Janet King (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Natural Justice - full transcript

Diane finally breaks down and makes a statement but does not admit guilt. A strange development in the Moreno case intertwines with Diane's involvement in the Blakely case. Erin deals with traumatic flashbacks and deliberates whether to testify in court, which could put her life in danger.

Mrs Vasilich, we have a warrant for
your arrest,

and we have a search warrant.

This is where Blakely's car was
found.

They probably carried the body
down this way.

Andy, I really was impressed.

On the balance of probabilities,
I'd say you could be right.

All the defence has to do is create
reasonable doubt and we're shot.

You won't need these, I guess.

We need a body, Jack.
That's what we need.

You really want to go
behind the DPP's back?

Bypass them altogether
and run your own trial?



Yes. Would you be interested
in running it for us?

Tony, I'm going to sign this
ex-officio indictment in 24 hours

unless the DPP agree to prosecute
Dianne Vasilich and her son for murder.

We have to go for it.
Tony, we're not ready.

We have to win it and the person
most likely to win is...

Your evidence
will ensure a conviction.

Owen's a little different from
Janet, but he's a fine advocate.

You're in good hands, I promise.

Two weeks ago you paid off your
mortgage with $100,000 in cash.

Want to tell me where that came from?
Who do you really want to upset?

If it's us, I'll have you declared
a hostile witness

and question all your finances.

If it's them, we'll look into
immediate relocation

for you and your son.



As we approached
the court building,

I saw Zebina standing there, waiting.

Owen, he saw Geoff Hadley
so he stepped away

and, well, I went over to Zebina
by myself.

We started chatting...

..we started to move away
towards the court...

..and that's when I heard the
motorbike.

Take your time.

Zebina looked up too.

Then I saw the man on the back
of the bike pull out a gun.

There was a bang and I felt something
hit me, knock me down.

But it wasn't a bullet.

It was Zebina.

She was on me, on top of me.

Heavy. Not moving.

Erin.

You alright?

You didn't have to stay.

I wasn't gonna walk away
and leave you here.

I'm fine.
Really?

I'm not fine and I was standing
50 metres away from the whole thing.

How'd you go in there?
Was that OK?

Mm-hm.

Hey, listen, did you get
a good look at the riders?

Owen, please. Not now.

Thank God you're here.

OK, so I brought you
two different outfits.

I hope they're OK.
Yeah, they'll be fine. Thank you.

Hey, Terry?

Bloody hell, this was the girl you
were calling me about, wasn't it?

Yeah.
What a fuckin' mess.

Is it on camera? Can you ID them?

All we've got at the moment
is a victim,

pronounced dead at the scene,

cause of death, severe trauma to
the head from a high-powered firearm.

We are currently...
Terry, don't press release me.

Those murdering shitheads
left a little kid without a mother.

And you without a witness.
Is it on camera?

I just want to know
if we'll be able to get 'em.

Well, because of all the security
at the court complex,

this is probably
the most filmed drive-by in history.

We've got the gun, bike,
make, model, rego.

Have a look.

Unfortunately, they're wearing
full-face helmets

so we can't ID them.

You alright?
Yep.

Yep. Check this out.

The shooter's hand.
Is that a tattoo?

Mmm.

It's hard to tell from the photo,
but your young solicitor friend

has got a sharp set of eyes
and drew this.

Did you run it?
Yep. Got a match.

One Edward Collard.

A few minor convictions,
assault, auto theft.

Interestingly, he's a nom in the
same bikie gang as your defendant.

Nice one.
Assassinations now?

I might as well move to Mexico.

The food's better, the booze is
cheaper and the women are Mexican,

which is no small selling point,
let me tell you.

Yeah, I can see the attraction.

I've had the Attorney-General on
the phone for the best part of an hour.

Not happy?
The word 'berserk' comes to mind.

But my chances of calming her
would be significantly improved

if there was still a prospect
of running the Simpson case.

Well, it's been adjourned till next
Friday, which is just a formality.

Without our key witness,
it's a certain nolle.

Perhaps I committed sins
in a previous life

for which I am now atoning.

Tony. The shooting. They're gonna
make an arrest very soon.

A guy in the same bikie gang as
Simpson.

Are you lobbying for the brief
already?

No. I'm saying I feel responsible.

I think of that woman's son.
I look at Erin, outside.

Have you seen her?
Not yet. Poor kid.

Yeah, she's a fuckin' mess.

And everybody else around here's
pretty shaken up too.

I know.

You need someone
who's gonna take these pricks on,

who'll walk over there
despite everything that's happened,

walk into court and tear 'em to
pieces.

Now, maybe there's a dozen other
crowns who'd do that,

I'm just saying I'm fine with it.

I hear you've applied for silk.

It's no secret.

And winning a sensational case

with a high media profile
wouldn't hurt that cause...

Maybe. I hadn't thought of that.
Ah.

Yes, I'd love a chance
to finish what I started.

But I also think
this could work for both of us.

I had to give my clothes to
forensics

so Lina brought in
some clean gear for me

and I don't think the skirt
works with the shirt.

No, it doesn't.
What was she thinking?

You know, if you feel
you want to talk to someone,

a professional,
we can arrange that.

I spent my whole afternoon talking.

I don't want to think about it
anymore.

Oh, you can get that.
It's just Ash. I'll call her back.

