The Jury s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
(CHURCH BELL TOLLS) (SOFT, INDISTINCT EXCHANGES) They're returning now.
(NEWS AT TEN THEME) Good evening.
It was the case that shocked the nation, but nearly five years after being found guilty of murdering three women, Alan Lane was today back in the headlines as the Court of Appeal dramatically overturned his conviction for the killings of Holly Jackson, Anna Knight and Rebecca Cheung.
The case will now go to back to the Old Bailey, with all three murders being retried, effectively starting from scratch.
The successful appeal is being seen as a personal victory for controversial barrister Emma Watts, who replaced the legal team that represented Lane at the original trial.
We're enormously encouraged by these developments.
My client, Alan Lane, is innocent.
The fight to clear his name goes on.
Thank you.
(BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS) This is a grave setback for British justice and for the families of the victims, to whom our hearts go out at this terrible time.
I have nothing more to say at the moment.
Thank you.
(CLAMOUR) The case will now once again go before a jury, which won't please Justice Minister Eleanor Duncan.
She today launched another scathing attack on trial by jury, calling it outdated, exploitative, inefficient, unreliable and prone to corruption and abuse.
RADIO 4: 'Here is an 800-year-old right, which everyone has, to be tried by his or her peers, and it's regarded by most people as an absolute pillar of our constitution, our society, that some fundamental human rights should be above that.
' '.
.
for our present justice system to be in the hands of skilled, experienced, legal professionals like Justices.
The time has come for a radical overhaul of the system.
' Morning.
Tea, paper and post.
Oh, you are lovely.
Do we dare open the curtains? Oh! Bills.
Bills, bills, bills.
Ooh, there's one here for you! I hope you're not in any kind of trouble.
Why would I be in trouble? Her Majesty's Court Service.
What business would you have with them? Kristina! I've got to go! Come up and say goodbye! Taxi's here.
Got to go.
Come and say goodbye! Kristina! (SPEAKS SERBIAN) Bye, darling For you.
(SPEAKS SERBIAN) Mm-hm.
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Rashid Happy birthday to you! Blow! One big breath, go on! (LAUGHTER) (CELEBRATORY SINGING) Ooh! What is this? Birthday boy Oh! Money! 20 quid.
Keep that safe.
(KISSES RASHID) (HAPPY CHATTER) With a picture of a computer on it! She knows her grandson! Here, get on with them.
Dad? What? This is a summons for jury service.
What? It must be a mistake.
He can't do jury service.
No.
Not with his condition.
(DOOR BANGS, CHATTER) (PHONE RINGS) Hello? Lucy, have you left already? Yes.
Damn! What are you wearing? Wearing? The usual stuff.
Why? I'd better bring some of my own stuff, then.
Some Donna Karan.
What? Trouser suit, probably.
That'd be best.
Or something by Margaret Howell.
Who's Margaret Howell? I'm going to pretend you never said that! The point is, I'm gonna need you to look as much like me as you can.
Why? Move.
(WHISTLE BLOWS) (DOOR OPENS) She'll see you now.
I have been reading and re-reading your letter all morning.
In shock.
I wrote it in shock.
When did all this start? Nothing HAS started.
Yeah, well, all right.
The sentiment? The realisation? A month.
Maybe two.
And I have your word, nothing has happened? No lines have been crossed? No.
So, what do you want me to do? Um, I mentioned in my letter I've been summoned for jury service.
I can't lose a member of staff in the middle of a term.
I really wouldn't even mention this if I didn't think it was the best thing, the safest thing.
For everyone.
And then next term maybe we can look at the timetable and make sure I'm not teaching him again.
All right.
Go do this jury service, and take the time to get this out of your system.
Thank you.
He's just a boy, Katherine.
17 years old.
What do you see in him? (SIREN WAILS) There you are.
Now, I need to give you my passport and driving license.
For God's sake, don't lose them! This is a bloody nightmare.
I don't understand.
What's this all about? Jury service.
I've been summoned.
I know, I should've told you before, but what with everything that's been going on at work, it slipped my mind.
But you've got a meeting with the lawyers! Which is why I can't go and need you to go in my place, to defer.
Where? The Old Bailey.
What? Don't worry, it'll be fine.
Now, there's this whole section here about extenuating circumstances.
I think selling the company you've spent years building up qualifies as extenuating circumstances.
