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- Mrs. Peacock attempts to explain the benefit of the Open Box community and how they helped her following a nervous breakdown. Megan Watts, finally, takes the stand and denies that members, at Tute Hall, are terrified of her.
- 1972–2007TV-149.2 (11)TV EpisodeJane Selsey is accused of stabbing and wounding her father. The Defence case is that the wounding was accidental but evidence emerges of some disturbing events and attitudes within this seemingly traditional family.
- Rita Mattson is cross examined by James Elliot QC. She is rattled when he claims her husband was threatening to leave her for a younger woman. Brig. Sir Ferdinand Tennyson-Pusey gives evidence about how he believed gun trick worked.
- Scard explains the Robert E. Scard empire. Despite making no profit he claims he earned £¼ million for business advice. He tells of buying US army surplus portable toilets, from RES New York which didn't work. A subsidiary of Robert Scard.
- 1972–2007TV-149.0 (7)TV Episode
- 1972–2007TV-149.0 (7)TV Episode
- Count Alucard, a Dracula-themed illusionist, is shot dead on stage when a stunt involving a gun goes horribly wrong. His assistant (his wife, Rita) is accused of having tampered with the gun, killing him after discovering yet another of his affairs. did she purposely kill her husband, or was the gun faulty?
- Stanley Roberts was electrocuted and killed when his crane touched cables; a young boy who rushed to help him was also killed in the incident. A postmortem showed that Roberts had drunk alcohol beforehand. His employer Albert Hunter is now charged with health and safety offences. The prosecution assert that Hunter knew that Roberts was an alcoholic but took no proper action to stop him working. His widow says she wrote to Hunter about her husband's drinking and also says he used to hit her. However the defence maintain that there was no evidence that Roberts was ever drunk at work and they took reasonable measures to ensure he was a safe employee.
- Introverted middle-aged bachelor Leslie Simon and outgoing teenager Barry Gems seem worlds apart but an encounter between them in a parks public toilet late on a Saturday night left Mr. Simon badly injured. The Prosecution assert that Gems deliberately assaulted him. However the Defence suggest that Mr. Simon was making an unwanted homosexual advance to the young man who pushed him away, resulting in him accidentally falling and injuring himself on the slippery floor.
- Sex offender Jack Hudson would get parole if he gave evidence against Stephen Benson. Governer Humphries says Benson has never been on report. Stephen tells how he was helping Officer Parker. Turner and Axton came for him and attacked him
- 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.
- Squatters from the university occupied what they thought was an empty holiday home and changed the locks to prevent the owner's re-entry. It was in fact the permanent home of Edward Lumsden, an elderly man. When he returned home to find himself locked-out he called his daughter Vera Chadwick who came to the house to resolve the matter. She took a shotgun along with her. This gun was ultimately fired and one of the squatters - John Worsley - was shot and permanently blinded in one eye. The prosecution assert that Mrs. Chadwick deliberately wounded him but she and her defence team maintain that the shooting was an accident.
- The accused, Harry Bryant, acting as his defence, questions the arresting officer Inspector Collins and his assistant Sergeant Fisher's investigation methods.
- World renowned art expert Gustav De Montalk gives evidence for the defence that the painting held by the Duke de Saveron is a fake instead the one bought by Alice Starkie. The jury has to decide who is telling the truth.
- During Manubhai Gupta's evidence he admits to donating £35,000 to the group. Funds were raised at the highest level for new Centres that were never built. Martin Heywood claims that the Inner Circle should be considered a religious order.
- Frank Robey and his brother-in-law David Charlton have had a tense relationship for some time. Matters though took a rather serious turn at the end of a New Year's party resulting in David Charlton's jaw being broken. The Prosecution argue that Robey struck Charlton with a frozen leg of pork he had taken to the party, angry at it being rejected as a present. However the Defence claim that Robey is innocent. They don't deny that he was unhappy with his brother-in-law but insist the injuries occurred accidentally in a fall.
- 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.
- Officer Axton says he saw Stephen Benson, in Workship 3, kneeling next to Officer Parker, holding a hammer. A riot followed. Mr. Elliot says to Axton why he hit and kicked Benson until he was unconscious and it was then the riot broke out.
- Lingerie model Kathleen Nolan gives evidence of the events leading to the death of Norman Mattson, at the 501 Club. Rita Mattson takes the stand and claims in the 8 years of her marriage she never knew how the silver bullet trick worked.
- In the village of Chelton, just outside Fulchester, an elderly man is knocked off his bicycle and killed by a speeding green Mercedes convertible. The car is traced to a local wealthy businessman who now needs to explain why the car in question was taken to a local garage for repairs within hours of the incident. The accused denies causing death by dangerous driving. His defense counsel are claiming that the policeman dealing with the case held a grudge against the accused ever since a previous attempt to prosecute him on another matter proved unsuccessful.
- The lord of Wretching Hall and his son both die in suspicious circumstances, and all the members of their household are called upon to give evidence.
- Fiona Gray is charged with arson after setting fire to her estranged husband's house. As her children were in the house at the time, the defense are claiming diminished responsibility.
- David Miller is accused of committing grievous bodily harm against Ronnie Dewhurst, a man with whom he has long had a tense relationship and whose former girlfriend he has married. Dewhurst says he was assaulted in a pub car park by Miller and thrown into the path of a reversing car, causing him permanent injuries. Miller does not deny that he hit Dewhurst but says he only did so once earlier in the pub - he was offended by Dewhurst laughing at jokes against the disabled by a comedian which especially upset him as his own daughter has spina bifida. He argues Dewhurst and his girlfriend Lorraine Dilkes have invented the later "attack" and he was struck by the car in an unrelated accident.
- Derek Easton is charged on five separate counts relating to the abduction and rape of minors by an escaped prisoner with mental health issues. Statements relating to the crimes are heard, with Easton pleading not guilty to any involvement.
- Union's solicitor told Mrs. Flynn that without an autopsy, on her husband, it would be hard to prove a wrongful death case against Fulchester Plastics. Dr. Gill agrees but he adds that he found aspects of Mr. Flynn's death puzzling.
- College student Walter Demmis died when his car crashed after being involved in an incident with a vehicle driven by lecturer Bernard Watson. Watson now stands trial accused of murder. The prosecution contend that he was angry with Demmis who had earlier damaged his car; on seeing Demmis driving away he followed in his own car and set up a high-speed chase with the intention of running him off the road, oblivious to the likely loss of life. Watson denies the charge. He admits he was angry with Demmis over the damage but merely wanted to catch up with him. They also assert that Demmis was a willing participant in the car chase which he saw as a test of driving nerve called "dicing".
- Margaret Terson takes to the witness stand to explain her reasons for taking home secret documents and not informing the security department of her relationship with a person from East Germany.
- The Judge tells the jury to disregard the implication made by the defence that Dr. Fulmer is to blame. Insp. McGovern discovered the account books hidden in cupboard. Maria Novati adds that Mr.Oldbury, told her, he didn't like the Povey's
- Nigel Henriques says he visited Turkey and nobody knew Mr. Scard. Scard claims all his documents are suppressed by outside forces. He adds he was acting as an agent for an international loan. Outside forces have destroyed the telexes.
- Philip Hall claims he saw the defendant, in a shop doorway, and she said "Half an hour back at my place". Ms. Scott asks whether P.C Hunter influenced his answer. Then whether it was him, who jokingly said, these words to Sylvia Turner.
- Foreign Office employee Margaret Terson took top secret documents back to her home while she was dating East German businessman Hans Muller. The prosecution claim that Muller, a communist, was a spy. Miss Terson, who had been under police surveillance during her dalliance with Muller, is now accused of breaching the official secrets Act.
- A theatre production company is charged with breaching obscenity laws following the performance of a play at the Fulchester Palace Theatre. The performance, which included nudity and sex acts, led to dozens of complaints being made to the Fulchester Echo. The defence insist that the trial cannot continue until the jury has watched a performance of the play. The prosecution insist that reading the script should suffice. The judge has a decision to make on this issue before the trial can proceed.
- 1972–2007TV-148.3 (8)TV EpisodeThe Fulchester Free Press published an article accusing journalist Dennis Broadley of being dishonest and a drunk after he wrote a critical article about dancer Linda McDonald. Ben Hare and Julia Andretti of the FFP are now being sued for libel by Broadley who says his comments about McDonald were accurate and involved no deception but they say he tricked her and is notorious for his problems with alcohol.
- Following relegation Fulchester Rovers manager Aleksander Gruda is sacked. However he claims players Skelhorne, McIver and Appledene deliberately played badly in order to achieve this end. All three now stand trial for conspiracy.
