Crownies S01E14 - Episode 14

A coronial inquiry into the death of a policeman teaches Tony and Tatum that getting to the truth can come at a heavy price.

Tatum and Tony attend the Coroners Court for an inquest into the death of a young police officer during a training course. It looks like a straight forward affair – the man, Sergeant Anthony Harrison, got lost on a night march, fell, hit his head and died. Tony interviews the Investigating Officer whose statement confirms this conclusion, as the crime scene showed no signs of struggle, and later, the Pathologist report says there were no drugs in the body. It all points to a tragic accidental death.
But Tatum is not so sure. As the inquiry goes it becomes clear to Tatum that the police intend to blame Sergeant Harrison for his own death. Tony warns her against ‘taking sides' with the evidence - a coronial inquiry is not adversarial, it is meant to be an investigation. But when it becomes clear to Tony that she's right and that the police may in fact have something to hide, Tony becomes more vigorous in his examination. But even then all is not as it seems.
It's the day of the AG, Nicholas Quinn's committal and everyone at the DPP is on edge, especially Rhys and David. At a pre-trial rehearsal Rhys plays the role that Milton Braithwaite will in the committal. He manages to cast doubt on the testimony of one of the women, Milinka, sowing the seed that she only decided to report Quinn's alleged abuse once she discovered she could be eligible for Victim's Compensation Money. Rhys then tries the same tactic on the second witness, but Nyanath is stronger and more dignified. So, it is with reserved confidence that the team head over to the committal. David paces, worried about the outcome. And when the judge pronounces a verdict of ‘no case to answer' the whole DPP is flattened. What are they to do now?
David convenes a ‘war council' of Tony and Janet and together they concoct a plan for David to go on a popular shock-jock (one David has been publicly critical of) and prepare the groundwork for David to seek a direct indictment of the AG, despite this verdict. And this all goes well. But their plan to prosecute the AG is about to face its biggest hurdle…
Richard believes he is due to run on a case on his own. He asks Tracey who eventually offers him a complicated affray matter, involving seemingly straightforward but ultimately very complicated witnesses. This is a case that will test Richard's patience and will not be resolved easily.
Lina and Janet decide the police must arrest the ten-year-old killer, Max Gardner. But when Lina is confronted with the reality of this decision, she and Erin clash over whether the DPP is in fact doing the right thing at all.