"In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups:" "The police who investigate crime... and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders." "These are their stories." "OK, OK, all right." "Wait, wait wait..." "Let me get past!" "Wait!" "I said we have to wait until Daddy gets home from work." " Please, please!" "No, please!" " Please!" "Go, on then!" "Yeah, you're the best!" "One at a time." "Look how high I can go!" "Let me just get my camera." "Cause of death, Joy?" "Well, single blow to the head, I'd say." "Not much signs of a struggle, though, by the look of things." "Right." "And yeah, even got a murder weapon." "No office should be without one." "A paperweight." "Very good, thank you." "I took the kids out for a meal." "I knew Neil wouldn't be home from work until at least half six." "Half six." "I think we can put the time of death to between two and 4:30." "OK." "Mrs Lester, I'm..." "I'm sorry, but I have to ask you a few more questions, if you don't mind." "What line of business is your husband in?" "He works in the IT department for a market research company." "Right." "Did he ever take any mornings off or half days - that kind of thing?" "Never." "He was up most of the night putting Ethan's trampoline together." "He swore blind the instructions were wrong." "Listen, Mrs Lester, why don't we get one of our officers to get a car sorted out, run you and Ethan maybe to a relative's or a friend's close by and get you out of here eh?" "Nice gaff." "Mm." "God job." "This guy had the whole package." "And yet someone wanted him dead." "There was no sign of forced entry although there was a laptop missing from Neil Lester's desk." "Forensics are running up the profiles of the crime scene although the house is full of sticky fingers." "What about a murder weapon?" "They ran the prints through PNC." "There's no match." "And the wife?" "You wouldn't bash your husband's head in before your kid's party." "You'd be surprised, son." "Whoever had a beef with him knew there was something on that laptop and wanted it back." "Or he had something he didn't want anyone else to see." "Start by finding out why Neil Lester came home from work early yesterday, will you?" "Right." "Are you coming?" "So Miss Edwards, Neil Lester?" "A valued member of the team." "A little quiet but he always hit his targets." "And what is it that you do here?" "So we act as a liaison between large retail clients and their consumers." "Right, and what about yesterday?" "What about it?" "Well, I mean how did he seem?" "Agitated?" "Did he go home early from to be sick or something?" "I don't follow." "I mean, he was working here yesterday, wasn't he?" "Neil Lester hasn't worked with us for the past nine months." "Like most businesses, we had to make cutbacks." "I'm afraid it was a case of last in, first out." "I used to drive him to the station every morning." "We didn't have secrets." "At least, I didn't think we did." "Did you notice any change in his behaviour?" "Like what?" "Was he depressed?" "Or did he feel agitated or..." "Excuse me one second." "Sorry." "Hello?" "What we need you to do is help us understand a little bit more about Neil." "You know... sometimes even the smallest details can help." "Ethan hasn't been near that trampoline." "Not since..." "I'm ever so sorry about that." "My apologies." "Mrs Lester..." "Sorry, if you wouldn't mind." "That was our guys back at the office." "They've been going through some bank statements and I just need to ask you a couple of questions about your family finances." "Neil used to take care of all that." "What do you know about £160,000 in a savings account?" "You must be mistaken." "Well, it was deposited three months after Neil lost his job." "According to our records, Neil Lester opened the account with us six months ago." "Oh, that's odd." "What's that?" "Well, he closed it 24 hours later." "Why would someone go through all the hassle of opening an account just to shut it down again?" "Don't know." "What about the 160 grand?" "Well, it was transferred to Neil Lester from the account of an Edward Stewart." "Stewart, right." "Any information on him?" "Well, as luck would have it, Mr Stewart also has an account with us." "He recently took out a further advance." "What's that in English?" "It's a loan... against the value of his property." "Here, have a look." "Right, thank you." "So what's this Stewart guy got to do with Lester?" "I don't know but whatever it is, chances are he was doing more than just helping out a mate." "So Eddie Stewart, right, takes out a loan to pay off Neil Lester." "What are we looking at here, though, Ron?" "Blackmail?" "Gambling debts?" "What do you reckon?" "I don't know." "Either that or some kind of elaborate bank fraud." "Who knows?" "Edward