Crownies (2011) s01e14 Episode Script
Episode 14
1 Tracey, all you've given me for eight weeks is sex.
I can't take it anymore.
Just something else! Anything.
Please? If you can't cope, I'm more than happy to write a glowing reference.
Guess who's instructing the Quinn case.
David thinks you're hot.
Yeah, or dispensable.
No forensic evidence, no crime scene evidence and no medical evidence.
Just the statements of the two women.
Who waited two years before going to the police.
And then he drove off into the night, just one tail-light looking back at us, like an eye, always watching.
I'll do what I have to to put that man in jail.
She's articulate, David, and she's believable, and she wants some good to come of this.
She's put in for crime compensation.
How much? '20 grand and a 'mp home to Serra Leone.
The defence are going to paint her as greedy and opportunistic.
You had consensual sex with Nicholas Quinn? It has nothing to do with the rape.
It's about the women's credibility.
Now they're saying that details were left out, changing the story.
âThese are the silent ones, the invisible ones.
âThe ones who, for those of us who work in the city, âare in front of our eyes every day, âand yet we don't see.
âThey clean our homes and our workplaces, âthey wipe up the ordinary messes of our lives, without complaint, and with care.
âAnd all they ask is that we treat them with respect and common humanity.
âBut respect and humanity were absent from that country weekender âon the night of October 10, 2009, âand in its place came fear, humiliation, degradation and rape.
âYou will hear about the brutal sexual assault of two trusting women - âNadia Tesla and Bintu Sesay - âby a man they thought was good, an important man who lied to themâ If I could just stop you there.
All this âsilent ones, vulnerable ones We're not writing a play, are we, Kowalski? Effective language is plain language.
Yes, of course, David.
And anyway, we might not even be allowed to do an opening.
What time's the committal? Uh, 2:00.
But our witnesses are coming in this morning for a final conference.
Good, good.
Keep me informed.
I suppose David's so edgy because if this thing blows up, he's the one who cops it.
David Sinclair has life tenure.
Won't be the director who burns for this.
That's why he can afford to run a case so tenuous.
This isn't tenuous.
Really? To me, it looks like a missing tail-light and two inconsistent witnesses.
Or am I missing something here, Ben? They make alarm clocks for little boys too, you know.
And dummies for little girls.
So, what do we have this morning? Coronial inquiry into the death of a young police sergeant while on a training course.
Anthony Harrison.
Athletic kid from a happy, stable family.
Bravery commendation.
Rapid promotion.
The future was his.
Decides to toss it all in and try out for the EPG, the Elite Protection Group.
How'd he die? That will be what the coroner will aim to discover, Tatum.
That's what coronial inquiries are for.
But as counsel assisting the coroner, Tony, what are we saying happened? On the night of December 15, seven days into an arduous 10-day selection course, Sergeant Harrison and his training partner, Sergeant Dimitri Wright, were woken from their sleep and ordered on a 5km forced march.
Sometime during the night, Sergeant Wright heard a scream, a crashing noise and a thump.
At dawn, the body of Sergeant Harrison was discovered at the base of a very steep hill.
He had wounds to his head and forearm and fractures to his wrist and leg.
I will suggest Sergeant Harrison died as the result of a fall.
No evidence of drugs or foul play.
Training mishap.
That will be for the coroner to review.
Sometimes you almost sound professional.
I didn't win that wig at the Easter Show, chickadee.
So, are we ready? Uh, you go on.
I'll meet you there.
What have you forgotten? Nothing! I just want to go via the TAB.
It's a good tip! You want to get on it.
OK.
This time, Rhys is going to take you through what the defence is probably going to ask you today.
Thank you, Mr Kowalski, for helping us.
The evidence is what's going to help you, not me, and that's what we're going to test.
You have a strong and moving story, Nadia.
You tell it forcefully and well.
So this morning might just help us help you to not be surprised by what's gonna happen.
TY RES SCREECH) - You pay for what's on the meter! - No way, champ! That's all you're getting.
