You remember the quote from Life of Brian: "All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
By the same token the British love to remind everyone of all the things they bought to their colonies. Culture, education, roads, railways, sanitation and the common law legal system.
However as one Indian critic said. The modern British government likes to criticise the Indian government about our laws against homosexuality. Before the British invaders arrived there were no laws against homosexuality. It was introduced by the British. Now they tell us off for having their laws.
This is something Rumpole learns as he arrives in Phillida. A country in Africa that used to be a British colony. Think Zimbabwe. He is defending a former student David Mazenze who rose to be a prominent politician. He is accused of murdering a bishop and had publicly stated that he would kill him. The prime minister of Phillida would like to see the back of David Mazenze. It is a country of tribal divisions.
Rumpole learns that David faces the death penalty and the trial is by the judge alone. It was the British who abolished trial by jury for murder. Rumpole soon finds out that the Judge is in no mood for Rumpole's games and he has done some homework on Rumpole. On the other hand, Rumpole concurs with David that the judge might be in the pocket of the prime minister.
The case against David looks weak. The whole state apparatus is apparently against him and Rumpole. Yet David requested Rumpole because of the way he deals with a jury, the way he talks about the law. Rumpole finds out he is a patsy. He is a tool in some complex political manoeuvres.
I did like Rumpole goes to Africa. It rather seems John Mortimer might have had a similar experience. A British legal system in foreign lands. The laws might be unjust, yet the judge, barristers and the police all had some some training in the UK.
There is a lot of humour here. The police tell Rumpole that David Mazenze is chained to the walls as he arrives to see David. In fact his cell is a luxurious room with plenty of wine and a record player.
Once again Rumpole shows his experience and cunning. He has his own games to play.
What does let the episode down is the production. It is obvious that this was all shot in Britain. The customs office of Phillida looks like a college canteen. There is even a cola machine. I never got a colonial feeling in any of the sets.
By the same token the British love to remind everyone of all the things they bought to their colonies. Culture, education, roads, railways, sanitation and the common law legal system.
However as one Indian critic said. The modern British government likes to criticise the Indian government about our laws against homosexuality. Before the British invaders arrived there were no laws against homosexuality. It was introduced by the British. Now they tell us off for having their laws.
This is something Rumpole learns as he arrives in Phillida. A country in Africa that used to be a British colony. Think Zimbabwe. He is defending a former student David Mazenze who rose to be a prominent politician. He is accused of murdering a bishop and had publicly stated that he would kill him. The prime minister of Phillida would like to see the back of David Mazenze. It is a country of tribal divisions.
Rumpole learns that David faces the death penalty and the trial is by the judge alone. It was the British who abolished trial by jury for murder. Rumpole soon finds out that the Judge is in no mood for Rumpole's games and he has done some homework on Rumpole. On the other hand, Rumpole concurs with David that the judge might be in the pocket of the prime minister.
The case against David looks weak. The whole state apparatus is apparently against him and Rumpole. Yet David requested Rumpole because of the way he deals with a jury, the way he talks about the law. Rumpole finds out he is a patsy. He is a tool in some complex political manoeuvres.
I did like Rumpole goes to Africa. It rather seems John Mortimer might have had a similar experience. A British legal system in foreign lands. The laws might be unjust, yet the judge, barristers and the police all had some some training in the UK.
There is a lot of humour here. The police tell Rumpole that David Mazenze is chained to the walls as he arrives to see David. In fact his cell is a luxurious room with plenty of wine and a record player.
Once again Rumpole shows his experience and cunning. He has his own games to play.
What does let the episode down is the production. It is obvious that this was all shot in Britain. The customs office of Phillida looks like a college canteen. There is even a cola machine. I never got a colonial feeling in any of the sets.
