One Flue Over The Shepherd's Hut - Discuss The Archers Here

[PseudoBadger]

I do hope Lynda has a carbon monoxide monitor in there...

gruach just catching up way up.thread about CC not being grounds for a defence.

Well it isn't. But she should never have needed a defence.

He should have been in the dock charged with CC. That would have been a great storyline and it would have highlighted the new legislation - which does have teeth if what you are trying to do is get an abuser convicted.

clearly the level of jeopardy in that sl just wasn't high enough for SOC.

Even though they could have made it part of a custody battle instead of a custardy battle

Yes, Gussie. And of course it's not uncommon for someone to pretend to be mentally ill in order to escape justice, so the criteria have to be rigorous enough to take that into account.

It's just that yesterday's conversation where H seemed so confused and unable to take in the ramifications of pleading guilty to the minor charge and making a decision seemed to be signposting some sort of breakdown. And obsessing about Henry to the point where she is not responding to questions crucial to her defence is an indication of an impaired state?

But I doubt if sws will take that path as they wouldn't want to give up the drama of a trial.

"Helen saying she "can't remember" is so unconvincing. Anyone in that situation would be going over and over the whole stabbing incident in their head again and again."

This. When she was interviewed by Anna it was as if it was the first time she had thought about it. Surely "I've been trying to remember...." ...'i think I did this...." "i remember the music playing but I can't remember what he said but I know it upset me" "i have been trying REALLY hard to remember but it's all a blur"

It was unconvincing.

^^ by that I mean surely it would have been more convincing scripted like that rather than it sounding like I can't be bothered to remember.

I am not annoyed with Hel. I am annoyed with the way it is written and just generally annoyed with TA. I am not sure I can firgive them. I may yet LTB (leave the broadcast)

I felt there was an element of Helen's normal entitledness in her reaction, though I'm not sure that that was intended. She keeps going on as if she really can't comprehend that having a 5 year old child doesn't automatically mean bail and probably acquittal, or that she should actually be expected to put some welly into helping herself. However, I do agree that that is mostly down to bad writing and the SWs' wish to build up totally unnecessary tension around how she is going to plead.

From a dramatic perspective and from a highlighting dv perspective it would be better if she was all guns blazing with "but it WAS self defence!!" In typical Helen, I say so it is, style and demanding to be let out immediately.
Then the sl could show that even when that is clearcut it is bloody difficult to prove especially against a weasel like Rob.

They could show the trauma of abuse by her reaction when she actually has to face Rob or how she feels when she talks about it just as well as by showing her broken.

If she was fighting all the way in a plucky manner this would draw the listeners in more.

Everybody loves a fictional injustice to right but not one person has come onto this thread to say they are loving the way it is done just now.

I have just read an interesting, and very sad, court case where the biological father failed to get residence over the child's two guardians (not related) who stepped in when the child's mother died and already had a relationship with mother and child. The father seemed to share characteristics with Rob - looked down at the guardians because they didn't have a private education, claimed an interest in the child but didn't actually make much effort to maintain a relationship; insisted that the child psychologist was rubbish and biased against him and tried to get another appointed. The judge discussed the fact that being the biological factor is significant but overriding consideration is the interest of the child. The father was ordered to pay a large amount of costs because of his blocking of the case/causing difficulties all the way.

I saw some parallels in Rob (who of course isn't even the bio father) on the one hand; and PatnTone on the other (who are bio relatives). Hopefully tonight at the family court hearing the judge will at least make an interim order allowing Henry some access to his grandparents.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/2624643-Come-in-to-The-Archers-thread-weve-redecorated-Take-a-seat-in-that-distinctive-yellow-chair-and-discuss-events-in-Ambridge?watched=1

New thread as I'll miss the broadcast tonight, don't want to get caught short...

I'm confused as to what this hearing is all about. It's only been 24 hours since Arsula nicked him and eve the fact he was nicked isn't clear cut. What the hell is going on?

PP is right - this isn't the kind of storyline you can cover in daily 15 min slots. Either you do it properly, and in order to get the details right it becomes a tediously drawn out affair, impossible to keep to with in the time allotted or..... big chunks are missed out or skipped and its bloody impossible to follow.

I wanted to add - there was the Bob Geldof thing with Tiger Lily wasn't there? Her parents both died and instead of the grandparents she went to live with her mother's ex husband and half sisters. Quite a nasty court case too.

Tony's quivering interjections are a bit creepy....