Law & Order UK Season 4 Episode 4 Duty Of Care
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00:00Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders, these are their stories.
00:08Look, just ten minutes.
00:10Babes, I need to see, I'm going out of my mind here.
00:13Yeah, I know, and I'm gonna tell her, I swear.
00:16It's easy for me.
00:17Your phone!
00:18What are you doing?
00:19I need your phone!
00:20My son!
00:21Get off!
00:22No!
00:23Hey.
00:25Eve!
00:25No!
00:26No!
00:30My son, my son's in time!
00:41Yeah, a boy.
00:43Apart from the newsagents.
00:44I don't know how long it's been going.
00:49Yeah.
00:50Okay.
00:51It's all right.
00:52They're on their way.
00:55I hesitate to use the word lucky, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
01:00Right.
01:01Well, I'll tell you what, mate.
01:02You look bad enough to me.
01:03Yeah.
01:04The lad from the flat didn't make it.
01:06Right.
01:07CEO situation.
01:09That's the lad there.
01:10Looks like he never woke up.
01:12We're talking suspicious origins, are we?
01:14Yeah, the guys reckon some sort of accelerant was used, but I can't tell you anymore until
01:19we get in there.
01:21So, anyone else in the flat, mate?
01:23Just the mother.
01:24There's a daughter, but she was at a sleepover.
01:26And what about her mum?
01:28How's she doing?
01:29Well, about how you'd expect.
01:34Let me through.
01:35Sorry, sir.
01:36You won't be able to park.
01:37No, I'm not moving on.
01:39I am not going to wait.
01:41Sir, it's a crime scene.
01:41You can't park.
01:43Seriously, man.
01:43I've got a right to see my property.
01:44What's the problem?
01:46That's my shop.
01:47Okay, just move your car, but don't go anywhere.
01:50We need to talk to you as well.
01:52Oh, man, I don't believe this.
01:54Sir, your car is obstructing the ambulance.
01:56I've lost everything.
01:58Right, well, there's a woman behind you in that ambulance who's just lost her son.
02:01So, how about you shut up and move your car?
02:05Seriously?
02:06Seriously.
02:07They found the remains of the container just in the entrance to the flats there.
02:21Looks like that's your point of origin.
02:24They'll run tests to confirm, but if it quacks like a duck...
02:29Well, whoever did it wasn't worried about covering their tracks, were they?
02:32No, that's the great thing about arson.
02:36Equal opportunity crime.
02:38Any moron can light a fire.
03:02Maybe they'll run test to the right person who Moltis.
03:05So, you're so high.
03:06Yeah!
03:07Email-out veteran how do you bite the rider.
03:09You already forgot a six-favored mole.
03:10See you then.
03:11After dialing out to will never stop.
03:12Listen to a friend's fam.
03:26Your weight on your order won't get up and wait.
03:27However, you'llーー kill you.
03:29Oh, Ian. Terrible what happened in that fire.
03:43I'm afraid I can't offer you any tea.
03:47Honey, I'm having one of my bad days.
03:50We're fine, really.
03:52You sure?
03:55That's a beautiful sweetheart.
03:56Well, you and your mum can stay there as long as you need to.
04:02She's pretty, isn't she, Casey?
04:12Megan, I understand Ian had learning difficulties.
04:19Right.
04:22And do you mind telling us what was the matter with him?
04:26He had developmental problems.
04:38He had trouble with his breathing.
04:40And he was slow with stuff.
04:51He didn't like noise.
04:54I tried to get him out of there.
04:56I did, I tried.
04:59The handle was too hot.
05:01I shouldn't have left him in there.
05:14How old was the boy that died?
05:16Just turned 30.
05:18No chunks of prints of the bottle of paint stripper?
05:20No, it was too badly burnt.
05:22The DNA's a no-go as well.
05:23And I'm guessing it's available at all good retailers.
05:27Well, you wouldn't want to make it too easy.
05:30Any sign of forced entry?
05:32Doesn't look like it.
05:33The mum made her escape for a fire easy on the first floor.
05:36But according to her statement, it was still locked when she got there.
05:39So, she wakes up, she smells smoke, tries to save her son, and then she goes for help.
05:46Do we know who owns the building?
05:48Well, the flats are owned by a management company.
05:53If it's an insurance scam, it's a pretty bad one.
05:55They should have at least tried to fake some sort of forced entry.
05:58And as far as I can see, they've got nothing to gain.
06:00Yeah, and the shop downstairs is another story, though.
06:03Owned by one Sanjit Chatterjee, currently under investigation for unpaid VAT and selling alcohol without a license.
06:12He's already got one fell business under his belt.
06:14He played bankrupt in 2006 at the tender age of 25.
06:18So, not exactly young entrepreneur of the year.
06:22And he's got a stupid beard.
06:24That's enough for me.
06:30I see you had a flood six months ago.
06:33Yeah, first pipe.
06:36Careful, man, huh?
06:38Sorry, boss.
06:40You claimed ten grand's worth of damages.
06:43Yeah, a lot of stuff, or damage.
06:47And then the year before that, there's an electrical fire.
06:50Another five grand claimed on the insurance.
06:54So, fire, flood, all you need now is an act of God.
06:58So, what?
07:00You think I did this?
07:01Well, we know you've got cash flow problems, especially as far as the VAT man's concerned.
07:05And it wouldn't be the first time that you cut your losses.
07:08Oh, here we go.
07:10Look, I was young.
07:13Decided to try my hand at the music business.
07:16It didn't work out.
07:18As for the VAT, my accountant stuffed up.
07:21That was all.
07:22I'm getting it sorted.
07:24But a nice big insurance claim should help a lot.
07:27Yeah, it would.
07:29The trouble is, I couldn't afford the premiums.
07:32You claim once, so it's bad enough.
07:34But claim twice.
07:36Forget about it.
07:37You're saying you're not insured?
07:39I had to take a payment break.
07:43It took about time.
07:46Devlin.
07:49Hey, Ant, what you got?
07:50Seriously, man.
07:51My grandparents put their savings into this place.
07:54My whole family help out.
07:57There is no way I'd torch it.
07:59Yeah, sure, we'll head over there.
08:09Megan Parnell, the woman from the flat,
08:12apparently she made several complaints
08:13to a safer neighbourhood team.
08:15Some of the local lads were giving her a hard time
08:17on account of her son and his special needs.
08:21Right.
08:21And how bad did it get?
08:23Bad enough to get one of them in Asbo.
08:25What clothes did you get?
08:26Sir Owen Lewis, DS Brooks, DS Devlin,
08:43we need to talk to you about your sons, please.
08:46Which ones?
08:48Aaron and Lee.
08:50Oh, not this again.
08:52Leave me alone, can't you?
08:53They're just kids.
08:54We're investigating a fire
08:57at the home of Megan Parnell.
09:05Oh, yeah?
09:06Yeah.
09:07And we understand that your boys
09:08have been giving Megan and her kids
09:10a bit of a hard time.
09:13Yeah.
09:14So what?
09:16So perhaps you wouldn't mind telling us
09:18where they were at what I thought this morning.
09:20Just answer the question, please, Aaron.
09:31Sorry, did you say something?
09:33You know what I reckon, Lee?
