Showing posts with label Freema Agyeman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freema Agyeman. Show all posts

Friday, August 24, 2012

ITV Renews Law & Order UK; Agyeman & Walter Not Returning


ITV press release
Published: Friday, 24 August 2012, 2:59PM

ITV recommissions Vera, Scott and Bailey and Law & Order: UK


Successful dramas - Vera, Scott and Bailey and Law & Order: UK - have been recommissioned by ITV1 - which will see the outstanding talent of Brenda Blethyn, David Leon, Bradley Walsh, Paul Nicholls, Dominic Rowan, Peter Davison, Suranne Jones, Lesley Sharp and Amelia Bullmore reprise their roles.

Series three of Vera starring Oscar nominated actress Brenda Blethyn, set once again in Northumberland and Newcastle, is back in production this September. Filming of four x 120 films will be inspired by the best selling novels and characters created by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves.

Adapted for ITV1 by the ITV Studios drama team with series co-creator Paul Rutman (Vera, Marple, Lewis), Vera is written by Paul and fellow writers Gaby Chiappe (Vera, Lark Rise to Candleford, Survivors), and Oliver Brown (New Tricks, Silent Witness, Spooks) with a fourth writer to be brought on board closer to production. Vera is produced by the ITV Studios Drama team headed by Creative Director, Kate Bartlett.

For this new series previous producer Elaine Collins has taken on the responsibility of executive producer whilst Margaret Mitchell is producing. Paul Cotter (Shameless, Hollyoaks) will direct the first episode.

Having created an iconic television detective, Brenda reprises her lead role of Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope and will film the new episodes until mid January. David Leon who plays Vera’s trusty sidekick and surrogate son Joe Ashworth will also return to film the new episodes.

"We’re delighted to be back in production with Vera and working with Brenda and David again," said Elaine Collins. "Despite her apparent chaotic approach to cracking crime, Vera is actually a very good detective albeit one driven by her own demons. We like to keep the viewers guessing as to what she’ll do and say next as she’s certainly a character who knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to speak it. We’re grateful that viewers have taken her to their hearts so quickly," she added.

The enormously successful team at Kudos Film and Television and Wolf Films who produce Law & Order: UK for ITV1 return to production this November to film 8 x 60 new episodes based on the globally popular US drama.  

Bradley Walsh reunites with Paul Nicholls to bring the successful partnership of DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey to screen once more. Dominic Rowan as Chief Prosecutor Jacob Thorne and Peter Davison as respected Director of the Crown Prosecution Service, Henry Sharpe, will resume their roles with the intention of restoring ‘order’ to proceedings.

Due to filming and theatre commitments Freema Agyeman and Harriet Walters will not return to film the new series. Consequently, Kudos are casting for a new young, prosecutor and Detective Chief Inspector.

"We are incredibly excited about our new series," said executive producer Jane Featherstone. "Consequently, we have some brilliant and surprising storylines for the cast and we look forward to filming," she added.

Law & Order: UK will be produced by Jane Hudson (Hustle, Waterloo Road, Robin Hood) who will also write an episode of the drama. Kudos Film and Television Creative Director Jane Featherstone (Law & Order: UK, Spooks, The Hour) executive produces the series.

In a departure for the series the first two episodes will be a compelling two-part story written by Emilia di Girolamo (Law & Order: UK – writer and co-producer, Eastenders) with the second episode exploring ‘a day in the life’ of the characters. A suicidal man drives his car across a railway crossing causing the train to crash and killing 12 people. The investigation takes on several twists as the law and order teams pursue the case with vigour and determination to uncover the truth of the situation.

Subsequent episodes in this series will be written by Nick Hicks-Beech (Law & Order: UK, Eastenders), Noel Farragher (Above Suspicion: The Red Dahlia – script editor, Trial & Retribution - script associate) and former Law & Order: UK producer Richard Stokes (Silk - producer, Torchwood - producer).

The episodes will be directed by Alrick Riley (Hustle, Spooks, Hunted), Jill Robertson (Lip Service, Casualty, Waterloo Road) and Joss Agnew (Young Dracula, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Waterloo Road) with a fourth director to be contracted closer to filming.

Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp will also return to their roles as formidable crime-fighting duo Scott & Bailey for the third series.

The Red Production Company will begin principal photography in November on location in Manchester.

Written and co-created by Sally Wainwright (Last Tango in Halifax, Unforgiven, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard), eight episodes have been commissioning by ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning Laura Mackie and Controller of Drama Commissioning Sally Haynes.

In addition to Sally’s scripts she will be joined again this series by Amelia Bullmore who will write two episodes of the drama. Amelia plays Scott & Bailey’s no nonsense DCI, Gill Murray, who like Sally is immersed in the characters, their lives, personalities and backgrounds.

Sally will also co-executive produce the series with Nicola Shindler (The Syndicate, Blackout, Leaving), who is Director of Red Production Company.

"Scott & Bailey has been such a phenomenal success and we’re thrilled to be revisiting the characters," said Nicola. "A third series really gives us the scope to explore another raft of great stories as we’re constantly thinking about how we can develop the characters. The fact Scott & Bailey has become so successful is very rewarding for Sally and our production team," she added.

Set within Syndicate 9, a division of the Manchester Metropolitan Police, Scott & Bailey is based on an idea by Suranne Jones and Sally Lindsay.

Tom Sherry (Scott & Bailey, New Tricks, Murphy’s Law) will return as producer for this series and the directors are Morag Fullerton (Scott & Bailey, Taggart, Rebus) and Sarah Harding (Torn, Lewis, Poirot).

Commented Laura Mackie on confirming the recommissions: "We’re delighted to have Law & Order: UK, Vera and Scott & Bailey back in production. The recommissions show that we have a really strong slate of returning series coming to ITV in the next 12 months which complements perfectly with the new drama we’re commissioning."


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Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Law & Order UK Begins Series 6 in UK in January 2012 (press release)

Here is an ITV press release for the start of series 6 airing in the UK on ITV. (These episodes have already aired in the US on BBC America).

ITV Press Release
Thursday, 8 December 2011  
Law & Order: UK
Episode: 1 of 7  
Friday, 6 January 2012, 9:00PM - 10:00PM
Production house: Kudos Film & Television

Survivor's Guilt:

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two groups. The police who investigate the crime, and the Crown prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories…

Paul Nicholls joins the cast of ITV's successful, long-running drama Law & Order: UK for series six which begins with an emotional cliff-hanger.

Nicholls (Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Harley Street) is DS Sam Casey, a headstrong young officer with a strong sense of justice brought in to investigate the shooting of DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber).

Nicholls joins a critically acclaimed cast, including Bradley Walsh, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman, Peter Davison and Dominic Rowan who achieved an average audience of 5.6 million and a 21% share during series five Law & Order: UK which was shown in summer 2011.