Stewart?" "Never heard of him." "DS Brooks, this is DS Hawkins." "47 Lincoln's Rise, yeah?" "I hope so." "Or I've just ripped up the floor in the wrong house." "And who are you?" "Rob Hebden." "Property Developer." "You own this place now?" "It went to auction three months ago." "Turns out the owner stopped paying his bills." "Did a runner, by all accounts." "Oh, any news, Ron?" "It seems our man Edward Stewart took out some sort of homeowner loan before legging it." "Leaving the bank 160 grand out of pocket." "OK." "You reckon they were in on it together?" "Who knows?" "Deal goes a bit pear-shaped." "Neil Lester gets his head stoved in." "Don't even think about it." "Any leads?" "We ran a check on Stewart's mobile, bank accounts." "It's like our boy's gone AWOL." "Ange is looking into next of kin." "All right, in the meantime, get back out there." "Someone's bound to know where he's hiding." "Yeah." "So the landlady in the Oak says she hasn't seen him in over three months." "He hasn't been in there for a while either." "Do you know the problem with the 21st century, son?" "There's no sense of community any more." "Not like good the old days, right?" "When everything was, er... black and white?" "Hello?" "At least in my day, we used to talk to each other." "Now it's all just texting and twitting." "Twitting?" "No-one's interested in the world around them." "All right, Gramps, come on." "That's Eddie's table over there." "When was the last time you saw him?" "About a month ago now." "He doesn't pop in like he used to." "Did he have any mates or do you know anyone who knows where he's staying?" "You want to talk to Felix Hargreaves." "They're as thick as thieves." "And where will we find him?" "He'll be... trying his luck down the community centre." "What goes on here, then?" "Well, looks like a bit of street dance, hip hop, freestyle..." "Nothing for an old mod?" "Mod?" "Ron, leave this one to me, yeah?" "On you go, son." "Can I help you?" "Yeah, we're looking for a Felix Hargreaves." "That's him over there." "Making a nuisance of himself." "Like to join in?" "We're always short of men." "Oh, you reckon you can show us a few new moves, do you?" "I'm the over-60s waltzing champion - three years running." "That's a very kind offer I'm sure but my man here has to do a bit of work." "Maybe next time." "Nice talking to you." "Like that!" "Felix Hargreaves?" "Detective Sergeant Brooks and this is Detective Sergeant Hawkins." "We'd like a quick word, if we may." "Oh, yeah?" "About what exactly?" "I think it would be best we were to chat in private, if you don't mind, ladies?" "If you'll excuse me, ladies." "See you later." "I was on a promise then." "Well, you know, Mr Hargreaves, the more helpful you can be, the quicker you can get back to them, so..." "We'd like to talk to you about a friend of yours, Edward Stewart." "It's Eddie." "No-one calls him Edward." "You known him long?" "We served together in '52." "Paratroopers." "And where's Eddie is now?" "Ah." "Packed up and moved, you know." "Abroad." "Australia." "Right." "You must miss him." "Brothers in arms, you know, yeah." "I'd have done anything for that kid." "What about family?" "I'm the only family he needs." "Now, if you'll excuse me, officers," "I've a little unfinished business I must to attend to." "Ron..." "Want some coffee, Wes?" "No, thanks, mate." "Listen..." "Ange managed to track down a next of kin." "It's a daughter in Finsbury Park." "Oh, great." "We'll go and see what she's got to say for herself, eh?" "What's up?" "You might want to take a look at..." "So how are we going to do this?" "Just leave me do the talking, I think." "All right, guv?" "Ronnie!" "Any chance of a cuppa?" "I was sorry to hear about your mum." "Yeah, well... she was ready to go by the end." "Thanks, anyway." "Are you going to introduce yourself?" "Oh, yeah, I'm DS Joe Hawkins." "So... now we've got the pleasantries out the way, what are you really here for?" "Come on, Ronnie." "We've known one another 30 years." "When did you ever drop in for a cup of tea?" "Yeah." "Er... well, it's just about your dad, really." "We'd just like to ask him a few questions, that's all." "My dad?" "What about?" "When did you last see him?" "Four months ago." "Did he leave a forwarding address?" "Why would he?" "He's lived in the same house for 30 years." "Yeah." "Well, that's just it you so see, guv." "Thing is, it turns out that he defaulted on a few loan repayments and they've repossessed his house and taken it away so..." "No, that's not right." "You weren't in contact?" "Not since my Mum got sick and moved in with me." "He didn't take kindly to my relieving him of his duties, so to speak." "Right." "His friend Felix mentioned something about Australia." "What have you been talking to Felix