09:34I just think you're playing with us here.
09:36I really do.
09:38I mean, how old are you?
09:40Nine?
09:41Ten?
09:42Eleven.
09:44Wanker.
09:46Wanker?
09:47That's a bit harsh.
09:48Where were you at one o'clock this morning?
09:54Nah, sorry.
09:56Don't speak gay.
09:57Actually, I'm quite a nice bloke
09:59when you get to know me.
10:00Or so I'm told.
10:02It's not just your hair that looks gay.
10:04You've even got a gay face.
10:07I mean, how old's Aaron?
10:09He's 13.
10:10I think he reckons he's too cool
10:13to be hanging around with his little brother anymore.
10:17No, you don't.
10:19Did you always know you was a bender?
10:23Is that why you became a copper?
10:26Doesn't he think that you're cramping his style,
10:28especially he's acting the big I am,
10:30out and about with all his mates,
10:31trying to impress them,
10:33meanwhile you're stuck at home
10:34because he wants to be out
10:36the kid's his own age?
10:39He thinks you're a baby.
10:41Couldn't even get him without me.
10:43The window's too small.
10:46Right.
10:47I see it now.
10:49So he's the brains
10:50and you're the brawn.
10:54How small is this window, then?
10:56When you're at school
10:57in the middle of the night.
10:58Won't set foot in the place in daylight
11:00but apparently spend their nights
11:02trashing school property.
11:04We believe them.
11:05Well, camera footage
11:06has them near the school gates
11:07at 12.10
11:08and then again
11:09at 3.30 this morning.
11:11What are they doing in there
11:12for three hours?
11:14Calling to the headteacher
11:15defecating in the home ec lab,
11:17amongst other things.
11:19Three hours?
11:21I suppose we can charge them
11:23with criminal damage
11:24and then we've got to let them go.
11:25Why bother?
11:26They'll only be back here next week.
11:28Oh, I don't know.
11:29It might be a little bit longer.
11:30I think we'll put the frightens
11:31on the little one.
11:32You impart some fatherly wisdom
11:34to your room.
11:35Well, it wouldn't be
11:36the first young tear-away
11:37I've had to sort out, would it?
11:39Hey, Matty.
11:41Okay, so one of the neighbours
11:43thinks she saw
11:44a white, middle-aged man,
11:46medium-high, medium-built
11:48knock on the door
11:49late afternoon
11:49and then walk away.
11:51Other than that,
11:52we've got nothing.
11:53According to social services,
11:55CSA have been after Megan's ex
11:57for the past year
11:58for non-payment of maintenance
11:59and, look,
12:01apparently Parnell's
12:02got a bit of a temper.
12:03There's a note on here
12:04and it says
12:05he is extremely abusive
12:07and uncooperative.
12:09Hardly a first.
12:10Yeah, but what are the odds?
12:12He's white,
12:13middle-aged,
12:14medium-height
12:14and medium-built.
12:17Ian's what?
12:1913?
12:20Yeah.
12:20So that gives Craig
12:23another five years
12:24of payments.
12:25For a son he wanted
12:26nothing to do with.
12:28Or so would Tom.
12:29So he kills his son
12:30to save money.
12:34I've known people
12:35kill for less.
12:42When did you last
12:43see your son?
12:44I don't know,
12:47a month ago,
12:48maybe two.
12:50Really?
12:53Yeah.
12:55Me and his mum
12:56we don't get on.
12:59Understand there's been
13:00a few problems
13:01regarding maintenance payments.
13:04Megan been bending
13:05your head,
13:06has she?
13:06That must be
13:07an expensive business
13:08supporting a family
13:09and trying to start
13:10a new life yourself.
13:11Look,
13:14Ian belonged
13:15in a home.
13:17Megan wouldn't have it.
13:18Wanted to keep him
13:19with her.
13:20He was her son.
13:21And I was the one
13:22forking out.
13:24It would have been
13:24better off somewhere
13:25where they could
13:26look after him properly.
13:28Seems a bit extreme,
13:29doesn't it?
13:30Residential care
13:31for a kid
13:32with learning difficulties.
13:33Learning difficulties?
13:36We're full-on retarded.
13:38We're 13 years old,
13:40we're still wearing
13:40nappies.
13:42So is that why
13:43you and Megan
13:44split up?
13:46I guess I want
13:47Colt to be her dad.
13:49Not for a kid like that.
13:53So sue me.
13:54So you weren't
13:55outside Megan's flat
13:56Monday afternoon?
13:57Nope.
14:00Well,
14:00someone said I was.
14:01Would it change
14:03your story if they had?
14:04Okay, fine.
14:11Yeah, I went round there.
14:13I'm just fed up
14:14with the hassle
14:15I'm getting
14:16from the CSA.
14:17I wanted to talk
14:18to Megan face-to-face.
14:20And what happened?
14:21Nothing.
14:21She wasn't there.
14:22Why lie about it?
14:23I don't need
14:24more hassle.
14:26Or maybe you
14:27went round there
14:28later.
14:29Say 1am.
14:30Just forget it.
14:34I was with
14:34my girlfriend.
14:35Went out for dinner.
14:36Afterwards
14:36went back to her place.
14:39Parnell's girlfriend
14:40has confirmed
14:41his alibi.
14:43She also said
14:44that his son,
14:46Ian,
14:46had a thing
14:47about playing
14:48with mashes.
14:49And if anyone
14:50was going to be
14:50starting a fire,
14:52it would probably
14:52have been him.
14:54Well, neither mum
14:55nor dad mentioned
14:55his obsession
14:56with fire.
14:57So, what?
15:00This girlfriend's
15:01going the extra
15:02mile to stand
15:03by her man?
15:04I reckon
15:04which probably
15:05makes her man
15:06even more
15:06of a likely suspect.
15:07Still, it wouldn't
15:08hurt to rule
15:09the boy out
15:09altogether.
15:11Is there any way
15:12he could have
15:12got hold of
15:13paint thinner?
15:14We can check,
15:15but whether he
15:16knew what it was
15:17is another matter.
15:23No, not possible.
15:24I'll keep everything
15:25locked up in a cupboard.
15:27Well, where'd
15:28you keep the keys?
15:30On the ledge
15:30above the door.
15:33That's not the most
15:35original place
15:36to hide it,
15:36is it?
15:37Who's going to
15:38be looking?
15:43Did Ian know
15:44you kept it up there?
15:48Maybe.
15:50I'll come here,
15:51what, two,
15:52three times a month?
15:55I'll do all the
15:55maintenance for the
15:56building.
15:58Ian.
15:59He didn't like
16:00noise.
16:01But if it was a
16:02quiet job, you know,
16:03like changing
16:04light bulbs or
16:05something,
16:06sometimes he'd sit
16:07and watch.
16:09Give his mum a
16:10break, you know.
16:11Mm-hmm.
16:13And where'd you
16:13normally keep the
16:14paint thinner?
16:15In there,
16:16where the paint...
16:17Well, I can't see
16:22any.
16:28What did we say
16:29up?
16:37Ian had a rare
16:38condition known as
16:40childhood disintegrative
16:41disorder.
16:43It's sometimes known
16:44as Heller's Syndrome.
16:45sometimes the condition
16:48plateaus.
