After watching everyone being sworn in and the Chief Justice re-joining the case we all then watched as Samuel was brought to the dock as Gareth slowly stood up. I watched as Samuel looked a little bit nervous as he fidgeted with his handcuffs for a few seconds before he looked over to Gareth.

Gareth told him that he didn't need to look so nervous; he only wanted to have a discussion with him. It was at this point when we heard Samuel's voice for the first time today; he stated that he wasn't nervous of having a discussion with Gareth - he was nervous over what could happen to him as a consequence of this trial. Which in my opinion, was rightly so.

Gareth quickly recapped what he said in his opening statement and the history between me and him - which spanned over two weekends together and ended when Samuel wanted to make things more permanent between us. Samuel was very forthcoming with confirming this; but he wasn't like Bobby. He didn't hint on how I was in the bedroom; it made me laugh - he seemed very gentlemanly about it.

We all listened to how Bobby approached Samuel when Samuel was looking around the same art gallery that he met me in all those years ago. And he said the same thing as he said to the others - that he had something that he needed to talk to them about; that he thought would be of interest to them. Samuel then stated that he was intrigued so he agreed to meet up with him, which as an afterthought he wished he turned down the offer.

Samuel then told the court how they all met in the back room of The Three Horseshoes; and when he heard about the plan that Bobby had in mind he did want to be involved. He told the court that he wanted to be involved as he wanted to try and have another shot with me. He knew that I was in a relationship with Ben but he still wanted to have a shot.

Thankfully Gareth then quickly skated over them torturing Ben; and in his defence Samuel did state that he did disagree with the torturing. He thought that the beating at first was understandable but he thought everything afterwards was a bit extreme. He tried to stress this to Bobby but he was quickly shot down; he was however able to stop Bobby going too far when Bobby was hitting Ben with the sledge hammer. I didn't know this; and when I looked up at Ben I was met with a confused look before he nodded at me. I couldn't help but note that I had mixed feelings on this. I hated that this even happened; but the fact that he had stopped some of the harsh treatment towards Ben made me feel a little bit better that he at least tried to stop it. Yes I know this only made it slightly better, only slightly.


We all then watched as Samuel's lawyer, (Mr Bruce Bright) stood up to do the defence cross examination. I didn't know what he was going to say really; given the testimony that Samuel had just given to the court; he had admitted everything!

It would appear that Bruce had decided to take things in a different direction; he told the court that the testimony that Samuel had given showed that he was remorseful for his involvement in the plot against me and Ben. He confirmed this by getting Samuel to confirm his remorse and guilt that he was feeling. He stressed and told the court that he wished that he didn't get involved; and he hoped that with time that both me and Ben could forgive him. To be honest I didn't really know if I could ever forgive any one of them for what they had done to me and Ben, mainly Ben. I couldn't stop my mind from spitefully showing me them torturing my soul mate; and that was something that was always going to weigh heavy on my heart - for now and probably to my dying breath.


We all then watched as Samuel and Paul swapped places and I couldn't help but shake my head as I watched him being sworn in. I really didn't see why Paul thought the need to get involved in this. I really didn't. Me and him only spoke for a few mere minutes; something that I found wasn't enough to be involved in a kidnap, murder and potential rape plot.

Gareth quickly questioned him on this; and to my and Ben's dismay he just shrugged and said that he didn't really have an answer for why he got involved. He then added that Bobby could be very persuasive and he 'guesses' that he just got swept up in his advances.

Paul was then questioned on his involvement in the scheme and he stated that he provided the 'equipment' that was needed for this scheme. When Gareth questioned him on this Paul then recanted everything that he had taken from the hardware store that he used to work at as the store had since terminated his employment since discovering his involvement in the scheme.

Gareth then questioned what else Paul brought to the scheme and he said that he just patrolled around the grounds of APL when Bobby left. He even cheekily told the court that as he did this he smoked, drank alcohol and 'took a leek'. I don't know whether he thought that his playfulness was going to help him but as he was met with a stern looking face from Gareth, his lawyer and the Chief Justice his face quickly dropped.


Just like when Samuel's lawyer stood up I didn't know what to expect from Paul's lawyer (Mrs Margaret Mavison). But it was very evident on her face that she wasn't happy with Paul's laid back attitude to the cross examination that he had just gone through with Gareth.

Margaret quickly questioned Paul about his relationship with Bobby - which I felt was a strange line of questioning but it soon became evident why she was asking such questions. Apparently Bobby and Paul knew each other from being in the same classes at school; however due to poor grades Paul didn't pass many classes due to his playful nature. Margaret then was able to get Paul to tell the court about how many times Bobby had been able to drag or get Paul into trouble on numerous occasions. We even heard a story about when Bobby had stolen something from a store and because Paul was with him and due to his very gullible nature Bobby talked him into confessing to the crime - which meant Paul spent 18 months in the newly built Auradon Correctional Prison Facility, which had only been built for a couple of months at the time. I think another element which helped collaborate the point that Margaret was trying to put across to the jury was that when Paul went back to the shared dock he winked and smirked at Bobby, who did the same back. I actually felt a little bit sorry for Paul, Bobby obviously knew how to play him and unfortunately for Paul when he learnt this lesson it was going to be a little bit too late.


Now it finally came to the last cross examination of the accused party - Stephen. Which just like Paul I really didn't see why he would want to get involved in such a scheme. My history with him was pathetic! In the weeks that followed mine and Ben's break up he pushed his advances onto me, which of course I rejected given the fact that I had just broken up with Ben. I really failed to see how this would make him want to get involved in this, I really didn't! It would appear that me rejecting him obviously touched a very, very raw nerve. I had heard after my encounter with Stephen that Stephen didn't like to be told 'no' by women - which by the looks of it was his motivation for being involved in this sorry mess.

Gareth was quick to question Stephen about how he first became involved in the scheme and just like the others we all heard how Bobby had sought him out and invited him to a meeting. Stephen then told the court that when he heard my name it pricked his curiosity; and he even admitted that when he heard Bobby's plan he had his own ulterior motive - he wanted to try and steal me away for himself.

Gareth then asked what his role was in the venture and Stephen confirmed that he taught the other members of the accused party how to subdue people. He also told the court that he also patrolled the grounds of APL to guard Ben from being rescued. When Gareth asked Stephen whether he actually thought what they had done was right and Ben growled next to me when Stephen just simply shrugged. He then was quick to add that he didn't think that there was any point thinking about what had already happened, it had happened and there is nothing that he can do to change this. If I was being honest I think that Stephen's behaviour is deplorable; he did need to think about what he had done and been involved with. And I just hoped that he was going to get what was coming to him - as by the looks of it, he really deserved consequences for what he has done.


We all then got a shock when Stephen's lawyer, David Deckinson, stood up and he told the court that his client had declined a defence cross examination. When the Chief Justice asked why David then told the court that Stephen felt that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence against them all and he felt there was no point putting up a defence. The Chief Justice then questioned when Stephen was sure and he just simply nodded. Chief Justice Williams then told Stephen that he needed to be sure about this; as there was no going back. Stephen stated that he understood the ramifications of declining council from his lawyer.

Me and Ben then watched as the Chief Justice Williams asked his clerk to document this. He then looked around the room for a couple of seconds before he called a quick recess. I then suddenly felt my heart start to pound in my chest as my stomach fluttered at the fact that after the recess me and Ben had to give our evidence. I felt like I wanted to be sick! I just wanted to do enough so me and Ben could have justice. We needed justice for what had happened to us; and I just hoped that fate was going to be on both of our sides.