But I'm your assistant! I don't look anything like you.
Well, that's not true.
We're the same gender.
Same race.
But not the same age.
Well, if you er, if you pop these on, put your hair up There! Dead ringer.
Almost.
(SIREN) There is huge security surrounding this retrial of Alan Lane, which starts today.
It's the case that shocked the nation, as much for the details of the murders, but also for what it revealed about the private lives of the three women at the centre of it.
And police are already making extra resources available for what's already becoming a media frenzy.
Shoes? What on earth do you want my shoes for? Security, sir.
We've got to check for bombs.
In a shoe? Where have you been for the last five years? I don't know.
Garden, mostly.
Right, OK.
If you want to take the stairs to the fifth floor Who's next, please? I think there has been a mistake.
I have been sent this summons.
You'll have to take it up with the clerk.
Do you mind taking your shoes off, please? (DOOR CLANKS, KEYS JANGLE) You went all round the houses.
I told you that Mount Street was blocked.
You should have gone up the other way, round Furnival Street.
Honestly, how we ever got through Barely nine o'clock and playing to the gallery already! Morning, John.
15 quid from Liverpool Street is an absolute disgrace.
You should try cycling.
Oh, no, thank you.
The only exercise I take is walking after the coffins of my friends that take exercise.
Tres drole.
I hope your defence is every bit as witty and inventive.
It'll need to be.
He didn't do it, John.
Bollocks! I'll make mincemeat of you inside a week.
See you inside.
I'll just finish this.
What did my mother used to say about ladies who smoke in public? Probably something similar to what mine said about grown men wearing Lycra in public.
(CHUCKLES) Right, who's next? (INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENTS ON TANNOY) OK.
If you want to take the stairs to the fifth floor.
Who's next, please? I won't be going into court rooms.
I'm here to exempt myself.
I'm still going to need to see photo ID.
I know what you're going to say.
What? That none of us look like our photo ID? Certainly true in your case.
You're better in real life.
Clerk's desk's upstairs.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a warm welcome to the Old Bailey.
Right, in Court number one, please, Katherine Bulmore? Yes.
Paul Brierley? Here.
Hi there.
I've been summoned for jury service today, but forgot to decline by post.
Name? Vestey.
Theresa.
Kristina Bamford? Yes.
Jeffrey Livingstone? Here! I'm sorry, Theresa, we won't be able to accept your deferral this time.
Why not? Because you've deferred once in the past.
Have I? I mean, yes.
We had to do something.
People kept exempting themselves.
But I can't do it.
I've got letters from my lawyers, my bank Just hope you don't get picked.
Steve, can you take this lady to the waiting room, please? This way.
Rashid Jarwar? Theresa Vestey? Theresa Vestey? Last call for Theresa Vestey.
Theresa Vestey? God! (DOOR CLANKS OPEN) I swear by Almighty God I swear by Allah that I will faithfully try the defendant I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict .
.
and give a true verdict according to the evidence.
.
.
according to the evidence.
Would the defendant please stand? The particulars of the offence are that five years ago Alan Dennis Lane met and killed three women Holly Jackson, Anna Knight and Rebecca Cheung.
The charge is of three separate counts of murder.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty.
Members of the Jury, it is possible that many of you will recognise the defendant.
You may have read about him in newspapers and heard about the case on TV.
You will know he's already been tried for these crimes and convicted by another jury.
But following that conviction, serious questions arose about the integrity of the evidence.
The matter was referred to the Court of Appeal, and that Court decided that the defendant's conviction was unsafe and that he should be tried again.
Which is why you and I are here, to hear the case again.
To conduct a re-trial.
What went before matters not.
It is your duty to try this case on the evidence you hear in this court alone.
In this trial alone.
And with that, Mr Mallory.
Members of the Jury, I appear on behalf of the Crown.
The defendant is represented by my learned colleague, Ms Watts.
As you've already heard, this is a re-trial.
At the first trial your predecessors convicted the defendant and I have every confidence that you will too.
Why? Because the combination of direct and circumstantial evidence is simply undeniable.
Here are the facts.
Throughout the early months of 2006, Alan Lane, a man with a history of emotional instability, joined several internet dating websites.
Why? Because he was looking for company? Looking for love? No.
We suggest it's because Alan Lane was looking for women to kill.
