Silent Witness (1996) s28e06 Episode Script

This programme contains some strong language
and scenes which some viewers may find upsetting
Lucy, it's Sally Alden
from chambers. Is Faith there?
Are you trying to get us both killed?!
Maybe she got ill
or something's happened.
NIKKI: The amputation
may have been surgical.
Could be the person's still alive.
JACK: They took a risk,
delivering in person.
- MARCIE: What's your wife's name?
- Faith Oscott.
- NIKKI: I know Faith.
- Oh, Nikki.
NIKKI: She's formidable in court.
KIT: Say someone is keeping
Faith alive, what do they want?
It's odd they haven't sent
some sort of message.
You end up back inside,
- we're done.
- Amber
Customer!
This is David Whitley,
our head of chambers.
Lucy got in touch to ask
about Faith's earnings,
- to obtain life insurance.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
MARCIE: Do you recognise this man?
We believe he's been harassing Faith.
Police! Stay where you are!
Stefan Chirkov, I'm arresting you
on suspicion of kidnap.
Why's your DNA under Faith Oscott's
fingernail?
No comment.
KIT: His deleted history
shows visits to a forum
where members share fantasies
about eating
- human flesh.
- Good God!
Delivery for you, Sally.
GASPS
SIRENS WAIL
Please step back.
REPORTERS CLAMOUR
Faith Oscott was a rising star
here at Elm Court Chambers.
A brilliant junior barrister
working in the most challenging
area of the justice system.
An incalculable loss.
But I want to pay tribute to Faith
not just as a valued colleague
but as a wife to Lucy
..a mother to Josh,
and as a much-loved friend.
Thank you.
You OK?
I'm fine.
You know, I had to deal
with a severed head once.
Dug up in a back garden.
Foxes had been at it.
Very grim.
It was back in the day
when you had to prove
that you were as hard-nosed
as the boys.
And I didn't even know the victim.
It's now routine
to offer welfare support
to most services.
Most services.
Still not pathologists.
LAUGHS
Well, you know doctors.
We're much better
at telling other people
what's good for them.
True.
What I'm trying to say is,
if you ever feel the need
to talk to someone on your own account,
then just give me the nod.
I'll arrange it.
Whoever sent that box
wants to shock, to derail.
Absolutely.
But it's not going to work.
The head is that of a well-nourished
Caucasian female.
Facial characteristics indicate
that it belongs to Faith Oscott.
MARCIE: The date on the box
means Stefan Chirkov
could have arranged the
delivery before he was in custody.
DI FISHER: Any evidence Faith
was at his bedsit or allotment?
Not so far.
The tissue looks more red than normal.
Not quite cherry red, as in
carbon monoxide poisoning.
More red due to haemolysed blood.
What does that mean?
Early decompositional change.
Or the head may have been frozen.
Like the hand and the ear,
the decapitation was done cleanly
with anatomical precision.
A sharp blade was used to cut
the skin and soft tissue,
and a serrated blade to remove
the head completely.
Severed with notable skill,
the decapitation was made
between the third and fourth
cervical vertebrae.
Severed from the front?
With the perpetrator looking
straight into her face?
Most likely, yes.
That'd be tough to do, wouldn't it?
Extremely.
Although, surprisingly,
if you've got the skill,
it's the easiest way
to carry out a decapitation.
There's some debris here in her hair.
What is it?
Vomit, I'd say.
Can you get DNA from that?
The acidity of the stomach
will make it tricky
..but it's worth a shot.
Whose DNA? Faith's?
Could be.
Or could lead us to her killer.
If the killer threw up,
perhaps face-to-face decapitation
wasn't so easy after all.
The fibres from this blue towel
match those on the ear parcel
sent to Lucy Khan.
Can the towel be linked to Stefan?
No evidence of that.
Each dismemberment shows
a remarkable level of surgical skill.
Are we sure
that Stefan has the ability?
He's a trained veterinary nurse
with experience of theatre.
His work with animal prey
shows butchery skills.
How did Faith die? Do you know?
It's hard to say
without the rest of the body,
but the conjunctival petechial
and scleral haemorrhages
suggest an asphyxial death.