This seven part series sees the police and legal teams facing a shocking crime captured on video, up against the clock in the search for a hostage, and exposing a tragic, medical cover-up. Cases are reopened, the past threatens to catch up with Ronnie (Walsh) and careers are on the line…

Quality guest stars join the cast for series six including Colin Salmon, Tamzin Outhwaite, Toby Stephens, Eva Pope, Luke Roberts and Tim McInnerny.

New boy Paul Nicholls admits he had to run to keep up with a fast moving production…

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Law & Order UK “Fault Lines” Recap & Review


The season finale of Law & Order UK “Fault” is based on the original Law & Order episode “Just a Girl in the World”
from season 20. In that episode, Detective Lupo compromises a case when he becomes involved with a witness who turns out to be involved in the crime.

In "Fault Lines," Sam Casey gets caught thinking with another part of his body that is not his brain. As a result, he enters into an intimate relationship with a woman who claims to be a victim of a crime. The problem is she’s the victimizer, not the victim. Because of her deception, the detectives and the CPS pursue and prosecute the wrong man. Despite the fact that Sam made a huge error in judgment, I find myself liking him more and more with every episode, even though I am sure that DI Natalie Chandler must be wondering what she got herself into with him.

Ronnie also attempts to dish out some sage advice, and Sam quickly shuts the door on him, saying he doesn’t need a father. Hopefully Sam has now learned that Ronnie wasn’t lecturing just for the sake of hearing himself talk.

I wondered why the forensics lab where the murder victim worked was even allowed to touch evidence dealing with this case. I saw this as a huge conflict of interest. I suppose for purposes of the story, it allowed them to write in a nice twist with the blood evidence.  I also thought Sam remained too involved in the case, even after his lapse in judgement in the ID parade and after Ronnie had concerns that Sam had become intimate with the witness.

This was the last episode in this current season for Law & Order UK. As of this writing, I haven’t seen anything regarding the renewal of the series. These last 7 episodes that just aired on BBC America are scheduled to begin running in the UK in January 2012 so hopefully we will get renewal news soon afterwards. I certainly hope Law & Order UK continues on as I thoroughly enjoy the characters, the actors, the stories, the writing, the staging of scenes and location shots, the camera work - everything about the show. And I want more!



Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest stars:
Lydia Leonard: Lucy Kennard
Patricia Potter: Yvette Dyer
Jessica Gunning: Angela
Nicola Sanderson: Joy Ackroyd
Jennifer James: Chloe Abbot
Alexander Perkins: Pete
Ariyon Bakare: Carl Lucas
Luke Roberts: Tom Hartson
Ranjit Kirshnamma: Judge Gunner
Benedict Wong: Eli Smart
Jordan Young: Jeremy Barton


Joy Ackroyd and Chloe Abbot are out drinking and stop at their friend Kelly’s house. Chloe gets out of the car and Kelly’s front door is open so she walks in. She finds Kelly dead on the floor laying in a pool of blood.

Later, DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey are on the scene. Kelly Mahon worked in forensics, in the same department as her two friends, Joy and Chloe, and she was supposed to be on a night out with Chloe and Joy. Pete from the lab says she was stabbed six times in the chest. The dishwasher was running when Chloe got there and a large knife was in it. The dishwasher buttons were wiped clean. She has defensive wounds on both hands. When Sam comments that it looks like she put up a good fight, Ronnie says it was not good enough.

At MIU. Ronnie and Sam speak with Chloe who said they were supposed to be out for Teddy’s birthday but Kelly never showed. She was finishing up some blood work and Chloe called her at about 8:30 and Kelly told them she was on her way home in a cab. They all use Kwik Kall Kabs. When the others left, she and Joy went to check. Kelly was supposed to be getting married next month to Tom Hartson.

Ronnie and Sam tell DI Natalie Chandler that the cab checks out. She tells them to check if the driver saw anyone hanging around outside the flat.

At Kwik Kall Kabs, they speak with the driver and he said he watched Kelly go in the house. He’s driven her before. He didn’t see anyone outside her flat and he went on to his next call in Gramercy. They tell her that Kelly is dead. Sam says they might need to speak to him again. Afterwards, Ronnie tells Sam they should have Ange run some background on the driver just in case, and also speak to her fiancé.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” Recap & Review

Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” was based on the original Law & Order episode “Mayhem” from season 4. The only thing that these two episodes had in common is they both showed a day in the life of the detectives and the prosecutors, with a clock ticking off the time that has passed. The cases themselves were not similar at all.

We get to see a little bit more of how these characters go through the day, and we learn the most about Sam Casey. Sam's temper, which has been evident in every episode, comes back to haunt him when one of Jake’s cases is almost tanked because Sam is accused of intimidating one of the men on trial. Maybe this will be the wake up call for Sam to simmer down and cool his jets? We also see that Sam has a problem with an ex, and also has a son. Sam’s short fuse is evident when his ex calls him and asks him to watch their son for the night, and he hangs up on her. In the end, Sam’s apparent love for his son seems to win over his annoyance with his ex. While I do miss Jamie Bamber, Paul Nicholls – as Sam Casey – is an excellent replacement and I find myself becoming interested in his character. I also noticed that towards the end, Ronnie called Sam “son” (which is what he called Matt) and I am not sure if Ronnie had referred to Sam as “son” in earlier episodes.

I have to admit that with more than one case going on and the detectives and the prosecution being involved in various stages in these cases that I started to lose track as to which solicitor represented which defendant. The fact that they all wear wigs in the courtroom doesn’t always help especially when there is more than one defense solicitor of the same sex. Alesha is a much stronger character than she was in the first series, and she takes charge very easily.   (I enjoyed the brief banter with Jake about her filing skills.)

Poor Ronnie – his day gets ruined when he can't make the game that he was so hoping to see, and despite his attempt to not know the score, someone unwittingly blurts it out at the end. While Jake seems to have finished the day in the win column, there still appears to be a murderer out there. But, as Ronnie says, that is for tomorrow.


Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest stars:
Adrian Rawlins – Roland Hextor
Patricia Potter – Yvette Dyer
Jessica Gunning – Angela
Walter Chubb – Jonathan Carlton
Ralph Laurila – Gareth Markham
James Weber Brown – Julian West
Robert Morgan – Donald Walker
Helen Blatch – Mrs. Hextor
Jessica Turner – Amanda Granger
Andrew Brooke - Abraham Roach
Crispin Redman - Judge Redman
Ebony Gilbert - Cathy


With the sound of a clock ticking, and with the time at 6:24 AM, two officers walking the street in the financial district see a man staggering down the street, and another man apparently sleeping in a parked car. They attempt to wake the man in the car, but he is dead from an apparent shot to the head,

DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey are called to the scene. The dead man has been identified as Derek Strachan. It does not appear to be a robbery. The detectives speak with the staggering man – Clive Cooke – who tells them their company closed a big deal and they were celebrating. A bra and a torn blouse were found in the car, and it looks like the bullet wound may be from an air gun. Ronnie thinks it shouldn’t take too long to find a half naked woman running around in London.