'The first victim, Holly Jackson.
' Hi, it's me! 'Married woman, lonely in her marriage.
Of course, she didn't know the message was from Alan Lane.
' She knew her correspondent only as Valiant.
'Ms Jackson responded enthusiastically to Valiant's emails, joking that she'd always wanted to be rescued by a prince.
Tragically, Holly Jackson was not rescued by this Prince.
' She was brutally murdered by him.
A similar tragedy awaited Anna Knight.
'The junior manager of a South London estate agency, she too first contacted Lane via dating sites on the internet.
After a few introductory emails, she arranged to meet him for a drink.
But it was not a match made in heaven.
Afterwards she wrote about the encounter in her diary at home.
It did not make flattering reading.
Lane, however, was smitten.
He wanted to see the victim again.
He bombarded her with emails and phone calls which we will present as evidence.
The victim demurred, clearly and forcefully, not wishing to have further contact.
But rejection is not something that Alan Lane can live with.
' (ANNA SCREAMS) Lane threw the victim to the floor.
She didn't stand a chance.
Barely conscious, she was unable to resist as Lane proceeded to violently strangle her.
Strangulation was so violent, it caused a diffuse axonal injury common in Shaken Baby Syndrome, when the brain shakes around the skull injuries consistent with Holly Jackson's murder and tragically, also with the third victim, Rebecca Cheung.
Like the other victims, Rebecca Cheung first met Alan Lane on the internet.
She was desperately lonely and sought friendship and escape.
'On the evening before her death, Rebecca Cheung arranged to meet Alan Lane for a drink.
Several witnesses remember seeing them sitting together and leaving.
' But although they headed in separate directions, soon Alan Lane doubled back and followed her.
The Crown will show via CCTV footage that Lane not only followed her, he lay in wait and murdered her that night, dumping her body in public woodland.
Death was by asphyxiation and a blow to the back of the head.
We will show that Alan Lane was not only the only connection with each of these three victims, and the last person to see them alive, but that he also brutally murdered each of them.
Furthermore, we are confident that once you have heard our evidence, you will come to the same conclusion as your predecessors did and return, as they did, a unanimous verdict of guilty.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Taxi! (GIVES DESTINATION) I'm off to the bookies.
Take care, mate.
Jeffrey Livingstone.
Tahir Takana.
Tair? Um, Ta Ta-hir.
Tahir.
What kind of name's that? Sudanese.
Hm Well, when did you become English? Excuse me? I mean, you must have joined the club at some point.
Or else what would you be doing here as a juror? I asked them the same question.
But it turns out you don't need to be a citizen.
You just need to have been here five years.
What? I know.
And you have? Yes.
Six, actually.
Doing what? Trying desperately to get out.
Oh I need to get to America.
To join my brother.
But to get an American visa nowadays for an African Muslim, even one with a brother there, it is not easy.
So you're stuck here? Waiting? Yes.
Poor fellow.
Still, not too bad as waiting rooms go.
Weather's not much.
It's overcrowded.
It's expensive.
The infrastructure's falling apart, but er we have a free health service and a history of tolerance and open-mindedness.
We even let YOU tell us whether our murderers are guilty or not.
I fancy some pud.
Do you fancy some? No, thanks.
Sticky toffee? Are you sure? (LIVELY CHATTER) Where are we? We need to be Would you excuse me a moment? What are YOU doing here? Why didn't you tell me? What? That you'd exempted yourself before.
You didn't ask.
Theresa! Keep your voice down! I'm sorry.
I should've told you.
They picked me! Or YOU! I'm in bloody court! What? I'm a juror in a murder trial, and this is my lunch hour.
Oh, God! I know.
So I need you to explain it to the relevant authorities so we can clear it up.
No, I can't.
Why not? Well, firstly because I'm in what is probably the most important business meeting of my life, and second, to draw attention to ourselves, it'd be crazy! I mean, you're already sworn in, right? I know.
The only thing we can do is carry on.
Which is incredibly inconvenient.
What do I do without you in the office? The office? Who cares about the bloody office? Lucy! (LIVELY CHATTER) Thanks.
(SOFT HAWAIIAN MUSIC) Tropicana is our maximum-strength sun bed.
You've used it before? No.
Right, here's your token and your towel.
Will you be needing goggles? I don't have my own, if that's what you're asking.