When I was giving my statement,
I was on autopilot.

I just answered the questions,
did what I was told.

I didn't even think about
what I was saying.

Doing what we do,
it's easy to forget how hard it is

for witnesses having to relive it
all.

As long as you feel you did your
best.

The last person who did her best
was gunned down in front of me.

Janet, call me, please.

What happened?

Is he OK?
It's OK. He's fine.

Where is he?
The swing clipped his head.

There's no sign of concussion,
but it left a nasty gash.

It's deep, so they've put him under
a light general...

General anaesthetic!

The plastic surgeon said
it's the only way

to keep a toddler
still enough for stitches.

I'm...

I'm so sorry I missed your calls.

I was talking to Erin and I...
How is she?

Not good.
It's been all over the telly.

They didn't identify her, did they?
I wouldn't really know.

I've had other things to think
about.

I'm sorry.
Don't be. It's my fault.

I was reading an email on my
phone...

You can't watch them every second.

I knew I wasn't paying
proper attention.

I've been off with the fairies
all day.

St Bart's called.
Sounding me out about a position.

Head of the senior school.
What?

Why didn't you tell me this?

I knew I wasn't going to take it

so I didn't see any point in
mentioning it.

But they wrote again this morning

saying they really wanted me
and could I reconsider,

and that was the email.

I must have read that bloody thing
about ten times,

this pathetic little lifeline
to the real world.

I was reading it again
when Liam ran in front of the swing.

It's not your fault.

I'm sorry.
Shh.

Got him. Edward Collard,
he of the spider tattoo, and...

Toby Franzen.
Toby Franzen.

We've been after that piece of shit
for years.

Sergeant at Arms now?
Yeah.

And the very one who sponsored our
mate Collard

as a nominee in the bike club.

Well, unless Franzen's
gone soft in his old age,

I don't imagine
you got much out of him.

Hasn't said a word.
But luckily for us, Collard has.

You seen that tattoo anywhere
before?

Oh, I seen it every day, eh.

Where would that be?
Well, it's not on me bum.

One of our witnesses saw that tattoo
on the back of the shooter's hand.

Ah, which witness is that?

And we've recovered the gun
you dumped

about four blocks away
from the court.

Not me.
Got your prints on it, Edward.

I'd like you to take a look
at this photo

from the CCTV TV footage
outside the court.

We've got your bike,
we can identify you as the shooter,

we've got the murder weapon
with your prints on it.

Son, I don't know if you know
how much trouble you're in.

I mean, this is one of the worst
killings in the state's history.

The way I see it, you're going to
be doing life without parole

at Goulburn Supermax with Ivan Milat
till the day you die.

Unless, of course,
you start to help us out.

Who's that?
Could be... could be Toby.

Toby Franzen, is it? The rider?

Yeah, well... yeah, I mean,
it looks like him, doesn't it?

Is that you, is it?

I mean, you did, didn't you?

You know, pulled the trigger.

I was just, you know...

You know, it wasn't my idea.

Yeah.
Toby said that we had to stop her.

So I was gonna get me tatts branded
off if I didn't, you know, do what...

Nice work, mate.

Nothing beats a good confession.

Andy, yes, I agree.

We have a compelling theory
that explains Dianne's movements.

It explains everything.
It's a good hypothesis.

But we still have three main
problems.

We have no forensic evidence

directly linking Dianne Vasilich
to Blakely's death,

we've got a weak motive and no body.

How do you think she killed him?
A gun?

Unlikely.
We checked her friends and family.

There's no-one with criminal
connections

and certainly no-one
with access to firearms.

She could've used a pen,
according to Jack Rizzoli.

It's a hard sell for the jury,
though.

They'd probably go for a knife,
an iron bar over the head.

What about her son, Brian?
What about him?

We discussed
whether you might reinterview.

Put the new evidence to him.

The paint fragments found
in Blakely's car.

Use it to rattle his cage.
Rattle his cage?

You've been watching too many
movies, Richard.

We're presuming Brian was dragged
into this against his will, right?

Went along with it
to protect his mother.

That makes him a potential weak link.

We've already been putting pressure
on him.

Unfortunately
Brian's stuck to his story 100%.

Fine, but I have to sell
a case concept to the jury

and right now, I don't have enough.

I walked you through every detail.
Except how she killed him.

A middle-aged woman with no history
of violence

against a big, tough copper

and no forensic evidence to work
with, nothing!

What am I meant to say?

Ah, good news.

Barry Seers
has changed his plea to guilty.

Barry Seers?

Defendant in the Port Macquarie
cocaine importation.

His case was listed before
Blakely's, but with Seers pleading,

you've just become
the next cab off the rank.

So, uh, put your seatbelts on.

I didn't even want this.
Now you're cutting my prep time?

Hey, you're shooting the messenger.

Well, you certainly
seem pleased about it.

I gave it a positive spin.

Part of my job description,
rallying the troops.

You don't look rallied.
We can't win this, Tony.

Yes, you can.
And what do you base that on?

On the fact I have confidence
in you.

No, strike that. I have faith.

A deep, abiding faith in you.

You're so full of shit.

Look, this business has been
all over the news,

generating a huge amount of sympathy
for Blakely and his kids.

Getting it on sooner,
you can use that sympathy.

Work the jury.

