Episode 2 The Case

I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Saskia Stanley.

It may harm your defence

if you don't mention when questioned something you rely on in court.

I just pulled a cracker, Jules. Murder.

Tony claims that Saskia wanted to end her life, he assisted her.

The family say he murdered her, to get his hands on her will.

What the Prosecution will seek to prove is this -

Anthony Powell prematurely and deliberately

ended the life of Saskia Stanley.

It was her idea.

Why would she do that, rather than talk to her family?

Well, she was in unbearable pain.

'He tried to persuade her'

that he could help her end her own life more quickly,

so she would avoid the pain of the last stages of cancer.

-What if Tony did what Mum wanted?

-She'd have told us.

In my time as a police officer,

I've looked into a lot of guilty faces

That's what I saw in his eyes.

I knew he'd done it.

I'd given up for 12 years. Disgusting habit.

Technically, I should have called the police when you rang.

-Why didn't you, then?

-Because you know running away is not the answer. That's why you called.

I know I'm innocent, but listening to that evidence that's coming.

If I was on the jury, I'd think I'd done it.

-It's only been one day.

-I'm going down, Mr Ridley!

You will be if you run, I can tell you that!

You'll be caught, there'll be a retrial,

and what's a jury going to think, then?

Come on, let's give you the best chance. Yes?

Is there some other reason you can think of for running away,

something you haven't told us?

DOORBELL RINGS

Hiya, mate. You all right?

Yeah. I need a bed for the night.

Yeah, of course.

-Well, that was one of the more unusual evenings I've had.

-Wasn't it?

Think he'll be there tomorrow?

Not sure he's got the guts to run. I think he's just scared.

Aren't we the amateur psychologist?

At least you didn't call it "woman's intuition". I'd have had to hit you.

I'd like to see you try!

I've got a pretty tasty right hook, you know.

Well, I'd better be nice to you, then.

And I'll try not to screw up again, eh?

I don't want to give the likes of Valerie any more ammunition.

It's a deal.

I'll see you tomorrow.

See you.

I recognise that expression. It's the harbinger of doom.

This contact and residence hearing.

Versus Paul Carrington?

Paul Carrington? Don't tell me you hadn't noticed.

I'd noticed. But it hadn't crossed my mind it would be a problem.

Surely it's all water under the bridge? If he still gets under your skin, someone else can do it.

Don't be ridiculous. I'm a big girl, I'll manage.

Good, because Carrington's on his way over with his client for a session of negotiation.

While we're on the unhappy union of business and pleasure,

I wondered if you'd noticed anything untoward with Ridley and his minion.

What have you heard?

Nothing yet. But why else would he appoint her junior

on a case as important as that?

I don't care if she turns out to be Rumpole, she's a pupil.

-Morning.

-Oh, we were just talking about you.

Anything else I can help you with, Valerie?

And what can I do you for?

Prosecution have a witness, a graphologist,

-and it seems there's a case...

-Oh, I heard - The Greenberg case.

Graphologist. The infamous, pompous Mr Cook.

Their Lordships should be ruling on the appeal today, I hear.

And you want someone on the spot

so if the judgement comes through in time,

Mr Ridley can use it to discredit the ghastly graphologist?

That's about the size of it, yes.

I know a couple of people there, so wait and I'll put the call in.

?You know a lot of people were surprised

when Mr Ridley appointed you as Junior on this case.

And now we know why.

Oh, Martin, hi.

It's Gordon McCallister. Yes.

Really?

-You going to give Tony a lift?

-No, I'm fine.

-I'll take you, mate.

-I can manage.

I'll be there, OK.

Yeah. Good luck.

Bye, then!

-As you can see, things are much better between her and me.

-Everyone has their rough patches mate.

So what about today? Will you get to give evidence?

Maybe. Depends how far the case gets.

-You'll feel a lot better once you get a chance to give your side.

-I don't know.

I think the jury will find it hard to understand why I did it.

I think you do, too.

