Léon Gazdanov declared: ‘The prosecution calls its next witness: Yegor Baryshnikov.’
Pudovkin turned to watch the Russian Formula One driver's entrance, and then glanced across to see the reaction from the two accused sitting in the cage to the left of the judges. Pudovkin suddenly felt conflicted. For the prosecution, he was buoyed by the impact Baryshnikov's testimony would have on the State's case. For the other side, Pudovkin could not fail to notice the hate-filled expressions on the faces of the accused. Baryshnikov's switch of loyalties was having a clear effect on his erstwhile teammates.
There was a moment's pause while the accused were set up with earphones for simultaneous translation. In Russian, Léon Gazdanov asked the witness: ‘Will you give the court your name, please?’
‘Yegor Valentinovich Baryshnikov.’
‘And your profession?’
‘Formula One driver.’
‘And your employer?’
‘Formerly …’ said Baryshnikov quietly, ‘… the Ptarmigan Formula One team.’
‘And how long have you been a Formula One driver.’
‘A test driver for two years. A race driver for this season.’
‘Because of that, would you say that your knowledge of Formula One, its safety procedures and the drivers’ code – or whatever you might call it – is well established?’
‘I’d like to think so.’
‘And your knowledge of Ptarmigan – the culture of the team, and its management practices? Would you say that you have an understanding of those, too?’
Baryshnikov nodded.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Baryshnikov,’ boomed Gazdanov, ‘would you please answer the question loud enough for the justices to hear.’
‘Yes,’ stated the driver, looking up at the row of judges.
‘Now, I’d like you to give us your professional driver's opinion of the Zhar-ptitsa Autodrom circuit.’
‘It's a modern complex.’
Gazdanov sounded like he was trying again: ‘So, does that mean it fulfilled all the safety requirements of a modern Grand Prix circuit?’
‘My Lords,’ came an intervention from across the room. ‘I would be grateful if the prosecution did not lead the witness.’
Gazdanov smiled at Oscar Brogan.
The senior judge looked from Brogan to Gazdanov and seemed to nod.
Brogan sat back down.
Gazdanov turned to face Baryshnikov: ‘In your opinion, was … is … the Zhar-ptitsa Autodrom a safe circuit?’
Baryshnikov said: ‘Yes.’
‘Please tell us, Mr Baryshnikov, about the circuit from a racing point of view. For instance, how many of its corners were designed so that you could safely overtake each other?’
‘There were considered to be five corners where overtaking was expected.’
‘And was Turn Eleven – where the accident took place – one of those expected overtaking places?’
Baryshnikov did not respond straight away. He even turned and looked round to face the cage, looking directly at the figure sitting in the halo brace. ‘No,’ he said.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Baryshnikov,’ said Gazdanov, ‘could you speak up, please. Was Turn Eleven one of the expected overtaking places on this circuit?’
‘No,’ repeated Baryshnikov loudly enough to be heard this time.
‘So what did – what do – you think of Ms Sabatino's attempt to overtake you at that point?’
‘I wouldn’t have done it,’ he said, lowering his head again, his voice trailing off.
Pudovkin saw that Gazdanov's cockiness seemed to have tempered slightly. The words Baryshnikov was using were completely in line with the prosecution's “script”, but the delivery was flat; as a witness, he wasn’t selling their points with any conviction.
‘Mr Baryshnikov, your Ptarmigan car was working well in the build-up to – and during – the Grand Prix?’
Brogan was back on his feet: ‘Once again, my Lords, I object – the prosecutor is clearly leading the witness.’
‘I am merely reciting back to the witness the thrust of his own witness statement, but…’ said Gazdanov with an exaggerated gesture ‘…to indulge the defence counsel, I will instead ask: Mr Baryshnikov, could you tell us how you thought your car was performing before – and during – the race?’
‘It was okay.’
‘Did you, in fact, say in your witness statement that it was performing superbly?’
‘Yes.’