And if this groundswell of public
support doesn't get me over the line?

Losing is not an option, Janet.

I have a brief for you.

Tracey, I'm snowed under
with stuff right now...

We're all snowed under.

Wait, this isn't the...
The Zebina Petrakis murder, yes.

Owen'll run it, but I just thought
he might need some help

managing his key witness.

And I also thought Erin
might appreciate it too.

That's... that's very compassionate.

Well, it just seemed appropriate,
I suppose.

I know it isn't a sex crime,

but I take it you'll find some room
in your schedule?

Well... Yeah, of course.

Hey. How you going?
OK.

How are you feeling today?

Yeah, alright.

Tracey just told me
you're doing Petrakis.

Well, y-y-yeah.
We thought it would be helpful...

I know. It is. It helps.

Just wanted to say, whenever
you've got any questions, just ask.

Well, don't think you've got to wait
for a good time or anything.

Mm.

But don't stop what you're doing,
either. When it suits, really.

What are you doing, anyway?

How old does she look to you?

Oh, God. Young. I don't know.

Neither do I.

So are you leaving soon, or...?

Well, I've only got 34,000 more
images to examine, so...

Sure, OK.

Just thought it might be nice to have
some company heading home.

Well, you know what? It's date
night. So I ought to head home.

Date night.
I assume that's a euphemism.

Correct.

This is procreation, not recreation.
Mm-hm.

Not that I feel like it,
after all that.

I can imagine.

Hi.

Hello.

From your message,
I figured it must be important,

so I thought I might include Jack.

So, what's the emergency?

I know how much you've put into
the Blakely investigation

and we've been working closely
together on it.

So I wanted to talk things through
with you before I went to Tony.

No happy news then?

As you know, there are weaknesses
in the case against Vasilich...

As you know, we need a win.
Sure. But there are wins and wins.

What you really need is a clean
result, as quickly as possible.

That's right, isn't it?

In fact,
isn't that better for all of us?

Go on.

My suggestion is
we offer Dianne a reduction.

To what?

Manslaughter,
but she has to plead guilty.

Without a body, we don't know
what happened to Steven Blakely.

Perhaps it was an accident?
In fact, that makes more sense.

They argued, Blakely turned his back,
Dianne pushed him, he tripped...

Or she might have walked in
and shot him.

Might have, exactly. Which is hardly
'beyond reasonable doubt', is it?

If the charge is manslaughter,
the evidence is overwhelming

and pleading will probably
be attractive to her.

Because we'd be letting her
off the hook?

We'd be getting a conviction
and sending her to jail.

She'd be out in what, 3-4 years?
Or we stay with murder

and she gets acquitted,
which is looking increasingly likely.

You have been against prosecuting
this from the start, haven't you?

Do you have something against
Blakely, or just cops in general?

Whoa, whoa, easy, easy.
Why don't you take a deep breath?

Yeah, alright. I'll take mine
outside. See you tomorrow, Jack.

If you want to make sure we get
the right outcome, this is the way.

And how about Blakely's children?

How are they going to feel about
this?

Better than if Dianne walks.

I'll talk to Andy.

You do what you have to do.

Putting the antiseptic cream
on his sore head was awful,

but otherwise it's actually been
a pretty good day.

Poor little thing slept so soundly.

Exhausted, I s'pose.

I feel guilty that I'm enjoying it.

It's hard not to love
a sleeping baby.

You know, I was thinking, it might be
worth getting you some help.

What do you mean?

I don't know. Maybe a nanny.

I thought we agreed that I was going
to take the kids this year.

No, you'd still have the kids. It'd
just take some of the pressure off.

Should I be offended? Like Ash
isn't coping, she needs help.

It's not about coping or not coping.
I'm just suggesting we try it out.

Well, you never got a nanny.
I can't see why I should.

Can you please check the pockets
before you put things in the wash!

Heard that.
What?

Guess I'm a crappy housekeeper
as well as a crappy mum.

No, none of us are perfect.
I do things that annoy you too...

It's fine. And you're right. Maybe
I do need some help around here.

I'll put the dinner on.

Did forensics find anything
in the coat?

They hadn't looked inside the
pockets and they found blood.

Dry-cleaning hadn't got it.
Blakely's blood?

They're rushing the DNA through now,
but I would bet my right arm on it.

How'd you think of that?
It was all Ash, not me.

Let me know as soon as you get
the DNA back.

If it's positive,
forget the manslaughter deal.

Janet, about last night...

Heat of the moment.
Don't worry about it.

As you know,
we can show that you were

outside Steve Blakely's house
wearing this jacket.

Forensics has now found blood in the
right-hand pocket of that jacket

and DNA tests prove
that it's Mr Blakely's.

In light of these facts, Mrs
Vasilich,

I ask whether you'd like
to make a statement

regarding Steven Blakely's death?

I went to his house, when I heard
that he was going to jail.

I thought, this is my last chance
to confront him about my daughter.

And was Mr Blakely at home
when you arrived?

I knocked on the door.

I could see that the lights were on,
but no-one answered.

So what'd you do?
I was angry, and, um...

I started shouting at him
through the door.

I called him a coward.

Was there an answer?

No. And it made me angrier.

The fact that he was ignoring me.

So I went round the back.

I knocked on the back door.

When I hit it, it swung open.

And then?