16:50Sadly, with Ian,
16:51he continued to
16:52deteriorate.
16:53And when you say
16:54deteriorate, I mean,
16:55to what extent I'll be
16:56talking about?
16:57He required
16:58constant monitoring
16:59for his respiratory
17:01and digestive
17:02functions.
17:02He also became
17:05increasingly aggressive
17:07and violent.
17:09And there was a
17:10marked deterioration
17:11in his motor skills.
17:14Would he have been
17:15able to unlock a
17:17door?
17:19What about climbing
17:20up onto something,
17:21getting a key off a
17:22ledge?
17:23No, not Ian.
17:26By the time he left
17:28here, he couldn't get
17:30a spoon to his
17:31mouth.
17:32Right, well, thanks
17:36very much for your
17:37time.
17:38You know, Ian used
17:40to be a sweet,
17:42happy boy.
17:44His mother wanted
17:44so badly to believe
17:46he would get better.
17:48And when she finally
17:49understood he was
17:50only going to get
17:51worse, I watched
17:53it sink in.
17:55And to be honest,
17:58I thought it would
17:59kill her.
18:02she wouldn't be the
18:04first.
18:05I know.
18:08When she was at the
18:09scene, she had
18:10access to the
18:10accelerant.
18:11I know.
18:16Why do people
18:17ever decide to have
18:18kids?
18:20And you've got no
18:20idea what you're
18:21letting yourself in
18:22for?
18:22Well, you've just got
18:26to love them and hope
18:27for the best.
18:29What if there is no
18:30hope?
18:33Okay, this is
18:34Megan's bedroom.
18:37Yeah, what am I
18:38looking at?
18:39According to a
18:40statement, Megan said
18:41she woke up,
18:42spelt smoke, and then
18:43ran out of the room.
18:44Does that bed look
18:45slept into you?
18:48Plus, the bedroom
18:50door was shut.
18:51That's why there's so
18:52little fire damage in
18:53there.
18:54And then there's this.
18:57She told us that she
18:59tried to get Ian out,
19:00but she couldn't because
19:01the door handle was too
19:02hot to touch.
19:05Except that Ian's door
19:06was already open.
19:08She wouldn't have had to
19:08touch the handle.
19:09Look, it was dark.
19:11She was surrounded by
19:12flames and smoke.
19:14She was disorientated.
19:16Gov, it's not...
19:17I'm serious.
19:18Before I started
19:19accusing a mother of
19:20killing her child...
19:21Gov, I'm sorry.
19:23That's the lab.
19:25They finished testing
19:27items from the scene.
19:31Megan Parnell's
19:32sweatshirt.
19:33It's got paint thinner
19:35on it.
19:39Bring her in.
19:42I don't understand.
19:45Well, Megan, you told
19:47us that you woke up
19:49and then you went to
19:51save Ian.
19:52That's right.
19:54I tried to get him
19:56out.
19:58Well, we think that you
19:59never went to bed in the
20:00first place.
20:01What?
20:03Your bed was still
20:04made.
20:05And the door to your
20:10bedroom was shut
20:11tight.
20:14That's what slowed the
20:15fire down.
20:20I don't know what
20:21you're talking about.
20:24Well, you see, Megan...
20:26we think you waited
20:32till Ian fell asleep.
20:37Then you went down
20:38and got the paint
20:39thinner.
20:41You pulled it on the
20:43stairs.
20:44You lit it.
20:46And then you made your
20:47escape through the fire
20:48exit.
20:49No.
20:51That's not what
20:51happened.
20:52Well, you see, Megan,
20:56we know that things
20:58got really desperate
20:59for you.
21:01Maybe...
21:02Maybe you didn't
21:05mean for Ian to die.
21:07Maybe you were just
21:08trying to let someone
21:09know that you really
21:10needed help.
21:13No.
21:14It wasn't like that,
21:16I swear.
21:16You see, all this
21:22evidence, it leads to
21:25one conclusion, Megan.
21:29That you started that
21:30fire.
21:33And you left your son
21:34to die.
21:34My lady,
21:46my client has already
21:48had to endure the
21:49untimely death of one
21:50child.
21:52I would ask that she
21:53not be separated from
21:54her remaining child
21:55pending the resolution
21:57of this matter.
21:59Miss Phillips,
22:00we believe the
22:01defendant to be
22:02responsible for the
22:03untimely death of
22:04her child.
22:05Given the nature of
22:06the crime, we maintain
22:07that Bell should be
22:08refused.
22:09My lady, this will
22:11only compound a
22:13grieving mother's
22:14suffering.
22:15And based on what?
22:17The defendant is
22:18charged with murder.
22:19The Crown would not
22:20have undertaken this
22:21prosecution without
22:22sufficient evidence.
22:24I believe that is
22:24yet to be
22:25demonstrated.
22:26That is why we
22:27have trials, Mr.
22:29Peck.
22:35Hey.
22:37Hope you didn't take
22:38that personally.
22:39Sorry.
22:41Thought I should
22:41bring out the
22:42big guns, seeing as
22:44the poor woman's
22:44innocent.
22:45Are you sure about
22:46that?
22:47Absolutely.
22:48As long as she
22:48doesn't tell me
22:49any different.
22:51It's Alicia, right?
22:52Dominic.
22:54I'm glad to have
22:54an excuse to get to
22:55know you at last.
22:57Your average
22:58female barrister
22:59looks like a pig
23:00and a wig.
23:01Excuse me?
23:03Come on, you
23:03know it's true.
23:05I think we're
23:06going to have a lot
23:07of fun, you and
23:08I.
23:09I mean, I'm not
23:10saying it might be
23:10a challenge, selling
23:12the lovely Mrs. Parnell
23:14to a jury.
23:16But hey, it's all
23:17in the presentation.
23:19As far as I can
23:20remember, being fat
23:21and stupid isn't
23:22a crime.
23:23What was the pity?
23:26Now, Mrs. Parnell,
23:28where were you?
23:29I thought the
23:29evidence was
23:30conclusive.
23:32Yeah, it is.
23:33So why plead
23:34not guilty?
23:35Does her lawyer
23:36know something
23:37that we don't?
23:38Doubt it.
23:39The guy's an idiot.
23:41He's just hoping
23:42that the jury
23:43will find her
23:44too sympathetic
23:45to convict.
23:47An issue?
23:48Hardly.
23:50This wasn't
23:50some kind of
23:51compassionate
23:52mercy killing.
23:53She set fire
23:54to a building
23:55with her disabled
23:55son trapped
23:56inside and she
23:57didn't care how
23:58many other lives
23:59she put in danger.
24:00It was a highly
24:01emotive situation.
24:02She'd been caring
24:03for a severely
24:04disabled child
24:05for years,
24:06with little
24:06or no support.
24:08They're bound
24:08to try and use
24:09the boy's condition
24:10to cultivate
24:11sympathy for the
24:12defendant.
24:13Yeah, which is
24:14fair enough.
24:15We're not saying
24:16she wasn't struggling,
24:17but that's hardly
24:18justification for murder.
24:19They could go down
24:20the route of
24:21diminished responsibility.
24:23later, you said
24:24that she was
24:24an antidepressant
24:25for the last
24:26couple of years.
