Original subtitles

What would happen if the Orcs captured Frodo and got the ring?

- Felix. - They'd have done bad things with it.

And what sort of bad things would they have done?

- They'd have killed Gandalf. - They'd have thrown him in the fire.

He can survive fire. Fire can't get him.

Sir, sir. They'd have captured the world and made everyone their slave.

Now, would it be a good thing to be a slave of the Orcs?

- No. - Why is being made a slave a bad thing?

Because you don't get no money and slaves have to work all the time

and don't get no holidays.

That's right. Now, what happens if you have to work all the time

and don't get any holidays? Molly.

- You get tired out. - You certainly do.

It means you don't have any freedom.

Now, what is freedom? Freya.

When you can go out to shops to buy what you want

and go out to play when you want.

That's right. Freedom is when we can decide what to do or buy,

where to go and when.

Freedom is the right to choose for yourself. Molly.

Are there slaves now?

Well, there are different sorts of slaves in the world.

You can be a slave to television, or to work, or to food.

Are they Orcs, sir?

Well, they wouldn't like to be called that, Felix.

But they can take away your freedom.

You be looking at your worksheets, questions one to five,

and be going on with the section about Roman slaves.

Cuffs on.

Come on. Your head up.

Sir Ian, we're about to see Sir Monty.

Mmm.

We'd prefer not to have to remind him about the criminal court reporter, sir.

Yes.

Of course, sir. If I have to, I will.

Ok, bye-bye.

You can tell Sir Ian that I appreciate

the court reporter being posted to Cardiff,

but I don't want Deed on my circuit. Not again.

But we thought you and Mr Justice Deed were reconciled, sir.

Oh, there's a rapprochement. We are brethren, after all.

But that's as far as it goes.

Unfortunately, neither the presider on the northern,

nor the one on the western circuit

wants Sir John Deed sitting there.

Well, that's hardly my problem, Mr James.

Mr Justice Deed has many fine qualities, Sir Monty.

Oh, then I'm surprised you're having such difficulties placing him.

Are all the presiders resisting him?

Sir Ian thought he'd be best off back in Sussex

because of the problems with one of the circuit judges there.

Judge Bromford.

He's had 37 judgements appealed in the last two years.

- His cases are piling up. - Yes.

Yes, I suppose we could have the lower judge's cases

heard by Deed.

That will put him in his place.

He could hardly get into trouble with such uncontroversial cases,

Sir Monty.

Look who I found skulking outside.

I wasn't skulking, Vera. I never skulk.

John. You're coming back to Sussex.

Well, I daresay neither of us is pleased about that, Monty.

No, perhaps we should try to put the past behind us.

Is that possible?

I've just been looking through the list.

I can't see anything that could be seriously contentious.

I don't exactly court contention, you know.

It seems to find you nonetheless.

You know, there are a number of burglaries you could hear.

Possession of class-A drugs.

Domestic violence. There are a number of those.

A purple judge could hear those equally well.

Yes, but they're coming your way.

What are you hearing?

Oh, attempted murder and robbery.

Man's been on the run for years. Police have only just caught him.

What about the schoolboy who raped his teacher?

- Well... - Oh, Monty. We're hearing the rape.

Yes. No, it's not ready yet, John.

Well, I have a judicial review to get out of the way first.

Unless Vera wants to hear it.

Anything improved with the list?

Not unless you think embezzlement's an improvement, Judge.

I don't.

See what you can come up with, Coop.

Or I might go back to London.

- Mrs Mills return my call yet? - No, not on this phone.

Hello, this is Jo Mills. Please leave a message and I'll call you back.

Jo, this is John. I'm back in Sussex, and, um...

It seems rather lonely without Charlie down here.

Um, wondering how the appeal's going.

I'll talk to you later.

Denny, I think it went well for us in there.

I didn't hear them say, "The conviction's unsafe, Mr McDowell.

- "You're free to go." - Yet.

Denny, they now know how corrupt those policemen were.

Mrs Mills? I'm Kerry Ramsay. I'm a solicitor.

Yes. I won't be taking on Terry Rogers' defence.

I think your clerk was hoping to persuade you.

I told him I'm thinking of taking a sabbatical.

Well, yeah, he told me, to spend some time with

your adopted son.

It hasn't got that far yet.

Well, would you at least read the papers?

There hardly seems any point, as I won't be taking it on.

The case involves two detectives

at the heart of the case you're currently appealing,

Matthew Stone and Troy Romano.

It can't. They're retired. Romano went to prison.

Yes. Terry Rogers was arrested 16 years ago.

He escaped. He'd been on the run until his arrest at school.

I'll have a look.

Okay.

Michael was a bit upset earlier. He thought you weren't coming.

I'm sorry. Something unexpected came up.

He's having difficulty settling down.

We thought the foster mother he went to would settle him.

Yeah. I blame myself. I shouldn't have tried walking away.

He'll be troublesome if you do take him on.

I'll get him.

Hello, Michael. Sorry I'm late. I had some urgent work.

I always take on far too much. Bet you don't.

I'll bet you do everything that you plan to do.

Adults are so stupid. We always try...

It's all right.

Would you like to go out for some tea?

We could go out. Your house mother said that we...

Look, she's not my mother! My mum's dead!

No, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

If you take Michael on, it won't be easy.

He's got some serious emotional problems.

Yes. The biggest of them seems to be his not having a mother.

Mrs Tredaway, can you even imagine what that must be like for an 8-year-old?

I lost my mother at nine.

I'm sorry.

- Did you have a father? - Yeah.

Yeah, that was some compensation, of course.

Sometimes people come in and think all they have to do

is offer the child love.

It is a big move in the right direction, Mrs Tredaway.

Michael was put with two very nice foster parents.

What if he gets equally upset with you

and starts to smash up your lovely home or starts to steal your things?

You talk as though you don't want people adopting children.

You didn't answer the question, Mrs Mills.

- Perhaps they didn't handle him right. - No.

No, they're very experienced.

What we'd prefer not to have happen is you coming back two week later

to say you can't cope.

Well, I might give it three weeks.

Hmm.

I did bring up two sons without their father.

Well, he will need a lot of input.

How's that gonna stack up with your career?

I'm prepared to give up work to take care of Michael.

- Is that gonna be a problem? - What, financially?

No. I can still write articles,

be a consultant.

Well, sometimes stepping off the career ladder

can cause enormous resentment.

I have thought about this.

Michael is obviously suffering and I believe that I can help change that.

Well, what I have to advise the selection committee on

and what I want to be quite sure of

is your reason for wanting to adopt.

Especially as you're on your own.

We have to be certain you're not trying to replace something missing

from your own life

such as your children going off to university.

Oh, gosh.

You okay?

Need to talk to you about the Denny McDowell appeal.

I've only left you about 93 messages.

Do you want some food? It's takeaway.

If you've got some to spare.

Yeah, sure. Go in. I'll get you a plate.

I'm not convinced I'm making our case for Denny.

