Responsible Child (2019) - full transcript
Factual drama, based on true cases in the UK, following Ray, a 12-year-old boy, and his experience of the UK legal system that puts him on trial for murder.
How old are you, Rafael?
I'm 12.
Do you understand WHY you've been
arrested? Yeah. I do. Right.
An incident occurred on early
Wednesday morning in which
one person was murdered.
Four persons were known to be at the
scene at the time,
one of which has been named as the
detained person.
Therefore, the detained person has
arrived at this police station
this night and has been arrested
on suspicion of murder.
Do you understand that?
Yes.
So, based on that information,
I'm going to authorise your
detention here
to secure and preserve evidence by
means of questioning.
An appropriate adult is en route to
custody now to support you. OK?
Yes.
DOOR BUZZES
DOOR BANGS SHUT
Yeah, but over nine frigging hours
in an adult cell?
It's unlawful.
Where else would we put him?
Did anyone try and liaise with the
local authority at all?
They came in at night-time. How
inconvenient for the nine-to-fives.
The law then stipulates each station
have a child-friendly cell.
He's been detained for murder,
not truancy.
He's still a child, but!
It's a Victorian building, Pete.
Yeah, Victorian's fucking right.
What kept you so long, anyway?
Some brainiac upstairs put both
brothers in with the same firm.
DOOR BANGS SHUT
Well, now.
I'm Pete.
Your solicitor.
Which means I'm going to guide you
through this.
Now, I know I'm a bit dodgy-looking,
like, but, erm, may I?
I bet you prefer being called Ray.
Huh?
I'll let you in on a little
something.
My full name?
Petrotheus.
On my life.
Literally.
You eaten?
Ah! Well, let's see what we can...
Ta-da!
It's not quite a rabbit, I know.
But, erm...
Go on. There's one for you, too.
DOOR OPENS
I'm in private consultation
with my client.
Yeah, OK.
I'll, er...
I'll see you shortly, Rafael.
Yep.
Appropriate adult.
Can't trust him. Bound by law.
So, like, something you said,
that he heard,
could be used against you in court.
Say nothing.
Except to me.
OK?
Now...
..we're going to need to prepare
a statement.
So that, in an interview, all you
need to say to their questions is,
"No comment."
OK?
Grand.
PHONE RINGS
I'm not interested.
Good afternoon yourself.
Now, Kerry, I have something
that I think you'll...
Look, I still haven't been paid for
that last fucking legal aid fiasco.
Murder.
Yeah, it might well come to it,
Pete.
A child.
Murdered?
No.
Murderer.
Needs a barrister.
Ah, I've got you, haven't I?
Go on.
Well, you'd think the boy had fallen
off a cloud, while the murder
itself is as brutal, Kerry,
seriously, as I've ever seen.
Look, I have to go back in now,
but I'll call you later, OK?
OK.
All right.
Your statement says you found your
dad's drinking and temper
impossible to live with any more,
so on 15th June last year,
you packed some bags after school
and left
to go and stay with your mum
and older brother, is that right?
LAUGHTER AND CHATTER
Hi. Hey... Hey.
Hey, what's...?
I can't stay with Dad any more.
Who's that at this time?
Don't worry about him.
OK?
Hello, Ray.
Hey, Mum.
Bit late for a visit, Ray.
Yeah.
Erm... Yeah, he was, erm,
going to stay.
If that's OK, Scott?
Well, for tonight? Yeah.
The sofa OK?
No, for, erm...
..for a bit longer, maybe.
We ain't got the room, Ray.
Sorry, mate.
Look, stay tonight.
But then back to your dad's
tomorrow, yeah?
He can't go back there.
Mum?
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What are you calling her for?
It's her...
It's her house.
"It's her house".
It's the freaking council's.
In my name.
Yeah.
Mine on all the bills.
Can barely afford to feed our own
already, let alone that
waste of fucking space.
Don't call my brother that.
Look, it's our mum's house, yeah?
And Ray's got nowhere else. So...
Piss off back to your dad's
with him!
I'm not leaving you here alone
with Mum.
What did you say?
Nathan didn't say anything.
In my own home.
After a day's graft, struggling to
keep a roof over my family,
and he's fucking telling me this
and that?!
It's OK. Hold on.
I'll sort it.
OK?
Don't you ever speak to me like that
again!
Look, I'm just trying to help
my brother,
cos he's got nowhere else to live.
Well, why won't you leave me alone
with your mum?
You know why I'm not going to leave
you alone with her.
Why? Why? Cos I've seen exactly
what you're like.
I'll fucking... I'm going to
fucking kill you!
Oh! What you...?
If you'd just care to sign it
for me?
Thank you. We'll be in touch.
Cheers.
Please. That's my family home.
That's my home.
I was glad to see your name down.
Right back at you, darling.
You been all right?
Oh, keeping on, you know?
Now, I'm going to briefly introduce
you to Miss Stephens,
who's going to be your defence
barrister,
along with the rest of your team,
all right?
Now, today is not really about your
case, as such, it's just about...
Well, now.
Kerry. How are you?
Hello, Pete.
This is Ray.
Hello, Ray.
I'm Kerry.
I will be your defence throughout.
If you don't like me,
don't trust me,
Pete will find you someone else.
Good.
Now...
..this is Gary
from the Youth Offending Team.
All right, mate?
He is responsible for overseeing
your case up until sentence.
And this... Grace.
From Children's Services.
Right, guys. Let's crack on.
Ray?
She's a wee bit full-on,
but she'll fight to her shadow
for you.
Now, we need to prepare for your
preliminary hearing.
The police are looking to up
Scott's charges,
so he could be in custody
for a while.
It's just you with the kids
for the time being.
We know you've had some bonding
issues there in the past.
Please don't take another baby.
Now, Veronica,
that was a long time ago
and you've been doing really well
with things since. All right?
We just want to make sure
you're coping
now that Scott isn't here to help
with looking after the little ones.
That is all the assessment is about.
Thought you were at work?
Oh, I'm going in later.
He's not getting bail, you know.
Yeah, I know.
I know.
Do you want to play some
Days Of Battle?
"Be brave as the shadows
close upon you
"for we shall endure until light
returns once more!"
In a bit, Ray.
OK?
Affirmative.
What a good boy.
VIDEO GAME: Be brave as the shadows
close upon you,
for we shall endure until the light
returns once more.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Stealth, my son.
You're done.
PETE: So you're saying we're not
going to do anything
unless he doesn't remand him to the
care of the local authority?
You OK?
Court rise.
Please stand.
Rafael McCullin.
I can't tell you how desperately
sad I find it
to see you stand here today
accused of murdering a man.
And brutally.
Having looked over everything to
hand up to this point,
I am remanding you into local
authority foster care
until this comes to trial.
Do you understand me?
Erm...
..yeah.
Yes, your honour.
Yes, Your Honour.
Nathaniel McCullin.
You will be held on remand
until the trial.
But we'll stay in the same place.
Won't we, Pete?
But we have to.
Can you ask him, please?
Court rise.
Come on. Down you get.
There you go.
Do you want to...?
Right, wait there.
Yeah, one, two...
See you later, OK, Mum?
"The little 'uns pushed Percival
forward, then left him by himself.
"He stood knee deep in the
central grass,
"looking at his hidden feet,
trying to pretend..."
Sorry I'm late.