24:27No, they don't
24:28have grounds
24:29for diminished
24:29responsibility.
24:31She had a full
24:31psych assessment
24:32when she was
24:33in custody
24:34and nothing
24:34was flagged up.
24:36It would be good
24:37to establish
24:38state of mind
24:39before the event.
24:40You said that
24:42Megan visited
24:44the emergency
24:44department
24:45within two days
24:46prior to the fire.
24:47Mm-hmm.
24:49Okay, so
24:50we talked to
24:52the doctor
24:52that saw them.
24:53Get a professional
24:54opinion.
24:55Very good.
24:57Go forth
24:59and prosecute.
25:02No, there was
25:03no abuse involved.
25:05The skull fracture
25:06came from
25:07autistic-type
25:08headbanging.
25:09The broken
25:10wrist was
25:11sustained
25:12during an
25:12epileptic seizure
25:13and the broken
25:14ribs came from
25:15a fall.
25:16He also
25:17treated his
25:17mother on
25:18several occasions.
25:19What for?
25:20The last time
25:21was when she
25:22tried to hold
25:23him down
25:23to protect
25:24him during
25:24seizure.
25:25He threw
25:26her off
25:26and she
25:27chipped a
25:27bone in
25:27her elbow.
25:28Was it
25:29deliberate?
25:29No.
25:31No, he
25:31wouldn't have
25:32known what
25:32he was doing
25:33but the
25:33situation was
25:34obviously
25:35becoming
25:35impossible.
25:36the last
25:39time we
25:39spoke I
25:40suggested she
25:43rethink the
25:44idea of
25:44residential care.
25:46And what
25:46did she say?
25:48She said if
25:49it came to
25:49that he'd
25:50be better
25:51off dead.
25:51it is also
25:59the contention
26:00of the
26:00defense of
26:01the evidence
26:02given by
26:02Dr. Schreiber
26:03should be
26:04excluded under
26:05section 78
26:06of PACE.
26:07Eleven.
26:08Not to
26:09mention the
26:10fact that it
26:10falls squarely
26:11under the
26:12heading of
26:12patient doctor
26:13privilege.
26:14Uh,
26:15my lady,
26:16it was in
26:17fact Mrs.
26:18Parnell's
26:19son who
26:20was the
26:21patient at
26:21the time
26:22she made
26:22the
26:22statement.
26:23Then
26:24privilege is
26:25irrelevant,
26:26as are your
26:27other objections,
26:28Mr.
26:28Peck.
26:29In that
26:29case I
26:30also wish
26:31to apply
26:31to exclude
26:32the sweatshirt
26:32worn by
26:33Mrs.
26:33Parnell on
26:34the night
26:34of the
26:35fire under
26:35section 78
26:36of PACE.
26:37Twelve.
26:39How can
26:39the prosecution
26:39claim that
26:41it is the
26:42exact same
26:43paint thinner
26:44that was used
26:45to start
26:45the fire?
26:46Uh,
26:46I believe
26:47that's a
26:48question for
26:49our expert
26:50witness,
26:51maloney.
26:52But there's
26:52also the
26:52manner in
26:53which the
26:53sweatshirt was
26:54obtained.
26:55Mr.
26:56Peck,
26:56please stop.
26:59The sweatshirt
27:00stays in.
27:03I suggest
27:03you quit
27:04while you're...
27:06Well,
27:07I suggest
27:07you quit
27:08anyway.
27:09Trial is
27:10listed for
27:1110 a.m.
27:11tomorrow.
27:12I see no
27:13reason to
27:14delay any
27:14further.
27:15that.
27:18Do you
27:19think he's
27:19read anything
27:20other than
27:21section 78
27:22of PACE?
27:23I doubt
27:23he's even
27:24read that.
27:29Dominic
27:29Peck.
27:31Okay?
27:33No,
27:34I won't
27:34be able to
27:35do it
27:35within the
27:35hour.
27:36But I'll
27:37try.
27:39Excuse
27:40me.
27:42Do you
27:42know what
27:43time we're
27:43meant to
27:44go back
27:44in?
27:46We'll be
27:47starting
27:47again at
27:47two.
27:52It's just
27:53they said
27:53I could
27:53see my
27:54little girl
27:54today.
27:55Really?
27:56Who told
27:56you that?
27:58I don't
27:58know,
27:58Mrs.
27:59Parnell.
28:00They're
28:00fraternizing
28:01with the
28:01enemy.
28:03Come on.
28:10And have
28:13you ever
28:14come across
28:14someone waking
28:15up with
28:15their home
28:16on fire
28:17taking time
28:18to make
28:18the bed
28:19before leaving
28:19the building?
28:21Not in
28:22my experience.
28:24No further
28:25questions.
28:30Mr.
28:31Harris,
28:32in warm
28:33weather,
28:33I'm sure
28:34most of us
28:34tend to sleep
28:35on top
28:35of the
28:36covers.
28:37The night
28:38of the fire,
28:38it was below
28:39freezing.
28:40But still,
28:43if someone
28:43were reading
28:44a book
28:44or a magazine,
28:46they might
28:46still fall
28:47asleep on
28:47top of
28:47the covers
28:48regardless
28:48of the
28:49temperature,
28:49mightn't
28:50they?
28:51But they
28:52might.
28:55But no
28:56books or
28:57magazines
28:58were found
28:58by the
28:59defendant's
28:59bed.
29:06I told
29:07her she
29:07should
29:07consider
29:08placing
29:08him in
29:09residential
29:09care.
29:11And what
29:12was her
29:12response?
29:15She was
29:16worried that
29:16other people
29:17wouldn't look
29:17after him
29:18properly.
29:19I know
29:19there had
29:20been some
29:21difficulties
29:21when they
29:22tried respite
29:23care,
29:23but I told
29:24her it would
29:25be different
29:25if he was
29:26found a
29:26permanent
29:27place in a
29:28suitable
29:28institution.
29:29But she
29:30was still
29:30unconvinced.
29:31first, she
29:33became very
29:34upset.
29:37She said
29:38if it came
29:39to putting
29:39him in
29:40a home,
29:41he'd be
29:42better off
29:42dead.
29:47Thank you,
29:48doctor.
29:48Dr.
29:52Schreiber.
29:55I'm sure
29:56you're aware
29:57that people
29:57exaggerate
29:58sometimes for
29:59effect.
30:00Of course.
30:01Did you
30:02think she
30:02wanted him
30:02dead?
30:03Uh,
30:03my lady...
30:04Let's
30:04avoid
30:05speculation,
30:06Mr.
30:07Peck.
30:07My lady,
30:08did she
30:09say she
30:10wanted him
30:11dead?
30:11No.
30:12In fact,
30:13did she not
30:14ask you about
30:14alternative
30:15treatments for
30:16her son?
30:17Yes,
30:17she did.
30:18She told
30:19you that
30:19she'd try
30:20anything,
30:21anything at
30:21all,
30:22if it meant
30:23getting her
30:24little boy
30:24back?
30:25Yes,
30:25she did.
30:26She desperately
30:27wanted to
30:28improve his
30:28quality of
30:29life.