If you're not convinced, how are you gonna convince the Appeal Court?

You could give me a little encouragement here.

I did.

I told you I thought the man was a liar and a thief,

but that I thought he was innocent of this particular crime.

What are you arguing?

That the conviction is unsafe both because of the DNA reprofiling,

the known corrupt record of two of the detectives involved

and the fact that the informant they used was a professional.

It sounds like you've got a pretty good fresh evidence case.

Have you looked at Their Lordships' opinion in Pendleton 2002?

I wish you were doing this one.

What's wrong, Jo?

Don't know.

Jo.

Doesn't matter.

How's Charlie doing in your chambers?

She works hard.

The fact is, I've made up my mind to take on Michael Hulsey,

if they'll have me.

What happened to the decent foster parents?

Why is it that no one wants me to do this?

I'm just asking. Are you going to give up a brilliant career?

- It's a sabbatical. - 'Cause you could be a judge next year.

I thought that was all you wanted.

That seems to be what you want. I don't know any more.

Jo, anybody can be a mother.

So speaks the perfect father?

It's stupid to give away what you've got.

Yes, isn't it?

To guide a damaged little life into some

harbour of warmth and affection.

I've got no problem with what you've described.

Just let somebody else do it.

Jo, you all right?

You look like you've seen a ghost.

Yes, I think I have.

Who are they?

The one on the right is a very corrupt ex-Detective Sergeant

named Troy Romano.

The other one's probably just as corrupt.

They're the ones who arrested Denny McDowell.

Well, what are they doing here?

Checking their corrupt efforts aren't overturned, I expect.

I would urge Your Lordships to give particular weight in this appeal

to the new evidence revealed by subsequent DNA profiling.

It strongly suggests that the appellant, Mr McDowell,

was not at the scene of the crime as the spent cigarette

had previously and erroneously indicated.

Whilst there's no doubt that the cigarette was there.

The new DNA profiling clearly shows

that it wasn't, in fact, smoked by him.

In the Queen and Pendleton, 2002, Their Lordships held,

"Where fresh evidence is admitted,

"the Court of Appeal has to make a judgement

"whether the conviction is unsafe."

I would further remind Your Lordships, should you need reminding,

that the proven dishonesty of the arresting officers

undermines their credibility as key witnesses in the original trial.

Detective Sergeant Troy Romano

had subsequently been arrested and successfully prosecuted

for perverting the course of justice.

He was sent to prison for five years.

Are we to assume all Mr Romano's arrests

to be tainted because of one black mark, Mrs Mills?

I would point Your Lordships

to the most recent European human rights jurisprudence.

It urges that all convictions

where policemen have subsequently been prosecuted

should be re-examined.

Pendleton suggests, "It's wise to test

"whether the new evidence, if given at trial,

"might reasonably have affected the decision of the jury to convict."

Thank you. Thank you, Mrs Mills.

There's quite a lot of law involved here.

For that reason, we will retire to consider our finding.

All rise.

- What do you think, Jo? - I haven't a clue.

He's your granddad.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that when he's sitting up there.

I'm not minded to say that the conviction is unsafe.

If we are satisfied,

despite any irregularities in the trial

or any new evidence appearing subsequently,

that the conviction is still safe,

then we should dismiss the appeal.

Where I hesitate over the safety of the conviction

is on considering the records of the police officers who were involved.

Only one of them behaved incorrectly, Monty.

We might assume that the others were also tainted.

Oh, it was one incident in an otherwise exemplary career.

Why should we assume otherwise?

One has to look at the law of probability, Joe.

Yet so many get away with it and then sue the police.

I'm beginning to feel like that Dutch boy with this finger in the dike.

Well, what do you think, Michael?

Well, I wasn't convinced by the new evidence

or the argument, Monty.

We can't possibly declare open season on the police service.

Convicted criminals will be queuing up to draw on the public purse

and further stretch the resources of the courts.

I'll make a call about it.

I suppose you think that's a wonderful result.

- What are you talking about? - You know very well.

I'm gonna go on working on the McDowell appeal

and I will prove that you fabricated the evidence.

Well, good luck.

- Why don't you let it go, Mrs Mills? - No.

You will not get away with your corruption.

- Well, we just did, didn't we? - Troy!

Look at her.

She'd like me to take a pop at her, wouldn't she?

Wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of him.

I will find a way of potting him.

Mrs Mills.

Thanks, Coop.

Your directions hearing is still waiting.

Yes, I know. Thank you.

Is she cross about something?

- You should be elsewhere. - I won't take up much of your time.

I read the papers in the Terry Rogers defence.

DS Romano and his colleagues were deeply implicated in corruption.

Only according to the defendant.

No, I believe it. It all makes such sense.

You know what they were like when the arrested Denny McDowell.

The Rogers arrest is exactly similar.

Does this mean you're not taking a sabbatical, Jo?

I'm not giving up adopting Michael, if that's what you mean.

I know it's the right thing to do.

I do, John.

How do you think you're gonna manage to look after this boy

and still run a case you think reeks of injustice?

- You managed all right with Charlie. - It's different.

Michael will need a lot of attention, a lot of support.

And Charlie didn't?

Mrs Mills.

Jo Mills.

This is Sue Bush, Michael's house mother.

Hello.

Michael was asking if you're coming to see him after school today.

Yes, I'm gonna try.

Mrs Mills... Jo,

I don't wanna be pushy, but you have to say one way or the other.

These children have enough uncertainty in their lives.

I'm sorry. Of course I'll be there.

I have to go.

How'd you come to be teaching?

Did you qualify?

No, it was purely by accident.

After I went on the run, I fetched up in Devon.

Did a bit of casual work on the boats.

I was always quite good on water.

Someone I was working with

asked if I wanted to help at a canoeing club on the Dart.

It wasn't paid work, but they were nice people.

I suppose if it had been paid, I might have just drifted back onto the drugs.

Had you been clean all the while?

Yeah.

Since being in police custody.

A very sobering experience,

being arrested for robbery and attempted murder.

I was good with canoes.

Then one of the organisers said he was starting up a club at the school

and asked if I wanted to help out.

That led to some paid work there.

There were no cheques back in those days.

Working with decent people made me realise

what a waste all that other scene had been.

- Where had you been living? - In hostels.

Sometimes I slept rough.

I was making hardly anything when I worked on the canoeing.

Wasn't that a problem,

mixing with normal people at the club and the school?

Yeah.

I tried to keep myself clean and tidy.

I used to go to the washroom in the station.

Then one of the older teachers cottoned on when she caught me

washing my clothes in the school cloak room

and drying them on the radiator.

I said I got wet in the river.

She said, "You must have had a lot of clothes on then."

She gave me a room in her place.

Even gave me a key so I could come and go when I liked.

I'd been on the run two-and-a-half years then.

You have no idea what it's like, Mrs Mills, to be finally

treated decently, like you're

a human being that has some worth.

I knew then that nothing would drag me back to my former life.

How did you come to be caught by the police?

I had...

