Original subtitles

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.

Those were his exact words.

I thought what am I doing with someone who objectifies people to the point

where they're just numbers?

Besides which I'm an eight and a half. Ask anyone.

Or maybe an eight when I had the fro, but I'll never make that mistake again.

- What and he thinks he's a nine? - I know.

With those chicken legs.

You know, from now on I'm just going to concentrate on me.

I need to take some time out to think about what I really want.

Good for you. Okay, ciao, bella.

- See you later. - See you later babes.

Alright, hungry people, come and get it.

Three dead and one serious head injury.

Joanne Ellis, one of the customers, she's in a pretty bad way.

Right, okay.

- What's this? Age before beauty? - Something like that.

- Joy. - Take it you're here for the tour.

Kelly Scott. One of the sales assistants.

Only started yesterday.

And this one's a customer. Driving license ID's her as Linda Bowers.

Works in a cake shop nearby.

That's the owner Steven Marx. Been trading just under a year.

Who found them then?

The other sales assistant, Paul Dean. He came back after his lunch break.

And got the fright of his life.

So, what is this, some sort of glorified charity shop or what?

Vintage designer apparently. Not your average tat.

Blimey, I'll say. Look at that.

Two hundred quid.

I should flog some of me old threads.

You're looking for a masked man. May answer to the name of Zorro.

- A sword? - You've got some really deep stab wounds.

Not to mention a lot of wild slashing and gashing.

Shame the cameras are dummies, must've been quite a show.

So, we're looking for a homicidal maniac wielding a sword in a public place.

What a nightmare.

I was gone to meet a friend.

I was only gone thirty minutes, forty minutes max.

Has your-- Has your boss been having any problems with anyone lately?

Steven? Nah. I don't think so.

I mean we had this couple in this morning but...

- What couple? - Italian.

I thought they were tourists.

The bloke got me unchaining the leather jackets for him.

Steven caught the girl putting stuff in her bag. Started shouting in Italian.

And then what happened?

Steven said he was gonna call the cops and they legged it.

Okay, have you got a description for us?

Yeah...

She was a sort of a young Nancy Del Ollio.

He was a toned-down Mika.

I don't get it. Why would someone do this?

I don't know, son. I really don't.

The DI's called a press conference in half an hour asking for anyone

who was in the area to come forward.

Oh well, that's handy just a couple of thousand tourists and shoppers then.

- So how come we've got no witnesses? - Precisely.

I mean whoever it was has got to have been covered in blood

not to mention they were carrying a bloody great sword.

Matt, this city is full of people walking around with blinkers on nowadays.

Covent Garden is also full of people standing around in gold paint,

fire eating or juggling. So, he might not have stood out that much.

And he's still out there somewhere.

- Which is the really scary part. - Devlin.

Ange, you're a star.

Gianni Patrone and Lia Rossi.

Picked up outside Selfridges with around six grand's worth of designer clothing.

- And we're sure these are the same two? - Your witness ID'd them.

Apparently, Miss Rossi's dress is one she stole earlier.

But I'm not getting homicidal maniac that's for sure.

Me neither, but there's just a chance they saw something.

Though up to now they've not been very cooperative.

We'll let's get in there, give them some encouragement.

Whatever it takes.

Commissioner Callaghan wants hourly updates and

once the media frenzy starts, our job's gonna get even harder.

So, anything you can get out of these two, anything at all.

Yeah, we'll talk to them. Do we need an interpreter?

I doubt it. They're from Enfield.

I'm telling you, I didn't see anything and I didn't hear anything.

But you admit you were in the shop,

- and you threatened Steven Marx. - Threatened him? Shut up.

And less than two hours later he was dead.

Maybe you went back there. You thought that he could identify you

- from the CCTV tapes. - Tapes? What tapes?

Are you new? The cameras aren't even real.

Three people,

three people Gianni. Left lying in their own blood.

One girl's head was nearly severed from her body.

Alright, look, I know okay?

Look, I told you we had nothing to do with that.

