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.

Sean! It's your Dad.

He's twelve years old.

Can you hear me son?

Missing nearly 30 hours now.

Have you got a location for his mobile yet?

Sean, stay where you are! Don't be scared!

Okay guys, I need this whole slipway ruled out, yeah?

Sean, it's your Dad!

Check behind that scaffolding. Right up to the road.

His mobile's still switched off.

Well the trace says he's around here somewhere.

Sean!

- Lima oscar five, lima oscar five. - Sean!

Latest from T.I.U. says the mobile signal is moving.

- Repeat the signal is moving. - He's on the move.

Oscar nine nine, oscar nine nine. The subject is on the move.

Ronnie mate, there's nothing up here, there's no sign of anything.

Okay Ron, we're headed back down to the river.

- Sean! - I've got your Dad here, Sean.

Sean!

Lima oscar five, lima oscar five. I've got an update for you.

Mobile signal is heading south towards the Thames.

Well he's not even down by the river. Lads, lads! He...

get out of the water. Come on he's not there, up here.

- Matt, he's got to be heading your way. - Yeah, yeah I got it.

Matt, he must be right on top of you mate, can you see him?

Ronnie, there's nothing here we've checked it twice now.

Nothing by the riverbank, no sign at all.

Oh my God!

Ronnie! Ronnie

Mate! I've got him! Get down, get down here now.

Ronnie, I've got him! I've got him.

Sean!

Single blow to the head from a heavy, blunt object.

Probably the cause of death but

we won't know for certain until the post mortem's done.

So he was killed and then dumped into the drainage system.

- Yeah. - Can I have a word?

How am I gonna tell his Mum, Ron?

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

Ronnie?

I found that on him.

I didn't think I'd ever see that again.

I should think it's a bit of a nightmare, I mean he's fourteen-years-old,

black, same note in his pocket.

Deja vu, James. Sounds like Andrew Dillon's back.

The racist killer?

One clean blow fractured that boy's skull

and two of Dillon's victims had the same M.O.

Sean Monroe had a gold crucifix according to his Dad,

and it wasn't found on his body.

And we all know that Dillon, he liked to take souvenirs.

The original murders were over six years ago.

Why would someone do this now?

Dillon was badly beaten up in jail a week ago.

Someone could have found out, taken revenge.

Did anyone in particular support Dillon during the trial?

No. His family, stopped coming to court.

Although he did have a few die-hard supporters in the National Front.

They set up that online fan site.

They called Dillon, a White Power hero.

We got shut down a few months back for inciting racial hatred.

What happened to freedom of speech?

Where were you yesterday, Kyle, between three thirty and eleven?

- I was chairing a meeting. - White Power?

Is a discussion about immigration, to be exact.

And how long did this meeting last?

Four till seven thirty. Then we went for a curry.

- How many attended? - There was ten of us.

I'll do you a list. Give us a pen John.

Did you see this boy when you came out of the pub?

I saw plenty of 'em.

This boy's name is Sean.

This boy was killed yesterday in this area.

His body was dumped in a storm drain. Try again.

He's a copper's kid, Kyle,

and that copper happens to be a friend of ours.

That's why you care.

So what was the nature of the meeting?

Stirring up the mob to follow in Dillon's footsteps

and lynch a 14-year-old boy?

What does that say? Actions, not words?

We didn't attack any boy.

But we support what Dillon did.

Well that's more than he did.

I mean Dillon denied the murders didn't he?

Let's go, Matt.

Andrew Dillon didn't start it.

He got mugged by two of them and he made a stand.

We're overrun round here and that man's got balls.

Ohh, I doubt that very much now.

They'd have probably been ripped off

after he got beaten up in the nick last week.

How did that happen?

They're supposed to keep him away from the foreigners.

But not from the Dads.

Post mortem's done.

F.M.E. puts time of death between five and seven.

Well that rules out Hitler Youth. Anything else?

Sean ate not long before he died.

Partially digested doughnut, sweets, crisps.

Umm hmm. So where's his local tuck shop?

He'd come from his street dance group.

He wanted to show me his latest moves.

He cracked me up.

That's street dance, is it?

Brucie here's more familiar with ballroom.

He was gonna go on Britain's Got Talent.