I've never said that.

I think...you believed you were doing the right thing.

But you don't.

She was going to die in excruciating pain.

How could I not give her what she wanted?

I guess...I just...

-struggle to imagine being able to do it.

-Yeah, and so did I.

Look, I don't know what I would've done.

The point is, you did what you thought was right.

I know you're a good bloke.

Yeah, but the jury don't.

And the prosecution are going to slaughter me.

It was an act of love, that's what they don't understand!

It was an act of love.

Well, this is nice.

Isn't it.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

I'm not going anywhere, don't worry.

SHE GASPS IN PAIN

Are you OK?

SHE BREATHES OUT SLOWLY

Shame they won't let you administer it.

You could give me a bit extra.

My name is Tony Powell.

I helped Saskia take her own life, according to her own wishes.

This is her goodbye note.

You'd better get going.

Good luck, mate.

Cheers.

HE BREATHES DEEPLY

Morning.

Glad I ran into you.

Listen, it was wrong of me to discuss Ridley's private affairs with you. Quite wrong.

No harm done.

-So, er, don't mention it to him, hm?

-I wasn't planning to.

Good. I think he'd be quite cross.

Especially if he thought I was gossiping about the whole Valerie thing with...

Anyway, see you in court.

Mr Powell here yet?

He's normally pretty prompt, isn't he?

-I thought we'd talked him round.

-So did I.

He did seem pretty scared though.

-Maybe he's bottled it.

-Hey, let's not go there just yet.

What's the news on the graphologist appeal?

The judgement's likely to be today, but not necessarily this morning.

We really need an angle on this guy. If the goodbye note is faked...

He's not first up. Buys us a bit of time.

Yeah. Forensic pathologist is first.

Ah, good morning, Mr Powell.

Had my brake light kicked in this morning

and I got pulled over for it by the cops. You know who's behind it.

Are you going to try and tell me it was coincidence?

Yes, Mr Powell, I think it probably was. Shall we?

How easy is it for a layperson to inject themselves in the arm?

It's surprisingly difficult.

The issue is finding the vein. It takes practice.

How much more difficult would it be

if you were in Saskia Stanley's feeble physical state?

I wouldn't like to say.

Well, more or less difficult than normal?

More, I suppose.

Describe to us what you'd have to do.

Well, er, you would have to prepare the diamorphine solution

and fill the syringe.

Then apply a tourniquet and hold it tightly

while you find the vein with the needle.

From what angle? Where would your arm be?

So you'd have to bring your arm right round.

It's quite a physical action.

Could you do that while you were lying down?

I think that would be very difficult.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Mr Robinson, were there not in fact signs that Mrs Stanley had indeed been practising injecting herself?

There were other needle marks on her arms,

but that may have been from other drugs that had been administered to her,

or blood tests, for example. So it's impossible to say.

You say it's hard for a layperson to find the vein? Is that true of everybody?

Well, some people struggle. Others less so.

Let's say Mrs Stanley found it relatively easy. Could she have done it?

Objection, Your Honour. The witness is being asked to speculate.

Indeed.

Let us be clear, then.

You wouldn't rule out the possibility that she could have injected herself?

No. No, I would not.

Thank you.

Ah, I was just coming to find you. I believe you and Mr Carrington are acquainted.

-Valerie, what a pleasant surprise.

-Paul.

-My face lit up when I saw your name on the brief. You're looking marvellous.

-Thank you.

Meanwhile, I've put on a stone and I look knackered.

You can't live life in the fast lane without a bit of collateral damage.

I'll leave you to it.

-Shall we cut to the chase?

-Is that a come-on?

So you think we can knock their heads together without a scrap in court.

I see no reason, if your client is in a reasonable, mature mood.

Your client doesn't want residence?

-He just wants to see his kids.

-So what are all these conditions?

Your client must stop threatening legal action for non-payment of maintenance

-when my client has never missed a single payment.

-And?

She needs to stop the weird late-night phone calls.

