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Coronation Street trailer previews Sarah Barlow's murder trial, airing from 14 October

ITV's Coronation Street released a trailer for Sarah Barlow's trial for killing Theo Silverton, with episodes due from Wednesday 14 October. Tina O'Brien says Sarah is terrified and unsure the case will go her way.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Digital Spy
Image: Daily Mail

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Coronation Street has released a new trailer giving a first look at the trial of Sarah Barlow, played by Tina O'Brien, with the court episodes due to air from Wednesday 14 October. Mixed · 2Sarah was arrested in July and charged with the murder of Theo Silverton; flashback scenes aired in June showed her killing him with a scaffolding pole after confronting him over his abuse of her friend Todd Grimshaw. Mixed · 2After months in prison on remand, Sarah will try to persuade a jury that she acted in self-defence.

Mixed · 2In the trailer, a terrified Sarah stands in the dock while a voiceover calls her a "cold-blooded murderer", and she says: "I think we need to prepare for the worst." Mixed · 2O'Brien said Sarah is "absolutely terrified", has been desperate for the day to come, finds standing in the dock overwhelming and, as the prosecution case is laid out, is not sure things will go her way. Centre · 1Digital Spy also quotes a cast member named Gareth saying several characters who were potential suspects are now potential witnesses, including to Theo's character, which will form a big part of the self-defence case.

Right · 1The Daily Mail adds background: Theo's death in April prompted a whodunnit with suspects including Todd Grimshaw, Gary Windass, Summer Spellman, George Shuttleworth, Christina Boyd and Danielle Silverton, and Gary helped Sarah cover up the killing. Right · 1O'Brien told of the strain of keeping the killer's identity secret and said she understands why Sarah did it, feeling in that moment she had no other choice; she has played the role since 1999.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Spoiler-style preview led by the trailer and Sarah's fear, with the self-defence question posed as a cliffhanger.
Emphasis
Trial build-up, the defence case and potential witnesses among the former suspects.
Leaves out or plays down
Less backstory on the whodunnit suspects and O'Brien's reflections on secrecy.
Charged language
“dramatic first look”
For example
“Will Sarah walk free from court or will the jury find her guilty of murder?” — Digital Spy

Right1 outlet

Framing
Tabloid recap that labels Sarah a killer in the headline and adds extensive backstory on the whodunnit and the actor's comments.
Emphasis
Murder of an 'abuser', the suspect list, O'Brien's secrecy anecdotes and career history.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the witnesses angle quoted by Digital Spy.
Charged language
“killer”“murdering abuser”“massive whodunnit”
For example
“Coronation Street killer Sarah Platt's long-awaited court case kicks off in dramatic trailer” — Daily Mail