Did he talk to anyone else in the shop, Carla, after he walked away?

I seem to remember him talking to the security guard.

Just by the door there.

And is the security guard on duty today?

The company rotates me.

I work a few local shopping centers.

- And yesterday? - I did see this boy.

I asked him to leave the newsagents.

He was looking at pornography.

Old dears come in searching for the People's Friend

don't want to see that smut.

Wouldn't want them choking on their Werthers.

So I sent him on his way.

I walked him out of the shopping center.

Wasn't to know he'd come to any harm.

You don't happen to know which way he went after you sent him on his way, do you?

- Yeah he went right, towards Beckton. - Oi Marcus!

- Excuse me. - Okay, thank you.

So what do you reckon?

He just seems a normal lad, ate sweets, thought about girls.

Who knew you best at that age? Your dad or your mates? Come on.

We was a dance duo, called In Synch.

Sean thought of the name cause we did everythin' together.

Ollie, have you any idea why Sean would head off from Canning Town to Beckton?

No. None of our friends live there.

- Unless he went to see Darren. - Who's Darren? A boy from school?

That's Darren.

He lives in Beckton. He runs a talent agency.

He was trying to get Sean to sign up with him.

Sean was better than me, but he said no. They want the act to split up.

Maybe he changed his mind and didn't want to hurt my feelings.

Sean was soft like that.

Yeah, Sean came to see me. I was interested in signing him.

He wanted to talk about it in private.

- What time was this? - About half five.

- Did he stay long? - No. I was off out for a meal.

So he walked with me to the DLR then, said he was off home.

Darren Powell used to have a really good job

as a dance teacher at the East London School of Performing Arts.

Now he runs a talent agency that nobody's heard of from his own front room.

So why did he leave the school?

Head teacher wouldn't say and he left without a reference.

Apparently the guy goes around playgrounds,

targeting disadvantaged kids.

- Sean Monroe wasn't sexually abused. - Not the day he was killed.

Excuse me Ma'am. Darren Powell's oyster card was used in Beckton Park station

at twenty past seven.

Darren told us, he jumped on a train

and left Sean at the station at quarter to six.

You were the last person to see Sean alive, Darren.

There's 95 minutes of your time that's unaccounted for

and that's around the time that Sean was killed.

I didn't kill him.

Well his body was dumped in a tunnel,

twenty minutes from Beckton Park station.

I wanted to shake Sean off so I said I was going out.

He offered to walk with me to the station.

I went into the station, waited for him to leave, and then I had a pint.

Why were you trying to shake him off?

I thought you wanted to sign him.

Why did you leave your teaching job at the ELPA?

Without a reference.

We'll get the story soon enough. And you're holding out on us.

So I'll ask you again. Why did you leave your teaching job?

Because I got too involved,

- with a pupil. - Oh.

Was it a young boy?

He was being abused by his step dad. I just gave him a place to stay.

- His step dad said I'd lured him there. - And what did the boy say?

He was too scared to say any different.

Were you involved with Sean?

- Were you worried that he would tell someone-- - No.

- Listen. The boy was lying. - The school didn't think so.

That's why I couldn't invite Sean into my house. I didn't dare.

I'd already had the school board practically call me a pedophile

and here you are doing the same.

It's because of people like you that I sent Sean away.

To his death.

Ronnie...

They found him here. He's not long dead.

Scuff marks on the floor indicate a struggle.

- And how old? - Thirteen according to his ID card.

Those marks round his neck?

Strangled.

The ligature marks suggest that the killer used, the boy's school tie.

It was loose round his neck.

We also found this in his pocket.

Detective Chandler!

Dev Desai was found strangled on waste ground

near Mudchute Park in Millwall between five and six, yesterday afternoon.

He was wearing a St Anthony's school uniform

and we're appealing to any member of the public

who may have seen anything to please come forward.

Now I can take a few questions.

Yes, gentleman at the back.

Is it true identical notes were found on both, the murder victims' pockets?

Well as both investigations are currently ongoing,

there are certain details about the crime scene

which we're not at liberty disclose.

But we may be looking at a serial killer?

- Not necessarily. Yes. - Inspector Chandler?

In which case, are the murders related to those of Andrew Dillon?

It's far too early to tell.