At MIU headquarters at 7: 18 AM, DI Natalie Chandler says the woman was Louise Dawson and this was her first date with Strachan. She ran to the market as she knew there would be people there. Natalie tells them to get her story and she will notify Strachan’s next of kin.

The detectives speak with Louise who says Strachan seemed nice but admits she lives with a boyfriend and they are working through some issues. She says he is not the jealous type and said it wasn’t him who killed Strachan. She says some bloke just shot Derek from across the road. Sam suggests Louise get with an officer to get an eFit of the man who shot Derek.

Later, Ronnie shows the sketch to Natalie and she says it looks like Harry Hill. Ronnie says he will ring his agent and have him arrested. Natalie says “Excellent. Case closed, I’ll tell Derek’s family.” She asks Ange how she is getting along, and Ange says there are hundreds of CCTC cameras but they belong to private businesses and it will take her all day. Natalie is surprised that considering the area no one saw a man getting shot in a car. Ronnie says at that time of the morning the area is deserted. Sam adds this means they will have to get out and pound some pavement.

At the Asia Fusion Wine Bar at 8:12 AM, a man working there says Derek left about 2-2:30 and he had hooked up with a city chick. He also said Derek has a girlfriend,

Ronne and Sam speak with Derek’s girlfriend Chloe, who finally admits that Derek is a cheat. She thinks he would have stopped once they became engaged, and  Ronnie agrees with her despite the looks on his and Sam's faces which means they don’t think that for a minute.

Afterwards, Ronnie thinks Chloe is just hurt and wouldn’t have Derek shot. They wonder about the office party and Clive Cooke, and Sam wonders if maybe Clive wasn’t the only one who missed the last tube home.

At Hooperwood Associates at 9:02 AM, they speak with Miss Hayes at the company who said she left about 4 and took a cab and didn’t see anything unusual They show her the sketch of the man and she said she saw him a few weeks before. He was following her and she thought he was a pervert so she was ready to do some serious damage with her stilettos. She gets flirty with Sam and he seems to flirt back. She said the man jumped into a Mondeo and then drove through a red light. As the detectives leave, she tells Sam that if he wants to know anything else to just call her.

Outside, Ronnie tells Sam she would eat him for breakfast and Sam quips that he would let her. Ronnie wants to get Ange on the traffic cameras and hope with all the Mondeos in London they can catch the one going through the red light. As they get into the car they hear a frantic call coming over the police radio. Ronnie realizes the location is right around the corner so they race to the building,

When they get inside the lobby and are at the elevators, they aren’t sure which floor the call came from. Ronnie heard 5th and Sam heard 15th. They decide to take the stairs, with Ronnie trying hard to keep up with Sam while running up the stairway. They get to the 5th floor and see a commotion – a man is laying on the floor with a wound on his head and another man has what seems to be a stab wound on his chest. Sam tries to calm the man who was stabbed. The man on the floor is unconscious but alive so Ronnie asks someone to call for an ambulance.

Later, the stabbed man, Abraham Roach, say the man who stabbed him is his brother Carl. He hit his brother with a paperweight. Sam tells him once that is stitched he will have to come down to the station, and Abraham says he was just defending himself. He asks his is his brother and hears from another office, Tommy, that his brother is critical but stable. Ronnie asks Tommy to be the officer in charge and Tommy says just this once. Tommy asks Ronnie to email him his witness statements as soon as possible and he will take it from there. As Ronnie races away with Sam in tow, he tells Sam he has to be clocked out a 6:00 at the latest. Sam asks if he has a date, and Ronnie says yes, with a leather chair in the Director’s box at Upton Park. Sam asks him how he swung that, and Ronnie answers friend who know friends. Sam then asks him why did he swing that? Ronnie says that is totally unnecessary.

Back at MIU, Natalie asks Ronnie and Sam if they left a City DC to mop up a job this morning. Ronnie admits he did, saying it was a family argument that went wonky. She tells Ronnie they are pushing for it to come here and he will have to investigate. Ronnie squawks about all his paperwork and Sam says it was just a row with brothers. Natalie testily explains that Carl Roache died when he reached the hospital, and that makes it murder and puts it on his desk.

In the interrogation room, Ronnie and Sam are questioning Abraham Roach with his solicitor Amanda Granger present, telling her Abraham admitted to hitting his brother with a paperweight, Sam says that witness said it was a heavy metal paperweight that Abraham stuck his brother with great force. Against Amanda's advice, Abraham says he and Carl run a catering company with corporate clients which has been faltering the last few months. He did a deal for someone to buy them out and they would have lost some money but most people would keep their jobs but his brother thought he betrayed him. When his brother found out he stabbed him with a letter opener and Abraham hit him with the nearest thing. The solicitor says it was self defense, and Abraham sobs that he killed his brother.

At MIU at 10:40 AM, Ronnie is on the phone trying to get information on cabbies. Sam in on the phone with Cath who says he is at work. She asks who is going to have Ben and Sam says he can’t look after Ben tonight and he already told her. He adds he has two murder cases. Ronnie hangs up with his call and Sam picks up on another call and tells them to hold. He gets back with Cath and she says they have to sort this. He says he has to go and she sternly tells him not to hang up. He hangs up anyway and throws the phone down. Ronnie asks if there is trouble and strife, and Sam says she can’t expect him to drop everything every time she needs a babysitter.

Ange tells them that she got a call from Camden and they have a Roland Hextor at their station who drives a blue Mondeo who just went through a red light at Camden Loch. Ronnie said if he has thick rimmed glasses she can come to the West Ham match tonight. Ange says he does have thick rimmed glasses, “but you’re all right – Ta!”

With Hextor in interrogation, they tell him he is there for questioning about a murder but he says he didn’t see anything. No one at Camden Station told him why they wanted to see him. Sam tells him they are arresting him for the murder of Derek Strachan and Sam reads him his rights. Ronnie offers to call him a solicitor but Hextor insists he hasn’t done anything. He denies being near Bank station that night. When Ronnie asks if he can tell them where he was, he says that is none of their business. He says he hasn’t killed anyone and they have no right to ask about his private life, citing article 8 of the European Convention on human rights. Sam says a murder inquiry trumps that, but Hextor says he is not telling him where he was. Ronnie shows him a photo of Derek and Hextor says he does not recognize him. Ronnie tells him he was shot this morning and someone matching his description pulled the trigger. Hextor says he wants the solicitor now.

Later, while Natalie observes the video feed, Sam tells her all they have on Hextor is a traffic offense. She tells him to organize an ID parade and she will get Louise Dawson back in. Ronnie asks for a section 18 to search his home. She says, “Consider it done.”

At Hextor’s home, Ronnie makes small talk about sports as they search. Sam interrupts to show him an air gun he located in a cabinet.

