Tried By Prejudice –Synopsis.

It is a story of two English brothers and Two Indian brothers. The older Indian, Vincent De Souza, has been working in Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf for over two years when he is joined by his brother George. At the same time, Bill Simmons leaves his home and his older brother Ken behind in the west midlands to work the more lucrative contracts of Arabia. Bill and George work for the same company and become as close as the prevailing British prejudice allows.

In England Ken is witness to Robert Taylor, a well known member of the community with learning difficulties, being imprisoned for repeated indecent exposure while in Abu Dhabi Bill witnesses George’s arrest for a crime he did not commit and his subsequent incarceration awaiting trial. A spate of child murders produce in Ken’s west midlands estate an irrational and violent response and a scapegoat is sought. The unfortunate Robert is deemed responsible for the murders but is championed by Ken and protected by a young social worker. Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, Bill has become totally enmeshed in the expatriate lifestyle. Then, George attends the trial where he is found not guilty, but a prosecution appeal means that he has to remain in prison until there can be a retrial.

In England Robert Taylor is eventually arrested for murder and Ken is ostracised by his family for protesting his innocence. An alibi secures Robert’s release, which takes place amid great publicity. The story is followed in Abu Dhabi by the expatriates who advocate some of the more atavistic forms of local justice for use in the UK. As the expats are forced into dichotomy with the innocent George’s death in prison while awaiting retrial, another murder in England brings about Robert’s death on the streets. Vincent takes his brother’s body back to India for the funeral and the people in Ken’s neighbourhood assume that the streets are safe again for their children.

A year later Bill spends Christmas in England with his bride to be and discovers that Ken is married to the social worker who helped Robert. They alone seem to realise that the child murderer is still at large. Bill is totally disenchanted with an England in depression and leaves for good. The murderer strikes again but is caught. Ken is thus proved right and eventually reunites with his family. The book closes with the reconciliation of those who have lost the most.

Greg Stokes,

Dudley, January 2004