I'd been thinking a lot about my daughter.

It was her 18th birthday. I, uh...

I tried to contact her. I knew it was risky,

but I had to.

I felt really bad about what I'd done to her and her mum.

It was a real shock when I turned up.

Katie couldn't talk to me. She just went off to her room.

Must have been the shock.

Cheryl had done a great job of bringing her up.

Your wife had divorced you while you were on the run?

Yeah, she should have done it before then.

I was just dragging her through all my rubbish.

Seeing them, I, um...

I thought I could somehow be reconciled with my daughter.

I even imagined I could get back together with Cheryl.

So I thought about giving myself up.

I'd read somewhere that

you could approach the Director of Public Prosecutions

and, based on the new life you'd been leading, negotiate your return.

Did you do that? I didn't read it here.

I did approach them.

I just wanted so badly to be normal.

They said that they would be interested in meeting with me

to try and clear this case up.

The next thing I knew, the police showed up.

Why did you run?

I don't know. I got scared.

The DPP sent the police?

I suppose.

Doesn't make sense if they were negotiating with you.

Or maybe the police were watching Cheryl's house and followed me.

I doubt it. Not after 16 years.

Possibly someone from the DPP betrayed you.

Why was that, do you think?

I don't know.

Is there something you're not telling me?

No.

I am going to take on your case, Mr Rogers.

I can't tell you what it means to him, Mrs Mills,

having someone like you believe in him.

There are holes in his case. Questions that need answering.

He doesn't seem to have any evidence to corroborate his claims.

We need someone to find the answers.

There's an ex-policeman that we sometimes use,

but I'm not sure he'd be right for something like this.

There's a junior we can use in chambers, Charlie Deed.

With luck, I'll knock this out at the pre-trial hearing.

It'll mean a lot of work.

Jo, this might do it.

Since the Gladstone report in 1895,

the aim of the prison system has been to encourage

and assist prisoners to lead a good and useful life.

Well, Terry Rogers has achieved that without the need for custody.

Brilliant.

You're going to be busy, Judge.

Mr Justice Everard is going into hospital the day after tomorrow.

Ooh. Anything serious?

Well, word along the corridor is that it's a vasectomy.

But his clerk said it was a hernia.

Uh-huh.

Anyway, he gave me this case.

The 13-year-old who raped his teacher.

It is ready?

Not yet, Judge. They're awaiting reports.

To stay at large and functioning for 16 years is,

I hope you'll agree, my Lord, a remarkable achievement.

Especially when this is done without resorting to crime.

In addition, Mr Rogers has led an exemplary life.

One to which many of us might aspire, much less those outside the law.

It is for these reasons I argue

that Terry Rogers should not now be on trial.

He is a very different man from the one whom, it's alleged,

committed this crime all those years ago.

My Lord, I cannot emphasise "alleged" too strongly.

One of the arresting officers in this case was a thoroughly bad lot

and went to prison for corruption and perverting the course of justice.

But the other three detectives involved have hitherto impeccable records,

do they not?

The principle which underpins criminal justice

is that everyone and anyone is capable of reforming,

and having reformed, deserves a second chance.

We would argue that Mr Rogers is a changed man

and deserves a second chance.

The principle can only be adopted subsequent to dealing

with the original index crime.

Mr Rogers does not absolve himself of the crime

simply by absconding for 16 years,

however virtuous his behaviour during his flight from justice.

Mr Rogers alleges that the detective who was convicted for corruption

put a plastic bag over his head in order to force him to confess.

This is exactly similar to the case where the detective was convicted.

Well, then, doubtless you will bring that forward as evidence

and argue it at Mr Rogers' trial.

Now, are you ready for this case to be given a fixed date for trial?

Would you hear an argument on public policy

in the interests of justice for Mr Rogers?

Not if it avoids taking responsibility for the original crime.

Are you ready for trial?

We are, my Lord. However, I would ask that you hear an application for bail.

Mr Rogers has proved a reliable and trustworthy citizen.

Further, he did approach the DPP to negotiate his return.

Well, that would be to risk waiting another 16 years

for this matter to be dealt with. No, I don't think that bail is appropriate,

Mrs Mills.

Sir Maurice, is your case ready?

Aside from one matter, my Lord.

The Crown will require an ex parte hearing

to raise an issue relating to an informant and the public interest.

I will not be hearing the case personally

due to a prior commitment.

It is being passed to Mr Justice Deed,

whose clerk will notify you when he's available to hear it.

Approach him.

Did you know they had an informant in this case?

Terry didn't say that's how he was caught originally, no.

Well, it's obviously what happened.

What's the prosecution after with the judge?

To make sure the name of the informant doesn't get out.

- Can they do that? - Of course, if the judge lets them.

Sir Maurice is so paranoid about it,

he won't even risk me being at the hearing with the judge.

We badly need to find someone who can corroborate

what Terry Rogers said the police did.

I've got to dash.

To be honest, Mrs Mills,

I think it would be best for Michael long-term

if you were to abandon the idea of adoption.

No. No! I want to give Michael a home, but I have to do this case first.

It seems to me his life with you would be a perpetual seesaw.

It'll be different when Michael's here.

I understand you need this operation, Monty.

But all being well, you'll be back in a couple of weeks or so.

I'd really rather not take on this Terry Rogers case.

One of the detectives in that case was also involved in a case

that I defended, and I know him to be corrupt.

Oh, I'm sure we can rely upon you not to be biased, John,

even if it is Mrs Mills defending.

Oh, Monty.

There is nothing between us.

Unless you include her asking my advice about this boy she wants to adopt.

She ought to have more sense at her age.

I can see no serious conflict of interest in either aspect.

I mean, we've all had policemen before us

who've been involved in cases we've previously defended.

The crime that the defendant, Terry Rogers, is charged with

took place many years ago, members of the jury.

But that does not lessen its importance to the law.

The defence may try to make much of this gap,

and to query witnesses as to their memories,

but to the man who was stabbed during this violent robbery

and who subsequently lost a kidney,

the memory is as clear and terrifying as yesterday.

The defence may try to highlight

Terry Rogers' alleged current good character.

But justice must punish crimes,

even those buried deep in dust.

Before you in the dock, you see a man

who was a violent, self-abusing, wife-abusing drug addict,

who indulged in crime to feed that wretched habit.

One who often associated with others far out of his league in criminal terms,

but who he respected enough never to betray.

Four armed men carried out the robbery on the supermarket,

wounding the manager, Simon Estevez, with a knife,

and making off with £13,000, none of which was recovered.

Following a heroin binge,

the defendant was arrested

and eventually signed a statement confessing to his part in the crime.

Soon after this, he managed to escape from police custody.

Then, without a single qualification,

he got a job teaching children,

living with false papers under the name of Hayden Russell.

I don't know how to get false papers, members of the jury,

and I suspect that none of you do either.

Only someone with the right connections, such as Terry Rogers,

knows these things.

Superintendent Craddock.

Could you tell the court how long you were with the crime squad?

