A Fulchester lady is accused of attempted murder after shooting a council worker who was felling a rare Black Poplar tree in her front garden. She claims that she did not aim the gun directly at the worker but merely intended to scare him and prevent him from carrying out his work in protest against the council's decision to chop down the tree.

Jonathan Fry QC is attempting to put forward, against Mrs Tressman's wishes, a plea of automatism. Mrs Tressman outlines what she can remember about what happened on the day of the shooting but is clearly in a distressed state.

Pauline Tressman demanded to plead guilty rather than have Dr. Mary Ryden give evidence. Counsel changed her mind and the doctor admitted that Mrs. Tressman's mental health deteriorated following the death of her granddaughter.