for?" "Well, just that they were good friends, that's all." "Could somebody please tell me what's going on?" "We believe your dad went into business with a Neil Lester." "I've never heard of Neil Lester." "Well, he may have been linked with a possible bank fraud." "Yeah, and what's that got to do with my dad?" "Well, guv, you see, the thing is, Neil Lester " "Lester was found dead on Monday afternoon." "Her head must be racing." "Imagine if that was your old man." "Yeah, but Joe, we don't know what we're dealing with here." "OK, but it's not looking good for him, is it?" "Why would you go into business at that age?" "Last throw of the dice, maybe." "He's 78." "So he took a risk." "And it backfired." "Ange, got any good news for us, love?" "Yeah, uniform traced Lester's laptop back to a second-hand shop in Shepherd's Bush." "So is this the elusive Eddie?" "Not exactly." "Twice in one day." "Aren't I the lucky one!" "We've got a little conundrum we think you might be able to help us with." "I think I'll stick to my crossword." "Well, you know what?" "Someone bearing a striking resemblance to your good self was seen taking a laptop into an electrical shop in Shepherd's Bush." "Since when was trying to earn a bit of extra pocket money been a crime?" "Well, it's not a crime." "However, Felix, that laptop was taken from a murder scene yesterday." "What..." "What're you talking about?" "Now, whilst I really want to believe that you were not involved," "I'm struggling to figure out how that laptop came to be in your possession." "See, the thing is Felix, we know Eddie was involved with Neil Lester." "How far are you gonna go to protect him, eh?" "Edward Stewart?" "Don't say anything." "How can I help you?" "Edward Stewart..." "I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Neil Lester." "You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something you later rely on in court." "Anything you do say may be given as evidence." "How many times has she called now?" "Oh, I don't know." "Half a dozen, maybe." "Have you told her her dad's been arrested?" "Wes, that's jumping the gun a bit, mate, isn't it, don't you think?" "Look, do you want me to take this?" "How long's he been a DS?" "An hour?" "You treat him like you would any other murder suspect." "Ronnie, is that understood?" "Yes, Wes." "Hello, Eddie." "Doing all right?" "Why don't we get all this boring stuff out of the way, eh?" "Then we can all get home, have a nice kip." "How does that sound?" "I'm not going to argue with you." "There you are, see, Joe?" "Eddie's a straight talker." "Just like his daughter." "Why don't..." "Why don't we talk about yesterday afternoon?" "What were you doing between 2pm and 4:30pm, Eddie?" "I was taking a nap." "Right." "You weren't in southwest London?" "Not unless I was sleepwalking." "Anyone vouch for you?" "I tend to sleep alone these days." "Why don't you tell us about the laptop, Mr Stewart?" "I found it in a skip." "What, did you just flog it to get some extra cash?" "I'm a pensioner." "I've got to earn my pin money somewhere." "Of course." "What about Neil Lester?" "Never heard of him." "Really?" "He's dead." "Had his head bashed in yesterday afternoon." "Mm." "But you knew that already." "Because you were there, weren't you?" "Eddie." "Eddie." "Did you kill him?" "I already told you I don't know any Lester." "And yet you gave him £160,000." "And why would I do that?" "That's what we'd like to know." "Mr Stewart..." "Can you tell us what this is?" "You're the detective." "You tell me." "It's a request for a bank transfer to a Neil Lester." "'Dated September 30th.'" "Right, let's start again, shall we?" "Did you or did you not pay Neil Lester 160 grand?" "'Maybe I did." "Maybe I didn't." "I forget a lot of things as I get older.'" "Right, interview terminated at 4:13." "Look, Ron, this is Eddie arriving at South Wimbledon tube at 2:18." "And this is him returning again at 3:11." "Any news from the lab?" "Yeah." "It's all bad." "Eddie's prints are all over the murder weapon." "Actually, Joe, I'll sit in on the next interview." "Wes, there's no need." "You are too close to this." "I don't want anyone saying there's a conflict of interest." "Well..." "Hey." "He's got a point, you know." "Get Natalie Chandler down here, quick as you can." "Eddie, I'd like to introduce you to my colleague." "This is Detective Inspector Wes Leyton." "Don't mind me." "I'm just here to make up the numbers." "How are you feeling?" "You OK?" "I know how things sometimes get a bit muddled." "I'm not senile." "No-one's saying you are, Eddie." "Let's get back to yesterday afternoon, shall we?" "Did you visit the home of Neil Lester?" "I already told you." "I've never heard of him." "How do we explain the prints, then, Eddie?" "They're in the house and