Seven years, sir.

And what was the nature of the work you did?

We pursued armed robbers, sir.

Was that dangerous work, Superintendent?

It could be quite dangerous.

I was shot on two different occasions.

Are you being modest when you say, "Quite dangerous"?

You don't have to answer that, Superintendent.

Why did you go on with such dangerous work?

Stop it, Maurice.

We didn't think about it. There were lots of armed robbers in those days.

It was part of the job.

Was the supermarket robbery in which the manager,

Mr Simon Estevez, was stabbed, one such job?

It was. There were 37 robberies that year,

all involving knives or firearms.

Then I would say you're being very modest indeed, Superintendent.

How did you come to arrest the defendant for the robbery 16 years ago?

My Lord...

You can't prevent defence counsel asking.

Superintendent.

A tip-off from an informant.

You seem very sure about that. It was 16 years ago.

He was a reliable informant.

One that you had used before?

He'd been used by squad members on a number of occasions.

What's the name of this informant?

Mrs Mills, I have agreed to the prosecution's request

that this person's name is not revealed in court.

Then it's possible my client won't get a fair trial.

If you can demonstrate that, I'll reconsider my ruling.

There can be a number of reasons why a name such as this

is not revealed.

Because he or she is continuing to help the police,

or because revealing it would put this person in danger, for example.

It's called public interest immunity, or PII.

Ah, Jo. Good, I've caught you.

How far have you got with the backgrounds of the police?

The prosecution have been smart

in calling only two of the four who were involved.

They both have straightforward records.

Craddock has two commendations for bravery.

He's obviously a changed man.

If he was ever involved.

We know that Romano went to prison.

The other arresting officer, Matthew Stone,

he was allowed to take early retirement.

I can get them into the witness box, but I doubt if they'll help us.

We still haven't got anyone who can corroborate Rogers' story.

He hasn't got anyone. I can't find anyone.

Try our man in Parkhurst Prison.

Denny McDowell. I'm sure he can give us a start.

Romano used the plastic-bag trick on him.

Go and talk to him.

Excuse me. Mrs Mills?

I'm Kate Rogers, Terry Rogers's daughter.

- Hello. - My mum said he did it.

He robbed that supermarket.

How does she know? Was she there?

He might seem perfect to you, but you don't even know him.

He is such a liar. It's stupid to believe him

after everything he's done to us.

Two commendations for bravery and promotion to superintendent

by the age of 40

would indicate an exemplary career, Superintendent.

Is yours an exemplary career?

I do my best.

How often has that best fallen short of what is required?

- That's not for me to say, miss. - Well, you must have some idea.

For instance, have you ever been investigated for corruption,

or wrongdoing?

Once for expenses irregularities, once for alleged racism.

Both were proven unfounded.

So neither of them impeded your rapid promotion?

It would seem not, miss.

Was that promotion as a result of your work with the crime squad?

I suppose that could have been part of it.

Were you a part of the crime squad when it was disbanded

because it was felt that too many of the detectives

were out of control or too corrupt?

Was it disbanded because it was corrupt and out of control, Superintendent?

I believe it was a political decision.

It was becoming too much like a national police force.

Corruption was the reason given for disbanding it.

- You didn't think that was the case? - No.

Yet haven't no fewer than 28 former squad officers

up and down the country been prosecuted?

Not all of them have been convicted.

How many were, Superintendent?

I'm not sure, sir.

But weren't detectives as a matter of routine

perverting the course of justice?

Planting evidence to fit suspects up, to use the popular jargon.

- No. Some of that was cited. - There was corruption.

Not that I was aware of.

- Weren't you part of that corruption? - My Lord.

This is rather flogging a dead horse.

Mrs Mills, you know the risk you're running.

Superintendent, who was the informant

who alerted you to Terry Rogers' involvement?

I can't tell you that, miss.

Why? Was he anonymous?

Mrs Mills, I have ruled on this.

My Lord, may I address you in the absence of the jury?

I'm surprised you hadn't got there sooner.

Members of the jury, would you mind going out, please?

I agree with you, Mrs Mills. PII can be a loathsome device.

But unless you can give me a compelling argument

for revealing this informant's identity,

I won't ask the prosecution to reveal it to you.

My client is being unfairly deprived of his liberty.

I haven't heard anything that indicates that.

What about the liberty of this person who has helped the police so often?

I will go on trying.

Let's have the jury back.

Superintendent, were you one of four detectives

who obtained a confession from the defendant

by placing a plastic bag over his head?

My Lord, even if my learned friend acknowledges the risk,

this is an outrageous assertion.

More coffee, members of the jury,

whilst I have a word with counsel.

Mrs Mills, you're an experienced Queen's Counsel.

If you take this line, the prosecution will be at liberty

to bring in the defendant's criminal history.

Might I have a short adjournment to consult my client?

Ten minutes.

All rise.

I think I can get to the identity of the informant

by attacking these policemen, but the risk is

the prosecution can reveal facts about your past.

It's a gamble. It won't paint a pretty picture.

What choice do we have?

- Is there anything you haven't told me? - No.

- All that is behind me. - Are you sure?

- Yes! - Your daughter approached...

I know. I saw her in court.

She's very angry with me. So is her mother.

Nothing that comes out in court can make them more angry.

There is nothing!

Come.

It was a complete waste of time going to Parkhurst.

Denny McDowell wouldn't talk to me. He'll only talk to you.

Did you tell him what I'm in court with?

I couldn't get anywhere with him.

He's really angry.

Well, I suppose if you spend a third of your life in prison

for something you didn't do, it would make you a little tetchy.

I'll go and see him tomorrow.

What about the trial?

You'll be here.

I'll go overnight and see him first thing in the morning.

It's the examination of chief of Detective Sergeant Massey tomorrow.

You need only take notes of his answers to guide my cross,

not Sir Maurice's questions.

Jo!

Mrs Tredaway, did we have a meeting?

No. You had a meeting arranged with Michael.

Oh, God, I did. I'm sorry.

Right after court, something came up.

I got a call from his house mother.

- He doesn't want to see you anymore. - What?

No. He must.

I want him.

I'll go there right now.

You won't, Mrs Mills. Not unless Michael asks to see you.

But I can't see that he would, can you?

Please don't make me feel worse than I already do.

I want to go and see him.

- You weren't gonna take any more cases. - I didn't say that.

I have to do this. This is about an innocent man's liberty.

Yes, and Michael is about the rest of his life.

I'll go there. I'll explain, tell him how sorry I am.

- Please, let me explain. - He doesn't want you.

Come on.

- I have to see Michael. - You can't.

No, you don't understand. I have to explain.

- You must let me see him. - I was told you can't.

Why are you punishing me? If you punish me, you punish Michael.

Michael. Michael!

You're not doing your cause any good, or his. I mean...

Please, Michael. Let me explain.

I'm sorry I'm late. You're much more important than my work.

You're more important than anything.

I just... I got tied up.

I'm sorry.