You know if we'd been there half an hour later that could've been us.

- You any idea what that feels like? - It must be terrifying.

So, I'm asking you again, where did you go after you left the shop?

I told you, I don't remember exactly.

Well, we know you ended up in Oxford Street.

Did you go straight there?

I'm not sure.

Look, I don't care if you turned over half the shops in Covent Garden.

I just want to know where you went.

Lia, what about Gianni? Was he with you all the time?

Gianni's the last person you should be harassing.

Oh, who would you suggest?

How about the crack-head in the alley for a start?

What crack-head in the alley?

Total nutter, kept banging his head against the wall.

So, what do we think?

About the convenient crack-head?

It's about the only bit of the story they agree on.

Let's get on to all the drop-in's and shelters with a description.

And if these two can't pick him out of WADS, then get them to do an e-fit.

And keep them apart, yeah? Strictly no conferring.

Well, they're not exactly twins but they could be related.

They could also be half the homeless guys in London.

Can forensics narrow it down?

Ah, apparently not, Guv. The prints were just a mass of smudges,

but they have come up with a profile of the weapon.

A single edge blade. Probably military. Comparisons were run,

the closest comparison they do have is a US army issue bayonet.

Circa nineteen fifty.

One sec. Chandler.

Oh great, thank you.

Joanne Ellis has regained consciousness.

- Just give her some time. - Okay.

Blade ripped her scalp and dug a trench in her skull.

Joanne, when the woman screamed, where were you?

T-- T-- Trying on a dress.

There was a woman was on the floor...

a man hit me.

The man, did you see his face?

Joanne, I'm sorry sweetheart. I'm going to...

going to show you a picture, okay?

If it looks like the man, you just let us know, okay?

Yes.

- Alright? - Anything?

Nah, more of the same. What's the word from uniform?

Poof!

Still going door to door, nothing definite to report.

Just seems round here the homeless really are invisible.

So, what do you reckon? Keep on going and meet up in organic beauty?

If we must.

You gonna buy that?

I wouldn't know whether to wear it or eat it, look.

Um, can I help?

Yes, actually you can. We're looking...

for some information regarding the fatal incident in Brewers Alley.

It said in the papers it was completely random,

that he could strike again at any time. Is that true?

Well, we're advising everyone to be cautious, yeah.

I'm sorry do you, would you happen to recognize this man?

He, you might have seen him wandering around the area yesterday.

No, not yesterday. But the day before.

He was standing right outside the door there.

Just kept looking in.

I thought he might have been watching one of my customers.

What, any customer in particular?

Ahem.

Pretty girl. Blonde. She comes in quite a lot.

Actually, she signed up for my mailing list.

I teach yoga a couple of nights a week.

Yep, Linda Bowers.

- Was she one of them? - I'm afraid so yeah.

Oh, poor girl.

- So it wasn't random. - Doesn't look like it.

No, our mystery man was after Linda Bowers.

Yeah, that's the guy. The girl called us round ten-ish.

Said some weirdo had followed her home from work.

What? From Neal Street to Southwark?

Yeah. By the time we got there he was gone,

we did a drive-by a couple of hours later and there's chummy

standing across the street walking in circles.

- Any ID? - Afraid not.

No wallet, no driving license and he didn't wanna give us his name.

You didn't bring him in?

Wasn't like we could charge him with anything.

- So, we decided to relocate him. - Sorry?

You know, like what they do with bears.

Drove him back across the river and dumped him.

Thought least that way he couldn't do any harm.

Bears?

Are you telling me he was picked up for harassing one of the victims,

and we still have no idea who he is?

It's like he doesn't exist, no name, no fixed abode, no nothing.

You do know that Callaghan's pressuring me to release the e-fit to the media.

Well, you know what that might not be such a bad idea.

How many homeless guys are there in woolly hats out there?

We'd be buried alive under reported sightings.

Not to mention the chances of the wrong bloke getting lynched.

Hello Ronnie, sorry, are we keeping you from your afternoon tea?

