Case Study
After reviewing John Smith’s witness statement below, produce a properly formatted statement for Cheryl, the convenience store clerk. The statement should include facts similar to those provided by John and should reflect Cheryl’s recollection of the entire incident. Use your imagination in creating the details.
DATE: 23 March 20—
LOCATION: Residence of John Smith, 223 Henry Street, Hamilton, Ontario
INTERVIEWER(S): Ian Interviewer
START TIME: 3:20 p.m.
FINISH TIME: 4:25 p.m.
INTRODUCTION: I am a 28-year-old male residing at 223 Henry Street, Hamilton, Ontario. I am married with two preschool children. I am a steelworker who has worked at Dofasco for the past seven years, and continue to do so.
TESTIMONY: On Thursday, the 22nd of March, 20—, I worked the afternoon shift at the ore docks at Dofasco, which are on Coventry Street in the City of Hamilton. I was relieved by a co-worker at the conclusion of my shift, which ended at 3:00 p.m., and after changing my clothing, I left via the #2 gate on Coventry Street.
I took my usual driving route home, down Coventry onto Main Street and proceeding south toward Henry Street. As is my habit, I stopped at the Mac’s Milk convenience store located at the southwest corner of Main Street and Portage Avenue for a loaf of bread and a package of cigarettes. I have lived in my house on Henry Street, approximately two blocks from the store, for nearly six years. I have been in the store hundreds of times and am familiar with the owner and all of the employees.
I arrived at the store at approximately 3:30 p.m. I know the time because, depending on traffic, it takes me about 30 to 35 minutes to get to my residence from Dofasco. Traffic was light that day and I punched my time card out at exactly 3:00 p.m.
On entering the store, I knew something was wrong. Cheryl is the clerk during the afternoon shift, and she usually greets me with a smile and a cheerful hello when I enter the store. This day she stood staring at the customer directly in front of her and barely gave me a glance as I entered. This made me uneasy, and I wondered what was wrong.
I was about to ask her what was wrong when I noticed tears on her cheeks as she made muffled conversation with the man directly in front of her at the cash register. There was no one else that I could see in the store at the time.
As I approached the front counter where the man was standing, he suddenly turned to face me. He had a knife in his right hand and a white plastic bag in his left. I was directly in front of him when he turned and I was face to face with him about three feet apart. He looked directly into my eyes, raised the knife to eye level with the point up, and said, “If you don’t want to get hurt, get the f*** out of my way.” I immediately stepped to my right, and he quickly walked by me to the front of the store. Just before exiting onto the street, he turned back toward the counter and said, “If you know what’s good for you, don’t call the cops.” He then turned away from the counter and left the store.
The man I saw in the store was a stranger to me, and to the best of my knowledge, I have never seen him in the neighbourhood. He was approximately five feet, ten inches tall. I am sure of his height because when he was standing directly in front of me, he was a couple of inches shorter than I am and I am six feet tall. He was thin, perhaps about 140 to 150 pounds. He had a pale complexion, deep-set brown eyes, and dark-brown shoulder-length hair. He did not have a beard but was not clean-shaven. He had about three or four days’ growth of beard and was ragged looking. He was wearing a black leather jacket that looked old and faded. There was a long tear on the left sleeve from the elbow to the cuff. He had on a dirty white or faded grey T-shirt and faded blue jeans, which were torn at the left leg inseam. The right knee was also torn. He was wearing a pair of new or nearly new Nike running shoes. The shoes were white with blue trim and a logo. I did not observe any jewellery on his hands, but he did have a gold chain around his neck that was covered in front by the T-shirt.
When he left the store, he turned right and began running south on Main Street. I ran to the window but he had disappeared behind parked cars and traffic. I did not notice it in the store, but he appeared to be limping, or at least favouring his right leg when he began to run.
I then turned my attention to Cheryl, who was in a state of shock and still standing behind the cash register. I asked her if she was hurt, and she replied “no” in a sobbing manner. She then stated, “He robbed me.” I called 911 and waited for the police to arrive.
I gave my name, address, and telephone number to the police officer who interviewed me briefly at the store and advised him that I am certain I would recognize the man who robbed the store if I ever saw him again.
Witness John Smith
Signature John Smith
Date 23 March 20—