Sergeant Massey,

how many arrests have you made in your long and distinguished career?

I don't exactly know, sir, I don't keep score.

Would it be dozens, hundreds, thousands?

Upper hundreds, lower thousands, probably.

So, without being immodest, it would be fair to say

that you have an impeccable record as a police officer.

- Yes, sir. - A record I'm sure you wouldn't want

- to sully by ever behaving corruptly? - Miss Deed?

Is your leader not in court?

No, she's investigating some new evidence, my Lord.

Left you to hold the fort, eh?

Are you challenging Sir Maurice's line of questioning?

Should I, my Lord?

Yes, I'd say he was leading the witness, wouldn't you?

Yes, he was.

- He was leading the witness, my Lord. - Ah.

Well, I think you ought to know better, Sir Maurice.

It might almost appear that you were trying

to take advantage of counsel's lack of experience.

I had no such intention.

I believe I am experienced enough to know that

I couldn't pull the wool over your eyes, my Lord.

I have no further questions. Thank you, Sergeant.

Miss Deed.

You want to cross-examine the witness?

No. I mean,

could we have a short adjournment until my leader returns, my Lord?

Well, as much as I think we would all appreciate the rest of the day off,

I don't think we can be quite so cavalier with the Court's time.

You are across all of the arguments, are you?

Yes, I think so, my Lord.

'Cause I think you should be.

I am prepared to give you a 10-minute adjournment

so you can consult your leader or your instructing solicitor.

Jo, this is Charlie. Sir Maurice has finished his examination early,

what do I do?

Call me as soon as you can.

Charlie, you don't have to cross-examine this witness.

My dad... The judge, expects me to. I'll talk to him.

Judge? Charlie would like to you see.

Charlie who?

Well, do we know another Charlie, apart from your daughter?

- Is Sir Maurice with her? - I don't think so.

Well, then I can't see her. You know the rules as well as I do.

- You do break them occasionally. - Well, not for my daughter.

Not when she's before me.

Charlie, he won't see you unless Sir Maurice is there, too.

This is stupid. I can't ask his advice in front of the prosecution.

Yeah, but it's the rules, Charlie.

Since when has he ever taken notice of those? He's my dad. I will see him.

Charlie!

- Why can't you see me? This is stupid! - Get real, Charlie.

You are appearing before me in the grown-up world of Crown Court.

You have to understand that you can't see me on your own.

Our relationship in these circumstances is changed.

I just wanted to ask you one thing.

Well, you can't, unless you want to risk a retrial.

- Well, you see Jo alone all the time. - Charlie, this is not up for debate.

Now you have to change now you're in this world. Go on, hop it.

What do I do, Granddad?

Well, remember he's not your father when you're appearing before him.

He could have just told me anyway.

Yes, well, I wish I was there, my darling.

I may not have Solomonic wisdom, but I'm a very good oracle on evidence.

If I could only be sitting within whispering distance.

You could always report sick, Charlie.

He'd demand a medical certificate.

Yes. What tack is Mrs Mills taking?

To attack the credibility of the police.

Yes, I suppose she would. Look, play for time.

Take the policeman through his every

action since he joined the police force.

That'll teach your father not to grant a proper adjournment.

Thanks, Granddad.

I still can't believe they knocked me back on my appeal.

I thought I'd got it for sure,

what with Romano being done for corruption.

So did I and John Deed.

Yeah, well, it's all right for him, he's not stuck in here.

The irony is if you would have pleaded guilty,

you would have been paroled long before now.

I'll never do that. I'll die in here first.

I won't give up on you, Denny. I'll find a way, I promise you.

I think there's something in the case

I'm currently working on that could help you.

The same two detectives were involved.

Why did you send that girl down here? Why did you think I'd talk to her?

I can't be in two places at once. I'm in court.

I need someone to corroborate what Terry Rogers is saying

about those detectives putting a plastic bag over his head.

It's what they did to me. On the say so of an informant.

Do you know who that was?

There was no way I could get his name. He was well protected.

What about the policeman who gave you the information on the detectives?

Could he help with a name, or corroboration?

He wouldn't step out of the shadows for me. Why would he for you?

Give me his name, let me talk to him.

He won't do it. He's about to retire. He's scared.

He was on the squad with the other detectives, wasn't he?

He asked to go out because of what they were doing.

Denny, this could help your case.

Yeah, but if he clams up, I'll never get anything out of him.

You've got to trust me with this. Just trust me.

And for what precisely did you make your first arrest?

- Widespread cheque-card fraud. - How much money was involved?

Miss Deed, do you think we should ask the jury

if they'd like some more coffee to keep them awake?

- This is all relevant, my Lord. - Oh, yeah, I'm sure it is.

I just wish you'd go a bit faster.

Sergeant Hill?

- I'm Jo Mills. - Think I couldn't guess?

I told you on the phone, I don't know Denny McDowell or Terry Rogers

other than what I've read in the newspapers.

I never referred to him as Denny. I'm sure the papers never did.

Denny, Dennis, what's it matter? I can't help you.

I'm just going on duty.

You're obviously a man with a conscience

or you wouldn't have contacted Denny McDowell in the first place.

How many more innocent men are languishing in jail,

men you might be able to help get out?

In case you change your mind.

That's very interesting, Sergeant.

What was the first thing that you did

when you got to the squad office each morning?

I'd get a cup of coffee, then check my post.

When did you first use a plastic bag placed over a suspect's head

in order to get a confession?

- What? - My Lord, this outrageous assertion

raises its ugly head once again. I wager with nothing to substantiate it.

Have you got anything to substantiate it, Miss Deed?

- Yes. - Perhaps my learned friend has something

she wishes to share with the Court.

- Do you, Miss Deed? - In the fullness of time.

- Well, Sergeant? - No, I've never strong-armed suspects.

Not even when my team arrested a child murderer.

You mean a suspected child murderer, surely?

It's up to the Court to decide whether your suspect is in fact guilty.

Yes, miss. But he was convicted.

So you've never once used force to get a prisoner to confess?

No. Never.

So you're saying that you have never used

a plastic bad to get a suspect to confess?

- No, I haven't. On my baby's eyesight. - A simple no would suffice.

Well, that woke everybody up, Mrs Mills, just as it's time to go home.

All rise.

Hang on.

Jo Mills. I understand your hesitation, Sergeant. Where do you want to meet?

Half an hour?

Troy Romano and Matthew Stone were by-words for corruption.

I was so proud when I was selected to the squad.

Then I discovered what was going on.

It turned my stomach.

I'm as bad, I suppose.

Instead of getting out, I should have stayed

and blown the whistle.

All these years, I've lived with it, marking time.

Waiting to collect me pension.

It's shameful.

It takes a lot of courage to step forward and be singled out.

After they nicked Troy Romano, Matt Stone got out.

I think Superintendent Craddock helped him pull clear.

Do you know that or are you speculating?

Look, I want to keep my pension, Mrs Mills.

Now, Dave Craddock was a strange man in those days.