No not at all sorry, Guv. I was thinking about the bayonet right.

I mean he didn't have it on him, did he?

When Nit and Wit took him for his ride across the river, so...

he must've got hold of it last week, right?

- It's not the kind of thing you find in a skip either. - Nah.

No reports of any bayonets

being stolen in the Greater London area.

What if we went to the dealers direct? See if any of them been carrying any

"unofficial" twentieth century items and let it go.

Yeah, turns out Matty's got a secret stash of antique muskets.

D'you know, I can see that.

Yeah that sounds right, compatible with an M1 rifle, yeah?

This was last week? Okay, thanks, you've been very helpful.

Bloke comes up to Covent Garden first Monday of the month.

Says he had a mint-condition M1 bayonet nicked from his stall

by some "homeless wanker".

Our "homeless wanker"?

Right down to his woolly hat. Tried to buy it with some vouchers.

And when that didn't work, he smashed a case and nicked it.

Vouchers?

Yeah, he reckons it was for some night shelter.

He had a whole stack of them. Seemed to think it was a check book.

That very much resembles John.

And John wouldn't happen to have a last name, would he?

We only know him as John. Though I believe some of the regulars call him Zero.

As in Bravo Two Zero.

From Zorro to Zero.

Ah, do you mean he's ex-military?

No, no, John's more a one-man army.

But he likes to wear the clothes, the boots, all that sort of thing.

I'm sorry. What is this about?

Well. unfortunately John is a suspect in a murder investigation.

John? That can't be right.

Well, has he been in recently?

No, not for a few days. The last time was Thursday, I think, for breakfast.

And do you know where he goes when he's not here?

No. I'm sorry. I don--

But are you certain this is the person you want?

Well, it's starting to look that way.

I'm very surprised by this.

He doesn't use drugs and he's never violent.

Sometimes he's a little confused perhaps,

but he struck me as an educated sort of man.

Not dangerous in anyway. Excuse me.

Thank you, Father.

So, sometimes he's a bit confused.

Yeah, when he's not banging his head against a wall.

If he ain't a crack-head he's a nutjob.

Yeah, I know him. Usually wears army fatigues. Name's John Smith.

- You're kidding? - That's the name he gave us.

Interesting guy. He recognized my tattoo.

"Kushta" means truth in Aramaic.

John always said it was the language of the common people.

- So, he was a regular, yeah? - He was.

According to this he hasn't picked up his prescription in...

nearly three months. That's not good.

- What's he on? - Risperidone and carbamazepine.

It's for schizophrenia.

They tried him on the weekly injections, but he just kept missing the appointments.

What happens when he doesn't take them?

Delusions, psychosis, possibly full-blown mania.

Schizophrenics aren't necessarily violent though, are they?

There's always the exception that proves the rule.

- Is John in trouble? - Afraid so.

Uh, do you have any idea where we might find him?

Most of these guys register using the clinic address.

So, how do they pick up a prescription without an ID?

They have a badge with a temporary NHS number.

Although John had his nicked a while back

so he just uses his Westminster library card.

- He has a library card? - Yeah.

A lot of them do. Some of them even read the books.

He's been in Ancient History since we opened. Same as always.

We thought trying to evacuate the building would arouse his suspicions.

No, you were quite right. You've had no problems with him in the past?

No, none. He just comes to read.

Right lads, get people out as quickly and quietly as you can, okay,

whereabouts is he, please?

- He's in the far corner. - Great, thank you.

All right?

Matt, he's coming your way!

Just take it easy John, take it easy mate.

- Get away, Barak! - Armed police, stop!

- Now, John listen, hang on John. - Drop the bayonet, stay where you are!

I can't hear you. I'm not listening.

Drop the bayonet and stay where you are.

- I can't hear you. I'm not listening. - Put it down,

someone's gonna get hurt. No, no, no... Put that--

John Smith, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Steven Marx,

Kelly Scott and Linda Bowers and the attempted murder of Joanne Ellis.