You pay me now! Well, you shouldn't have taken me the long way around, then.
I never took the long way, mate! Bloody idiot! How much did you lose? None of your business.
Mr Gillies.
Ah, squire.
How'd you end up over the weekend? Oh, couldn't pick me nose, I'm afraid.
This'll be a smooth run? Don't imagine it'll take long.
The matter's straightforward.
Good man.
Buy you a drink after? You know me.
That I do.
It's quiet.
Compact today, missy, is with the dead.
Coroners Court is not a place of adversaries or arguments but of respect and sober inquiry.
There's no-one on trial here.
So there's no accused'? Poor sod's dead, but there's no-one in the dock for deading him.
Court of respect.
Exactly.
I'll meet you in there.
So whose side are you on? There are no sides today, sir.
It's an inquiry.
You've just answered my question.
Oh, I forgot to mention.
Sergeant Wright, Sergeant Harrison's training partner, won't be able to give evidence until tomorrow.
Flight was cancelled.
He lives in Redfern.
Not anymore.
Walgett.
Past Walgett.
- Right.
- All rise.
Be seated.
Apologies, Your Honour - the first witness, Sergeant Wright, has been delayed and won't be available until tomorrow.
Should I proceed with the second witness? You are confident the witness can appear tomorrow? Um Yes, Your Honour.
Then proceed.
Detective Kelleher, you were the principal investigating officer into the death of Sergeant Anthony Harrison.
I was, yes.
You have prepared a report into the investigation, which I will tender shortly.
What conclusions did you make? The deceased was engaged in a training course that involved a level of high-risk activity.
During one of these exercises, the deceased became confused in the dark, lost his footing and fell off a cliff.
He died at the scene.
And would it be correct to say there were no sounds of a struggle before Sergeant Harrison's death? Correct.
Sergeant Wright heard what he thought was a cry and then the crash of bushes breaking and then nothing more.
No noise indicating a struggle.
Now, in your report, you said you believe the evidence indicated an accidental death.
Has your opinion changed? No, it has not.
Thank you, Detective.
I tender the report.
I'd like to ask some questions, Your Honour.
I'm Anthony's father.
Yes, Mr Harrison? Did you find out why my son was doing a forced march in total darkness, in an area he'd never been to, with cliffs all around him, on less than one hour's sleep? It was explained to me it was a stage of the training course.
Do you think that sounds stupid, if not reckless? What were they trying to do to him? I can't comment on that, sir.
I can.
And ifs not called an accident.
I would counsel you to be very careful, Mr Harrison, in what you're implying.
I'm not implying it, I'm saying it.
Not that I'll get an answer.
Whole thing's closed shop.
Detective, if no other parties wish to cross-examine, then you are excused, thank you.
I need a coffee.
Yeah, full-on.
So next of kin can cross-examine witnesses just like that? Well, generally they have counsel to do it, but yes.
I said I need a coffee, skinny latte.
There's a place around the corner.
Three sugars.
Soy cappuccino coming right up.
So Why the big move for the training partner, Sergeant Wright? He get mouthy with someone? Oh, I know.
You're not gonna tell me.
They say these bush posts are alright if you're laid-back and if you can keep your blinkers on.
Then it's the same as anywhere, old son.
Same as anywhere.
Now, Nadia, four weeks after your visit to Mr Quinn's weekender, you lost your job - is that correct? - That was because of him.
- Please, just yes or no.
Four weeks after your visit to Mr Quinn's weekender, you lost your job? Yes.
And sometime later, you made a statement to police complaining that Mr Quinn had done certain things to you while you were at his house.
Sexual things.
Horrible, disgusting.
Now, the day after your visit to the weekender, you came home.
It was a Sunday night.
The following day, a Monday, you started work.
You didn't go to a doctor, you didn't tell a friend.
You didn't even tell your boyfriend, who you were living with at the time.
But you want us to believe that Mr Quinn did these things to you for almost three and a half hours only the day before.