For, like, the zillionth time.
PUPILS LAUGH
OK, thank you.
Ray, can you wait behind after,
please?
Dalbinder, can you share with Ray,
please?
And, Gemma, pick up.
Does something smell like shit
round here?
PUPILS LAUGH
OK, that's enough!
Thank you.
Gemma.
"Ralph remembered another small boy
who had stood like this
"and he flinched away
from the memory.
"He had pushed through, erm...
"He had pushed the thought down
and out of sight."
So, er, services have updated us on
the Crown upping
your step-dad's charge to
attempted murder.
How are you feeling about it all?
Is your mum coping all right?
Yeah?
What about your older brother?
Is he OK?
Ray?
Well, I'm going to have to put you
on attendance report, Ray.
Nathan's fine.
We're all fine.
Thank you.
OK.
Well...
A special school grant might
help a little bit?
Please?
Just get yourself some clothes for
mufti day, or something.
Yeah?
HE GIGGLES
Sorry.
CLATTER
You all right in there, Mum?
I left them to re-heat too long.
They're all right.
Bon appetito!
Oh, thanks.
That kid's got to be CGI.
I mean, pulling moves like that?
Or a robot. Yeah, yeah.
Like some sick psycho robot kid
that breakdances the judges
to bits.
I don't want this psych test messing
with the boy's head.
He's in a vulnerable enough state
already.
I know.
Hi.
I'd like us to have a chat alone
first.
If that's OK with you, Rafael?
Do you know why you're here, Rafael?
Erm...
..to see if I'm OK for the trial.
Yeah. Good. Fit to plead.
I get lost in that.
The universe. It's like the mind.
Our own unknowable.
It's called the Pillars of Creation.
Well, that's wonderful.
Thank you.
Are you keen on space, then?
Erm...
I like, erm...
..astronomy.
Yeah.
Of course.
So, do you miss school?
A bit.
Did you ever get in any fights?
Erm, not really.
Erm...
..one.
And what happened?
Did you win?
Got broken up.
Got suspended.
Would you like to talk about it?
I crushed a ladybird.
I killed it.
Because you got suspended?
No.
Erm, I don't know.
OK.
So, how does that make you feel?
On a scale of one to ten, one being
great, ten being terrible.
Erm...
..like, nine?
Right.
So, why does that make you feel
so terrible, do you think?
Cos it didn't deserve it.
It didn't do anything wrong.
I killed it.
Does anything make you feel ten?
My brother...
..Nathan.
And Christie.
And Serena.
And Mum.
And Scott?
What happened?
Does that make you feel ten, too?
Nine, then?
Eight?
OK. All right.
I can give you some strategies
for now
for when you feel like that.
Breathing exercises.
OK?
Rafael has expressed symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is only just beginning to
remember the murder.
Fragments.
But he isn't ready to address it.
Address? In what way?
Rafael refuses to accept any
liability for the murder.
Rather, that it was the deceased's
fault.
And what do you make of him?
Well, I'll need to make my report.
Informally?
He has no obvious psychopathic
traits.
He displays clear empathy
and sensitivity.
And how might he come across?
The child in court? Well...
He's intelligent, articulate...
..but reserved. Self-contained.
Add the pressure of the setting...
So callous.
Devious.
Not damaged enough, outwardly.
You know, if Rafael was tried
through the Youth Courts,
the decision would lie solely
with the judge,
who would make a decision based on
all aspects of this child's life.
But this is murder.
And he has to face a jury.
So, we try a child
as young as ten...
..who isn't, by law, allowed to buy
a pet bloody hamster
until he's 16, as an adult?
Well, we have no in between here,
so...
Look, he's just lucky to have you
both fighting his corner.
Not all the kids I see here are,
I tell you.
Is there else anything we can use?
PTSD? You mentioned Ray had...
Repercussions of the act.
Also possibly from other accumulated
experiences of violence.
Any other mitigating factors?
You look surprised to see me.
The court didn't believe
your brother.
Been acquitted.
Ray, this is my home.
And there is no way you and your
brother are getting rid of me again.
Those for the little 'uns?
Oh, look at you two!
I have missed you two
little munchkins so much!
Come here!
Fuck off.
What you got there?
Go away. Go away!
I ain't going nowhere, mate. Go
away! Go away! Go away! You go.
Go away! Going nowhere, mate.
Go away! Going nowhere.
I just can't.
This can't be real...
The man was asleep on the sofa.
They went down those stairs
to kill him.
It's pre-meditation.
End of. Because of what their mother
had told Nathan,
that Scott was going to...
Finish the job. Right.
For which we only have Nathan
and Veronica's words.
And I am not putting his mother in
the witness box, and as for him...
Christ.
Poor fella was in a heck of a state,
all right.
His crowd will surely show that.
It's their ace.
And ours, too.
Maybe.
Ray sees big, beloved brother
in the doorway,
in that state, saying he's in
imminent danger for his life,
added to the experience of the
earlier trauma, building...
Where there is a fear
of serious violence,
it needs to be in respect of
violence against the defendant
or another identified person.
Aka Nathan.
It's a shot in the dark
that the prosecution will tear
right into,
but the loss of control needn't be
in the moment.
If we can show it built up over
time, we're in with a chance.
Here comes trouble.
Hasn't a clue what's about
to hit him.
Ray, because of your age, the Crown
has certain concessions it can make.
Would you prefer to sit with your
legal team, with us, or on your own?
You, please, but what about Nathan?
His team will look after him.
We need...
You need...
Ray, look at me when
I'm talking to you, please.
Thank you.
You need to focus on you now.
No-one else.
It's very important, Ray.
In a few days, you're going to be
sat in court
with everyone looking at you like
you're Dracula's son.
You need to be ready.
Yeah, OK.
The Crown will push hard for murder.
What's the difference?
Between manslaughter and murder?
Ten years plus in prison, maybe.
If you were a 30-year-old man
with the mind of someone your age,
you would be judged not fit for
trial. But you're not, Ray.
I will fight to get you as much of
a life as possible.
But I need you to be strong for me.
OK?
So we're going with loss of control.
And what will really help this
defence, we hope, is Nathan giving
evidence, saying he came into your
room that night, is that right?
Yeah.
He says he was in immediate fear
for his life, so you felt
you had no other choice but to go
down those stairs with him.
Is that what happened?
Yeah, it was.
OK, Ray.
Good. And so then...
..you lost control, did you?
Right.
VIDEO GAME: Stealth, my son.
Now stay sharp. They're coming in
from all sides.
MUFFLED SHOUTING
VERONICA: They need somewhere
to stay, Scott.
MUFFLED ARGUING
SCOTT: Those boys tried to get me
put away! They're my boys!
Now Nathan's stuck up in that loft,
laughing down at me!
And he'd better stay up there if he
knows what's good for him.
The only place I can get some peace
is that bloody shed!
And that's MY space!
You're sat just here, OK?
All rise.
Before this trial can
formally begin,
a request has been made that Section
39 press reporting restrictions
be lifted. Your Honour?
And I must agree.
The sheer ferocity of the attack
leaves it in the public's
best interest I do so.
But naming the boy leaves his
whole future marked,
let alone his case.
It is final, Miss Stephens.
Call the jury, please.
Be brave as the shadows
close upon you.
For we shall endure until light
returns once more.
Will the accused please stand?
Stand up.
