Dot Branning is a sad sight as she enters the dock for the start of her trial in EastEnders.

The BBC soap has released first-look pictures of the beloved Walford resident in court, charged with murdering her son, “Nasty” Nick Cotton.

Dot (June Brown) is flanked by two police officers and looks devastated as she watches the proceedings start.

EastEnders
Dot (June Brown) begins her murder trial in EastEnders (BBC)

Also making an early appearance in the trial is a reluctant Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), who has been called as a witness after being one of those to discover Nick’s (John Altman) body.

Nick died during the soap’s 30th anniversary live week in February, and was discovered in a scene echoing the programme’s opening shot of its pilot episode, where the body of Reg Cox was found when some of the other characters burst into a house looking for him.

Dot admitted that she had got hold of heroin for Nick, which he had taken, and allowed him to die in her arms, later calling the police to confess.

EastEnders
Stacey (Lacey Turner) is reluctant to appear at the trial (BBC)

But will Dot be found guilty of murdering her son, or will she be free to return to Albert Square?

The EastEnders trial episodes begin on BBC One from May 8.