australian television information archive

Malice Aforethought

It is a time of change within the legal profession. Costs of legal cases are spiralling, taking them beyond the reach of many and delays at the magistrate’s Court are unacceptable. The Chief Justice agrees with Magistrate Glenda de Bono that a new approach must be taken, but will the conservative legal eagles be prepared for change?

Four men, all career criminals, are charged over the fatal shooting of a policeman, and the serious wounding of another, during an armed hold up. When they walk free because of a legal technicality, the city reels in shock.

Three of the men, Mal and Steve Hennessey and their de facto brother-in-law Darren Mack are members of one of Australia’s most notorious criminal families. The fourth, Ken Hardy, is a friend whose change in evidence leads to their acquittal. The Hennesseys have no respect for the system or society. Led by matriarch Shirl Hennessey, the family is well known to police. Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Faithful joins the Tactical Response Squad to head the investigative team, determined to bring the Hennessey crime syndicate to justice.

In a legal first, it is decided that a barrister from the Director of Public Prosecutions office should be assigned to work with the police investigators. Vic Manoulis is a shining light within the legal profession, a barrister with a big future. The Hennessey investigation is a major challenge, made even more demanding by the single-minded determination of Senior Sergeant Peter Faithful.

The pair confront Michael Kidd, the Hennessey family counsel and one of the toughest defence barristers in the city. An unconventional yet extremely talented barrister, Kidd plays rough in the courtroom and he never lets an opportunity pass to confuse a witness and score legal points.

Note: summary is for episode one only