Season 4
Courtroom drama, each case takes three episodes. At the end of the third episode, a jury of "ordinary people" comes to a verdict on the evidence presented.
episodes
Neurologist Dr. Anthony Boyde and the Reverend Francis King set up a centre called "The Healing Hand" to support sufferers of chronic illnesses. While Dr. Boyde was away the centre's finances came under serious question and Reverend King now faces charges of stealing from its funds. The Prosecution say he did this to enrich himself under the pretext of offering faith healing but he insists he is guilty of nothing other than poor financial management, using the funds only for legitimate spiritual care.
Matron of the Healing Hand, Pauline Fanshaw says the Rev. King moved in and began faith healing. He told her that Dr. Boyde gave permission to buy the Healing Hand. Mr. Honeycombe asks why she never excepted faith and told to Dr. Boyde.
Rev. King is asked about his spiritual care. Mr. O'Connor points out he used charity money to redecorate his flat and make numerous spiritual trips. He is pictured making numerous personal bursaries but Helping Hand is never mentioned.
Alan Stockwell stands trial for the murder of Charles Robins. His father Arthur claims he confronted Stockwell and knocked the gun out of his hand before the defendant ran.. Taxi driver Robert Markham says he took Stockwell to Robins home.
This civil case hinges on a dispute between two world-renowned mezzo-sopranos. Cheryl Vandamm, an American, claims that she was falsely imprisoned by her rival Ethella Burns, an Australian. Vandamm was booked for a role in London, but argues that Burns plotted to take her place. She did this by firstly hiding Vandamm's passport and then slamming shut a faulty toilet door, trapping her inside for enough time for her to miss her train to London. Burns denies these claims. She asserts that she had no part in hiding the passport or locking the toilet door. She states that Vandamm was flustered by these accidental delays and feared that she would give a bad performance. To avoid embarrassment she invented the claim of false imprisonment, which would also allow her to retain her fee.
18 year old Benjamin Merton killed himself shortly after taking part in a "marathon" psychological encounter group. The prosecution claim that he was pushed to suicide by the reckless management of this activity by psychotherapist Michael Lucas. They say he should have been aware that a person with Benjamin's fragile psychological state was quite unsuitable for such treatment. Lucas now finds himself on trial for manslaughter. However he and his defence team argue that his techniques were very successful and that Benjamin's suicide was a heavily influenced by his relationship with his mother. In addition a devastating revelation she made just before his death may have tipped him over the edge.
Morris Downing has risen from modest beginnings through an exceptional educational record to become a chancery barrister. However he now finds himself on the wrong side of the law, accused of growing cannabis and allowing his fellow defendants to smoke it at his weekend home in Fulchester. Co-defendants Bella Janes, Margot Davitt and Patrick Mills have all admitted possession of the drug and other offences. They had befriended Downing who allowed them to stay at the house. Janes supports the prosecution case, even suggesting she and Downing smoked cannabis together. He denies the charges, arguing that he has never smoked even a cigarette and has no knowledge of cannabis at all; Davitt and Mills support his denials and say they never took drugs while he was at the house.
Bella Janes gives evidence against Morris Downing, saying he smoked cannabis and knew they also grew it in the garden. Downing says he had to inject Patrick Mills with heroin for his own good but denies he knew the trio were shoplifting
Davitt says Downing tried to get Mills off heroin but he only changed when struck down with leukemia. Davitt adds the trio would not smoke cannabis on Saturdays because Downing was there. Mills says he alone maintained the cannabis garden.
Actor Joseph Molloy faces two charges of attempting and acquiring money by deception. The prosecution argue that he impersonated TV producer Robert Randell in order to obtain money from two women. Molloy had appeared in Randell's show "Union Square" in minor roles. In both cases Molloy proclaims his innocence. He argues he is the victim of mistaken identity. His barrister also suggests that Randell has deliberately - and successfully - exploited the accusations in order to generate publicity for his show which had been struggling in the ratings.
Actor Joseph Molloy faces two charges of attempting and acquiring money by deception. The prosecution argue that he impersonated TV producer Robert Randell in order to obtain money from two women. Molloy had appeared in Randell's show "Union Square" in minor roles. In both cases Molloy proclaims his innocence. He argues he is the victim of mistaken identity. His barrister also suggests that Randell has deliberately - and successfully - exploited the accusations in order to generate publicity for his show which had been struggling in the ratings.
Actor Joseph Molloy faces two charges of attempting and acquiring money by deception. The prosecution argue that he impersonated TV producer Robert Randell in order to obtain money from two women. Molloy had appeared in Randell's show "Union Square" in minor roles. In both cases Molloy proclaims his innocence. He argues he is the victim of mistaken identity. His barrister also suggests that Randell has deliberately - and successfully - exploited the accusations in order to generate publicity for his show which had been struggling in the ratings.
Building worker Peter Malloy stands accused of conspiracy to intimidate others into strike action, affray and planting a bomb and causing an explosion. The prosecution allege that he is a union extremist prepared to use violence to achieve his ends. Malloy denies all the charges. He admits he holds radical views but says he opposes violence. He argues he is the victim of fabricated charges orchestrated by a right-wing retired army officer and the Special Branch who are trying to discredit him and will use any means to do so.
Special Branch claim Molloy believed the government were attempting to intimidate the working class into submission. Molloy was seen near the construction site explosion but are asked how passing police could be sure it Molloy in the dark.
Peter Molloy is baffled that the police found explosives and a timing device, in his yard, and fingerprints on them. Mr. Kellie points out that he was an explosive expert in the army and drew a diagram of how to make bomb for Mr. Scott.