I went inside.

It was quiet, and I saw him...
on the floor.

Steven Blakely?

Was he breathing?
I don't know.

I bent down to have a look,
I put my hand in blood.

There was a pool of it... on the
floor.

And then?
Then I walked out.

You walked out,

even though Steven Blakely
appeared to be seriously injured?

I was scared. I rang my son.

I asked him for help.

Mrs Vasilich,
did you in any way contribute

to the injuries Mr Blakely suffered?

No, I did not. I swear.

I even called an ambulance later,
after we left.

Hang on, you...
You called an ambulance?

Triple zero.

I know, I should have
called them sooner,

but somehow I just knew
you were gonna blame me for this.

No, I don't know, I don't...

But you need to go there now.
He's injured, bleeding.

- Is there anyone with him?
- No, look...

He's at 58 Spencer Street.
Just go there, please.

Hello?
It's her voice alright.

The call came from a public phone
at the hospital where her son works.

Why didn't we hear about this sooner?
Ambo said they went to the address,

knocked on the door, had a look
around, no answer, so they left,

presumed it was a prank call.

OK, how do we deal with this?

Well, it could go to intention.

The defence will say that
a call to triple zero

indicates she lacked intention to
kill.

The question is what her intention
was at the time she harmed Blakely.

She may have suffered remorse.
Not relevant.

But we're saying that they'd already
taken the body away in Blakely's car

so why send an ambulance
to an empty house?

People in extreme situations
do strange things.

OK, but you're going to need
to make sense of it for the jury.

If we can, fine. It's not fatal.
We can prove she was there.

Her story about what happens
is implausible,

and we've got the blood.
Should be enough.

Just give me a couple of minutes.
I'll meet you inside.

Hi.
Hi.

I hope Andy or Jack have been keeping
you up to speed with how we're going.

Yeah, they have, thanks.

I can understand your anger.

In your father's matter, I was
arguing strongly for a jail sentence.

Yeah, you were. 8-10 years, right?

I just want to assure you
I'll be arguing just as hard

to see his killers convicted
in this trial.

You better.
I will.

I'm there for him, and for you.

Jack reckons you can't lose.

Well, it's a jury trial,
so anything's possible.

But something's got to go our way,
doesn't it?

I hope so, Drew. It's a strong case.

More than that, we just can't say.

We've all heard the expression,
'anything is possible',

and of course in one sense,
you know, that's true.

My four-year-old niece says there
are invisible fairies in her garden,

and I can't really prove
that she's wrong.

Well, not a hundred percent.

But in real life, we don't trouble
ourselves with mere possibilities.

We know that some things are so
unlikely, we can safely dismiss them.

Well, the law takes exactly
the same attitude.

In the course of this trial,
the defence will offer you

an account of what happened
to Steven Blakely.

It's a story in which Dianne Vasilich

just happened to go to Mr Blakely's
house on the night he died,

just happened to find the door open,

just happened to find Mr Blakely
on the floor, unconscious,

just happened to put her hand
in his blood,

and then just happened
to flee the scene.

The defence will point out

that all of this is possible,
and of course it is.

It's possible,
but it's not the kind of possibility

we normally waste our time with.

And neither does the law.

By comparison, the Crown will offer
you a credible, persuasive account

of what happened, the only account
that makes sense of all the facts

without requiring you
to believe in fairytales.

Nothing further, Your Honour.

Miss Warden.

The Crown has claimed
that their version of events

is the only one that makes sense
of all the facts.

Yet there are many facts
that do not fit their account.

Facts that they will ignore or
downplay. But still, they are facts.

That they are yet to produce a body.

That Dianne Vasilich
made a triple zero call

the night Steven Blakely
disappeared,

sending an ambulance to his home.

Would a killer really do that?
And why?

That Dianne Vasilich
overcame and murdered a man

of Steven Blakely's size and power,

that's probably troubled you
already,

struck you as unlikely,
and so it should.

But the most troubling part
of the Crown's case

is that Dianne Vasilich is a woman

with absolutely no history
of criminality or violence,

whose only argument
with her supposed victim

was that he may not have
investigated her daughter's murder

with sufficient energy.

That is a reason to be frustrated,
perhaps to make a complaint,

maybe even to write to a newspaper,
but to kill?

Is that really plausible?

Yet this is what the Crown case
relies upon.

The only credible account
of the night's events.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Well, so far,
everything we expected.

So you're on the way to the
Committal? Yep. How do I look?

Fabulous.
Credible?

Very.
Fabulously credible.

I'm sure you'll be terrific.

So how's Owen? Not too pushy?

No, fine.
On top of his brief?

He's talked you through your
evidence? Yep.

You'll be fine.

We're about to walk over. Are you...
Ready? Yes. All set. Let's go.

Hey, listen, your identity is still
unknown to the offenders,

so there's no need to be
intimidated.

I'm not.
Good.

But they do know that I'm
prosecuting,

so it might be easier for you
if we're not all together.

Oh, sure.
OK.

Wanker.

How's it going, ladies?

You want a moment?

I... I can't.

Yes, you can.
No.

No, come on, we can do it together.

Erin, Erin, Erin, Erin!
Erin, it's gonna be OK.

It's gonna be alright.
No, you go.

Are you kidding?
I'll get you home.

No, you have to.
Erin...