Rafael Jack McCullin, you stand
accused of the murder
of Scott Adam Jameson, and are
pleading not guilty.
You may now sit down.
Nathaniel Martin McCullin,
you also stand
accused of the murder
of Scott Adam Jameson,
and are pleading not guilty.
You may now sit down.
This was a horrific,
merciless attack
on a defenceless sleeping man,
yet both defendants are putting
forward a partial defence.
Loss of control.
Reducing murder to manslaughter,
arguing, on that night,
the brothers acted out of an
immediate fear for their lives.
The Crown will expose
a cold-blooded murder...
..borne out of anger.
Pure premeditated revenge.
And so we must also ask,
what was discussed in Rafael's room?
What went on behind that door,
before they then
went down those stairs and savagely
killed their unwitting step-father?
Murder or manslaughter?
Revenge?
Or loss of control?
Oh, look at his outfit! Oh, my days.
Check out his grandad's cardigan.
Dickhead!
Absolute wrong 'un, he is.
Why are you still wearing uniform?
All right, smell?
What did you say to me?
ALL: Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
I've got two home visits to get
in still. Sorry, Amber. Ali.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come on in. Grab a seat.
Thank you.
Sorry, sorry.
Sorry.
Harder to get out the house
than woodworm, this one.
What you fighting for, eh?
So, the school have called the
multi-agency meeting because
we're concerned about the effects
on Ray and his siblings
of your return to the home,
Mr Jameson.
Children's Services, as you know,
no longer believe
the children are children in need.
Well, we feel that things have
improved significantly
in the home since
Mr Jameson's return,
particularly for the
younger children,
who seem much more settled,
again as a consequence.
Well, Ray isn't more settled,
as the incident at lunchtime
clearly attests.
The altercation in the home was with
the older brother?
Yeah, but the trauma of the incident
for Ray alone...
Trauma?
Ray?
What trauma?
Don't know.
He had a scrap, is all.
Just a scrap.
Nathaniel's still living
in the home.
Is that right, Veronica?
Everything's all right now.
The Queen herself said so, or else I
would not be sitting here.
VERONICA: Everything's OK now.
Well, I would like to ask Ray.
Ray?
Is everything all right at home now?
A series of 57 stabs wounds to the
back, varying depths.
12 longer, deeper wounds to the
upper-right chest.
A number punctured the right lung.
A prolonged attempt to decapitate
the head, all arteries severed,
only a small section of skin left
connecting it to the body.
Many slash wounds to palms of hands.
All defensive injuries.
Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.
DOOR CLOSES
Kerry.
Where's Ray?
Ah, hey... Is there anything you'd
care to say?
Come on, Ray, inside.
Would you kindly piss off?
Everyone will know now.
Eat.
Where's my big brother gone?
I don't know.
Well, get him back!
Get him back!
THUDDING
SCOTT: Look at the...look at the
state!
Look at the state of this place!
Why am I working so hard for us all,
eh?!
VERONICA: Calm...calm down. Calm?!
Don't tell me to be calm!
When this place is a tip,
and they're still living here!
They're doing nothing but
taking the piss!
You don't have to stay here.
What did you just say to me?
Don't you ever... Don't you ever
speak to me like that again,
do you hear me?
In my own house! It's all fucking
down to me!
You don't lift a finger, do you?!
It's all down to me!
Nothing ever fucking changes!
You don't do anything, woman!
You don't lift a finger!
And as for you...
Come down here, you useless prick!
Get yourself down here now!
Come on!
Ah! I thought not!
We have established Nathaniel
in some sorry state of depression,
at the time, at least,
which, as we are also aware,
is no defence in itself.
But what of Rafael?
In your report, Doctor,
you record him of sound mind.
A bright boy for his age.
As fit to plead
as his adult brother.
Well, yes. But also no.
I don't follow. Which one is it?
A child's mind isn't fully formed,
like an adult's.
Different aspects develop at
different rates
as it continues to grow.
Yet you assessed Rafael
as fit for trial.
He understands his charge?
Yes, he understands it.
And record him as having no obvious
psychiatric or psychotic problems?
That is correct. Yes.
But, in fact, as a rather
articulate, clever child,
and fit to plead?
Yes.
Thank you, Doctor.
Nothing further.
Dr Keaton, could you please
explain to us
how a child experiences the world?
Well, the child's reading of the
world comes from the sensory,
emotional part of the brain
that reacts to impulse, instinct,
aggression,
whereas the more rational,
decision-making part of the brain,
the pre-frontal cortex,
that responds to situations with
good judgment, isn't fully grown,
literally, until we're adults.
It also struggles with futures,
understanding the long-term
consequences of actions.
So there's a fundamental imbalance
in their capacity
for understanding.
Could you tell us, then, what might
have been going on inside
a child's mind the night of such
a murder, in response to an imminent
threat of violence, experienced
before, happening once again?
A child's brain
aged 12, 13, 14, say,
would have been emotionally
overwhelmed and compelled to react.
Thank you, Doctor. Nothing further.
RAY GIGGLES
So, after Mr Jameson's acquittal
and return to the family home,
the collective decision was made
that Rafael, along with Serena
and Christie, would no longer be
deemed to be children in need.
Correct?
Yes. Yes, that is correct.
And why was that, Mrs Delaney?
The...the children had their father
back.
And they seemed much happier.
The family appeared much more stable
a unit.
Much more stable?
Thank you.
Children in need are defined in law
as children aged under 18
who need local authority
services to prevent
significant or further harm to
health or development.
Do you recognise this definition to
be what constitutes
a child in need by your services?
Oh, yes.
That's it. Yes.
To prevent significant or further
harm to health or development.
Yet, after a terrifying incident Ray
had witnessed against
his elder brother,
its charge upped by this very
court to attempted murder,
Mr Jameson's return to the
household,
along with the weapon used
in that incident,
resulted in Rafael no longer being
seen as a child in need.
Is this correct, Mrs Delaney?
Yes.
Nothing further.
Yet his record details a vicious,
unprovoked attack on a peer.
After Mr Jameson's return, yes.
"Unprovoked" the records read.
So much so that Rafael was
suspended.
Is this correct also, Mrs Lyndon?
Yes.
This unprovoked assault only
serving as a kind of gym,
if you will, like the violent games
he played on his computer.
Your Honour.
Please continue, Mr Ramsden.
Nothing further.
How was Rafael as a student?
He was a pleasure to know.
And was the school aware of Rafael's
role in the household
as carer to both children
and mother?
Yes, erm, we were.
To an extent.
And is it not so that Rafael used
a special school grant,
intended to clothe him,
to clothe his half-siblings, the
deceased's own biological children?
Yes. This is true, yes.
And this unprovoked attack
at the school.
Was it something out of character
for Ray, would you say?
Yes.
Ray was a...
He was a gentle and sensitive...
I mean he is. He still is.
Sorry.
Nothing further.
Kerry, don't lose your cool, but...
..Nathan isn't giving evidence.
Nathan?
Nathan. Ray...
Nathan, please. Ray, turn around.
Nathan. Now.
What the hell was that? He needs me.
No, no, YOU need you.
More than ever.
OK, so Nathan's defence
aren't showing the jury
Nathan's police photos either.
But that's their trump card. Why?
I don't know. In case it makes him
look too disturbed to them?
Ray, listen now.
I want you to have a life,
one day, of your own.
