Sarah Platt was found not guilty of murder in Monday night's episode of Coronation Street, a verdict that has divided fans of the ITV soap.
The character, played by Tina O'Brien since 1999, had been in prison awaiting trial after hitting Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) over the head with a metal pole. She maintained that the attack was carried out in self-defence.
Quick verdict surprises the Platts
Sarah was sent back to her cell to await the jury's decision, which came remarkably quickly - a development that did not fill the Platt family with hope. To everyone's surprise, Sarah was found not guilty, and her family cheered as she learned she was free to go.
She rushed to hug her daughter Bethany (Lucy Fallon), while David was straight on the phone to mum Gail, who now lives in France, to share the good news. Bethany was soon back at home, reunited with her young son Harry and ex-boyfriend DC Kit Green, who had taken on caregiver duties while she was inside.
Emotional reunion and a rejection
Sarah proclaimed: "I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world to be back with you all again," unaware that Bethany recently had a fling with the man who was almost her stepdad and is now pregnant. Later, Bethany was seen preparing to call an abortion clinic.
In a private conversation, Sarah asked Kit - who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer - for a chance to reunite. He said things were "different" now but insisted it wasn't about his illness.
He told her: "Things are different now. We can't. It's about not being what I want. Just because you're out, nothing's changed. Stop it. Too much has happened," and announced he would be moving in with his long-lost mum Bernie Winter.
Taken aback by his sudden rejection and unaware of the real reason, Sarah broke down in tears on the sofa.
Fans react to the verdict
During her time on the soap, Sarah was famously central to a teenage pregnancy storyline in 2000, was kidnapped by an internet predator, and later discovered her stepdad was a serial killer. She left the soap in 2007 but returned in 2015, helping to cover up the death of her abusive ex-partner Callum Logan and dealing with her uncle Stephen Reid, who also turned out to be a serial killer.
The not guilty verdict sparked debate among fans, with one writing on Reddit: "Anyone else disappointed by the verdict? Murder probably not but I don’t think Sarah deserves to get off scot free, end of the day Theo never actually touched her, we all know he probably would have, but it’s hard to defend a self defence claim when you haven’t been touched, especially when she tried to hide it, let someone else get charged etc. very least should be involuntary manslaughter and perverting the course of justice. Real world she’s never getting off with nothing."
Another said: "I'm not disappointed Sarah got off. She's one of my all time favorite characters," while a third wrote: "Did anybody except anything else? She’s one of the main cast members. They weren’t going to find her guilty anyway. She has plot armour."
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.
