New Tricks s05e01 Episode Script

Spare Parts

Say hello to the wife, Jack.
Charles Preston.
This is Detective Superintendent Pullman.
Gerry Standing, Brian Lane.
How do.
Well, it's not often Mr Hanson gets his day in court, so on behalf of the great British public, thank you very much.
We've got a good case, haven't we? I mean the evidence is overwhelming.
Ask me again in a fortnight.
I'm asking you now.
Mr Halford, 12 months ago Ricky Hanson tried to kill you, as you lay defenceless in a hospital bed.
So I appreciate your desire to see justice done, but I'm a barrister, not a bookmaker.
I don't think Jack wanted odds, just reassurance.
Hanson is represented by Mr Ian Figgis.
He's shrewd, thorough and highly competent.
What's the good news? That Hanson is not only a career criminal, but also an arrogant and helpless liar.
You missed out murderer.
The three of you will be called sometime over the next few days to give evidence, but I'd like to keep you in reserve, Mr Standing, if that's all right? Always the bridesmaid.
And one final thing, in your statements, you refer to the crash at the Black Boy pub, Hanson's regular haunt, that led to you being hospitalised, but not what you were doing there exactly.
They thought I was going to kill Hanson.
I didn't quite catch that.
As he was going to be with Ricky Hanson, we were concerned for Jack's safety.
Supposed to be good, isn't he? I'll tell you that in a fortnight.
So what we do? What do we do, if they ask about the crash? We keep calm for Jack's sake.
We agree on our story and stick to it.
Jack? Jack Halford? Sam Tallis! It's a long time since you found yourself in this madhouse.
Is it getting to you? Oh, just listening to a barrister teaching me how to suck eggs.
That wouldn't be the Crown versus Ricky Hanson, would it? Charles Preston.
Charlie's not your darling? Not at the moment, no.
You know him? I should do, I've been his clerk for 20 years.
So, how are you, Samson? All the better for seeing you.
I'd be right in thinking this chance meeting is nothing of the kind? Five years ago, a woman came to me looking for representation.
She'd heard I was fair-minded and unlikely to judge people by the dint of their profession.
She was what we used to call a lady of the night.
They call themselves escorts now.
We still call them toms.
Let him tell his story.
Said escort, Her name's Carrie Soper, by the way, told me a man called Ralph Wheeler had left her ã3 million.
Ralph's brother contested the will.
On what grounds? Two weeks after he changed it in Carrie's favour, Ralph was murdered.
Aah.
Ralph's brother was convinced Carrie only met him three months earlier.
She told me she'd known Ralph for four years, that she was very fond of him.
I thought she was straight and so did the lawyer I set her up with.
And his Lordship awarded her the money.
As you can imagine, Carrie was very grateful and she showed her generosity in various ways, and we became good friends.
And before you ask, yes she made an old man very happy Until? Last week, when she made a happy man very old.
She took me to lunch at The Armature and over brandy, told me she'd met Ralph in that very restaurant.
That would have been nine years ago, only The Armature wasn't a restaurant nine years ago.
It was a theatrical costumier's.
So, now you're wondering if the brother was right? And with my help, she's banked a cool 3,000,000.
Ralph Wheeler, murdered in his own hallway, June 16th, five years ago.
Shotgun blast to the face.
The killer was never caught.
Row with the neighbours? I think not.
Whoever it was was very tidy.
No cartridge case, no fingerprints, footprints, DNA, nothing.
Professional hit.
What about the man himself? Gentle, shy, kept himself to himself.
Although we did receive a letter from vice in 1987 suggesting that he might like to give up curb-crawling.
So chances are he was a punter which would account for him knowing Carrie Sopher? There is another reason why they might have known each other.
Ralph set up a charity called Restore Now.
It was to help victims of violent crime, girls on the game mostly.
He didn't leave all his money to Carrie.
He left 4,000,000 to Restore Now.
Run by? His brother.
Rock-solid alibi, not a suspect.
Name's Piers.
I still like Carrie for this one.
Why didn't the original murder team? They did.
But her alibi was good and she came across as being genuinely upset.
OK, go ahead.
So this is what money buys you in W10.
Notting Hill, no thanks.
It's all kippers and curtains.
Eh? Fur coat and no knickers.
See what I mean? Sorry love, I don't do party bookings any more.
Police.
You can say please all you like - still no.
Inside, Carrie! In your dreams.
I was just on my way out.
Detective Superintendent Pullman.
We're here to talk to you about Ralph Wheeler.
You can't have him, he's dead.
Very.
Any idea why? There you got me.
In which case, let me ask you: How long did you know Mr Wheeler? Was it four years or three months? Ah.
How is Sam? He's as anxious to find Ralphs killer as we are, miss Sophie.