And that life very much hangs on
what happens next.
We feel your best chance now...
..is to give evidence.
I can only advise, mind.
It's up to you.
OK. OK.
Right. Ramsden will come
right at you.
And he will give you nothing.
You look him in the eye.
You stay calm.
And you think carefully before
you answer.
Do you remember what you told me
about just before it happened?
That...
..I lost control?
Good.
Focus on you.
Not on Nathan.
You are not speaking for him
as well.
You got that?
OK.
SCOTT: OK, let me in, Veronica.
Fucking let me in!
We can talk about it! Come on,
just open the door, let me in.
Are you listening up there, Nathan?
Well, you get ready, boy.
Bad, bad rabbit.
Just remember what Kerry
said to you.
Rafael, you are being tried
for murder.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I do.
And did you have an equal part
to your brother in what happened?
I had a part in what happened.
Yeah.
You accept that you killed a man?
Yes.
I do.
Were you scared of this man?
Yes.
After Scott Jameson was acquitted,
did you want revenge?
No.
But something needed to be done?
For the record, please, aloud.
Erm...
..I don't know.
Was violence ever talked about?
No. Never.
Nathaniel was spending his life
in his room.
When he came to your room
that night,
how did he look?
NATHAN MUTTERS
Mum said...Mum said...Mum said that
we have to..we have to lock our
doors cos Scott's...
Mum said that Scott's going to...
Calm down.
He's going to go to the shed and get
the axe again. Calm down. Yeah?
We have to lock our doors, cos
Scott's gone back to the shed, OK?
Nathan, calm down. To finish...to
finish the job, once and for all.
Come on.
For the record, please.
He said that...he said that Scott
threatened Mum.
Nothing unusual, by all accounts.
And we can only have your word
for that,
as she isn't giving evidence either.
So, did you not think killing
Mr Jameson a bit...
..extreme?
Erm...
..I don't know.
In your room, you and Nathan,
did you discuss how to do it?
Erm...
We just...
..went downstairs
and got the knives.
Who decided?
It wasn't planned.
Your brother, in a state,
by all accounts...
Who was clearest of mind?
Your Honour.
Leading.
So, you went downstairs
to find the deceased curled up,
fast asleep.
Actually, no threat at all.
SCOTT BREATHES HEAVILY
No, not...
Not then.
No threat at that moment.
But you still stuck the knife in?
Who led the charge?
Look at me, Rafael,
not your brother.
We just...
We just went and attacked him.
Did he just wake up?
He had a lot of defensive injuries
on his arms.
I can't remember.
It just...
..happened.
A man is stabbed over 70 times.
His head near decapitated.
And you can't remember?
That this butchery, somehow,
just happened?
Did Scott Jameson die in silence?
I can't remember.
But you intended to kill him?
Rafael McCullin, on that night,
the decision was made
for Scott Jameson to die.
I lost control.
When did you lose control?
I lost control...
..before and during the attack.
Nothing further.
BELL TOLLS IN THE DISTANCE
BELL TOLLS NEARBY
DOOR OPENS
Are you all right?
Me and my brother, we...
..we murdered.
We have only heard from one of the
brothers, Rafael.
Do not have your sympathies
swayed by his age.
Ladies and gentlemen, this boy is a
cold-blooded murderer.
Scott Jameson was butchered...
..as he slept.
Rafael McCullin has admitted
in that very witness box
his part in this savage,
diabolical act.
This boy here had the capacity.
That is clear.
And is as responsible as Nathaniel.
And, together, they planned
then mercilessly murdered
a loving, caring father...
..of two young children.
These are the only facts for you
to consider here.
My learned friend wields the word
"responsibility".
But who took that for Rafael
in this room today?
His parents? An adult brother who
couldn't give evidence?
The police? This very court?
The services that circled
yet ultimately failed to protect him
and his family?
All are culpable here.
Yet we are not here to
problem-solve.
This arena,
this Crown system
is designed for a win.
Or lose.
Guilt or innocence.
Beyond reasonable doubt.
Binary.
Like fight or flight.
No room for nuance.
No room for an emerging life
lived in chaos.
And what is loss of control
if it isn't that?
A boy backed into a corner
lashes back with that same
terrible, furious rage
he so feared himself.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Do you want me to stay in here
with you, Ray?
Are you OK, Kerry?
That's an odd question for you
to be asking me right now,
Rafael McCullin.
Will the accused please stand?
Members of the jury, in the matter
of Nathaniel McCullin,
have you reached a verdict upon
which at least nine of you agree?
We have.
On the charge of murder,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
In the matter of Rafael McCullin,
have you reached a verdict
upon which at least
nine of you agree?
We have.
On the charge of murder,
how do you find the defendant?
Not guilty.
On the charge of manslaughter
by loss of control,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
PEOPLE MURMUR
All rise.
Nathan.
Nathan...
..please.
Mum.
How's...how's Christie and Serena?
No-one will tell me.
They're not with me any more.
They took my babies away, Ray.
Mum, I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry, I did it to protect you
and Nathan, I did it to keep you
and Nathan safe.
OK? OK? I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Not much good
if we're not all together, Ray.
RAY SOBS
BUZZER
GATE LOCKS
BUZZER
BUZZER
BUZZER
DEVICE BEEPS
That's good. Now stand up tall,
tall, tall, tall.
DISTANT CHATTER
BUZZER
DOOR CLOSES
Ah, cool work, my friend.
It's amazing to think we're there,
in the middle of all of that.
It's not our solar system. Oh.
Um, there's a theory that there's
all these other universes out there.
Not just this one.
And in every one...
..there's us.
Doing all the other things
we could have done.
It's good.
It's a good thing, Ray.
Funny little git, ain't you?
It won't bite.
When are you back to school?
Tomorrow.
You've got a good brain
in that head, so don't waste it.
No more fighting, yeah?
No more fucking fighting.
Sit here if you like.
HE BREATHES DEEPLY
SCOTT YELLS
Stop! Stop!
SCOTT YELLS
RAY YELLS
No! No! No!
RAY SOBS
GRUNTING
Stop! Stop! Stop!
Stop! Stop! No!
Please! Please!
RAY SHRIEKS
Ray? OK, OK. Ray? OK.
Argh! Yargh!
Ray, Ray, Ray, Ray.
RAY SHRIEKS
Breathe, breathe. Hey, it's OK.
No! No! Ray, Ray.
No! No! It's OK, it's OK, it's OK.
No! It's OK, it's OK. No!
Ray! Ray! Ray! Ray!
You are here, you're here.
You're in this body.
RAY SOBS
You are in this room.
In this room! Yeah?
RAY SOBS
Yeah?
You're safe. Yeah?
RAY SOBS
How are you doing?
You OK?
OK, thank you.
Good.
RAY BREATHES DEEPLY
Can I get a stamp, please?
Thank you.
BIRDSONG ON VIDEO GAME
SQUAWKING
VIDEO GAME: Whee!
Huh! Oooh! Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Right!
Pow!
I don't want to be the person
that did what I did.
He's in another universe, mate.
Yeah?
WHISPERS: Yeah.
YELLING
You all right here a sec? Yeah.
YELLING CONTINUES
Put it down! Put it down!
Calm down. We can talk about it.
YELLING ESCALATES
YELLING CONTINUES
Calm down!
Calm down!
YELLING
Get her under control! Come on!