- DI Chandler! - Detective Inspector Chandler!

Are you refusing to tell or don't you know?

Do you believe these murders to be racially motivated?

Well as I said, we're not ruling out anything

- at this stage of the investigation. - Well Andrew Dillon's

killings were racially motivated

and he killed three boys before he was caught.

Yes, but we don't know if there is any link with Andrew Dillon.

But you were asked what the police are doing.

Or are you relying on the British public to protect our children?

Oh, I can assure you we are carrying out the most thorough forensic investigations

and all my officers out there on the ground are doing their very best

to find out who did this.

Look, we didn't see Dev, alright?

Besides he goes to a posh school for little pussies now

'cause we're a bad influence.

Dev's Mum told us that he missed you both.

Said that you were his best mates

and we know that Dev skived off his school yesterday

and that you two guys, you skived off your school as well.

Ohh, don't tell my Dad.

Well we don't care about that, Dean.

But we do care that your friend was strangled to death, you know that?

If you care so much why ain't you solving it?

That's what we're doing sunshine by talking to you lads.

Now do you want to help us find out who did this to Dev--

Look I told you, we didn't see Dev!

Well then, we'll have to look on CCTV cameras for him,

- won't we? - Yeah.

We've got them everywhere now lads, you know that don't you?

It might take us a little while to find out who did this to him but---

Look we were on Bridge Street in Millwall, near Green Lanes shops.

- What did I tell you? - They don't care about that small stuff!

- What were you doing there? - Jacking. Picking stuff up.

- From shops? - No. From the ground.

Very funny! What do you reckon Ron, shall we nick 'em now?

Was Dev picking up too?

Yeah. Only he got caught.

- And what time was this? - About five.

- And what shop? - Look I don't know. We'd split up.

Me and Justin were at the far end,

I just come out of some computer shop, innit?

I saw some police manhandling Dev,

dashed him to the ground, so we legged it.

Local plod reckon none of their officers

have reported any incidents in Green Lanes.

So who grabbed Dev Desai if it wasn't a PCSO?

What about a security guard?

Nah these kids are savvy about that now Matty.

They'd know the difference surely?

Not from a hundred yards away, running scared with stolen goods in your pockets.

Although Sean Monroe was moved on by a security guard.

Marcus Wright. The man who rotates around the shopping centers.

I don't know him.

Well, Marcus we have a coincidence that's been bothering us.

Two days ago you had a run-in with Sean Monroe and he ended up dead.

Yesterday this boy had a run-in with the security guard

- and also ended up dead. - Well that is a coincidence!

There's a lot of security guards out there. With good reason.

But only one of them was with Sean Monroe. You.

Very busy area Marcus. Plenty of witnesses would have seen

a young thief wrestled to the ground.

Him. I forgot.

Yes, he was stealing.

I went after him but he got away.

He got away, your witnesses will tell you that too.

Well you see now we're back with that coincidence.

You were with both these boys just hours before they died.

Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.

Both boys sinned!

I see you read the Bible, Marcus.

You put that back. That's my mother's.

Marcus, God killed them, did he?

I don't buy that as an explanation.

A man, bludgeoned Sean Monroe.

A man, strangled Dev Desai.

- "I will reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble." - You put that back!

"I will destroy them so that the memory of them will disappear."

You don't hear me? Put that back!

- Was that Sean Monroe's crucifix? - No, sir.

Would you put your hand on your Bible and tell me that?

We found this crucifix in your Bible.

We also found this, a St Anthony medal,

which we later found was missing from Dev Desai's bag.

Yes, sir.

You do have the right to a solicitor.

I don't need no legal person telling me what to say.

I listen to the main man.

Did you kill Sean Monroe, and Dev Desai?

They were sinners and God sought revenge.

Through you?

Plenty of sinners in London. Why pick on these two?

I didn't pick them. God did.

This one...

was looking at pornography.

Well, lots of people do that.

Yeah but not with a crucifix around their neck.

I let him go.

But later...

God put him back in my path.

That one...

ripped off an image of St Anthony, in prayer,

while two other sinners looked on.

Is that why you grabbed him?

He went into a shop, stole some perfume.

He ran out but I caught him,

- but he kicked me and got away. - So you followed him?