- In an unusual case, the Crown Court has to decide whether Megwyn Spiteri is fit to stand trial on the charge of murdering her five-year-old twins David and Maria. The defence accepts that the children died after Mrs. Spiteri gave them an overdose of dexedrine. However, it asserts that she was unable to cope with them - they were difficult and disturbed - and killed them while suffering from psychotic delusions that they were possessed by demons. Mrs. Spiteri says she believes the children are still alive and that she "saved them", and the defence argues that this proves she is unfit for trial. However, the prosecution - while accepting her difficult personal circumstances - says that she knew what she was doing at the time of their deaths and now, and has invented the delusions to avoid trial.
- Just minutes before his death through illness, Charles Laker told his doctor that he believed he had been cursed. Adelaide Vincente, the head of a little-known Fulchester witches coven, stands accused of murder. A witness from the medical profession tells the court of a growing belief among doctors that causing death and injury by witchcraft is indeed possible. For some, the trial begins to revive memories of the witchcraft trials of the seventeenth century.
- The wife of a university lecturer stands accused of perjury and perverting the course of justice. At a previous trial, she gave evidence against one of her husband's students, who was then convicted of stealing a valuable vase from the university. But the vase turned up at an auction three weeks after the student was convicted of stealing it. Where had the vase been? And did the lecturer's wife lie at the trial of the student?
- James William Kent is charged with assaulting two police officers. They say he punched and kicked them after they arrested him for trying the handles of parked vehicles. Kent denies the offences. He was convicted a few years earlier of being an "incorrigible rogue" - a persistent vagrant - and says that as a result the police are prejudiced against him and that the law gives him little chance of escaping conviction. He admits a long criminal record but says he has no previous convictions of violence, is arthritic and would never have struck the officers. He says his life has been turned around since joining a hostel run by Mr. Livingstone and that his criminal days are behind him.
- Robert E Scard is accused of deceiving clients about the performance of his businesses in order to attract investments that he then pocketed. He insists he has been framed and evidence of his innocence has been destroyed.
- Lola Martin is on trial accused of persistently importuning for immoral purposes and striking Jeffrey Lent. The case is made more unusual as Lola Martin is a transvestite and gay man and Lent is an undercover police officer who says he was trying to catch drug dealers in the club where the incidents occurred. The Defence case is that the detective was an agent provocateur who incited an advance and was then struck in self-defence as he grabbed Lola..
- Dr. Ruth Wilkins attended a concert by singers John Barnard and Julie Gilmour. However she was not a fan and after hearing them perform one of their songs they are charged with blasphemy. Dr. Wilkins is a committed Christian and moral campaigner and argues the song causes outrage to Christians. The Defence maintain that the song is quite acceptable and a legitimate statement of protest against the cruelties of war.
- Brian Jones claims Dr. Baxter was jumping on the bandwagon and wanted to shutdown Fulchester Plastics. Arnold Griffiths runs the Health and Safety department and says the link between vinyl chloride and cancer was only discovered in 1974.
- Tim Wilkinson says that Church allowed Plowman in the staff flats but Mr. Honeycombe queries how he able to hear a conversation two floors above. Hostel manager Edward Birkland admits it was in Plowman character that he could rape Church.
- The pet cat of Mary Freebody was mauled to death by Bang, an alsatian dog owned by her neighbour Major Basil Eccleston. Miss Freebody then wrote a letter threatening to kill the Major and his dog. Shortly afterwards Bang died after eating poisoned liver. The prosecution argue that Miss Freebody poisoned the liver which she presumed was to be eaten by the Major: she is now on trial for attempted murder. She denies the offence and claims someone else had a rather bigger motive for killing him. Matters take a shocking turn late in the trial putting a very different complexion on events.
- Prison officer William Parker has been left permanently physically and mentally disabled after being attacked in prison - an attack that was shortly followed by a major riot causing huge damage. Inmate Stephen Benson is now charged with grievous bodily harm, the Prosecution arguing he bore a grudge against Parker and hit him on the back of the head with a hammer inflicting catastrophic injuries. Parker insists his innocence and the Defence assert he is not a violent offender - he was actually trying to assist the injured Parker, the attack having been carried out by someone else.
- 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.
- An estranged wife has accused her husband of rape. The husband denies the charge and claims that his wife has made up the allegation in anger after he refused to increase her maintenance payments.
- A fire in the Sycamore Grove nightclub resulted in the deaths of seventeen people and injuries to many others. However this was no accident in the view of the Prosecution. They allege that owner Janet Godfrey and general manager Paul Flood were responsible for the fire through gross negligence as they failed to maintain a safe building. Both defendants though insist they fulfilled their responsibilities correctly.
- On the final day of the trial character witnesses testify on behalf of Margaret Terson, but will they be able to convince the jury?
- During Rick Gray's evidence he reveals that living with his wife was like living with a small child. Gilbert Brinsley, who worked at Coldwater Valley Arts Society, admits Fiona Gray instigated a sexual relationship with him.
- Barney Skelhorn's ex-wife Margaret tells how she overheard the three players discussing how they would have to be careful against under performing United. They decided to give away penalties. Margaret later passed this on to manager Gruda.
- The court erupts when James Mallard and his mother are caught using sign language to bypass the rule of law. Mallard's father, John Ryan claims his son's girlfriend won't becoming to alibi him, for the stolen car, because she is married.
- Lady Dupuis claims she was in an relationship with Fortesque but since the stabbing that ended. She believed her husband was unaware of the liaison. Mr. Dorney asks Lady Dubois why her answers, to who made the initial threats, so vague.
- Charles Oldbury died in the bathroom of the old people's home where he lived. Dr. Fulmer who attended the scene thought he had suffered a heart attack and then drowned in the bath; she tried to resuscitate him without success. However the owners of the home - Margaret and Kenneth Povey - are now on trial accused of his murder and of defrauding his estate of £30 000 with the aid of convicted solicitor's clerk Leonard Saxton. The prosecution claim that they fabricated a change to his will for their benefit and then killed him in the bath, trying to make his death appear to be one of drowning. Both defendants deny all charges. They insist the change to the will was genuine and Mr. Oldbury's death was a tragic accident.
- A man is left paralyzed after being shot on his own doorstep following an argument about a betting slip. Two brothers living next door stand accused of attempted murder but claim the gun went off by accident during a scuffle.
- Lawrence Webb is in court after giving his cancer-stricken wife a fatal overdose of morphine. He claims that it was deliberate to stop her suffering, but is under suspicion of murder as the jury hears evidence regarding her death.
- Irene Rutland faces charges of theft, criminal damage and wounding a police officer. The officer was called to a restaurant after Mrs. Rutland was involved in an argument over what she considered an excessive bill. The prosecution argue that she was in a drunken rage and struck the officer while resisting arrest. She was also found in possession of a handbag belonging to another woman - Linda Brightson - and she is also charged with theft of this item and damage to the restaurant. The Defence accept there was a disagreement but argue Mrs. Rutland did not steal the handbag and that the officer was injured by accident.
- 1972–200724mTV-148.1 (30)TV EpisodeGeorge Robins is a second-hand car dealer and well-known ladies' man. He has disappeared. Bloodstains were found at his country cottage. A local car thief, Harold Barnes, is charged with his murder, but Barnes claims that Robins has not been murdered but has faked his own death so that his wife can claim a large insurance pay-out. The prosecution will try to prove that Barnes has indeed murdered Robins even though no body has ever been found.
- A retired lawyer decides to defend himself in court after he is charged with shoplifting.
- 1972–2007TV-148.1 (10)TV EpisodeMorris 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.
- Kenneth Eden, a wealthy man, did voluntary work with his wife helping youngsters at a local children's home. However he now finds himself accused of stealing a necklace from and indecently assaulting teenager Barbara Brown. The Prosecution say he was found in possession of Barbara's necklace and molested her when she visited his house. He denies both accusations, arguing Barbara left behind the necklace and the assault claim has been invented by Barbara and her care workers.
- Vera Barnes - better known as "Madame Veda Bronski", a spiritualist and professed clairvoyant - is charged with obtaining money by deception from widow Elizabeth Penn. The Prosecution claim that she took advantage of the vulnerable Mrs. Penn and tricked her into donating £17500, supposedly towards a spiritualist centre that was never built. The Defence respond that Madame Bronski does appear to have unusual gifts and even these are disputed she has a sincere belief that she can contact the dead and help people like Mrs. Penn.
- Dr Barbara Baxter stands accused of publishing a defamatory article against a Fulchester plastics company claiming deaths have occurred due to vinyl chloride poisoning.
- Harry Bryant's wife is called upon as a witness, followed by Harry himself. With full disclosure of Harry's previous convictions, the jury are asked to adjourn and reach a verdict.