Quiet! Quiet!
This way, this way, this way.
MUFFLED SHOUTING
I'm 12.
Do you understand WHY you've been
arrested? Yeah. I do. Right.
An incident occurred on early
Wednesday morning in which
one person was murdered.
Four persons were known to be at the
scene at the time,
one of which has been named as the
detained person.
Therefore, the detained person has
arrived at this police station
this night and has been arrested
on suspicion of murder.
Do you understand that?
Yes.
So, based on that information,
I'm going to authorise your
detention here
to secure and preserve evidence by
means of questioning.
An appropriate adult is en route to
custody now to support you. OK?
Yes.
DOOR BUZZES
DOOR BANGS SHUT
Yeah, but over nine frigging hours
in an adult cell?
It's unlawful.
Where else would we put him?
Did anyone try and liaise with the
local authority at all?
They came in at night-time. How
inconvenient for the nine-to-fives.
The law then stipulates each station
have a child-friendly cell.
He's been detained for murder,
not truancy.
He's still a child, but!
It's a Victorian building, Pete.
Yeah, Victorian's fucking right.
What kept you so long, anyway?
Some brainiac upstairs put both
brothers in with the same firm.
DOOR BANGS SHUT
Well, now.
I'm Pete.
Your solicitor.
Which means I'm going to guide you
through this.
Now, I know I'm a bit dodgy-looking,
like, but, erm, may I?
I bet you prefer being called Ray.
Huh?
I'll let you in on a little
something.
My full name?
Petrotheus.
On my life.
Literally.
You eaten?
Ah! Well, let's see what we can...
Ta-da!
It's not quite a rabbit, I know.
But, erm...
Go on. There's one for you, too.
DOOR OPENS
I'm in private consultation
with my client.
Yeah, OK.
I'll, er...
I'll see you shortly, Rafael.
Yep.
Appropriate adult.
Can't trust him. Bound by law.
So, like, something you said,
that he heard,
could be used against you in court.
Say nothing.
Except to me.
OK?
Now...
..we're going to need to prepare
a statement.
So that, in an interview, all you
need to say to their questions is,
"No comment."
OK?
Grand.
PHONE RINGS
I'm not interested.
Good afternoon yourself.
Now, Kerry, I have something
that I think you'll...
Look, I still haven't been paid for
that last fucking legal aid fiasco.
Murder.
Yeah, it might well come to it,
Pete.
A child.
Murdered?
No.
Murderer.
Needs a barrister.
Ah, I've got you, haven't I?
Go on.
Well, you'd think the boy had fallen
off a cloud, while the murder
itself is as brutal, Kerry,
seriously, as I've ever seen.
Look, I have to go back in now,
but I'll call you later, OK?
OK.
All right.
Your statement says you found your
dad's drinking and temper
impossible to live with any more,
so on 15th June last year,
you packed some bags after school
and left
to go and stay with your mum
and older brother, is that right?
LAUGHTER AND CHATTER
Hi. Hey... Hey.
Hey, what's...?
I can't stay with Dad any more.
Who's that at this time?
Don't worry about him.
OK?
Hello, Ray.
Hey, Mum.
Bit late for a visit, Ray.
Yeah.
Erm... Yeah, he was, erm,
going to stay.
If that's OK, Scott?
Well, for tonight? Yeah.
The sofa OK?
No, for, erm...
..for a bit longer, maybe.
We ain't got the room, Ray.
Sorry, mate.
Look, stay tonight.
But then back to your dad's
tomorrow, yeah?
He can't go back there.
Mum?
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.
What are you calling her for?
It's her...
It's her house.
"It's her house".
It's the freaking council's.
In my name.
Yeah.
Mine on all the bills.
Can barely afford to feed our own
already, let alone that
waste of fucking space.
Don't call my brother that.
Look, it's our mum's house, yeah?
And Ray's got nowhere else. So...
Piss off back to your dad's
with him!
I'm not leaving you here alone
with Mum.
What did you say?
Nathan didn't say anything.
In my own home.
After a day's graft, struggling to
keep a roof over my family,
and he's fucking telling me this
and that?!
It's OK. Hold on.
I'll sort it.
OK?
Don't you ever speak to me like that
again!
Look, I'm just trying to help
my brother,
cos he's got nowhere else to live.
Well, why won't you leave me alone
with your mum?
You know why I'm not going to leave
you alone with her.
Why? Why? Cos I've seen exactly
what you're like.
I'll fucking... I'm going to
fucking kill you!
Oh! What you...?
If you'd just care to sign it
for me?
Thank you. We'll be in touch.
Cheers.
Please. That's my family home.
That's my home.
I was glad to see your name down.
Right back at you, darling.
You been all right?
Oh, keeping on, you know?
Now, I'm going to briefly introduce
you to Miss Stephens,
who's going to be your defence
barrister,
along with the rest of your team,
all right?
Now, today is not really about your
case, as such, it's just about...
Well, now.
Kerry. How are you?
Hello, Pete.
This is Ray.
Hello, Ray.
I'm Kerry.
I will be your defence throughout.
If you don't like me,
don't trust me,
Pete will find you someone else.
Good.
Now...
..this is Gary
from the Youth Offending Team.
All right, mate?
He is responsible for overseeing
your case up until sentence.
And this... Grace.
From Children's Services.
Right, guys. Let's crack on.
Ray?
She's a wee bit full-on,
but she'll fight to her shadow
for you.
Now, we need to prepare for your
preliminary hearing.
The police are looking to up
Scott's charges,
so he could be in custody
for a while.
It's just you with the kids
for the time being.
We know you've had some bonding
issues there in the past.
Please don't take another baby.
Now, Veronica,
that was a long time ago
and you've been doing really well
with things since. All right?
We just want to make sure
you're coping
now that Scott isn't here to help
with looking after the little ones.
That is all the assessment is about.
Thought you were at work?
Oh, I'm going in later.
He's not getting bail, you know.
Yeah, I know.
I know.
Do you want to play some
Days Of Battle?
"Be brave as the shadows
close upon you
"for we shall endure until light
returns once more!"
In a bit, Ray.
OK?
Affirmative.
What a good boy.
VIDEO GAME: Be brave as the shadows
close upon you,
for we shall endure until the light
returns once more.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Stealth, my son.
You're done.
PETE: So you're saying we're not
going to do anything
unless he doesn't remand him to the
care of the local authority?
You OK?
Court rise.
Please stand.
Rafael McCullin.
I can't tell you how desperately
sad I find it
to see you stand here today
accused of murdering a man.
And brutally.
Having looked over everything to
hand up to this point,
I am remanding you into local
authority foster care
until this comes to trial.
Do you understand me?
Erm...
..yeah.
Yes, your honour.
Yes, Your Honour.
Nathaniel McCullin.
You will be held on remand
until the trial.
But we'll stay in the same place.
Won't we, Pete?
But we have to.
Can you ask him, please?
Court rise.
Come on. Down you get.
There you go.
Do you want to...?
Right, wait there.
Yeah, one, two...
See you later, OK, Mum?
"The little 'uns pushed Percival
forward, then left him by himself.
"He stood knee deep in the
central grass,
"looking at his hidden feet,
trying to pretend..."
Sorry I'm late.
For, like, the zillionth time.
PUPILS LAUGH
OK, thank you.
Ray, can you wait behind after,
please?