When St Anthony died,

children cried in the streets.

That one was laughing.

When St Anthony died,

all the bells of the churches rang of their own accord.

Angels came down from heaven and made it happen.

Did God come down and make you kill these boys?

They had to be destroyed.

- Did you write those notes? - God did, through me.

And did you get the idea from Andrew Dillon?

No, sir.

Then why write the notes?

If you were doing God's work,

why hide behind Dillon?

Dillon didn't kill any of those boys.

I killed them.

All of them.

This is a sick attempt to take credit for another killer's crimes.

I said the same thing.

But, he knows places, times of death.

He kept the souvenirs that were never found.

A football shirt's just been identified

by the parents of the second victim.

Maybe he knew Dillon, helped him hide the evidence?

We spent over a year working on this. We got the right man.

Marcus Wright claims that there was a fourth boy

killed after Dillon went down.

The boy was white.

Marcus Wright said that he caught the lad stealing from a church,

strangled him then buried him.

The police have dug up the skeleton of a Caucasian boy

where Marcus said he would be buried.

They found a note in the pocket of his anorak.

No, no all the other boys were dumped in public places.

Why would he suddenly start burying his victims?

His Mum was ill. She needed him. He didn't wanna be found.

But then he confessed to her and she begged him to stop.

His Mum died a few weeks ago.

If Marcus Wright is guilty, it can't be your fault.

James...

it's him.

We've put away the wrong man.

God, what a mess!

How the hell did this happen?

We didn't act unfairly. We presented the evidence.

Dillon was a known racist who terrorized kids

in the same area as the murders.

He sold knock-off trainers to the first boy.

His handwriting matched the notes found on the bodies.

He was seen fighting with the last victim

and even had his DNA under his fingernails.

Yeah well, they're expediting his appeal against wrongful conviction.

Don't ask me to feel sorry for Dillon. He lived and breathed pure hate.

Yeah well, that may well be the case

but locking Dillon up led to three more boys being killed.

"Malfeasance in public office."

Ahh.

- You can't target individuals. - Well you did.

You willfully abused your powers

to build your case against my client, Andrew Dillon.

We did everything by the book, the jury found him guilty.

Selective prosecution, Mr. Steel.

Mrs. Janice Hunter, made a statement to the police six years ago

saying that she saw the third victim

an hour after he was seen fighting with my client.

The boy was in Channing arcade arguing with an older man

- whose description fits Marcus Wright. - Yeah, he was a black man.

The witness has since died.

I've never seen this before.

Oh, come on, Mr. Steel. We both know you buried it.

It's the basis of our claim against you.

We intend to investigate every last detail of your case--

So do we.

And sue you for three hundred thousand pounds.

And that will never be enough.

You know, I spent five years in a cell about the size of this table

and every time I stepped out, I took my own life in my hands.

And you sent me there, as a marked man.

The evidence, all pointed towards you.

Yeah, after you tampered with it.

And then there was your criminal record.

How many boys of ethnic minority had you beaten up exact--

Well, that's hardly relevant here.

We're talking about three dead boys.

- What we need to-- - Look, look it's your prejudice, not mine.

You decided the killer had to be white

and because of your inverted racism I got put inside.

And as soon as I was arrested I got beaten--

Now you know how those boys felt!

Yeah now I get panic attacks and my face is in the paper.

All because you persecuted me.

You owe me. You stole five years of my life.

No one gave me a statement saying

that Dillon's victim was seen later with another man.

I'd have remembered, it would have jeopardized, our entire case.

They're saying that was your motivation.

If I had seen it, I'd have handed it over, however grudgingly.

- Well who worked with you on this? - There were a whole team of us.

- Eight or nine, during the busiest months. - Who was your lead assistant?

Claudia Martin. Great prosecutor.

Then let's talk to her, see if she remembers anything.

When I heard about Marcus Wright I thought James's would get in touch.

He would have come down himself but he's trying to track down

everyone else in the team.

He must be frantic.

So how did Dillon's brief find this statement?

He wouldn't say. But James has no recollection of it.

Hmm. Neither do I.

I mean, you'd remember something like that coming in.

Certainly would have helped Dillon's defense.

There were a few statements we fought to keep out of court.

But not that one.

We can't find any record of it, but then,

there are boxes of case files to go through.