I'll get a cab. Don't worry. Go.

Your Honour, as you know,
one of the Crown's key witnesses

has sadly taken ill very suddenly.

However, we believe
that Mr Collard's confession

along with his detailed statement
against Mr Franzen are more than enough

to establish a prima facie case
against both men

in respect of the crime
with which they are charged.

In that case, the witness is yours,
Mr Hadley.

Mr Collard, in the course of giving your
statement you were shown a photograph

of two men alleged to be the
murderers of Ms Petrakis.

You were then asked to identify
whether one of those men is Mr Franzen.

You answered, 'Yeah, well, yeah,
looks like him, doesn't it?'

Yeah.

That statement, 'looks like him',
what'd you base that on?

The man's face is covered in the
photo. His leather is plain black.

Well, mate, they had us.

You know, I mean, we were fucked anyway,
so we might as well get on with it.

Drop me in it, ya mouthy little
prick, I'll fuckin' kill ya!

Restrain this man!

You're a gutless piece of shit,
Collard.

You're a piece of shit, Collard!
I'll kill ya!

You're fuckin' dead, you...

Remove the prisoner from the
courtroom

and return him to his cell.

Clear the court.
I'm adjourning this matter.

Yes, anyone.

Any potential nanny must have
a police check before we interview.

I think it's going to be
a late one tonight.

Sorry, darl. Thanks, bye.

I just got a revised list of defence
witnesses for the Vasilich matter.

And?
They're calling Dianne, tomorrow.

Pull out her statement and
the police background file on her.

I need all we've got.

I know it was wrong, and stupid,
leaving him there, injured.

So why did you do it?

After my daughter was murdered,

my experience with the police
wasn't good.

They talked down to me. Arrogant.

Soon I didn't trust them anymore.

The prosecution allege that this was
your motive

for killing Steven Blakely the
resentment that you felt towards him

and towards the police in general,

after the death of your daughter.
Did you feel such resentment?

I don't hate the police.
I didn't hate Steven Blakely.

I just wanted justice for my
daughter.

That's all I've ever wanted,
all these years.

Same as any mother.
So Mr Blakely's death,

if he is dead,
how do you feel about that?

Terrible.
Why?

Because I want to find
my daughter's killer.

How would hurting Steven Blakely
help me?

Thank you, Mrs Vasilich.
No more questions.

Madam Crown.

Mrs Vasilich, your daughter was,
by all accounts,

exceptionally beautiful
and vivacious, yes?

Yes.

The world was her oyster,
you might say.

For a while.

So why did she turn
to prostitution?

I don't know.

Did it coincide with a bitter
separation between you and your husband?

Objection, Your Honour.
Is this relevant?

Your Honour, my learned colleague
cannot call the accused to the box

and then object to me asking
questions relating to motive and character.

She made it an issue.

Overruled, but keep it relevant,
please.

Is it true your daughter felt utterly
betrayed when her father left?

It hurt us all.

But her closest bond
was with her father, wasn't it?

And he had just abandoned her.
And me.

You didn't even know what happened
to Oriana after that, did you?

There was a complete estrangement
for two years

and then suddenly she was dead.

I put it to you that you
had to find who killed her

because otherwise,
you could only blame yourself.

I just wanted justice for...

No, you desperately needed someone
to get you off the hook.

That's why it became obsessive,
wasn't it?

Because it wasn't just a frustration
with a lack of justice.

It was a mother's guilt.
I just wanted justice, alright?

When she was hurting most,
you weren't there for her.

That's a lie.
Is it?

I wasn't obsessive
and I didn't hate anyone.

I just wanted justice for Oriana!

No more questions, Your Honour.

Lina, you got those two bikies
past the committal?

Yep, heading for trial and hopefully
inside for a very, very long time.

Good. How's Erin?

She's not answering.

I sent her a text and she came back
that she's fine,

got a migraine,
back in the office asap.

Well, maybe she's just got a
migraine.

- Janet, I... - If that's her story,
it's my story too.

OK. What?

I wanted to warn you
that Maya Blakely is...

Right behind me, thank you.

I was explaining to Maya

about how unusual that sort of day
in court is...

Yeah, could I just have a minute,
please?

OK, bye.

I spent a long time hating you.
I know.

But I really loved you in there
just then.

I wish you could have gone on
for another hour or two.

Sadly, I think I might have
gone on too long.

When the judge sums it up for the
jury, she'll probably tell him

to ignore anything
that isn't supported by evidence.

Weren't you watching the jury? They
could see that you got it right.

I could too.
I know. I know you did.

That was the plan.

Just to leave them with a feeling
they can't quite ignore,

even if they're told to.

Are you telling me
it's seriously still in doubt?

It's always in doubt, Maya,
until the jury comes back.

Well, we'll just...
We'll just see then, hey?

I appreciate your honesty.
Thank you.

That's alright.

Janet, have you got five?

About what? Erin? No. Something a bit
unusual, actually.

One of my accused wants to confess,
but he won't talk to me.

He insists on telling you.

One of the bikies?
Yes. Toby Franzen.

Why does he want to talk to me?

He won't say, and usually
we'd just tell him to fuck off.

But if he's going to confess
to the murder charge,

I'm not gonna argue with him.

Maybe he thinks you're a softer
target when it comes to making a deal.