Dalbinder, can you share with Ray,
please?
And, Gemma, pick up.
Does something smell like shit
round here?
PUPILS LAUGH
OK, that's enough!
Thank you.
Gemma.
"Ralph remembered another small boy
who had stood like this
"and he flinched away
from the memory.
"He had pushed through, erm...
"He had pushed the thought down
and out of sight."
So, er, services have updated us on
the Crown upping
your step-dad's charge to
attempted murder.
How are you feeling about it all?
Is your mum coping all right?
Yeah?
What about your older brother?
Is he OK?
Ray?
Well, I'm going to have to put you
on attendance report, Ray.
Nathan's fine.
We're all fine.
Thank you.
OK.
Well...
A special school grant might
help a little bit?
Please?
Just get yourself some clothes for
mufti day, or something.
Yeah?
HE GIGGLES
Sorry.
CLATTER
You all right in there, Mum?
I left them to re-heat too long.
They're all right.
Bon appetito!
Oh, thanks.
That kid's got to be CGI.
I mean, pulling moves like that?
Or a robot. Yeah, yeah.
Like some sick psycho robot kid
that breakdances the judges
to bits.
I don't want this psych test messing
with the boy's head.
He's in a vulnerable enough state
already.
I know.
Hi.
I'd like us to have a chat alone
first.
If that's OK with you, Rafael?
Do you know why you're here, Rafael?
Erm...
..to see if I'm OK for the trial.
Yeah. Good. Fit to plead.
I get lost in that.
The universe. It's like the mind.
Our own unknowable.
It's called the Pillars of Creation.
Well, that's wonderful.
Thank you.
Are you keen on space, then?
Erm...
I like, erm...
..astronomy.
Yeah.
Of course.
So, do you miss school?
A bit.
Did you ever get in any fights?
Erm, not really.
Erm...
..one.
And what happened?
Did you win?
Got broken up.
Got suspended.
Would you like to talk about it?
I crushed a ladybird.
I killed it.
Because you got suspended?
No.
Erm, I don't know.
OK.
So, how does that make you feel?
On a scale of one to ten, one being
great, ten being terrible.
Erm...
..like, nine?
Right.
So, why does that make you feel
so terrible, do you think?
Cos it didn't deserve it.
It didn't do anything wrong.
I killed it.
Does anything make you feel ten?
My brother...
..Nathan.
And Christie.
And Serena.
And Mum.
And Scott?
What happened?
Does that make you feel ten, too?
Nine, then?
Eight?
OK. All right.
I can give you some strategies
for now
for when you feel like that.
Breathing exercises.
OK?
Rafael has expressed symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is only just beginning to
remember the murder.
Fragments.
But he isn't ready to address it.
Address? In what way?
Rafael refuses to accept any
liability for the murder.
Rather, that it was the deceased's
fault.
And what do you make of him?
Well, I'll need to make my report.
Informally?
He has no obvious psychopathic
traits.
He displays clear empathy
and sensitivity.
And how might he come across?
The child in court? Well...
He's intelligent, articulate...
..but reserved. Self-contained.
Add the pressure of the setting...
So callous.
Devious.
Not damaged enough, outwardly.
You know, if Rafael was tried
through the Youth Courts,
the decision would lie solely
with the judge,
who would make a decision based on
all aspects of this child's life.
But this is murder.
And he has to face a jury.
So, we try a child
as young as ten...
..who isn't, by law, allowed to buy
a pet bloody hamster
until he's 16, as an adult?
Well, we have no in between here,
so...
Look, he's just lucky to have you
both fighting his corner.
Not all the kids I see here are,
I tell you.
Is there else anything we can use?
PTSD? You mentioned Ray had...
Repercussions of the act.
Also possibly from other accumulated
experiences of violence.
Any other mitigating factors?
You look surprised to see me.
The court didn't believe
your brother.
Been acquitted.
Ray, this is my home.
And there is no way you and your
brother are getting rid of me again.
Those for the little 'uns?
Oh, look at you two!
I have missed you two
little munchkins so much!
Come here!
Fuck off.
What you got there?
Go away. Go away!
I ain't going nowhere, mate. Go
away! Go away! Go away! You go.
Go away! Going nowhere, mate.
Go away! Going nowhere.
I just can't.
This can't be real...
The man was asleep on the sofa.
They went down those stairs
to kill him.
It's pre-meditation.
End of. Because of what their mother
had told Nathan,
that Scott was going to...
Finish the job. Right.
For which we only have Nathan
and Veronica's words.
And I am not putting his mother in
the witness box, and as for him...
Christ.
Poor fella was in a heck of a state,
all right.
His crowd will surely show that.
It's their ace.
And ours, too.
Maybe.
Ray sees big, beloved brother
in the doorway,
in that state, saying he's in
imminent danger for his life,
added to the experience of the
earlier trauma, building...
Where there is a fear
of serious violence,
it needs to be in respect of
violence against the defendant
or another identified person.
Aka Nathan.
It's a shot in the dark
that the prosecution will tear
right into,
but the loss of control needn't be
in the moment.
If we can show it built up over
time, we're in with a chance.
Here comes trouble.
Hasn't a clue what's about
to hit him.
Ray, because of your age, the Crown
has certain concessions it can make.
Would you prefer to sit with your
legal team, with us, or on your own?
You, please, but what about Nathan?
His team will look after him.
We need...
You need...
Ray, look at me when
I'm talking to you, please.
Thank you.
You need to focus on you now.
No-one else.
It's very important, Ray.
In a few days, you're going to be
sat in court
with everyone looking at you like
you're Dracula's son.
You need to be ready.
Yeah, OK.
The Crown will push hard for murder.
What's the difference?
Between manslaughter and murder?
Ten years plus in prison, maybe.
If you were a 30-year-old man
with the mind of someone your age,
you would be judged not fit for
trial. But you're not, Ray.
I will fight to get you as much of
a life as possible.
But I need you to be strong for me.
OK?
So we're going with loss of control.
And what will really help this
defence, we hope, is Nathan giving
evidence, saying he came into your
room that night, is that right?
Yeah.
He says he was in immediate fear
for his life, so you felt
you had no other choice but to go
down those stairs with him.
Is that what happened?
Yeah, it was.
OK, Ray.
Good. And so then...
..you lost control, did you?
Right.
VIDEO GAME: Stealth, my son.
Now stay sharp. They're coming in
from all sides.
MUFFLED SHOUTING
VERONICA: They need somewhere
to stay, Scott.
MUFFLED ARGUING
SCOTT: Those boys tried to get me
put away! They're my boys!
Now Nathan's stuck up in that loft,
laughing down at me!
And he'd better stay up there if he
knows what's good for him.
The only place I can get some peace
is that bloody shed!
And that's MY space!
You're sat just here, OK?
All rise.
Before this trial can
formally begin,
a request has been made that Section
39 press reporting restrictions
be lifted. Your Honour?
And I must agree.
The sheer ferocity of the attack
leaves it in the public's
best interest I do so.
But naming the boy leaves his
whole future marked,
let alone his case.
It is final, Miss Stephens.
Call the jury, please.
Be brave as the shadows
close upon you.
For we shall endure until light
returns once more.
Will the accused please stand?
Stand up.
Rafael Jack McCullin, you stand
accused of the murder
of Scott Adam Jameson, and are
pleading not guilty.
