He's not a pheasant poacher, he's a pheasant poacher's grandson. Join us for trials, tribulations and tipsy tractor trips in Ambridge.

[PseudoBadger]

Will this thread see the end of The Trial? And SOC?

BOOP, I just checked the schedule, its the usual 15 mins every evening this week till the sunday hour long one.

Yes that was awful.

I hate the talking-in-the-gallery too. Grr! It never works on radio. Aren't background noises (such as cows mooing and tractors pulling up) usually used before and after the talking? If really necessary they should have made these comments at natural breaks such as when the next witness was being called or some papers were being produced for the jury or something.

There's another thread at the moment about the courtesy of getting people's names right, and having a bee in my bonnet about it, I will just say Louiza's performance was spot on last night.

Oh, even MN doesn't get it, it's put a red line under Louiza!

OK Cheesy I hold my hands up

They could have rob prosecuted and found guilty of the rapes

As we know, sentencing for rape is low and a conviction wouldn't stop him having access to the kids when he gets out. So it wouldn't end the sl completely and would retain the drama soc last loves. We would just hopefully get a break from rob for a couple of years.

Delurking - Selsig, the second time we heard him rape her, Helen's tone suggested that it was not an isolated incident so I think we were meant to infer that it was more than just the twice we heard.

All those mornings when he was solicitously bringing her tea in bed ... she wasn't just feeling fragile because of morning sickness, was she?

Two words here: Criminal Justice.

Also, I agree entirely about the speech from the gallery. While the bleating of sheep and suchlike normally continues as a background to conversation, farmers have no legal power to put the sheep in contempt of court if they bleat, and it is natural and expected for them to do so. In a court, it is unnatural and discouraged. Talking is too...

Popping in to say YES to the idea of 'Silence in court' for new title.

Pat'n'Tone were annoying enough before this incessant courtroom interruption started. The whole NATION has been waiting to hear Helen speak and they drone on over the top. GAH!

Also - and sorry to pour rain on collective parade - I worry that Knob will just deny the rapes and use it as an other example of his wife being a deranged fantasist.

Unless Jess also testifies.

I'm not sure Helen as a deranged fantasist stacks up though.

Ursula has admitted they were looking into boarding school for Henry. Henry has testified that Daddy shouts and Mummy cries.

Ron put a tracker on her phone, he admits to hitting her, friends testify that he was abusive and controlling. She called a domestic helpline.

If I were on the jury ....

If you were on the jury, would you believe that Helen did not mean to stab Rob, or hurt him at all, or that she believed at that moment that there was an immediate threat to her or Henry's lives?

Of course Rob will deny the rapes. How he does it could be interesting though - because I'm sure that, while he must know he is lying about his aversion to tuna, he almost certainly does not actually believe that what he did to Helen was rape. Just the physical part of 'all I ever did was love you'.

Which will hopefully hoist him by his own petard.

Surely Anna must have tried to check with the boarding school to prove K & U were telling porkies. BUT - not sure I remember the name of said school ever being mentioned. Did H ever see a piece of paper with the name of the school on it?

Rob told Henry at the time that it was the same school he'd been to, I seem to remember.

"The night I gave you our son" is just going round and round in my head whenever I think about this......

Me too, Bertrand. Unspeakable.

But Rob may have boasted that I went to XXX Prep

or maybe the Headmaster might show up.

We also know what Rob and his family are like, the Jury are only seeing Helens famerlee behaving badly. At least he admitted to slapping her.
If I was on a Jury I would find her family talking all the time as intimidating behaviour.
Too much EE, not enough R4

The talking to each other is annoying but I didn't mind the gasps and Pat's 'we're here darling' . They added to the tension and the awfulness of it all. Louiza was audible above all of it and that wasn't the case when Henry was giving evidence. I'm often v critical, so happy to say that episode was superb.

I fear Helen's cross examination and the court reaction may bring us down to earth tonight

And, weirdly, The Bridge Farm Massive only ever talk/comment during the evidence, but when confronted by Arsula badmouthing Helen, Pat'nTone are strangely quiet and polite.

Who thinks it is bleedin obvious that Jess will be brought in last minute Good Wife style as a vital defence witness and save the day?

Delurking. Powerful episode last night, but....

All the evidence against Rob won't change the outcome. this isn't about proving Helen's innocence, because the fact is she did stab Rob. this is just about mitigation in terms of which charge and what sentence.

Even women who do kill their partners have to face trial and ultimate sentencing.

IMO Helen will be found guilty of wounding with intent, with the evidence of self defence being the mitigating factor in sentencing. What Rob did to Helen though will change the village reaction to him and he will be driven out of the village. Actually, it would be preferable if he were to die. Yes. Rob must die.

Also I am a bit disappointed in the trial. I know we only get 15 mins a day but it feels like we are getting such severely edited highlights that we can't get the same picture as the jury.

Surely Anna could check Rob's CV to find out which school(s) he went to?

It must be on Damar's records somewhere?

Hopefully Rob will be hit between the eyes by a cricket ball