- PC Kershaw takes the stand to give details of the arrest of the two defendants. With Mrs Palmer's evidence tainted, there are now doubts that John Dempsey was the second man. Walter Sissons QC also queries Kershaw's impartiality.
- 1972–200724mTV-148.1 (26)TV EpisodeDetective Inspector Robert takes the stand to describe the investigation into the disappearance of George Robins and the arrest of Harold Barnes. Dr. John Gould gives a breakdown of the forensic evidence and the link to Barnes.
- Archie McNeil is a bigamist. He married three women under Islamic Law in Somalia, where he has business interests, and a further three women in the U.K. Is he just a hopeless romantic? (The press have dubbed him 'The blue-beard of Scotland'). Or did he, as the prosecution claim, marry his wives for financial gain? After being traced by a Private Detective to a hotel room in Scarborough, where he was on honeymoon with wife number six, Mr McNeil must now explain his actions in court.
- Roddy Maitland, the rising if temperamental star of British tennis, stormed off court during a Wimbledon semi-final. He then drove up to Fulchester to confront Dr. Holt-Matthews, the father of his pregnant girlfriend Gail. On being told that that her pregnancy was now over he attempted suicide in a hotel room by slashing his wrists. However it is Maitland who is now on trial for criminal libel after writing a letter in which the Prosecution allege he maliciously and falsely claimed the doctor to be "an abortionist" and "a murderer". The Defence case is that Dr. Holt-Matthews's callous attitude led him to such a conclusion and that there is no proof Gail had a genuine miscarriage.
- The effects of hallucinogenic drugs provide a theme in this case. Peta Best, a leading 1960s fashion photographer, has been found dead in her studio with a cloth pushed down her throat. Natasha Marlow, a young model who was with Peta Best at the time of her death, is charged with murder, but claims that she and the photographer were 'freaking out' after taking LSD, and that she would therefore have been incapable of committing murder. As the trial progresses, light is shed on the sleazy world of pornography.
- Art collector Walter Lander purchased an extremely valuable painting from British collector Alice Starkie. When he announced his purchase to the art world, another collector came forward to claim that he has had the original painting for several years, and that Lander's purchase must be a fake. Alice Starkie is charged with obtaining money by deception, but claims she sold the painting in good faith, believing it to be the original. Is she telling the truth?
- Harry Bryant has been identified as one of four men who carried out an armed bank robbery. However, Harry has plans to prove his innocence - starting with dismissing his legal aid and conducting his own defence.
- Teacher Helen Lord is in court due to attacking a police officer with a chisel after losing her job. Yet when the court tries to find out why Lord was sacked, and the connection with the police, withheld evidence becomes a major factor.
- A militant trade union activist is accused of stirring up trouble on a picket line outside a newspaper headquarters. The defense are suggesting that there is a political motive behind his arrest but the judge has insisted that the trial must not be turned into a political debate.
- Leavis and Lovelace work together as jobbing builders and a pub comedy act. They also now share the dock, accused of disguising themselves, tricking their way into the homes of two old aged pensioners and then robbing them.
- Jasper Fortesque and Sir Harold Dupuis have been at odds for years. However matters escalated dramatically when Sir Harold objected to a letter about the future of Gibraltar from Fortesque and when to his home to confront him - this confrontation ended with Sir Harold suffering stab wounds from Fortesque's dagger. Fortesque faces a charge of GBH but insists Sir Harold was wounded by accident. Lady Dupuis witnessed events and plays a curious role in the relationship between the two men.
- Cafe owner Frederick Muir stands accused of incitement to racial hatred. The prosecution allege that he unfairly dismissed Tunde Williams, a highly qualified Nigerian immigrant, on the grounds of his race. Following the dismissal a number of witnesses say that Muir made a highly offensive racist speech. Muir denies the charge. He argues that he quite correctly dismissed Williams for incompetence. He admits to then speaking about racial issues but says his words condemned racism and he has been deliberately misquoted by the witnesses who have colluded in their evidence to try to discredit him.
- Seventeen year old Arthur Holland is charged with the murder of his twenty six year old step-mother. Mrs. Holland died after consuming poisonous mushrooms which had been offered to her by him. Arthur is an amateur mycologist with a keen interest in collecting mushrooms. The prosecution claim that he was more than aware that they were dangerous and point to his poor relationship with his father after his remarriage. Arthur admits he dislikes his father but says his relationship with his step-mother was good. He argues that he didn't know the mushrooms were dangerous, misled by an inaccurate guidebook.
- Nancy Church recalls John Plowman's attempted to rape her and tells of stabbing him. Mr. O'Conner asks why she stood over his body, holding a knife, and repeatedly saying "bastard". He queries why had she invited him to the staff kitchen.
- Ms Savage's evidence appears to suggest that her relationship with Mark Lieberman was platonic and that his presence in her flat was merely coincidental.
- Art restorer Arthur Goodie stuns the court with the revelation that the Benedetto Trovato painting is no older than seven years old. Archivist Antonio Sforza accuses Alice Starkie of taking photographs of the Trovato to copy later.
- Alan Collings fiancee Pauline Ellis gives evidence about the long running feud between the father's Alan and Brian and how family party ended in threats. Brian Collings takes the stand in his defence but is unable to produce an alibi.
- 1972–200725mTV-148.0 (25)TV EpisodeDefendant Harold Barnes alleges that George Robins is still alive. Prosecutor Jonathan Fry QC causes a stir when he calls Robins as a witness. Barnes' wife Catherine denies the she had an affair with Robins and alibis her husband.
- Det. Sgt. Charles Atrass continues under cross examination. The defence claims there was no evidence to hold James Mallard but within 3 hours he given a confession. Mallard admits he is known to Atrass and saw him waiting outside cinema.
- Lady Dupois rejected Jasper Fortesque's offer of marriage as she would not leave her husband. P.C. Simpson saw Fortesque with a dagger and Sir Harold Dupuis wounded. Fortesque says Dupois' dog was barking so he countered with loud music.
- As the prosecution concludes its case, the defence presents its own, with just two witnesses - a neighbour of the Webbs, and Lawrence Webb himself. Yet will Lawrence's naked candour help or hinder his case?
- Lawrence Webb faces an intense grilling from Jonathan Fry. Justice Waddington summarises events before the jury retire to make their decision.
- Natasha Marlow is cross-examined by Jonathan Fry QC after it is revealed that she threatened to kill Peta Best while high on drugs. The defence calls Sister Joanna Forbush, but her evidence, based on Marlow's therapy, proves problematic.
- The first day's proceedings came to halt when prosecution witness Madge Gorman failed to show. When Mrs. Gorman appears, today, she has an obvious black eye, so the judge warns her should she change her original evidence.
- Rose Messiter is cross examined by Helen Tate. She accuses Messiter of being a witness to the original Will and wouldn't be provided for. Under pressure, from Tate, Messiter admits she wrote the second Will but denies it was forgery.
- Lady Crittenden is cross examined by Stephen Harvesty following her admission, in court, that Lapointe is the maiden name of Sir Tom's mother. Bernard Crittenden attempts to show that Raoul Lapointe's birth certificate is a forgery.
- Stephen Harvesty calls Antoine Mbula of the legal department of the Diplomatic Mission of Zaire in an attempt to resolve the issue of whether Raoul Lapointe birth certificate is genuine or whether Bernard Crittenden has replaced it.
- A 21 year old man has been blinded after an attacker flung acid into his face. Was the attack carried out by his own cousin following a family feud?
- A night security firm stands accused of attacking a young courting couple with dogs and truncheons after they had entered a private development via a hole in the perimeter fence. The couple claim the attack took place outside the fence after they had left the premises. The firm's right to use truncheons is also being questioned by the prosecution.
- Long serving prison officer William Hogarth, a strict disciplinarian, is accused of wounding with intent Johnson, an unpopular inmate. Johnson was found injured in the toilets where he had gone in search of secreted drugs. Hogarth insists his innocence and argues that the assault was actually committed by another inmate who then tried to frame him for the offence.
- James Mallard signed a confession admitting that he had stolen a car belonging to his doctor with whom he and his family have long been unhappy. He had hinted to the doctor just before the incident that he would do him some harm. Mallard has now retracted his confession and asserts his innocence. He argues that he was forced into a confession by Sergeant Attrass who has long victimised him because of his criminal past. The prosecution argue that the initial confession was absolutely correct. They have eye-witness testimony linking Mallard to the crime and insist the Sergeant has treated Mallard quite fairly.
- A 15 year old schoolgirl has given birth to an illegitimate baby. Within a week of the birth, the body of the baby has been found buried in the girl's back garden by police acting on a tip-off. The schoolgirl's father (the baby's grandfather) has been charged with the murder of the baby after it was discovered that the infant had been strangled.