they're all over the weapon we believe killed Neil Lester." "Let's just rewind." "Start again." "Have you ever visited the home of Neil Lester?" "Either yesterday or at any other time." "So we know he was at Neil Lester's house." "We know he may well have bashed his skull in." "But what I'm struggling to get my head around is why?" "I think 160 grand is reason enough, don't you?" "But why is he handing over that money at all?" "It was a loan, business deal." "Whatever the reason was, it ended up with Neil dead." "Wes, he is a pensioner." "What is he doing messing around with that money in the first place?" "You're clutching at straws now, Ron." "You know what you've got to do." "Could you buzz me through?" "Listen, give me five minutes, yeah?" "I don't want anyone speaking to him before my brief arrives." "Understood?" "Joe - one second, son." "Can I see him?" "Erm..." "Guv, look, that's not going to be possible." "Why not?" "Can we go somewhere a bit quieter and talk about this?" "Cut the bullshit, Ronnie." "Just tell me what's happening." "Well, we've charged your dad with the murder of Neil Lester." "I don't envy you, Jake." "Natalie Chandler's a formidable woman." "I can't say it's a prospect I'm relishing." "How's it looking?" "All the evidence is there." "We're just lacking one key ingredient." "A motive." "Aside from the money?" "It's how and why it came into play in the first place." "That's what I'm struggling with." "Ah, Henry." "Finally, someone who talks a bit of sense." "I had no idea you were still practising." "You thought I'd thrown in the towel years ago, didn't you?" "Well, sorry to disappoint." "Geoffrey Sykes." "I'll be representing Edward Stewart." "Now, tell me Mr..." "Thorne." "Why are we even here?" "As far as I can see, there's no case to answer." "Mr Stewart's prints were found at the victim's house and on the murder weapon." "I'd say that was fairly conclusive, wouldn't you?" "Perhaps Lester invited him over for a cup of tea." "And there is the small matter of the money that he gave to him." "Since when was a gift a crime?" "Rather extravagant gift, wouldn't you say?" "Well, it's not my job to question his generosity." "Yet your client made a statement claiming he'd never met Lester." "He's old." "He forgets things." "Is that your defence?" "It's a start." "My client is a decorated war veteran who spends most of his day playing bridge in the local community centre." "Neil Lester was a loving husband and father." "Who kept a large amount of money hidden from his wife." "I know who I'd believe." "Edward Stewart." "You have been charged with murder contrary to common law." "The particulars of the offence are that on the 14th day of March you murdered Neil Lester." "To this charge how do you plead?" "Guilty or not guilty?" "Not guilty." "M'lord, we apply for Mr Stewart to be remanded into custody." "M'lord, my client is an upstanding member of the community." "I'd like to hear the application if it's all the same, Mr Sykes." "Evidence has come to light that Mr Stewart may well be a flight risk." "A flight risk!" "?" "My client is barely mobile, m'lord." "A statement from DS Brooks mentions" "Mr Stewart's plans to move to Australia." "I'd say that poses a considerable threat, wouldn't you?" "I should point out that my client is a pensioner of 78 who has never been in trouble in his life." "Mr Stewart..." "Given the nature and the seriousness of this charge, you will be held on remand until a date can be found for you to stand trial." "This is ridiculous." "It's clear to everyone but the Crown that my father isn't fit to stand trial, let alone enter a plea!" "I'm sorry." "Who are you?" "His daughter." "Natalie Chandler, Detective Inspector." "Of course, Miss Chandler." "I'm sorry I didn't recognise you without my glasses." "A regular fixture in my court at one time." "Mr Sykes, has the defendant's fitness to enter a plea been considered?" "My client made no appeal for leniency, M'lord." "It would have been an obvious line of defence." "My father was admitted to North Middlesex University Hospital last April for a fall and it's clear from the medical reports that his mental state was fragile at best." "In light of this new information, the defence would like to make an application to withdraw the plea that has just been entered." "We would also like to apply for an adjournment so that a full assessment can be carried out to address the concerns on fitness." "I'm inclined to agree with the defence in this instance." "The defendant will be kept on remand and the case will be adjourned for..." "four weeks." "You pleased with yourself?" "Of course not." "You know as well as I do I don't choose the cases I get." "I really am sorry, Natalie." "I don't suppose this is an easy time for anyone." "If I have