Crownies

The victims of the Quinn rape have their say at last, but Tracey learns a secret that will tear the case apart.

The case against former AG Nicholas Quinn rolls forward, and David appoints Ben McMahon as instructing solicitor to Rhys. Ben is pleased to be on the job, but concerned the gig is a poison chalice, and certainly his appointment is controversial. But David wants to proceed, and we sense he has ulterior motives. Rhys is absent so Ben has to make the running in the pre-committal conferences with the women alleging rape. One of the women, Milinka, is young and clearly traumatised. She has a harrowing tale to tell, but she is not going to be a convincing witness. Her friend, Nyanath, is older and a little wiser. She is angry and ready to fight. She seems like she will be the star witness. But in a fragile moment she confides in Tracey – actually she was expecting the weekend at Quinn's place to be about sex. And she admits she has had sex with Quinn before the incident. Tracey is horrified to hold this secret. She does what she has to and lets Ben know. He confronts Nyanath – she will have to give the police another statement, and all this is going to play into the defence team's hands. Utterly distraught, Nyanath lumps the DPP staff in with the likes of rapist Quinn and the power structures that protect him. And then she slices Tracey to pieces verbally in front of everyone. Tracey retreats, her professionalism intact, but not her dignity. Things look grim for the committal, but Ben is able to claw back a win. He realises Milinka offered a clue to the government car Quinn was using, and he is able to trace it back to the parliamentary garage and a nervous attendant. The police will have more work to do.
Richard is prosecuting a case in court, this time with a good chance of winning. But he is not happy. He has to prosecute his climate scientist hero Tim Coghburn for assault, after Coghburn punched a persistent climate denialist, James Watt. Watt is an annoying gadfly and Richard detests all he stands for. And the fiasco is made worse when Richard sees Coghburn is being represented by Richard's old, much admired law lecturer. Richard makes a stuttering start in court, and the defence QC makes Watt look unreliable and a bit of a goose. Part of Richard wants to lose because of his environmental concerns, but part of him needs a win. Richard finally cross examines Tim Coghburn and gets to reconcile his needs. He leads Tim through a series of questions as put by James Watt and his ilk, stirring Coghburn's anger as he airs the simple rebuttals. Eventually Tim blurts out that yes, he did hit James Watt, and it felt great. Richard has his win, Tim is fined, and Watt still comes out of it looking like an idiot.
The police want Tatum to oppose bail for a young woman caught with cannabis in her car. Tatum knows the woman, Rose Pugliese, is the daughter of a criminal, and can't help feeling for her. Rose seems to have been drawn into the family business, and will suffer for it, whereas Tatum knows she has been shielded from all that. For once Tatum reacts emotionally to the case, hinting she won't try too hard to win this one. Andy Campbell puts pressure on her, but when Tatum is offered an escape route through a plea bargain, she grabs the opportunity. Things are tense between her and Andy as a result. And Tony pulls Tatum aside for a blunt word of advice – your father's a thug, but you can rise above the family history.
Lina and Erin's relationship dives again when Erin finally springs her flatmate in the shower with Andy. The fact that Lina has kept the affair a secret hurts Erin deeply. They argue, and some truths emerge. Perhaps Lina is reluctant to go public with Andy because she's not sure they have a future. And Erin reminds Lina she hasn't slept with Rhys – but damn it girl, she wishes she had.