30:30Which is
30:30quite the
30:31opposite to
30:31wanting to
30:32end his
30:32life,
30:33wouldn't
30:33you say?
30:36Thank you,
30:37doctor.
30:38I have
30:39nothing further.
30:43See the
30:44look in the
30:44jury's faces?
30:45He has
30:47them seeing
30:47it as an
30:48act of
30:48mercy.
30:49There's a
30:50risk of
30:50a not
30:50guilty here,
30:52even with
30:53an idiot
30:53like Peck,
30:54simply because
30:56they're feeling
30:57that poor
30:58woman's pain.
30:59I think George
31:03could be
31:03right.
31:04I know
31:05that given
31:06the facts,
31:07the charge
31:07had to be
31:08murder,
31:09but it just
31:09doesn't feel
31:10right.
31:11I just don't
31:11understand why
31:12Peck didn't go
31:13for manslaughter
31:14from the start,
31:14using the
31:15doctor's
31:15statement as
31:16evidence of
31:17severe emotional
31:18distress as
31:19what any other
31:20defence lawyer
31:21would have
31:21done.
31:21sadly we
31:23can't guarantee
31:23the quality
31:24of opposing
31:25counsel.
31:27Maybe
31:28we can
31:31force this
31:32particular
31:33counsel to
31:34do the
31:34right thing.
31:35And what do
31:36you have in
31:36mind?
31:37I'll talk
31:38to him,
31:40tell him
31:40we'll accept
31:41a plea to
31:42manslaughter,
31:43and I hope
31:45he's got sense
31:46enough to
31:46agree.
31:46interesting.
31:52I think you'll
31:53agree it's in
31:53the best interest
31:54of your client.
31:56Well, I think
31:57that's for me
31:58to decide.
31:59No, it's for
32:00Megan to decide.
32:02You know, the
32:02woman you're
32:03representing?
32:04Manslaughter.
32:08That would mean
32:08a definite
32:09prison sentence
32:10though, wouldn't
32:10it?
32:11Yeah,
32:13it usually
32:13does.
32:15The thing is,
32:15all Megan wants
32:16to do is to
32:17stay with
32:17little Kaylee.
32:18It's Katie.
32:19Exactly.
32:21And I promised
32:22her I'd do my
32:23damnedest to
32:23make that happen.
32:24You shouldn't
32:25have promised
32:26her anything.
32:27Hey, it's
32:29always good to
32:29give the ladies
32:30hope.
32:37As predicted,
32:38my client wishes
32:39to proceed with
32:40the not guilty
32:41plea.
32:42You have
32:43explained that
32:44a murder
32:45conviction carries
32:46a mandatory
32:46life sentence.
32:49That's not
32:49really the issue
32:50here.
32:54I disagree.
32:56Mrs. Parnell,
32:57I must stress
32:58that if you
32:59are found guilty,
33:00you could be
33:00sentenced to 25
33:01years in peace.
33:02Yes, thank you,
33:02Mr. Steele.
33:04And given the
33:05evidence against
33:05you, you should
33:08know that that
33:09is a very real
33:10possibility.
33:10I thought you
33:13said if I
33:14pleaded, not
33:15guilty.
33:15That's enough.
33:17Okay, I think
33:17we're done here.
33:20Megan, is there
33:21anything you want
33:22to say?
33:22I don't appreciate
33:23the scare tactics,
33:24Mr. Steele.
33:26It's okay.
33:27He's just trying to
33:28confuse you.
33:29Your client has
33:30the right to know
33:31what she's risking.
33:32I assure you,
33:33my client is
33:34fully informed.
33:35Well, at least
33:42she is now.
33:43Makes you wonder
33:44what he's going
33:44to do next.
33:46I know, but I
33:47bet Megan Parnell
33:48is in the dark
33:49as we know.
33:53What are you?
33:54What are you?
33:55James,
33:57Peck's entered
33:57a new plea.
33:59Diminished
33:59responsibility?
34:01Not guilty by
34:01reason of insanity.
34:03Based on what?
34:04He's found an
34:05expert who'll say
34:06Megan Parnell was
34:07legally insane
34:08when she set the
34:09fire.
34:10So first she
34:10didn't do it,
34:12now she did it,
34:13but she didn't
34:13know what she
34:14was doing.
34:15He's lost the
34:16plot.
34:16I mean, he must
34:17realise what this
34:18could mean.
34:19If it works,
34:20Megan could end
34:21up institutionalised
34:22for the rest of
34:22her life.
34:23She wouldn't
34:24just lose her
34:24daughter, she'd
34:25lose everything.
34:32You know the
34:33jury will see
34:34this for the
34:35cynical ploy
34:36that it is
34:36and all you'll
34:37have done
34:37is discredit
34:38your client.
34:40Perhaps,
34:42or perhaps
34:43he'll be too
34:43busy crying
34:44into the
34:45hankies over
34:45poor,
34:46misunderstood
34:47Megan.
34:49You shouldn't
34:49overestimate
34:50your average
34:51prole,
34:52James.
34:54It's all
34:55about emotion,
34:57not the truth.
34:58They told us
35:05about win-at-any-cost
35:07barristers at
35:08law school.
35:09First time I've
35:10seen one in
35:10action, though.
35:11Yeah, Peck's a
35:12prime example.
35:13Raging ego,
35:14limited ability,
35:15and absolutely no
35:16ethics.
35:17He really doesn't
35:18care what happens
35:19to Megan.
35:20It's like she's
35:21just a pawn in
35:22his game.
35:22Maybe,
35:24maybe not.
35:26She's still the
35:26one who chose
35:27to plead not
35:27guilty.
35:28If Peck's
35:28playing a game,
35:30she's going
35:30along with it.
35:32Don't think of
35:32her as the
35:33innocent victim
35:33here.
35:40Megan?
35:43By pleading
35:44insanity,
35:46you understand
35:47that you're
35:47saying that
35:48when you
35:48started the
35:49fire,
35:50you didn't
35:50know it
35:51was wrong.
35:52Yeah.
35:56I didn't
35:57know what
35:58I was doing.
36:00You were
36:00upset about
36:01Ian?
36:02Yeah.
36:04But I
36:05wasn't
36:05thinking
36:06properly.
36:07I was
36:08upset and
36:09confused.
36:11Can you
36:12tell me
36:13what it
36:13was like
36:14when your
36:15son first
36:16got ill?
36:17I mean,
36:17it must have
36:18been very
36:18difficult.
36:22yeah,
36:25it was
36:25really
36:25hard.
36:27I
36:28understand
36:29that Ian
36:29changed
36:29quite
36:30quickly.
36:37It was
36:38around the
36:39time of his
36:40fourth birthday.
36:41his favourite
36:44song was
36:45old Macdonald.
36:47He was
36:47always singing
36:48it.
36:51Then he
36:52forgot that
36:53pigs go
36:53oink.
36:58He started
37:00saying there
37:00was a
37:01bad mouse
37:03in his
37:04head.
37:09A few
37:09months later
37:10he
37:11stopped
37:12talking
37:13and using
37:15the toilet.
37:23He
37:24wouldn't
37:24even let
37:24me hold
37:25him.
37:28He
37:28couldn't
37:29bear to
37:29be
37:30touched.
37:30short
37:36version
37:36she's
37:37not
37:37insane.