-There's no evidence for that.

-Au contraire.

The phone company was very helpful.

Your client sounds like the classic wronged woman.

She needs to move on,

then we can wrap this up and go for lunch.

I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give

shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Any word from Gordon's contact?

No, nothing yet.

When you're ready, Mr Metzler.

Mr Cook, how long have you been...

PHONE VIBRATES

Hi, Gordon. The appeal's through?

Oh, great. Many thanks. Could you fax it over?

I owe you.

Thank you.

What's your fax number?

'To my darling children, my family and Neil.

'I'm so sorry but I could go on no longer.

'I love you all. Remember me fondly. Saskia.'

Now, you've studied several of Saskia Stanley's letters.

Do you think this is her handwriting?

I think there are significant anomalies.

If you compare with her normal writing,

the downstroke of the G is quite different,

as is the formation of the As and the Ts.

It's also interesting that the handwriting in the note

is heavier and thick-lined.

And what would that signify?

Leaning on something soft when writing.

Or if you were trying to copy somebody else's writing you'd write more slowly,

thus your pen would be in contact with the paper for longer,

leaving heavier and thicker strokes.

Do you think that this is Saskia Stanley's handwriting?

Well, it's difficult to be certain.

But I have some reservations as to its authenticity.

Thank you, Mr Cook. No further questions, Your Honour.

Ahem!

Mr Ridley?

Er...

Mr Cook, 19 different cases...

That's an awful lot of work.

Your Honour, excuse me for one second.

Mr Cook, do you recall giving evidence in a case last year,

Crown versus Greenberg?

I do, yes.

That case went to appeal and I can tell you now

the Court of Appeal have just overturned the original verdict.

Your Honour, if I may, I'll just quote from Their Lordships' judgement.

"The evidence of Mr Cook was speculative, unscientific and unsubstantiated.

"The case should never have relied upon it so strongly."

Mr Cook, I have to ask you,

in what way is the evidence you've given today any different

from the evidence that Lord Justice Clancy described

as speculative, unscientific and unsubstantiated?

I happen to disagree with that statement profoundly.

I'm sure you do. You'd be out of a job if you didn't.

No further questions, Your Honour.

I don't see why I should agree to a thing.

He's the one who dumped me and shacked up with another woman.

It's important to remember that if we can find a common agreement,

it's less stressful for you and your children.

Yes.

So we agree about the phone calls and the legal threats?

-He only responds to threats.

-Have the threats worked? Have you got what you wanted?

-OK.

-Good, this is a real step forward. I think we're getting somewhere.

But I am not having that woman round when the kids are visiting.

My counterpart is putting that to your husband.

But I think it's very unlikely he'll concur.

-She's poisoning my kids against me.

-Mrs Turner, I know this is awkward,

but if Guy's partner is living with him, we can't ask her to leave every time your children visit.

Fine. Then we've got no agreement.

Let's take it to the judge and Guy can go to hell.

The cheek! The cheek of the woman!

She doesn't get to tell me who I see and when.

-Quite agree.

-She gave up that right when she ended it.

Not that it matters now.

Circumstances have changed.

-Here you go.

-Ah, thanks.

Well done, by the way. That turned out pretty nicely.

Bit too close for my liking.

Did you see Metzler?

Sat there pretending like he didn't care.

Ha! I know we got under his skin. Now we just have to make it count.

You do sound slightly unhinged when you talk about Metzler.

What can I say? He's everything I don't like about the legal world wrapped up in one person.

He's good though.

-Hey, whose side are you on?

-Just saying.

MOBILE RINGS

Hello?

Oh, Gordon.

Yes, just in the nick of time. We're very grateful.

Well, court's back in session in an hour and...

Yes, I suppose I could pop over.

Payback. I've got run Gordon an errand, apparently.

There's no harm in keeping in his good books. Especially with that vote coming up.

See ya.

There's been an important development.

We need to see the judge right away.