That's £14.
99.
For a bit of plastic? I don't come up with the prices, sir.
If you have a complaint, you could write to head office.
Um (ROAR OF TRAFFIC) (RACING COMMENTARY) Hello, mate.
£5 both ways on number 5, please.
I'm feeling very lucky.
How long we got? About two minutes.
Two minutes.
(COMMENTARY CONTINUES) Can I help you? No.
I don't think so.
(SIREN WAILS) Members of the Jury, I'm sure you've all found occasion at some point, sitting in an aeroplane perhaps, surfing the web, using a mobile phone, to marvel at mankind's ingenuity, his capacity to create and invent achievements that make us feel better about ourselves and celebrate somehow the human condition and the condition of being human.
Equally, from time to time, I'm sure you've had occasion to despair at our infinite capacity to cock things up! (STIFLES A CHUCKLE) Bring shame upon ourselves.
Our disregard for the environment.
Our compulsion again and again to fight unnecessary and unjustifiable wars.
And, on a smaller scale, though no less shameful or unfortunate, when we preside over miscarriages of justice.
Such as the one that has brought us all together here in court today.
The Crown versus Alan Lane.
Because heaven knows, we're all to blame for this! It's my opinion that in court today there are only 13 blameless people The defendant, Alan Lane, and you, the 12 jurors.
Everyone else the politicians, the media, the police authorities, the institutions that make up the criminal justice system, are all guilty.
Alan Lane is the victim of a flawed system, and of a society desperately impatient to convict, to find a face, any face that fits.
We will show how, in that rush to convict, crucial lines of enquiry were never pursued, whereas other wholly unjustifiable lines of enquiry were given a level of credence that beggars belief, leading one to the inescapable conclusion that there were FOUR victims here Holly Jackson, Anna Knight, Rebecca Cheung, and yes, Alan Lane too.
This was an investigation that robbed an innocent man of his freedom, his career, his reputation, his dignity.
Alan Lane's only crime was that he was looking for love.
He deserves his life back and we, all of us, owe him an apology.
My Lord, that concludes the opening statement for the Defence.
Thank you, Ms Watts.
Ten o'clock tomorrow.
USHER: All rise.
Excuse me.
(RETCHES) (GASPS) BRIAN: I'll see you tomorrow, gents.
Bye.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Rashid! Rashid Jarwar! Well? How was it? OK.
Is that it? 'OK'? We're not allowed to talk about it.
What? Not even to me, your father? The man said.
Not even what kind of trial it is? No.
Not even whether it's a robbery or fraud or murder? Is it murder? (PHONE RINGS) It's only murder! I've just picked him up.
Triple murder? Did you hear that? It's a triple murder.
What do you want me to do? OK, I'll talk to them, get him off, explain No, no, I agree.
It's what I think too.
No! Rashid.
Rashid! He's just run off.
Rashid! Rashid! I don't know where, I'm looking.
Hold on.
(CAR HORN) He's gone! TANNOY: 'This station is Westbury Park.
' I'm home, Mum! (BIRDSONG) (RINGING TONE) I've found the one.
He's perfect.
Right age.
Lives at home with his mother.
I'll make a start tomorrow.
(CALL ENDS) (RUNNING WATER) (DISTANT SIREN) (DOG BARKS) Good girl.
Is that nice? Dear Alan.
I am writing to you as someone who has spent eight hours in close proximity to you today.
Hail Mary, full of grace 'I saw from the chain around your neck you were wearing a crucifix.
You kissed it and I saw your eyes close to pray.
I'm hoping, Alan, from your cross and your prayer, that you have a strong faith in God.
Today I live with God inside my heart and soul.
I keep my life simple.
And now it's time for me to sleep.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and I wish you peace, strength and hope.
Have faith, Alan.
You are in my prayers.
God bless Ann.
' WARDEN: Lights out! Good night.
Armed police! Armed police! Get down on the floor! On the floor, arms round your back! I'm innocent! Do you hear me? I don't know any Rebecca! You have nothing, despite the best efforts of your colleagues in the past.
(KATHERINE GIGGLES) I can confirm what you probably already know.
You know it's our job to look after you.
And you know because of your condition, you need a little extra support.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
'And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
' Jail, Theresa! For getting you off jury service! I met someone today.
Natasha Williams.
Tasha.