You may now sit down.
Nathaniel Martin McCullin,
you also stand
accused of the murder
of Scott Adam Jameson,
and are pleading not guilty.
You may now sit down.
This was a horrific,
merciless attack
on a defenceless sleeping man,
yet both defendants are putting
forward a partial defence.
Loss of control.
Reducing murder to manslaughter,
arguing, on that night,
the brothers acted out of an
immediate fear for their lives.
The Crown will expose
a cold-blooded murder...
..borne out of anger.
Pure premeditated revenge.
And so we must also ask,
what was discussed in Rafael's room?
What went on behind that door,
before they then
went down those stairs and savagely
killed their unwitting step-father?
Murder or manslaughter?
Revenge?
Or loss of control?
Oh, look at his outfit! Oh, my days.
Check out his grandad's cardigan.
Dickhead!
Absolute wrong 'un, he is.
Why are you still wearing uniform?
All right, smell?
What did you say to me?
ALL: Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
I've got two home visits to get
in still. Sorry, Amber. Ali.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come on in. Grab a seat.
Thank you.
Sorry, sorry.
Sorry.
Harder to get out the house
than woodworm, this one.
What you fighting for, eh?
So, the school have called the
multi-agency meeting because
we're concerned about the effects
on Ray and his siblings
of your return to the home,
Mr Jameson.
Children's Services, as you know,
no longer believe
the children are children in need.
Well, we feel that things have
improved significantly
in the home since
Mr Jameson's return,
particularly for the
younger children,
who seem much more settled,
again as a consequence.
Well, Ray isn't more settled,
as the incident at lunchtime
clearly attests.
The altercation in the home was with
the older brother?
Yeah, but the trauma of the incident
for Ray alone...
Trauma?
Ray?
What trauma?
Don't know.
He had a scrap, is all.
Just a scrap.
Nathaniel's still living
in the home.
Is that right, Veronica?
Everything's all right now.
The Queen herself said so, or else I
would not be sitting here.
VERONICA: Everything's OK now.
Well, I would like to ask Ray.
Ray?
Is everything all right at home now?
A series of 57 stabs wounds to the
back, varying depths.
12 longer, deeper wounds to the
upper-right chest.
A number punctured the right lung.
A prolonged attempt to decapitate
the head, all arteries severed,
only a small section of skin left
connecting it to the body.
Many slash wounds to palms of hands.
All defensive injuries.
Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.
DOOR CLOSES
Kerry.
Where's Ray?
Ah, hey... Is there anything you'd
care to say?
Come on, Ray, inside.
Would you kindly piss off?
Everyone will know now.
Eat.
Where's my big brother gone?
I don't know.
Well, get him back!
Get him back!
THUDDING
SCOTT: Look at the...look at the
state!
Look at the state of this place!
Why am I working so hard for us all,
eh?!
VERONICA: Calm...calm down. Calm?!
Don't tell me to be calm!
When this place is a tip,
and they're still living here!
They're doing nothing but
taking the piss!
You don't have to stay here.
What did you just say to me?
Don't you ever... Don't you ever
speak to me like that again,
do you hear me?
In my own house! It's all fucking
down to me!
You don't lift a finger, do you?!
It's all down to me!
Nothing ever fucking changes!
You don't do anything, woman!
You don't lift a finger!
And as for you...
Come down here, you useless prick!
Get yourself down here now!
Come on!
Ah! I thought not!
We have established Nathaniel
in some sorry state of depression,
at the time, at least,
which, as we are also aware,
is no defence in itself.
But what of Rafael?
In your report, Doctor,
you record him of sound mind.
A bright boy for his age.
As fit to plead
as his adult brother.
Well, yes. But also no.
I don't follow. Which one is it?
A child's mind isn't fully formed,
like an adult's.
Different aspects develop at
different rates
as it continues to grow.
Yet you assessed Rafael
as fit for trial.
He understands his charge?
Yes, he understands it.
And record him as having no obvious
psychiatric or psychotic problems?
That is correct. Yes.
But, in fact, as a rather
articulate, clever child,
and fit to plead?
Yes.
Thank you, Doctor.
Nothing further.
Dr Keaton, could you please
explain to us
how a child experiences the world?
Well, the child's reading of the
world comes from the sensory,
emotional part of the brain
that reacts to impulse, instinct,
aggression,
whereas the more rational,
decision-making part of the brain,
the pre-frontal cortex,
that responds to situations with
good judgment, isn't fully grown,
literally, until we're adults.
It also struggles with futures,
understanding the long-term
consequences of actions.
So there's a fundamental imbalance
in their capacity
for understanding.
Could you tell us, then, what might
have been going on inside
a child's mind the night of such
a murder, in response to an imminent
threat of violence, experienced
before, happening once again?
A child's brain
aged 12, 13, 14, say,
would have been emotionally
overwhelmed and compelled to react.
Thank you, Doctor. Nothing further.
RAY GIGGLES
So, after Mr Jameson's acquittal
and return to the family home,
the collective decision was made
that Rafael, along with Serena
and Christie, would no longer be
deemed to be children in need.
Correct?
Yes. Yes, that is correct.
And why was that, Mrs Delaney?
The...the children had their father
back.
And they seemed much happier.
The family appeared much more stable
a unit.
Much more stable?
Thank you.
Children in need are defined in law
as children aged under 18
who need local authority
services to prevent
significant or further harm to
health or development.
Do you recognise this definition to
be what constitutes
a child in need by your services?
Oh, yes.
That's it. Yes.
To prevent significant or further
harm to health or development.
Yet, after a terrifying incident Ray
had witnessed against
his elder brother,
its charge upped by this very
court to attempted murder,
Mr Jameson's return to the
household,
along with the weapon used
in that incident,
resulted in Rafael no longer being
seen as a child in need.
Is this correct, Mrs Delaney?
Yes.
Nothing further.
Yet his record details a vicious,
unprovoked attack on a peer.
After Mr Jameson's return, yes.
"Unprovoked" the records read.
So much so that Rafael was
suspended.
Is this correct also, Mrs Lyndon?
Yes.
This unprovoked assault only
serving as a kind of gym,
if you will, like the violent games
he played on his computer.
Your Honour.
Please continue, Mr Ramsden.
Nothing further.
How was Rafael as a student?
He was a pleasure to know.
And was the school aware of Rafael's
role in the household
as carer to both children
and mother?
Yes, erm, we were.
To an extent.
And is it not so that Rafael used
a special school grant,
intended to clothe him,
to clothe his half-siblings, the
deceased's own biological children?
Yes. This is true, yes.
And this unprovoked attack
at the school.
Was it something out of character
for Ray, would you say?
Yes.
Ray was a...
He was a gentle and sensitive...
I mean he is. He still is.
Sorry.
Nothing further.
Kerry, don't lose your cool, but...
..Nathan isn't giving evidence.
Nathan?
Nathan. Ray...
Nathan, please. Ray, turn around.
Nathan. Now.
What the hell was that? He needs me.
No, no, YOU need you.
More than ever.
OK, so Nathan's defence
aren't showing the jury
Nathan's police photos either.
But that's their trump card. Why?
I don't know. In case it makes him
look too disturbed to them?
Ray, listen now.
I want you to have a life,
one day, of your own.
And that life very much hangs on
what happens next.
We feel your best chance now...
..is to give evidence.
