Responsible Child on Netflix ending explained: Was Ray found guilty of murder?
Ray faced brutal questioningResponsible Child on Netflix is a deeply moving story about a 12-year-old boy accused of murder which comes to a troubling ending.
The one-off drama, which was recently added to the streaming service after originally being shown on the BBC, on the surface has many similarities with the Netflix hit Adolescence.
Both tell the story of a child being arrested for murder. Both show a boy going through the British legal system. But Responsible Child paints its leading character, little Ray (Billy Barratt), in a more sympathetic light. Unlike Adolescence, which is one of the best Netflix series currently on the streamer, it also shows Ray going on trial in court. It highlights the shocking fact that children as young as 10 can be tried for murder in adult courts.
The Responsible Child ending saw Ray and his older brother Nathan (James Tarpey) head to the dock to hear the jury’s verdicts. Would they both be found guilty of murder?
***Warning: spoilers for Responsible Child ahead***
What happened in Responsible Child?
Responsible Child introduced us to 12-year-old Ray. The story was told in two timelines. We watched the build-up to Ray and his brother stabbing to death their stepfather, Scott (Shaun Dingwall). And we saw the process as Ray was first arrested for murder and then put on trial.
Ray lived with his dad. But Ray decided to leave his dad because he was a drunk. He headed to be with his brother Nathan, his mum Veronica (Debbie Honeywood), his stepfather Scott and his two step-siblings.
But Scott made it clear he didn’t want Ray to stay. Scott was an obnoxious bully. He shouted and screamed at Ray’s mother. At one point, Ray watched on as Scott grabbed her by the neck.
But the pivotal incident was when Scott attacked Nathan with an axe. Scott was arrested and the charges were upgraded to attempted murder. However, Scott was acquitted. Scott returned home and carried on bullying his family.
Nathan became increasingly withdrawn in the Responsible Child. Meanwhile, Ray’s behaviour got worse at school and he had a fight. Ray’s teacher was concerned enough to get social services involved. However, social services took Scott’s side. They claimed that the family situation had improved since Scott’s return to the family home.
How did Ray and Nathan kill Scott? And what was Ray’s defence?
Ray and Nathan stabbed Scott to death while he slept on the sofa. There is never any question that the brothers killed Scott.
The prosecution barrister, William (Tom Burke), said the attack was cold-blooded and premeditated. He pointed out that Scott was stabbed over 70 times. Indeed, the attack was so vicious Scott was almost decapitated.
Ray’s defence barrister, Kerry (Michelle Fairley) told Ray that the prosecution would push for a murder conviction. But Ray’s defence hoped to make the case to the jury that Ray was only guilty of manslaughter. It was explained to Ray that this would mean a much shorter sentence.
The defence team’s case hinged on proving that Ray lost control. Also, that Ray felt an immediate threat to his life.
On the night of Scott’s death, Nathan went to Ray’s room. He told Ray that their mother had warned him that they needed to lock their doors. Nathan explained their mother said Scott had gone to the shed to get the axe. Furthermore, Nathan revealed that their mother had said Scott intended to finish the job.
But Ray’s problem at the trial was that neither his brother or his mother were prepared to go into the witness box. In desperation, in the Responsible Child ending his barrister asked Ray to go into the box.
Ray faced brutal questioning. But Ray stuck to his line that he’d lost control. “I lost control before and during the attack,” he told the court.
The defence pointed out that Ray had been left alone in a violent household. His barrister Kerry added that Ray had been failed by the authorities. “A boy backed into a corner lashes back with that same terrible, furious rage he so feared himself,” said Kerry in her closing statement.
What was the prosecution case?
The prosecution used the testimony of child psychiatrist Dr Johann Keaton (Stephen Campbell Moore) to make it clear that Ray was of sound mind. Prosecution barrister William wanted to establish that Ray knew exactly what he was doing. William painted Scott as a caring and loving father to two children.
Furthermore, William pointed out that Scott was asleep at the time of the attack. He also made a lot of the viciousness of the attack. The jury were shown photos of the victim and one juror was so shocked they had to leave the courtroom.
William made it clear the prosecution position was that Ray was as guilty as his brother. He asked the jury not to be swayed by Ray’s age.
William also made references to Ray being clever. He hoped to persuade the jury that Ray was cold and calculating. He also referenced Ray playing violent computer games.
Responsible Child ending: What was the jury’s verdict?
The jury reached clear verdicts on both Nathan and Ray. First, we heard Nathan’s verdict. The jury found him guilty of murder.
Next, Ray’s verdict was read out. The jury found him not guilty of murder. However, they did find Ray guilty of manslaughter. The argument that Ray lost control and was in fear of his life had succeeded.
Ray’s barrister Kerry was pleased with the verdict. Ray, though, called out to his brother. But Nathan didn’t respond.
Ray’s mum then approached Ray. She told Ray that her two younger children had been taken away into care. Upset, Ray said he wanted to protect her and that’s why he did it. “Not much good if we’re not together,” was her callous response. Ray was left in tears.
What happened to Ray? What sentence was he given in the Responsible Child ending?
Ray was then taken to a youth prison. We never saw what sentence Ray or his brother were given.
In a rare moment of hope in the Responsible Child ending, Ray painted a picture of space. He told the prison worker that it was of a different universe.
We finally saw the actual scene of Nathan and Ray killing Scott. They both went downstairs and got kitchen knives. Nathan struck the first blow before Ray also started stabbing Scott.
Ray couldn’t get visions of the attack out of his head. Distressed, he started screaming out and the prisoner officers came into his cell to calm him down.
Later, Ray was seen getting a stamp for a letter he wanted to send to Nathan. Talking to the sympathetic prison worker, Nathan said: “I don’t want to be the person that did what I did.” The man reassured him that he wasn’t and that boy was in a different universe. The pair played a calm computer game together.
But then a fight broke out in the prison and Ray watched on. Once more, Ray was witnessing violence. The Responsible Child ending made it clear that society had failed Ray.
Responsible Child concluded with an on-screen statement saying that in 1995 the UN said that Britain putting children on trial in adult courts was “incompatible” with its obligations on children’s rights.
It added since then over 7,000 children aged between 10 and 14 had been put on trial in adult courts.
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