37:38Not
37:39now
37:39and not
37:40the night
37:40she
37:40started
37:41the fire.
37:42But
37:42there's
37:42a long
37:42version.
37:43She
37:43certainly
37:44has
37:44significant
37:45mental
37:46health
37:46problems.
37:47Depression,
37:48acute
37:48anxiety,
37:49chronic
37:49sleep
37:50deprivation.
37:51Her
37:52son
37:52rarely
37:52let
37:53her
37:53sleep
37:53more
37:54than
37:54two
37:54hours
37:54at a
37:55time.
37:56That's
37:56every
37:56night
37:57for
37:5713
37:58years.
37:58You
37:59could
37:59argue
38:00that
38:00was
38:00her
38:00choice.
38:02She
38:02repeatedly
38:03refused
38:03to have
38:04been
38:04placed
38:04in
38:04her
38:04home.
38:06Has
38:06anyone
38:06bothered
38:06to
38:07ask
38:07her
38:07why?
38:09Probably
38:09not
38:09the
38:10defence.
38:11Megan's
38:11mother
38:11had
38:12recurring
38:12health
38:13problems.
38:14Her
38:14father
38:14was
38:14an
38:14alcoholic.
38:16Her
38:16only
38:16other
38:16relative
38:17was
38:17a
38:17nant
38:18in
38:18a
38:18wheelchair.
38:20So
38:21Megan
38:21spent
38:22several
38:22long
38:23periods
38:23in
38:23children's
38:24homes.
38:25Not
38:25happy
38:26times.
38:26The
38:27standard
38:28of care
38:28in the
38:29early
38:2980s
38:29was
38:29variable
38:30to say
38:31the least.
38:31Megan
38:31was an
38:32awkward
38:32unattractive
38:33child
38:34with
38:34zero
38:34confidence.
38:37We
38:37all know
38:37how cruel
38:38children
38:38can be.
38:41But
38:41she
38:41wasn't
38:42insane?
38:44No.
38:45She
38:46wasn't.
38:47So
38:47who's
38:48he
38:48found
38:48to
38:48say
38:48that
38:49she
38:49was?
38:49In
38:54your
38:54opinion
38:54doctor
38:55was
38:56the
38:56defendant
38:56severely
38:57stressed
38:58at the
38:58time
38:58of the
38:59fire?
39:00Based
39:01on my
39:01interviews
39:02with
39:02Megan
39:02I
39:03believe
39:03that
39:03her
39:04stress
39:04level
39:04had
39:05risen
39:05to
39:05the
39:05clinical
39:06designation
39:07ACSS.
39:09And
39:09what
39:10is
39:10that?
39:11Acute
39:12caretaker
39:12stress
39:13syndrome.
39:14ACSS
39:15is
39:15characterized
39:16by
39:16irrational
39:17behavior,
39:18radical
39:19emotional
39:20dissonance
39:20and
39:21cognitive
39:21malfunction.
39:23Would
39:23she
39:23have
39:23been
39:24able
39:24to
39:24tell
39:24the
39:24difference
39:25between
39:25right
39:26and
39:26wrong?
39:26In
39:27my
39:27opinion
39:27no.
39:29Thank
39:30you
39:30doctor.
39:36Which
39:37medical
39:38school
39:38did you
39:39attend
39:39Dr.
39:40Albach?
39:41My
39:41doctorate
39:42is in
39:42psychoanalytic
39:43studies.
39:44I
39:44didn't
39:44go to
39:44medical
39:45school.
39:46So
39:46you're
39:47not
39:47a
39:47qualified
39:48psychiatrist?
39:49No
39:49I'm
39:50not.
39:50Then
39:51are
39:51you
39:51affiliated
39:52with
39:52any
39:53particular
39:53hospital
39:54or
39:54clinic?
39:55Not
39:56currently.
39:57For
39:57the
39:57past
39:57few
39:58years
39:58I've
39:58been
39:58lecturing
39:59extensively
40:00mainly
40:00in the
40:01states
40:01where
40:02I
40:02also
40:02have
40:02a
40:03syndicated
40:03radio
40:04program.
40:06In
40:06other
40:07words
40:07you're
40:08not
40:08a
40:08psychologist
40:09but
40:09you
40:09play
40:09one
40:09on
40:10the
40:10radio.
40:10My
40:10lady
40:11is
40:11mocking
40:12the
40:12witness.
40:14My
40:14lady.
40:15this
40:18disorder
40:20you've
40:21been
40:22talking
40:22about
40:22Dr.
40:23Alberg
40:23I
40:25guess
40:25A
40:26C
40:27S
40:28S
40:28I
40:30am
40:30really
40:31confused.
40:32I
40:32have
40:32been
40:32looking
40:33through
40:33a
40:33large
40:34number
40:34of
40:35reference
40:35books
40:35and I
40:36can't
40:36find
40:36a
40:36single
40:37mention
40:37of
40:37it.
40:38It's
40:39a
40:39relatively
40:39new
40:40diagnosis.
40:40That
40:42explains
40:43it.
40:43Invented
40:44by
40:44whom?
40:45It
40:46was
40:46first
40:46identified
40:47by
40:47myself.
40:48Oh
40:48I
40:49see.
40:49And
40:50has
40:51it
40:51been
40:51recognized
40:51by
40:52the
40:52Royal
40:52College
40:53of
40:53Psychiatrists?
40:54Not
40:55yet.
40:56My
40:56my
40:56my
40:56we
40:57really
40:57are
40:58out
40:58there
40:58on
40:58the
40:58cutting
40:59edge
40:59aren't
40:59we?
40:59My
41:00lady.
41:00My
41:00lady
41:01the
41:01evidence
41:01of
41:02this
41:02witness
41:02could
41:02be
41:02instrumental
41:03in
41:03placing
41:04the
41:04defendant
41:04in
41:05a
41:05mental
41:05institution
41:06possibly
41:06for
41:07the
41:07rest
41:07of
41:07her
41:07life.
41:10I
41:12think
41:12the
41:12jury
41:12need
41:12to
41:13understand
41:13the
41:13extent
41:14of
41:14her
41:14expertise
41:15or
41:17the
41:17lack
41:17of
41:18it.
41:21No
41:21further
41:22questions.
41:28Okay
41:28here's
41:29the
41:29thing
41:29my
41:30client
41:31has
41:31dropped
41:31a bit
41:31of
41:32a
41:32bombshell
41:32and
41:34well
41:34to
41:34be
41:34honest
41:35I'm
41:35not
41:35entirely
41:36sure
41:36how
41:36to
41:36proceed.
41:38I
41:38know
41:39discussing
41:40defence
41:41strategy
41:41with
41:41the
41:41prosecution
41:42probably
41:43isn't
41:43the
41:43best
41:44way
41:44to
41:44go.
41:45Fair
41:45point.
41:46But
41:46we're
41:47not
41:47really
41:47talking
41:47defence
41:48anymore
41:48because
41:48Mrs.
41:49Parnellis
41:50confessed.
41:53She
41:53admits
41:54to
41:55starting
41:55the
41:55fire
41:56that
41:56killed
41:56her
41:56son?
41:57Yes
41:57and
41:58no.