my way he won't even make it into that witness box." "Come on, we both know your father's mental health isn't the issue here." "Subjecting him to an endless cycle of psychological assessments isn't going to alter the fact he's up on a murder charge." "And as much as I want to help him, I can't do that unless he starts talking." "Guv, tell the truth." "Do you honestly think your old man's losing the plot?" "He's as sharp as they come." "Well... you realise you're playing with fire here, don't you?" "What choice have I got?" "I can't just sit around and do nothing." "He's looking at life or recommendation with at least 15." "But he's not playing ball, guv." "He really isn't." "His defence team are scrambling around in the dark." "If I could just see him - Guv, I'm sorry." "Look..." "I stuck my neck on the line by talking to you." "And I appreciate..." "I appreciate that." "If Wes gets a sniff of this - He's not going to, is he?" "OK, what would you do?" "I'd question his motive, for a start." "He's never so much as mentioned this Lester and now I'm expected to believe he's in some kind of business arrangement with him." "Guv, we can place your dad at that house that afternoon." "How do you explain that?" "Because he's keeping schtum." "He's not saying." "I don't know." "Well..." "Everything is pointing to your dad." "Who gives 160k to a virtual stranger?" "I get it guv, I totally get it." "I understand." "I'm not having him go down for this." "I'm not." "Not if I can help it." "So I'm old." "I forget things." "Doesn't mean I'm crazy." "No-one's saying that, Eddie." "You're a psychiatrist, aren't you?" "I'm just here to assess whether - Whether I'm fit to enter a plea." "My body may have slowed me up, Mr Marsh." "But my mind is something else entirely." "Well, go on, then." "What do you want to know?" "Who the Prime Minister is?" "How much a bottle of milk costs?" "Fire away cos I'm ready for you." "The psychiatrist instructed by your defence raised some concerns " "That's because they twisted my answers." "I already told them." "Neil Lester..." "was an old friend." "I don't remember where we met..." "but we did." "Now, can we just get this thing over?" "I thought he said they'd never met." "It would appear he's changed his story." "Aided by the defence, no doubt." "Why wait until now?" "Memory lapse, perhaps." "Either that or he's being deliberately obtuse." "There's no denying he's forgetful, a little confused at times." "But?" "He's 78." "It comes with the territory." "Would you deem him fit to enter a plea?" "I'd like to see the defence prove otherwise." "He still looks like my grandad." "And most of the jury's, I bet." "I agree that it's not ideal." "We'll just have to hope they see past the sentiment and stick to the facts." "Eddie and Lester were from two completely different worlds." "The jury will struggle to find a connection." "I know I am." "Then we have to find out what made those worlds collide." "I thought you might have been Eddie." "I phone that station every day but no-one's told me anything." "Eddie's on remand, Felix." "Why?" "Well, just until he goes on trial." "He's done nothing wrong." "Tell him, will you?" "I know, I know." "I mean, how can you let this happen?" "I'm doing everything I can Felix, believe me." "He's no killer." "He should be here with me, not in some cell." "I know that man inside out." "I'd have known if something was wrong." "Well, Eddie claims that the money he gave Lester was a gift." "Poppycock." "He never mentioned to you about taking a loan against his home?" "Why would he?" "He loved that place." "He carried his wife over that threshold." "His little girl was born there." "Happiest days of his life." "Think I'll stick a kettle on." "When was the last time you two saw each other?" "Sheila's funeral." "Before that she was always so busy with work." "Apple of her father's eye." "He didn't hate you, you know." "But he was a proud man." "You made him feel like a failure." "I only wanted to make sure my mum was looked after properly." "In sickness and in health." "That was the promise he made to her." "Felix, did Eddie owe anyone money, do you know?" "He never believed in debt." "If he needed money he'd have come to me." "What are these for?" "Oh, we've been saving up to go to Australia." "The one on the right there, that's Peter Fenham." "He moved to Sydney back in '68." "Eddie always said we'd have another beer together." "Two jars of coppers, Ronnie." "Does that look like someone who's going to gamble away their home?" "They could have my job for this." "I've already had to lie to Joe." "It's a shame you weren't this conscientious under my watch." "Now, not a word guv, please." "Just let me do this." "Hello, Sally." "Er, Mrs Lester." "Mrs Lester." "I'm sorry, just a