You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense

if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court

anything you do say may be used in evidence.

Well done son.

- You limping? - No.

I'm a captain in Jabin's army. I fought at Kishon river.

- Okay? - Calm down.

It's quite a system.

They drive wireless HD to work and they're still hungry.

Worst thing is after a while it almost starts making sense.

Are we even sure about his name?

We're running his prints through the system.

Okay.

So, let's set-up a video ID and get in the eye witness.

No.

That's him.

Smith's solicitor wants him back on his drugs as soon as possible.

Fine. But we charge him with murder first.

So he's agreed to have a solicitor then?

- Well, as far as we can tell. - We've got a match on the prints.

So, why have we previously had the pleasure?

John Patrick Smith.

One arrest for stalking a woman sixteen months ago.

The original charge was threats to kill, but the CPS reviewed the evidence

and amended it to Section two, simple harassment.

- Ay? - He got a twelve-month supervision order

and paid two hundred quid in costs.

Might as well give him a Mars bar and a pat on the head.

So, what are the chances of nailing him this time then?

Do I resign now or do I wait till this hits the papers?

According to the file, the original charge was way over the top.

And the police didn't have the evidence to support a harassment fear of violence,

let alone a threat to kill.

And at that time, Smith had a job.

Doing what for heaven's sake?

Marking legal exams for undergraduate exam boards.

God help us all.

His defense never referred to his mental state and the prosecution missed it.

My God James.

The Home Secretary's hyperventilating as it is.

If the press find out that we had this guy and then we let him go we may--

Smith's solicitor is withdrawing from the case.

And so the madness begins.

He informed me that he no longer requires my services.

So, who's representing him?

John Patrick Smith.

MA from Oxford, Master of Laws from Cambridge

not to mention his PHD. And he did mention it, several times.

- You're not serious? - Oh, yes.

The lunatic has officially taken over the asylum.

And he knows his rights, as long as he's fit to stand trial,

he's fit to represent himself.

I've seen him. He's not fit for anything.

If he represents himself this trial will be a farce.

Well, it's listed for mention so you might want to bring it up with the judge.

Don't worry, I will.

Mr. Steel, it is usually the defense

who raise the issue of mental competence.

I know. But given the unusual circumstances.

Very well.

Mr. Smith, it says here that you have a history of schizo-affective disorder.

That's correct, my Lord.

Since the age of twenty-three.

I'm prone to manic depression...

paranoid delusions and hallucinations.

Unless I'm taking my medication.

And are you currently taking your medication?

Yes, my Lord. Ever since my arrest.

And I understand you wish to represent yourself?

Yes, my Lord.

I have a first-class law degree from Oxford, as I believe, do you, my Lord.

Also an LLM from Cambridge and a PhD in jurisprudence.

Without proper counsel, Mr. Smith will be at a distinct disadvantage.

There's also a good chance he could suffer another psychotic break,

in which case, the trial would collapse. We'd be right back where we started.

But, as Mr. Steel is aware, that's an irrelevance.

Unless prosecution can establish incompetence at this precise moment,

then the trial must go ahead.

In which case, subject to medical confirmation

of the defendant's fitness to stand trial,

we shall proceed.

One more thing, my Lord.

As Mr. Steel pointed out, I will be at a disadvantage.

Perhaps to level the playing field

I might conduct my defense from counsel's row.

Mr. Steel?

I don't think it's at all appropriate, My Lord.

The defendant is already in custody.

I will allow it.

As you say, Mr. Steel, these are unusual circumstances.

Two-hundred-page application to dismiss.

I don't know if we should prosecute him, or offer him a job.

I don't understand. Why's he not going for this insanity plea?

He thinks he can prove we've got the wrong man.

Well, that's never gonna work.

I wouldn't be so sure. He's challenging every piece of prosecution evidence.

Well, Prentice won't be in a rush to dismiss against a homicidal schizophrenic.

Yes, but he won't give you an inch either.

And he won't be swayed by public opinion, however vitriolic.

