That's as maybe, but my post was aimed directly at this remark of yours:

Stacey said herself, numerous times, that she was of completely sound mind when she killed Archie.

To be fair, I'd say the concerns over the direction of the character in 2005 were valid. Once he was thrown out of the Vic, Alfie went from someone who couldn't cheat on Kat out of revenge, even after she'd left him, to someone who was actively pursuing his sister-in-law.

It's quite possible that Shane got tired of Alfie being in the Vic by the end of 2013. There was something in an interview about being in background scenes all day.

The elephant (more like a sauropod) in the room of this thread.

No matter how badly the Slaters have behaved they have nothing on what the Mitchells have gotten away with over the years.

I would list all Philth's crimes and examples of his belief that is IS the community - but I have not got all day.

Yep and Phil is covering for Ronnie who is a murderer

BIB. I agree with this, Tracy Barlow never confessed to murdering Charlie but at least Stacey has admitted to killing Archie. There are people out there in real life who haven't been caught fin real life for 30 or 40 years or longer.

What about Tracy Barlow getting let out of jail as well and she never confessed to murder at least Stacey has

Two wrongs don't make a right!

This by a million times!

At least Stacey is willing to pay for murdering Archie and it was because he raped her not like the Mitchells who cover up all sorts of crimes then get bent lawyers like Marcus Christie and Ritchie Scott to pull strings to get them off whatever charges they're facing!

The Slaters are dodgy duck and divers but they have never done anything as bad as the Mitchells!

Ugh, Alfie literally thinks the world owes him a living, its bizarre! People are desperate for jobs in London, his attitude is disgusting.

With regards to Stacey using her Bi-polar as a reason as to why she committed murder, surely that would make her look like a higher risk to the public?!!!

Can you get off for murder just because you have mental health issues? It seems pretty irresponsible to suggest that, although I assume we the viewers are supposed to be cheering the Slaters on....

I wonder why EastEnders are so scared of showing a character on the dole? Alfie would get more in job seekers allowance than he would the second hand tat he tries to sell.

Do you think Tracy should go back to prison in Coronation Street?

I do agree about the Mitchells, but arguably they own their personality traits and don't hide them? Phil knows he's a nasty piece of work, Ronnie knows she's messed up. Conversely I get the feeling from the last few episodes that we're meant to be on horrible Alfie, horrible Kat, horrible Stacey & horrible Jean's side in all this, which I'm really not. Kat should be in prison along with Stacey for their crimes, for a very, very long time.

I suppose it's in Alfie's character that he makes money the dodgy way but now it's going too far, you're correct that he could claim more in JSA than on selling dodgy crap, he and Kat could claim child benefit as well which is what normal people do but that's not in their characters but it's high time it was because someone's going to end up in prison!

I suppose we are supposed to be on their side but it is difficult to sympathise with them because Jean's clearly not well and is babbling so much I can't understand her and Kat and Alfie don't seem all that sympathetic do they?

I do feel sorry for Lily though, poor kid doesn't know what day it is!

Well Tracy should be in prison again in Coronation Street. Say if Phil ever murder's someone he wouldn't go to prison for his crime. Jessie is too good of an actress to loose Eastenders need to keep Jessie. If Stacey didn't murder Archie and if Eastenders kept the murderer as Peggy would you have minded Stacey returning? Would you like Sean to return or Zoe? I find it sad we haven seen Zoe onscreen with Tommy yet.

If the police believed Bradley Branning was the murderer then why was Stacey running around in her many scarf-based disguises?

They weren't after her for killing Archie, they were after her for stabbing Janine.

Wasn't Keith Miller on the dole?

He was on the dole, but for benefits he wasn't entitled to. Why can't they show someone other than Lola claiming money that is actually due to them?

He was claiming incapacity benefit. Stacey shopped him.

I agree with this. Stacey is actually the only showing any decency in finally accepting responsibility and punishment although I'd still be happier if she was doing it out of remorse for taking somebody's life (for his family if not the man himself) rather than just to clear Bradley's name. I'm glad she does want to clear Bradley's name but that isn't the only issue. She did something no one person has a right to do - she played judge, jury and executioner and it was made very clear at the time by DTC that the bi-polar waasn't a factor. She'd been discharged from Hospital, was on her Meds and in her 'right' mind and it is disgraceful and offensive to mental health sufferers to have it used in this way although it was obvious it was the only way they could get her back in.

I hate to sound harsh but I don't care that she has a child - habing a child doesn't mean that killers shouldn't be punished and whilst I wouldn't wish it on anybody if Stacey's family can't look after Lilly for the couple of years she'll be inside then she would have to go into Care. That's horrible I know but better than a killer getting off scot free.

Jean you can understand, Stacey is her little girl and she is clearly having a relapse but Kat, Alfie etc should be be telling her to leave it, not encouraging her or Stacey.

The Tracy situation is very different in that they came up with a plausible reason for her verdict being over turned and nobody pretends like she is a heroine and justified in killing Charlie. It is accepted by everybody, characters and show that Tracy is a killer and a bad person who is free due to a miscarriage of justice. Also she did spend a couple of years in Prison - she has received some punishment. We're expected to sympathize with Stacey.

He'd also have to produce some evidence that he is looking for legal work at the Job Centre from places more than 10 years away from his home!

Excellent post. I agree with everything. Regarding Stacey's daughter, if the Slaters are supposed to be such a close knit family then why can't Lynn (who can't have children of her own), Little Mo or Zoe (who Stacey provided an alibi for) look after Lilly?