Yes! '8 that your evidence? In fact, it would take you 23 months to report this.
He did these things It was 23 months before you reported it to police, wasn't it? Yes.
After you'd been fired from your job.
Yes.
Yes! Shall we continue? This.
And these.
And can you sign this, please? For Gail.
Richard.
Have you signed this card? Uh For Gail.
Sure.
She's lovely.
Um, hey, I was thinking.
I feel like I've come a long way in my time here, and I've had some victories, I've done some important work.
Um And w-while I like being part of a team and offering advice, I also like being independent.
So Yes? Well, I was thinking maybe, um Yes? Richard, do you know the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'? Of course.
Young man feels neglected and so looks for the attention and admiration of his colleagues by fabricating a nonexistent threat? I mean, works fine for a while, but he's eventually eaten by a wolf when everyone gets bored of his tiresome complaints.
I don't remember it like that.
But did you know that there's another Aesop story about a boy and a wolf? It's called 'The Boy Who Didn't Cry Wolf'.
Again, young man.
Again, feels neglected and undervalued by his village and/or office.
But this time when he sees a wolf, he doesn't call out anything, or nothing understandable anyway, so no-one saves him, he's eaten by the wolf - terrible story, a tragedy.
Um, am I supposed to cry wolf now? Yes! What do you want? I want to do some more challenging work.
That's all? Yeah.
Good.
So? Not yet.
Now, you've lodged a claim for victims of crime compensation, haven't you? I'm allowed.
In fact, you've claimed the maximum allowable, as well as return airfares to Bucharest, counselling and massage therapy.
They told me to do this.
I deserve something for what he does.
For offering you friendship? For offering to help with your visa? Did you find Mr Quinn attractive, Nadia? Come off it, Rhys! Didn't you tell a workmate, a Ms Sandra Harwood, that you thought Mr Quinn was handsome? No! Did you hope something might happen between you? A romance? No! But you've had relationships with older men before, haven't you? Many of them.
In fact, your boyfriend at the time was much older, wasn't he? Ignore it.
A magistrate will never let him ask you that.
Can I suggest, Nadia, that you're making all of this up? That this is the lie of a disappointed employee against a powerful older man that she felt had rejected her.
Look, objection! You know how the system works.
You're playing it to the hilt.
No! You throw some mud at Mr Quinn, Crimes Compensation will pay.
Yes! Yes what, Nadia? Yes, he should pay.
He thinks that he can just do what he likes and then sack us? He should pay.
Good.
You can't let yourself get angry.
But I am angry.
He says I look for a lover in Mr Quinn.
He blames me! I know.
We've talked about this before.
Rhys is only trying to prepare you for what might happen.
The thing is, Nadia, if you get angry, it makes you look defensive.
And a defensive witness looks like she's lying.
You did well, Nadia.
Very well.
I'll walk you out, if you like.
Can we have a moment first? Of course.
Excuse me.
What are you doing? Satisfying myself we have a case to answer.
By breaking our witnesses before they get in the box? I've spent days earning these women's trust and you call her a liar? She'll be called a lot worse this afternoon.
I suggest you think less about being Mr Fucking Empathy and more about backing me up.
Being nice won't win this.
Did you have any trouble finding the place? I have heard it can be a bit tricky.
Prick, prick, prick.
How can you even work with him? Prick, prick, pricks I work with? You'll have to narrow it down.
Oh, Rhys Cockhead Kowalski.
Oh.
That prick, prick, prick.
Why, what's he done? Oh, just everything he can to derail the Quinn committal before it even begins, and it's all about covering arse so that if it falls apart, he can say it wasn't his fault.
Rhys is a prick as a barrister, granted, but he's a good man.
He wouldn't sabotage his own case, especially one he was forced to take.
Ever thought he's just trying to be prepared? Oh, right, right, right, yeah, 'cause he just basically called our witness a slut.
Probably 'cause he's allowed to.
Not Rhys's fault the way sexual assault plays versus common assault.
