Justice: Witnesses Cost Extra (ITV 22 Oct 1971, with Ray Lonnen)

In Witnesses Cost Extra Harriet puts her career on the line when she agrees to act as prosecuting counsel in a case involving a solicitor accused of conspiracy.

Detective Superintendent George Grover has lost a number of cases to Charles Breedon, he is convinced that Breedon is conspiring to pervert the court of justice. He has gathered statements from two witnesses who say that he payed people to act as witness. Not only that but for the previous three months Detective Sergeant Jane Sutton has been working undercover as Breedon’s personal secretary.

There is a great, very confident, performance from unsung character actor Derek Francis who normally only appeared in minor roles but here had a part with lots of meat on it.

As seems to be a general rule with Harriet she ends up getting on the wrong side of the judge, she gets a major dressing down from Raymond Huntley’s Judge for allowing Sutton to be used as a witness, Harriet then makes the decision to refuse to question her. The case, not for the first time in these first three episodes, does not go Harriet’s way. The poilice, unhappy at Harriet’s decision, get her accused of misconduct and she is forced to go before a board of review.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 22 October 1971 at 9.00pm

Writer: John Malcolm / Production Design: Vic Symonds / Director: James Ormerod

Series: Justice Season 1 Episode 3

cast
Margaret Lockwood as Harriet Peterson
Derek Francis as Charles Breedon
Philip Stone as Sir John Gallaher
George A. Cooper as Det Supt George Grover
Ray Lonnen as John Barnett
Raymond Huntley as High Court Judge
John Harvey as Richard Arnold
John Dearth as Ernie Harris
Clive Elliott as Edward Atkin
Vivien Sherrard as Det Sgt Jane Sutton
Tom Gowling as Clerk of the court
S. Keith James as Clerk of the court
Ted Morris as Foreman of the jury
Ralph Lawton as Foreman of the jury
Rex Arundel as Usher