Tell me about it. That's a year of my life I'll never get back.

And to think this is the outcome. Those poor boys.

- So how long you worked with James? - A few years.

Intense, isn't it? I couldn't keep up the pace.

Sold out to private practice, you know which is fine.

Apart from the clients.

Well if you remember anything.

- Did you speak to the rest of the team? - The ones I could track down.

Three of them have quit the CPS saying they were overworked and underpaid.

- Never. - The ones I did speak to

all swear blind they never saw the statement.

Reception receives packages from the police most days.

All the deliveries are signed for and logged, when they come in.

Can you go back and check all the log books?

Course. And the receptionists?

You know what if it didn't come in?

The police wanted to put Dillon away as much as we did.

We're tracking down the receptionist who worked here at the time.

If they remember DS Brooks bringing it in then--

I don't need anyone else's word for it. I trust Ronnie.

But a missing witness statement? That could amount to a criminal offence

and it's my duty to investigate that.

- I've got no choice George. - Fine, go ahead.

But I know and trust my people too and we've got nothing to hide.

That statement was the last thing any of us needed.

- Well I know, yeah. - Can you remember what you did with it?

Well I would have put it on disc you know, made a hard copy

and brought it to your offices with any other evidence that we had.

- When? - Well, I don't know.

It would have been addressed to you though James.

Can you remember who you gave it to?

- I, look a receptionist I guess. - Which one?

I don't know. Young, female, wearing a suit.

That could be any of them.

Well it was six years ago James, I'm sorry mate.

Look I need you to check the database,

see what date you entered the statement.

I will, but have you checked your office log to see who signed for it?

Alesha's going through the records right now, but I'm up against it here.

By the time she finds them I could be disbarred.

- I'm sorry. - What and you, you think it's our fault?

- No, that's not what I'm saying. - What's going on?

Well the CPS, have lost some evidence and they're blaming us.

No, I am not blaming anyone!

I need to find out what happened.

Look could you have made a mistake back then? During that time?

Sorry James, what exactly do you mean "back then, during that time"?

We all make mistakes, outside pressures get to us--

Why not just say what you're thinking, James?

Could a member your team have buried the evidence?

- And what you brought to me-- - Can't believe you actually said it.

You've got balls, I'll give you that much.

Leave it, Matt. It's okay. James, I handed it into the office.

I'm sorry, I can't remember to who, or when.

- Look I really need to find-- - James!

I need to find the statement!

That does not mean that you can come here and accuse my officers.

- No I am not accusing anyone! - If you've mislaid the evidence

that we brought to your door that's your cock up, not ours.

So, get your own house in order.

James, DI Chandler has just phoned.

Details of Janice Hunter's statement

were entered on to the police database.

Yeah, that still doesn't guarantee it came here.

Dillon's defense team

received a copy of the witness schedule, three days later.

Janice Hunter's name and statement weren't on it.

That schedule came from the CPS so somebody in these offices,

must have deleted it.

So somebody in these offices must have signed for it.

- James I'm-- - Now we know exactly when it was here

we can find out who was on reception.

They might remember who they gave it to.

James it's too late!

James Steel,

I'm arresting you on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

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 given in evidence.

To the charge of perverting the course of justice, how do you plead?

Not guilty.

Mr. Cain?

Hmm hmm hmm.

My Lord, Crown objects to bail on the grounds

that the defendant will interfere with witnesses

having already aggressively approached

the police investigation team

at their place of work and asked for their help--

I wasn't interfering with a witness--

I'd thank Mr. Steel not to interrupt

and to remember that he is present in this courtroom, first and foremost

as a defendant.

Bail will be granted with appropriate conditions.

My Lord, one more thing.

I would like to conduct my defense from Counsel's row.

Crown objects on the basis that this may be confusing to the jury.

How can it be fair and just for me

to conduct my defense, from the dock?

I can't possibly be afforded a fair trial in these circumstances.

I'll allow it. Ahem hmm.

I think we can trust the jury to understand that Mr. Steel, is on trial.

You brought me in to do an impartial job

and to do that I will need access to everything.

- Sorry. Am I interrupting? - We haven't been properly introduced.

Samuel Cain.

Alesha Phillips.

