EastEnders viewers share delight after Paul Coker’s killers plead GUILTY
Soap fans were pleased to see justice prevail for Ben Mitchell and Paul's parents
EASTENDERS fans have shared their delight after Paul Coker’s killers pleaded guilty to his murder.
Viewers waited with bated breath as the defendants Neil Crossley, Tom Eden, Frankie Byrne and Simon Atmore took to the dock to enter their plea.
But after a dramatically long pause, Simon the ringleader finally uttered the words Paul’s grieving boyfriend Ben Mitchell and his grandparents had been longing to hear: “Guilty”.
The gang also pleaded guilty to kidnapping Ben – played by Harry Reid – and fans were quick to take to Twitter to share their delight.
One wrote: “OHN MY GOD THEY PLEAD GUILTY I’M SO RELIEVED AND HAPPY” while another added: “THIS HAS CHANGED MY MOOD SO MUCH! THANK GOD FOR THAT #EastEnders”.
Others were in tears at the verdict, with one viewer writing: “#EastEnders got me emotional. The relief for Pam and Les. Bless em” while another wrote: “Sobbing at them all wearing the end hate crime t shirts #EastEnders”.
Fans were unsure of how the court case was going to go, with many expecting the BBC soap to draw the legal drama out over the coming months.
One fan of the show wrote: “Wooow I’m so surprised! I did not expect him to plead guilty.”
Pam immediately broke down in relief, with Ben struggling to control his emotions as their hunt for justice came to an end.
Paying tribute to Paul and thanking everyone for their support, Ben told the Walford residents: “I ain’t really one for speeches and I know Pam and Les aren’t here but I wanted to say thank you to everyone for today because sometimes something really bad happens and it’s hard to see the good in the world.
“Then people come together and, you know what, I think that’s the kind of world Paul believed in. We should all try to be like that.”
It was recently revealed that Pam and Les would be leaving the Square for good after new showrunner Sean O’Connor decided to write their characters out.
- EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One