EPISODE 21

Practically no Vincent today, but loads of Ben.



How shall I start? It was obvious Ling is very attracted to Ben as she bought him his favourite out of stock roller sneakers he wore in the beginning and she bought herself a pair also, not before she had to beg the owner to sell it to her and promising in the end to give free legal representation just for that shoes.



Everything went well until one case that Ben took.



Ben had a best friend who was imprisoned for rape-murder 7 years ago, a crime he said he did not commit. The case was flimsy, evidence entirely circumstancial except for one very strong eyewitness and that eyewitness was Ling when she was in high school. She saw her friend being murdered, saw for a moment the killer's face and was very certain Ben's friend was the one. Ben was at fault for not telling her earlier and went with her to visit her friend's grave and even asked loads of questions. One thing was certain; Ling was very sure he was the one and Ben was very sure his friend could not have committed such a terrible crime. When Ling found out from Ben he intended to take this case to appeal, Ling walked away, as emotional as ever, blaming Ben for even considering she was lying or was mistaken. She said even if he won, it would mean nothing because a killer is let loose. The entire series Jess seems to be the only objective woman as she assisted Ben like a good friend should. Jess knew Ben would be jeapordising his relationship with Ling but Ben said, "How can I let my friend be imprisoned for a crime he did not commit?" whilst Ling thought she must bring the murderer to justice, even for a second time.



Ben won the appeal, got to have a fresh trial with Marco as the prosecutor. It all looks good for Ben, except Ben would have to destroy Ling's testimony.



Tomorrow we will know. But one clue said that there was a Pao Kor in this case. He must be the one.



Anyway I am beginning to dislike Ling. Again she jumped to conclusion and started berrating Ben without listening to him. But I understand why, her best friend was murdered, she was convinced he was the one, so she couldn't understand why Ben is digging up old wounds. I do not think it is her ego and her refusal to believe she was mistakn that was the culprit; I believe she genuinely believed he was the one. Likewise Ben believed his friend. Very complicated. Jess as usual is in between but like a good friend stood by both of them.



A very interesting scenario.



What would you do if one day you discover you were mistaken and one man was imprisoned for many years for your mistake? I saw a documentary once where this rape victim was so sure the imprisoned man was the culprit, and about a decade later, DNA results showed otherwise. I could never live with such guilt that an innocent man went to jail because of me. Perhaps one explanation for this; like Ling, extreme trauma can sometimes make us associate the very first similar looking person as the guilty party and from thereon in our memory we forever associate him with the crime that was committed against us. I am not saying do not believe the victim, but sometimes mere words are not enough. It is good that DNA is now available.



In this episode, Ben won the new trial by finding that the prosecution did not reveal to the defence lawyer that there wa a drop of blood belonging neither to the victim or the accused, a third party's blood. Ben said this would jeapordise the defence case which could have given them a possible defence. Ben was right, the prosecution was lazy and a bit bad you know.



Ling will definitely go very emotional tomorrow. I am beginning to feel very irritated with her. Jess meanwhile argued her case with Ben! Very interesting!