And he's very unhappy that you lied to him.
And we're unhappy that you lied to the original murder team.
So what exactly was your relationship with Ralph? We were extremely good friends.
Really? Afther three months? You make friends quickly.
You are old-style, aren't you? Old bill? She's harder, newer.
Hard-assed.
Always out to prove she got bigger balls than any of you Am I right? Look lovely, you can either talk to me here, or the neighbours can watch you drive that nice fur coat into the back of a big white van with all its lights going.
Got a problem with working girls? You couldn't be more wrong.
Maybe not when they're victims or sad and helpless, but when they've done right for themselves that's something else, isn't it? Ralph's will was hardly just "all right".
I didn't know there was a will until your lot told me and that moment I got my one chance to get out.
Out from under the hundreds of fat, sweaty blokes it takes to make a living.
And that's all he was to you? A fat sweaty punter who gave you a way out? No.
I told you, I liked Ralph.
He was wonderful to me.
In that last three months, we were hardly apart.
But if I'd told the murder squad that, would they have believed me? Anyway, like I said I didn't know about the money.
OK, but why leave it all to you? Don't get me wrong, your qualities are ample and clear, but three million pounds worth? Listen, I didn't go looking for Ralph.
He found me, he sought me out.
A couple of months after the accident.
What accident? When Naomi died - his daughter.
He was driving her home one night, nodded off - bang, big pile-up.
This is her.
Naomi Wheeler.
What can you see? Look me in the eyes.
You're nothing like her.
In one particular, we're identical.
These were hers.
Not the whole eyeball, just the corneas.
So you see, I've a hell of a lot to thank the Wheelers for, and Ralph deserved a lot better.
You're saying to me that that's how you met Ralph Wheeler? You received his daughters corneas and he came looking for you? He turned up one day, talking about his charity.
I invited him in.
Next thing he's talking ten to the dozen about his darling daughter three months later he leaves me three million quid.
She wants us to believe that three months after Naomi Wheeler died, her dad pops round to get close to his daughter's eyeballs, falls for the tart with a heart and leaves her a fortune.
If he was grief-stricken, why not? There is mention of a crash in the file.
Yeah, but no link to Ralph's murder.
Why would there be? It was only himself to blame.
Well, I still want to check out her story.
In the meantime, you two can go and see Piers.
Unbelievable! Ralph spends half his life helping victims of crime and ends up leaving a fortune to a woman they'll have to bury in a Y-shaped coffin.
Do you mean Carrie Soper? Prostitutes aren't criminals, Mr Wheeler.
No? So, what do you call a woman who swindles three million quid from charity? The will still saw ã4 million come to Restore Now.
It must be in pretty healthy shape.
No thanks to Ralph.
And now you run Restore Now, right? I always did.
Ralph preferred swanning around being an angel of mercy.
And how does that work, then? You get a salary or something? Correct.
And who decides how much you're paid? It wouldn't be you by any chance? My salary is commensurate with the rates paid to CEOs of other similar-sized organizations.
Now, unless you are the victims of recent violence Were you close to Ralph? He was my brother.
And how was he in the months before he died? You know about Naomi, do you? Well, after she died, Ralph shut himself away, became very hard to get hold of.
Made things very difficult here, especially for me.
And then he died.
Ralph was an idealist.
He liked to think everybody had good in them.
I know better.
Sorry to keep you.
Mr Capshaw, Detective Superintendent Pullman.
This is Jack Halford, UCOS.
How do you do? Gather you're reexamining the death of Ralph Wheeler.
Terrible Especially in the light of what happened to his daughter.
Thank you.
Naomi died in your clinic, is that right? Yes, I operated on her the night of her accident at Acton General, but Naomi's chances were pretty slim from the start.
When she remained comatose, her father wanted her taken somewhere more Expensive? Comfortable.
You also arranged for the cornea transplant.
When Ralph agreed to turn off her life support, I persuaded him it would be a worthwhile thing to do.
Several of her organs were still in very good condition.
Several? Heart, liver, one of her kidneys.
They were all removed and placed on transplant registers.
I have an arrangement with the NHS that allows me to carry out procedures at my clinic.
How many people received Naomi's organs? Four.
Yes, four I think.
What if I wanted to obtain those names? Could I do that? No, I'm afraid not.
A kind of medical provenance goes with each organ, but when they're assigned, the data's destroyed.
So how did Naomi's father track down one of the recipients? I don't know.
It's not that hard to work out, Jack.
Ralph Wheeler was a very rich man.
Are you suggesting that I? Could we have those names, please? Three women and a man.
Corneas, heart, liver, kidney.
Sounds like a recipe from the river cottage.
Brian Lane, UCOS.
What I don't get is, what's the big deal with the corneas? I would have found the person who had the heart.
