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Rob - dead? No, no, he's, er, resting. He's just pining for the Canadian plains. As Helen is taken into custardy, discuss the Archers here.

978 replies

PseudoBadger · 04/04/2016 20:15

24 hours for 1 thread!!

OP posts:
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5
Vango · 05/04/2016 21:58

Elendon I get the impression you think I'm disagreeing with you about something. I don't think I am. I'm beyond frustrated with the direction this storyline's taken because I can't see how it's going to help anyone current experiencing abuse. If you can shed some light on that it might reconcile me to it a bit better. I know people kill/are killed. Those are the cases that make the headlines. How do people who don't go down that route survive (not a question to you, just a question in general that I was hoping the sws would address).

Limelight · 05/04/2016 21:59

Bit of light relief (possibly) from the Daily Mash

www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/archers-writers-encouraged-to-kill-them-all-20160405107780

JasperDamerel · 05/04/2016 22:01

I don't want to listen to the stabbing again, but was there an initial injury (possibly either accidental or far more serious than intended with Helen saying "sorry" afterwards) followed by Rob saying "give me the knife"? Because, actually, she couldn't possibly have given him the knife safely at that point. She was fucked either way from that point onwards.

Elendon · 05/04/2016 22:04

Vango no. You raise interesting points. I have no answers, except that the men who do this shouldn't. But as ever the onus is for those abused to do something about it.

mummytime · 05/04/2016 22:05

[http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/04/archers-was-right-have-helen-stab-rob]
This article in the New Statesman points out a crucial aspect of the situation, that Rob was provoking Helen in the lead up to the attack. Some people on here have been talking about self-defence, but I'm not sure that would be the grounds for defence here (or possibly in most cases). The facts are (although difficult to prove): Rob made her take the knife, tried to make her feel hopeless, taunted her to kill herself, and then started to attack her child.
If there was justice, then if a man can have his murder charge lowered to manslaughter because he's learnt of his wife's affair, then similar should hold for Helen.
He had tried to make himself seem so all powerful to Helen, that she may well have over estimated how much force was needed to stop him.

DadDadDad · 05/04/2016 22:07

Slice, Boffin - this is how the rumours start that I somehow have a spreadsheet with intimate details about the posters on here, with phone numbers, inner leg measurements, and favourite ice cream flavours. Confused

Even when I collected ages, I didn't keep the names that went with them. (www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/2233904-How-old-are-Archers-listeners for those who are interested).

I think it's part of the fun that an expert pops up from time to time. Why, when Peggy reached 90, I remember quoting actuarial stats on her chances of making it to 91. Grin

Vango · 05/04/2016 22:07

I agree that the men who do this shouldn't. But by the time a woman finds out what that man is really like then what option has she but to try to save herself? And I'd rather that wasn't presented right now as stab and hope to be able to prove your case after the event. Which is basically what we've just been fed in the guise of 'awareness raising'.

AugustaFinkNottle · 05/04/2016 22:12

In the R v B case I referred to, the 4 year old's main evidence was given by way of a filmed interview with two officers with a social worker present. She was then shown the film of the interview, and was cross-examined and re-examined by video link.

Stickerrocks · 05/04/2016 22:13

I like the idea of us being a random bunch of nerds D3, not specifically categorised, but popping up when required with stuff we know. Glad I'm not being forced to go back to my inheritance tax notes this week to work out if Henry had any rights to Rob's vast fortune though.

BeaufortBelle · 05/04/2016 22:13

There was a knife about and Rob was going for Henry. Helen had no idea what Rob would do. If someone went for one of my children I'd bally well swing for them. Helen had just realised how dangerous Knob actually was, probably for the first time ever and he was between her and her child. There has to be a lot more made of that surely.

In any event, I am sure there will be form relating to a child in this. This is why Knob dropped the adoption plans.

Anyway I am relieved to have found the thread again and to have it back on my "I;m on" list. How I managed to hid it this morning I shall never know. Rotten day out; couldn't work out how to get to it easily on my phone. Nearly committed a murder at one point.

