Oh. Hello. I didn't know we'd invited another The Archers thread round darling. How nice to see you. Discuss Ambridge here.

[PseudoBadger]

As tribute to the best SL at the moment...

I would be totally surprised if shula lied. it would be out of character.

Law in action has the archers rob csa story on as an example of realistic law SL

TheOne, I think they have tightened up the law. But I agree he/Knob has possibly undergone NC! I need to ask DH what eh thinks but I'd be so disappointed if Shula didn't tell exactly the truth of what she saw/didn't see. There is more mileage in terms of Ambridge relationships in her dobbing Rob up - as far as she can. And it would be GHASTLY if she's perjured herself thinking she can use the Brookfield dosh to pay her legal bills.

Trouble is, for any witness, it's hard to be completely sure about what you saw & doubly so if someone involved immediately started twisting what happened.

I would hate to have to be a witness in court at a serious criminal trial

I think Shula probably didn't see anything too clear cut/had doubts about what she'd seen. She was warning Oliver, but didn't really want him to go with her - it wasn't a "oh great I could do with the moral support" type reaction.
Oliver does seem to have been totally suckered by Rob. Shula, not so much, but she doesn't want to rock the boat. She'd have probably rather have glossed over what she saw, but I don't think she would lie to a direct question.

It was a good question, when she was asked why she held back. I'd suspect it has something to do with looking after the horses, but maybe she sensed something.

I couldn't tell whether she'd lied or not - she'd have been uncomfortable either way. (BOOP I thought it was played well).

And BOOP for Oliver! He may be blinkered re Rob and the hunt, but he's a good fairy godmother for Ed. It's rather neat to get a character on the right side of one story and the wrong side of the other in the same epi.

What if the police have another witness, maybe another sab in a car taking video? Is that possible? (Or of course, the police could have just listened on iPlayer to the previous night's episode... )

Is it too much to hope that Jim or Rob has upped the birdwatching game by buying an enormous scope - preferably with camera - and caught Rob in his still unmuddied jacket landing the punch?

Jim or Robert, obv.

if they had video evidence i don't think they would have called shula in and not told her at some point during the interview

But we didn't hear all the interview! Although I do think they'd have told Rob and he didn't seem worried. Unless they've not watched it yet? Shula did call out Robs name when the first punch was thrown- it is easy to get confused, but she knows. Love it if rob had form!

True but I don't think she would sound so nervous if there was video evidence as it takes it out of her hands. as it is she is the only independent witness

she saw him throw the punch but she may not know if punches were thrown beforehand

I wonder what police etiquette is as far as video evidence nailing somebody goes?

Would they give the accused the chance to own up first?

Would they then hint to a witness that there is positive evidence that the accused's story might be a little -er - tainted?

They certainly use video evidence from cyclist's headcams against dangerous drivers.

If there's video evidence then I don't think they told Rob about it. Or perhaps he's doing his usual if-I-pretend-it's-not-happening-it-will-go-away thing.

I think Shula said she saw him hit the sab. She was trying to get away with it but when Plot asked her directly, she couldn't lie. I'm pretty sure that Rob hit the bloke and then the bloke shoved him back so that Rob fell over. Or perhaps that's just what they want us to think

I heard that LiA BYOS. Glad to hear they ripped Broadchurch to shreds!

So if there is no other evidence and rob gets away with it, that could actually make it much worse for Shula's conscience - oh, that's quite clever, isn't it?

Oooh, yes, mummytime!

That reminds me, there was a story a bit like this recently about some idiot who drove at speed past a couple of horses & spooked them badly, but one of the riders had a helmet cam which caught the reg no.

Police interviewed the driver who denied the whole thing.

Then they showed him the cam footage & he back-pedalled & grovelled.

So they do interview first without revealing their evidence.

Hmmmm

OddFodd, I thought Rob hit (knocked down?) the camera bloke first too.

We are meant to be left in doubt as to whether Shula dobbed Rob in or not.
Although I feel that her discomfiture after leaving the interview points to her having told a few pork pies.

Cue several days of soul searching angst and a grand gesture of fessing up to either Alan or PC Burns.

I thought the opposite, CUP - that she felt dreadful for what was coming for Rob & the hunt & couldn't bear to pretend it was all ok.

good radio, eh?

I thought that Shula went into the interview thinking "the Sab started it". She then realised, after prompting by PC Plot, that it was actually a more serious matter of a-bit-of-a-push versus swinging-a-haymaker and that Rob is looking at a charge of GBH.

Did anyone hear the r4 prog pn earlier whete they were discusding the Rob/Jess paternity situation? If so, what was it? Caught a fleeting bit of it whilst doing otjer stuff and want to go back and listen.

Off now to listen to podcast of TA.

BYOS mentioned Law in Action earlier, is that what you mean?

Yy was law in action. They were talking about the portrayal of legal issues in drama and if it matters (yes, was the conclusion).

Although it would be nice if they could get benefits right on TA!

On yesterday's episode the punch was audible, and obviously Rob who did the punching. Shula yelled Stop That, or something like, immediately.
She saw.

I think she told the truth today. She was tight lipped before and then when Burns asked her outright (I can't remember the wording of the question) the scene ended but it was a question she couldn't dodge. She would have had to lie in order not to land Rob in it and I don't believe she would lie about it and definitely not to the police. She refused lunch because she didn't want to sit with them both knowing she'd damaged the hunt by telling the truth about Rob.

I'm getting the distinct impression that stories we haven't liked are being wound down or altered in very rapid fashion. Roy's been punished for infidelity but will smarten up and get Phoebe back. Jennifer is no longer going to be brainlessly obsessing about kitchens but is going to stop Plan B and be a woman of substance. Ed's having some good luck at last and the Brookfield saga is reaching an end one way or another.
Now there will be room in the schedule for the fall-out from that and SOC will be able to appear on feedback and say he has responded to readers' concerns.

I think the Hell/Rob thing is going to unwind soon, but sadly not because of his EA but because of things he has done to other people.

Also sadly, we are stuck with Carol as femme fatale.

I would love it if Rob and Kate got together. They deserve each other.

BTW, no one else overheard Rob snarling at Jim and Jim doesn't seem to have talked about it to anyone. I expected something to come of it and maybe now is the time.

I didn't hear the hunt episode but I do think Shula told the truth last night hence her discomfort at the prospect of lunch with them all.
I'm still not convinced that Rob won't just pack his bags and leg it if life becomes too difficult for him.