Possibly strangulation.
So the amputations happened
after death?
Yes.
That's something, at least.
Why do you think the body's
been cut up like this?
Well, it is peculiar
that the parts have been
separated like this.
Dismemberment is typically done
soon after death
so that the body can be
disposed of more easily.
- That doesn't fit with the ear.
- No.
Usually, the body is
separated into six parts -
the two upper and two lower
limbs are removed first
to get them out of the way,
then the head and torso.
There's also aggressive dismemberment,
where mutilations
have been carried out in rage.
I think these dismemberments
are too clean,
too controlled for that.
Agreed.
There is also
necromantic dismemberment,
where body parts are kept as a trophy,
a keepsake.
Or for cannibalism.
DI FISHER: Faith is dead.
This is now a murder investigation.
No.
- No!
- When did you last see her?
Stefan?
Last week.
Some time.
Which day?
- The day she disappeared.
- Where?
By the river near her office.
She likes to take a run before work.
You knew her routine?
I was arrested
for assaulting a client
who racially abused me.
I couldn't afford a lawyer,
so Faith advised me on what
to do, how to defend myself.
What happened at the river?
I'd had another letter saying
my trial was delayed again.
Faith stopped
coming to the law centre.
Faith! Please, my trial
has been delayed.
- I don't know what to do.
- I'm so sorry
- And then she ran on.
- So sorry.
And what did you do?
I went after her,
- to apologise for scaring her.
- No!
I never meant to scare her.
What did she say?
No!
She pushed me away.
And scratched my arm.
Look, I'm I'm seen as
a stranger in this country.
Justice isn't for people like me.
Faith tried to help
when no-one else would.
I'd never hurt her.
Never.
TV ON
Sometimes they hunt alone,
but usually in a pride,
working together,
stalk around to kill their prey.
Today, our teams are shopping
here at this antiques fair
in Newark
TV OFF
This ends now!
FAITH: This has got to stop!
Faith!
PHONE BUZZES
BUZZING CONTINUES
CALL REJECTED
CLATTER
OBJECT FALLS AND BREAKS
PURRS
SIGHS
Jasper.
Jasper
What are you doing?
COMPUTER BEEPS
MOUSE CLICKS
MOUSE CLICKS
We've tested all the knives
- recovered from Stefan's flat.
- HARRIET: Yes.
And if you look at the scan
of the decapitation alongside
the marks made by Stefan's knives,
you'll see there isn't the same defect
in the teeth of the blade.
None of these knives were used
in the dismemberments.
I've got CCTV
from the delivery company.
- Nice one.
- From the date on the box
..this is the sender here.
That's too grainy.
- Run it again.
- Mm-hm.
Look under his hat.
This guy has hair.
See if you can get clearer CCTV
from surrounding streets.
- Mm-hm.
- Boss
..this guy's definitely not Stefan.
Bail him.
HARRIET SINGS
You must be able to recite it by now.
I don't want any more surprises
in front of the jury.
HARRIET: Is that the MS murder?
I'm back in the witness box later.
Which feels more like a dock, I expect.
The silk will rip you to shreds
and then insist on buying you
a drink after.
- That was certainly Faith.
- Mmm.
Do you know my Alan was a barrister?
He could argue black was white,
and I would believe him.
He used to drive me mad.
Well, this KC claims
that the victim's MS
was a factor in her death.
I've checked and double-checked
my findings,
but I can't see it.
A hyoid fracture.
Primarily caused
by manual strangulation.
The KC quoted from a study
where a proportion of hyoid fractures
can be attributed to a fall.
The Dr Hawton paper?
I can't find peer reviews anywhere.
HARRIET CHUCKLES
I had the pleasure
of Dr Hawton's company
at a Royal College dinner once.
He sent the lamb back twice.
It was charcoal before he tucked in.
CHUCKLES
HARRIET SINGS
Go on, admit it,
Chopin's growing on you.
Yeah.
Like penicillium.
LINE RINGS
Dylan, rebook that 2pm
with Sharps solicitors in court.
SLOW PIANO MUSIC
Before you go - special delivery.
Go get 'em.
Do you accept, Dr Alexander,
there is an alternative version
of events?