Miss Phillips, given that I'm going to be calling you as a witness,

I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to be working in here.

- In the interests of a fair trial... - This is my office.

Not anymore.

So please take what you need and then,

if you could set up in the paralegals office.

We've cleared a space for you, it's just a temporary measure Alesha.

- Right, well, I'll leave you to it. - Don't disappear, I need to,

I need to go through a few details with you for my opening.

Miss Phillips, can you give us a moment?

Thank you.

H-hey, how you doing?

I need you to do something for me. Get me these files from the CPS.

They should be in the old personnel system so,

you might need to do some digging

but specifically these dates in August six years ago.

James, I'm not allowed near our office.

- I'm not sure that I can. - Please this is really important.

I have to find out who was in the office when that evidence came in.

- James I-- - It's my only hope.

I wouldn't ask you otherwise.

Yep?

You've been the defendant's lead assistant counsel for, for how long?

Over two years.

And in your close experience, would you say

that the defendant has the final say on every decision?

Yes, he's the lead prosecutor.

But he likes me to challenge him.

Do you have to challenge him often, Miss Phillips?

Yes.

- I mean he-- - Did you have to challenge him

during the Don Marsh case?

- I don't remember. - Well let me remind you.

The defendant told Donald Marsh, a known criminal,

that he had a witness who was willing

to place him at the scene of a crime,

when, in fact, he had no such assurance.

- Do you recall the case? - Yes.

Did you approve of those methods?

- Not at first, but I trust-- - Yes or no?

- Miss Phillips? - No.

Miss Phillips,

has the defendant ever asked you to do anything dishonest?

Anything

that might make you feel compromised, in the eyes of the law?

No.

Miss Martin you worked very closely

with the defendant on the Andrew Dillon case?

Yes. Eighteen-hour days were usual.

- Did you ever see him do anything illegal? - No, but--

Please go on, Miss Martin.

He'd interview several expert witnesses

before he found the one who said what he needed.

So did the defendant unfairly coerce these witnesses?

He told the handwriting expert on the Dillon case

that his evidence could prevent more children being killed.

This is hearsay from a prejudiced witness, my Lord.

Far from it, my Lord. Miss Martin was a devoted employee.

You'll have your chance to cross examine, Mr. Steel.

Miss Martin, why did you leave the CPS?

I was uncomfortable with the defendant's way of working.

He was absolutely determined to convict Andrew Dillon.

Did you delete Janice Hunter's, witness statement?

No. I knew nothing about it.

Thank you, Miss Martin. No further questions, my Lord.

Is it true you were having an affair with the defendant during that time?

When did this happen?

Could you answer the question please?

My Lord! Is the witness' sexual history really relevant?

Absolutely, my Lord.

If we are to believe this witness' testimony,

I must be allowed to question her motive

for wanting to sully the reputation of a former colleague.

I'll allow it.

Could you answer the question please, yes or no?

- Yes, I was. - How long did the affair last?

- Almost a year. - Who ended the relationship?

- You did. - How did you feel when it ended?

Had you not told the defendant that you loved him?

You planned a future together?

You bastard.

Sorry was that a yes or a no, Miss Martin?

Yes. I told you I loved you.

And when the affair ended didn't you feel betrayed?

So betrayed in fact, that you claimed

you could no longer carry on working at the CPS?

Betrayal is an interesting choice of word

coming from a man who was cheating on his wife.

You're using this trial as a platform for revenge.

You're lying about your reasons for leaving the CPS.

You used me.

You know, I'd have done anything for you.

Anything?

Which is exactly why the jury should see your evidence for what it is.

The emotional backlash of a woman scorned.

Did you get it?

Thank you.

This is everything? All the receptionists?

What?

You really will do anything to win, won't you?

I had to discredit her evidence against me.

So she was just collateral damage?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Do you know what your success rate is as a prosecutor?

No, I've no idea. I don't keep a record of it.

Well, I can tell you. Ninety-three percent.

Which is, very high. Are you proud of those results?

I'd be happier if it was a hundred.

Is that what drives you, Mr. Steel?

Winning?

No. It's about, doing my job properly.

If I believe the accused to be guilty,

I have to do everything I can to prove that to the jury.

Everything you can?