Only cos you ain't got one.
Maybe Ralph found the one with the heart.
How do we know he didn't track 'em all down? And he upset one of them and they blew his face away? Why would you murder somebody who's daughters spare parts saved your life? Unless we track him down, we won't know, will we? So we start tomorrow.
Not me.
I'm in court.
Oh, right.
You alright, mate? Yeah, fine.
Looking forward to it.
Battle of wills with the defense.
Just like old times.
I was always good in court, wasn't I, Jack? Just remember to .
.
keep your wits about you.
Don't you worry.
I'm ready for them.
I've got a little plan.
Mr Lane, I put it to you that you were in that ward with one intention and one intention only: to murder my client! And did you? Of course I didn't, come on.
Are you sure? What? What are you talking about? I thought you wanted me to be more biting and incisive.
No no no no, you can't just switch in and out of character like that.
If you're gonna fall for a simple trick like that No, stop stop stop! Start again Do we have to? Yes, of course! It's vital that we do some sort of role-play.
Chance'd be a fine thing.
What? Look.
All you have to do is stand up and tell the truth.
And wear a suit.
I am not wearing a suit! It's important to make a good impression.
I have to be comfortable! If I wear a suit I shan't be able to concentrate.
Of course you will! You've got a memory like an elephant.
You've given evidence lots of times.
Not sober, though.
No.
But just think how proud we'll all be of you tomorrow, when you do.
Trussed up like a ruddy turkey.
I shan't be able to think, let alone bear witness! Don't be silly.
It's like riding a bike.
And there'll be none of that tomorrow, either.
I am not wearing a bloody suit.
Yes you are, and no swearing! He is very rarely late.
Then this is one of those rare occasions.
Brian, Brian! Is it me, or has he got shoes on? I presume the coat does unbutton? Take it off.
It's my lucky coat.
Take it off! Oh, bloody hell! Yeah, I know.
I look a right pillock! You look magnificent.
Esther told you to say that.
Who'd have thought it, eh? I'll see you inside, Mr Lane.
You all right? Yeah, of course.
I'll see you later.
And then what did you do? I picked up an oxygen cylinder and struck the defendant on the back of the head.
Knocking him out.
Yes, knocking him out and saving Jack Halford's life.
Thank you, Mr Lane.
No further questions.
Mr Lane.
Here's a radical thought.
What if my client went to visit Mr Halford on the night in question, for some reason other than to murder him? I can't think of one.
No? What if Mr Hanson had gone to make peace with Jack Halford? Jack would never entertain it.
I see.
You're saying Jack Halford doesn't want reconciliation.
Does that explain why my client met with violence at the hospital? He was the one dishing out the violence.
Mr Lane.
Am I right in thinking that you are a recovering alcoholic? Objection! This is outrageous! Sustained.
Mr Figgis, I shan't warn you again.
Begging your pardon, Your Honour.
But I assure you that certain aspects of the witness's character have a vital bearing on the case.
I shall be the judge of that.
Mr Lane, you received certain medication during your time in hospital for injuries from a car accident? Yes.
Am I right in thinking that this necessitated the cessation of certain other medication you were on at the time? Temporarily.
What was or is the nature of the medication you were forced to stop taking? Objection! Overruled - for now.
There are several drugs.
They control hypertension, mood swings, stress.
Various chemical imbalances.
Imbalances? Where? Imbalances where, Mr Lane? Well, in the brain.
So, on the night in question, it is possible that you were not, how shall I put it, yourself? That's absolute rubbish.
You were on crutches, without the sight of one eye, and had not taken your drugs whose express purpose is to maintain your psychological equilibrium for over three days.
Objection! Overruled.
Mr Lane, am I right in saying, you retired as a Metropolitan police officer on the grounds of ill health? That was six years ago.
Six years, during which, you have to take a series of drugs to maintain your physical and mental wellbeing, every single day.
Have you ever stopped taking your drugs at any time during that period? Once or twice.
And what was the result? What was the result, Mr Lane? I am not mad! It's a chemical imbalance.
He's the madman.
He's the nutter who was trying to kill us.
Look at him! He's a bloody maniac! No further questions, Your Honour.
Tara Pride, 18 months for receiving and I don't mean a new heart.
Tara, got a little present for you.
Well, you can come again! Uh, uh, uh.
No gain without pain.
Ralph Wheeler.
Who? You recognise him, then.
Oh, come on sweetheart.
Yeah, I knew him.
The weirdo.
Come in the shop, pretending he wanted to buy antiques.
We start chatting and stuff, then he lets on how my heart used to be his daughter's, and how disappointed he was to hear that it had gone to an ex-con! That offended you, did it? But then he says maybe it's a good thing because now I've been given the driving force that used to be Naomi Wheeler.