In fact, the long-standing GP
to the family
has told this court
that because of her MS,
Glenda Rose was prone to falls.
Maybe so, but in my view,
a fall did not cause her death.
Were you there? Huh?
No, you fucking weren't!
You know sod all, you brainless cow.
GAVEL FALLS
Mr Rose,
I will not tolerate abuse of witnesses.
Another word
and you'll be back in a cell.
Do you need a minute, Dr Alexander?
I'm fine, thank you, my lady.
Remind us of your point, Mr Shah.
Is it not the case, Dr Alexander,
that each one
of the deceased's injuries
could be linked back
to her medical condition?
No. It remains my view
that the hyoid bone in Mrs Rose's neck
was fractured by force.
But we know the fracture
could have been accidental
because of Dr Hawton's study.
A study that was discredited
by peer review
in the New England Journal
Of Forensic Medicine.
It only considered falls from a height.
Glenda Rose could not stand
without help.
In my opinion,
her injuries were inflicted
by someone else.
Dr Alexander!
Just wait.
I want to thank you.
For telling everyone
what's really been going on.
Me and my sisters,
for years we've been trying
to get my mum help,
get her away from him.
She was too scared to leave,
and no-one would believe
how bad it was.
I'm sorry to hear that.
It won't bring her back, but
..at least if that animal
goes to jail
..we'll get justice for our mum.
I hope so.
Thank you.
I've got a way better image
of the guy who sent the box.
It's taken from CCTV
two streets away
from the parcel drop-off.
- Excellent.
- I'm smarter than you look.
- Run it through RFR.
- Yep.
Hmm. Perry Lorne.
Convicted of GBH.
Released on licence six months ago.
Recent caution for vagrancy.
KEYBOARD CLICKS
FAINTLY: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry.
- Jack?
Uh-huh?
I've found something
in Faith's voicemails.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Who's that?
Lucy.
Faith's wife.
ALERT TONE ON COMPUTER
Marcie, RFR alert on Perry Lorne.
He's heading west
towards Bethnal Green.
ALL: Cheers!
Babe, is that your dad?
POLICE CALL OU
Dad!
POLICE SHOU
- Get off!
- Come here!
Stop resisting!
Get off me! Get off me!
Perry Lorne, I'm arresting you on
suspicion of the murder of Faith Oscott.
- PERRY: I'm sorry. I love you.
- It may harm your defence
Thanks.
I need to take a swab for DNA.
Yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Nice tat.
CLEARS HIS THROAT.
It's my daughter.
EXHALES
What's in the box, Perry?
No comment.
It's a human head.
How did a human head get in that box?
I I dunno.
I got chatting to some bloke.
He paid me to post it.
Were you involved in this?
No, no, no. No, no way.
All I did was deliver a parcel
to a house and then the box.
That's it.
If your DNA is on these body parts,
we will find it.
It was him.
Proper.
Trust me, I know mental.
They put me
on the nutters' wing inside.
Why was that?
I got banged up for a fight.
I couldn't get legal aid.
Cou-Couldn't afford a brief,
so I defended myself.
English law best in the world?
Fucking joke.
Describe the man who gave you
the packages.
Tall, white.
I don't know.
I'm not good with faces, am I?
Kit's located CCTV of Perry Lorne.
He was nowhere near Snaresbrook
at the time Faith went missing.
Send him on his way.
You sure, boss?
He's said all he's gonna say.
We've got nothing to keep him.
Then let's put him under obs.
You do know
how much surveillance costs?
Why don't we run it by the commander?
Forget it.
With friends like that
No, she's under a lot of pressure to
cut costs and still get a result.
Then she needs her best troops onside.
Let's discuss this with the
client before we go any further.
- Give me a minute.
- Sure.
What are you doing back?
Driving myself mad at home.
That box was addressed to you.
What if you're in danger too?
I feel safer here - with everyone.
You need to get away.
Until this is over.
Where will I go?
There's always my place in Como.
We've had such happy times
there over the years.
We have.
And here.
Do you remember when we first came?
Grafting into the night.
Living off kebabs.
You hounding every solicitor
in town to get me work.
