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Janus is an Australian drama television series screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1994 and 1995. Two series were produced, with a total of 26 episodes. Janus was a spin-off series from the earlier ABC-TV crime series Phoenix. Loosely based on the true story of Melbourne's Pettingill family and the Walsh Street police shootings, Janus follows the bitterly-fought prosecutions of a notorious criminal family, the Hennesseys, from the viewpoints of the family, the police and, in particular, the lawyers, prosecutors, barristers and judges involved in all aspects of the story. When the series begins, four members of the infamous Hennessey clan are acquitted of the shooting of two young policemen in a bungled bank heist. The city of Melbourne is shocked as brothers Mal and Steve, along with brother-in-law Darren Mack and friend Ken Hardy, walk free. The prosecutors, judges, magistrates and police—many modelled heavily on real-life legal figures—are determined to put the Hennessey members behind bars if they can. But corruption, legal loopholes, delays, and stretched resources combine to make the quest to jail the group far from straightforward.
Episodes
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- E1 Malice Aforethought (Part 1)Next upSep 1, 1994
Synopsis
Four men, all career criminals, are charged over the fatal shooting of a policeman and the serious wounding of another, during an armed hold up. When they walk free because of a legal technicality, the city reels in shock.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Bruce Alexander (Estate Agent), Alan Dale (Richard Issacs), Neil Melville (Sergeant Morris), Marcus Eyre (Det Sergeant Collins), Marcia Ferguson (Mrs Boyce)
- E2 Malice Aforethought (Part 2)Sep 1, 1994
Synopsis
Four men, all career criminals, are charged over the fatal shooting of a policeman and the serious wounding of another, during an armed hold up. When they walk free because of a legal technicality, the city reels in shock.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Bruce Alexander (Estate Agent), Alan Dale (Richard Issacs), Neil Melville (Sergeant Morris), Marcus Eyre (Det Sergeant Collins), Marcia Ferguson (Mrs Boyce)
- E3 Not On The MeritsSep 8, 1994
Synopsis
Mal and Steve Hennessey, along with their defacto brother-in-law Darren Mack, are once again up on drug charges. With the prosecution armed with video and audio evidence and the testimony of reformed heroin addict Dale Cassidy, everything appears to be in place to convict them — until defence barrister Michael Kidd goes to work, destroying Cassidy's credibility.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Nick Waters (Mr Thomas), Alexander Kemp (Jamie Thomas), Rosemary Johns (Mrs Thomas), Maude Davey (Leslie), Mark Oddie (Simms)
- E4 A Rare Crushing ReversalSep 15, 1994
Synopsis
Having attacked Kirsty outside of court months earlier [ep 3], Rhonda Hennessey is now on trial herself facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice for threatening Kirsty to keep her from testifying against Mal and Steve. Despite a last minute attempt by the defence to keep Kirsty from testifying due to her delicate condition (she is now six months pregnant with Steve's child), Kirsty takes to the witness stand for the prosecution but in recounting the incident, she is evasive and downplays Rhonda's threats.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Dino Marnika (Informant), Myles Collins (PSG 1), Maryrose Cuskelly (Denise Wilson), Chris Waters (Arnie Lewis), Tony Horton (Dominic)
- E5 Judgement Amongst Short MenSep 22, 1994
Synopsis
A youth is charged with a long list of offences, including attempted murder, after a high-speed chase ends with him nearly running down a police officer. The young man refuses to give his name to investigators and is remanded into custody until such time as he reveals his name.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Jane Menelaus (Jenny Hansen), Denis Moore (Daniel Grossman), James Shaw (Judge Wynn), Shane Lee (Scoop), Alyce Platt (Dianne Manoulis), Jasper Bagg (Tony)
- E6 Reckless IndifferenceSep 29, 1994
Synopsis
Steve Hennessey appeals for bail on a minor drug charge, and his lawyer Michael Kidd plays the system well. Kidd delays the hearing to a date when all the top prosecutors will be tied up and gets the case before a favourable magistrate.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Frank Magree (Constable Waring), Ezra Bix (Mark Noble), Rod Densley (Sergeant Behan), Fiona Todd (Margaret), Robert Essex (Ned Kelly), Michael Kuzilney (Watch House Constable 1), Andrew Baker (Watch House Constable 2)
- E7 Without ConsentOct 6, 1994
Synopsis
The pressure is finally beginning to tell on Steve Hennessey. He has a fight with his girlfriend Kirsty the night before his bail hearing and goes out to drown his sorrows. He ends up crashing at a mate’s house and misses his bail hearing. This is not a clever move as the robbery squad have linked him with a recent bank job. The police haul him back to jail and charge him with armed robbery.