I'd be happier if you could only find something resembling a motive.

Well, according to Joanne Ellis's statement,

he didn't give any sign he even knew who Linda was.

Talk to her again.

And didn't Smith give a sister as his residential address?

- Yeah. - I want to meet her.

Remember it's not just Smith in the dock over this one.

- Radio? - TV.

Go easy on the make-up George.

There was lots of screaming.

There might have been words.

Do you have any idea what those words could've been?

Something like "Live forever",

maybe "Life Forever".

What does it matter what he said? The man's a lunatic.

If you'd heard him in court last week you might not be so sure.

It said in the paper that he's got a law degree.

Yes, he has.

That why he got let off the first time. Because he was one of your own.

Absolutely not. It was nothing like that.

The-- the trouble was the prosecution just didn't know enough about him.

They knew he was stalking a woman.

Didn't that give them some clue that there was something wrong with him?

Mr. Ellis, I can't imagine what you're going through.

You and Joanne.

I want you to know how sorry I am.

And that makes it alright? As long as you're sorry?

You lot had him and you let him go. And now my little girl--

Dad.

Yeah, well, we've got ourselves a lawyer too.

Us and the other families.

And he's advised us to take a civil action against the police and the CPS.

You let us down, Miss Phillips, and someone's going to pay.

When I talked to my brother, last month. He didn't mention Linda Bowers.

He called because he overheard someone plotting to kill our parents.

Our parents died three years ago.

The woman he injured heard him shout the words "Life Forever".

He probably said, "The Wife of Heber". It's from the Old Testament.

She lured Sisera, an army captain, into her tent with food

and then stabbed him through the temple.

Does this have a particular relevance for your brother?

Johnny went through a religious phase as a teenager.

When he developed schizophrenia he accused his girlfriend

of putting needles in his brain.

He called her the Wife of Heber.

Was he ever violent towards his girlfriend?

He tried to strangle her in his room at Oxford.

The next day he was admitted to hospital for six months.

So there's your motive.

I only wanted to find out about his behavior.

Oh really? Because last time Johnny was arrested,

I kept trying to tell someone he needed to be in hospital.

That he needed supervision and support to help him stay on his medication.

But surely, given his history, there must've been some way to get him help.

And what would you suggest? Have him locked up?

Have him forcibly injected with anti-psychotics?

Unfortunately, the mentally ill have rights too, Mr. Steel.

- I'm sorry. - It's just...

for fifteen years I've known something like this was coming.

And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

This is not about money.

I won't pretend that a trial like this isn't expensive,

of course it is, but at the end of the day you're faced

with a choice of a public expenditure

that is way out of control--

Oh, "At the end of the day" I sound like the Scotland Football Manager.

Suit looked good though. What reaction from on high?

I have been summoned for a "strategy discussion".

Good news is Smith's application to dismiss has been denied.

He's pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.

He couldn't have done that from the start?

Okay, let's get this over with then, accept the plea, establish the facts,

then Prentice can issue a hospital order and put Smith back where he belongs.

Without a criminal conviction, Smith can only be held

as long as there's a mental health justification.

Which means if he takes his medication, he could be out in a matter of weeks.

Smith knows that George. Why else would he risk an insanity plea?

Because he's insane? Okay, okay

and you really think he belongs in prison?

There has to be a trial, George.

You'll never get a murder verdict. Not now that he's going down this route.

I'm going to talk to him.

If I get him to plead manslaughter diminished responsibility,

he'll get a definite sentence in a secure unit or hospital,

and there'll be no chance of an early release

just 'cause he's managed to take his pills.

And if he won't change his plea? Look, why am I even asking?

Fine, talk to him.

I'd be interested to know what you thought of my application Mr. Steel.

- I know of course it's a long shot-- - Mr. Smith,

- I'm only here to discuss your plea. - Right, of course.

You know the one thing I regret about pleading insanity

is that it means there won't be a full trial.

I'd have enjoyed the chance to really flex my legal muscles.

