[Think it'd be worth making a smart remark just to see if he loses his shit and goes for me in front of the whole courtroom?] wonders Alice.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hammond is looking increasingly likely to do something along those lines.

"This whole trial's been a waste of my time; I might as well waste some of yours," he says, at perhaps an unnecessary volume. "But if you must know, yes, I have hit my lying, thieving, whoring, insolent weasel of a son. I took no joy in it. Any decent father would do the same."