This episode opens with Tom meeting Simon Reece - the police prosecutor. Tom tells him that his instructing solicitor has been involved in an accident and gives him Maggie, the local police prosecutor to help him. Sally comes up to Tom and he introduces her to Simon. The case is about a woman who killed “our Santa”.
Maggie is talking to PJ in his office. He reassures her that she’ll be fine after she says that she’s heard that he’s a bit of a heavy. He gives her a quick kiss and then she leaves.
Maggie meets Simon in the courtroom. He says that he’s heard good thing about her. The jury is selected and the court goes into action.
Meanwhile, at the station, Dash is fixing up Nick’s stripes and they discuss what order they’ll give evidence.
The Judge tells the jury that they must decide on the verdict on the facts. At the station, Dash tells Tom and PJ that Chris is on the jury and that half of them are old and will be prejudiced against Louisa who is a Filipino. Tom tells Dash to go over there but she says they’ll be a while with Nick and doesn’t leave.
In the courtroom, Nick is being questioned by Simon. He tells the court what he saw - the body lying in “bloodied bedclothes on his back”. He says that they found Mrs White (Louisa) in her car looking dazed. She had cuts and bruises on her hands as well as a suitcase filled with money. She referred to the death as an act of God.
Louisa groans from the dock and clutches her stomach. The judge suggests that the court break for lunch. Simon talks to Maggie about the confidence he has in the jury system.
PJ comes to the courtroom and starts talking to Nick outside. He sees Maggie talking to Simon and asks Nick about him. Nick says he keeps things going along. PJ asks Maggie if she’ll join him and Nick for lunch. She accepts but Simon tells him that they have to do some work.
Tom asks Adam if he knows what was wrong with Louise. Adam says that it’s probably just nerves and she’s lying down, having a rest.
Dash gets a call about someone who is threatening to shoot a dog and convinces Tom to talk to the person on the phone.
Back in the court, Sally is questioning Nick.
It is Dash’s turn next to give evidence. She says that the first thing that she saw was the blood. There was blood everywhere. Simon submits the photos of the murder scene then sits down. Sally questions Dash. The Judge warns both councils of asking outrageous questions. Each objects to the other’s questions continuously.
PJ is being questioned about the murder weapon. A sharp knife is produced and is submitted. PJ identifies it as the murder weapon.
The jury visit the crime scene. When they return, Sally is questioning PJ and the outspoken juror (sitting next to Chris) challenges the judge in an unnecessary outburst. The court adjourns to remove this lady (Donna Driscoll).
Sally goes back to talk to Tom about what Donna said. Sally is taking the point of view that Louisa stabbed Jack in self-defence and asks Tom to look into the death of Jack’s first wife. Adam comes in to tell them they’re going back in (to court).
Simon is talking about the jury (again) and asks Maggie to dinner. He claims that he wants to thank her for stepping in at such short notice. She accepts after some hesitation.
Tom tells PJ that he’ll have to look into donna’s allegations. Nick is annoyed as it happened 15 years ago and it will be too much work. Dash says that it’s their job and Nick tells her to shut up by asking is she has finished doing her paperwork.
Tom and Nick interview Donna. She believes that Louisa was acting in self defence. It turns out that Donna is the wife of the man who was convicted of the murder of Jack’s first wife. She believes that he didn’t do it, that Jack in fact killed his own wife. She says that Jack was a wife basher.
In the court, Sally is questioning the pathologist. She isn’t going very well. Simon seems to be just one step ahead of her all the time.
PJ and Nick are questioning Trent Driscoll at the prison. He admits he stole from the Whites but claims he didn’t rape or kill her. He tells them to ask the daughter - Stephanie. She would have been 10 at the time. Nick doesn’t believe him. Dash is extremely interested in the case and picks holes in the brief that was faxed over.
Zoe is giving a character reference. She describes Louisa as timid, far from home in an alien culture, isolated and depressed. Zoe has never been given the opportunity to give Louisa a full examination and would not be able to say if she had been abused before or not. Simon shows the court that Zoe had no qualifications in psychiatry and therefore cannot give an accurate description of Louisa’s state of mind. Louisa has more pain and clutches her stomach yet again. Zoe rushes over and sees some blood. She thinks that Louisa is having a miscarriage.
Simon asks Sally if she knew Louisa was going to have a miscarriage and mocks her for not knowing that she was pregnant. Sally cannot believe what she is hearing. Maggie intervenes and Sally leaves.
Simon tells Maggie that she could have a brilliant career in the courtroom and he offers to help her. She declines and the go for a drink.
At the station, they get another call about the dog incident. Adam hands the call over to Dash. PJ asks Adam if Maggie came back with him and Nick. He tells PJ that she went somewhere with Simon. PJ doesn’t look impressed, pretends not to care and then walks away.
