in the background. On the screen, the image the of workplace of Arthur Henderson  lingered.

With a final, shuddering breath, Juror 9 swallowed the entire contents of the bottle. The act was not a conscious decision, but a primal surrender to the overwhelming fear that had consumed him. In the flickering light of the replay, his eyes closed, and the silence of the apartment deepened. In his mind, the curse had finally claimed another victim.

Black Market Clash

After Juror 11 learned of the death of Juror 9 his paranoia increased significantly. He was now a complete convert to the cursed jurors theory. He decided that he needed a gun for his own protection. So he bought a gun on the black market.

Juror 10 contacted Juror 11 and told him he wanted to get together to discuss their situation. Juror 10 invited Juror 11 to his house for the meeting. Juror 11 accepted the invitation and made his way to the residence of Juror 10.

Within an hour they were together discussing their situation. Paranoia was a constant theme of their conversation and they were becoming obsessed with the idea that they are cursed.

After about thirty (30) minutes of this chaotic discussion, Juror 11 produced the firearm he bought on the black market. He told Juror 10 he bought the firearm for his protection. Tension between the two (2) jurors escalated further, as Juror 10 told Juror 11 he was crazy and he put them both in danger.

The conversation deteriorated significantly and tension between the two (2) jurors continued to escalate. Juror 11 refused to put the gun away, even though Juror 10 told him its presence made him uncomfortable. As their conversation escalated from talking to shouting, Juror 11 panicked and discharged his firearm at Juror 10.

Beginners bad luck for Juror 11. His discharging of his firearm promptly killed Juror 10.

It seems at least one of the neighbours of Juror 11 had already called the police and they arrived shortly after the firearm was discharged. There was then the usual police and ambulance presence at the premises, while Juror 11 was removed from the scene and arrested and charged with murder.

Strangers On a Train

Cologne Innsbruck was on a train going home. He was minding his own business and not interacting with anyone. The train was sparsely populated. Two (2) women were in somewhat elevated conversation, all of which Cologne could hear.

Relevantly their conversation turned to the “cursed jurors”.

Woman 1: There has been another death in the cursed jurors.

Juror 11 shot and killed Juror 10. Juror 11 is now charged with murder and will likely spend the rest of his life in jail.

Woman 2: You know Juror 9 topped himself, don’t you?

Woman 1: Those jurors really are cursed.

Upon hearing this, Cologne Innsbruck shook his head and had a little chuckle to himself.

He alighted the train at the next station and walked home.

Juror 12 A Fatal Miscalculation

The last remaining member of the ill-fated jury, Juror 12 was a shadow of his former self. The constant fear and paranoia had taken a toll on his mental health. He retreated into a world of shadows, his mind a battleground of anxiety and despair.

One night, in a moment of desperation, he miscalculated his medication dosage. The overdose proved fatal and his life extinguished as abruptly as a candle flame.

The following morning Cologne Innsbruck called in to his local eatery for a cup of teas. As he sat alone at his table drinking his tea, his flipped through the daily newspaper that had been left on his table. A few pages in Cologne happened upon an article informing the readers of the death of the last “Cursed Juror”.

After Cologne completed reading the article; he raised his tea cup in toast to himself, with a modest smile on his face.

Complainant Confesses

Upon learning that all twelve (12) jurors in her rape case were now dead, the complainant panicked. She knew she was a false accuser. She was terrified for her safety and she attended upon the police.

Somewhat surprised, the police told her they have a perpetrator for the bombing, the lunatic criminal who confessed (Clouseau Carlos). They are satisfied with his confession. Jurors 7 to 12 died in circumstances that were unfortunate, but unrelated to the case. However, they were interested in her confession to making a false complaint.

Consequently they arrested and charged her.

When Miss False Accuser appeared in court to face her charges, she received a lot of media coverage. That media coverage included news that:

• The conviction for the accused in Trial 2 had been set aside;

• He was released from jail; and

• He was a free man.

Cologne Innsbruck was at home alone channel surfing on his television when he noticed a news item relating to Miss False Accuser. He stopped surfing and watched the item. Once the circumstances in which Miss False Accuser was in court were clear to him, he immediately said out loud:

“No way.”

The news item continued and Cologne Innsbruck again loudly exclaimed:

“You have got to be kidding me.”

At the conclusion of the news item Cologne Innsbruck said to himself out loud:

“Today is a good day.”