And if I played my cards right, I'd soon be just like her.
Bright, elegant, beautiful.
What did you say? I said, "Listen, the last thing I need is another dad.
The one I had was a right bastard.
So, if you're not buying, piss off and don't come back.
" Do you remember where you were, the day he was murdered? It was five years ago! Try, Tara.
Try really hard.
June 16th, 2003.
It was a Monday.
Well, I would have been in my shop, flogging antiques.
Flogging or fencing? That's where I was.
I'm sorry, um I wonder if you could help.
I'm looking for a Kate Iley.
You're about five years and 12,000 miles too late.
I'm John Iley, Kate's husband.
I built this place up for her.
And now you're letting it fall down again.
Why? Kate went for dialysis twice a week, until one of the technicians took a fancy to her.
Then it was three times.
Then four.
When the new kidney was up and running, so were they.
You ever see this man? The name is Ralph Wheeler.
Oh, yeah.
Kidney donor's father.
He was here nonstop in the weeks following the transplant.
Couldn't get rid of him.
Really? Felt sorry for him at first.
But then he starts saying stuff like, "Isn't it odd, Kate had taken a small piece of his daughter, but somehow became more like her every day?" How did she take it? Kate? Couldn't give a toss.
Her and Marco had bigger plans.
Orchard in New Zealand.
In the end, I had to give Wheeler a slap.
Told him not to come back.
A slap? Oh, just a punch on the nose.
He got the message.
Purdy.
Isn't she lovely? Always wanted one.
Any idea where you were on June 16th, Yes, as it happens.
Somewhere in the Caribbean.
Three-week cruise on the Viking Princess.
I just spend money on me now.
Michael Savage? Detective Superintendent Pullman.
Do you know this man? Ralph pals up to Carrie Soper, Tara Pride and Kate Iley, but not Michael Savage.
He seeks out the three female recipients but not the man.
Why? Because she was a woman.
He wants his daughter back, even if it's only by proxy.
Really? Sure ha wasn't just a curb-crawler indulging in some bizarre sex fantasy? You've got to admit, it is a bit weird.
Ralph Wheeler loses the light of his life.
Suddenly he's alone, desperate, guilt-ridden.
He was clutching at straws.
Well, someone killed him and that three million quid makes Carrie Soper favourite.
I don't think so.
The only thing I got from Carrie was that she cared about Ralph.
And I think it was reciprocal.
And what about the pile-up? What if Ralph wasn't the only angry relative? There were only two other cars involved and no-one else died.
Took Mary two years to die.
And while we're talking anger and grief what about the boyfriend? Naomi's supposed to be a bright, good-looking girl, heiress to a fortune.
There must be a boyfriend.
Or am I just being old-fashioned? Now that is a very good point.
How'd it go? Yeah.
Good.
Fine.
Good.
Preston's changed his mind, says can you be there tomorrow after lunch? Yeah, great.
So, where are we? I thought I could cope.
He as much as said so, the barrister.
Not that I needed telling.
I let Jack down.
I failed, and he knows it.
You told the truth.
It's not enough.
The system doesn't revolve the truth.
I failed.
Were you sober? Of course I was.
Then you didn't fail.
Not at all.
Yesterday in the witness box, Hanson's brief.
He just ended up chucking wood at me.
Making out I was not all there.
They're trying to discredit us, Jack.
UCOS.
Well, that's good! It means they've got nothing else.
Means they're desperate.
Look, I can't keep interrupting what is a very busy schedule.
Have you ever given evidence in a murder trial, mate? Certainly not.
Well, I just have.
So, pack it in and answer the questions! I must apologise for my colleague, Mr Capshaw.
He's very excitable.
Now you can tell us, the crash that killed Naomi, did you tend to any of the other victims? Uh, yes.
There was only one.
A name would help.
Um Davis.
Bella Davis.
Wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
Was she badly injured? Very.
Although she hung on for several months.
Survived by her son Steven.
She died.
She was out of my care by then.
I bet she was.
Hello.
Someone's on the move.
Oh, moonlight flit? Yeah, all the way down the street.
We're moving to better premises.
Better car.
Better secretary Look, I'm very busy.
Is there something specific you wanted to know? Do you know if your niece had a boyfriend, Mr Wheeler? Um, yes.
Richard Manning.
He was an academic.
Went off to the States soon after the crash.
Did he? He was in the clinic every day while Naomi was alive, but when they turned off the life support He's back in London now.
Came back last year.
Thank you.
Oh, uh, does all this mean there's a chance the money might? Goodbye, Mr Wheeler.
Hello, stranger.
Em! What you doing here? Oh, giving evidence in Court Five.
Hatton Garden raid.
Oh, right.
I got a note from our brief saying you were doing the same.