- 1972–200725mTV-147.8 (23)TV EpisodeFulchester's notorious Curl brothers are accused of demanding money with menaces and GBH. The court will hear that the brothers had been conducting a reign of terror over Fulchester's club and bar owners through a Chicago-style protection racket. After refusing to pay the brothers for protection, a number of club owners suffered injuries ranging from falls downstairs, feet burned with electric fires, and attacks with hammers. Indeed, one of the brothers' own enforcers has disappeared and is believed to have been buried under the new M16 motorway foundations. The defence insists that the brothers are legitimate businessmen.
- Before his death a year ago, a renowned artist wrote a will in which he bequeathed his estate to his favourite model, Rose Messiter. The will is being challenged by his business partner Brenda Kingsley, who had been named as sole beneficiary in an earlier will written by the artist. She claims that at the time of writing the second will, the artist was not of sound mind. Ms Kingsley is now challenging the second will and is laying claim to the artist's estate.
- A father and son are charged with attempting to smuggle a huge amount of heroin into the country. The drugs were discovered during a search of the vessel on the River Thames after it arrived from France. The pair claim they knew nothing about the heroin on their boat.
- School teacher Juliet Tomlin is accused of indecently assaulting one of her 15 year old pupils. She denies the charge, but it has come to light that the pupil, named in court only as Robin, recently spent two nights at the house of the teacher. Were the pair conducting an illicit affair, or did they simply become the victims of misplaced playground and staffroom gossip?
- The south tower of a new shopping centre collapsed resulting in the deaths of eight people. Was this a tragic accident or the responsibility of site agent Joe Carney? The prosecution allege that Carney objected to the "socialist" design and expense of the tower and was determined to see it fail with disastrous consequences. Carney does not deny that he disliked the building but denies he was in any way at fault. He argues that the building collapsed because of faults in a new material which he had warned against but his complaints had gone unheeded.
- 1972–200724mTV-147.8 (30)TV EpisodeTwo friends, Linda Mitchell and Rosemary Clayton, are accused of conspiring to shoplift a dress from Hombards Boutique in Fulchester. A store detective claims that Mitchell tried on four dresses in the changing rooms but emerged with only three. Ms Clayton, it is claimed, tried to cause a distraction when Mitchell was challenged about the missing dress by claiming that her purse had been stolen. The store detective claims to have seen the two women put the stolen dress into their car, hidden beneath a raincoat, before Clayton drove away. Mitchell was detained on the pavement outside the boutique. The women deny the charge.
- 1972–2007TV-147.8 (19)TV EpisodeA pensioner is mugged in a dark alley. two young black men are identified as the muggers in a local youth club. However, the defense claims that the identity parade was not carried out according to correct police procedure.
- A wealthy industrialist who made his fortune in African mining projects has died and left his fortune to his widow and two children. However, an African man has come forward to claim his share of the inheritance by claiming that he is the son of the businessman from a previous, secret marriage to an African lady. Is he genuinely the son, or is he an impostor trying to fraudulently claim money?
- Tessa Blackley, a Fulchester journalist, is accused of setting fire to the house of her married lover.
- Sgt. Evans says Mrs. Morgan didn't deny pushing her child down the stairs. When asked about evidence given at her divorce, Mrs. Morgan admits it was true she hit her children. She found life difficult and struck out against the children.
- Mrs. Morgan is asked about her history of violence and why should the court believe she would not strike out again. Dr. Lawrence says Mrs. Morgan has changed but it is pointed out he failed to spot injuries, to the children, in the past.
- Barrister John Lloyd attempts to show victims Annabel Nelson and Derek Latimer as radicals who were deliberating trespassing on Transecure property. Colonel G.H. Hore-Davis gives evidence on Transecure employees use of violence.
- Charles Porton, the Managing Director of Porton Construction, attempts to defend the high mortality rate at his firm. George Walker gives evidence about a fight between Jack Stephens and Tom Morgan on the day before his accident.
- George Walker attempts to shift blame when it is revealed that the shed with the safety belts was locked on Charles Porton's orders. Porton is recalled to witness box when the register with Jack Stephens age appears to have been altered
- Gail Holt-Matthews is in the witness box following the revelation that her father gave her an abortion against her will. Her mother admits that Rodney Maitland was threatening to expose her husband for forcing Gail to have an abortion.
- Photographer Alleyn Griffin gives evidence about Natasha Marlow's erratic behaviour at the party. Marlow takes the stand in her own defence, and confesses that she had taken so much LSD that she has little memory of the night.
- The content of the letter is revealed, Miss Lord takes the stand, and the prosecution and defence make their final statements. With witnesses and medical reports both heard, it's left to the jury to decide if Lord was guilty of intent.
- 1972–200724mTV-147.8 (27)TV EpisodeOn day two of their trial, both Rosemary Clayton and Linda Mitchell are cross examined.
- 1972–2007TV-147.8 (22)TV EpisodeWhile giving evidence in his defence, John Dempsey claimed that PC Kershaw saw the university student as a black activist and kept him under constant surveillance. He now faces an aggressive cross examination from James Elliot QC
- The previous day ended sensationally with both Dominic Collins' wife and daughter confessing to killing the baby. Barrister Helen Tate accuses Mary of researching the Infanticide Act in a bid to get her father off a murder charge.
- Martin Thornton, the older of two brothers, claims that far from the being the perpetrators of the shooting he and brothers were the victims of a smear campaign. Prosecuter Helen Tate maintains that the gun used was theirs.
- 1972–200725mTV-147.8 (20)TV EpisodeThe second day of the trial of brothers George and Arnold Curl. The pair are accused of running a Fulchester protection racket. Much of the evidence comes from Stephen Telfer, a club owner who is now in a coma following a savage beating.
- 1972–200724mTV-147.8 (22)TV EpisodeFacing a second day under cross examination, George Curl claims he found religion while in Reading Gaol. However his brother Arnold gets rattled when questioned about hiring Arther McGraw to injure Stephen Telfer.
- Barrister John Lloyd claims Transecure employees were provoked by the young couple. The judge refuses to drop the case against William Cooke. The defence will now argue that Transcure employees can carry truncheons on private property.
- A prison officer at Fulchester's Park Moor Prison is charged with accepting bribes to smuggle a number of prohibited items into and out of the prison by an inmate, who is also facing charges.
- A construction company building a suspension bridge is being sued for compensation by the wife of a workman who has been badly injured in a fall from the bridge. The plaintiff claims that the workmen had not been provided with safety belts. The defence insists that safety belts were available, but says that the workman chose not to wear one and may even have been drunk when he fell from the bridge.
- Joe Plowman seemed due for release from a hostel for recovering alcoholics but after a late-night incident he was left dead from a stab wound. Resident social worker Nancy Church is now charged with his murder. She insists her innocence. The Defence case is that Plowman was prone to violence and was in the process of attacking Miss Church - he was accidentally stabbed and killed when falling on the knife she was using to warn him away.
- Eleven year old Julian Morgan has been in a coma and seems unlikely to recover after being seriously injured at home. The Prosecution argue that his mother Linda Morgan had a history of beating him and inflicted the catastrophic injury. However she says it was a terrible accident as he slipped down the stairs. Her former husband testifies against her and Mrs Morgan did not challenge him divorcing her on the grounds of her past treatment of Julian. She argues though that she did not challenge the grounds for divorce as she was desperate to escape a bullying husband.
- David Timmins, a 19 year old striker, was imprisoned after being convicted of assaulting a police officer at a demonstration. He felt he should be treated as a "political prisoner" and after being denied this status went on hunger strike. This led to him being force-fed by prison doctor James MacKenzie. Shortly after this being done for the second time Timmins died. MacKenzie now stands trial of causing manslaughter by gross negligence, the prosecution alleging that he incompetently carried out the procedure leading to damage to the stomach and death by asphyxiation. The doctor proclaims his innocence and argues that Timmins was in an extremely weak condition and instead died of pneumonia. The political and social allegiance of various key figures come under scrutiny in the case.
- Detective Inspector Barber returns to the stand to give details of the arrest of Prison Officer Robert Agar. Angela Mercer evidence indicated that Agar took items inside the prison, for George Lanigan, in return for sexual favours.
- Brian Collings faces a second day in the dock. The prosecution revealed that Brian had a newspaper picture of Pauline Ellis, in a bikini, pinned on his wall at work. The prosecution argue that he blinded Alan through jealousy.
- Mr Deeley continues to argue for the disclosure of a letter issued by the Chief Constable to the school's headmistress.
- Paul Vennings gives evidence in his own defence. However, when his girlfriend Jenifer Harley is recalled to the witness box, discrepancies between their stories are brought out by the prosecution.