Paul Brierley Paul.
Is she bonny? She is!
(NEWS AT TEN THEME) Good evening.
It was the case that shocked the nation, but nearly five years after being found guilty of murdering three women, Alan Lane was today back in the headlines as the Court of Appeal dramatically overturned his conviction for the killings of Holly Jackson, Anna Knight and Rebecca Cheung.
The case will now go to back to the Old Bailey, with all three murders being retried, effectively starting from scratch.
The successful appeal is being seen as a personal victory for controversial barrister Emma Watts, who replaced the legal team that represented Lane at the original trial.
We're enormously encouraged by these developments.
My client, Alan Lane, is innocent.
The fight to clear his name goes on.
Thank you.
(BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS) This is a grave setback for British justice and for the families of the victims, to whom our hearts go out at this terrible time.
I have nothing more to say at the moment.
Thank you.
(CLAMOUR) The case will now once again go before a jury, which won't please Justice Minister Eleanor Duncan.
She today launched another scathing attack on trial by jury, calling it outdated, exploitative, inefficient, unreliable and prone to corruption and abuse.
RADIO 4: 'Here is an 800-year-old right, which everyone has, to be tried by his or her peers, and it's regarded by most people as an absolute pillar of our constitution, our society, that some fundamental human rights should be above that.
' '.
.
for our present justice system to be in the hands of skilled, experienced, legal professionals like Justices.
The time has come for a radical overhaul of the system.
' Morning.
Tea, paper and post.
Oh, you are lovely.
Do we dare open the curtains? Oh! Bills.
Bills, bills, bills.
Ooh, there's one here for you! I hope you're not in any kind of trouble.
Why would I be in trouble? Her Majesty's Court Service.
What business would you have with them? Kristina! I've got to go! Come up and say goodbye! Taxi's here.
Got to go.
Come and say goodbye! Kristina! (SPEAKS SERBIAN) Bye, darling For you.
(SPEAKS SERBIAN) Mm-hm.
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Rashid Happy birthday to you! Blow! One big breath, go on! (LAUGHTER) (CELEBRATORY SINGING) Ooh! What is this? Birthday boy Oh! Money! 20 quid.
Keep that safe.
(KISSES RASHID) (HAPPY CHATTER) With a picture of a computer on it! She knows her grandson! Here, get on with them.
Dad? What? This is a summons for jury service.
What? It must be a mistake.
He can't do jury service.
No.
Not with his condition.
(DOOR BANGS, CHATTER) (PHONE RINGS) Hello? Lucy, have you left already? Yes.
Damn! What are you wearing? Wearing? The usual stuff.
Why? I'd better bring some of my own stuff, then.
Some Donna Karan.
What? Trouser suit, probably.
That'd be best.
Or something by Margaret Howell.
Who's Margaret Howell? I'm going to pretend you never said that! The point is, I'm gonna need you to look as much like me as you can.
Why? Move.
(WHISTLE BLOWS) (DOOR OPENS) She'll see you now.
I have been reading and re-reading your letter all morning.
In shock.
I wrote it in shock.
When did all this start? Nothing HAS started.
Yeah, well, all right.
The sentiment? The realisation? A month.
Maybe two.
And I have your word, nothing has happened? No lines have been crossed? No.
So, what do you want me to do? Um, I mentioned in my letter I've been summoned for jury service.
I can't lose a member of staff in the middle of a term.
I really wouldn't even mention this if I didn't think it was the best thing, the safest thing.
For everyone.
And then next term maybe we can look at the timetable and make sure I'm not teaching him again.
All right.
Go do this jury service, and take the time to get this out of your system.
Thank you.
He's just a boy, Katherine.
17 years old.
What do you see in him? (SIREN WAILS) There you are.
Now, I need to give you my passport and driving license.
For God's sake, don't lose them! This is a bloody nightmare.
I don't understand.
What's this all about? Jury service.
I've been summoned.
I know, I should've told you before, but what with everything that's been going on at work, it slipped my mind.
But you've got a meeting with the lawyers! Which is why I can't go and need you to go in my place, to defer.
Where? The Old Bailey.
What? Don't worry, it'll be fine.
Now, there's this whole section here about extenuating circumstances.
I think selling the company you've spent years building up qualifies as extenuating circumstances.
But I'm your assistant! I don't look anything like you.
