The jury has reached a verdict in Sarah Platt's murder trial on Coronation Street. The question of whether Sarah (Tina O'Brien) is guilty of murdering Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) will finally be answered.
Sarah was charged after pushing Theo off scaffolding, ending his torment of her best friend Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce). The key issue is whether she acted in self-defence or out of anger over Theo's vile comments about Todd and the baby Sarah lost as a teenager. That distinction could mean the difference between manslaughter and murder.
Prosecution case against Sarah
The prosecution argues that Sarah acted as Todd's angry best friend, taking the law into her own hands in a crime of passion. Her case was weakened by her failure to go to the police immediately. Instead, she asked her old flame Gary Windass (Mikey North) to dispose of the murder weapon, and persuaded her other ex-boyfriend, DS Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), to help pin the blame on Gary.
In court, Sarah's arresting officer Lisa (Vicky Myers) and Theo's ex-wife Danielle (Natalie Anderson) took the witness stand, leaving Sarah's chances of freedom looking grim. David (Jack P Shepherd) accused Lisa of sabotaging Sarah's defence and criticised Kit for not supporting her enough. Kit lost his temper and washed his hands of Sarah, David, Bethany and their whole family.
Bethany's plea and Kit's decision
Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) had tried to persuade Kit to come clean to Sarah about his cancer diagnosis before he took the stand, hoping he would support her as a character witness. Kit refused, but Sarah learned the truth when Bethany and Todd visited her in prison and Todd blurted it out.
Bethany begged Sarah to let Gary carry the can for Theo's murder, pointing out that she needs her, Kit needs her and Harry needs her. Sarah was torn. Kit eventually took the stand, but whether he told the whole truth remains unclear.
The verdict arrives
Sarah listened to the barristers' closing speeches, sick with nerves. In the court corridor, the usher announced that the jury had reached a verdict. The outcome will now determine whether Sarah walks free or faces years in prison.
