The Trial Of King Richard The Third - The Prosecution (2)

A modern trial by jury at the Old Bailey of one of the most famous events in English history. Conducted on the afternoon and evening of 21st February, 1984 it was held almost 500 years after the death of the last of the Plantagenet Kings, King Richard III, on Bosworth Field, the last of the English monarchs to die in battle.

The charge is that King Richard III did, in or about the month of august, 1483, in the Tower of London, murder Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, and Prince Richard, Duke of York.

King Richard III stands indicted at the bar of history. In this unique work the members of the jury have been invited to deliver their verdict on a matter whch has been the subject of fierce controversy and dispute for over 500 years: whether or not King Richard III was responsible for the alleged murder of the two young princes. He himself was killed on the battlefield of Bosworth in 1485 and so is beyond the power and jurisdiction of this or any other human court. The task of the jury is, therefore, to pass historical judgement upon him. Their verdict will stimulate rather than terminate the controversy that has surrounded the deaths of the princes.

Presiding over the case is Lord Elwyn-Jones, the former Lord Chancellor, and he is ably supported by tow of Britain's leading criminal Queen's Counsels.

A fascinating trial which presents evidence which offers the viewer the opportunity to join the jury in weighing the evidence and reaching his or her own verdict before discovering that of the television jury.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• King Richard III
• the Princes in the tower
• Richard the Third
• King Richard the Third

[1981LLL]

Read the white Queen by Philipa Gregory.... although a novel, she uses reasearch to create a fancinating possible story and brings the characters alive.

[valentinejay]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will look out for this ;)

[allanpalmer12345]

Read " The Daughter of Time" by Josephine Tey

[valentinejay]

Good thinking, Allan - Tey's novel is the best there is to start off with - it is entertaining reading (as were all of her detective novels) and is the best introduction to the mystery surrounding Richard III and the Princes in the tower that I know of.

[MyEpp]

Richards own silence regarding the princes is suspicious,isnt it?

[valentinejay]

Not really, there are a number of possible explanations for this, one being that the princes weren't even dead. It is quite possible that Richard had them removed from London - it was normal in those days for young members of the aristocracy to be educated in some other great house. Richard himself was educated in the household of the Duke of Warwick. If the children were indeed dead, Richard's silence on the matter doesn't necessarily mean that he was involved - read Paul M. Kendall's book!

[MrThorfan64]

There are rumours that Edward had died of a disease and Richard had left the country. According to David Hipshon, Richard could have made it look as if they had died of a disease. Maybe he thought confirming they were dead would have made hi look like the villain of the piece.

[PoliticalPars]

@allanpalmer12345 My favourite Tey and a must read for all those curious about Richard III, conspiracies in general and the ways of history. I loved it and it about every 5-odd years as a refreshing reminder.

[Lizzie9176]

Don't read anything by Philipa Gregory. Its' utter drivel, and totally made up. Oh and, Elizabeth Wydville may have been many things, but a Witch wasn't one of them!

[1981LLL]

No thanks for posting this IT was FAB! Just watched all way through! Lots of food for thought!!

[allanpalmer12345]

It really is, its light enough to get into and peak your intrest to delve further. Just finished it myself and now on to that book you suggested.