Day two of Luke's trial and Nikki is quizzed by the defence. Also taking to the witness box to various degrees were Dr Josephine O'Keefe (not seen) - a psychiatrist - to talk about the effects of the drug in the drink and the reliability of Nikki's memory vis-a-vis the 'flashbacks'; DS Rose; Katrina and Mike Dixon.
Subsequently, Luke finally got a chance to have his say, although it has to be said, that IMO, he didn't seem to be taking particular care over what he was saying and how his comments could be interpreted. Having said that, the comments in question weren't latched on to (yet?) and taken further, so I guess it could simply be poor writing. Surprising, if that's the case, since much of the trial has been scripted very well.
Essentially, the prosecution's case is based on finding one of Luke's shirt buttons on the bed where the alleged rape took place, together with Nikki's flashback which caused her to identify Luke as the culprit. Not a lot in other words and nothing to actually link Luke with the act of spiking the drink. Much is being made of Nikki's attire, behaviour and level of intoxication at the party.
How drunk Nikki actually was, is being debated at some length. There is an issue over Jason (who hasn't been in the witness box, AFAIK) trying to get Nikki to go home because she'd had too much to drink. However, Katrina denies that Nikki had drunk much at all and insists that Jason was merely being over-protective towards his sister. The police investigations suggested that Nikki had consumed four bottles of lager of which one was found to contain traces of the drug.
For the record, Luke is facing two charges: 1) unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman and 2) administering a noxious substance with an intent to injure (the basic intention being to deprive Nikki of the ability to resist rape).
Halfway through the trial, Auntie Rose from Ireland has turned up. If there's a particular reason for this, then no explanation has yet been given.
Matt Mussie gave up watching the proceedings from the public gallery because he found it too depressing and he waited in the corridor outside the courtroom. Bosko then appeared at the court building in the hope of seeing Matt, to say that Jerome was still pressing for the return of his money and so they'd better get back to working out how to get rich quick. For once, Matt was all out of bright ideas.
Matt: "How are we gonna do that since them German birds ran off with all our stuff?"
Bosko: "At least you got a shag out of it."
Matt: "Shhhhh. This is a court. You can't say shag in here."
Over at the hospital, it seems that young William will be okay. He's emerged from the fall into the pond with only a chest infection and is likely to be able to go home in a few day's time. Quite which 'home' that will be doesn't seem clear cut at the moment as Jimmy is still trying to persuade Jackie to move back into Number Ten.
Jimmy returned to the hospital straight after school, and again told Jackie how he was intending to devote more time to his family in future. Jackie *still* wasn't sold on this one, so Jimmy changes tack and whinges about how disappointing his pupil's exam results were. Some people just don't learn! (No, not the kids. Well, yes, the kids too, I suppose but it was *Jimmy*, I meant actually!!) Jackie, not unexpectedly, wasn't interested in exam results and suggested, flippantly:
"Why can't you just forge them? You have done with everything else."
LOL! Brilliant line!
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001