Your brief? Yeah, he works in the same chambers as a Mr Figgis.
Ah! Said how did I fancy seeing my old man in action? Gerald Standing.
Okay.
Watch and learn.
Mr Standing, you've just given the court a very eloquent account of events leading up to my client's arrest.
Thank you.
.
.
which matches uncannily with those related by Brian Lane.
It's very easy to remember the truth.
In which case, can you tell the court how many children you have? Four.
Are you sure? Yes, I know how many kids I've got.
Paula, Amelia and Caitlin.
And Emily.
Four.
Four daughters.
Your service record says three.
You can ask me till you're blue in the face, I'll still have four daughters.
Your Honor, can I ask the relevance of this line of questioning? Indeed.
Mr Figgis? If you'll bear with me a little your Honor, I hope to make it plain.
Yeah, well, but hurry up.
Mr Standing, how did you discover that you had a fourth daughter? She discovered me.
Her mother had kept her existence a secret from me.
She's the result of a relationship we'd had years previously.
I see, but you proved to your own satisfaction that Emily was your biological daughter? Questions of paternity are normally a case for the family court, not a criminal one What I mean is how did you prove your paternity? Is it possible that you utilised the resources of UCOS in some way? Applying DNA testing to a sample taken from your daughter? Objection! This is not only irrelevant, but it has no basis in fact.
Your Honour, I'm simply trying to establish the ethical standards that prevail within UCOS.
The witness has only to answer the question 'yes' or 'no'.
I would remind your in his own words that he said it is very easy to remember the truth.
Overruled.
The witness will answer the question.
Yes.
And what was the result? Is Emily your biological daughter? Or are you restrained from answering truthfully by her presence here? Yes.
She is my biological daughter.
Very well, Mr Standing.
Em! Em! Emily, stop! You lied.
What?! I saw you.
You couldn't say it without hesitating.
You lied.
Richard Manning? Hello.
Detective Superintendent Pullman, UCOS.
We're re-examining the Ralph Wheeler murder.
Why? Because that's my job.
Well, I'm sorry.
I wasn't in the country at the time.
No, you were at Harvard University, teaching.
But it is only an 18-hour round trip.
Are you saying I'm a suspect? Mr Manning, this will take a lot less time if you start answering questions, instead of asking them.
Sorry, it's a habit.
And my job.
OK.
The people we're looking for fall into two camps.
Those who might have lost a loved one in the crash and blamed Mr Wheeler for it.
I see.
And the second camp? Someone who was close to a recipient of Naomi's organs.
The truth is that Naomi and I were breaking up at the time.
I was told you were at her bedside every day until she died.
With Ralph.
He was a decent man who needed someone.
But it wasn't the main reason I stayed.
What was? The morning after the crash, I heard Naomi's surgeon Capshaw on his mobile phone.
He didn't know I was there.
He said - and I remember it almost verbatim - "I've got a perfect match.
The girl's young and healthy.
Her heart will be available within the week.
" He was promising someone Naomi's heart? Did you tell her father? No.
I persuaded him to put Naomi on the full donor list.
So she went into the system proper.
All her organs were on official registers.
That way, Capshaw couldn't pick and choose.
They had to go to recipients according to need and their place on the list.
You should've gone to the police.
With what? A phone call no-one else heard? How could I possibly prove anything against Capshaw? I did tell Ralph in the end.
But it wasn't till about five months later.
I rang him from the States andI don't know if he did anything about it.
Someone shot him before he got a chance.
GBH, armed robbery, extortion.
I wonder just how well Bella Davis knew her son? Permission to come aboard, Mr Davis! Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad.
Step aboard, gentlemen.
It's one thing for us to sympathise, knowing you lost your mum in a car crash.
It's another when we know you've done time.
I appreciate that.
But you must also appreciate that the death of a loved one, you know, can be a life-changing event.
Steve, Ralph Wheeler was shot.
Your record's full of guns.
Look, I am a reformed character.
That why you've got 'hate' tattooed all over your knuckles? Yeah and 'love' on the other.
You don't understand, gentlemen.
You see, quite early on I realised Mum Well, she wasn't actually dead.
She was just in the next room.
Or, in my case, the next boat.
You mean you bought two of them? All right, so the money did come in handy.
What money? Go on, Steve.
Tell us more about your life-changing event.
Compensation, from my mum's insurance.
Hundred grand.
That's the going rate for a mother these days.
Nice boat.
Yes, very tidy.
Oh, yeah, it's got all the gear.
I had it all kitted out and refitted.
It's the dog's June 16th, 2003.
Where were you? I don't know offhand.
I can find out, though.
You do that.
You can buy a lot of boat for a hundred grand, but not that much.
Thank you for seeing us at such short notice, Mr Blake.
Not at all.