Three people are dead and a young girl has been left with horrific injuries.

That doesn't bother you?

Well, obviously, I'm... I'm sorry for what happened but...

you have to understand that wasn't me. I'm not that creature.

I have-- I've...

I won't take the blame for something that he did.

You honestly believe you should walk free?

I don't think I should be punished for something I didn't do.

And I can hardly be rehabilitated when I have no memory of committing a crime.

Assuming of course that you, uh, subscribe to the view

that prison is an opportunity for rehabilitation.

I'm here because we're prepared to amend the indictment.

We'll accept a plea of guilty to manslaughter

- due to diminished responsibility. - Is that a joke?

You'll be looking at five to ten years in a secure unit or hospital.

As opposed to the twenty-five you'd get in prison for murder.

They'd never send me to prison.

I've got a dozen expert witnesses all of whom will confirm that I'm insane.

I wouldn't necessarily assume a jury will find you not guilty John.

You killed three people. Chances are they won't care

why you did it. They'll just want to lock you up so you can't do it again.

I feel that's an acceptable risk when weighed against my freedom.

Freedom to do what exactly, John?

Look at how you've been living. If you plead guilty...

to manslaughter diminished responsibility,

you'll go somewhere where you can get help.

Do you know the kind of people who

end up in mental institutions, Mr. Steel?

I am not one of them.

- I don't belong there. - You have an illness, John.

Yes, but when I'm medicated I'm just like you.

I think you find that frightening.

Perhaps, you know how it feels.

That urge to just let go and hell with the consequences.

- There are always consequences. - Are there?

I would have made a brilliant lawyer, Mr. Steel. I really would.

And now I'll get to prove it.

He's treating the whole thing like a game.

Well, what do we do? We can't counter his plea by claiming he was sane.

According to the witnesses, he was climbing the walls.

Yet now, there he is calmly debating the merits of the penal system.

So, he's a different person when he's medicated. That's hardly news.

It's practically the basis of his defense.

Exactly.

As long as he takes his pills, his mind works just fine.

Which means when he decided to stop taking them, he knew what he was doing.

Yeah, but it's not like he went out and got high though.

That's his natural state.

Well, I'm naturally bad-tempered it doesn't mean I can punch you

whenever you annoy me. Which you're doing now by the way.

I'd like to see you try. Anyway, you're talking

about prosecuting for an omission. We wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

No, I'm saying he knew what would happen, and he did it anyway.

Have you ever been on antipsychotic drugs, Dr. Armitage?

No. I haven't.

Well, I am using every ounce of energy that I have right now

just trying to talk to you.

It's like I'm pawing through a thick blanket.

I feel stiff and half a step behind everybody.

I feel so tired, just trying to hold on to reality.

I don't know, I think letting go is almost a relief.

So, he knows what he's like without medication.

Yet, he willfully chose to stop taking it.

I know where you're going with this, James.

He created the circumstances that led to the murders.

Letting go isn't just a relief for him, I think he actively enjoys it.

You can't punish someone for having a medical condition.

A-- According to Smith, as long as he's on his medication,

- he's as sane as the next man. - Makes you worry about the next man.

That's why the legal system can't deal with the mentally ill.

- You only work with absolutes. - He slaughtered three people!

Whilst in the grip of a terrifying and overwhelming delusion.

You say he's shown no remorse. How can he?

Convincing himself that "crazy John" is a totally separate entity

- is the only way that he can cope. - He's playing the system, Roddy.

He's an expert on legal insanity and he's using his condition

- to get away with murder. - If he pleads guilty,

his whole coping mechanism will crumble and where does he go from there?

No, the way I see it, the longer he's locked up, the safer for everyone.

It sounds as if your expert witness may as well be working for the defense.

I can work around it.

The Home Secretary feels very strongly that we should take the plea.

He thinks it'll be a PR disaster if Smith is found not guilty

- after a long, high-profile trial. - And what did you say?

I told him that it was entirely inappropriate for him

to try to influence the prosecution of a high court case.