Tell me, after Dr. Alec Merrick was acquitted of rape

in Crown and Merrick 2009, is it true,

you then had him, publicly arrested on a fictional rape charge?

Dr. Alec Merrick abused his position and attacked fourteen women.

I used the system to get him back into court.

I would say you found a highly questionable loophole.

No, I gave his victims a voice by exploiting a flaw, in the system.

- A flaw in the system? - Yes.

Mr. Steel, well, are you so assured of your own abilities

that you believe you're somehow above the legal system in this country?

I'm sorry I didn't realize, I was on trial here

for the successful prosecution of a serial rapist.

You are not.

But in order to try and give your victims their voice,

as you put it, you take the law into your own hands, Mr. Steel.

And for that, you are on trial.

I do my best to work within a system that I cherish and respect.

These courtrooms are...

they're cathedrals to anyone that believes in a fair--

- Who? - and just society.

Who in these cathedrals, Mr. Steel,

allowed you to play God?

Who are you to say who is guilty or innocent regardless of the law?

- It isn't about playing God, Mr. Cain. - Are you sure?

Absolutely yes.

There is no value whatsoever in putting away the wrong man

for my pride or your statistics because they mean nothing.

To stand where you're standing now, is an honor Mr. Cain,

and that honor carries a responsibility,

the responsibility, if necessary to take away someone's liberty.

Which is why the abuse of that responsibility is such a serious crime.

What happens, Mr. Steel, when you see a piece of evidence

which shatters your clear-cut image of right and wrong?

I go back and I rebuild my case.

Because that's what we do, you and I, we build walls.

Pieces of evidence are like

blocks of stone and each block is dragged

into place so that when we stand in court

we have a wall that can't be breached.

If defense have something that can take away one of those blocks,

the walls come tumbling down and I lose.

We all lose because I haven't done my job properly.

Which is precisely why we're here.

- Who was the lead prosecutor on this case? - I was.

So who should ultimately take responsibility

for you not doing your job?

For this terrible miscarriage of justice?

If I'd seen that statement,

I would never have buried it knowing that the real killer

could still be out there and might kill again.

But with the evidence incomplete Mr. Steel, that is exactly what happened.

Your walls came tumbling down.

No further questions, my Lord.

My lord, I'd like to call one further witness.

- It's very late in the day, Mr. Steel. - I apologize for that, my Lord.

I'd like to call Sally Anne Hope

to the witness box.

"I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

What do you do for a living, Miss Hope?

I'm a paralegal secretary.

Have you always done legal work?

Yes. Ever since I started out as a temp.

And you did temp work at the CPS Ludgate Hill?

- Yes. - When did you work there, precisely?

Six years ago. For two weeks in August.

Your memory seems very clear on this. Can you tell the court why?

It was during the build-up to the Andrew Dillon trial.

It was all over the news.

I remember the police coming round to the house

telling us to be careful not to let anyone under sixteen out on their own.

And how did that affect you personally?

My brother was ten at the time.

I had to get him to school before I could come to work.

It was my first job and I was worried about being late.

Do you remember, ahem,

a CID officer coming to reception on the eleventh of August?

Yes. He gave me a package, said it contained evidence

about the Dillon case.

What did you do with that package?

First chance I got, I handed it to one of the prosecution team.

Do you remember who you gave it to, Miss Hope?

Yes.

Is that person here in the court room today?

Yes.

Could you point them out to the jury please?

It was that lady there.

In relation to the count of perverting the course of justice,

do you find the defendant, James Steel, guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

You can't blame yourself James.

You can only do what we believe was right.

I should've known.

Despite my recent acquittal,

there was a miscarriage of justice

for which I hold myself responsible.

That wrongful conviction led to the deaths of three children

which is unforgivable.

Therefore, my position has become untenable and...

I'm resigning from the CPS with immediate effect.

Mister Steal?

It's weird, coming to work and you're not there.

You'll get used to it.

Bet you'll have forgotten I was even there in a few weeks.

Don't be silly.

It'll be a few days once I've cleared out your desk out.

Alesha...

It's George.

- I have to. - Yeah sure.

George.

I'm on my way back now.

I spoke to the woman at Long Life Direct,

can either pick up hard copies or...

No, it's fine.

Or that I can email them.