- 1972–200725mTV-147.7 (30)TV EpisodeThe prosecution calls a surprise witness, a local charity shop worker who is adamant that Mrs. Clayton donated a dress similar to the one stolen.
- Dominic Collins is cross examined by barrister Helen Tate. He maintains he did not strangle the baby and was it dead when he found it. 15-year-old Mary Collins shocks the court by claiming she strangled the baby moments after the birth
- On the final day of the trial, Prison Officer Robert Ager takes the stand. in his own defence. Barrister Barry Deeley maintains that Agar was bullied and threatened, by Lanigan, into bringing illegal goods into the prison
- The first broadcast case in Crown Court is a civil dispute between businessman Emmanuel Lieberman and his former fiancée Delia Savage. With a claim over a penthouse suite, is Mr. Lieberman's claims she had an affair with his son true?
- At an earlier trial Sylvia Turner was acquitted of soliciting on Fulchester High Street. However she now finds herself on trial accused of perjury. The Prosecution claim that Miss Turner lied when she said in court that she was not soliciting on that occasion - she is a known prostitute and propositioned a man. She does not deny that she has worked that area as a prostitute and continues to engage in prostitution but says she no longer works the streets and her exchange with the man on that day was banter and not a sexual invitation.
- George Mitchell, a prisoner on a release programme, was found by a police officer in possession of a cashmere coat containing items of jewellery. The coat and jewellery all belonged to members of the wealthy Cunningham family with whom he had been staying while Mrs. Cunningham offered him rehabilitation support. Mitchell admits to stealing the coat but argues that he is innocent of the other alleged thefts. He insists the items were planted and he is the victim of a frame by a member of the Cunningham family.
- Terence Healey, an admitted career criminal turned used car dealer, spent almost two years in prison and faced three trials before being acquitted of involvement in an armed robbery. He is seeking damages from Police Commander Latcham whom he says maliciously prosecuted him, using an informer within the robbery gang called Albert Charlton to mount a fabricated case. Latcham says he acted in good faith and that Charlton's evidence was vital to getting dangerous criminals off the streets.
- Researcher Francis Galway faces the rare charge of inciting the police to disaffection, specifically towards strike action. He had been working for a right-wing pressure group who were campaigning against what they saw as "threats to democracy". The prosecution allege that Galway tried to fabricate evidence of subversion by a left-wing workers group and invited a police inspector to a meeting of fascists in Italy. Galway and his defence team say that his actions have been misunderstood. They deny he had any intent to encourage disaffection and that his motives have always been simply to conduct research and encourage new thinking.
- Linda Phelps thought she was pregnant so visited Dr. Thanet. The father may be one of three boys but she refused involve her mother. On her second appointment he gave her a month prescription, for the pill but told her to bring her mother.
- Gillian Heys takes to the stand, but seems to be a very timid witness.
- Councillor Bolton takes to the stand, he's questioned by The Defence and Prosection alike. The Jury retire to make their decision.
- Barrister Helen Tate attempts cast doubt on evidence given by nightwatchman Joseph Pearson. She maintains his evidence may be tainted due to injuries inflicted during the robbery. Albert Duffy begins to give evidence in his defence.
- The Medium: Regina v Purbeck - Part 2.
- 1972–2007TV-147.5 (8)TV EpisodeThomas Nolan was so badly assaulted that he is unable to give evidence in court. Teenagers Frank Price and Sheila Cronin are charged with committing grievous bodily harm on him. The Prosecution claim that Cronin is "vicious and vindictive" and led Price who has learning difficulties. Both defendants assert their innocence - they do not deny an earlier argument with the victim but say they were at home when he was attacked.
- A continuation of the prior episode in which the widow of a man who died on the operating table is suing the hospital where her husband was treated for negligence.
- The case draws to a close as the final evidence is heard. Following the summing up by both sides, in whose favour will the judge find.
- Defendant Rodney Maitland is on the stand for a second day with the prosecution claiming that Gail Holt-Matthews' abortion was really an act of God. Maitland maintains that the doctor performed an illegal abortion on his daughter.
- Graphologist Mr Pascoe gives evidence on behalf of defendant Rose Messiter, and cannot rule out that Martin Emsworth's writing was forged. Brenda Kingsley claims, though she stood as witness to the will, that she did not see its contents.
- Morton Lass, an American tank commander seconded to Hill 329 claims that Major Fitton begged to leave with him. A second witness; Australian soldier Ronald Harstrong maintains he found Fitton suffering from PTSD.
- The spurned lover of a Church of England clergyman is accused of blackmail after threatening to expose their affair unless the vicar pays £400.
- The first case for Crown Court was an untransmitted pilot. Featuring a hospital negligence case, it had many differences to the regular programme, including no jury, and was eventually screened on satellite television years later.
- 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.
- Scottish nationalist campaigners Hamish Stewart-Mackenzie and Davidina McLeod stand charged with the theft of an oil tanker that was taken from Services near Kendal. The Prosecution allege that Stewart-Mackenzie drove the vehicle away after Miss McLeod had distracted the driver Peter Telfer who had been giving her a lift. Stewart-Mackenzie doesn't deny taking the tanker but argues he was justified because its cargo of oil belongs to Scotland. Miss McLeod, who is a folk singer, argues she was simply on her way to a gig - she had nothing to do with the taking of the vehicle and has been framed.
- Mr. Phelps reluctantly signed the petition but now agrees with it. Dr. Chinley adds that, the petition, makes Dr. Thanet the only person Linda can trust. Rev. Moore felt Mrs. Phelps was willing sacrifice her marriage for the noble good.
- One of the accused, Trevor Luckhurst, takes the witness stand, but his behaviour doesn't help his case.
- Albert Duffy says he is a changed man since his first child was born while he was in jail. Although he admits he took part in the robbery, he claims that he was coerced by Terrence Manning. He now faces cross-examination by Barry Deeley.
- The Medium: Regina v Purbeck - Part 3.
- A radical young journalist and his student girlfriend are accused of conspiring to cause an explosion which rocked the offices of a local company. The prosecution is based on two pieces of evidence found at the couple's flat during a raid - a pair of plimsolls containing fragments of glass matching the glass at the company's offices, and letters written by the couple suggesting that the premises should be attacked.
- A gang of four criminals have raided a warehouse and a night-watchman has been shot and seriously wounded. Two of the gang have been acquitted of attempted murder at an earlier trial. The third member of the gang is now on trial after finally being apprehended in Essex. The fourth gang member, the getaway driver, has turned Queens evidence in return for police protection and is now being used as a prosecution witness. Is his evidence reliable enough?
- Mr Bolton, an eminent Fulchester Councillor, is accused of indecent assault. It is alleged that he fondled the breasts of his 18 year old secretary Gillian Heyes in his offices when she was called in to take down dictation from the Councillor. The court will hear that the incident was witnessed by another employee who had entered the office while the assault was taking place. Barry Deeley QC leads the defence. His team will suggest that Miss Heyes' family have held a grudge against the Councillor since an application to sub-let their property was rejected.
- A military historian has been accused of libel by a British Army Major following the publication of a book on the British Army's involvement in the Korean War. The author claims that the Major abandoned his post and left his company of soldiers to be massacred by the North Koreans. The Major insists that he was the last man standing in the conflict and escaped to safety only after the rest of his company was wiped out. Was the Major a hero, or a coward?
- A spiritualist is accused of fraudulently obtaining money from a widow after performing a series of séances at which he claimed to be making contact with the woman's recently deceased son. The payments for the séances ranged from small cash gifts to a large house. The prosecution claim that the spiritualist took advantage of a vulnerable woman.
- On the final day the live-in maid Florence Ferguson is called to give evidence, as is Lieberman's son Mark.
- 1972–200724mTV-147.3 (24)TV EpisodePaul Vennings appears to have disappeared after the second day of the trial, and the prosecution applies for a warrant for his arrest.
- Radio operator Corporal Batley, who was believed to have died on Hill 329 makes a shock appearance in court. He has now changed his name to William Truscott and his evidence accuses Major Fitton of lying about what really happened.
- When Rev. Frank Warrender gives contradicting evidence, Charles Lotterby asks the judge to treat him as hostile witness. Police Inspector Savage confirms that it was Mrs Warrender who brought the blackmail letters to the police.
- An acclaimed political author stands accused of the rare crime of 'incitement to disaffection', in other words, encouraging two young soldiers serving in Northen Ireland to desert the army. The prosecution claim that the idea to desert the army only entered the soldier's minds after reading his book, which criticized the way in which the British Army was behaving in the province.