Destination Unknown

Dinner at the same hotel was how their paths crossed. 42 year old Mirabella Northcote was a senior manager in an energy company visiting Rockhampton, central Queensland to speak at a conference. 48 year old environmental scientist Cassidy Cheltham found himself in Rockhampton to inspect a site to see if it could be restored for residential or commercial development.

Initially they were both dining alone. Mirabella made sure Cassidy was aware of her. She smiled at him several times during the early part of her meal. On her way back from the toilet to her table just after Cassidy had commenced his main course, Mirabella invited to Cassidy to dine with her at her table. Her wedding ring was clearly visible to single Cassidy as she extended her invitation to him. He accepted her invitation and took his meal and drink to her table.

After initial introductions and pleasantries, it did not take Mirabella long to tell Cassidy she was trapped in a bad marriage. She did not say much positive about her husband, Derwent Northcote, the few times she spoke about him. She said she was staying with him because it was best for her two (2) children, Miss 10 and Mr 7.

Mirabella put on a good performance. She managed to talk about enough topics to take the focus off her “troubled” marriage and appear charming to Cassidy. When they finished their dinner they talked for a while and then Mirabella successfully asked Cassidy to go to her hotel room with her.

Inside her hotel room Mirabella removed her clothing, but not her wedding ring. Cassidy participated in the encounter and spent the evening with her. So began their adulterous affair.

When they returned to their respective homes, they kept in touch via telephone calls and text messages, with the occasional e-mail.

Throughout their affair Mirabella kept her story consistent in one regard, she complained her husband Derwent was a serial cheat, who had had many lovers before she commenced her affair with Cassidy. From the start Cassidy urged Mirabella to leave Derwent and he continued to do so for the entirety of their relationship.

Mirabella always said she would stay with Derwent because that was the best for their children. If she left him, she was always worried about him doing something to the children. There was never any complaint of physical violence, but there were regular references to emotional abuse from Derwent to Mirabella.

Mirabella was also consistent with her demands that she did not want her husband, Derwent, to know about her affair with Cassidy. Cassidy complied with her request, even though that made contacting Mirabella a difficult exercise at times. She did not always keep her spare mobile telephone close by.

They saw each other as often as their business schedules would permit and they saw the inside of several hotel rooms together.

For eighteen (18) months things went well between Mirabella and Cassidy, Mirabella was a kind, loving, caring woman. Occasionally during that time she would contact Cassidy and seek comfort from him because of what she said was an unpleasant interaction with her husband. Those exchanges were always the same, Derwent had allegedly said something horrible to Mirabella and whilst she endeavoured to stand up for herself, the outcome was unpleasant and very stressful for her.

Mirabella maintained that their children never saw nor heard any of this dysfunctional relationship. As far as they were concerned, their parents had a reasonably happy household. Cassidy and Mirabella disagreed often on that issue and Mirabella never accepted that Cassidy may be correct.

Many times Cassidy said to Mirabella that he was interested in a full-time relationship with her and that she should make plans to leave Derwent for that purpose. Mirabella always rejected that offer and said she would stay with Derwent because that was the best for their children. If she left him, she was worried about what he might do to their children.

During that time there were also four (4) or five (5) hysterical telephone calls from Mirabella to Cassidy after Mirabella got upset over something Cassidy had allegedly done. There were several more occasions when Mirabella telephoned Cassidy seeking his support and comfort after what she said were arguments she had with her husband Derwent. Cassidy was always available and supportive when Mirabella rang. In stark contrast to the carefully controlled availability Mirabella offered him.

Their relationship changed after about eighteen (18) months, when Cassidy learned through social media that Mirabella had become very interested in two (2) or three (3) other men. Mirabella always denied she was having an affair with any or all of those men when she and Cassidy discussed the matter. But she was clearly starstruck by the attention those men were giving her.

Mirabella made herself even less available to Cassidy and whenever she did ring him, it was clear to him that Mirabella was always available for her new men. This caused great friction between Mirabella and Cassidy. He saw several instances online where Mirabella was flaunting the time she spent with her new men.

Cassidy also noticed another change in Mirabella. Ever since she started associating with her new men, her dishonesty increased significantly. There were several things she said to Cassidy that were demonstrably not true. The friction between Mirabella and Cassidy was growing steadily.

The Separation
After about six (6) months of that friction laden, deteriorating relationship, Mirabella announced to Cassidy that she was separating from her husband. By that stage she contended that separation was the best for her and her children. The friction between Cassidy and Mirabella grew significantly once Mirabella made that revelation.