Go, George.

Well, I am indeed the man. But we are not operating in a vacuum here, James.

I've got mental health charities banging down the door

saying that the system fails to identify vulnerable defendants.

And this lot, want to start...

...a campaign for a national register for the mentally ill.

If Smith does win in court, then the fallout could be horrendous...

- in all directions. - He's not going to.

He can play the victim all he likes.

Even if a jury thinks that he was insane when he drew the bayonet,

what about when he went out and stole it?

Or when he decided to throw away his pills?

He didn't just make one choice, George.

A whole series of decisions led to those deaths.

And if Joanne Ellis has to live with the consequences, then so should Smith.

I saw the manager and another woman on the floor, bleeding.

Then, I heard a shout and this man ran towards me.

Something hit my head.

I don't remember anything else.

Miss Ellis, can you describe the long-term effects of the head injury you sustained?

I've lost the sight in my right eye.

I have, limited muscle control on my left-hand side...

particularly my left arm.

I get very bad headaches,

and I have problems with concentration and memory loss.

What did you do for a living before the incident?

I was a dancer with the Royal Ballet.

And will you be able to continue in that career at some point?

No.

Thank you. No further questions.

Miss Ellis, um.

I'm very sorry that you were injured.

When you first saw me, I didn't look like this, did I?

No.

Do you remember what I used to look like?

You were dirty, with longer hair.

You were disgusting.

I looked like somebody who should have been in a mental hospital?

Yes.

- Like somebody who was clearly insane? - My Lord--

Yes!

In fact, you're pursuing a civil action, aren't you?

Against the CPS. For allowing someone so unmistakably insane to walk free.

Yes, I am.

So, if you blame anyone, it's really the justice system

- that failed to protect you? - Oh, My Lord please.

He's right. You let him do this.

You could have stopped him, but you let him go.

And look what he did to me.

That will do, Mr. Smith.

Miss Ellis,

you may step down.

Anti-psychotic drugs have powerful side-effects.

It's the most common reason patients stop taking them.

So, in the case of the defendant, he didn't stop

- because he thought he was cured? - I don't believe so.

So, he was aware of the consequences?

He knows he's susceptible to paranoid delusions

and that these delusions previously led him to try and strangle a girlfriend.

And do they explain why he was following Linda Bowers,

- and why he ultimately killed her? - Yes.

He believed she was plotting to kill him

and that Joanne Ellis and the others were her accomplices.

So, just to be entirely clear,

at the moment when the defendant stopped taking his medication

he knew that stopping would cause the return of these delusions

- that had previously led to violence? - Yes, he did.

Thank you, Dr. Armitage

Dr. Armitage, um,

you described the side effects of my medication...

- as "powerful". - That's correct.

So, in your-- in your opinion...

whilst experiencing these "powerful" side effects...

would I have been able to accurately predict the likelihood

of any future psychotic behavior?

- No. - Thank you.

And will he be able to predict it in the future?

- No. - Mr. Steel,

you're not at liberty to fire questions at the witness whenever the mood takes you.

That poor girl was your best bet

and Smith still got her to say that he wasn't to blame.

But did you see how Smith reacted when Roddy talked about "next time"?

Okay, so he's realized he's trapped in a cycle of behavior.

What good does that do us?

For Smith to admit his guilt, he needs to confront

what he's done and accept that he might do it again.

What we need is someone who's been through that cycle with him time after time.

Patricia's not gonna help you put her brother away.

She knows him better than he knows himself.

Yeah, but she's still on his side.

Doesn't mean she's on his witness list.

With a-- a manslaughter charge, he could still go to prison.

If he did, he'd be in a secure unit under medical supervision.

But unless he changes his plea...

he could be found guilty of murder.

That won't happen. No, they can see that he's sick.

If he's found not guilty, and is back on his medication...

they won't legally be able to hold him.

I don't believe this.

I've spent nearly half my life, dreading what Johnny might do.

And then this happened and now you're telling me it makes no difference?

That nothing's changed?

