Crown Court

Seasons

1972

7.4

A courtroom drama in which each case is usually presented in three episodes. At the end of the third episode, a jury of "ordinary people" comes to a verdict on the evidence presented.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Lieberman v Savage: Part One

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?

S1 • E2

Lieberman v Savage: Part Two

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.

S1 • E3

Lieberman v Savage: Part Three

On the final day the live-in maid Florence Ferguson is called to give evidence, as is Lieberman's son Mark.

S1 • E4

R v. Lord: Part One

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.

S1 • E5

R v. Lord: Part Two

Mr Deeley continues to argue for the disclosure of a letter issued by the Chief Constable to the school's headmistress.

S1 • E6

R v. Lord: Part Three

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.

S1 • E7

R v Bryant: Part One

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.

S1 • E8

R v Bryant: Part Two

The accused, Harry Bryant, acting as his defence, questions the arresting officer Inspector Collins and his assistant Sergeant Fisher's investigation methods.

S1 • E9

R v Bryant: Part Three

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.

S1 • E10

Euthanasia: Part One

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.

S1 • E11

Euthanasia: Part Two

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?

S1 • E12

Euthanasia: Part Three

Lawrence Webb faces an intense grilling from Jonathan Fry. Justice Waddington summarises events before the jury retire to make their decision.

S1 • E13

R v Vennings & Vennings: Part One

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.

S1 • E14

R v Vennings & Vennings: Part Two

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.

S1 • E15

R v Vennings & Vennings: Part Three

Paul Vennings appears to have disappeared after the second day of the trial, and the prosecution applies for a warrant for his arrest.

S1 • E16

The Eleventh Commandment: Part One

Two 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.

S1 • E17

The Eleventh Commandment: Part Two

On day two of their trial, both Rosemary Clayton and Linda Mitchell are cross examined.

S1 • E18

The Eleventh Commandment: Part Three

The prosecution calls a surprise witness, a local charity shop worker who is adamant that Mrs. Clayton donated a dress similar to the one stolen.

S1 • E19

A Genial Man: Part One

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.

S1 • E20

A Genial Man: Part Two

Gillian Heys takes to the stand, but seems to be a very timid witness.

S1 • E21

A Genial Man: Part Three

Councillor Bolton takes to the stand, he's questioned by The Defence and Prosection alike. The Jury retire to make their decision.

S1 • E22

A Genial Man: Regina v Bolton: Part 1

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.

S1 • E23

Espionage: Part Two

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.

S1 • E24

Espionage: Part Three

On the final day of the trial character witnesses testify on behalf of Margaret Terson, but will they be able to convince the jury?

S1 • E25

Conspiracy: Part One

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.

S1 • E26

Conspiracy: Part Two

One of the accused, Trevor Luckhurst, takes the witness stand, but his behaviour doesn't help his case.

S1 • E27

Conspiracy: Part Three

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?

S1 • E28

Queen v Starkie: Part One

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?

S1 • E29

Queen v Starkie: Part Two

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.

S1 • E30

Queen v Starkie: Part Three

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.

S1 • E31

Criminal Libel: Part One

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.

S1 • E32

Criminal Libel: Part Two

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.

S1 • E33

Criminal Libel: Part Three

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.

S1 • E34

The Medium: Part One

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.