Tom and Sally are having a coffee. Tom is defending Jack. He was a good bloke, dressed as Santa every year at the RSL. Sally gets Tom to talk to Louisa with her. Sally thinks that Louisa has been victimised. They go to the hospital. Louisa didn’t know Jack had a daughter and he never mentioned her.
Maggie goes into PJ’s office and tells him that she’s having dinner with Simon. PJ isn’t too happy but there’s nothing he can do.
That night, Nick gets a threatening call about Louisa. He goes to the hospital and asks Zoe where the guard is. The go out of Louisa’s room and Zoe tells Nick that they’ve taken some X-rays and she has multiple rib fractures. It was like a kicked in birdcage. They’ve been there since she’s been with Jack White. Nick swallows and then leaves.
The next day, Sally and Tom visit Stephanie. They go back to the station after a hesitation from Stephanie because she doesn’t want to leave her dog.
Outside the station, Sally talks to Stephanie. She tells Tom and Sally that Jack (her father) belt the hell out of everyone. He mum just let him. She just let him. She was only a kid and now someone else is paying for it. Tom and Sally think that she is talking about Louisa but she is talking about Trent Driscoll. She knows that Jack killed her mother.
Nick and PJ go to Trent and get him to sign a consent form so they can do a DNA test. PJ tells Maggie that the samples are being sent to forensic. Maggie tells PJ that she’s going to ask Simon if he will reduce the charges. Simon says “absolutely not”. Simon believes Louisa cold-bloodedly murdered Jack in his sleep. He shows no compassion and nothing Maggie says will change that. He offers her a drink but she declines as she is on duty. Maggie leaves.
Zoe is back in the witness box. She tells them if the recent bone fractures. Sally submits the X-rays. Zoe says that she has seen this sort of thing before - in cases of domestic violence.
Stephanie gives evidence. She tells the court that jack often his her mother and her. When ho got angry he belt the hell out of her, kicked her and other things (referring to when he set alight her pet poodle, Pixie, and made her watch him burn to death). She was about 8 years old and after the episode with the poodle she was sent to boarding school.
Simon lets the court know (through his questioning) that Stephanie was expelled from 3 schools for drug-use and tried to set fire to two schools. She says he didn’t have any love in him after Simon says she knows nothing of Jack’s relationship with Louisa.
Sally wants Louisa to give evidence but she won’t because she is too ashamed. Adam tells them court is being resumed.
Dash gets another call about the dog but Tom won’t let her go.
Louisa gives evidence - about how they met (through an agency in Manilla). He was good to her then but began abusing her when they came to Australia. He hit her all the time but she stayed because it gave her family in the Philippines some money. She tried to run away but he set traps. She admits that she stabbed Jack to death. She is ashamed because she lost her baby - her first baby. Jack made her drink. She believes that God is punishing her because she lost her new baby.
Simon speaks to the jury and repeats that they are to decide on the facts. Sally tells them to consider the emotions.
The jury is out but back at the station Adam tells the Heelers that they’re going back in. Meanwhile, Mr Van Den Burg comes in to renew his gun licence - he’s the man who’s been threatening to shoot the dog. Tom tells her it’s none of Dash’s business and leaves for the court.
It turns out the jury is having trouble reaching an agreement. The Heelers come back to the station. It was a “false alarm”. Dash tells Tom that Mr Van Den Burg shot Stephanie’s dog.
The jury reach a verdict - not guilty. Simon can’t believe it but Maggie gives him her world famous “I told you so” look.
Back at the station in Tom’s office, Sally is relieved and gives Tom a kiss. Tom isn’t that happy - Louisa clearly murdered jack. Sally asks Tom what he would have done is he was on the jury but he is not given the chance to answer as they are interrupted by Dash who says that Louisa and Stephanie are here to see them.
Louisa thanks Tom who tells her to thank Sally. Louisa sees the whole ordeal as a sign from God and that she must return to the Philippines. She thanks Stephanie. Sally takes Louisa out for a coffee and Tom takes Stephanie back to her friend’s place.
PJ is in his office when Nick and Adam come in with the files on the Driscoll case. Nick is complaining (once again) about paperwork. PJ asks about Maggie. She isn’t with them so he leaves.
Maggie goes to Simon’s place to return the files. He asks her in for a drink (again) and tells her that he can’t believe the verdict. Maggie challenges him on his opinion of the jury system. PJ drives up. Maggie gives Simon back the files and tells him that she’ll be off. She begins to leave but he pulls her back, wanting a kiss. She tells him “I don’t think so” and tries to get away. He pulls her with more force but she doesn’t want to kiss him. PJ is watching Maggie battle with Simon. She finally kicks him where it hurts and walks away. PJ smiles.
Maggie approaches PJ and even though she has here car there PJ tells her to leave it and gives her a lift (to a secret destination!).