In the forensics lab, the technician tells them to run an air pistol without a license it can’t have more than 6 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Sam questions whether that could shoot someone from across the street. The technician says this gun is old and the gun in Hextor’s flat predated the law and is a lot more powerful. It would not go through bone but could damage internal organs. She will know for sure if this is the gun once she gets the bullet back from the PM.

Later, Sam and Ronnie are in interrogation with Hextor and his solicitor Mr. Carlton. Carlton questions the witness statements and ID and says this is all circumstantial. CP Alesha Phillips, who is observing via the video feed, says she hates to say it but he is right. Natalie tells her not to start. A woman walks into the room and hands Natalie a file, saying she will want to read this. Chandler shows Alesha the file and then says “shit" and walks out of the room. Natalie walks into the interrogation room and halts the interview, and Ronnie notes he is stopping it at 11:55. Natalie says Hextor is free to go. Carlton says she will be in touch with her about wasting his client’s time, and Natalie says she looks forward to it. When Hextor and Carlton leave, Natalie shows them the ballistic report which says Strachan was shot with an air rifle, not an air pistol, and this means their prime suspect is free to leave and the killer is still out there.

Back at CPS, Alesha explains to Senior CP Jake Thorne that the witness picked Hextor out of the ID parade. She was sure at first but then picked up someone who looked similar. Alesha said it is circumstantial and tells him DI Chandler wants Hextor locked up until they can prove it one way or the other. Jake is pacing and says he is not sure they are allowed to do that. Alesha tells him to please sit down. He says he is sorry, he always gets like this when the jury is out. He tells her Yvette Dyer made an impressive closing speech. Alesha asks if this is for the kids who stabbed the teacher, Gareth Markham and Geoffrey Greene, adding she thought he said it was a “back of the net”. He said they always make him more nervous. She offers to do the PCMs but he wants to be around court in case the jury comes back. CPS Director Henry Sharpe enters the room and says he got a call from Yvette Dyer and he is going to see her now. Gareth Markham is claiming he was intimidated – by a detective.

At Dublin Lane Chambers at 13:04, Dyer argues the issue with Thorne and says this may mean he has no case. He says she is just looking for a way out. Dyer wonders what if he is telling the truth, and tells Jake she is going to argue that the jury be discharged and the case thrown out. Jake is incensed and says he thinks her head of chambers is enjoying this as he knows he is about to lose and hopes this about face will save him. Dyer says Donald did nothing to encourage this – and Jake counters he did nothing to stop it either. She says they are taking their client at his word, and Jake moans that they have to do all the legwork. Alesha calmly says the answer is to sort this as quickly as possible and asks which detective did this. Gareth says it was Sam Casey.

Back at MIU, Natalie complains that she has better things to do than digging through old case files, but Alesha says they have to go through the original evidence to prove it is a bogus claim. Sam moans “bloody hell.” Natalie gives in and asks Sam if it is bogus. Ronnie starts to joke that Sam slapped around to get a confession, and she tells him not to even joke about it and says he has a busy enough day as it is. Sam says he will do it but it is absolute bollocks, he interviewed Markham who grassed up his mate and that us all there is to it. Ronnie gets up to leave and Natalie asks where he is going. He said he is going to lead on the Harry Hill case, something 6 months ago is ringing some bells. Natalie asks Alesha if she has a minute.

Alesha follows Natalie into her office where Alesha tells her the whole case will collapse unless they can show Gareth is lying. Natalie asks why this is coming up now, and Alesha says he is desperate and defense is pushing it. Natalie says if there is any truth to this it will have to go to internal affairs, and Sam could lose his job. Alesha says yeah and then she asks Natalie how well she knows Sam. She heard from his superintendent in Manchester that he could lose his rag occasionally, but she does not believe someone from MIU could do this. A reputation like that reflects on everyone and she is not having it. Alesha asks how long does she have. Natalie explains she can pretend she came to her tomorrow morning but then she has to make the call.

At Crown v Markham at 14:12, Dyer is making her case for intimidation. Jake says they are going through all the relevant papers and this claim could be dismissed by the end of the week. The judge thinks Jake can dig out the relevant details this afternoon. Jake reminds the judge a policeman’s reputation is at stake as well as the trial. The judge gives him until the end of the day, and tells him time is ticking.

Afterwards, Jake tells Alesha he needs something within the hour, and when Alesha can’t believe it Jake says he thinks Judge Richards fancies Yvette, and Alesha says he is not the only one. Jake says she won’t let it lie, and she replies she will do what she can but Sam doesn’t file like she does. Jake tells her NO ONE files like she does. She agrees and he tells her to hurry up. She tells him to get off the phone.

Elsewhere, Ronnie talks to another detective about another case involving an air rifle where Roland Hextor was picked out of an ID parade. They brought him in an questioned him and had to let him go as nothing stuck. All he cared about was getting home to his mom because he lived with her. Ronnie said they have him living in a one bed flat in Wapping. The detective thinks he could have moved since but then he loved in a semi in another location.

Ronnie and Sam speak with Hextor’s mother who said he cooks for her because she has arthritis. She says he has a another place where he lives and commutes to his job in Westminster. He gets a boat every day, St. Catherine’s to Embankment Pier. She says he is a writer. He never talks about it. Ronnie notices a photo on the mantel which she says was Roland’s dad who died of lung cancer and who had fought in the Falklands. She thinks he wanted Roland to follow him into the Army. They took him to the firing range and taught him how to shoot a gun and a rifle. She doesn’t think there are many writers who can strip and M15.

Back at MIU, Alesha is with Natalie saying she has all the paperwork but she will need a big space to go through it. Natalie suggests an interview room. As she walks out of Natalie’s office she runs into Ronnie and Sam, and Sam asks her if she has everything sorted. She tells him not quite and she walks off.

Ronnie tells Natalie that a blue Mondeo was nicked for speeding in Epping Forest 20 miles after the shooting six months ago. He adds Roland also knows how to use a rifle. Natalie tells him to see if a second interview in one day will shake him up a bit. Sam is standing at the doorway looking at Ronnie and Alesha go off, and Natalie asks if he is still with us. He says yes and he will go pick up Roland Hextor.

With Hextor back in interrogation, Hextor denies anything but Sam brings up the old shooting of a couple who got “steamy,” accusing him of shooting one of them in the chest, asking if he has trouble with public displays of affection. Hextor says he hasn’t been to Epping Forest. Sam says it check out and to stop lying to them. Carlton thinks they don’t really have anything and Sam threatens Hextor that the next step will be his mom and they will be in her place and turn her life upside down. Hextor says they wouldn’t. Ronnie says for Hextor to tell them where he was so they can eliminate him from the inquiry. Hextor says he can’t, and the solicitor says his client will say nothing more until he talks to the CPS. Ronnie tells him to do that and they will introduce Hextor to the custody sergeant and Sam adds it will be to charge him for the murder or Derek Strachan this morning and for Peter Spencer 6 months ago.