couple more questions, please." "Just look at the photograph once more, just concentrate, think back." "Have you ever seen him before?" "No." "All right." "Well, what about Neil's business interests outside of work?" "Neil was a family man." "He wasn't interested in making a lot of money." "All he wanted was to be able to provide for me and Ethan." "Do you really expect us to believe that?" "He's out of work nine months and doesn't bother telling you." "My husband was a proud man." "He stashes away 160 grand without so much as treating you to a holiday." "Please!" "I'm sorry?" "Er... please excuse DC Chandler's..." "lack of diplomacy." "Well, it does rather beg the question, doesn't it, what else he was lying about?" "Mum!" "Just a minute, Ethan." "You don't know the first thing about my husband." "Neither do you, it would seem." "The stupid thing keeps freezing." "I'll look at it later." "But I want to play now." "Ethan, please!" "I'm sorry." "That's OK." "We're finding it difficult." "Mrs Lester, whose laptop is that?" "It's Neil's old one." "Ethan went and left it a friend's house." "But what about the laptop that was taken from the office?" "He'd only had that a few months." "He kept hold of that thing for years." "Mrs Lester, I'm going to have to take this laptop away." "You can't." "Ethan needs it." "I know, I promise I'll bring it back just as soon as the tech boys have given it the once over, OK?" "I thought I told you to keep it zipped?" "You haven't seen anything yet." "Why don't you just think like a DI?" "It's not your dad, Ronnie." "Well, I know that but look, guv..." "Your dad's prints were all over the murder weapon." "So what are you saying?" "That I give up." "That's it?" "No, of course not." "But charging around like a bull in a china shop isn't helping." "You gotta treat this..." "Guv'nor!" "You gotta treat this like you would any other case." "You understand?" "Answer me one question, right." "Forget your dad when he was at home." "All right?" "Think of him when he was fighting for King and country." "All right?" "Could he kill a man?" "As a daughter, no." "No, as a DI?" "Not without a very good reason." "But surely a bank can't just arrange a loan just without any kind of conversation?" "Mr Stewart was in regular correspondence with us." "Saying what?" "Well, that the money was for... ..essential structural repairs." "So the house might have needed a bit of TLC." "That doesn't cost 160 grand." "I guess he was intending to rent the property after he moved abroad." "What are you talking about?" "He'd asked for all his correspondence to be sent to a post office box." "Hello, Joe." "Excuse me, I'm sorry." "Hiya, mate." "Yeah, I'll be right there." "Give me 20 min..." "All right, fair enough." "OK." "Everything all right?" "Erm..." "Yeah, yeah, Wes needs to see me." "Don't do anything, OK?" "Please." "Promise?" "Ron..." "Hey, you are on the naughty step, man." "Trust me." "Hairdryer treatment..." "Oi!" "Now, I've just spent the best part of an hour trying to persuade Sally Lester not to make an official complaint." "Impersonating a police officer." "Intimidating a witness." "Have you lost the plot?" "I was trying to help " "No!" "This is your first and final warning, Ronnie." "You stay away from her." "Are you understanding me?" "I will not have you jeopardising this case." "Joe." "Joe, cover for me, son." "All right, Ange?" "Where are you going now?" "Someone's in a hurry." "Is he always like this?" "You'll get used to it." "Can't give out personal information." "Data Protection Act." "Detective Inspector Chandler." "Let's begin again, shall we?" "What can you tell me about Mr Edward Stewart?" "Nice guy." "Came in here few times a week for the last six months." "Always polite." "That's more than can be said for that kid of his." "Right little brat, he was." "What sort of age roughly would you say Mr Stewart was?" "Early to mid-30s." "And your CCTV...?" "Your colleague's already asked all this." "What colleague?" "One sec." "You promised me." "Have you looked at the footage?" "I cannot believe that you..." "Right, look, Neil Lester has opened a PO box in your dad's name." "CCTV footage shows him visiting it at least, I don't know, twice a month for the past six months." "What's inside?" "Overdue bills, final demands from the bank, followed by a repossession order." "Joe's just been on the blower." "The tech boys have been through Lester's laptop." "Dates of birth, home addresses, credit card details..." "Everything that's on it - you name it, it is on there." "Over 400 potential identity frauds." "So my dad didn't give up his home." "No, Lester stole it from him." "We've got to talk to Jake about this." "We haven't got to do anything." "You have done your bit." "Now, go home and let me do mine." "You