Well, that's not true.
We're the same gender.
Same race.
But not the same age.
Well, if you er, if you pop these on, put your hair up There! Dead ringer.
Almost.
(SIREN) There is huge security surrounding this retrial of Alan Lane, which starts today.
It's the case that shocked the nation, as much for the details of the murders, but also for what it revealed about the private lives of the three women at the centre of it.
And police are already making extra resources available for what's already becoming a media frenzy.
Shoes? What on earth do you want my shoes for? Security, sir.
We've got to check for bombs.
In a shoe? Where have you been for the last five years? I don't know.
Garden, mostly.
Right, OK.
If you want to take the stairs to the fifth floor Who's next, please? I think there has been a mistake.
I have been sent this summons.
You'll have to take it up with the clerk.
Do you mind taking your shoes off, please? (DOOR CLANKS, KEYS JANGLE) You went all round the houses.
I told you that Mount Street was blocked.
You should have gone up the other way, round Furnival Street.
Honestly, how we ever got through Barely nine o'clock and playing to the gallery already! Morning, John.
15 quid from Liverpool Street is an absolute disgrace.
You should try cycling.
Oh, no, thank you.
The only exercise I take is walking after the coffins of my friends that take exercise.
Tres drole.
I hope your defence is every bit as witty and inventive.
It'll need to be.
He didn't do it, John.
Bollocks! I'll make mincemeat of you inside a week.
See you inside.
I'll just finish this.
What did my mother used to say about ladies who smoke in public? Probably something similar to what mine said about grown men wearing Lycra in public.
(CHUCKLES) Right, who's next? (INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENTS ON TANNOY) OK.
If you want to take the stairs to the fifth floor.
Who's next, please? I won't be going into court rooms.
I'm here to exempt myself.
I'm still going to need to see photo ID.
I know what you're going to say.
What? That none of us look like our photo ID? Certainly true in your case.
You're better in real life.
Clerk's desk's upstairs.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a warm welcome to the Old Bailey.
Right, in Court number one, please, Katherine Bulmore? Yes.
Paul Brierley? Here.
Hi there.
I've been summoned for jury service today, but forgot to decline by post.
Name? Vestey.
Theresa.
Kristina Bamford? Yes.
Jeffrey Livingstone? Here! I'm sorry, Theresa, we won't be able to accept your deferral this time.
Why not? Because you've deferred once in the past.
Have I? I mean, yes.
We had to do something.
People kept exempting themselves.
But I can't do it.
I've got letters from my lawyers, my bank Just hope you don't get picked.
Steve, can you take this lady to the waiting room, please? This way.
Rashid Jarwar? Theresa Vestey? Theresa Vestey? Last call for Theresa Vestey.
Theresa Vestey? God! (DOOR CLANKS OPEN) I swear by Almighty God I swear by Allah that I will faithfully try the defendant I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict .
.
and give a true verdict according to the evidence.
.
.
according to the evidence.
Would the defendant please stand? The particulars of the offence are that five years ago Alan Dennis Lane met and killed three women Holly Jackson, Anna Knight and Rebecca Cheung.
The charge is of three separate counts of murder.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty.
Members of the Jury, it is possible that many of you will recognise the defendant.
You may have read about him in newspapers and heard about the case on TV.
You will know he's already been tried for these crimes and convicted by another jury.
But following that conviction, serious questions arose about the integrity of the evidence.
The matter was referred to the Court of Appeal, and that Court decided that the defendant's conviction was unsafe and that he should be tried again.
Which is why you and I are here, to hear the case again.
To conduct a re-trial.
What went before matters not.
It is your duty to try this case on the evidence you hear in this court alone.
In this trial alone.
And with that, Mr Mallory.
Members of the Jury, I appear on behalf of the Crown.
The defendant is represented by my learned colleague, Ms Watts.
As you've already heard, this is a re-trial.
At the first trial your predecessors convicted the defendant and I have every confidence that you will too.
Why? Because the combination of direct and circumstantial evidence is simply undeniable.
Here are the facts.
Throughout the early months of 2006, Alan Lane, a man with a history of emotional instability, joined several internet dating websites.
Why? Because he was looking for company? Looking for love? No.
We suggest it's because Alan Lane was looking for women to kill.
'The first victim, Holly Jackson.
