Eastenders Ben Mitchell Kills Heather Trott

Catch Up

Heather Trott has been planning her wedding day, blissfully unaware that she is about to meet her maker. However when Andrew reveals he has served eighteen months for GBH, Heather is unsure on whether or not to marry him at all.

At the Hen night, Shirley does her best to turn Hev against Andrew, and at one point it looks like she may have succeeded when Andrew looses his temper with Shirley and punches a hole in the wall. Later while in the square, Andrew catches up with Heather and explains that the guy he assaulted was his Mums ex boyfriend who used to beat her, which gives Hev food for thought.

While sat on the bench pondering her situation, Shirley arrives and presents Hev with a framed photo of the two of them, unaware that it will later be used to kill her best friend. Just as Andrew returns, he overhears Heather telling Shirley that she loves him and wants to marry him, Andrew is over the moon. However a jealous Shirley warns Hev that if she leaves with Andrew now, then their friendship is finished.

Torn between her fiancé and her best friend, Heather chooses Andrew and walks away from a teary Shirley.

Meanwhile, Ben Mitchell who has recently lied to the police to get his own Dad sent to prison, is visibly on the edge. Ian realises just how messed up his younger brother is, when he discovers how he lied to the police about Phil killing Stella.

Ian has been battling with himself on what to do for the best, and after a talk with Patrick, he realises he has to tell the police the truth. With a heavy heart Ian pays Dci Marsden a visit.

Week Commencing 19th March 2012

It is the morning after the hen and stag parties, and for some of the Albert Squares residents, life is about to change forever. Heather approaches Shirley and tells her that she can't get married without her, but a stubborn Shirley says she has made her choice, and from now on Hev is on her own.

Shortly after, Andrew informs Heather that his mum has ruined her dream wedding dress, Hev wastes no time in having it out with Rose before making the decision to elope with Andrew.

Later while Heather is cleaning at the Beale's house, Ben and Ian are talking about Ben lying to the police about Phil. When Ben realises that Heather is there, he panics and starts questioning her on what shes heard, he then confesses to a stunned Hev that he has been lying about his Dad killing Stella all along.

Later following her recent visit from Ian, Dci Marsden turns up to question Ben on his previous statement. Ben wrongly assumes that Heather has told the police about their earlier conversation, and feeling backed in to a corner he admits to Marsden that he made it all up. Marsden then arrests Ben for perverting the course of justice.

Meanwhile Andrew has been over the moon since Heather picked him over Shirley. So he is doubly disappointed when Heather can't get excited about their wedding day because she is wishing Shirl was there.

An insecure Andrew feels that he will always come second best to Shirley. He gives Heather two tickets for both her and George, and tells her that he is leaving, and if she still wants to elope then to meet him in the pub at 6pm.

Heather tries one last time to make things up with Shirley, but Shirley is in a foul mood after visiting Phil, and takes it out on Hev. Shirley cruelly tells Hev that she is nothing to her, and that they all laugh at Hev behind her back. Meanwhile Ben is down the police station with Roxy, getting read the riot act from Dci Marsden. Ben tries his hardest to stop his Dad being released, but to no avail.

Later back at her flat, Heather has just finished packing. Before she leaves, Hev rings Shirley to tell her she is eloping with Andrew, however Shirley doesn't answer as she has just found out that Phil is being released, and is busy planning him a home coming meal.

Heather starts to leave Shirley an answer phone message but gets interrupted when the buzzer goes, she puts the phone on the side while she goes to buzz in who she believes to be Andrew, but its actually Ben.

Ben is running scared when he hears his Dad has been released from prison, and wrongly assumed that it was Hev who grassed him up. Ben storms in to the flat and it immediately becomes clear that he wont listen to reason. Ben knows that his Dads due back in the square anytime now, and he's both scared and desperate.

