australian television information archive

A Lawful Apprehension

Charged with murder and facing a life in prison, Mal Hennessey is planning an escape, but he can't do it without the help of his younger brother, Steve. Mal hides a blade in the prison van and makes his escape on the way to court. Steve is waiting for him with a motorbike and the pair don't stick around!

On the lam, with the police hunting them, the brothers need cash and turn to the only money-making means they know—armed robbery. Heavily disguised, Steve and Mal move on an armed van at a shopping centre, but their car is spotted by police, and Peter Faithful and the Tactical Response Squad are waiting for them.

Watching the armed men walking towards a crowded shopping centre, Peter Faithful makes a split-second decision to stop Mal and Steve Hennessey before they can get to the van as it is too dangerous to let them hold up the can with so many innocent people around. That decision has far-reaching effects for Peter Faithful, his crew, but especially the Hennesseys.

Meanwhile, at the Magistrates Court, the life of a female prosecutor is being immortalised in print, as Jenny Hanson finds herself the subject of a national magazine. It is not an ideal situation for Jenny, as her court appearance is a disaster!

Suicide by Cop

Steve Hennessey is dead, and Peter Faithful and his Tactical Response Squad team find themselves in the spotlight with many questions to be answered.

Danny Wyatt fired the fatal shot, and the pressure of the investigation is pushing him to breaking point. Peter Faithful turns to the police psychologist for help as the probe into the shooting continues—the police have their backs to the wall, and internal inquiries are pointing to a cover-up!

An eyewitness claims to have seen Danny Wyatt and Peter Faithful put a gun next to Steve Hennessey's body, a claim the detectives vehemently deny.

However, for Shirl Hennessey and Steve's defacto, Kirsty Nichols, the death causes enormous tension while the underworld seeks revenge.

Meanwhile, Tina Bertrum prosecutes a vicious assault that takes Danny Wyatt into the magistrate's court, where he comes face-to-face with Shirl Hennessey, the mother of the man he shot and killed.

Intent to Permanently Deprive

Life is rough for Shirl Hennessey. Her son, Steve, is dead, shot by police. Her other son, Mal, is facing a possible life sentence for murder. She is left at home with her daughter, Rhonda, daughter-in-law Kirsty and their children.

However, when she is arrested for shoplifting and possession of a pen pistol, Shirl sees a chance to get the break she needs—a short stint in jail away from life's pressures.

Michael Kidd wants to fight the charge tooth and nail to keep Shirl out of prison, and Magistrate Glenda de Bono doesn't want to put a woman her age behind bars, yet Shirl is determined, and a leading barrister and a top magistrate are no match for an old crook like Shirl!

Vic Manoulis has to keep his emotions in check when he prosecutes a murder case in which a small boy was killed by his stepfather.

Right to Remain Silent

A minor drug case in the County Court puts the murder charge against Mal Hennessey in jeopardy when an inexperienced barrister paints a picture of the late Steve Hennessey as a "Mr. Big" of the drug trade.

Roz Breen is charged with smuggling drugs into prison. She could get a community-based order if she pleads guilty, but instead she decides to fight the charge, trying to trade out of trouble on the Hennessey name.

Roz claims that she was forced to take the drugs into prison out of fear of Steve Hennessey, who was sharing a cell with her brother at the time.

Vic Manoulis and Peter Faithful know that any attempt to discredit Steve Hennessey would leave the way open for Mal to blame his dead brother for the ten-year-old murder of Pat Clancy.

The internal investigation into the shooting of Steve Hennessey continues with the police still under a cloud.

My Learned Friend, Mr. Hennessey

After his escape, Mal was charged with the serious charge of Breach of Prison and his day in court has finally arrived. Everybody expects Michael Kidd to represent him, but the Hennessey's seemingly bottomless money pit is empty. Mal has been in custody for months, Shirl is in jail and Steve is dead.

Legal aid won't take the case unless Mal pleads guilty and Kidd won't appear unless he is paid, so Mal dons his spectacles, a suit and defends himself after first practising his courtroom skills on his fellow prisoners.

Magistrate Shearer orders Vic Manoulis to offer Hennessey assistance, stretching the prosecutor's patience to the limit.

Mal Hennessey has spent enough time in court over the years to know how to use the system. He issues a list of witnesses including the prison Governor and Peter Faithful. Nobody can stop Mal without infringing his rights, and the Magistrate is ensuring that doesn't happen.