Bullshit.
If it is bullshit, just walk away.

So how's your thing going?

That bitch you've got
for the Blakely murder.

I'm sorry, did you want to see me

about the Petrakis murder
or the Blakely murder?

Blakely? Dianne Vasilich.

I got a real good story about her.
Do you know Mrs Vasilich?

Fuck yeah.

Met her in our chapter pub
up in Parramatta,

about ten years ago now.

She comes in all worked up,
looking for some muscle.

Looking to hire some muscle?
Yeah.

Bartender thought she was fuckin'
nuts, but still, he pointed me out

and told her to go see
the mad bastard in the corner.

She comes over, she's all stressed,
red-faced and shit.

Said she needed some help.

Said she'd been trying to get this
bloke to tell her for ages

who had knocked off her daughter.
Anyway, she was sick of his shit.

I said, 'Fair enough. Who is he?'

And she says, 'It's Steve Blakely'.

Turns out her daughter was Oriana.

Bit of a famous case in the day,
yeah?

Did you know Oriana?
Yeah. Yeah, we all did.

Yeah, we liked her too.
She was a real good chick, Oriana.

What'd you say to Mrs Vasilich?

Said he probably wouldn't talk,
not unless we really belted him.

She said belt him, she didn't care.

And I said we might have to...

Said we might have
to finish the job after that,

and for that,
she'd be looking at 20 grand.

But I'd need 10 of it up front.
She didn't even blink.

So she paid you the cash?
Yeah.

Went off, came back an hour later,
handed it over.

And?
And what?

What'd you do?
Nothin'.

I wasn't gonna go near Steve
Blakely. A top cop like him?

What do you think I am, fuckin'
crazy?

So you just took the money?
Yeah.

What was she gonna do, go to the
cops?

Easiest 10 grand I ever made.

It's a pretty good story, yeah?

And you'll give this evidence in
court?

You get me immunity from prosecution
for this drive-by thing, yeah.

I'll go to your court,

I'll take an oath and I'll tell 'em
everything I know.

He's bullshitting.

Dianne withdrew 10 grand
from her savings account

on the afternoon Franzen says
he met with her.

And the bartender's confirmed it.

I understand where you're coming
from but I'm not gonna agree...

Tony, I need to convince my jury
that a grief-stricken mother

has a violent and obsessive streak
and now I can.

These men executed a key witness
in a murder trial.

That has profound
public policy implications.

As does killing a senior police
officer.

Sure, but let's take
a wider perspective.

How are we gonna look if someone
as notorious as Franzen

can walk out a free man?
What are the headlines going to say?

Petrakis shooter convicted,
hopefully. Huh, you reckon?

When I play Collard's confession,

everyone's gonna know
it was Franzen's idea.

He's the mastermind. We're going to
be accused of convicting

the guy who lit the Reichstag fire
and letting Hitler walk away.

Collard isn't that much of a patsy.

He did shoot Zebina Petrakis
and he will go to jail.

And if the woman who killed Steve
Blakely does too, that's a double win.

I mean, if we're taking
a wider perspective here,

isn't that the best outcome?

Can you even call Franzen as a
witness? Haven't you already...

I'll make an application to reopen.
If the judge says no?

I thought you wanted to see
Steve Blakely's killer convicted.

Well, excuse me, but I thought
you already had enough to do it.

From a supposed friend of the family.
Enough!

Stop there, both of you.
Don't get personal.

Let me think on it.

And while I am, you two, play nice!

Is this running away?

No, it's a ciggie break
without a ciggie.

God, I wish I still smoked.
Can we just...

Let's just chat, without the shouting
and the name calling, OK?

He's the new boy, Janet.
He feels isolated.

He's an arrogant, patronising show
pony.

What was that about name calling?

And before you say any more,
I should tell you.

I'm inclined to agree with him.
What?

You've closed the case. Chances of
getting leave to reopen it

will depend on whether Justice Cousins
had a good night's sleep or not.

You have told me
I must win this case.

Don't say that and then stop me from
leading this evidence. It's critical.

Being the Director of the DPP

is a royal pain in the arse, you
know that.

And you love every minute of it.
Ha!

Hello, mate. Thanks for
coming.

It's an honour.

To be pressured by a police officer
of your standing.

You're a sharp bastard, aye.
Oh, it doesn't take Einstein.

Open rooftop,
away from prying eyes and ears.

So, what am I gonna tell ya?

Well, I imagine
it's along the lines of,

'Steven Blakely was a cop.
I was a cop.

And we've always got to
look after the boys in the job.'

Bang on.

Well, partly.

I would say that and if I did say
that I'd mean it.

But then I'd be telling you something
you already know, wouldn't I?

Oh, yeah, what is it I don't know?

The thing you don't know is that
by agreeing to this immunity,

it could be a smart move for you
as well as Janet.

OK. I'm still listening.

What's your big goal for the year,
Owen?

I'm not talking about individual
trials.

I mean, in a career sense.
Senior Counsel.

Thought it might have been that.

What is it with that?
Some sort of prestige, wanky...

Fuck no, it's the money.

SCs get paid twice as much
as a normal barrister.

You know that every time a barrister
applies

for the Senior Counsel position,

well, the silk committee,

they appoint a colleague to keep an
eye on him,

and then report back
as to his suitability.

They've got Janet King looking at
me?