- GP Dr. Thanet is suing Winifred Phelps for libel. She published material accusing him of distributing the contraceptive pill to underage girls - including her then 15 year old daughter Linda - on demand and being "an evil influence" in the community. Linda has since disappeared. Dr. Thanet disputes the claims. He is unwilling to break patient confidentiality by revealing his treatment of Linda but insists that he would never prescribe the pill "on demand" and urged Linda to consult with her mother.
- Billy Baker faces two charges of wounding with intent against Jimmy Witt. The Prosecution allege that Baker slashed Witt's face with a razor and later arranged for the squat he was living in to be demolished while he was still living there leaving him with a broken leg. Witt claims that these attacks were part of a remorseless campaign of bullying by Baker. At the start of the trial Baker dismisses his counsel and defends himself. He does not deny a long criminal record but insists he is a friend of Witt and has been falsely accused. He asserts that Witt cut his own face and the later injuries were the fault of the demolition driver.
- Town Hall corruption is exposed in this case, as two employees of Fulchester Borough Council are charged with fraudulently purchasing land which was at the centre of a planning permission wrangle. The land was then quickly re-sold at a much higher price than that originally paid by the council employees to the previous owner, a local market gardener, who claims that he only sold his land when he was informed that a new motorway by-pass would run through his farming land. Did the Council employees use their inside knowledge for their own financial gain?
- Joseph Kiernan, a scrap metal dealer from a traveller background, is accused of the theft of a copper cylinder from the shed of Ronald Sibley. The Prosecution say that Kiernan was seen after midnight in the garden of Mr. Sibley and the next morning was seen by a police officer hiding the cylinder under his lorry. Kiernan does not deny handling the cylinder or being in Mr. Sibley's garden but says the cylinder was planted to incriminate him and he was simply retrieving it - the case against him is motivated by hostility towards travellers.
- Following Janet Brewer's revelations about her health and her breakdown, the judge turns down Barry Deeley's request to dismiss the case. Despite pleas from her doctor and father, the judge maintains that there is still a case to answer.
- Amy Sellars stands accused of the attempted murder of her daughter-in-law Valerie. The Prosecution case is that Amy disliked Valerie who she felt was not right for her son and attempted to kill her by drowning. They allege she organised a rowing trip despite boating conditions being poor and then pushed Valerie - who could not swim - into the water. The Defence reject the charge and retort that Valerie Sellars fell into the water accidentally.
- Councillor John Fairley is cross-examined by Jonathan Fry QC. On the previous day he accused Margaret Crawley of failing to mention, when she applied for planning permission, that she was a close friend of Councillor Charles Baker.
- In his summing up, the defence barrister James Elliot QC accuses the night watchman of extreme anti-left wing bias. Could this save the young couple?
- The trial of Councillor Charles Baker and his former secretary Margaret Crawley takes a dramatic turn when she refuses to take the stand and give evidence in her defence. Baker is cross-examined by Crawley's barrister, Barry Deeley.
- Rock musician Lance Porter is suing his father Reverend Fortescue Porter in a civil case. He composed a rock opera called "Jesus, Baby!" about the nativity. He promised his father the copyright to the show on the understanding that if he fell on hard times he would receive part of the proceeds. However his father then spent all the considerable revenue on charitable causes even though he strongly disapproved of the content and style of the show. Reverend Fortescue says he did nothing wrong. At the time neither he nor his son expected the production to make money. In his view Lance has not fallen on hard times and has no need for any share.
- Sophie Mannering, editor of the radical magazine "Tell", faces the rare charge of seditious libel. It is alleged she knowingly published an article which urged readers to "kill the pigs". This was distributed at a demonstration which involved violent clashes with the police. Miss Mannering insists the edition found at the demonstration was a fabrication planted by an agent provocateur. She and her colleagues and her supporters admit they are unhappy with what they see as police brutality but assert they deplore violence and would never advocate its use. Unusually Miss Mannering dismisses her counsel Mr. Salter during the trial, arguing that as her publication is "for the people" she should conduct her own defence.
- A doctor, and the mental institute at which he works, are being sued for damages by a mentally retarded young woman. Whilst living as a patient at the mental institute, the young woman became pregnant. She claims that the doctor performed an abortion on her against her will and knowledge. The doctor is well known for his controversial views on genetics, which to some appear similar to those held by Nazi ideologists in the 1930s. Barry Deeley leads the action for the plaintiff.
- Following an argument at a summer barbecue in Fulchester, a lady guest, Mrs Lawlor, is attacked by the hostess, Mrs Blandford, with a heated kebab skewer. Mrs Blandford stands accused of malicious wounding. The accused claims that she slipped on wet grass as she was serving food and that the injuries were caused by accident. The court will hear that a series of arguments had taken place between the two women over issues such as animal rights and women's liberation during the course of the garden party. It has also become clear in court that the two women were love rivals and were both involved in an affair with the same man, who was also at the barbecue.
- Tipskill Manor, a large derelict, abandoned house burned down while retired teacher Millicent Conway watched on. At the scene Miss Conway, who once worked at the Manor, appeared to confess to a police officer that she set fire to the house. An empty can of paraffin was found at the scene and she had also made a purchase of paraffin from a local shop even though she had never done so before and owned no paraffin heater. However Miss Conway now denies the offence. The defence argue that there is no proof that she started the fire or that the fuel found by the house even belonged to her. They assert she was merely a bystander.
- Sylvia Spencer visited Dr. Jonathan Francis seeking to terminate her pregnancy - she had been deserted by her boyfriend and wanted to conceal her condition from her brutal, disapproving father. Dr. Francis told her that an abortion was not possible and persuaded her to continue the pregnancy and release her baby for adoption. She took this advice and immediately after birth the child was placed in the custody of Mrs. Hine who had been unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant for years. However the prosecution allege this was no legal or proper adoption case. Both women were patients of Dr. Francis and the prosecution argue that Mrs. Hine was tricked into paying £2000 to adopt the child under the pretext of extortionate charges for care of Miss Spencer during a "difficult" pregnancy. The doctor faces trial for obtaining money by deception but insists he is innocent - the costs were entirely legitimate and in no way payment for adoption.
- Graham Erringburn is called to give evidence. Erringburn denies taking the coat and claims he only picked it up in error. Jonathan Fry QC counters that Philip Samkins had humiliated him and he took the £200 coat out of revenge.
- Emma Lakeland stands accused of smuggling Grigori Petrov, a suspected terrorist, from France into Britain. The prosecution allege that she sympathised with his activities, was his lover and willingly helped him escape from the French authorities, picking him up at sea and taking him back to her home in Fulchester. Both her father and a former friend - who had been Petrov's lover before her - testify for the prosecution. However she argues he physically attacked her, came to Britain of his own accord and then forced her to harbour him.
- A Royal Air Force squadron leader is accused of spying, a serious charge which carries life imprisonment. After crashing his car, diagrams and scribbled notes relating to a new design of bomb have been discovered in his pocket. Why did he have them? And why was a young Russian lady also in his car?
- John Stainsby and Stanley Reading are jointly charged with corruption. Stainsby, the County Planning Officer is alleged to have received bribes, from Reading, to secure his firm contracts to design the new Council Administration Building.
- An old tramp is accused of stealing a wallet, but has he been set up by the public-school headmaster?
- Elspeth Durrant, a temperamental woman with a history of mental illness and suicide attempts, is found dead in her bed after taking a large number of pills and alcohol. Shortly before she had told her husband Frank that she was going to commit suicide. However the prosecution insist this was not a genuine suicide but a case of murder - he was tired of her behaviour and asphyxiated her by turning her face into her pillow while she was unconscious.
- A 13 year old boy is charged with the murder of his 12 year old pal after suffocating him with a plastic bag. Was there a real intent to harm the boy or did a game they were playing go horribly wrong? The defense will try to prove that the accused boy was not aware of his actions and agree to have the youngster placed under hypnosis in court to prove a point.
- Critic Derek Glynn is being sued for libel by veteran actress Sarah Leigh after he wrote an article claiming she engineered the dismissal of her young co-star Patricia Drake from the play "Boobs". He insists his comments were true.
- After surviving the crash of a light aircraft in which two passengers were killed, the pilot of the aircraft is suing a relative of one of the victims for libel. The relative claimed in a newspaper article that the pilot was medically unfit to fly the aircraft and may also have been attempting to commit suicide by deliberately crashing the plane. He denies the allegation.
- Douglas Cardy, head-teacher of a school for disabled children, stands accused of ill-treating one of his pupils - Tom Rigby, a fifteen year old with cerebral palsy. It is alleged he struck the boy after he turned on taps and flooded the school and then locked him in a bare room for nine hours. Cardy denies the charge and insists he punished the boy in a reasonable manner for the good of the whole school.