Cassidy received several more hysterical telephone calls from Mirabella telling him she did not want her husband to learn of their affair. Typically those telephone conversations involved Cassidy telling Mirabella that Derwent would see from her social media activity that she was having affairs with her new men. Mirabella always said she was worried about what harm Derwent might do to their children if he ever found out about her affair with Cassidy.

That contention became less credible every time Cassidy heard it, particularly in light of how Mirabella was flaunting on-line her relationships with her new men.

Once Mirabella had separated from her husband, she told Cassidy she no longer wished to continue her relationship with him. She wanted to concentrate on her divorce and she did not want any relationships with other men to complicate that situation. Cassidy was not happy when he heard that news. It was clear from her social media presence that Mirabella had increased her activity with her new men, both online and in person.

From time to time after ending their relationship Mirabella telephoned Cassidy because she wanted something or wanted to discuss something. She never rang him to comfort him. It was curious behaviour on the part of Mirabella, Cassidy thought, when she could easily consult any of her new men for assistance.

A feature of those conversations for Cassidy was how Mirabella coped with the pressure of being a single parent and the primary carer of her children. It looked to him as though she was not coping well. Another Mirabella behaviour Cassidy thought curious was Mirabella continuing to flaunt her relationships with her new men when she said to him she did not want Derwent to know of their relationship. That was an issue Mirabella refused to discuss whenever she rang Cassidy. Yet it seemed to be the motivation for two (2) or three (3) hysterical conversations Mirabella had with Cassidy after her separation from Derwent.

By that stage Cassidy thought the criticism of her husband was a projection by Mirabella of her own problems.

Mirabella never shared with Cassidy that her children witnessed and were subjected to several episodes of severe mood swings by her, once she has separated from Derwent and she had to care for the children all by herself. Nor did she share with Cassidy that she had seen doctors on several occasions to get assistance to sleep when she had to care for the children all by herself.

The Road Trip
Cassidy had not heard from Mirabella for about two (2) moths when she undertook her four (4) hour road trip to her camping holiday with her children. During that last call Mirabella was completely hysterical about her now estranged husband finding out about her affair with Cassidy and Derwent thinking she was having affairs with other men.

Mirabella told her children they were going on a road trip and a camping holiday. When they asked her where they were going, Mirabella replied, “We will find out when we get there”.

To the outside world Mirabella, the mother driving her children on a four (4) hour road trip holiday, was highly educated with a very good professional job. She portrayed an impressive image of herself to the outside world. Mirabella ensured she was well prepared for the holiday by taking a large supply of her sleeping tablets with her. She told herself she did not want to have problems getting to sleep during the holiday.

Soon after the road trip with her two (2) children commenced it became clear that Mirabella had not planned for the enormous stress to which she would feel exposed with her and her children in such close quarters for a long time. During the drive Mirabella became paranoid about her double life with men other than her husband being discovered. Several food, drink and toilet stops interrupted the troubled thought processes of Mirabella, which was fortunate for the children.

The Camp Site
When they arrived at the camp site Mirabella told her children, “This is where we will be staying for the next week.”

The three (3) of them then unpacked the car and set up the tent. All seemed well for Mirabella and her children. Their first night at the camp site proceeded without incident. As did most of the next day.

Dinner on the second evening saw that situation change. Mirabella became convinced that her double life with other men would be discovered by her now estranged husband and he would take her children away from her. She took a large number of her sleeping tablets and put them in the food she cooked for her children that evening.

Not long after dinner was finished the children went to sleep. They never awoke.

Several hours after putting sleeping tablets in the food she cooked for her children, Mirabella drove away from the camp site and returned to her home.

The next day other campers found the children of Mirabella and Derwent dead in the tent in which they went to sleep the previous evening. Of course Mirabella was nowhere to be seen at the camp site and immediately the campers contacted the police.

Later that day the police located Mirabella and took her into custody.

Derwent was devastated when he heard of the news about his children and Mirabella.

Cassidy was also upset when he heard the news. He said to himself the hysterical telephone calls from Mirabella were some evidence of the delusions she created for herself from time to time.

Subsequently Mirabella was examined by a psychiatrist and was found to be suffering from paranoid delusions at the time of her road trip holiday. Having been found to be of unsound mind at the time of the road trip and the offences, the prosecution against Mirabella was discontinued. Mirabella spent a considerable time in hospital receiving treatment for her mental health problems.