41:59She
42:00admits
42:00to
42:00starting
42:00the
42:01fire
42:01and
42:01she
42:01certainly
42:02feels
42:03responsibility
42:03for
42:04her
42:04son's
42:04death
42:05but
42:06he
42:07didn't
42:07actually
42:07die
42:08in
42:09the
42:09fire.
42:10He
42:13didn't.
42:14Apparently
42:15not.
42:16As
42:17I
42:17understand
42:17him
42:18my
42:18client
42:18I'm
42:18sorry.
42:20Megan
42:21perhaps
42:23if
42:23you
42:24just
42:24tell
42:25us
42:25what
42:25happened.
42:29Ian
42:29was
42:29having
42:30a
42:30seizure
42:30and
42:32he
42:32started
42:33having
42:33convulsions.
42:34I
42:38had
42:38the
42:38syringe
42:39for
42:39his
42:39injection
42:40in
42:40my
42:40hand
42:41but I
42:46couldn't
42:47do it.
42:47I
42:52was
42:52watching
42:52him
42:53and
42:53his
42:53face
42:55was
42:55all
42:56twisted
42:56up
42:56in
42:57pain.
43:00I
43:01just
43:01wanted
43:01it
43:01to
43:02stop.
43:06So
43:06I
43:07held
43:09him
43:09and I
43:09waited
43:10when
43:14the
43:14convulsions
43:15ended
43:15I
43:18knew
43:18he'd
43:18gone.
43:27As
43:27you
43:28can
43:28imagine
43:28she
43:28was
43:29distraught
43:29wracked
43:30with
43:30guilt
43:30and
43:31in
43:31the
43:31emotion
43:32of
43:32the
43:32moment
43:32decided
43:33to
43:33end
43:33it
43:33all.
43:35Hence
43:35the
43:35fire.
43:37And
43:37your
43:37clients
43:38didn't
43:39think
43:39to
43:39mention
43:40this
43:40before.
43:41Unfortunately
43:42not.
43:43It
43:43would
43:44have
43:44made
43:44life
43:45a lot
43:45easier
43:45all
43:46round
43:46if
43:46she
43:46had.
43:48But
43:49well
43:49as
43:49you
43:49can
43:49see
43:50this
43:51changes
43:51everything.
43:53Right.
43:54So
43:54you're
43:56thinking
43:57what?
43:59We
43:59abandon
44:00the
44:00charges
44:01the
44:01judge
44:02discharges
44:03the jury
44:03and we
44:04start
44:04again?
44:06Well
44:06ideally
44:06yes.
44:08I
44:09mean
44:09you could
44:09charge
44:09her
44:09with
44:09arson
44:10but
44:10failing
44:12to
44:12give
44:12her
44:13an
44:13injection
44:13I
44:15wouldn't
44:15fancy
44:16your
44:16chances.
44:18I've
44:18heard
44:18enough.
44:19Now
44:19look
44:19I
44:20didn't
44:20have
44:20to
44:20come
44:21here.
44:22I
44:22could
44:22have
44:23just
44:23blindsided
44:24you
44:24in
44:24court
44:25but
44:25I
44:25felt
44:26in
44:26the
44:26interest
44:26of
44:27justice
44:27You
44:27can
44:27see
44:27yourselves
44:28out.
44:30Fine
44:31we'll
44:32leave it
44:32to the
44:33jury.
44:34Just don't
44:34say I
44:35didn't
44:35warn
44:35you.
44:40You
44:41didn't
44:41believe
44:42that
44:42did
44:42you?
44:43I
44:43don't
44:44know.
44:45Sounds
44:46like she's
44:47finally
44:47telling
44:48the
44:48truth.
44:49The
44:49post-mortem
44:50report
44:50categorically
44:51states
44:52smoke
44:52inhalation
44:53as cause
44:53of death.
44:55The
44:55medical
44:56evidence
44:56means
44:57that
44:57she's
44:58lying
44:58or
45:00more
45:00likely
45:00he's
45:01told her
45:01what to
45:02say.
45:03But
45:03why
45:04would
45:04Peck
45:05even
45:05try
45:05this?
45:06He
45:06must
45:06have
45:06seen
45:06the
45:07post-mortem.
45:08Why
45:09bother
45:09about
45:09truth
45:10when
45:10you
45:10can
45:11go
45:11with
45:11emotion?
45:22It
45:22was
45:23CO
45:23asphyxiation
45:24absolutely
45:25no doubt
45:26about it.
45:27Why
45:28they're
45:28renewed
45:28interest
45:29with
45:30his
45:30mother's
45:31claiming
45:31that
45:32he
45:32died
45:32from
45:33an
45:33epileptic
45:33seizure
45:34but
45:35he
45:35was
45:35already
45:35dead
45:35when
45:36the
45:36fire
45:36started.
45:37You've
45:38got to
45:38be
45:38breathing
45:38to
45:39get
45:39smoke
45:39in
45:39your
45:40lungs.
45:40There's
45:40no
45:40two
45:41ways
45:41about
45:41it.
45:43Thanks,
45:44Heather.
45:45Of
45:46course,
45:47it is
45:48possible
45:49that a
45:49particularly
45:50violent
45:50seizure
45:51could
45:51result
45:51in
45:52a
45:52coma
45:52in
45:54which
45:55case
45:55the
45:56victim
45:56would
45:56be
45:56breathing
45:57just
45:57enough
45:58to
45:58get
45:58smoke
45:58in
45:58his
45:58lungs
45:59but
46:00to a
46:00lay
46:01appeared
46:02dead.
46:04She
46:05said
46:05it
46:05was
46:05a
46:06possibility
46:06that's
46:07all.
46:07James,
46:08it
46:08means
46:08Megan
46:09must
46:09have
46:09believed
46:10Ian
46:10was
46:10dead
46:10when
46:10she
46:11started
46:11the fire.
46:12Then why
46:12didn't she
46:13plead
46:13guilty
46:13from the
46:14start?
46:15All
46:15Megan
46:16cares
46:16about
46:16is
46:17staying
46:17with
46:17her
46:17daughter.
46:18Pex
46:18promised
46:18he
46:18could
46:19make
46:19that
46:19happen.
46:21This
46:21is a
46:21woman
46:21who's
46:22been
46:22at
46:22the
46:22mercy
46:22of
46:22the
46:23system
46:23her
46:23whole
46:24life.
46:24Her
46:25barrister
46:25tells her
46:25what to
46:26say.
46:26She's
46:26not
46:26going to
46:26argue
46:27with
46:27him.
46:28Chances
46:28are
46:29he
46:29wouldn't
46:29have
46:29listened
46:29to
46:30her
46:30anyway.
46:30Yeah,
46:31exactly.
46:32For
46:32all we
46:32know,
46:32she
46:32tried
46:33to
46:33tell
46:33him
46:33he
46:33panicked
46:34and
46:34changed
46:34the
46:34plea
46:35to
46:44charged
46:44with
46:45murder.
46:51So,
46:52just to
46:53clarify
46:53for the
46:54jury,
46:55you
46:55didn't
46:56put
46:56Ian
46:56in a
46:57residential
46:57home,
46:58did
46:58you,
46:58because
46:59you're
46:59his
46:59mother
47:00and
47:00you
47:01cared
47:01for
47:01him?