Stickerrocks · 05/04/2016 22:15

....so did Helen Beaufort but you may have had a better excuse.

BYOSnowman · 05/04/2016 22:18

I would hope that Kirsty tracks down Jess and gets her to talk to police.

Vango · 05/04/2016 22:18

I know I've written this somewhere already but remember that Rob told Helen in 2014 that Jess had taken an overdose after a 'child related incident' at work and that's why they'd gone to Canada.

ColdTeaAgain · 05/04/2016 22:20

Exactly Jasper, after the first stab (which I think she genuinely forgot about the knife), he was coming towards her asking for the knife, by this point she was terrified, it was a fight or flight moment and he was between her and her son.

I LA and it sounded like two stabs.
Two stabs and three injuries. So with one of them she must of caught his wrist at the same time. Maybe that was as he was coming towards her had his hand held out as he was asking for the knife.

AbelMancwitch · 05/04/2016 22:21

Wow this is moving fast!

BeaufortBelle · 05/04/2016 22:24

The bit I don't get is that Helen moved in with him without meeting his family or any of his friends. And got engaged and married him without knowing any of them and Pat and Tony didn't wonder about his history. I know I'm naive but you wouldn't would you? Not when you have a solid support network?

Stickerrocks · 05/04/2016 22:29

That was typical Helen though. If she was challenged on anything, she would do it anyway to prove that she was independent and not completely reliant on Pat & Tony for her income & home.

BYOSnowman · 05/04/2016 22:29

Just read Erin pizzeys view on this in the dm. I don't get her at all.

Apparently this is all just the feminist agenda of making out all men are evil and deserve to be killed

EnglishFern · 05/04/2016 22:30

I don't know know. Helen spent so long on her own waiting for mr right, even having Henry by AI, that I think as soon as Rob offered her security and a family she'd have walked over hot coals for it work out.

I can relate Sad

BYOSnowman · 05/04/2016 22:32

I don't think it is usual to do background checks tbh. If dh had told me he was nc with his family I would have respected that

Love is blind

EnglishFern · 05/04/2016 22:33

Love is wantonly blind and stupid

Vango · 05/04/2016 22:33

Beaufort Helen moved in with him because he was handsome, attractive and attentive and she bought all his lies. She was a stroppy, judgemental control-freak herself who had already put her parents through the mill over the years. She saw what she wanted to see and threatened never to allow Henry's grandparents to see him again if they stood in her way.

Helen insisted that he arrange dinner for both sets of parents. We know now that he probably never even invited them. Here is his explanation from the night of the no-show when she made him call them to find out where they were:

Rob: It was my Dad, ok. He’s the one who refused to come. And mum being mum, she just cow towed to him. He’s a bully. Wants everything his own way. Why do you think I moved to Canada? To get away from him!
I could have stayed on the farm, he wanted me to, but I knew I’d never be good enough.
For gods sake I married Jess far too young just to please him
I captained my rugby team, did the subjects he wanted.

(H asks about Ursula)

Mum? She’s just as bad. Used to think she wasn’t….all the henpecking…..I thought he’d made her that way. But actually that’s just an excuse. That’s why I wasn’t on the phone for very long. She said she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to speak to me, that’s the reason she hadn’t called, because he was still very disappointed in me.

The truth is they’re just nasty, bitter people. So there you are, that’s my parents. Can you blame me for not wanting to inflict them on you?

Pat to Tony later - "who knew Rob had such a dysfunctional family. Maybe we’ve misjudged him"

DadDadDad · 05/04/2016 22:36

Vango - I'd forgotten those lines. Can I ask where you got them from?

BYOSnowman · 05/04/2016 22:36

I don't think it's odd that h would move in with him. She loved him and thought he loved her.

What made it off was that she had a young child

DadDadDad · 05/04/2016 22:37

I mean, I know they are genuine, but I wasn't aware of any source out there where you get old lines of dialogue.