are facing life in prison, Eddie." "Those are the bare facts." "Of course, if I had my way, it'd be Neil Lester on the stand." "What are you offering?" "That depends." "On what?" "On whether Eddie is willing to cooperate." "There will be no offers made because there's nothing more to say." "Look, we know what really happened, Eddie." "We know Lester stole your identity and took out a loan against your home." "I told you before, I took that loan out myself." "I am not the victim here." "I gave that money away because I wanted to." "Why do you insist on sticking to the same story?" "We're all here because we want to help you." "I'm ready to go now." "The judge has ruled you fit to enter a plea." "There's no going back now." "Keep talking." "You could seek a Goodyear indication." "Which means that if you plead guilty now, you could significantly reduce your sentence." "I'm not interested." "It could be the difference between 10 and 18 years." "But my hands are tied unless you start talking." "What did you say to them?" "Dad..." "Jake?" "I'm sorry." "I did all I could." "Why won't you help yourself?" "!" "I need you to do one more thing for me." "I promise I won't ask again." "You know more than most what Wes would do if he found out I saw you, let alone helped you out again." "Please, Ronnie, I don't know what else to do." "When did I ever take notice of my guv'nor, eh?" "Thanks." "Hello, Eddie." "What do you want?" "I've been set up." "Listen to her, please." "You know what?" "Just let him go." "He's always been too bloody pig-headed to ask for help." "You can't talk to me like that." "I'm your father." "Then act like it for a change." "Come on, five minutes and then I swear I'll not bother you again." "Why didn't you go to the police?" "Nothing to tell them." "Come on, I know what that man did to you." "I know what he stole from you." "No-one stole anything from me." "How many times do I have to say it?" "You don't change, do you?" "You're the same stubborn idiot you've always been." "You'd rather risk going down for life than see your grandchildren marry and have children of their own." "And for what?" "Because you're too bloody proud to admit the truth." "I'm trying to help you and all you do is throw it back in my face." "That's it as far as I'm concerned." "I've spent weeks, months trying to defend you and I don't even know why anymore." "Maybe people are right and I don't know who you are." "After all, fraud or no fraud, it doesn't take away from the fact that... you killed a man." "Bailiffs came banging on the door." "All the neighbours stood watching." "I tried to reason with them but they said it was too late." "That's when I called the bank." "And they told me what I'd done." "Or, should I say, what he'd done." "There was an email, you see." "From Neil Lester." "Win an all-expenses trip to Australia." "Except there were all these questions, personal stuff." "So what information did you give him?" "Date of birth, national insurance number..." "You name it, I told him." "What a bloody fool I've been." "How'd you find out where he lived?" "One quick search of his email address and there it was - out there for the world to see." "And I thought... if I just got my hands on that computer of his," "I might be able to... maybe get it all back somehow." "But it was too late, it was all gone." "Deleted." "Like I never even existed." "He showed no remorse." "He just stood there." "Made me feel so stupid." "And he laughed, you know." "Right in my face." "I tried to get away from him but he had me backed into a corner." "And then..." "I never meant to hurt him." "I just wanted my life back." "And I've had to live with that day ever since." "The day I killed a man." "Left a child without a father." "And for what?" "Pride." "Why didn't you tell me in the first place?" "I could've helped you." "I was afraid." "That you'd think I couldn't manage on my own." "That's why you took your mum away from me, isn't it?" "I did that to help you!" "Why else do you think I left my job?" "She was my responsibility." "I asked you to come with her, didn't I?" "It was our home." "It was all I had left." "Of her." "My dad'll plead guilty to manslaughter." "On what basis?" "He inflicted the blow but he didn't go there with the intention of killing him or causing a serious injury." "He accepts that he caused death by his actions." "We'll do what we can." "You have been charged with murder contrary to common law." "The particulars of the offence are that on the 14th day of March, you murdered Neil Lester." "To this charge, how do you plead?" "Not guilty." "But... guilty of manslaughter." "Mr Thorne?" "That plea is acceptable to the Crown." "We ask that the charge of murder lie on file." "Then I suggest we adjourn for presentencing reports."