Law & Order: UK

Love, betrayal and assisted suicide are the themes of this week’s episode when high court judge Rachel Callaghan (Juliet Stevenson) is shot in the underground carpark of her apartment building in what looks like a car robbery gone wrong. It soon becomes apparent that a hitman was hired to kill her. Despite being shot twice, the judge is left on life support in hospital with her husband and daughter by her bedside. The question on everyone’s minds is who wanted the judge dead - a career criminal she’s been pursuing a case against? Or someone a little closer to home? As a woman used to putting up a fight, Judge Callaghan initially refuses to accept the doctor’s prognosis on her condition. However, as evidence begins to mount against the accused, her health slowly deteriorates and Judge Callaghan decides to have the hospital stop her treatment which will bring about her death. In a poignant and tender climax, George is torn between friendship and respecting a person’s right to die as he tries to get Rachel to accept the truth of what has happened.