You've no idea.
I'm grateful
..how, even now
..you still take care
of every little detail here.
Why don't I come with you?
What about Julia?
Let me worry about that.
- All right?
- Jack!
Look at this.
- Is that Faith's car?
- Mm-hm.
Via ANPR north of Epping Forest.
I thought there were no more sightings.
Yes, because Faith's registration
- was hidden by a HGV.
- Hmm.
From here, I plotted possible
routes along back roads
- without ANPR.
- Mm-hm.
The Vauxhall's picked up
on a speed camera here
and then on CCTV,
only now, buckle in,
it's not Faith driving the car.
It's an IC1 male.
Too low res for an RFR.
Wait. I'll keep going
and I'll find more.
Back at it.
GATE CREAKS OPEN
I just, er
They got me on CCTV.
I just need a little more cash.
You know? Just
They've seen my face.
GATE CLOSES QUIETLY
Don't tell me -
the other guy's mincemeat?
Up to the jury now.
PHONE CHIMES
Oh!
ANPR alert.
Faith's vehicle is on the move.
- No way.
- From where?
A village near Epping Forest.
Right.
SIRENS WAIL
Jack
Jack, leave it.
The air team saw
a man leaving the scene,
then lost sight in the forest.
The dog unit's en route
to search the woods.
We've got a body?
Some remains, yes.
Is the head missing?
And the hands.
We've found her.
The head and hands
have been disarticulated
through the joints.
Like the other parts?
It's difficult to say
with the heat artifact.
Not quite as clean, though.
More rushed, perhaps.
But again the serrated blade.
We can scan the points
of disarticulation
to see if they match.
It's a watch, I think.
Genitalia is heat retracted.
The body appears to be male.
Male?
The internal examination
will confirm biological sex.
So who the hell is this?
We need to lift the body
to check the underside.
- Shall I hold it here?
- Yes, please.
There's preserved skin.
What colour? Can you tell?
Looks Caucasian.
I think there's a tattoo.
Looks like a word ending in
..E-R.
Amber.
Do you recognise it?
It looked like this when new.
I gave it to my dad
the last Christmas he was home.
Can I see him?
I wouldn't advise that.
His body was very badly damaged
in the fire.
Are you all right?
Can I get you some water?
I'm so sorry for your loss, Amber.
I kind of knew something
like this was gonna happen.
Stealing and begging, it wasn't him.
If you'd met him, you'd know.
Have you ever seen your dad
with this man?
No, I don't think so.
Take your time. Have a good look.
How about now?
Kind of looks like Liam.
Who's Liam?
He works for my boss at the salon.
Up until recently. Just
They had an argument,
so he got chucked out.
You think
You think Liam did this?
We don't know yet.
Did your dad visit you at the salon?
TEARFULLY: A few times, yeah.
To be honest
..I stopped him coming
..because
..because I was so ashamed.
SOBS
We should've had the resources
to keep tabs on Perry.
This cash-strapped justice,
I'm so done with it.
Seriously?
My girlfriend reckons
I should quit, so
Maybe she's right.
That would be a real loss.
Good news.
We found the insurance black box
behind the dashboard of Faith's car.
Still in one piece?
Good enough to access
the location data.
Where's the car been?
So, this was the last
ANPR sighting here.
We know it then travelled
a further three miles
to this CCTV spot, then nothing.
Looking at the data,
it stayed put at a house
on this village street here.
- Whose house?
- It's registered
- to a Beverley Green.
- Liam Green
is logged on the police database.
What's his connection to Faith?
He was recently acquitted
of murdering his girlfriend.
Faith was prosecuting counsel.
- Armed police!
- Armed police!
Clear!
Clear!
Clear!
Clear!
Clear!
MARCIE: It's like some weird time warp.
This is some retro shit.
LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS
Blue towel.
MARCIE: Neighbour says
Bev Green died a month ago.
Liam is her nephew
Jesus.
We'll need LED scene lamps.
Scene lamps. Quickly, please.
Jack? Over here.
Jack!
And there it is.
Here
What is it?
Looks like head of a Caucasian male
..torso of a Caucasian female.
MARCIE: We've found Faith's body.