- A Fulchester man has pleaded guilty to obtaining money by deception but now faces a more serious charge of arson, which he denies. The latter charge follows a fire at a Fulchester antique shop.
- Leonard Tyler (Paul Freeman) is accused of trespassing on land belonging to former girlfriend Mary Chatham (Alison Steadman). Tyler claims that Chatham signed a deed entitling him to the land - Chatham alleges that she was duped into signing..... Featuring William Mervyn as The Judge, Charles Keating and Jonathan Elsom as Counsel; and Peter Childs, Neil Hallett and Belinda Carroll as witnesses.
- The bursar of a charitable school for epileptics is accused of misusing its funds by making a risky investment, and using some of the money for his own disabled daughter.
- Computer programmer Samuel Warren is accused of transferring £125000 over a long period from his employers by computer to a non-existent company - whose supposed bank account number matched his own. Warren does not deny that he made the transfers but claims they were not fraudulent and intended to expose the poor computer security of the company which had consistently ignored his warnings of the problems. He insists he had no intention of spending the money and intended to pay it back.
- An author is accused of blackmail after writing a book titled 'Just Good Friends?' in which he claimed that the close relationship between two eminent former M.P.s (one of whom has recently died) was of a homosexual nature. The author denies the charge and claims that he was offered £15000 not to publish the book by the surviving Member of Parliament, who wanted to keep the nature of the relationship quiet. The politician denies that the relationship was homosexual and claims he was blackmailed by the author. Helen Tate QC puts the case for the defense while Charles Lotterby QC prosecutes.
- Rosalind Fortescue was a resident until her death in an expensive care home where she developed a close relationship with her nurse Bridget Behan. Miss Behan told her she wanted to set up a care home of her own and Mrs. Fortescue paid her £10000 towards this end. However the care home was never established and the prosecution claim that Miss Behan deceived her resident and then spent the money on luxuries for herself. Miss Behan protests her innocence. Her case is that she always intended to use the money for the care home but was frustrated in her aim by Mrs. Fortescue's son who always resented her and only wanted to protect his inheritance.
- For four years the Barlows fostered a young girl - Minnie Biddulph - whose biological parents were both alcoholics. The Barlows hoped to adopt Minnie but instead Miss Prossitt, the Head of Social Services, ordered that Minnie be returned to her biological mother who was now recovered. However the prosecution say that Mr. Barlow ignored the order and took the girl to London. He is now in court accused of child stealing. The defence case is that he was never told that Minnie had to be returned. They also suggest that Miss Prossitt's decision was racially motivated as the Barlows are an African-Caribbean family and Minnie a white girl.
- A ten year old girl has accused a man of groping her as she made her way past his seat in the cinema. However, it is the girls' mother who is in the dock accused of blackmailing the man, demanding money from him in return for not reporting the incident to the police. The man denies the child's' accusation and claims that he had slapped her leg for being rude to him.
- The prosecution claim that the accused, Mr Bennington, was responsible for an arson attack on the home of a man who he suspected of having an affair with his wife. Mr Bennington denies the charge and claims that he was at home asleep following a heavy drinking session at the time.
- A stressed mother is accused of attempting to murder her 14 month old son after he is admitted to Fulchester General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The mother claims the injuries were sustained when the baby fell down a flight of stairs while she was busy dealing with a leaking washing machine. Charles Lotterby QC, puts the case for the defense, while Helen Tate QC prosecutes.
- Inspector Bill Clegg, an unconventional detective, is accused of obtaining money by deception. The prosecution allege that he exaggerated his expense claims by over two hundred pounds, possibly to pay a major informer called Harry after his superior officers refused to authorise payment. Clegg argues that he has been unfairly accused by his colleagues and is merely guilty of making genuine errors, not being preoccupied with paperwork like some of them.
- The body of Joseph Meadows, a rich, reclusive, hypochondriac businessman, is found inside a deep-freeze cabinet in a cellar at his home. However this was no ordinary cellar but kitted out as a surgical ward under the charge of Hungarian refugee Dr. Karoly Sebes with whom he shared the house. The prosecution assert that Dr. Sebes murdered Meadows in a spurious cryogenic experiment. However the defence claim that Sebes is innocent - his technique was working and his patient only died when a police officer opened the cabinet and ruined any chance of success.
- Charles Holloway is charged with murdering two women - an aunt and her niece - who lived in the flat above. He does not deny shooting the women but pleads diminished responsibility, arguing that their extreme anti-social behaviour caused him to lose control. The Prosecution, however, insist the shootings were premeditated.
- Teacher Thomas Frears is accused of assaulting Jonathan Ashe, one of his students. Frears does not deny hitting the boy but pleads not guilty on the grounds of automatism, claiming to have suffered a blackout at the time.
- Fulchester builder Benjamin Patch is accused of fraud. He became a national celebrity when he devised a revolutionary scheme which enabled young couples to purchase cheap new houses for just a one thousand pounds deposit. After the scheme collapsed, hundreds of investors have lost their money and are still without a house.
- Anthony Smith and Jim Webb are accused of various offences relating to an incident when they picketed the premises of the True Loaf bakery where they were on strike. The prosecution allege that they obstructed and then intimidated lorry driver Ronald Bates who was attempting to deliver flour. A police officer was called and it is also alleged they assaulted him. However both defendants proclaim their innocence. They argue that Bates - with whom they used to work - used violence against them and is a committed anti-unionist and racist who was trying to break their strike. Webb, the shop steward and strike leader who is conducting his own defence, also asserts that the police officer wanted to break the strike and is vindictive in his claim.
- Mrs. Constance Bell was shocked to read in a magazine that a ming vase had sold at auction for £95 000 - shocked because she argues this vase was family property bequeathed by her late mother and which she says had been sold without permission. In a civil case she is now suing her brothers Albert and Peter and antiques dealer Nigel Greatorex whom she says improperly sold the item. The defendants deny her accusations, asserting that the vase had been legally passed on to them and it was their right to sell.
- Industrial chemist Alec Parker stands accused of criminal damage, specifically of damaging a pump at the factory where he worked, resulting in repairs costing £20000. At the time there was a strike in the factory and the prosecution claim that Parker holds militant views and did this in order to avoid having to work on the shop-floor to replace the strikers as ordered by management. Parker's father was one of the strikers and Parker admits he sympathised with their action. However he says he would never have damaged equipment as this would have jeopardised his own research. He argues that his boss Garfield Lawrence wants to discredit him so he can take full credit for the research tasks on which the pair have worked.
- Robert Denton, a clerical officer at a weapons research establishment, stands charged with copying a secret document about a missile and then selling the information to the Soviet Union. The prosecution offer unusual proof that he copied the document and argue that he sold the information for £5000 to try to solve his major financial difficulties. Denton denies the charges and insists he would never betray his country.
- Fulchester United's star striker Arnie Campbell's career is over following a foul by Porthampton City's hard-man defender John 'Chopper' Bates. Bates denies making the foul challenge and claims that one of Campbell's own team-mates was responsible. Did Campbell's own team-mate deliberately injure him after discovering that Campbell was taking bribes from a local bookmaker to 'throw' matches. The court will hear that bribery, betting scams and corruption have become a common feature of modern professional football.
- Lady Carvell received a telephone call from her son Sebastian telling her that he had been kidnapped by the KLF - a South African militant group - and that unless a ransom of $250,000 were paid, he would be killed. Sebastian later turned up at the family home but the ransom money was missing from the house safe. Sebastian is now on trial accused of faking the kidnapping as a pretext for stealing the ransom money. The prosecution claim that he was a KLF sympathiser and intended to direct the funds to them. They claim he was influenced by his then girlfriend Amarylis Roper who holds revolutionary views. However Sebastian insists the kidnapping was genuine, he did not support the KLF and had no part in the disappearance of the money.
- On Valentine's Day in 1956 a young woman and alleged witch - Olive Rudy - was found dead in a field, the victim of an apparent ritual murder. The following year farmer's daughter Betty Tring, her bitter rival for the love of Tom Strafford, was acquitted of the offence. Now in 1974 Tom Strafford has returned from the USA and finds himself on trial for murder. He argues he is the victim of mistaken identity and merely found the body at the scene.
- Dr Stephen Saul is a young Australian surgeon charged with manslaughter. It is claimed that during routine heart surgery, he performed a risky heart transplant on patient Eric Maple, who died during the operation. Dr Saul insists that he secured permission to carry out the transplant from the patient before the operation but Mr Maples' wife is adamant that this is not true. Another surgeon at Bellsides hospital claims that Dr Saul only carried out the unnecessary transplant to make a name for himself in the world of surgery.
- Jack Smith is an aging ex-convict with a string of convictions. He appears to have formed a Fagin-like relationship with a young boy, Leo Trotsky. Together, they are charged with stealing copper piping from a building and also of using this to cause actual bodily harm.
