Case Commentaries
| Author | Jeremy Gans |
| DOI | 10.1350/ijep.2014.18.2.450 |
| Published date | 01 April 2014 |
| Date | 01 April 2014 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
CASE COMMENTARIES
CASE COMMENTARIES
CASE COMMENTARIES
Directions on inferences—use of humour—Australia
Brian, who shared a house with Jennifer, invited his mother over for
dinner. During the course of the meal Brian’s mother could not help
but notice how beautiful Brian’s housemate, Jennifer, was.
Brian’s mum had long been suspicious of the true nature of the
relationship between Brian and Jennifer, even though Brian and
Jennifer described their relationship as purely platonic. Mum became
even more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the
two of them interact, she started to wonder whether there was
something more in the relationship between Brian and Jennifer than
met the eye.
Reading into his mum’s thoughts, Brian volunteered, ‘I know what
you must be thinking, mum, but I assure you Jennifer and I are just
housemates.’ About a week later Jennifer came to Brian saying, ‘Ever
since your mother came to dinner I have been unable to find that
beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don’t suppose she took it, do you?’
Brian said, ‘Well, I doubt it. But I’ll send her an email, just to be sure.’
So he sat down and wrote this email, ‘Dear Mum, I am not saying you
did take the gravy ladle from the house and I am not saying you did
not take the gravy ladle from the house, but the fact remains that one
has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Brian.’
Several days later Brian received an email back from his mother, and
it read like this, ‘Dear Son, I am not saying you do sleep with Jennifer, I
am not saying you do not sleep with Jennifer, but the fact remains if
Jennifer is sleeping in her own bed she would have found the gravy
ladle by now. Love, Mum.’
doi:10.1350/ijep.2014.18.2.450
188 (2014) 18 E&P 188–193 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE & PROOF
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