Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) was furious with wife Rhona Goskirk’s (Zoë Henry) last minute decision in tonight’s dramatic Emmerdale (24th April 2024).
Ahead of her ex-husband Gus Malcolms’ (Alan McKenna) sentencing for fraud, Rhona had agreed to read out a victim impact statement, which would paint Gus in a favourable light to help him get a lighter sentence. Gus had already signed some documents to ensure that Rhona and Marlon could have access to baby Ivy, who was conceived via Rhona’s stolen embryo.
Before heading to court, Gus was feeling bleak about his situation. Rhona seemed uneasy, but committed to supporting him as they sat with Ivy.
Rhona and Marlon discussed what the future would look like after Gus was released from prison, and Marlon couldn’t help but remark that a small part of him wanted to see Gus punished.
In court, Rhona took the stand and began a compassionate speech about what drove Gus to commit his crime. But as she faltered, Rhona couldn’t bring herself to speak so highly of the man who had gone against her wishes and stolen from her.
Informing the judge that her earlier words weren’t true, Rhona was asked if she could provide a new statement on the spot. She then unleashed a powerful rant, describing how Gus’s decision to use the embryo had affected the lives of herself, her husband and their children.
The judge repeatedly reminded Rhona to keep calm, and she stopped herself from speculating on what the appropriate punishment should be for Gus. Eventually, the judge revealed that she had considered Rhona’s emotional testimony, and had no choice but to issue Gus with an 8 year prison sentence.
As Gus was taken away, he turned towards Rhona and asked: “How could you?”
Marlon was equally stunned by Rhona’s words, knowing that they had taken baby Ivy’s father away from her for years. As Marlon wondered what made Rhona change her mind, before reminding her that she continued to leave him out of her decision-making, is the couple’s future at serious risk?