' Hi, it's me! 'Married woman, lonely in her marriage.
Of course, she didn't know the message was from Alan Lane.
' She knew her correspondent only as Valiant.
'Ms Jackson responded enthusiastically to Valiant's emails, joking that she'd always wanted to be rescued by a prince.
Tragically, Holly Jackson was not rescued by this Prince.
' She was brutally murdered by him.
A similar tragedy awaited Anna Knight.
'The junior manager of a South London estate agency, she too first contacted Lane via dating sites on the internet.
After a few introductory emails, she arranged to meet him for a drink.
But it was not a match made in heaven.
Afterwards she wrote about the encounter in her diary at home.
It did not make flattering reading.
Lane, however, was smitten.
He wanted to see the victim again.
He bombarded her with emails and phone calls which we will present as evidence.
The victim demurred, clearly and forcefully, not wishing to have further contact.
But rejection is not something that Alan Lane can live with.
' (ANNA SCREAMS) Lane threw the victim to the floor.
She didn't stand a chance.
Barely conscious, she was unable to resist as Lane proceeded to violently strangle her.
Strangulation was so violent, it caused a diffuse axonal injury common in Shaken Baby Syndrome, when the brain shakes around the skull injuries consistent with Holly Jackson's murder and tragically, also with the third victim, Rebecca Cheung.
Like the other victims, Rebecca Cheung first met Alan Lane on the internet.
She was desperately lonely and sought friendship and escape.
'On the evening before her death, Rebecca Cheung arranged to meet Alan Lane for a drink.
Several witnesses remember seeing them sitting together and leaving.
' But although they headed in separate directions, soon Alan Lane doubled back and followed her.
The Crown will show via CCTV footage that Lane not only followed her, he lay in wait and murdered her that night, dumping her body in public woodland.
Death was by asphyxiation and a blow to the back of the head.
We will show that Alan Lane was not only the only connection with each of these three victims, and the last person to see them alive, but that he also brutally murdered each of them.
Furthermore, we are confident that once you have heard our evidence, you will come to the same conclusion as your predecessors did and return, as they did, a unanimous verdict of guilty.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Taxi! (GIVES DESTINATION) I'm off to the bookies.
Take care, mate.
Jeffrey Livingstone.
Tahir Takana.
Tair? Um, Ta Ta-hir.
Tahir.
What kind of name's that? Sudanese.
Hm Well, when did you become English? Excuse me? I mean, you must have joined the club at some point.
Or else what would you be doing here as a juror? I asked them the same question.
But it turns out you don't need to be a citizen.
You just need to have been here five years.
What? I know.
And you have? Yes.
Six, actually.
Doing what? Trying desperately to get out.
Oh I need to get to America.
To join my brother.
But to get an American visa nowadays for an African Muslim, even one with a brother there, it is not easy.
So you're stuck here? Waiting? Yes.
Poor fellow.
Still, not too bad as waiting rooms go.
Weather's not much.
It's overcrowded.
It's expensive.
The infrastructure's falling apart, but er we have a free health service and a history of tolerance and open-mindedness.
We even let YOU tell us whether our murderers are guilty or not.
I fancy some pud.
Do you fancy some? No, thanks.
Sticky toffee? Are you sure? (LIVELY CHATTER) Where are we? We need to be Would you excuse me a moment? What are YOU doing here? Why didn't you tell me? What? That you'd exempted yourself before.
You didn't ask.
Theresa! Keep your voice down! I'm sorry.
I should've told you.
They picked me! Or YOU! I'm in bloody court! What? I'm a juror in a murder trial, and this is my lunch hour.
Oh, God! I know.
So I need you to explain it to the relevant authorities so we can clear it up.
No, I can't.
Why not? Well, firstly because I'm in what is probably the most important business meeting of my life, and second, to draw attention to ourselves, it'd be crazy! I mean, you're already sworn in, right? I know.
The only thing we can do is carry on.
Which is incredibly inconvenient.
What do I do without you in the office? The office? Who cares about the bloody office? Lucy! (LIVELY CHATTER) Thanks.
(SOFT HAWAIIAN MUSIC) Tropicana is our maximum-strength sun bed.
You've used it before? No.
Right, here's your token and your towel.
Will you be needing goggles? I don't have my own, if that's what you're asking.
That's £14.
99.