I think he was a decent bloke, but weak.

It was probably him who helped Rogers escape.

Are you serious?

You just can't walk out of police stations once you're in custody.

Romano and Stone would help out robbers they should have nicked.

To do that, they'd find a body.

Some worthless criminal they'd put in the frame.

Terry Rogers was the body.

Then they'd get a professional informant they had to grass him.

Yes, who was that informant, what was his name?

- I can't tell you. - You don't know, or you won't tell me?

I don't know.

Even if I did, I couldn't give it to you.

He's covered by public interest immunity.

Was it the same informant that named Denny McDowell?

I think it was, yeah.

How many cases has this informant been involved in?

I know of eight convictions.

One, Laurence Ray, got overturned on appeal.

Did they ever put any robbers away on real evidence?

There were some really dangerous robbers

put away as a result of some real coppering.

But there was that much pressure on us, no one much minded how we did our job.

Well, if I don't get the name of the informant, we're no further forward.

I'm sorry. I've gotta go.

Do you think Superintendent Craddock really helped Terry Rogers escape?

If he did, I want to know why.

Of course he didn't, Mrs Mills. Why would he let me go?

That's what I'm asking you.

He didn't! I just saw my opportunity and I ran!

Let's go back, if we may,

to your involvement with ex-Detective Sergeants Romano and Stone.

They were by-words for corruption on the squad, were they not?

- I haven't heard that. - Oh, really?

Even though Romano was sent to prison

and Stone squeaked out

with the help of Superintendent Craddock?

Tell us the last case you were on with Romano and Stone.

- I can't remember. - Well, let me refresh your memory.

Wasn't it the conviction of Laurence Ray for robbery?

I think so.

Did you use a professional informant to help convict Laurence Ray?

I really don't remember.

Then I suggest you'd better try harder, Sergeant.

My Lord, your intervention is hardly fair to this witness.

He is having to recall events that occurred some 16 or more years ago.

Yes, and I'm reminding him of his duty.

You are forcing him to give answers that may not be direct memory.

No, no, no. Sit down. Well, Sergeant?

My Lord, I think we may be referring to the informant

who is covered by the public interest immunity.

- Are we? - Yes, my Lord.

Then you can't have the information, Mrs Mills.

This is wholly unfair, my Lord.

Yes, so you keep saying.

Can you tell the Court what happened subsequent to Mr Ray's conviction?

- I don't know. - Oh, really?

Not that his conviction was found to be unsafe

and he was freed by the Court of Appeal after serving nine years?

What happened to your secret supergrass?

- My Lord... - Mrs Mills, just be careful.

- I don't know. - Come on!

Did he get a knighthood? Retire to the Bahamas?

He wasn't my informant.

But one you had plenty of contact with, did you not?

My Lord, if you allow the defence to persist

with this line of questioning,

this person might accidentally be identified in open court.

I'll see you both in chambers now.

All rise.

What's going on here, Maurice?

Is there evidence to convict this man

without revealing the informant's identity?

The CPS thinks there is and I am of that opinion as well.

Rogers did sign a confession.

He didn't write it though!

The informant simply put his name in the frame.

That is partly how the police function.

Without informants, there would be no crime watch.

Come on, Maurice. This is no longer the '80s.

We take a dim view of professional informants nowadays.

That makes his information no less valid, my Lord.

Any information that can't be tested in court is less than reliable.

- Can you proceed? - I don't think I can guarantee

my client justice if I cannot examine the informant.

Bring me evidence of that Jo and I'll reconsider my decision.

- Judge... - No, the burden is still on the defence

to show that her client can only get a fair trial

if this person's name is revealed.

We have to keep this under constant review, Maurice, and you know it.

I don't know how you're going to prove that, Mrs Mills.

Have any of the other convictions that the informant was responsible for

been overturned? Besides Laurence Ray's?

That would do it.

It would show that the informant is not reliable and therefore

the public interest has changed.

There's the one that got Romano nicked.

How is that?

Sonny McQueen was the police plant.

He was approaching Romano to do corrupt deals.

Romano double-crossed him on the deal and fitted him up for robbery.

Using the informant? Great.

What do you think?

What do you think of this?

It's Harry Potter.

You liked the Harry Potter books, didn't you?

They were okay.

Michael, I'm really sorry I couldn't come when I said I would.

I was terribly busy.

I've asked the social worker if you could come to my home soon.

If you'd like to.

I'm sure it'd be nicer than here.

Gonna give him all of them?

Well, I expect you can play with them, too. What is your name?

I think it's Hero, I think.

Well, that's interesting. He was a Greek, wasn't he?

It was a girl. She was in love with Leander who drowned.

- She committed suicide. - How do you know that?

I've got a book on Greek mythology.

Perhaps that's why he doesn't like to remember his name.

Do you want to go and see The Wizard of Oz?

I'll pack these things up. You can have them later.

Having looked at the papers

in the case against ex-Detectives Romano and Stone...

Mrs Mills?

Jo?

Having looked at papers, I am going to order that

the Crown discloses the name of the informant

previously protected under public interest immunity.

My Lord, I would urge you most strongly not to do that.

The man's life may be at stake.

As the informant seems to have conspired with at least one corrupt detective,

it can no longer be in the public interest

to keep his name secret, can it?

What is his name?

I don't have that information, only his pseudonym, The Cat.

Then are either of the two detectives at court, Mrs Mills?

- No, neither answered their summons. - All right, then I'll issue a summons.

Mr Clerk, I want them both brought here so I can question them on this matter.

In the meantime, is Superintendent Craddock here?

I want to talk to him as well. And let's have the jury back.

Superintendent Craddock,

I'd like to ask you some questions, please.

I would like my objection to this procedure noted.

It's noted.

Superintendent Craddock, a specific allegation

has been laid against officers of the crime squad

to do with actions whilst questioning the defendant.

It's alleged that a plastic bag was placed over his head

to obtain a confession.

Did you take part in that?

- No, my Lord... - Do sit down, Sir Maurice.

No, sir. Police officers don't behave like that.

Are you saying officers on the squad never did that?

Not to my knowledge, sir. No.

- You're sure? - Yes, sir.

Is it your evidence then

that Terry Rogers willingly confessed to this crime?

- My Lord, he signed a statement. - That's not what I asked him.

- Superintendent? - He did willingly confess, sir.

Then, how did Mr Rogers sustain injuries to his wrists and chest?

He had to be cuffed, he attacked DS Romano.

It's in the medical report.

The independent medical report submitted by the defence suggests

that his injuries are consistent

with having had a plastic bag placed over his head.

We didn't do that, sir.

How did you come to arrest Mr Rogers?

From information supplied to us by an informant.

Ah. Now...

Did the police ever feed information to the informant?

Not to my knowledge, no.

Then we better ask him. What is the name of this informant?

I don't know, sir. I didn't run him.

I see, it might almost appear to be a conspiracy

to prevent this informant's name from coming out.

But I will have it. One way or another, I will have it.