While Heather is still protesting her innocence, Jay tries to calm Ben down, but Ben soon begins looking for the money Dot gave to Heather. Ben needs the money so he can run away before Phil arrives, and the desperate young teen knows time is running out. In Ben's desperation, he attempts to head towards Georges room, but when a protective Heather tries to stop him, tragedy strikes.

Ben grabs a picture frame and smashes it across the side of her head, Heather stumbles back and whacks her head of the kitchen work top. Ben and Jay stare at the floor in horror where Heathers lifeless body lay. A petrified Jay checks her pulse but realising she is dead, he runs from the flat.

Meanwhile Phil has just returned from prison and has a score to settle with his son, but nothing could compare him for what he's about to walk in to. Ben tells his Dad what he's done, and when Phil sees Heathers lifeless body he goes to dial 999. Phil warns Ben that he will get life for what he's done, but when Ben starts begging his Dad to help him. Phil is genuinely shaken by what Ben has done.

Despite what Ben has done, Phil still can't bring himself to shop his own son and so instead the quick thinking Mitchell comes up with a plan. Phil sets about smashing Hev's door in from the outside, and then begins ransacking the flat to make it look like a burglary gone wrong. He then leaves George asleep in the bedroom and goes looking for Jay.

While on their way to the arches, Phil and Ben bump into Roxy, and after a chat, she decides to make things up with Ben. However as Ben gives her a cuddle some of Heathers blood rubs off his hands on to the back of Roxy's coat.

Phil finds a distraught Jay at the Arches, he tells the boys that if anyone asks then they are to say that they were at the Arches all night working on a car together. Phil begins burning their clothes, and instructs Ben to go and chuck the photo frame in the canal. However when Ben sees his Dad being affectionate towards a shaken Jay, the jealous teen purposely hides Jays hoodie so it doesn't get destroyed with the rest of the evidence.

Meanwhile back at the Mitchell's, Shirley has received a voicemail message from Hev, as she begins to listen, she can hear Heathers buzzer going, and Hev say "It's Andrew, hang on a minute." but before Shirley can listen to anymore, she gets interrupted.

Later Phil along with Jay and Ben, go back home where Shirley has laid on a welcome home meal. Jay is shaking and fighting back the tears, however Ben is acting as cocky as ever, and showing no remorse for what he has done. Much to Phil's disgust, Ben asks "wheres Hev tonight, not like her to miss a free meal." Later When Shirley mentions that Hev left her a voicemail, Phil takes her phone and hears the message which has also recorded the events leading up to her death.

Phil is visibly sickened by what he hears, but it doesn't stop him from deleting the evidence in order to protect his son. Meanwhile Shirley can't believe the cheek of Ben turning up to Phil's home coming party, and wastes no time in laying in to him. However Phil who is experiencing mixed feelings towards his son, decides that Ben has to come first, so he stands up for his lad much to Shirley's annoyance.

During the celebrations, Shirley is missing Heather and regrets treating her so cruel earlier, so she decides to go and make things right with her, and invite her to join in the celebrations. Phil suttlelly tries stopping her from going, but he knows it would look suspicious if he begged her not to go, so he has no choice but to let her discover her best friends body.

Shirley arrives at Hev's full of joy, but it soon turns to horror when she discovers her best mate lying in a pool of blood, when she can't rouse her, Shirley quickly calls 999. Meanwhile back at the Mitchell house, Phil, Jay and Ben anxiously await news. Its not long before a devastated Shirley arrives home covered in Heathers blood, cradling George in her arms.

Knowing they have to account for their fingerprints being in Hev's flat, Phil and the two boys along with Billy rush over as the ambulance is on its way. When the paramedics arrive and start trying to revive Heather, Phil shields an inconsolable Shirley from them, as he knows only to well that their far to late to save her. The paramedics confirm Hev's death and Shirley breaks down in Phil's arms.

Its not long before the police arrive wanting to interview the witnesses, and after some initial questioning, DS Crisp tells the Mitchell's that they will all need to be questioned down at the station. Shirley is upset and angry when they start questioning her, while an anxious Phil worries that the boys wont stick to their alibi.

