At the beginning of the episode, Christopher Halliwell (Joe Absolom) continues speaking with Stephen Fulcher (Martin Freeman). Christopher acts like he doesn’t know where Sian is. He asks for a solicitor but Stephen refuses to let him have one. Stephen tells Chris that he knows he did it. Chris thinks about it for a minute before agreeing to show Stephen where the body is located. Deborah Peach (Faye McKeever) believes that they should go back to the police station and get Christopher a solicitor. The others follow as Chris gives the driver directions. Chris takes them to the spot where he pushed Sian’s body down the hill.
Christopher wants to speak more so Eddie takes them to a quiet place. After a little back and forth, Christopher agrees to show Stephen where another body can be found. Chris says that he is sick and that he doesn’t understand why he goes around killing people. They drive around again until Chris finds the sport where he buried the other body. After that, Stephen tells Chris that he’ll be taken to the station and he’ll need to tell the other officers everything he has already said. Bob is put in charge of rearresting Chris and taking him to the station. Sian’s body is found and Stephen is notified a few moments later.
Tracy (Maimie McCoy) tells Stephen about the condition of the body. Moments later, Elaine (Siobhan Finneran) and the family learn about the discovery of the body. Stephen arrives there and tells them about the discovery. Mick (Ian Puleston-Davies) thanks him for finding for the body. Stephen arrives and receives an applause at the police station. Christopher is analyzed as well. Soon, an officer confronts Stephen and learns that he did not follow PACE procedures. Stephen defends his actions and believes the other girl would have been lost forever if he didn’t break the rules. Mick’s son arrives home and learns about his sister’s death.
Stephen speaks with the press and gives them an update for the case. Karen (Imelda Staunton) watches the television report and believes that the second body belongs to Becky. The detectives are unable to locate the second body. Meanwhile, Christopher is introduced to his solicitor Mr. Coleman (Andrew Brooke). Karen and Charlie (Peter Wight) go to the station to ask about Becky. They learn that many people have been calling in asking the same. This leads Karen to believe that she was wrong about the body belonging to Becky. Investigators learn that Chris is not going to be signing anything and he is only going to respond with “no comment”.
Stephen becomes angry when he learns about Chris’s change. He defends his actions as well. Elaine and Mick try to come to terms with their loss. Stephen receives a hero’s welcome at home as well. The following day, Pete (Derek Riddell) and Kevin (Charlie Cooper) agree to identify the body. The investigators move and locate the second body. Stephen tells the team that he doesn’t believe any court would disallow Chris’s two confessions. They’re hoping to get DNA or blood evidence to back up the confession. Steve is confronted outside about the confessions not being PACE compliant. Nevertheless, they believe everything will work out in the end.
Kevin and Pete identify the body as Sian’s. Stephen checks out the other skeleton. The head is gone. The head was either hacked off or taken by an animal. Then, Stephen goes in front of the panel in hopes of getting more time. He pleads with Christopher to tell the truth. Coleman won’t let Chris do that so he refuses to confess again. Stephen and the team are accused of dirty tactics by Coleman. In the end, Stephen is given 36 hours to find more evidence. He arranges for Chris’s daughter to speak with him and tape the conversation. Debs is not sure that it wise but Stephen is Gung Ho and willing to do it anyway.
During this time, Stephen checks Christopher’s house. Chris’s daughter learns about the interview and the fact that it will be recorded. Chris is too smart for it. He tells his daughter to remain quiet and sell her story. The other body is confirmed to be Becky’s. Next, Stephen and the others prepare to tell Karen about the discovery. He notices that they’re practically neighbors. The police arrive and tell the family that they’ve found Becky’s body.
A Confession Review
Boy….I have to say that I found this episode to be infuriating. The acting is great especially that of Joe Absolom. The only thing I do not like is the actions of the investigators. Stephen Fulcher was out of control trying to get a confession. I am not sure he had the right motivations either. I think it was all about propelling his own status. At this point, I am hoping things backfire on him and Christopher goes free. He would deserve that for breaking the rules. As an investigator, you have to be held to higher standards.
If they get it away with it once, they’re going to turn their tactics on innocent people eventually. Secondly, I cannot believe they were using a backhoe to dig up the body. That would surely destroy evidence. Get your lazy butts in there and dig with shovels. I sincerely hope this was thrown in there for the show and not a perfect reenactment. The episode was okay but very irritating. It was too easy for the investigators to find the suspect.
Another thing I would like to note is the lack of sympathy for the family. The show has not done a good job here. It has drug out 3 episodes already but the writers have failed to make the victims’ families sympathetic at all. The episode scores a 6 out of 10.
Catch up with previous recaps of A Confession right now!
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