An informal chat, my secretary said? Stephen Davis.
You represented him in an insurance claim.
Ah, yes.
Largely unsuccessfully, I'm afraid.
Unsuccessfully? I only agreed to take him on as a favour to a friend, Julian Capshaw.
Dr Capshaw? He was being badgered by Davis.
I think Julian found him rather intimidating.
Why, didn't he get any money? Only the write-off value of his car.
But not for his mother.
She wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
I did warn him no insurer would accept liability in that situation.
And how did he react to the decision? I take it you've met him.
He was not happy.
Hm.
I wasn't sorry to end our association.
The Veiled Lady.
Valued at 350 grand by Lloyds six years ago, when it was owned by Tall Tree Investments.
It was then registered in Davis's name August 2003, just two months after Ralph was murdered.
There's any number of ways he could have got the money.
His mother's just died, he's fighting an insurance claim.
And meanwhile he squeezes in another job that bags him over 300 grand? Yeah, I see what you mean.
We know he lied about the insurance money.
There's somebody else involved.
What about Manning, Naomi's boyfriend? Maybe he hired Davis? It's much more likely to be Capshaw.
Especially if Ralph confronted him.
Jack? Gerry's phone's still off.
It's a long time if he's giving evidence.
He's in the pub.
Where's Emily now? Dunno.
She's not answering her phone.
Not to me, anyway.
Cor, that Figgis is a piece of work! He's got to be bent.
How else would he know that stuff? Don't worry.
Juries aren't stupid.
Neither's the judge.
And they've still got to hear you, Jack.
You and the Governor.
Yeah, you two tomorrow morning.
Brilliant! Case closed.
Mr Strickland! Is it true? I'm afraid it is.
Elvis really is dead.
Don't act a fool with me.
Is it true, what Hanson's brief said about you and your daughters DNA test? I'm afraid Sir I'm not at liberty to discuss evidence given under oath, during an ongoing trial.
Sorry.
This is no joke.
Not this time.
Not a drinker, then.
Shit! So what do we do? What can we do? carry on working we've got a Detective Superintendent.
You say that, three days before the alleged assault at the hospital, you and your colleagues Brian Lane and Gerald Standing drove to the Black Boy public house in Eltham because you were concerned for Mr Halford's safety? Why? Because he'd gone there to see the accused.
Why would he do that? To talk to him.
What about? A few days before, Ricky Hanson had told Jack Halford that he'd killed Jack's wife.
And where did this alleged conversation take place? In the Black Boy pub.
What could he possibly have wanted to talk about? Objection.
Your Honor, it is not Mr Halford who is on trial.
Mr Figgis, get to the point.
Officer, when you crashed into Jack Halford's car in the car park of the Black Boy pub, what speed were you travelling at approximately? I don't know, I have no recollection of the actual crash.
Your car was written off.
Indeed, it ended up some 20 yards from the point of impact embedded in an advertising hoarding.
Beggars belief that you could have been doing anything less than 40mph.
Mr Hanson was in the car park at the same time, was he not? Apparently.
You've passed an advanced motoring course and are a designated police driver, am I right? Yes.
Explain to me why you were driving in such a dangerous manner in a car park containing your colleagues and close personal friend Jack Halford and my client? As I say, I don't recall.
I put it to you that, far from being concerned for your friend, you were in fact, fearful of Jack Halford's intentions towards my client, that you arrived at the very moment that Jack Halford was intending to run down my client, that the collision was no accident, but a deliberate act on your part to ram Mr Halford's car in order to prevent the murder of my client.
That's not true, no.
Really, Officer Pullman? How can you possibly know? You have no memory of the incident.
Because I know Jack Halford.
Yes, I'm sure you do.
No further questions.
Mr Halford, you've stated how the accused attacked both you and Mr Lane on the night in question.
I'd now like to ask you about the death of your wife, Mary.
The coroner's verdict was accidental death by person or persons unknown.
"Was", yes.
You have reason to believe otherwise? Yes.
On the night of February 20th last year, in the Black Boy pub in Eltham, the accused confessed to me that he was the driver of the car that ran down my wife.
Were there any witnesses? Several.
All, unfortunately, acquaintances of the accused.
You have no proof.
No.
Just one final thing.
In the hospital ward, when the accused placed a pillow over your face, he said something to you.
Do you remember his actual words? Yes.
He said, "Jack, Jack.
Say hello to the wife.
" Thank you.
That's all, Your Honour.
In which case I think that could be an appropriate time to adjourn for lunch.
The court will rise.
And you are? James Blake.
I'm Julian's solicitor.
After my last experience, I thought it wise to protect myself.
Then I should start by saying, Mr Capshaw, that since that last meeting, it's been reported to us that you might be involved in illegal transplant surgery.