While Alesha and Natalie watch via the video feed, Sam continues to press Hextor to tell the truth, and Alesha notices that he does have a temper. Natalie says so does she and it is not enough to discredit an experienced detective. Alesha says she is worried that there is 17 minutes missing from one of the taped interviews. Sam terminated the interview and the uniform did get Markham until 17 minutes later. Natalie says he could have been doing anything, and Alesha says including intimidating the witness. In the next taped interview, Gareth admitted to being at the scene of a crime.

At CPS, Sam tells Jake and Alesha that nothing happened. She asks how he can account for the 17 minutes. Sam says Gareth wanted a fag before he went back to the cells and he went with him to the cage and a few uniforms on the way saw them. Sam says no one saw Gareth have the cigarette, Natalie says that does not mean a thing, they will have cameras on the cage for that period. Jake asks if that is with sound. Sam pounds his fist on the desk and says this is unbelievable. Jake says yes it is but he doesn’t care if he lit his cigarette or beat him senseless with an iron bar, right now a respected head teacher is waiting outside court for a jury to return a guilty verdict for two teenagers who stabbed him and left him for dead. Sam says he wants those kids just as much as he, and Jake says good, because if he finds Sam did anything to jeopardize the verdict, he will be calling internal affairs.

Later, as Jake and Alesha walk down the street, Alesha says she will check the CCTV for when San was at the cage with Markham. Jakes says it doesn’t matter, there is no recording of what was said so the accusation still stands. Alesha thinks it will at least show that Sam was telling the truth about where he was. Jake asks what if Markham says Sam knew there were cameras so he chose his words carefully. He says it makes no difference, Markham still has to retract his statement.

Back in court, Crown v Hextor is up and Hextor pleads not guilty and Jake asks for remand. Carlton asks for bail, saying the only thing against Hextor is a traffic offense. Judge Richards holds him on remand. Up next is Crown v Roach, and Abraham Roach pleads guilty. Everyone looks shocked. Judge Richards ask Jake for the selected highlights and Jake does not seem prepared and then tells the judge that, along with the defense, expected the plea to be not guilty. The defense - Amanda = asks for a brief adjournment.

In another room, Amanda asks Jake for help, saying that Abraham is not guilty and that Abraham defended himself and did not mean to kill his brother, He feels guilty but is not guilty in the eyes of the law. He asks her is she is in Donald Walker’s Chambers, and she says yes. Jake adds that she has influence over the decisions he males. She asks what he wants, asking if this is about the teenager crying foul. He says yes, Gareth Markham tried to get away with attempted murder because he is terrified doesn’t realize the seriousness of what he’s done. Jake says Donald is letting it ride in hope to derail the whole trial for the sake of a win. Jakes says this is not why we do this and Amanda says Donald can be a little – Jake says stupid – but Amanda says myopic when it comes to the chamber’s reputation. Jake says this will damage it and trash a policeman’s career. She asks what he needs. Jake says he will put in an offer of manslaughter to Roach which he will happily plead guilty to, if she gets him a meet with Donald – today.

At CPS, at 16:47, Jake meets with Donald who tries to blow Jake off but Jake says Donald’s client should stick to telling the truth. Jake tells Donald to sit Gareth down and explain in small words what it means to lie to a court of law. Donald does not think he is lying. Jake thinks he is playing the system. Donald says he is sure Judge Richards will be happy to bring the jury up to speed with his suspicions tomorrow, Jake says he wants this sorted out in the next 10 minutes of the case could be thrown out. Donald says that is Jake’s problem. Henry Sharpe walks in and asks Donald how is he and Donald says he thinks Henry’s senior prosecutor was trying to accuse him of something but he is not sure what. Henry says he thought he gave him clear instructions for Donald to have a word with Gareth Markham and to drop the claim or they will pull his chambers in front of the standards board. Henry said if they did that he would have to review all their barristers to make sure they are competent to be on the Attorney Generals list. Donald is aghast. Henry adds that all the outsourced prosecution work would have to go elsewhere. Donald says “you wouldn’t” and Henry replies, “I would. And I will.” Donald says that is tantamount to blackmail. Henry and Jake look and each other and answer in unison. “yes.”

In court, the judge asks Markham if he is now saying he was not intimidated and if there was a reason for his change of heart. Jake indicates that the defense explained the seriousness of perjury. Markham apologizes to the court and the judge considers the matter closed and they will resume in the morning. He tells Markham to count himself lucky.

Afterwards, Dyer tells Jake that Donald is spitting blood, and Jake says he is not surprised. Jake asks to meet at the Cheshire in an hour, and Dyer says “a pint of pride.?” Jake says “always.” Alesha apologizes for interrupting but says Mrs. Hextor is camped outside their office.

Back at MIU, Ronnie and Sam are looking for any evidence that Roland is a serial killer. Ronnie moans he is never going to make the kickoff. Sam suggests he could get there for halftime, and when Sam’s phone rings, Ronnie asks if it is Cathy. Sam says he doesn’t think she believes he has a job. Ange tells them she got the CCTV from this morning but she couldn’t find the Mondeo registered to Hextor anywhere near the crime scene. Sam asks what about the CCTV from Embankment Pier. She says it is ready to watch on her computer but she has to go. Ronnie asks if it is a second date and he hasn’t led on he is an ax murderer? She says with his pecs she forgives him. They say goodnight and she leaves. Sam goes off to look at the footage.

At CPS at 18:23, Hextor’s mother said her son would not hurt a soul. Jake says he has no alibi and the evidence matches, and he mentions Epping Forest. When she asks about that, Alesha says his car was spotted there speeding, heading away from a crime scene. She said that was her, she took the car to Essex. She was picking up his birthday present and she did not want him to know she took the car so she paid the fine.

At MIU, Alesha tells Sam the news and that she wanted to tell him first hand. He asks if Jakes hates him and she says he just does not want to lose. She says she doesn’t hate him either. Ronnie said he will if he doesn’t get his backside in gear and help him with this. Alesha says that it is his way of saying he likes you too. As she leaves, Ronnie and Sam say goodnight and Sam thanks her. Sam says it was Mrs. Hextor driving the car in Epping Forest but everything else leads to Hextor. Ronnie shows him the video from about 8:30 last night and they see Roland and Ronnie recognizes the guy behind him but doesn’t know where from. Sam says if that is a routine, they can get down to the pier in time to meet them. Ronnie says maybe the game will be nil-nil draw and he will be there in time for the replay, and asks no one to tell him the score.

At Embankment Pier at 20:27, while they wait, Sam tells Ronnie that the uniform that said he would take Markham from the cell to the cage was late. He’d been on a lad’s night out and he’d had one too many. Ronnie says it is alright son, he doesn’t have to explain everything to him. They see their man and Ronnie stops the man and identified himself. The man says his name is Julian West. Ronnie asks if he knows Roland Hextor, and West asks what this is about. They tell him it is an ongoing inquiry and West seems surprised. Sam tells him it is a murder inquiry and Ronnie says Roland is refusing to give his whereabouts between the hours of midnight at 6 in the morning. West says that he was with him in his tiny flat in Wapping. He says Roland is terrified of the press finding out about them. West asks if he quoted article 8 to him and Ronnie says yes. West says Roland had taken it upon himself to protect them against any invasion into their private life. West says his is the MP – a backbencher - and Rollie is on the speech writing team for the defense minister and always wanted to work for the military, something to do with his father, West says if Roland is not telling them anything it is to protect them – to protect him.