Confess and Avoid

Michael Kidd's financial gravy train, the Hennessey family and their ongoing court battles, has stopped until Mal appears in court charged with murder. Kidd is forced to look at other cases to maintain his lifestyle of expensive cars and fast bikes. He takes on the defence of a young law student charged with culpable driving after a car accident left one girl dead and another one seriously injured. Prosecutor Jenny Hanson is daunted by the prospect of appearing against the legendary Michael Kidd. Ian Bisley is more concerned about his future as a solicitor than the death of the young girl, and will not admit to himself that he is responsible. He flatters Kidd, clouding the barrister's normally astute legal mind. Kidd's defence is uninspiring, and Bisley is convicted and sentenced to two years in jail.

A Prima Facie Case

Peter Faithful and his TRS team face the glare of media and public limelight and their reputations are on the line as the inquest into the shooting of Steve Hennessey begins at the Coroner's Court, and Michael Kidd is all out to attract the media's attention…

Demands With Menaces

Rhonda Hennessey's de facto husband, Darren Mack, attempts to run an extortion racket inside prison, but his first victim does not frighten easily and turns Darren in. The situation is exacerbated when Michael Kidd sees this as an opportunity to further discredit Peter Faithfull and his team.

Fit to Plead

DPP solicitor Tina Bertum dons wig and gown to prosecute a case in the County Court. What should be a straightforward, rubber stamp hearing of an aboriginal mental patient's ability to plead ends up as a battle between Judge Dalgarno and legal aid barrister Kathy Tainsh.

Ray Crundall suffered alcoholism, epilepsy and was poorly educated with a mental age of ten. When he attacked staff at a hostel, he knew he had done something wrong, but was unable to comprehend the consequences. He protected himself the only way he knew how—with his fists and feet.

Now, when Ray is brought into court, encased in a body restraint, his barrister is incensed and even more determined to make sure he gets a fair deal from a system that has been letting him down for years.

Meanwhile, in an adjacent court, Darren Mack is on trial for extortion. Michael Kidd is doing his best to prevent Darren's sentence from being increased, only to be sacked by the Hennessey in-law. However, unlike Mal, Darren's attempts to represent himself begins to verge on the ludicrous.

Breach of Bond

Shane, the youngest of the Hennessey brothers, ends up before magistrate Glenda de Bono for a second time when he is arrested and charged over a vicious assault and burglary. It was almost a year since de Bono put Shane on a good behaviour bond after he stole a car and became involved in a high-speed police chase.

Shirl desperately wants to keep her youngest son out of jail, hoping he won't end up like his brother, Mal, who is facing a life sentence for murder. However, Shirl is unaware of Shane's deep-seated fear of his brother and the family's dark secret.

On his way into court, Shane's girlfriend slips him some drugs, forcing the case for be adjourned to allow Shane to come down from his drug-induced high. During the break, Glenda de Bono hears a case against a family of Romanies dealing with crystal balls, curses and large payments of cash.

Finally, Tina Bertrum proves her versatility when she prosecutes both the Romanies and Shane Hennessey.

An Unnatural Act

A recaptured escapee puts the final piece in the jigsaw that is the murder case against Mal Hennessey. Gary Herbert's van was used to dump the body after Mal's temper erupted and he shot Pat Clancy in his living room and fear of Mal Hennessey prompts Gary to help the police.

In legal circles, rumours abound with Michael Kidd telling anyone who will listen that the new County Court Judge appointment was the youngest ever.

Magistrate Glenda de Bono hears the rumours and believes, like Vic, that he is up for a judgeship but both are in for a surprise!

Michael Kidd accepts a brief to defend a man charged with incest. It is a grubby case that disgusts Kidd, especially when the offender gets Legal Aid funding.

Mute by Visitation

The coroner delivers an open verdict on Steve Hennessey's death, but Peter Faithfull and his Tactical Response Squad have no idea that they are the subject of an ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Judge Glenda de Bono presides over her first case—a rape case in which the victim, the accused and all the witnesses are deaf.

Elements of Murder

Michael Kidd finds himself looking at the most unwinnable case he's ever contemplated. Mal Hennessey is charged with murder, with Shirl Hennessey being an accessory after the fact.

Kidd believes that Mal has no chance of walking away a free man, and the only way he can save Shirl from a lengthy jail sentence is for Mal to plead guilty. However, trying to convince Mal of this will be one of the biggest challenges of Michael Kidd's illustrious career.

Peter Faithful and the Tactical Response Squad are disgusted when Vic Manoulis is prepared to deal with Michael Kidd. However, Vic is privy to information that makes him realise that they only have one chance to put Mal Hennessy behind bars.

The Tactical Response Squad are charged in connection with the shooting of Steve Hennessey.