Need some jurisprudence on damages awarded to poorly-executed hip replacements.

You should manage that in your lunch hour.

Yeah, of course. Who's it for?

Long-running case that Valerie's working on. She'd be most grateful.

I realise that this is unusual, Your Honour,

but the prosecution would like to call a further witness.

Tamsin Hatfield was a junior solicitor at the firm where the deceased altered her will

and we've just discovered that she's back in the country visiting family.

Her testimony is vital and sheds new light on the prosecution's case.

Why was she not available before this time?

She had emigrated to Australia, Your Honour,

and so wasn't available when the police were looking for witnesses.

Unfortunately, she is due to fly back to Melbourne this afternoon

and so this would be our only opportunity.

The new girlfriend is no more, so we can tick off that issue.

-Really? She didn't stick around.

-Probably because your client was breathing down her neck.

Yeah, I'm sure it was all her fault.

-Still, this should help matters enormously.

-I hope so.

Your client is being very difficult, considering she ended the relationship.

Quite the contrary. He ended it.

-He's insisting that is not the case.

-So is she.

How can they not agree on why they split up?

You row, you blame each other, and then you make up the story of what happened in your head.

-Is that right?

-Yeah.

-Is that what you do?

These idiots are still in love.

Is that feminine intuition?

No, it's basic emotional intelligence.

Not exactly your forte.

Here's the jurisprudence research you needed.

Thank you. That was quick. There was no rush.

SHE SIGHS

What's wrong?

When you took Saskia to change her will, did you row?

What do you mean row?

Did you argue? A falling-out before you went inside?

I don't know. I don't think so.

I mean, she was upset because...

-Because what?

-Because she was changing the will.

She was thinking about her life coming to an end. She was in sat in a wheelchair in unbearable pain.

-What is the problem here?

-The problem is...

-There's not a problem, Mr Powell.

There's just a new witness and we're re-establishing the facts.

Saskia wanted to go to the solicitors.

I thought it was a bad idea, not least because her mobility had become a real problem.

But she was determined, so that was that.

I never asked her what it was about, I swear.

He's not budging, is he?

Guy's single again, Stella.

And apparently rather upset that you left him.

But I didn't leave him. He left me.

KNOCKING

Come in.

Could my client speak with your client in private?

We'll give you both a minute.

(This could backfire massively.)

(No chance. It's in the bag.)

RAISED VOICES

Give it a minute. It's just a bit of anger coming out.

SHOUTING STOPS

-SOBBING: It's my fault.

-No!

Oh, Guy!

I doff my invisible hat in your general direction.

Easiest money you've ever earned.

We've played our part in keeping the divorce statistics down.

So, Ms Hatfield,

let's cast our mind back to 9th March,

six weeks before Saskia Stanley's death.

Can you tell us when you first saw her that day?

I was outside having a cigarette.

Mr Powell was helping Mrs Stanley into a wheelchair

and they were having an argument. I could hear them.

Could you make out much of what was said?

No.

And then Mr Powell started pushing Mrs Stanley towards the office.

I could see she was crying.

I went back inside at that point.

When did you next see Mrs Stanley?

When she came into the meeting with the senior partner Mr Kennedy and me.

Mr Powell brought her in and then he left.

And what was the purpose of Mrs Stanley's visit?

She wanted to change her will quite radically,

so that Mr Powell inherited 50% of her estate.

And what had he been due to inherit previously?

Nothing.

Can you confirm the authenticity of this file note,

written in your name, which states that Mrs Stanley's estate,

including her house, was worth over £600,000?

I can.

-You know it's rude to read people's mail.

-I'm sorry, it's just...

Don't prove them right, Tony.

-Who?

-My family. They think you're after my money.

-Are you joking?

-Just don't give them reasons.

Are you accusing me of being after your money?

Oh, darling.

One of the things I love about you is that you let me be independent.

I'd like to keep it that way.

And I think that should apply to money too.

I totally agree. I never...