I'm sorry.

I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, I just can't.

Then break the pattern.

Make the jury understand how badly John needs long-term care.

- You're asking me to betray my brother. - No.

I'm asking you to save him.

Miss Smith, is this the first time...

your brother has stopped taking his medication?

No.

Over the past, fifteen years, it's happened more than a dozen times.

How did you deal with this?

Well, I begged him to keep taking his pills.

I warned him that he might, um, harm himself...

or other people if he stopped.

But, um, he just-- he just said that other people would just have to stay out of his way.

And did he ever offer an explanation for his behavior?

Yes.

I found out he'd rented a flat in Ladbroke Grove.

On the fourteenth floor.

What did you do?

Well, I went there.

He was sitting on the living room floor.

He said he'd tried so hard to stay on his medicine,

so that he'd, get a job as a lawyer or even a teacher.

But that no-one wanted him because he was sick.

He said there was no point in taking his medicine.

He said he'd rented the flat so that he'd be able to jump off the balcony.

His-- he needs somebody...

to make him take his medication.

He's trying to convince you that he's in control. But he can't help himself.

Somebody has to help him, please...

I understand you studied the Bible,

Mr. Smith. The Old Testament in particular.

- Is that right? - Yes...

when I was younger, yeah.

And this was before you became ill is that correct Mr. Smith?

Yes.

And these details and these images they stayed with you when you became ill?

In fact, they became the basis of your delusions?

That's right, yeah.

So, does it work the other way?

I don't-- I don't understand.

Well, when you're on your medication, as you are now, do you ever have any...

thoughts or memories from the times you've been delusional?

Not really. No.

"Not really. No." So what, you remember some things?

Yeah, occasionally.

- People's faces, perhaps? - Sometimes.

And what about their voices,

do you hear voices, John? Things they might've said?

Yeah, I suppose so.

Do you remember your Sister Patricia coming to see you at Ladbroke Grove?

Where?

At the flat, when you were planning to kill yourself.

I wasn't, I was, I was, I was, I was taking my medication then.

- So you weren't delusional at that time? - No, no, no.

What about Joanne Ellis? Do you remember seeing her face?

- No, no. - Do you remember hearing her voice?

She would've been screaming as you came towards her with the bayonet in your hand.

I don't remember.

What about when you pushed her to the ground

or when you brought the bayonet down and you sliced it into her skull?

Perhaps you thought she was a witness? Was that it?

- That she would run away. - I didn't.

Maybe you thought she would call the police?

No, it wasn't that!

- Then what, John? What was it? - I thought that--

What? What did you think? Explain it to me.

- I can't. - Explain it to me, John.

I thought that she-- I thought that they wanted to kill me.

I thought that you all wanted me dead.

So I had to-- had to stop you. I didn't care how.

No further questions.

John Smith, you have pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter.

Yes.

Before sentencing, do you wish to say anything in mitigation?

Yes, I have suffered from schizoaffective disorder since the age of twenty-three.

I am prone to manic depression, paranoid delusions, hallucinations and--

This paper's full of needles. They, uh, gave it to me to hurt me.

- It cuts and I bleed. - Mr. Smith--

I heard what Deborah said unto Barak. The Lord will discomfit me and--

You're looking at me.

I made them do that, Patty.

You look like a pony. Please don't do that,

- otherwise I'll have to leave. - Mr. Smith, sit down. Mr. Luthra, please--

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

This isn't my armor. They took my armor. I absolutely can't wear this armor!

Mr. Smith, we shall take care of your armor once we are finished.

Now, please sit down.

Sitting down.

I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down

I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down

I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down, I'm sitting down

- Drink? - Uh, sorry. I'll be working late.

You know they've put John Smith on suicide watch?

Mm-hmmm!

He sent me a copy of his closing speech.

Was it any good?

Well-structured, persuasive...

pretty much what I'd have said if I'd been defending him.

So, he really could've been a brilliant lawyer then?

Well, he certainly had potential.

So, you buying then?