- Comte de St. Juste bought the Alb of St. Honoratus with a number of ecclesiastical objects. The ownership is now under question. The Right Reverand Simon Pike, the Abbot of St Copertino is suing to claim ownership as is Jessica Montford.
- Two mountaineers died in an unsuccessful attempt to scale the Choga Sar in the Himalayas. That ill-fated expedition is now the subject of a libel trial. Captain Piers Bowman who led the climb alleged in a TV documentary that the men died as a result of the cowardly and negligent behaviour of fellow climber Dennis Wainwright. Wainwright argues the allegations were false: he behaved completely properly in dreadful conditions and the men's deaths could not have been prevented. He suggests Bowman has made the claims because he is unable to cope with failure and is looking for a scapegoat.
- A Fulchester lady is accused of attempted murder after shooting a council worker who was felling a rare Black Poplar tree in her front garden. She claims that she did not aim the gun directly at the worker but merely intended to scare him and prevent him from carrying out his work in protest against the council's decision to chop down the tree.
- After suspecting that irregular betting patterns had taken place at a greyhound stadium, bookmaker Ronald Charles refused to pay out on a winning betting slip worth over £200,000. A group of men have subsequently been accused of having conspired to cheat the on-track Tote betting system, and Mr Charles, out of thousands of pounds. Barry Deeley leads the prosecution in what is a confusing case for those not familiar with betting procedures.
- The Sunday Nation newspaper, and one of its leading reporters, are being sued for libel after describing a psychotherapy group as 'harmful' and 'fraudulent'. Stephen Harvesty QC, for the defendants, will try to convince the court that the psychotherapy group is indeed nothing more than a cult which forces its members to part with large sums of money for very little in return.
- An African couple are accused of deliberately trying to run over the man who, for the past nine years, has been the foster parent of their young daughter. It appears that a custody battle for the young girl between the natural parents and the foster parents has turned into something more sinister. The incident, which took place in a pub car park, appears to be just one of many in a series of unpleasant acts against the foster parents.
- 1972–2007TV-14TV EpisodeAn Argentinian cattle rancher is suing a Scottish beef farmer after buying a bull for a record price at a Fulchester cattle auction. After the purchase, the bull was discovered to be infertile.
- Wealthy American Daniel Wolff, who has been previously investigated but not charged by the FBI for suspected drug-dealing, is charged with the attempted murder of scientist Edgar Dryden. Dryden is involved in research using satellite technology to track down drug crops. The method of the alleged attempted murder is remarkable - a rifle guided by a TV monitor and operated by remote control miles away from the victim who was working on an offshore base at the time. Wolff was arrested at sea and whether both his yacht and the offshore base are within British territorial waters become key to the case.
- Barbara Airey is a hairdresser earning £1500 a year according to her tax returns. How, then, does she afford her lavish lifestyle which includes fancy cars and a private education for her two children? The Inland Revenue, and the prosecution team, want answers. Ms Airey insists that her three wealthy lovers lavish cash gifts upon her which enable her to live the sort of lifestyle that would require earnings in the region of £10,000 per annum.
- Maureen Sellers is accused of kidnapping a baby which had been left in its pram outside a Fulchester supermarket. She claims she had the mother's permission to take the baby, who she had previously babysat for, but the mother denies this.
- Last year Jimmy Biddle was convicted of the electoral crime of personation: voting as eight different people who had recently died in a local election. Now he is a witness for the prosecution in the trial of businessman and councillor Harry Webb. Webb is accused of paying £250 to Biddle to impersonate these dead voters with the aim of winning a victory over his business and political rival Laurence King. Webb denies the charge. He says Biddle is an unreliable witness who is lying. He paid Biddle the money for building a garden wall and suggests he is the victim of a conspiracy to frame him.
- Following an anonymous tip-off Lillian White was found in possession of stolen watches and jewellery, an offence for which she was later sent to prison. However she was also was in the care of recently-qualified probation officer Trevor Creswell whom she accused of helping her to conceal the items. The Prosecution claim he developed an intimate and improper relationship with her; he argues he was guilty of nothing more than trying to help a very troubled client who has now made false accusations out of spite.
- After previously being convicted of assaulting a police officer, the leader of The Thunderbolts, a local motorcycle gang, has returned to court. He's accusing the policeman of malicious prosecution, claiming that the officer bore a grudge against him after he dated the policeman's daughter. Helen Tate, for the defense, will try to prove the the policeman has been deliberately picking on the motorcyclist ever since.
- This story of a rape trial was originally scheduled to air as part of the third series in February 1974. It was pulled from broadcast at late notice, though has since been shown on satellite channels and appeared on DVD releases.
- Charles Berry is accused of setting fire to trees on Colonel Edgcumbe's plot of land near Birchwood Ave. PC Edgely saw him sitting in his '64 Cadillac, with the lights off, as the fire took hold. When he saw the office he tried to leave.
- The Tedmar, a boat owned by businessman Edward Blaney, was wrecked at sea after apparently running into mechanical difficulties and bad weather. Blaney and his mistress Edwina Sheridan had to be rescued by another boat. However the insurance company representative Draxland refused to pay out, arguing that Blaney fabricated the claim and deliberately wrecked the craft. Blaney is now suing the company for the cost of his boat.
- A Belgian mercenary soldier is charged with treason after leading an uprising in Santa Isabella, a small British dependency. The defense argue that as the accused is not a British national, he owes no allegiance to the Queen and therefore cannot possibly be charged with treason.
- Terence Finlay was stabbed to death at the house where he lodged with Beryl Jackson and Gerald Prosser. Only one - or both - of these people could have committed the crime. The prosecution argue they jointly killed the victim whom they had manipulated and financially exploited for some time. However each defendant protests their innocence and claims the other was solely responsible. Both defendants admit to criminal pasts and have to explain how large sums of money entered their bank accounts around the time similar amounts were withdrawn by Finlay.
- Margie Middleton is standing trial accused of bigamy. The prosecution allege that she went through a marriage ceremony to Colonel Middleton knowing that she was still married to her long estranged husband Patrick Delaney. However the defence argue that her marriage to Delaney was itself null and void because he was actually still married to Kathleen whom he claimed had been killed in an air raid during the Second World War. Margie claims that Kathleen in fact fled to the USA to be free from her abusive husband - a convicted fraudster - who then inflicted the same treatment on her. However the prosecution reveal that Margie also has a criminal past she has been keen to conceal.
- At an earlier trial George Ross was found guilty of the murder of his business associate Jack Murphy but the jury could not come to a verdict on the same charge for his twin brother Sammy. Now Sammy is being re-tried for murder. The defence do not deny that Sammy killed Jack Murphy but allege that he was in effect under the mental control of his domineering brother with whom he has always a strong link - manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. A reluctant George is called to give evidence against his brother by the prosecution who assert that Sammy knew perfectly well what he was doing and took part in the murder on his own initiative.
- Sean Jameson was shot and injured by farmer Paul Brimmer while walking across his land at night. Jameson was squatting with his girlfriend Angela Bourke in a dilapidated cottage on Brimmer's land and the Prosecution allege that Brimmer was angry about this and deliberately shot him. Brimmer denies the charge and says that Jameson had stumbled into a ditch while drunk and he had mistaken his red hair while on the ground for a fox.
- Wealthy local personality Malcolm Winfield was mugged walking through a park late at night with Ronald Hamilton whom he had met at a club earlier in the evening. Hamilton was unharmed in the attack. The victim's wallet was found later on at the home of Derek Clark and Sharon Cox, tucked inside a record player. Winfield says that Clark and Cox attacked him that evening. Hamilton is also accused of the same crime - the prosecution argue he was a male prostitute who willingly took part in a plan to entice Winfield to the park where his former house-mates could rob him. All the defendants deny the charges. Clark and Cox say this is a case of mistaken identity - they simply found the wallet in the park and were going to hand it in to police the next day; Hamilton says he was forced to assist the others who would have made public his sexuality had he not done so.
- Social worker Mrs. Christine Steuart has already pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, Rory Miller. She is now on trial for the goods, found in her flat and stolen by Miller, who was lodging with Steuart at the time. Miller is juvenile.
- Robert Sims and George Bell are two hired "winklers" who are now on trial for harassing Eddie and Sarah Taylor for months. They are also accused of breaking in, assaulting Mr. Taylor and stealing £310 in what they called back rent.
- Pakistani housing landlord Muhammed Aslam is accused of demanding money with menaces from a number of illegal immigrants from Pakistan, who have found their way to Fulchester across Europe by train and boat. Mr Aslam insists that he was merely demanding his fees for arranging the immigrant's journey and for housing rent.