Episodes
Justice: Point of Death (ITV 9 Aug 1974, with William Russell)
Point of Death leaps straight into the action with Ian Moody helping a man very seriously injured in a traffic accident. The man’s chance of survival is low and with the head injuries he has suffered is sure to left severely brain damaged.
Meanwhile Dr Victor Ainsworth is treating a young woman who desperately needs a kidney transplant. He also finds himself treating the injured man when he arrives in ER – left alone briefly Ainsworth declares the man dead and removes his kidney.
It’s clearly obvious Ainsworth, who has become particularly involved in the case of the young girl needing a transplant, has made a snap decision to let the man die to try and save the girl. What he has done is also clearly obvious to everyone else including Dr Moody – Ainsworth then finds himself accused of manslaughter. Judy Buxton plays theatre nurse Lennie Maxwell, explaining to the court how she got the shock of her life when she realised the man pronounced dead is showing signs of life.
An excellent episode with a strong performance from William Russell as Ainsworth. Not only did he deliberately remove the man’s kidney he also did it before the man was completely dead (there is a strong scene where Nurse Lennie Maxwell returns to the surgery, after being sent to get something by Ainsworth, and discovers that the man, pronounced dead by Ainsworth, is showing signs of life.)
Dr Moody also finds himself up against Harriet in the courtroom, she is acting for Ainsworth.
Ainsworth’s wife is played by genre icon Barbara Shelley who is clearly the dominant force in the relationship. She comes from a titled wealthy background, controls the purse strings and considers Ainsworth a failure. She is determined that Ainsworth will not bring the good name of her family down and at one stage give Harriet a telling off for how she dealt with Moody in court. In the dock Aisnworth comes under pressure from prosecuting counsel.
Under cross examination from prosecuting counsel Stanhope, Ainsworth loses his temper and reveals that the girl was in fact his daughter from a secret relationship.
production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 9 August 1974 at 9.00pm
Writer: Bruce Stewart / Production Design: Howard Dawson / Director: Tony Wharmby
Series: Justice Season 3 Episode 12
cast
Margaret Lockwood as Harriet Peterson
John Stone as Ian Moody
John Welsh as Alastair Coates
William Russell as Dr Victor Ainsworth
Judy Buxton as Lennie Maxwell
Barbara Shelley as Aisling Ainsworth
James Maxwell as Stanhope
Anthony Roye as Judge