Law & Order: UK (TV Series)

Broken (2010)

Ben Daniels: Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel

Quotes 

• Julie Reid : I saw this woman on the, uh, the news last night, and she said Rose Shaw was Satan reborn, they should bring back hanging just for her. I've never heard so much hate in someone's voice.

  George Castle : Well, public feeling is very strong.

  Julie Reid : All these flowers on the estate, sackloads of cards everyday, like they all knew him. All of them, out there, feeding off my boy's death. Lettin' it take over their lives. It's like they need it. The funny thing is, all I want, yeah? All I need is to let it go.

  James Steel : The trial can help you do that.

  Julie Reid : Sending her to prison won't help me. It won't bring my boy back.

  Alesha Phillips : Most victims' families find it gives them a sense of closure.

  Julie Reid : Closure? This ain't closure. This is revenge. No, that little girl don't deserve it. She's been through enough. We live on the same estate. I know what goes on in there.

  George Castle : She broke the law in the most terrible way.

  Julie Reid : She's a child! What, you want to hide her behind a 10-foot wall so that no one has to look at her? No one has to ask her wha- who's really responsible for Conor's death? No. No, no, it's too easy.

  James Steel : Prosecuting kids is never easy.

  Julie Reid : My Conor, he used to- he liked to draw them pictures, you know, the ones where you put the paint through the straws. He loved dogs.

  [sobs] 

  Julie Reid : That's how I want to remember him. My happy little boy. I don't want my memories clouded by hate. I mean, would you want your son brought up in a world with no hope? You can't- you can't save Conor, but you can save her. Yeah, you can- you can give Rosie Shaw a life.

  George Castle : You can forgive her?

  Julie Reid : I hate what she did with every- every bone in my body! But... but I'm a mum, you know? I can't hate a child. You say you represent me, then this is what you do: you make Conor's life mean something, yeah? You find out why she did it and you get that little girl help.

• George Castle : [about the Director of Public Prosecutions]  God, I swear that woman was put on this earth just to irritate my duodenum. Now, whatever it takes, you guarantee that that jury find on manslaughter - diminished responsibility and not murder. I want that girl in a hospital, not a prison.

  James Steel : What about the DPP?

  James Steel : Oh, screw the DPP. I answer to Conor's mother on this one.

• Kim Sharkey : [about Rose Shaw]  You want to put her in hospital?

  James Steel : Don't you? Rose needs treatment.

  Kim Sharkey : [scoffs]  Thanks, but, no thanks.

  James Steel : Well, I'm giving your client a way out of a murder charge.

  Alesha Phillips : Surely it's in Rose's best interests to have someone try and fix her.

  Kim Sharkey : The child's a monster. I doubt anyone could fix her. You're only offering a deal because you're worried I'm going to win.

  James Steel : You couldn't care less what's best for Rose, you just don't want to give up your 15 minutes.

  Kim Sharkey : Cases like this come along once in a lifetime, James. They're career-makers.

  James Steel : This isn't a shortcut to silk, Kim, it's a child's life!

  Kim Sharkey : Do calm down, James, or you'll be comparing ulcers with George.

• [after Ms Sharkey conveniently forgets to email an important application and presents him with the hard copy just before trial] 

  Kim Sharkey : At the time of her interview, Paige Ward was not accompanied by a solicitor or appropriate adult.

  James Steel : Uh, she was accompanied by her 28-year-old mother who refused legal representation.

  Kim Sharkey : A woman with an IQ below that of an average 12-year-old.

  James Steel : Unlike the morals of the average 12-year-old, which my learned colleague shares.