What? Suggested by who? To be more specific, we believe that five years ago, you planned to remove Naomi Wheeler's heart and give it to a private patient.
When you say "you believe", Superintendent, do you mean you don't have any proof? As Naomi lay dying in your clinic, you were overheard having a phone conversation in which you offered her heart to the person at the other end of the line.
Who were you calling? I make countless phone calls.
But I've never offered or been asked to supply illegally harvested organs.
Am I to understand your accusation is on the basis of a one-sided conversation reported to a third party? We both know that no phone company keeps its records for more than a couple of years, let alone five.
I'm sorry, but under the circumstances, unless you intend to charge Mr Capshaw, I think the sensible thing would be to terminate this chat.
In that case, I'm sorry we couldn't be more helpful.
You also told me that it was your idea Naomi's organs be donated.
We now know that to be a lie.
I have nothing further to add.
Well, that went well.
Mr Halford, may I ask how many times you arrested my client during your time as a detective? Five.
And how many times did you secure a conviction? None.
Not a very good success rate.
He had very good lawyers.
Do you resent this failure to secure a conviction against my client? It's an occupational hazard.
Not for you, Mr Halford.
Your record is second to none.
Isn't the truth of the matter, the death of your wife left you exceedingly bitter and that that bitterness found a scapegoat in my client? No.
You claim that my client confessed to killing your wife.
Yes.
I take it you have no evidence to support this claim, or you'd have pursued the matter officially.
I'm still hopeful.
I believe you are, Mr Halford.
Because isn't your desire to see my client punished an obsession rather than a public duty? Objection! Overruled.
Carry on, Mr Halford.
No, it's simply a wish to see justice done.
Mr Halford, I'm going to ask you a question that I asked another of your colleagues.
I'd appreciate a candid and honest answer.
Have you ever sought or received any form of psychiatric treatment? No.
Can you tell the court how long it is since your wife died? Seven years.
Your wife was cremated, am I right, Mr Halford? Yes.
And where did you scatter her ashes? I didn't.
So where are they kept now? They're buried in an urn in my garden.
A plaque adorns the spot, does it not? It does.
You often light candles around the plaque - on most nights, in fact? Most nights, yes.
You sit before it, on most nights, do you not? Drinking.
Objection! I am almost finished, Your Honour.
Go on.
Drinking and talking.
Who do you talk to, Mr Halford? To my wife.
To your dead wife, Mary.
You talk to her openly and candidly, as though she were alive.
Indeed, in a real sense, that her living spirit inhabits that place.
Yes.
She's dead, Mr Halford.
She's dead.
OK, so there's a fair chance Steven Davis shot Wheeler, but who put him up to it? Any joy, Brian? Davis said the boat was newly done up.
There was the name of a Yeah, Westreach Limited.
Run by a Bob Shelford.
He'll know the boat's history, if anyone will.
Mr Shelford? That's me.
Detective Superintendent Pullman.
Tell us about the Veiled Lady, the boat.
You worked on her, 2003.
Yeah, nice boat, and Karen knew how to look after it and all.
Not like that tattooed tosser.
Karen who? Palmer.
Karen Palmer.
What a shame.
Tragic, dying so young.
Hold on.
Are you saying this Karen Palmer owned the boat and now she's dead? Her heart.
Looks, brains, body crap heart.
Don't make sense, does it? I thought Tall Tree Investments owned the boat.
Nah! That's just for avoiding tax and stuff, innit? Allegedly.
No, it was Karen's boat.
Her pride and joy.
God knows how Davis got hold of it.
I hope you realise I've had to cancel all my designated NHS surgery today because of this.
Why don't you just shut up and give your arse a rest? I'm sorry, that's really not on.
Stephen Davis.
Tell us about him.
I've already told you.
His mother was in the crash and later died.
He was very upset about it.
And who was he more upset with? Ralph Wheeler or you? Me? For not saving his mum.
Absolutely not.
So you sent him to your solicitor? Well, I thought he could try to see if he could get compensation.
You mean, you tried to palm him off on your friend? That's definitely not what happened.
You sent him to your solicitor and friend to fight a hopeless legal case.
Not hopeless.
How successful was it? It was ill-advised and I told him so, as I told you.
But that was nothing to do with Julian.
And when the claim failed, what? You gave Stephen Davis a ã350,000 boat because you felt sorry for him? You seem confused, Mr Capshaw.
Let me explain.
The Veiled Lady is a 50-foot cabin cruiser formerly owned by Tall Tree Investments - based, albeit tenuously, in Grand Cayman.
In reality, the boat was owned by a Miss Karen Palmer.
When she died, under the terms of her will, it passed to her long-standing partner, James Blake.
When did she die, Mr Blake? The death certificate said July 2nd, 2003.
You should remember, Mr Capshaw.