The news of Heathers untimely death quickly spreads around the square, leaving everyone to question just who could have killed lovable Hev. Andrew who believed Heather had changed her mind about marrying him, when she didn't show up at the pub, is completely heartbroken when he is told of his Fiancee's demise.

Meanwhile down at the police station, everyone is given overalls so their clothes can be forensically examined in order to eliminate them from the police investigation. Shirley overhears the police saying that they believe the burglary was faked, and as Ben and Jay get led off for separate questioning, Phil worries the lads will crumble under pressure. Phil needn't worry about Ben, who appears eerily calm, however a traumatised Jay is seen fighting back his tears.

Back in the square, a worried Rose lies to the police about Andrews whereabouts but has she just made things worse for her son? Andrew has become the prime suspect, and is extremely nervous when DS Crisp tells him that he knows all about his violent past.

Other residents have also seen Andrews nasty side, and its not long before they too begin to suspect him. Dot visit Shirley and tells her that Andrew will be cleared of murdering Heather, but Shirley tells Dot that Andrew is a violent thug, an upset Dot flees from the house.

Coming Soon

Later Ben is worried that Jay is going to confess all, and so he tells Jay that he has kept his blood stained hoodie from the night of the murder, and threatens to frame him by handing it over to the police, if he dares opens his mouth. When Phil hears this, he marches Ben down to the allotments to burn the hoodie immediately. While at the allotment, Ben and Phil begin to argue, Ben tells his Dad that he has got what he always wanted, and that he is a real Mitchell now.

Back at the police station, Andrew Cotton is still protesting his innocence. Andrew tells the police that he and Hev were planning to elope, but as he has no one to back up his story, the police think he has invented the story to try clear his name. Andrew is soon charged with Heathers murder, and ends up on remand, so it looks like Ben has got away with it for now.

Later, Phil becomes concerned when he hears Jean saying she remembers seeing Andrew at the time of Heathers murder. A worried Phil tells Jean, that given her history of benefit fraud and mental health issues, the police would not believe her so it is best to keep quiet.

Patrick also finds some incriminating evidence, when he finds Jays hoodie from the stag night burnt at the allotments. Patrick tells Dot he believes the hoodie belongs to Andrew, and that he must have burnt it after he killed Heather. The police soon arrive and search Dot's home for the hoodie Andrew was wearing that night, but when they don't find it, things look even worse for him.

However later on, Dot and Cora accompany Rose to the R&R where they break in and find the missing hoodie in Andrews locker. Meanwhile Social services have given Shirley the all clear to have George staying with them, but it all becomes to much for a guilt ridden Jay.

Meanwhile the police are still trying to find out who owned the hoodie that was found in the allotments, and it is not long before they are questioning Phil Mitchell on the whereabouts of Jays missing top. Phil makes an excuse, but later manages to steal Andrews hoodie and passes it of as Jays.

As all the residents point the finger of blame at Andrew, Dot is starting to change her mind about her nephew. Andrew breaks down in front of Dot and gives a heart warming speech about how much Heather meant to him, and Dot begins to doubt that Andrew could be capable of killing the woman he loved so dearly.

Meanwhile Jean has organised a tribute 80's karaoke in the Vic in honour of Heather, but when a furious Shirley turns up, she turns the music off and shouts at everyone, accusing them off just laughing at Hev. Shirley has a row with Mandy and then shouts at poor Dot accusing them of not being friends of Heathers. Later an emotional Shirley starts planning Heathers funeral.

At one point it looks like Ben is about to confess, when he tells Roxy that he is sorry about what he did to Heather, he later changes the conversation to stop Roxy becoming suspicious. Meanwhile Jay is stunned when he discovers Andrew has been charged with Heathers murder and he takes off. As Phil and Ben worry about where he could be, Jay has arrived at the police station, will Jay let an innocent man go to prison, or will Ben finally get what he deserves???

Don't Forget To Tune Into BBC1 Wensday 21st March 7.30PM