I honestly wasn't being nosey. I just idly picked it up.

And you were surprised by how much I had?

As you say, none of my business.

No.

But my company does pretty well and I've got a few bob.

So we have to make sure it's not an issue.

Agreed.

Karl says the garage has money worries.

It's nothing. It's, er...just a few unpaid bills. That's all.

So, Mr Powell was the beneficiary

of this radical change in Mrs Stanley's will.

Which is why I thought it was pretty weird,

considering Mr Powell had brought her here to change the will. Especially after I saw them arguing.

I found the whole thing pretty unsettling.

Objection, Your Honour, that's pure opinion.

No further questions, Your Honour.

I thought I wanted to see Tony go down.

Wanted to see him pay for what he did.

Like Dad does?

Yeah.

And I do. I really do.

But it's weird, you know.

I stood up in court yesterday, said what I wanted to say.

Just thought I'd feel better afterwards.

Are you going to tell him?

Apparently, you should've seen the look on Tony's face

when this solicitor took the stand.

It was like he'd been caught red-handed.

I mean, it's really going better than we could've hoped.

Where are you getting all this information, Dad?

-I have colleagues keeping an eye on proceedings.

-That's a good use of police resources(!)

It's difficult for us, not being able to watch the trial,

so I thought you'd appreciate regular updates. No?

You're not interested with the outcome of this?

Don't be silly! Personally, I don't want to hear every detail.

I just...

I just want it to be over.

It will be. Soon.

So, how are the wedding plans going?

You know you need to get your brother involved with this, don't you?

He's got a great eye for design.

He's going to make us all very proud one day.

I failed.

Say again.

I failed. And I haven't gone back.

I don't think architecture's for me.

-I thought... I thought that's what you wanted to do.

-No.

I wanted to do fine art. But you talked me out of that, remember?

I thought you loved it.

No.

Hated it, actually.

Just too embarrassed to tell you.

I know it's hard for you now. But don't give up so easily.

Dan, think about your mother, you think about what your mother would've wanted.

Dad, you don't know what Mum would have wanted!

Not about Dan's future - and not about the trial, actually.

You don't know any more than we do, so just give it a rest.

MOBILE PHONE BEEPS

Really sorry, but I've got to pop out.

I'm, er, sorry that we took up so much of your time.

Not at all, very gratifying to know we could help.

It's not often we achieve such a satisfactory outcome.

You won't see us again. That's a promise.

TELEPHONES RING, BUZZ OF CONVERSATIONS

While reconciliation's in the air, how about WE bury the hatchet?

No hard feelings?

-Don't push it, Paul.

-I'm trying to say sorry.

YOU'RE trying to say sorry?

-Yeah!

-Fair enough.

We had SOME fun, you and me. I mean, we had a good time for a while.

Pity we can't just pick it up where we left off.

I mean, nothing serious, just a bit of fun between us.

Nothing serious? Is that how you saw us?

Oh, whatever! Come on, we were hardly Romeo and Juliet!

You told me you wanted to marry me. You told me you wanted to have kids.

You begged me to move in with you and, three days after you dumped me, you shacked up with a 22-year-old!

Oh, yeah. Forgot about her.

It's delightful to be reminded

my life is so much better without you in it.

How was it with Mr Carrington?

Very instructive.

MUSIC PLAYS, PEOPLE CHATTER

Before you say anything, we are not going over old ground here.

-So don't ask me again about being a witness, cos I'm not doing it, OK.

-That's not why I asked you here.

I found a copper by my car outside court today.

He said that my number plate

was down in their system as having been stolen.

It took me an hour to prove that the car was mine.

And someone had kicked in my brake light this morning

and then, lo and behold, I get pulled in on the way to court.

I was nearly late. I understand if you can't stand up there

and tell them what you feel to be true.

And I wish there was something that I could say to change your mind.

But what you can do is to tell your father

to call off his cronies and leave me alone.

-We don't know that it's...

-Oh, come on, Jess!