I can only advise, mind.
It's up to you.
OK. OK.
Right. Ramsden will come
right at you.
And he will give you nothing.
You look him in the eye.
You stay calm.
And you think carefully before
you answer.
Do you remember what you told me
about just before it happened?
That...
..I lost control?
Good.
Focus on you.
Not on Nathan.
You are not speaking for him
as well.
You got that?
OK.
SCOTT: OK, let me in, Veronica.
Fucking let me in!
We can talk about it! Come on,
just open the door, let me in.
Are you listening up there, Nathan?
Well, you get ready, boy.
Bad, bad rabbit.
Just remember what Kerry
said to you.
Rafael, you are being tried
for murder.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I do.
And did you have an equal part
to your brother in what happened?
I had a part in what happened.
Yeah.
You accept that you killed a man?
Yes.
I do.
Were you scared of this man?
Yes.
After Scott Jameson was acquitted,
did you want revenge?
No.
But something needed to be done?
For the record, please, aloud.
Erm...
..I don't know.
Was violence ever talked about?
No. Never.
Nathaniel was spending his life
in his room.
When he came to your room
that night,
how did he look?
NATHAN MUTTERS
Mum said...Mum said...Mum said that
we have to..we have to lock our
doors cos Scott's...
Mum said that Scott's going to...
Calm down.
He's going to go to the shed and get
the axe again. Calm down. Yeah?
We have to lock our doors, cos
Scott's gone back to the shed, OK?
Nathan, calm down. To finish...to
finish the job, once and for all.
Come on.
For the record, please.
He said that...he said that Scott
threatened Mum.
Nothing unusual, by all accounts.
And we can only have your word
for that,
as she isn't giving evidence either.
So, did you not think killing
Mr Jameson a bit...
..extreme?
Erm...
..I don't know.
In your room, you and Nathan,
did you discuss how to do it?
Erm...
We just...
..went downstairs
and got the knives.
Who decided?
It wasn't planned.
Your brother, in a state,
by all accounts...
Who was clearest of mind?
Your Honour.
Leading.
So, you went downstairs
to find the deceased curled up,
fast asleep.
Actually, no threat at all.
SCOTT BREATHES HEAVILY
No, not...
Not then.
No threat at that moment.
But you still stuck the knife in?
Who led the charge?
Look at me, Rafael,
not your brother.
We just...
We just went and attacked him.
Did he just wake up?
He had a lot of defensive injuries
on his arms.
I can't remember.
It just...
..happened.
A man is stabbed over 70 times.
His head near decapitated.
And you can't remember?
That this butchery, somehow,
just happened?
Did Scott Jameson die in silence?
I can't remember.
But you intended to kill him?
Rafael McCullin, on that night,
the decision was made
for Scott Jameson to die.
I lost control.
When did you lose control?
I lost control...
..before and during the attack.
Nothing further.
BELL TOLLS IN THE DISTANCE
BELL TOLLS NEARBY
DOOR OPENS
Are you all right?
Me and my brother, we...
..we murdered.
We have only heard from one of the
brothers, Rafael.
Do not have your sympathies
swayed by his age.
Ladies and gentlemen, this boy is a
cold-blooded murderer.
Scott Jameson was butchered...
..as he slept.
Rafael McCullin has admitted
in that very witness box
his part in this savage,
diabolical act.
This boy here had the capacity.
That is clear.
And is as responsible as Nathaniel.
And, together, they planned
then mercilessly murdered
a loving, caring father...
..of two young children.
These are the only facts for you
to consider here.
My learned friend wields the word
"responsibility".
But who took that for Rafael
in this room today?
His parents? An adult brother who
couldn't give evidence?
The police? This very court?
The services that circled
yet ultimately failed to protect him
and his family?
All are culpable here.
Yet we are not here to
problem-solve.
This arena,
this Crown system
is designed for a win.
Or lose.
Guilt or innocence.
Beyond reasonable doubt.
Binary.
Like fight or flight.
No room for nuance.
No room for an emerging life
lived in chaos.
And what is loss of control
if it isn't that?
A boy backed into a corner
lashes back with that same
terrible, furious rage
he so feared himself.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
Do you want me to stay in here
with you, Ray?
Are you OK, Kerry?
That's an odd question for you
to be asking me right now,
Rafael McCullin.
Will the accused please stand?
Members of the jury, in the matter
of Nathaniel McCullin,
have you reached a verdict upon
which at least nine of you agree?
We have.
On the charge of murder,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
In the matter of Rafael McCullin,
have you reached a verdict
upon which at least
nine of you agree?
We have.
On the charge of murder,
how do you find the defendant?
Not guilty.
On the charge of manslaughter
by loss of control,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
PEOPLE MURMUR
All rise.
Nathan.
Nathan...
..please.
Mum.
How's...how's Christie and Serena?
No-one will tell me.
They're not with me any more.
They took my babies away, Ray.
Mum, I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry, I did it to protect you
and Nathan, I did it to keep you
and Nathan safe.
OK? OK? I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Not much good
if we're not all together, Ray.
RAY SOBS
BUZZER
GATE LOCKS
BUZZER
BUZZER
BUZZER
DEVICE BEEPS
That's good. Now stand up tall,
tall, tall, tall.
DISTANT CHATTER
BUZZER
DOOR CLOSES
Ah, cool work, my friend.
It's amazing to think we're there,
in the middle of all of that.
It's not our solar system. Oh.
Um, there's a theory that there's
all these other universes out there.
Not just this one.
And in every one...
..there's us.
Doing all the other things
we could have done.
It's good.
It's a good thing, Ray.
Funny little git, ain't you?
It won't bite.
When are you back to school?
Tomorrow.
You've got a good brain
in that head, so don't waste it.
No more fighting, yeah?
No more fucking fighting.
Sit here if you like.
HE BREATHES DEEPLY
SCOTT YELLS
Stop! Stop!
SCOTT YELLS
RAY YELLS
No! No! No!
RAY SOBS
GRUNTING
Stop! Stop! Stop!
Stop! Stop! No!
Please! Please!
RAY SHRIEKS
Ray? OK, OK. Ray? OK.
Argh! Yargh!
Ray, Ray, Ray, Ray.
RAY SHRIEKS
Breathe, breathe. Hey, it's OK.
No! No! Ray, Ray.
No! No! It's OK, it's OK, it's OK.
No! It's OK, it's OK. No!
Ray! Ray! Ray! Ray!
You are here, you're here.
You're in this body.
RAY SOBS
You are in this room.
In this room! Yeah?
RAY SOBS
Yeah?
You're safe. Yeah?
RAY SOBS
How are you doing?
You OK?
OK, thank you.
Good.
RAY BREATHES DEEPLY
Can I get a stamp, please?
Thank you.
BIRDSONG ON VIDEO GAME
SQUAWKING
VIDEO GAME: Whee!
Huh! Oooh! Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Right!
Pow!
I don't want to be the person
that did what I did.
He's in another universe, mate.
Yeah?
WHISPERS: Yeah.
YELLING
You all right here a sec? Yeah.
YELLING CONTINUES
Put it down! Put it down!
Calm down. We can talk about it.
YELLING ESCALATES
YELLING CONTINUES
Calm down!
Calm down!
YELLING
Get her under control! Come on!
Quiet! Quiet!
This way, this way, this way.
MUFFLED SHOUTING