Good evening. Jenny
The deepest, darkest cess pit of the Shuttleworth empire contains not only the individual known as Todd Grimshaw but also the mortal remains of one Pat Phelan, late of this parish and step-father to said Todd who uncovers the above receptacle. Reportedly Nicola did not respond to George's letter about disposal and George has not yet found the right time to raise the subject with Eileen. Anyone thought to ask Gary about Zack and his mother? No thought not. Anyway Todd has the screaming ab dabs and pretends (as Eileen is present) that he is scared of a very very large spider. Todd is not having a good day as it started with a telling off from Bernie in the Street. George prevents Pat being flushed away - but Todd wants there to be no remains!
I don't think that I have ever really liked Grace and now the single mother with a criminal record adds blackmail to the charge sheet. Once again she heading to Hull as she has been dumped by Michael but Ed and Aggie have made it clear that they do not want to lose touch with grand daughter Glory. Apparently unbeknownst to us Ed has been doing up another house a couple of streets away and the family currently have two mortgages. Once the done-up house was sold the profits would enable the Bailey family to dig themselves out of the money pit they had dug before they joined the Street. Grace decides that if she has the house then she can stick around the area and Michael can co-parent. Without telling Michael, Ed and Aggie agree that Grace can occupy the house rent free so she does not go to Hull. Meanwhile Ed is tendering for numerous jobs - but not having much luck so Aggie is going to have to do double shifts to keep the family from going under.
The main story concerns the impending court case over the killing of Seb Franklin and Imran is feeling under extreme pressure because ex-wife Sabeen is defending Corey Brent whilst he is defending Kelly Neelan. Laura Neelan turns up - having just been convicted of child neglect - to demand that she takes the stand to tell the court that Kelly is a good girl, but Imran points out that is the sort of help he can do without. Imran also has to tell Toyah that he has volunteered her to sit with Kelly during the case in the well of the court. Toyah is very worried because the rest of the Street are supporting Abi and she feels the neighbours will be rather unfriendly if she does it. But she accedes to the request. Much of the episode is then taken up with setting up the hearing for next week (above).
First Imran argues for a delay to the hearing because of the leak of Corey's name by Jack Webster - but it is agreed that no-one much saw it before it was taken down and the judge rules against Imran on that point. So the trial is on. Imran does get agreement that the accused be allowed to sit in the well of the court rather than in the dock, so a minor win on that point. He then seeks to have the case winning (as he sees it) "blood splatter" evidence to be permitted. Sabeen has her own expert on the case and apparently the police both failed to photograph the trainers before putting them into store - so the original state of the trainers cannot be ascertained) and also stored them in a plastic bag rather than a paper bag - so they have "sweated" and therefore the current splatter pattern may well not be the original splatter pattern - Imran loses the legal point and is denied the opportunity to appeal.
There are a couple of sub-plots running alongside the main activity. Simon having heard Leanne and R'Toyota discussing the case pops into the prison to see Kelly who tells him that she cannot see herself doing time. She knows she was partly responsible for starting events - but repeats that she was not involved in Seb's death (and at the time we saw her holding back from running in when the beating started) and she cannot face being in prison for a long time. Simon goes to the cafe to apply pressure on Nina to try and remember more of the events - but she is clear that it is far too distressing and she does not want to do so. Roy arrives and sends Simon on his way. Sabeen later overhears that Simon has been interfering with a witness and no doubt will make much of that at the trial next week.
The other sub-plot is Abi trying to find ways of occupying her brain to stop thinking of events past and future.
Sabeen is playing mind games with Imran, tracking him down at the Bistro (odd place to work) ordering two Harvey Wallbangers and theoretically wanting to discuss the offer by the prosecution and the CPS of reduced sentences if the accused plead guilty - 8 years for Kelly. Toyah is present as the drinks are delivered (spot the speaking extra above - new staff in the Bistro)!
And once home Imran tells Toyah not to worry about Sabeen - he did not touch the drink - but Toyah is concerned about Kelly and the offer. Imran says that in the absence of the blood splatter evidence he does not really have a defence case and that Kelly's best option might be to plead guilty. He looks resigned to losing the case. Which is tonight's action on the Street!
I am hoping that Jenny and Johnny can actually get back together; I do not like the way that Ronnie treated his wife when she visited and as I understand it he is married as is Jenny. In fact I would like the wife to return and we hear the true story! Grace and Michael - please both go to Hull - you know it makes sense. Nina - I think you can remember (you're a Womble for those old enough). And there are certain stories in Corrie that are too good to forget - come back Pat Phelan all is forgiven.
Next week Ms Kelstar will guide you through the no doubt complex legal discussions as the case unravels.
Kosmo