You signed it, after all.
You also put down the cause of death.
What did she die of, Doctor? Of a terminal heart condition.
Stephen Davis is a very dangerous criminal with a string of convictions involving guns.
Now, in the light of this, would you care to tell us who you were offering Naomi Wheeler's heart to that night on the phone? James Blake.
He's a lifelong friend.
I promised to do what I could to help his .
.
to help Karen.
Ralph Wheeler and Richard Manning made that unworkable.
But I'd just like to add, for the record, I had absolutely no knowledge of any plot to kill Mr Wheeler.
I doubt if any of you understand what it's like to lose a soul mate, let alone someone gifted, beautiful, caring.
She loved life.
Had a brilliant legal mind.
Dedicated her life to others.
And she had to lose out on a new heart, a renewed life, for what? For the sake of a 50-year-old worthless criminal? You explain that to me.
So you thought that gave you the right to exact revenge, huh? Because your girlfriend couldn't get a spare part? People are not the same.
One life is not equal to another.
Life is inherently unfair.
Excuse me.
Where's the Veiled Lady gone? Ahoy there! Going somewhere, Mr Davis? Bollocks.
So he looks up at me and I say "Going down"? I just wanted to say thank you.
To all of you.
Thanks.
It was Jack's idea.
He thought about the crash.
Just a good guess.
I don't think so.
Know-how, I'd call it.
Old-fashioned? Nothing old-fashioned about class.
Quite a result.
Thank you, sir.
Let's hope you have another one in court.
Hanson's about to give evidence.
I've got to go.
I'll see you later.
Good luck.
Cheers.
What did Jack Halford say to you in the bar of the Black Boy public house that night? He accused me of killing his wife.
Running her down in a car.
And what did you say? I told him he was mad.
That I had no idea what he was talking about and that he had no right coming into my local, telling lies about me.
Then what? He left.
Two nights later, you were in the same pub.
What happened? I was having a pint.
One pint.
With some mates, and then I left to go home.
I walked out into the car park and was heading towards my car when I heard another car gunning its engine.
I turned round and see this car, headlights on, racing straight towards me.
What did you do? Nothing.
I couldn't move, I was frozen.
Next thing I know, this other car comes flying into the car park and slams straight into the side of the first one, taking it right out.
Then what? The door of the car that tried to mow me down swings open and the driver falls out.
And who was the driver? Him.
Jack Halford, over there.
Let the record show that the defendant has identified former Chief Superintendent John Halford of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad.
Two nights later, you decided to visit Mr Halford at hospital, right? Yes.
Why? I wanted to ask him who said I'd killed his wife.
And to tell him again it weren't true.
He claimed you attacked him.
No.
He claims that you tried to suffocate him with a pillow after saying the words, "Jack, Jack.
Say hello to the wife.
" I never touched no pillow.
When I got in there he was half-asleep, so I sat down on the edge of the bed and pushed him with my hand to wake him up.
He woke up and I said, "Jack, Jack.
Who says I totalled your wife?" "Totalled?" Yeah.
Knocked off.
Murdered.
What did he say? I don't know.
I got smacked from behind.
Next thing I remember is waking up under arrest with a whacking great lump on my head.
Let me get this straight.
You didn't go there with the intention of killing Jack Halford? No! No way.
Not at all.
Why not? What? Why not try to kill him? Hadn't he tried to kill you? Objection.
Sustained.
Do you believe that Jack Halford deliberately tried to run you down? I don't know.
I only know, if it hadn't been for the other car hitting him, I wouldn't be here now.
Do you bear any ill will towards Mr Halford? No.
I think he's an unhappy and lonely man who's never come to terms with the death of his wife.
And I understand that.
Thank you, Mr Hanson.
No further questions.
Just a few hours and it'll be all over.
I know! It's outrageous.
He's a silver-tongued bastard, but don't you worry, he's not fooling anybody.
How does he sleep nights? I have no idea.
"Good luck.
We're all thinking of you.
" Well, I know who I'm thinking of.
The accused will rise.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honour.
And how do you find the defendant? Guilty or not guilty of attempted murder? Not guilty, Your Honour.
Get in, you beauty! Yes! YES! Don't.
Don't say anything.
We'll need to keep an eye on him.
Hiya.
Have you been here all night? No, I took over from Brian an hour ago.
Yeah, that's what Jack reckoned.
He's gone.
Hm, fridge is empty.
Nothing.
But he's done his paperwork, paid his bills.
Immaculate.
Like someone who You don't think he's? No.
There's stuff missing from the hall cupboard.
Wet weather gear, boots.
I don't know where he's gone.
But I do know he's coming back.
Look.
Mary.
He'd never leave her.
He'd have her moved or take her with him.
No, he's coming back.

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