Direct of Kirby Doolittle

1. Please introduce yourself to the court.

Hiiii, how’s it going, my name is Kirby Doolittle — but just to be clear, I do a lot!

2. What do you do for a living?

Gosh, I’ve done just about everything. Kind of a jack of all trades, you know? I’ll apply to any jobs that are hiring, and some that aren’t! Most recently I’ve been big in the “personal assistant” business — you’ve probably heard of Avery Bancroft? one of the most well-known millionaires in Midlands? I worked for him!

Ms. Doolittle, I’d like to start by talking more about Avery Bancroft.

3. How did you become his assistant?

Back in 2022, I was working security at this big Halloween gala — one of my many side gigs — and I ran into him. I guess I just seemed so hardworking and reliable that he knew he had to hire me! By the end of our little chat, I had a job!

4. What were your responsibilities as Mr. Bancroft’s assistant?

(reword Q?) The better question is what didn’t I do! I handled everything — got him coffee, scheduled meetings, picked up his dry cleaning, got him coffee… oh, and got him coffee! That man was running on espresso and ambition, let me tell you. But I handled bigger things, too — travel plans, major deals, really, anything!

5. Did you and Mr. Bancroft travel often?

Oh, yeah, all the time, one of the perks of the job — the last trip we went on was to Australia, I’ll never forget it! We took this super luxury train, the Mid-Riverina Express.

I would like to talk more about your time on the Mid-Riverina-Express.

6. When did you board the train?

We got on the train in Sydney just after 5 o’clock on April 22nd! Right after we got on, I actually ran into Taylor Hopson of all people! If you didn’t know, Taylor is Mr. Bancroft’s oldest kid, but it was so crazy seeing them there!

7. Why were you surprised to see Taylor Hopson on the train?

I’ve been around their family a lot during my time as Mr. Bancroft’s assistant, and trust me, those two do not get along. Like water and oil. Or water and cats. Or water and anything water-repellant. I mean, they could barely go a week without arguing. 

Character Evidence: We’re not using the defendant’s previous conflicts with the decedent to show conformity, but instead to prove motive as allowed under 404(b)(2). If I may proffer, the witness will testify to an incident where the defendant accuses the decedent of being unloving towards his ex-wife, who was the defendant’s mother.

Character Evidence: We are not offering the defendant's previous conflicts with the decedent as a character trait but instead to show the nature of their relationship. Furthermore, we are not offering the nature of their relationship to show conformity but instead to show motive which is allowed 

8.  You mentioned Mr. Bancroft and the defendant would often fight, could you talk about one of these arguments?

Oh man, just one? Hm- maybe - oh! December of 2023. Mr. Bancroft invited Taylor on vacation, and Taylor totally lost it. 

9. What happened?

Mr. Bancroft invited Taylor, and they were like “Go on a vacation? On the anniversary of Mom’s death? Avery Bancroft, you are a heartless monster!” and they got in a whole fight about it. Talk about dysfunctional, you know?

10. Did you ever hear from the defendant again?

Oh yeah! Taylor actually gave me a call back in March, about a month before we boarded the MRE! (joke here? – “I remember because I was ___”)

11. What did the defendant discuss with you?

Taylor said they wanted to reconnect with Mr. Bancroft, which – I mean, kind of out of the blue, but good for them! But whatever, not my business. I told them that Mr. Bancroft and I would be spending a few days on the MRE, and sent them the deets. I was kinda hoping to see them there – love a good heartwarming family reunion – but they never got back to me about it. 

12. Did the defendant come?

Yeah, like I said, they actually showed up! Didn’t tell me, mind you, and they were also doing a pretty lousy job at “making up with their father,” might I add. 

13. What do you mean?

So once everyone got on the train, there was this welcome dinner thing – I had a table with Mr. Bancroft, of course, but after a bit, Taylor joined us. 

When I tell you, I left for one second to grab an honestly much-needed drink, and suddenly they’re in a shouting match! Again!

14. Do you know what they were arguing about?

Ah, I was too far away to hear much before Mr. Bancroft stormed off, but when I walked over, Taylor said “People need to pay for their choices” …

15. Did you see the defendant again on this trip?

Yes, oh my gosh, literally the next morning – I went to Mr. Bancroft’s room to grab some things and who did I find? Taylor, and their fiance, Kelly Doos! I don’t know what they were up to in there, but they dipped as soon as they saw me. 

I want to jump forward to the day before Mr. Bancroft died.

16. Did you see Mr. Bancroft that evening?

Yep! We sat at the same table for dinner– this time without Taylor. I remember that night clearly because Mr. Bancroft told me that we were getting off the train early tomorrow.

Hearsay: We are not using this for the truth of the matter asserted, that Mr. Bancroft would actually leave the train early tomorrow. The sad truth is, Mr. Bancroft never made it off the train alive. Instead, we are using this for its subsequent action; Plaintiff contends that after hearing Mr. Bancroft was leaving early Mx.Hopson moved forward with the plan to poison their father.

17. What happened when Mr.Bancroft said you’d leave early?

Literally right after he announced it, I head glass break behind me – it was so startling. I rushed over to clean it up – assistant mode, you know – and while I was cleaning I overhard Taylor say, “He can’t leave early! That’ll ruin everything!”

18. When did you next see Mr. Bancroft?

The next morning – it was like 5am? I went to give Mr. Bancroft a report I’d finished, but his… his door was already cracked open, and I could see him…laying on the floor, passed out. 

19. Then what happened?

I ran to Mr. Bancroft's side... He still had a pulse, so I ran into the hallway and screamed for help. One of the other passengers -- the doctor -- came and gave him CPR, but... it was too late. He... died. I feel like I- I failed him somehow? If I'd gotten there sooner-- I don't... I don't know. 

I want to talk about the aftermath of Avery Bancroft’s death.

20. What happened after Avery Bancroft died.

Mr. Bancroft had a will, directing where his assets would go. As his assistant, I was very familiar with it. 

21. Would you recognize this will if shown to you in court?

Yes.

Your honor, pursuant to Stipulation 6, Exhibit 6  is pre-admitted. Permission to publish to the jury?

22. Could you describe what the will entails?

According to the will, Taylor was set to receive 95% of all of Mr. Bancroft’s assets, and they would become interim CEO of Bancroft Estates. And… nearly 400 million dollars. When Mr. Bancroft was still alive, he and Taylor would fight about the will a lot. 

23. What did they fight about specifically?

Mr. Bancroft kept threatening to write Taylor out of the will – so instead of nearly all of his assets, he would be giving Taylor nothing. 

24. Did you continue working for Bancroft Estates after Avery Bancroft died?

NO. May 2nd, Taylor’s very first day as interim CEO, Taylor called me to their office. I thought it would be… thanks, maybe, for handling the transportation of Mr. Bancroft's body. Lord knows neither of his kids bothered to arrange anything – I-it was all me. 

25. What happened at the defendant’s office?

Taylor… fired me. I guess I did do too little, in their eyes. And then – they said the only good thing their father ever did was die, and to stay out of their way, because they’d “done too much to lose now.”

No further questions.