If it was a common assault, if it'd been a guy walking down a dark alley who got bashed and robbed, Rhys wouldn't get to ask, âWhy were you walking down an alley at night with 80 bucks in your wallet?â Or, âDon't you think that was a bit reckless? âDon't you think you were asking for it?â Only in sexual assault can you put a victim's character in issue to such an extent.
That doesn't seem the smallest bit fucked up to you? That women victims are treated differently in the courts than men? Never crossed my mind, Ben.
Remember, you're both supposed to be on the same side.
Richard.
Tell me about feng shui.
Um Oh, I assumed you'd know.
Yes, it's the ancient Chinese art of living.
Getting the most positive chi, isn't it? Close.
A rather tricky affray.
Great! Perhaps you'd best get onto it.
So, Mrs Wolfe? Wolfe.
Carol.
Uh, my notes say that you were involved in an affray.
Which I did not start.
Before we get into the details, I'd like to go through the statement that you gave police, if that's alright? Oh, sure.
Um, so let's go back to the start.
OK.
You have a 6-month-old baby? He's nearly two now.
And your baby's name is Rama'? So that wasn't a typo.
OK.
And Rama wasn't sleeping? No, and I tried everything.
Singing, rocking, wrapping tight, wrapping loose, dummies, night-lights, mobiles.
But finally you got Rama to sleep consistently, you state, in mid-November 2010'? Yes.
It made such a difference, to both of us.
And then in late November 2010, your new neighbours moved in.
The Lees.
Andrew and Poppy.
Generation Y.
But very different to you.
How do you mean? Well, you have a poise and maturity about you.
And the same could not be said for the Lees.
So immature and selfish.
I'm sorry to hear that.
You're sensitive.
I can tell.
I feel I'm in very good hands with you.
Thanks.
Dr Zen, you were the forensic pathologist who examined Sergeant Harrison? I was, yes.
What did you find were the injuries sustained? A blunt-force trauma to the left hemisphere of the brain.
He also had a Colles' fracture to his left wrist and a scrape to his right knee.
And are these injuries consistent with a fall? A tumble down a cliff, landing on his hand and then over onto the left side of his face.
And you found the blunt trauma to the brain resulted in death? Yes.
Thank you, Dr Zen.
Uh, did you take toxicology samples? Yes.
What did you find? There were no drugs, prescription or othen/vise, in his system at all.
One final thing.
In your post-mortem report, you note you discovered Sergeant Harrison was suffering from a tumour in the brain.
That's correct.
Will you explain what this was? Sergeant Harrison's tumour was a relatively small glioma.
And would this tumour have contributed to Sergeant Harrison's death? No.
In fact, it was reasonably well encapsulated, and, in my opinion, it would have been treatable.
Thank you, Dr Zen.
I tender Dr Zen's post-mortem report.
Gary Snyder, acting for the police service.
Sergeant Harrison didn't disclose this tumour on his medical history sheet for entrance to the training course, did he? No, but that may have been an honest mistake on his part.
As I said, the glioma was relatively small.
There's a chance that Sergeant Harrison wasn't being affected by any symptoms and wasn't even aware he had it.
But you cannot say, however, that he didn't experience any symptoms? No.
So it's possible, isn't it, that on the night he died, Sergeant Harrison did experience symptoms - for example, became disoriented, suffered a seizure or even lost consciousness as a result of this tumour? Uh, it is possible.
So the fall might not have been due to the darkness or to the training exercise but due to the tumour - a tumour his instructors knew nothing about.
Isn't that a possibility? Yes.
Thank you, Doctor.
I know none of us are adversarial here, but I think our police colleagues are trying to blame Sergeant Harrison for his own death.
Do you just? Don't you just? I just saw a barrister doing his job, following evidence.
Are you serious? Some of us don't let our emotions cloud ourjudgements.
They're washing their hands of him.
But you know that already.
My family say, âLeave it alone.
You're making things worse.
â Worse? Shit.
Letting my son get treated like that by people he thought had his back.