And her wedding ring.
LUCY SOBS
Thank you.
It'll be a few weeks before
we can release her to you.
Do you recognise this man?
No.
His name's Liam Green.
Does that mean anything to you?
Faith prosecuted him
for a domestic homicide.
He was acquitted.
Oh Uh
Faith hated losing, but she was
crushed by that one.
Some issue with a witness, I think.
Not guilty!
Mr Green, you're free to go.
LUCY: Faith was convinced
she should've turned it around.
I told her she was exhausted,
needed a break,
but, as usual, she wouldn't listen.
We understand you left messages
on Faith's phone
after she went missing.
Yeah.
To see where she was.
The last voicemail is one
of you saying you were sorry.
What is it?
The reason Faith took on prosecutions
is because we have debts
huge debts.
OK.
Everyone thinks
that barristers are rich.
But with cuts to legal aid,
Faith's defence work plummeted. She
We maxed out our cards,
we borrowed all we could.
So what did you do?
Faith's clerk
Sally,
she knew we were in trouble. She
She suggested I go to this ex-client,
Travis Tait, for a loan.
We We were about to
lose our house. Josh's home.
So
So, without Faith
Without Faith knowing
Um
It's all right, take your time.
I borrowed enough to pay off our cards.
It was such a relief, to
..to see a way out.
But then Travis was piling on
the interest,
hounding me with messages, and
..Faith found out.
What happened?
She was furious.
- Do you have any idea what you've done?
- What did you want me to do?
She said that Travis was part
of this big crime family,
and I'd made her cross a line.
What choice did I have?
She'd She'd left me
to deal with everything alone.
I'm working all hours
I'd had enough.
I told her to get out.
To leave.
Did Travis ever threaten Faith?
He swore all this
was nothing to do with him.
As long as he gets his cash,
he doesn't care.
I didn't tell you
..because I thought
he might come after Josh.
DI FISHER: Travis Tait insists
Liam no longer works for him.
I got the feeling Liam went rogue.
All right, thanks. No sign of
Liam at his known addresses.
Anything from his aunt's house?
No. Looks like he's cut and run.
I did find this in Faith's bag.
What's on it?
A spreadsheet of court cases
going back years
and encrypted legal docs.
Kit's trying to crack
the passwords now.
- MARCIE: Nice.
- We have a DNA hit
on our canal femur.
It's partial,
but it's enough to generate
a match with Ahmet Sadik.
Last year, Sadik was due
to give evidence
at a big cocaine import
trial until he disappeared.
Nobbled, no doubt.
A Matty Boyce was convicted
of his murder
after a torso was found in a wood.
We know from the scans
that Ahmet's femur
and Faith's dismemberment
show exactly the same defect
on the blade.
So the same knife was used
on both bodies.
If Matty Boyce is banged up,
he can't have killed Faith.
No. But it's his MO.
So he might know how Liam was involved.
KEY TURNS IN LOCK
DOOR CLOSES
KEY TURNS IN LOCK
Thanks for coming, Matty. I'm DS Blake.
This is Dr Alexander,
a forensic pathologist.
I've been examining
the postmortem photographs
from your case.
I'm flattered.
The dismemberments I usually
see are haphazard, chaotic.
However, the dismemberment
of Ahmet Sadik's body
was carried out with expert precision.
If you say so.
These are images of two current cases.
The dismemberments are just as precise,
and I think carried out
with exactly the same blade.
I look at them as an anatomist.
In terms of skill
..I see an equal.
BOYCE: Nice and neat.
Oh.
A little slip here
in the thyroid cartilage.
BOYCE TUTS
In too much of a rush.
Or just not enough practice
..yet.
You know your anatomy.
I'm a keen student.
I've been doing some studying myself.
The role of the cutter.
Employed by gangs to dispose of bodies.
During your trial, it was suggested
that you had no connection to Mr Sadik.
You were just doing a job.
Do you know Liam Green?
Did you teach Liam
how to dissect a body?
Pass on the trade?
Who's behind all this, Matty?
Is it Travis Tait?
BOYCE SCOFFS
Come on.
Same knife,
parts dumped in the same canal.
If not Travis, who's behind it?
