New Scotland Yard: Error of Judgment (ITV 1 Dec 1972)

In Error of Judgement the hanging for murder of Thomas Stevens 12 years earlier is the catalyst for an investigation into the murder of M.P. Richard Austin who had been leading a campaign into getting Steven’s death listed as a miscarriage of justice.

Austin had supposedly uncovered new evidence and appeared on a TV show to talk about but not reveal what the new evidence is – on his way home his car was blown up.

Kingdom has always had a bit of a thing about the original case as he was one of the investigating officers. Without revealing too much about who the killer is there is a strong finish with Kingdom having to defuse a second car bomb with only 30 seconds to do it.

Hugh Manning, who appears in this episode as an M.P., had a long running role on Emmerdale Farm for much of the rest of his career playing the Reverend Donald Hinton.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 1 December 1972 at 9.00pm

Writer: Vic Pemberton / Production Design: Martin Johnson / Director: Oliver Horsbrugh

Series: New Scotland Yard Season 2 Episode 8

cast
John Woodvine as Kingdom
John Carlisle as Ward
Richard Grant as TV interviewer
Carmel McSharry as Mrs Stevens
Hugh Cross as Richard Austin M.P.
Bryan Stanion as Kenneth Fraser
Alec Wallis as Snr Sgt Bakewell
Hugh Manning as Joe Caldwell M.P.
Billy Hamon as Tony Stevens
Thomas Heathcote as Ben Mitchell
Valerie Bell as Doreen Jackson
Richard Morgan as Simpson (forensic)