Back at MIU, Ronnie brings Jake up to speed and tell Jake not to tell him the score. Ronnie tells Sam that Roland is a free man as Jake is happy with Julian’s statement and the paperwork has gone to Ashbridge. Sam asks if they should pick him up, and Ronnie says that is the least they could do with the day he’s had. Sam says he will get his coat, and Ronnie says he doesn’t think so, Sam has other things to deal with. He motions for Sam to look behind him, where Cathy is standing there holding Ben. Sam looks flustered and Cathy says she didn’t know what else to do, that Mum can’t have him. Sam takes Ben and gives him a kiss, and Cathy tells Sam not to let him stay up late watching Toy Story again. When she leaves, Sam asks Ronnie why he lets her get away with it. Ronnie grabs his coat and heads out, and tells Sam it is because Sam is Ben’s dad.

At Ashbridge Prison at 21:55, Ronnie gets Roland who asks Ronnie if anyone else knew and Ronnie says no. Ronnie says if he would have only been honest from the beginning. Roland says his private life is private. Ronnie says he could have been in there a long time. Roland mentions was surprised at the TV room and they were showing the footy and they beat the Hammers 2-nil. As Ronnie stops and rolls his eyes, Roland said it was a great game and he would have loved to have been there. Roland realizes that the real killer is still out there and they still have to catch him. Ronnie says he knows. Ronnie says that is for tomorrow.


All Text Content (Recaps, Review, Commentary) © allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted


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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.






Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Law & Order UK “Fault Lines” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order UK, “Fault Lines”:

My recap and review of Law & Order UK "Fault Lines" can be found at this link.



Law & Order UK “Fault Lines” Air Date November 9, 2011 (9PM ET Wednesday BBC America)

The frenzied stabbing of a police forensic lab technician unsettles the team in a way they never expected when Detective Sam Casey falls for the killer's next intended victim. Starring Bradley Walsh, Paul Nicholls, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman, Dominic Rowan, and Peter Davison.



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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order UK, “Dawn Till Dusk”:


Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” Air Date November 2, 2011 (9PM ET Wednesday BBC America)

Over the course of one long day, the team works on three separate cases, including tracking a serial killer, intervening in a family dispute turned murderous, and disproving an accusation of police intimidation. Will all of the team make it through with their careers intact? Starring Bradley Walsh, Paul Nicholls, Harriet Walter, Freema Agyeman, Dominic Rowan, and Peter Davison.





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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Law & Order UK Clip Reel

Here’s a promotional clip reel for Law & Order UK, which airs on ITV in the UK, and on BBC America in the US (check your local listings).



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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Law & Order UK “Line Up” Recap & Review


Alesha is the lead on a tough case in Law & Order UK “Line Up” which was based on the original Law & Order episode “Performance” from season 5. It looks like it may be a murder case at first when a video shows a girl being raped and then shot with a gun. But when  Detectives Brooks and Casey find the girl very much alive, they believe they still have a clear cut case of rape.

The case threatens to get complicated for Alesha when she gets Justice Reynolds for the case, and Jake offers to trade her for something a little less difficult. Alesha is not one to scare easily, and despite getting a judge who takes a “she asked for it” approach to rape cases, Alesha forges ahead. Unfortunately for Alesha, her biggest and most damning piece of evidence is thrown out early on. This episode was a nice feature for Freema Agyeman, as it allowed her character to do more than just work a case behind the scenes.

Paul Nicholls is proving to be a fine addition to the cast, and his character DS Sam Casey was given the lead on the investigation. Nicholls was able to show both his tough side (when he made the arrest) and his soft side (when he worked to convince the rape victim to testify). Paul is the perfect replacement for Jamie Bamber, and while his character has a personality all his own, he still plays off DS Ronnie Brooks in a similar comfortable manner as did DS Matt Devlin.

What continues to impress me about Law & Order UK is the exceptional writing which makes every character believable and relatable. This episode was written by lead writer Emilia di Girolamo and I know that when I see her name in the opening credits that the episode will really be worth watching. Again, I was not disappointed!

(Photos to be added at a later date.)

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest Stars:
Eva Pope – Renay Everett
Laurie Duncan – Danny Heywood
Rachel Clarke – Wendy Heywood
Jessica Lester – Anna Russo
Dorian Lougher – Gino Russo
Sara Stephens – Rita Russo
Reece Leighwood – Reece Beaumont
Philip Voss – Justice Reynolds
Jade Camille = Monique
Jessica Gunning – Angela
Mark Straker – Morgan Braithe
Will Ashcroft – Tristan Forbes-Langton

At the home of Wendy Heywood, her son Danny arrives home and she chides him for breaking curfew and confiscates his mobile phone. Later, when she looks at what is on the phone, she sees a video of a man putting a pillow over a girl’s face and shooting her.

Later, Wendy and Danny are at MIU speaking with DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey about the video. They have no idea who sent the video – or so Danny claims. When Wendy and Danny leave, Sam asks Ronnie if he thinks the girl in the video could be acting, and Ronnie replies, “Not a chance.”

They review the information with DI Natalie Chandler and explain that the message on the video said “shhh” so as to not pass along the video or tell from where they got it. There is a date on the video and it was recorded 3 weeks ago. There are 2 different blokes who swapped being cameraman, they all have hoods on and only one shot shows part of a face. Angela is trying to identify the location but all they can see is a mattress and they think it could be a crack house or a squat. Natalie tells Angela to try to get a decent picture of the murder victim.

As Ronnie and Sam walk down the street, Sam gets a call saying that a concerned banker called and reported the video was uploaded to a DIY porn site last night. There was a contest and the video was in a “rape fantasy” category.

They speak with the owner of the web site who tells them the video has been downloaded 20,000 times over the past 14 hours. Ronnie asks where he plans on sending the prize money, and the site owner says that is confidential. Sam says if he doesn’t tell he will be arrested for obstruction. All he has is a user name and email address.

Back at MIU, Angela tells them the email address belongs to Christian Preston, and adds that his profile says he is 18.

At the Preston household, Ronnie and Sam speak to Christian’s mother and they tell her about the video and she says Christian is 13 years old. She takes the head[phones off Christian’s head and tells him to tell the police where he got the video. He said he got it at school and the video has gone viral.

Back at MIU Ronnie informs them that a uniform is at the school checking in the video. They ask Angela who has printed off a close up photo of the girl and a T-shit photo which has KaC on it. Ronnie shows it to Natalie and tells her they don’t think it a range of clothing but something more specific. Sam enters and tells them it is from Kidbrooke Athletics Club.