Time to go.
This head was sent directly to someone.
Bold.
But with no message.
Wasn't the head message enough?
Do you think he trained Liam up?
The vomit.
The slips with Perry's body.
Liam has the knowledge,
but maybe he's still
perfecting the craft.
What did he mean,
the head was message enough?
Sally knew why she was sent it?
JACK: Faith compiled a list of cases
where witnesses either withdrew
or, in Ahmet Sadik's case
went missing.
KIT: Any connection between them?
According to her notes,
they all had links to organised crime,
and were all represented
by Faith's chambers.
Lead counsel, David Whitley.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Can you get the rest
from downstairs, please?
Is there a problem?
I have a warrant to search your files.
On what grounds?
I believe they may contain
evidence of witness intimidation.
Sir, Faith did say too many
cases had collapsed.
She was going to bring it up
with Sally.
This is over. This has got to stop.
- Faith
- No, this has got to stop.
- You need to calm down.
- No! It ends now.
- You're overreacting.
- It ends now.
What's on your secure file system?
The chambers' accounts
and all the cases
with vulnerable witnesses.
Who has access?
Just me.
And Sally. As senior clerk,
she sees every witness filed for trial.
Mr Whitley,
we understand you are
standing counsel to the Taits,
an organised crime syndicate.
Kept us afloat over the years
when our other income dropped.
We suspect someone in the chambers
is passing witness details
to these clients.
THUD
Jasper?
- Hello, Sally.
- GASPS
SIRENS WAIL
RADIO CHATTER
We've found Liam's body
at Sally's flat.
Looks like she's fled in her car.
Where to?
David Whitley says she has a flight
booked from City Airport.
I'll get her registration
and track via ANPR.
Let's go.
We're heading to City now.
This is David Whitley.
Please leave a message
after the tone. Thanks.
David, it's me again.
I'm at the airport now.
I'm going to have to meet you
through security. Um
Can you call me, please?
MESSAGE ALER
PHONE FALLS TO GROUND
NIKKI: Come on, Sally, pick up.
LINE RINGS
You've reached Sally Alden.
Please leave a message
Keep trying.
PHONE RINGS NEARBY
LINE RINGS
NIKKI: Still no answer.
MARCIE: That's it there. Red Audi TT.
- PHONE RINGS NEARBY
- Wait
RINGING CONTINUES
Oh, shit, no.
BREATHES DEEPLY
MARCIE: Sally?
Don't do this.
I never meant for Faith to get hurt.
You tell Lucy that, yeah? Please.
Come back over and we can talk
everything through.
This isn't the answer, Sally.
The only good thing in all this
..is that Liam's gone.
He can't hurt no-one else.
We hear you.
But just come back down, yeah?
You know, he was only meant
to scare Faith.
Warn her off.
She was hellbent on going to the police
and telling them everything.
SIREN WHOOPS
Sally, it's OK.
All we want is for you to be safe.
Sally?
Is it all right if I join you?
Yeah?
I had no choice.
We would've sunk
without the Taits' work.
We'd have sunk.
I had to give them
whatever they wanted.
I hear you.
I hear you. I do.
Sally
Just
give me your hand, yeah?
We can fix this.
All of it.
Come on, Sally.
That's it.
That's it.
I'm sorry.
Sally!
Sorry, boss.
I thought we were
getting through.
We just watched her
put herself on the line there.
Go home, Marcie.
Tomorrow, I'm putting you
forward for promotion.
Thanks, boss.
Wow.
There's no way
you're quitting now, right?
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
FAITH: The right to justice
is enshrined in the Magna Carta.
It is a vital principle
of a functioning
and democratic society,
but now we face
unacceptable barriers
RECORDING MUTED
..unacceptable barriers
to the guilty facing punishment,
the innocent clearing their names,
and victims getting their day in court.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
Faith Oscott.
Advocate
wife
mum
and proud rebel.
I'm delighted and honoured
to have been asked by Lucy
to give this first lecture
in her memory,
and here, in this incredible building
that reminds us of
the importance of heritage.
But Faith knew that tradition
means nothing
until we all have fair
and equal access to justice.
That was her life's work.
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