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in: Episode, 1999 Episodes

Episode 1843 (4 October 1999)

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Summary[]

It's the opening of Matthew's murder trial and tensions are high.

Sonia's all dressed up to go to school because Enrico's there and Carol says she looks lovely. She lies in wait until Enrico leaves Pauline's and pretends not to see him until he asks her if she'd like to walk to school together. Nicky and Kim go to a model try-out and Enrico tells Sonia that beauty is only skin deep and they carry on chatting and discover a shared love for jazz and playing the trumpet. Nicky is envious and tries to attract Enrico's attention.

It's trial time and Troy and Irene wish Sarah and Terry good luck in court. Matthew's nervous and his barrister tells him it's not too late to do the deal with the CPS. Matthew tells him to chase up the forensics on the jacket instead. Peggy goes with Michael and Terry wants to cadge a lift but Sarah refuses. Jeff tells Pauline he hopes the lawyers don't upset Melanie because she was no angel in the past - she's done the lot - under age drinking, shoplifting, she was expelled from college, in trouble with her business, went bust and left all her creditors high and dry, and lost a lot of money! Pauline makes mental notes and rushes off to tell Kathy everything.

Lisa moans to Jamie about Kathy. He reassures her that Phil wants to see Ben, not Kathy, and she's awful - he's had her nagging all morning. He tells Lisa she has nothing to worry about - she's far better than Kathy.

Barry desperately phones every hotel in the phone book to find somewhere to get married. He tries everything in the phone book and gets to the Walford Roof Gardens before he finds a space. He's resigned by that point and then asks why they're not fully booked! He and Natalie go to see it later, and then discover that Ian's wedding is the same day and decide to rush the invites out to nab the guests first.

Billy phones Grant who has gone to buy his snooker hall. He later finds Grant and tells him he is in big trouble, as the payments required have doubled.

Ian warns Melanie to take care in court because Steve's barrister will try to twist everything she says. Gianni reiterates the warning to watch out for his barrister, and he and Melanie go to sit in the waiting room before giving evidence. Melanie leaves and Gianni says he hopes she doesn't still have feelings for Steve. The first indictment is that they conspired to pervert the course of justice by concealing the body. They both plead guilty, and are told the sentencing will be after the murder verdict. Melanie gives Steve a good report, calling him charming and that their relationship was working very well until Saskia turned up and she says he was never violent or at all nasty to her, even when angry with Saskia. She said that Steve told her calmly after Valentine's day that Saskia had "gone for good". The trial is stopped after that for the forensic results. Matthew's barrister says it doesn't prove Steve did anything. Matthew panics and asks to do the deal now instead so he goes off to see the prosecutor. Steve's barrister tells Steve to try not to look too pleased when he goes back into court! Jackie comes to see him and he says - "The forensic report's come back on his jacket and there was nothing on it." That is the only evidence they had so cannot convict him. Jackie frowns and says, "But how could they convict you - if you didn't do it, what evidence could they find?" Steve replies, "Can't you just be pleased, I'm in the clear." Jackie says Steve is lying to her and says that Steve did kill Saskia. Matthew's barrister tells Matthew the CPS don't want to know. Matthew thinks it's over. He's told to pull himself together.

Peggy gives evidence that Saskia was drunk and loudly whingeing about men being swines. Peggy says she was sad and pathetic and the lawyer asks if she'd find it hard to believe that she could have half-strangled a man twice her size. Peggy says she does find it hard to believe and goes on to say that Matthew is a nice boy and wouldn't believe he would harm anyone. Sarah gives evidence and agrees with the prosecution that Matthew trying to push Saskia away from the office at E20 was the action of a man who has lost his temper and resorted to violence. Matthew's defence lawyer asks her if he could also have been "firm". Sarah agrees with him too. She says Matthew is kind and thoughtful and Steve scribbles a note to his lawyer who cross-questions her and asks if Matthew got engaged to her one night just so they'd have sex and then he broke it off the morning after. As Steve and Matthew are led away, Matthew shouts that Steve has to tell the truth and asks how he can stand there and let him take the blame.


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