At the athletic club, Ronnie and Sam speak with a track coach who identifies the girl as Anna Russo. He last saw her 3-4 weeks ago. She loved running.

At Chapeltown Estates, Ronnie and Sam approach the front door to notify the parents, and after San rings the buzzer, they are both shocked to see Anna Russo open the door.

At MIU, Ronnie and Sam speak with Anna’s parents, her father is highly agitated so Ronnie asks to take a break and escorts him out of the room. Sam speaks with Anna and her mother and tells her she is not in trouble with them and asks her to tell him what happened. He asked if she consented to sex with the lads and she shakes her head no. She says he was in the park with her mate Jadie. The boys came over and asked if they wanted to go to a party. They went and found out there wasn’t a party it was just their flat. They went inside and it was empty and dirty and there were no lights. Jadie went off with Mark and she chatted with the other boy, and suddenly they are there around her.

Meanwhile, Ronnie is still trying to calm Mr. Russo.

Sam continues to question Anna who says the boys were older than her and drinking and smoking weed. When Sam asks if she was drinking and smoking as well, Anna asks if her dad can see her or hear her. Sam says no, and she admits to having one drink before, but does not smoke weed or do drugs. When Sam continues to question her on that issue, she become agitated that he does not believe her. He tells her he needs to know everything so it can be used against her in court, and she is shocked at the idea of court. Anna then says she does not want to do this or press charges and she runs out of the room.

Afterwards, and while walking down the street, Ronnie asks Natalie as this is no longer a murder investigation, shouldn’t they hand this over to Sapphire. Natalie says they are sending a SOIT to work with Anna but they are keeping the case. She tells Sam to take the lead and when he worries that Anna will walk out on him again, Natalie tells him he started the investigation so he should see it through. Natalie says the gun was real and worries whoever made the video may take it a stage further the next time.

Back at Chapeltown Estates, Sam speaks with Anna who tells Sam he does not get it. The boys are bragging about it and everyone thinks she is fair game. She does not want to be that girl. He says if no one stands up to him things will not change and she has to stand up to them so they don’t do it again. She wants to forget about it but he says she can’t forget about something like that. She insists she can’t. Sam asks her to look at him, and they says when she told him what happened to him that took real guts. He tells her she is not a victim, she is a fighter. He says if she finishes her statement, he will do everything in his power to put hose lad where they belong.

Back at MIU, Sam tells Natalie that Anna does not know who the boys are and Ronnie says Jadie and her boyfriend are apparently suffering from amnesia as their descriptions of the boys are white teens with short hair. Angela calls them over and says they need to hear something. Angela plays back a phone recording says there is a girl being attacked and they need to come quickly and they also have a gun. The operator asks for the address and the caller responds that it is 55B Rabans Park. The caller hangs up. Angela tells them the call came in the night of the attack and a dispatch car was sent but the place was empty when they got there so they thought it was a hoax.

At Rabans Park House, Ronnie and Sam enter the flat and find the mattress with a lot of junk scattered around, and Sam finds a pin that has a “D” which he assumes is for “Danny.”

Back at MIU in interrogation, Sam and Ronnie ask Danny if he was the one that made the phone call, and he denies it. They remind him it was the location of the video that was sent to his mobile phone and to half the school. He admits he and Anna are mates but says he has never been to that flat. They show him the pin and say his other said it was like the one she got him for Christmas and the one he lost the night Anna was attacked. Ronnie says they are testing it now and he bets his DNA is all over it. Sam adds they also retrieved several used condoms from the scene and when Sam asks if any will have his DNA on it, Danny says no. He says he likes Anna and he was going to ask her out. Danny says he can’t tell him who the others were. Sam says loyalty is one thing but what his mates did to that girl was sick. Danny replies they don’t know what they are like, they had a gun. Sam says if they witnessed what they did and doesn’t do anything about it, he is guilty too, it is called joint enterprise. Ronnie tells him he could go to prison. Danny said he tried to help her and Sam says they need names – NOW.

At the Video Identification Suite at MIU, Anna is looking at a photo lineup on the screen and identifies 3 men, saying the clothes on one stank like weed and the one who had the gun who was in control the whole time, telling the others what to do. She sees Danny’s face in the line up and says no. CP Alesha Phillips is observing the photo lineup, along with Ronnie and Sam.

Sam walks into the interrogation room and asks why she would like to them, they know Danny was there and Danny is backing her up and he saw the whole thing. She replies that she knew they would talk to Danny and if anyone talked they would be dead. She says Danny tried to stop them and help her but Sam angrily says Danny left the scene and he walked away. Anna says she liked him and she thought he liked her too. Sam says it is not her job to protect him, he is a witness and they will make sure he is safe. She asks what happens now, and Sam says they will bring them in and charge them with rape.

Later, Sam and Ronnie arrest Reese Leighwood, Garret Evens and Callum Morden for suspicion of the rape of Anna Russo. Sam reads their rights.

While walking down the street, CP Jake Thorne speaks with CPS Director Henry Sharpe about the case. Jake says what they boys lack in intelligence they are making up for in loyally – with a collective “No comment.” Jake also says Alesha wants to head up the case.

Back at CPS, Alesha asks Jake to guess which judge they got, and Jake asks “Not Robert “she asked for it’ Reynolds?” Alesha says yes. Jake comments that Reynolds was pulled off a case last month and hope he is overzealous to make up for it, Alesha tells him not to count on it. Jake says he would be happy to switch and would trade her for an aggravated burglary, he thought he would spare her the hassle as these cases are not fun. Alesha tells him he is a crap liar.

At Crown v Leighwood, Evans, and Morden, Alesha argues bail, that the boys may interfere with witnesses. The 3 defense barristers reply the gun was fake and that Anna Russo was happy to have this filmed, that this was normal teenage sex. The judge adds there was no sign of a struggle or never any use of the word “no” , calling this a “he said – she said”. He grants bail. He does impose a curfew between 7 Am and 7 PM, and also witness and location bans.

When Jake and Alesha return to the office, Miss Everett - Reece Leighwood’s barrister - is waiting with an application to exclude the mobile phone footage. She adds that one more rape case and she can turn them down but for now she is stuck defending Reece. She said Reynolds summed it up, there was no sign of rape and her client pulled out a toy gun, Alesha said that if she believes that she would want the video in. Alesha says she is scared the jury will see her client and his friends wanted a bit of fun. Everett adds that the jury will see Anna Russo is alive and the rape is every bit as fake as the murder. Jake replies it is not about the video, he thinks she is worried about the additional charges. She walks out of the office.

At Crown v Leighwood, Evans, and Morden, Alesha argues that Everett wants the video excluded to avoid the weapons and indecent images charges which are proven by the footage. Everett says the video will prejudice her client. Alesha reminds her the client is the one who sent the video, but Everett counters that her client is a child and he made the video and sent it to his mate, calling it bragging, not child porn. Judge Reynolds agrees with Everett, saying there was no sinister intent on sending out the video. He excludes the video.