You're a bright girl, don't patronise me.

Just remind him that it's criminal

that a cop can get away with acting like that. It's disgusting!

He'll get what he wants in the end, anyway.

So why doesn't he just give it a rest, eh?

I hear the judgement came in rather useful.

-Just a little. We're very grateful.

-Dug you out of a hole, didn't we?

I gave Valerie her research. She said it wasn't actually urgent.

Oh, must've got a bit mixed up.

Still, it's good to see you doing a hard day's graft.

Thanks again, Gordon.

I see Ridley and his cheerleader are still as thick as thieves.

Why are you stirring so much?

Intense boredom.

It's not unusual for a barrister to spend a lot of time with his junior on a case.

But it's still a disciplinary offence to do more than that.

Oh, come on! If every barrister who'd had a dalliance with a pupil got slung, we'd lose half our members.

But not everyone walks around like Ridley thinking they're as pure as the driven snow.

You just want some dirt on him, so you can store it up for a rainy day.

That's highly speculative.

I'm not being your spy.

I wasn't asking.

CLOCK STRIKES

Hey!

-Where's Dan?

-He's, er, gone out with friends.

Good, cos I want to talk to you.

-Who did you go out to see?

-I'm not telling you

-unless you promise to let me speak first and not to be angry.

-OK.

Promise?

OK!

I saw Tony.

Just...listen.

You can get into serious trouble. You're not allowed.

I'm not a prosecution witness, so that's not true, actually.

Anyway...

He's being harassed, Dad. By the police.

What do you want me to do about that?

Come on, Dad,

I know about you and your mates, you're all thick as thieves.

It's nothing to do with me. And if he is being harassed by my mates,

it's because they care about me.

And you'll just turn a blind eye?

As long as you destroy Tony, that's all that counts, right?

He deserves everything he gets.

Is it justice you're after, or revenge?

BOTH!

I want both.

SHE SIGHS

-Don't let Gordon wind you up.

-What, like Metzler winds you up?

I'm sorry?

You seem to have history,

I don't understand why he gets to you so much.

Fair enough.

I remember you telling me -

the best way to prove myself was to ignore all the criticism -

and to do better than everyone else.

Are you giving me a piece of my own advice?

Mm-hm. It was good advice. I think of it often.

-Well, thank you.

-SHE LAUGHS

Planning a late one?

Er, I don't know yet.

If he orders in pizza and beer, then you know you might as well kip here.

Still, put a mattress down,

might be quite a cosy place to spend the night, I suppose.

Is she jealous?

Of what?

Well, she seems very protective of you.

Um...what are you implying, Julie?

Nothing, it's just...

What, you want to know if I'm one of those guys that,

that plays the field, is that it?

I... I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business.

No, but you wondered...?

You're putting me on the spot.

Well, come on, why did you ask?

Nothing, it was just something Metzler said and....

What did he say?

Well, I dunno, just..

-What did he say?

-Something about you and Valerie...

-You believed him?

-I didn't know what to believe.

-He shoots his mouth off and you swallow it hook, line and sinker?

-I didn't say that.

-No, but you weren't sure?

-It's none of my business.

You're damn right it's none of your business, Julie.

He's a snake, peddling that lie for years! Can't you see what he's trying to do here?!

-If it's not true, what's the problem?

-Because you believed him!

You're willing to think of me as some kind of womanising scumbag!

-I'm sorry I mentioned it.

-Yeah, so am I.

If you've got any more idle gossip, I suggest you keep it to yourself.

SHE SIGHS

Hi. This is a message for Briony Lynch, solicitor for Tony Powell.

This is Jess Stanley.

I've changed my mind. If it's not too late,

I am now willing to stand as a witness for the defence.

MOBILE PHONE RINGS

Hello.

Hello?

'You gave her the injection. You took her life.'

-Who is this?

-'You think you're going to get away with this?

'But I know you did it. And you know you did it too.'

'You're a murderer.'

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