What sort of a father would just let that happen? Look, the coroner can see what's going on, Mr Harrison.
She's not blind.
Don't want to upset your mates, eh? I've been watching you.
Handshakes.
Pats on the back.
You're one of the boys.
And my son's dead.
You'll need to be clear on that fact during cross-examination.
Sorry.
Didn't realise you'd started.
Now Ms Sesay, you say you were scared of what Mr Quinn would do to you if you left immediately after the alleged assaults.
Yes, sir.
But not so scared that you couldn't go to work, knowing you might see him there.
I had to work.
I understand.
And maybe you weren't that scared.
According to your second police statement, you and Mr Quinn had had sexual relations before - isn't that correct? I was scared of him.
You didn't tell anyone about the alleged assault for almost two years.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
And when you decided to tell someone, it was only because you'd run into Ms Tesla again at a later cleaning job.
Isn't that right? Yes, sir.
And she told you about the Crimes Compensation money for victims? No.
She didn't tell you about the compensation money? She did, but that wasn't why I told.
Nevertheless, you found out there was money to be had - money I imagine you needed.
As you say, you had to work.
I will tell you why I waited, sir.
Mr Quinn, he makes the laws.
What would happen to me from a man like that? I think you didn't report this for two years because you're making it up.
There's only one liar in this - Mr Quinn.
No further questions.
He thought we were nothing.
Dirt on his feet.
That no-one would listen to women like us.
They're listening now, and they see him for exactly what he is.
That was excellent, Bintu.
Really good.
Thank you.
I think it's time.
I wish I could be in there with you today.
Impossible, I know, and imprudent.
But I wish I was the one looking Quinn in the eye when he learns he's going to be called to account for what he's done.
There he is.
I'll call you once it's over.
Call me at the first break.
Mr Kowalski! Excuse me, please.
- Excuse me.
- What do you say to that? Thank you.
Nadia'? Nadia'? Say something quickly to the cameras.
Thank you.
Sorry about that, Carol.
I just had a bit of an emergency on another case.
Oh, sure.
But I am back with you now.
So, um, you stated that the Lees liked to play music late at night? Yes.
Karaoke.
Um, and this karaoke interfered with Rama's sleep? Andrew told me he was going for the Australian title, so he needed to practise.
Richard, I like to think of myself as a global citizen.
I make a real effort to get along with all types of people.
What future does our planet have otherwise? But the constant, repetitive singing.
It was too much.
So you contacted the police.
Yeah, who didn't take me seriously.
I mean, one of them was even laughing.
I am afraid that sometimes the police aren't as sensitive as they could be.
No, and I understand that.
They have murderers to deal with.
Which is why I bought these.
I felt like I had no other choice.
As well as a great big fuck-off flowerhorn, but I I couldn't bring that in.
Um, what is all this, Carol? I'm not a confrontational person.
I hate violence.
So I wasn't going to become physical to get them to leave.
But I thought the Chinese heritage, maybe there's something in that.
Mmm.
And finally it came to me.
Enter the dragon.
Um, you know how I said that funny thing this morning about wanting more challenging work? YES') The thing is, maybe I don't anymore.
Maybe I was challenged enough doing the work that I was doing.
You don't want the affray? I'm not saying that.
It's a great case.
Did you actually have a peek at that before you gave it to me? Why? No reason.
I just wondered if you gave it to me because, um, perhaps you thought I was good at dealing with unusual matters.
You asked for something difficult.
I scanned it, it looked difficult.
That was it.
I just hope that all the challenges weren't gonna be the same sort of challenges, if you know what I mean.
No.
What do you mean? People with certain unconventional attitudes towards the law, shall we say? Every person who walks through our door deserves diligent and impartial representation, no matter who they are or what their attitudes might be.
Of course, Tracey.
Frankly, Richard, I'm stunned by your attitude.
I thought you were better than this.
Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it, fuck it! She pretends she's completely impartial.
âL didn't even read the file, Richard.