Bullshit.

Like I said, you're a sharp one.

That's got your attention,
hasn't it?

Ah, come in.

Hi.

So... I assume you've decided.

Yes. We're giving Franzen
his immunity in exchange

for the evidence you require
in the Blakely matter.

Appreciated.
Pleasure.

Got out on the right side of the bed
today, did we?

No, actually something you
said just really stuck with me.

You called me
a 'supposed friend of the family'.

Couldn't stop thinking
about Drew and Maya after that.

Everything they've been through,
with Sally and then Steve.

And you know I, ah, called Jack

and he's been talking to them,

and they really feel that you partly
want to win this for them.

Which must give them a sense
that somebody still cares.

And I couldn't help feeling that
sometimes

we have to put that sort of stuff
first.

Anyway, just make sure you win it,
yeah?

Um...

Good luck with Collard.

Thank you.

Thanks, Tony Aah...

Did you...?
Ah, nothing to do with me.

Still, it's a result, right?

Your Honour,
there's an extremely urgent matter

which has just come to light
for the prosecution case.

Isn't your case closed, Madam Crown?

Which is why I'm seeking
Your Honour's leave to reopen it.

Without any notice at all!

Your Honour, of course
I would have led it earlier

if it had come to hand earlier.

But how can we hope
to answer it properly?

The accused has a right to know the
case she's being asked to answer,

not simply have it dumped in our
lap.

And doesn't the prosecution
have the right to lead,

and the jury, the right to hear,
the full story?

Your Honour, at this late hour...

At this late hour in the process,

I'm reluctant to throw away
the entire trial.

If there is a pertinent issue

which will allow this matter
to be decided now in this court,

then it should be heard,

so I will allow you to reopen
your case, Madam Crown.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Bring the jury back in.

Let's see how this goes over.

I, Tobias Henry Franzen...

I, Tobias Henry Franzen...

..swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth.

..the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.

- So help me God.
- So help me God.

Mr Franzen,
I'd like to ask you about

April the 1st, 2004,
in the Lionsgate Hotel.

Did you meet
Dianne Vasilich there that day?

Yeah. Sure did.

Mum. Mum!

Someone call an ambulance!

Clear the court.
Call a medical officer.

Give her some room. Mum!
She's fainted.

Well, if our list of witnesses
is settled,

I think we might adjourn, gentlemen,

in the hope of starting the trial
proper in the morning.

Your Honour, if I may?

The defence would like to ask for
one last ruling.

Yes?

We submit that Mr Collard's supposed
confession be ruled inadmissible.

What?

On close inspection,

Your Honour will see that it was
made under duress

and in the presence
of clear police intimidation.

Your Honour,
no objection has been raised

to the record of interview
prior to this time.

Sadly, Mr Collard was so intimidated

he only felt safe bringing it
to my attention yesterday.

You can't rule out a confession.

Is this intimidation evident
on the tape, Mr Hadley?

It is, Your Honour, and...

Your Honour, this record of
interview is entirely unremarkable-

Mr Crown, please.
We will play a key passage.

Thank you, Mr Hadley.

Your Honour will note,

Detective Sergeant Renner looms over
Mr Collard

just prior to his making
the relevant statements,

assuming a threatening posture.

You seen that tattoo anywhere
before?

You can clearly see how nervous and
scared my client is

in this situation.

He's just been caught.
Wouldn't you be nervous?

And if we continue.

Like you to take a look at this
photo

from the CCTV footage outside the
courtroom.

So we've got your bike,
identified you,

we've got your gun
with your prints on it.

Son, do you have any idea
how much trouble you're in?

At this point, Mr Collard says

he knew how the New South Wales
police operate,

and he knew they were going to frame
him no matter what he said

and he feared for his safety,
indeed his life, if he didn't...

Your Honour, please, some common
sense.

It's a perfectly normal interview!

Detective Sergeant Renner
is a very imposing man, I see.

Your Honour, Detective Renner
is merely standing up

to show the accused some
photographs.

At law, intimidation
can be subtle or implied.

As long as it acts to oppress
the mind of the accused,

coercing him into making a
confession. A man's posture...

Detective Renner's posture is that
of a man leaning over a table.

Detective Renner has here acted
very subtly,

but the threat in his posture would
have been as clear to my client

as it is to any reasonable viewer
of the tape.

Your Honour, this submission
should be dismissed immediately.

The accused confesses to his crime
on tape.

It is the cornerstone
of the Crown's case.

If the Crown and the police have been
professional and thorough

in building evidence for their case,
they shouldn't need a confession.

Wankers!
It's been struck out.

Collard's confession, inadmissible.

On what grounds?
Police intimidation.

The learned judge thought Terry
Renner was rather imposing

and poor little Collard
got a little bit scared.

There must have been something in it.
Sure.

He stood up, leant over,
put a photo in front of him.

This is bullshit. Everything about
this system is in their favour.

Well, that's hardly breaking news.
More to the point, where are we?

Can we move on? What about the bike?
Wasn't it his?

It got stolen a month ago,
apparently.

Didn't report it as it wasn't
insured.

And the weapon with the fingerprints.

Lost it days ago.
Ask anyone at the clubhouse.

He's been looking
all over the place.

OK, I'm sensing it's going to be
a little tough.

Luckily, we've still got
the eyewitness ID.