For a bit of plastic? I don't come up with the prices, sir.
If you have a complaint, you could write to head office.
Um (ROAR OF TRAFFIC) (RACING COMMENTARY) Hello, mate.
£5 both ways on number 5, please.
I'm feeling very lucky.
How long we got? About two minutes.
Two minutes.
(COMMENTARY CONTINUES) Can I help you? No.
I don't think so.
(SIREN WAILS) Members of the Jury, I'm sure you've all found occasion at some point, sitting in an aeroplane perhaps, surfing the web, using a mobile phone, to marvel at mankind's ingenuity, his capacity to create and invent achievements that make us feel better about ourselves and celebrate somehow the human condition and the condition of being human.
Equally, from time to time, I'm sure you've had occasion to despair at our infinite capacity to cock things up! (STIFLES A CHUCKLE) Bring shame upon ourselves.
Our disregard for the environment.
Our compulsion again and again to fight unnecessary and unjustifiable wars.
And, on a smaller scale, though no less shameful or unfortunate, when we preside over miscarriages of justice.
Such as the one that has brought us all together here in court today.
The Crown versus Alan Lane.
Because heaven knows, we're all to blame for this! It's my opinion that in court today there are only 13 blameless people The defendant, Alan Lane, and you, the 12 jurors.
Everyone else the politicians, the media, the police authorities, the institutions that make up the criminal justice system, are all guilty.
Alan Lane is the victim of a flawed system, and of a society desperately impatient to convict, to find a face, any face that fits.
We will show how, in that rush to convict, crucial lines of enquiry were never pursued, whereas other wholly unjustifiable lines of enquiry were given a level of credence that beggars belief, leading one to the inescapable conclusion that there were FOUR victims here Holly Jackson, Anna Knight, Rebecca Cheung, and yes, Alan Lane too.
This was an investigation that robbed an innocent man of his freedom, his career, his reputation, his dignity.
Alan Lane's only crime was that he was looking for love.
He deserves his life back and we, all of us, owe him an apology.
My Lord, that concludes the opening statement for the Defence.
Thank you, Ms Watts.
Ten o'clock tomorrow.
USHER: All rise.
Excuse me.
(RETCHES) (GASPS) BRIAN: I'll see you tomorrow, gents.
Bye.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Rashid! Rashid Jarwar! Well? How was it? OK.
Is that it? 'OK'? We're not allowed to talk about it.
What? Not even to me, your father? The man said.
Not even what kind of trial it is? No.
Not even whether it's a robbery or fraud or murder? Is it murder? (PHONE RINGS) It's only murder! I've just picked him up.
Triple murder? Did you hear that? It's a triple murder.
What do you want me to do? OK, I'll talk to them, get him off, explain No, no, I agree.
It's what I think too.
No! Rashid.
Rashid! He's just run off.
Rashid! Rashid! I don't know where, I'm looking.
Hold on.
(CAR HORN) He's gone! TANNOY: 'This station is Westbury Park.
' I'm home, Mum! (BIRDSONG) (RINGING TONE) I've found the one.
He's perfect.
Right age.
Lives at home with his mother.
I'll make a start tomorrow.
(CALL ENDS) (RUNNING WATER) (DISTANT SIREN) (DOG BARKS) Good girl.
Is that nice? Dear Alan.
I am writing to you as someone who has spent eight hours in close proximity to you today.
Hail Mary, full of grace 'I saw from the chain around your neck you were wearing a crucifix.
You kissed it and I saw your eyes close to pray.
I'm hoping, Alan, from your cross and your prayer, that you have a strong faith in God.
Today I live with God inside my heart and soul.
I keep my life simple.
And now it's time for me to sleep.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and I wish you peace, strength and hope.
Have faith, Alan.
You are in my prayers.
God bless Ann.
' WARDEN: Lights out! Good night.
Armed police! Armed police! Get down on the floor! On the floor, arms round your back! I'm innocent! Do you hear me? I don't know any Rebecca! You have nothing, despite the best efforts of your colleagues in the past.
(KATHERINE GIGGLES) I can confirm what you probably already know.
You know it's our job to look after you.
And you know because of your condition, you need a little extra support.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
'And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
' Jail, Theresa! For getting you off jury service! I met someone today.
Natasha Williams.
Tasha.
Paul Brierley Paul.
Is she bonny? She is!