Sandra Nichols Found Dead

Book Description

A dead body, discovered by a hapless plant thief blithely trespassing in a rural Massachusetts wetland, turns out to belong to a woman with a past by the name of Sandra Nichols. Wrongful death? Murder one? We'll leave that to Jerry Kennedy.

Judge Henry Lawler has his own reasons for appointing classmate Jerry Kennedy to try what becomes in time the case of the Estate of Sandra Nichols v. Peter Wade, on behalf of the descendant's three children. An old hand at trying criminal cases, Jerry has always studiously avoided civil cases (he's more comfortable with armed robbery, tax evasion, embezzling, bribery, and corruption). But this time Jerry makes an exception for Judge Henry. After all, it's the right thing to do for the orphans. And besides, what are friends for if not to impose on a guy?

Inasmuch as Sandra Nichols was murdered several months before her body was found, alibis are fairly easy to come by, even for Peter Wade, Sandra's ex, who is the most likely suspect. On the criminal side of the law, if the defendant isn't caught in the act, there are three things a prosecutor must prove, all of which Wade has in spades: motive, means, and opportunity. The evidence is too elusive to establish Wade's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; wrongful death is easier: all Jerry Kennedy needs to do is make Wade's part in Sandra's death 51 percent certain.

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