My Lord, we cannot, we must not pursue this informant in this way.

To do so is not in the public interest.

No, Mr James, as Lord Bingham says,

"We cannot withhold anything under PII

"if to do so is to deny a defendant justice."

The informant could still be at risk from criminals.

It's still not worth risking a man's liberty.

The man in question may not deserve his liberty, Sir John.

That's what I want to test in court. I will do this.

If I have to approach the Attorney General,

the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor.

Not necessarily in that order.

My earnest advice to you, John, is not to pursue this matter.

The PII has always prevailed.

This wretched informant has blighted

several lives, Joe, and he should be outted.

Anyway, it's my decision.

The powers that be seem to think

that a lot of his information is highly sensitive.

You could put the Home Secretary on the rack

and still not squeeze the name out of him.

This isn't about protecting public interest,

it's about protecting corrupt policemen and I'm not going to do it.

Bloody fool.

It's not fair, Jo, the judge said we could have his name.

Maybe we can get it from Romano, if the summons server can find him.

What about Sergeant Hill? Perhaps he knows where he is.

You must be able to help, Granddad.

Yeah, but I'm just on my way to see the Lord Chancellor, to talk, I hope,

- about my elevation. - This is important.

Was the informant's name disclosed to the trial judge?

It was Sir Nicholas Jones in the McDowell trial.

You know him, can't you ask him?

Even if I got the man's name for you, my darling,

I'm not sure that you, as the junior on the case, should have it.

Dad said we could.

Look, I've got to go.

- Wow, it looks like my luck's changed. - Hello, Troy.

Sam.

- You want a drink? - You didn't answer your witness summons.

I wonder why.

Here's one straight from the judge.

You've got to be kidding me.

If you don't appear forthwith, you'll find yourself back in jail.

And you'll find yourself without your teeth, darling.

Don't, Troy, or you'll find yourself in prison forever.

Her dad's Mr Justice Deed.

Why are you doing this?

I'm trying to keep my pension.

Yeah.

You're going about it the wrong way, pal.

I hope this is a social call, Joe. And not a rap over the knuckles.

It's always been in my nature to keep quiet.

Hold my opinion. But I can't do it any longer.

I shan't! Wretched weasels!

Reptiles. Oleaginous reptiles.

They passed me over.

I've just heard that they're making Oliver Caldicott

a Law Lord, instead of me.

Oh, I see. Well, I dare say there'll be

- other opportunities. - Don't be absurd.

Caldicott is six years younger than I am. Reptiles!

May I?

Yeah.

It seems to me, Joe, that the less you accommodate them,

the more they respect you.

- I've been altogether too compliant. - Well.

You do your best to keep their whole shoddy system functioning

and they slap you in the teeth.

Charlie, your Charlie said as much to me a year ago.

I couldn't see it, of course.

I gather you're still having difficulty

identifying that wretched informant.

Yes, there might almost be a conspiracy to protect him.

He's deeply implicated in police corruption.

His name is Killick. David Killick.

Joe, how did you get that name?

I had to buy one of our brethren several single malts.

Jo! Jo, is it true, Dad's outted the informant?

His name is David Killick, I've asked the judge to call him.

I hope you'll accept that the possible death of this informant

will be on your conscience, not mine.

A regular stroke the squad pulled

was to stick it on someone on the fringes of crime.

Often it was someone who was causing them too much ache.

They did that all the time.

That's how Troy Romano came unstuck when he give me Sonny McQueen to put up.

Sonny McQueen being the person planted

to entrap Detective Sergeant Romano?

Yes, sir. The trap banged tight shut on him.

Tell me about Terry Rogers.

Troy Romano knew him all right.

Said he was just a life-wasting smackhead. Not worth snot.

Always giving everyone ache, trying to score all the time.

But, no, the police didn't give me his details.

I put him in on information I got about that robbery independently.

No, you can't. You can't have.

Silence in the court, please.

You really can't do that. Sit down, please.

- I won't tolerate... - What now, Jo?

Well, if you've got a plastic bag,

I might be able to get Romano to confess.

If I don't nail him, we're sunk.

David Killick gave us Terry Rogers good as gold.

Everything else just added up. That's how we ran the squad.

As efficient as Swiss time. They were villains, we put them away.

Grassers gave us the body, we made sure the evidence was there.

Had you had many dealings with Mr Killick?

Oh, yeah. All the while.

At the start, he was a diamond,

his information helped us hold back the swill of criminals.

Then why'd you fire him as your informant?

It got so as he was too keen to please us.

We noticed he started naming villains

who he claimed were into stuff big time.

It just wasn't adding up.

Did Mr Killick invent Sonny McQueen?

The man you tried to convict for a crime you knew he didn't commit,

one that resulted in you going to prison.

I'm ashamed to say that I did try and put it on Sonny.

He was an out-and-out villain

who tried to corrupt me and other policemen.

I did overstep the mark when I tired to put him away.

I did wrong when I tried to see he got his just desserts.

According to the police file, Sonny McQueen had no criminal record

and no connection with criminal circles.

He was brought in by the police

who were investigating corruption within your squad.

No. No, no.

Sonny's sheet was pulled by corrupt detectives who were protecting him.

They wanted to put me away because I was too efficient.

Other policemen wanted to stop you doing your job well?

Too right, they did.

I was fitted up for no other reason.

I'm an honest man

who made one mistake that ended his career.

You ask anyone about my career. It was exemplary.

So, all of your other dealings with criminals

have been above board, have they, Mr Romano?

You may sneer.

But I was a hard-working policeman

who put a lot of dangerous villains away.

- You'd do anything to stop them. - You might not like what we did.

But that's how the likes of you get to sleep easy.

By putting plastic bags over the heads of innocent men?

Innocent? You pulling my chain?

So, when did you decide that the defendant was guilty?

Was it before or after he confessed?

- I knew from day one. - What, you knew he was guilty

before you arrested him, before you got him into that interrogation room?

Of course.

All I needed was his confession.

And it didn't matter how you got it.

You try keeping the streets safe from scum like him,

who'd do anything to feed their vile habits.

And all the while, you've got civil liberties' lawyers bleating,

"Unfair, unfair, unfair."

You want to save society? There's a price to pay.

Only the likes of you, the nice people with their clean hands,

they don't like the price.

You either have an efficient police force left alone to do its job,

or a deteriorating, crime-infested society.

Do you have any doubt about that statement, Mr Romano?

None at all.

Thank you, my Lord.

Did David Killick give you information that led you to arrest Denny McDowell?

Denny?

Yeah, he did.

Was he also someone you needed to put away at any price

- to make the streets safe? - Yeah.

By putting a plastic bag over his head to make him confess?

It was all within the rules, Judge.

Mr Romano, I'm not sure you're someone capable of understanding the rules.

That's what I did.

I am going to make one last attempt to get at the truth here.

I wouldn't lie. I'm an honest man, Judge.

Perhaps at some point you did want to be.

I can even believe that deep down inside of you,

you still have that yearning.