Back at CPS, Alesha tells Jake and Henry that without the mobile phone footage they have to drop the distribution of child abuse images and weapons charges. The gun can’t be found. Jake reminds them that the boys did not clear the scene of their DNA. Alesha thinks that if the jury saw the video they would convict without question. Henry reminds them they still have the ID, the evidence, the witness and the DNA which is usually more than they get. Jake says if they really want to piss of Renay there is another way: they could adduce bad character evidence, Alesha adding “other victims.” The boys filmed and distributed that attack and there is no way this is their first time. Alesha said the police checked, but Henry said it just means they haven’t been caught. Jake adds that Anna is the exception, Alesha needs to find the rule.

At Chapeltown Estate, Alesha speaks with Danny. He asks how many other girls are out there too scared to report what Reece and the others did to them. Danny hesitates, and says there was one girl who Reece said was up for it and he sent out a text about the girl wanting a line up, He said he saw the video and the girl laid there just like Anna. She asks Danny if he knows her name.

At Gallion Park Comprehensive, Alesha speaks with Monique who said he didn’t know Reece filmed it and Reece later told her if she told anyone he would send the video to her mum. She thought Reece liked her and after they did it, his mates came in to have a go too. She couldn’t fight them off and did not know how to stop it. Alesha tells her it will be OK.

Later, Alesha tries to convince Anna to testify. Alesha reminds her there were three of them and she couldn’t fight or run, and she froze to protect herself and that is a normal response and a survival instinct. It worked, she is there and she is alive. Alesha tells her it now is the time to fight.

At Crown v Leighwood, Evans, and Morden, Anna testifies from a remote location and she describes the attack. She also said she was frightened and embarrassed and she wanted her dad to come save her. She continues to describe the attack, saying that he raped her.

Everett cross examines her and asks if force was used, and Anna says she could not move. Everett asked if she was threatened with a knife, and Anna said they had a gun. Everett asked if she saw the gun before she had sex with the boys, and Anna replies no they still had it in. Everett asks if her client ever threatened her with the gun, and as Everett continues to go on, Alesha jumps up and asks the judge if that is a question or a statement. He says to treat it like a question, and then asks Anna to go ahead. Anna says there were three of them and she could not stop them or move. Everett asks if they handcuffed her or tied her up, and Anna says no. Everett brings up the 3 condoms and that her client’s DNA was on the inside and hers on the outside, and Anna says that proves he did it, as DNA does not lie. Everett asks how can they believe that in a dark room, this boy could put on a condom without this so called victim running off? Anna says she does not know what it is like and she is making her sound like a sket. Everett asks if a sket is a prostitute or a girl who has sex with a lot of boys. Alesha and Jake turn their heads and glare towards Everett.

Later, outside the courtroom, Anna’s father asks Alesha why they didn’t ask the judge to do something, and Alesha tells him the defense barrister’s job is to discredit the witness. She says she knows it seems wrong but that is the system. Rape victims are witnesses in their own trial. Anna’s father hopes Anna does not regret it. Alesha tells him that Anna is a fighter and is a lot stronger than he gives credit for. She adds he will have to be strong with her as the defense has just started with her.

Back in court, Everett is questioning Anna about her statement where Anna used the word “cotching” to describe what she was told Jadie and Mark were doing and she asks what that word meant. Anna said it means to chill or hang out. Everett says it is from the French word choucher meaning to lie down or to have sex. Everett asks if cotching would mean to have sex, and Anna says she does not know, she just wanted to find her mates. As Everett accuses Anna of wanting to have sex with her client, Alesha objects to the questioning about the origin or slang words, and the judge agrees with her and tells Everett to rein it in.

Another barrister questions Anna, saying that Anna lied to prevent getting in trouble with her dad. The other barrister also questions her about going to the flat without planning to have sex with the boys and that she couldn’t say no. Anna replies she could not speak – and the barrister says she means she didn’t. As he presses her on the fact that she did not say no, Anna says she is not listening to this, and she storms off. One of the boys smiles and Anna’s father races out of the courtroom to aid his daughter. Anna runs out into the hallway, and passes Danny who is waiting there, and stops as her father calls out to her. Jake and Alesha also exit the courtroom and watch as her father consoles her. He asks them if they still don’t think she won’t regret this.

At Kidbrooke Athletics Track, Alesha speaks with Anna who talks about her dreams of winning medals. Alesha tells Anna that her dreams aren’t over because of what they did. She adds she knows how hard it is to keep going and see it though but she has to cross the finish line. She will find the strength to carry on.

At CPS, Danny is standing at the door to Alesha’s office and comments that they don’t believe her. Alesha replies that he doesn’t know that. She asks Danny if is mom knows he is there, and Danny says he can’t stop thinking about how upset Anna was. Alesha tells him to worry about his own evidence and Anna has given her already. Danny says they are going to walk, but she says at the end of the day it all comes down to consent. Juries want to hear about strangers with knives not schoolboys with condoms. Danny says they have to go down for what they did to Anna. Alesha says unless one of them changes their plea to guilty – and that’s not going to happen – it could go either way. Danny asks that if one of them says they were guilty then all of them would go down? Alesha tells him most likely, yes. When he asks if she is sure, Alesha stops and asks what is he telling her?

Back at Crown v Leighwood, Evans, and Morden, Danny testifies that he tried to stop them but they wouldn’t listen. He adds that Reece asks that Anna wasn’t screaming, was she and that she wasn’t struggling and she was enjoying it. He said he told Reece they were hurting her and had to let he go. He testified that Reece laughed. Danny adds he tried to leave but Reece had the gun and that one was blank and the rest were real. He adds Reece pointed the gun at him and said that Danny had to do what he asked. He said everyone in the room had to do it so there would be no witnesses and they would all be the same – meaning they would all equally be guilty and not "grass" (inform) on each other. Danny admits to raping Anna while he was at gunpoint, adding that she just lay there. He sobs that he is so sorry.

Later, at Crown v Leighwood, Evans, and Morden, all three defendants are found guilty of rape . Because of their age, the judge asks for pre-sentence reports, but says the offense is a grave one and they will go to prison.

At a later time, Jake is sipping a beer at the pub and Alesha enters, saying that Reece got 6 years and the other two got 4. For Danny, Reynolds knocked off a year for the guilty plea and two for the gun in the back, and he gave him 12 months. Jake asks Alesha if she is happy with that, and she complains about the inconsistencies with other offenses. Jake reminds her it was Reynolds and she did well. He adds that at least Anna Russo can try to put it behind her for now.

At Kidbrooke Athletics Track, Alesha watches as Anna runs the track with her father there for support. Alesha smiles and walks away…and we fade to black.


All Text Content (Recaps, Review, Commentary) © allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.