47:03Couldn't.
47:06He
47:07was
47:07my
47:07baby.
47:08I
47:08loved
47:08him
47:09so
47:09much.
47:12No
47:12further
47:13questions,
47:13my
47:14lady.
47:14Mrs.
47:23Parnell,
47:24you
47:26described
47:26to the
47:27court
47:27how
47:27after
47:28Ian
47:28died
47:29you
47:29took
47:29his
47:29pills
47:30and
47:30you
47:30started
47:31the
47:31fire
47:31so
47:32that
47:32you
47:32could
47:33go
47:33together.
47:35Yeah,
47:35that's
47:35right.
47:37The
47:38trouble
47:38is
47:38it's
47:39it's
47:40very
47:40difficult
47:41for
47:41us
47:41to
47:41believe
47:42you
47:42when
47:42you've
47:42lied
47:43over
47:44and
47:44over
47:44again
47:44about
47:45the
47:45events
47:45of
47:46that
47:46night.
47:46I
47:47didn't
47:47mean
47:47to
47:48lie.
47:48But
47:48the
47:48fact
47:49is
47:49you
47:49did.
47:51The
47:51only
47:52thing
47:52that we
47:52know for
47:53certain is
47:53that you
47:53went down
47:54the stairs,
47:54you
47:54unlocked the
47:55maintenance
47:55cupboard,
47:56you poured
47:57paint thinner
47:58over the
47:58stairs and
47:59you set it
48:00alight,
48:00leaving your
48:01young son
48:02to die
48:02in that
48:03fire.
48:03I
48:04wouldn't
48:04do
48:05that.
48:05That's
48:06exactly
48:06what
48:07you
48:07did.
48:09No,
48:09I
48:09didn't.
48:12Because
48:12he was
48:13already
48:13dead,
48:13I
48:13told
48:14you.
48:15I
48:15know
48:15you'd
48:15like
48:16us
48:16to
48:16believe
48:16that,
48:18but
48:19I'm
48:19afraid
48:19it's
48:20simply
48:20not
48:21true.
48:26I
48:27refer
48:27the
48:27court
48:27to
48:28the
48:28post-mortem
48:29report
48:30on Ian
48:31Parnell
48:31dated
48:32March
48:3219th.
48:37It
48:38clearly
48:38states
48:39the
48:40cause
48:41of
48:41death
48:41was
48:43smoke
48:44inhalation.
48:45Well,
48:46that's
48:46not
48:47right.
48:48Megan,
48:49the
48:49pathologist
48:49found
48:50smoke
48:51in
48:51Ian's
48:51lungs.
48:53It
48:54could
48:54have
48:54only
48:54got
48:55there
48:55if
48:55he
48:56was
48:56still
48:56breathing
48:56when
48:57you
48:57started
48:57the
48:58fire.
48:58They've
48:58got
48:58it
48:58wrong.
49:00I
49:00was
49:00there
49:01he
49:01stopped
49:02breathing.
49:03It
49:03is
49:03simply
49:03physically
49:04impossible.
49:06It
49:07can't
49:07be.
49:11It
49:11can't
49:12be.
49:14I
49:15thought
49:15it
49:16was
49:16a
49:16mistake.
49:19Megan,
49:20I'm
49:20so
49:20sorry,
49:20but
49:20it
49:20wasn't
49:21a
49:21mistake.
49:22No.
49:24Ian
49:25didn't
49:25die
49:26as
49:27a
49:27result
49:27of
49:27the
49:28seizure.
49:28No.
49:29It
49:29may
49:29have
49:29looked
49:30like
49:31he'd
49:31stopped
49:31breathing.
49:32In
49:32fact,
49:33he could
49:34have
49:34slipped
49:34into
49:35a
49:35coma
49:35and
49:36you
49:36couldn't
49:36tell
49:36the
49:37difference.
49:37But I'm
49:38afraid
49:38the
49:38fact
49:39is
49:39Ian
49:39was
49:40still
49:40alive
49:41when
49:41you
49:42started
49:42the
49:42fire.
49:43I
49:43no.
49:49No.
49:52I
49:52would
49:54never
49:55have
49:55done
49:55that.
49:56I
49:58would
49:58never
49:59have
49:59left
49:59him
50:00to
50:00oh
50:02my
50:03god
50:03no.
50:06Not
50:07my
50:07little
50:07boy.
50:11I
50:11wouldn't
50:12have
50:12not
50:17my
50:17Ian.
50:20No.
50:20page
50:34to be
50:34struck off.
50:36To put her up there without explaining the post-mortem results, that is unforgivable.
50:41I
50:42take it that we all believe she was telling the truth.
50:48Then
50:49now what?
50:50Well, Judge Hall's
50:51called us in.
50:54I presume she'll want to discharge the jury,
50:57start again.
50:58With
50:58what charge?
51:01It'll still be manslaughter.
51:05She
51:06started the fire that ultimately killed her son.
51:09And
51:10she
51:11withheld an injection
51:12that could have
51:12prevented him from going into a coma
51:14in the first place.
51:20Mercy
51:21killing is still killing.
51:24And it's still illegal.
51:28So
51:28Megan
51:29Parnell has to spend the next six months in limbo,
51:32then go through this all over again,
51:34because her lawyer let her down.
51:36But
51:36we can hardly continue the current.
51:39trial
51:39even if the judge in defense
51:42agreed that Megan
51:43could appeal any conviction
51:45on the grounds that she was wrongly advised.
51:50Which means
51:52her barrister
51:55would be accused of negligence.
51:58So
51:58with decent
51:59representation,
52:00she could be out within six months.
52:03we take defense
52:07out of Peck's hands.
52:14I don't understand.
52:16You want to just carry on?
52:18having weighed up the options,
52:21the prosecution would still be prepared
52:24to accept a plea to manslaughter.
52:26I'm sure you realize the implications of continuing.
52:29it would spare Megan
52:33the trauma of a second trial.
52:34And whatever
52:37sentence
52:38you choose to pass
52:39could take into account
52:42the circumstances
52:43surrounding Ian's death.
52:44hmm, that's certainly true.
52:53all right.
52:54I am prepared to continue.
52:55I am prepared to continue.
52:57provided
52:59we all understand each other.
53:00Okay, great.
53:04So what do we do now?
53:06Megan Parnell, you have pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter.
53:10and admitted to causing the death of your son, Ian Parnell, in a fire at your home.
53:35The seriousness of this crime
53:38leaves me no option
53:40but to impose a custodial sentence.
53:46However,
53:48given your previous good character
53:51and your sadly mistaken belief
53:54that your son was already dead
53:57when you started the fire,
53:59the court wishes to show a degree of leniency.
54:05I hereby sentence you to three years in prison
54:10with the recommendation
54:12that you be fully psychologically assessed
54:16prior to the commencement of the sentence.
54:22You may take the prisoner down.
54:24going in,
54:30you wait,
54:31put on.
54:32Where are we?
54:33Two hours with the secret
54:35율 or whatever,
54:36say,
54:38we vary
54:40or
54:44are going under enrichã‚Š
54:45the secret
54:46trips
54:48to you
54:49and