Guest stars: Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Tamara Saulwick (Jane McGillis), Petra Glieson (Caroline McGillis), Robyn Butler (Helen Watson), Jane Longhurst (Alex Lawrence), Erik Donnison (Uncle Andrew Ellis), James Lawson (Douglas Rankin)
- E8 Fail To AppearOct 13, 1994
Synopsis
Steve Hennessey is still on the run. However, Kenny, a small-time crook and criminal colleague of Steve’s, is facing an attempted murder charge after a bank job went wrong and he wants to make a deal with the cops. Kenny used to use the Hennesseys’ safe house whenever the heat "got a bit tropical" and he is sure that is where Steve is hiding now and offers Peter Faithful the address as part of a plea bargain.
Guest stars: Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), John Paisley (Provis), Brandon Burke (Elias Khoshaba), Aidan Fennessy (Da Silva), David Bradshaw (Det. 'Fluff' Saunders), David Pledger (Sgt Mahoney), Beverley Evans (Sandy)
- E9 A Mischevious OffenceOct 20, 1994
Synopsis
Vic Manoulis tries to remain impartial when justice-seeker Michael Kidd takes on the defence of two detectives charged with assaulting a bouncer, an event that leaves the cops with a lot of mixed emotions. Kidd is a crafty operator, but a man who makes a living defending cop-killers seems somewhat inapt for this case.
Guest stars: Jennifer Jarman-Walker (Cath Darby), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Douglas Hedge (Clyde Martin), Elizabeth Welch (Terrie Wheeler), Matthew Crosby (Ken Hardy), Bill Binks (Ex-Trainer), Roy Thompson (Steward)
- E10 A Familiar UtteranceOct 27, 1994
Synopsis
The drug trial of Steve Hennessey and Darren Mack begins in the County Court with Michael Kidd and Vic Manoulis taking their places at the bar table. The prosecution’s case isn†t helped by their star witness, Dale Cassidy, a former drug addict who knows that turning on the Hennessey’s may cost him his life, being so scared of retribution from the Hennessey clan that he attempts suicide on the first morning of the trial. He does, however, finally make it to court and puts in a surprisingly good performance, despite being scowled at by Mal and made to sound unreliable by Michael Kidd.
Guest stars: Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), David Bradshaw (Fluff), Michael Edward-Stevens (Logan), Jane Menelaus (Jenny Hanson), David Cotter (Coops), John Bishop (Richard Healy), Alan Levy (Jerry Weigall), Barry Main (Dave Brett)
- E11 Without PrejudiceNov 3, 1994
Synopsis
It seems that fate is conspiring to keep Steve Hennessey out of jail—even though the evidence against him is overwhelming. As Steve and Darren Mack’s heroin-dealing trial enters its fourth week, a lengthy prison sentence looks likely, given their appalling past records, and Steve’s recent jail escape hasn’t exactly endeared him to the authorities.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Grant Piro (Cassidy), Sheryl Munks (Simone), Trevor Major (Neville), John Dicks (Tom), Clive Hearne (Jury Supervisor)
- E12 Improper InfluencesNov 10, 1994
Synopsis
Peter Faithful’s evidence against Steve Hennessey and Darren Mack proves to be extremely incriminating. However, it is up to Michael Kidd to discredit the experienced detective. He accuses Peter of conducting a vendetta against the Hennessey family, improper police practices, carrying out illegal searches on the Hennessey home, and planting drugs.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Damien Foley (Finnie), Greg Fleet (Alvin), Nique Needles (Darren), Susan Cooper (Maeve), Ron Stickland (Parking Officer)
- E13 Burden Of ProofNov 17, 1994
Synopsis
Peter Faithful’s evidence against Steve Hennessey and Darren Mack proves to be extremely incriminating. However, it is up to Michael Kidd to discredit the experienced detective. He accuses Peter of conducting a vendetta against the Hennessey family, improper police practices, carrying out illegal searches on the Hennessey home, and planting drugs.
Guest stars: Brett Swain (Mal Hennessey), Leon Teague (Steve Hennessey), Felix Nobis (Rob Griffin), Nique Needles (Darren Mack), Kevin Summers (Don), Jane Borghesi (Gail), Jon Concannon (Dave), John Atkinson (Nick)
Cast & crew
Created by Tony McDonald, Alison Nisselle
Simon Westaway
Chris Haywood
Jeremy Kewley
Brett Swain
Sean Scully
Jane Menelaus