â But what what happens is she sees a nutter and thinks, âRichard.
â Runaway-style witness? Richard.
C hange-you r-sto ry-i n-the-box-style witness? Richard.
Feng shui nutjob? Richard.
And then tie it all up in a neat little bundle and send it off to Judge Walker to complete the humiliation.
It's jammed.
I know.
What, so your witness whacked her neighbour with a mirror? That doesn't make her a nutjob.
But she didn't whack her neighbour with a mirror.
She arranged the mirror and pictures of her own dead grandparents in her window to harness the power of feng shui to whack her neighbours for her, so to speak - to get them to move out.
Well, did it work? Uh-uh.
But it did drive the other family absolutely crazy, especially when the in-laws from Singapore came to visit.
Turns out that Karaoke King's mother is a serious feng shuist, and she brought it big-time.
Well, this is great! How is it great? Finally, it ends up in a meeting in some local council dispute centre, which turns into a massive multi-party assault.
Not that we've even gotten to that part yet.
My witness had to leave halfway through her statement.
What do I do? Feng shui shit fight, hey? Be affray.
Be very affray.
Thank you.
They're heading back in.
OK.
Are you smoking? Inspector Bindall, you are the commander of the Elite Protection Group? Correct.
And you're also in charge of its training course? I am.
Could you detail the functions of the group? EPG was formed in 2004 to deal with extraordinary and high-risk police matters - sieges, searches of dangerous premises, arresting armed offenders.
And would it be correct to say there's a rigorous selection process? Has to be.
We receive hundreds more applications than we have positions available.
Best of the best.
You may have heard of the SAS.
Our selection process is partly based on theirs.
So, uh, high physical demands and psychological stresses, um, limited sleep, minimum food and water, that sort of thing? Correct.
That's brutal.
We expect a failure rate of 95%.
The exercises are tough, but they're designed so we can save lives.
The lives of people like yourself, Mr Gillies.
Mmm.
I apologise if I'm asking about the, uh training in general terms.
It's just as I understand it, there is no manual, nothing written down.
I've run this course for six years.
Over 500 candidates have come through.
And you have an excellent memory? I don't need folders full of notes.
Your Honour, because the course is flexible, I can tailor it to work on problem areas I perceive with the candidates.
Oh, and did Sergeant Harrison have problem areas? Yes.
Right.
So these physical tests are a means of weeding out unsuitable candidates? It works out that way.
I take it the candidates have their health regularly assessed during the course? Correct.
Was Sergeant Harrison struggling physically with the course? No.
So his problem area wasn't physical fitness? The course is not all about fitness.
It's also temperament.
Well, would you explain that? Part of my selection process is judging how a member might potentially fit into my team.
And you couldn't see Anthony as part of your team? Sergeant Harrison had some behavioural issues.
Talking back, you mean? Among other things.
And your course demands strict obedience? It demands silence.
You call this course brutal.
Maybe it is.
But it has to be brutal.
We're teaching these men how to use lethal force.
Oh, I thought the modern police force was about observing and interacting, thinking before we pull out our weapons.
With respect, that's in the brochure.
But that's not the real world, Mr Gillies.
In the real world, the public demand protection, not conversation.
So in your view, a candidate's measure is his ability to do the course, keep his mouth shut, not complain and learn to be a killer? Mr Gillies! I apologise.
Uh, but I am curious.
Was this talking back perhaps the real reason you ordered Sergeant Harrison on that additional night march on December 15? You knew he was exhausted, and you hoped this would break him.
Inspector? I didn't know about the brain tumour, and I'm sorry Sergeant Harrison died like he did.
But I'm glad he didn't get through my course.
If this tumour thing he had occurred in an operational situation, then perhaps many more other lives other than Sergeant Harrison's might have been put at risk.
Better it happened now than later? Yes.
Do you know how most people die from a brain tumour, Inspector? They become so tired they finally can't stay awake.
They are often surrounded by friends and family and die with some grace and dignity.
Not like Sergeant Harrison, in the bush, in the dark, alone.