I can't absolve you for your crimes.

But I can promise to talk to the Director of Public Prosecutions

about offering you immunity from prosecution...

- My Lord! - No, wait.

Immunity from prosecution in exchange for the truth now.

This is the last opportunity I'm gonna give you.

I told you the truth.

Then walk away, Mr Romano, and take your chances.

Will I get immunity?

I shouldn't think it would be a problem.

Did you put a plastic bag over Terry Rogers' head?

It was the only way to get him to talk.

He's about as worthless as a man can be.

What does it matter if a junkie like that goes to prison?

His very existence is an offence. Prison is the best place for him.

Look at him now. We straightened him out by nicking him.

Tell me about Denny McDowell.

Well, he wasn't up to much.

Why we tolerate such people...

Denny was a robber who got away with it too often.

He deserved to go down.

So, the main plank of evidence which Mr Killick provided

was an invention, wasn't it?

Back then, we were doing a terrific job.

Then, they disband us, they put me inside and now you got anarchy.

Cameras in the streets don't stop it.

Criminals mustn't go to prison for crimes they didn't commit.

But they were active, Judge!

We were fighting a war against robbers in those days.

Just as we are against terrorists nowadays.

And in war, you do what you have to do to win.

You get on top of them before they overwhelm you.

We have a system in this country where the police collect the evidence.

The CPS evaluates it, the barristers argue that evidence,

and then the jury determines what the truth is.

We would find ourselves in an increasingly dangerous situation

if we put all of those decisions into the hands of one authority,

whether it's the police or the Home Secretary.

Because that is the root of dictatorship and totalitarianism.

And I won't have it.

I'll see counsel in chambers.

All rise.

Please sit down if you want to.

I'm going to recommend to the Attorney General

that all cases involving Troy Romano, where there is doubt, of course,

be thoroughly reassessed.

Personally, I doubt if any of the convictions are safe.

Meanwhile, I'm stopping this trial.

I'm going to direct the jury to find Mr Rogers not guilty.

But the informant acquired incriminating evidence on Rogers independently.

His evidence is as tainted as the police evidence.

It's not worth the risk.

Will we be prosecuting each of the policemen concerned?

Apart from Troy Romano, yes.

I hope you will permit me to express before the jury how much we,

on behalf of the Crown, agree with your decision.

Wouldn't miss it for the world, Maurice.

Personally, I'd recommend Romano for psychiatric examination.

- Congratulations! - Well done!

That's wonderful news.

Well done, mate. We'll see you in the pub, bye.

I don't know how I can thank you enough, Mrs Mills.

You did, Mr Rogers.

Hang on one second. Kate!

- Thank you for staying for that. - I hoped you'd go to prison.

Well, I though I would for a moment.

But you didn't do anything wrong, did you?

I left you and your mum. That was about as wrong as anything I could do.

It was me who told the police about you.

Couldn't have been anyone else, could it?

Why aren't you mad at me?

Look, I want to get out of this place.

Do you want to go and get a cup of coffee?

Not now, Dad.

Sometimes it takes more than one conversation.

The Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General

are furious about the course you've embarked upon.

Are you going to try and turn me front it, Joe?

Not for a moment.

Maybe I am being a bit too critical of the police.

Yes, you are.

I believe that an effective police service

requires support and encouragement,

not constant criticism.

We're all in need of examples, not critics.

There's something else I called about, the Denny McDowell appeal.

Some new facts have come to light.

Mimi, come here, baby. Good dog.

Did you hear the news?

The Appeal Court ordered Denny McDowell's immediate release

saying that his conviction was unsafe.

- Calls for a celebration. - Coffee's good, thanks.

I've still got work to do tonight.

Back to TWOCs and shoplifting.

That's being a barrister, Chaz.

Don't know if I've got the stamina, Dad.

I went to bed at 2 a.m. and then had to schlep out

to Chelmsford Crown Court for a bail application.

Why didn't Jo call me about McDowell?

I saw her earlier with Michael.

- I don't think he's very happy. - Can you wonder, poor lad.

What's gonna happen to those corrupt policemen

- you said should be arrested? - Nothing,

unless I issue a warrant for their arrest.

Make myself even more unpopular with the government.

When have you let that stop you before?

I'll do it.

I'll do it.

Well, I'm not sure it's such a good idea, Mrs Mills.

Judge shouldn't really meet with a former defendant, you know that.

I can only ask, Mrs Cooper.

Come in.

- Mrs Mills and Michael, Judge. - Hello.

We are going to see The Wizard of Oz tonight.

We wondered if you'd like to join us?

I'd love to, but I'm afraid... Thanks, Coop.

I don't get on very well with musicals.

I got very scared in one when I was a kid and I had to leave.

I think you'd enjoy it. We could hold your hands.

There's another reason I'm here, John.

Terry Rogers wants to ask you a favour.

I don't think that's a very good idea.

It is important.

I can't see a defendant who's acquittal I've just directed.

- He's waiting in court. - Only for you.

All right, but only with Coop and the court stenographer present.

Mr Rogers.

You have something important you want to tell me?

Yes, sir.

I saw that you issued a warrant for the arrest of those two policemen

and the one that retired.

I want to plead with you not to go after them.

You'd have to give me a very good reason why not.

Well, I can't give you a reason in law, sir.

I know, in a sense, they took away 16 years of my life,

me having to be on the run all that time.

But, in another way, they gave me back my life.

That wasn't their intention.

It may have been, sir.

Mr Craddock's intention, at least.

It was him that helped me to escape.

And what happened as a result was that

I found myself.

I'm seeing Kate again, and my ex-wife.

She said that she's seen something in me she saw in the beginning.

They did put a plastic bag over your head and force you to confess.

Yeah.

Dad.

But not to something that I didn't do.

I was there on that robbery.

How I got there, I just don't know. I was completely off my head.

I thought I'd gone there to collect some drugs.

I know that's no excuse,

but I'm sorry I said I wasn't guilty.

Having met Kate again, I couldn't bear to wait

another 16 years to get to know her.

It was she that persuaded me to come and tell you.

Now you've been acquitted, Mr Rogers,

there's nothing that I or anybody else can do about your confession.

That doesn't absolve their behaviour, though.

I was a very different person then.

I'm sure they were very different men when they

forced a plastic bag over my head.

They were under pressure to get results.

It's what society wanted, after all, was to stop armed robberies.

Why did Craddock help you to escape?

I gave him

the names of about a dozen detectives

who were busting drug dealers, confiscating their gear

and selling it back to other dealers.

But I like to think it wasn't just that.

Maybe he saw something in me that, up to that point, I hadn't seen myself.

He must have had it in him or he wouldn't have

risked his life to save those two people like he did.

Someone gave me a chance when I was on the run.

That's all any of us need.

The right chance and a bit of compassion.

Well, there's only one way to put your theory to the test, Mr Rogers.

And that's to set them free.

You'd never get another ticket to The Wizard of Oz

at this short notice, anyway.

Time to face your fears, John.