The tattoo on Collard's hand.

That is, of course,
assuming Erin's right to testify.

Thank you.

So it's up to me, then?

Only if you want to.

Look, you know all the things we say
when we want to make sure

we get a witness in the box,

but you also know we don't blame them
for backing out.

Especially when
it's genuinely dangerous.

Just for God's sake, don't do it for
me, or for Tony or anyone here.

We understand.

We know what happened and frankly,
we're pretty amazed you're even here.

So if you want to do it for you
then do it. If you don't, don't.

It's that simple.

Ms O'Shaughnessy,

in your statement, you said
the motorcycle was moving quickly

when the shot was fired.

Yes.

It was moving quickly.

And it came no closer to Miss
Petrakis than five metres?

About that.

So keeping in mind
the extremely difficult conditions

that I've just described,

how likely is it that you might have
been in error?

10% chance, 20, 30?

Objection.

The chance is zero.

Really?

People miss details all the time.

I understand that.

But I know the tattoo was a spider

because I can still see the moment
he fired,

as clearly as when it happened.

It's still in my head.

I wish I could get rid of it,
but I can't.

I doubt I ever will.

So the chance that I have it wrong
is exactly zero.

So based on this indelible memory,
you were able to accurately identify

the spider tattoo on the shooter
of Miss Petrakis

as the same tattoo worn by Mr
Collard?

That's right.

Mm.

How many tattoos
did the police show you?

Just one.

I drew what I saw

and they brought back a photo and I
said, 'Yes, that's it.'

So to put it another way,
Miss O'Shaughnessy,

you never identified Mr Collard
as the shooter at all.

You merely identified a tattoo.

Well, the tattoo on his hand.

But was it on his hand? How many
others might have the same tattoo?

There could he hundreds.

Why, even in this court room?

How many in this court room
may have the same tattoo?

Check out me tatt, eh?

Sit down in the gallery!

- Stick that up ya, love!
- Sit down!

You'll be objected from the court.

Those are obviously fresh
tattoos done to deceive the court.

Silence, Mr Crown, and be seated.

Withdrawn.

Members of the jury,
may I remind you all,

there is no other piece of evidence
that unequivocally

places the accused
anywhere near the crime.

And yet the police insist the man
in the CCTV footage is Mr Collard.

Why? Because of one tattoo,
which could be anybody's.

Did they look harder? Did they ask
the tough questions? Never.

Please, Your Honour, come on!

Please what, Mr Crown?

Withdrawn.

The fact is,

Mr Collard has maintained his
innocence from the very beginning,

and they have simply gone for him...

..because it's easy.

Guess you've heard.

Why do we even bother?

Because we care?

- Janet?
- Yeah...

The Blakely jury are back.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Have you reached a verdict?

Yes, Your Honour.

On the count of murder, how do you
find the defendant, Dianne Vasilich?

Guilty.

On the count of acting as accessory
after the fact of murder,

how do you find the defendant,
Brian Patrick Vincent?

Guilty.

The matter is stood over for
sentence, date to be fixed.

All rise.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

What was all of that
about maybe losing the case?

Yeah, we got lucky.
If Franzen hadn't...

No. I already told you.

Deep, abiding faith.

This is not only a victory

for the family of Steven Blakely,
this is a victory for justice,

for the justice system,

proving that we can
and will tackle the hard cases.

Steven Blakely was
a brilliant investigator

and it is sad, but fitting,

that his legacy, a team of the very
finest investigators,

were able to use the skills
he taught them

to solve the tragic mystery
of his own final hours.

Chief Superintendent Rizzoli,
how do you respond to claims

police went with the first person
they could in the Petrakis shooting?

To be quite honest, I find that
outrageous and offensive.

But with such lack of evidence?

No, we had plenty of evidence.

The judge, in her wisdom,
simply decided not to allow it.

Some people might think I'm talking
out of turn. I don't care.

Things have gone too far in this
State.

Time and again perpetrators walk
free

because good police work
isn't allowed to be used.

Take the Blakely case for example.

A different judge uses
a bit of common sense

and lo and behold,
the truth comes out.

There's a lesson in that
for all of us.

Andy.
Sorry to call you so late.

What's happened?

I'm down near Gerringong.
Do you know where that is?

South?
Way, way south.

In fact, the round trip's about four
hours, probably,

which is not good news.

Why?

Because a bushwalker just found
Steven Blakely's body out here.

So Dianne and Brian
didn't throw him off North Head.

In fact, given the time it takes
to get here,

they weren't even the ones
who buried him.

Janet King's gung-ho approach in
this trial

has caused a serious miscarriage of
justice.

So who buried him?
I have no idea.

You find this third man or Dianne
and her son will walk.

Blakely and Novak?

They argue for about five minutes,
four hours later Blakely is dead.

Don't fuck up what you've got
by getting involved

in things that don't concern you.
Don't interfere.

Tim Clarke - my child porn man.

Seriously need to think about
getting Clarke off the streets,

he's a bad man.
Get away from her!

Get the fuck away from her!
I know what you do with young girls.

I was going to tell you.
You're always so fucking perfect!

You're so tied up with your work

you don't see what's going on
around you anymore.

The Vasilich family had nothing to do
with that murder.

Blakely's murder is just a small part
of it.

A small part of what?