1964 brings fresh challenges to Ben Schroeder, now a member of chambers headed by Bernard Wesley QC. Ben is already defending a vicar, accused of indecently assaulting a choir boy, when he is plunged into a capital murder case. The accused is Billy Cottage, charged with murder after a frenzied attack on a young courting couple aboard a houseboat. The young man, Frank Gilliam, dies in the attack, while his girlfriend, Jennifer Doyce, is raped and seriously injured. The attacker stole a gold cross and chain from Jennifer, which makes the crime a capital offence. To make matters worse the defence is being led my Martin Hardcastle, an arrogant QC with a serious drinking problem. When the police recover the cross and chain from Billy's sister and then find his fingerprint inside the houseboat, things start to look bad for Cottage.
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