Harrison lied on his medical.
It wasn't my responsibility.
With respect, I'm the leader of these men.
I know what's required for them to succeed.
With all due respect, you don't sound like much of a leader of anything.
You sound like a dictator.
Mr Gillies! This wasn't a training course.
It only had one lesson.
Talk back, and you get punished.
Mr Gillies! No, you can't be held legally responsible.
You were smart.
You didn't write anything down.
But you know and I know you are morally responsible for this young man's death! Mr Gillies! No further question.
Prick.
What are you doing? Your mate's a fuckwit.
30'? Look, the family don't want this.
We don't want this.
You don't want this.
I advise you to pull your head in.
Yes? Oh, shit! Excuse me.
We have nothing to say.
Excuse us, please.
Thank you.
No comment.
No case to answer.
What?! It's over, David.
We lost.
I know the DPP was only doing its job.
I'd like to thank my family for their love and support.
It's been a difficult The magistrate's a personal friend of the accused.
Look, I knew Morrissey before he got kicked upstairs.
He was a shitty fuckin' barrister on a shitty fuckin' list, but he had an important mate in the government.
What are you gonna do, David? Direct indictment? That's gonna strengthen our brief? That bastard raped, abused, degraded, humiliated those two women, and then he smears them as liars in court.
Thanks for the summary, Tony.
Direct indictment will get Quinn in the dock, and once he's there - it's gonna look like ego on my part.
- So? You're the bloody director of public prosecutions! Look, forget about the committal.
Go to the court of public opinion.
Take it to Adam Kent.
Talkback? Yeah, yeah.
Say you want to discuss sentencing, victims' rights.
Just show 'em the DPP aren't a bunch of soft-cocks.
Kent will naturally want to talk about Quinn, so you can Which you can't do, because you're the director of the DPP, and yet it's not strictly sub judice.
Highly political matter, more than you can let on at the moment, compelling evidence.
Justice for the underdog.
Sounds messy.
You're gonna have to go in boots and all.
If you're gonna kiss it, you might as well fuck it.
You know Adam Kent hates my guts.
No more police interviews.
Whoo! Yay! And no more, um, Detective Mach Machete.
M oretti.
M o retti.
He was hot, though.
Did you see his partner? They were, like, the hot squad.
No more Jimmy the Butcher sniffing around.
No more Butcher sniffing! No more good cop, bad cop when you know they're both bad cops.
We've already done the cops, Richard.
You've done the cops.
What are we celebrating? Quinn's charges getting dropped.
Yeah, awesome.
So, what are we celebrating? No no more You know, no more, âWho took the file?â No more, âWho took the file'? Tell us who took the file!â Hey.
I've got one.
What about no more Internet dating.
What? I said no more.
Hang on, I've got a better one.
No more guilty people getting charged.
Yeah! Awesome, hey? Awesome.
Mine mine was more fun.
No, mine is.
I'll drink to it.
They always get away with it anyway.
Hey, idiots.
This doesn't mean the file's going away.
Quinn might be even more vindictive now that he's in the clear.
It it could get worse.
You're with Adam Kent on 2CT 893, classic talk.
And, of course, the director of the DPP, Mr David Sinclair, has on many occasions been dismissive and patronising to those who would dare to discuss his deliberations.
Earlier this year, Mr Sinclair said, âAn informed public will make better judgements âthan a public that has ingested uncritically âthe pre-packaged attitudes peddled by talkback âand other uninformed commentators and entertainers.
â Well, I suppose uninformed commentators are people like me.
And those who ingest uncritically are you, who are stupid enough to listen to talkback.
But only Mr Sinclair gets it right all the time.
And that's why we've invited him on the program this morning.
Good morning, Mr Sinclair.
Good morning, Mr Kent.
Thank you for your time.
We've been trying to get you on this program for months.
As your listeners would be aware, it's been a very busy time for the DPP.
What, fishing for high-profile scalps? The DPP doesn't fish for scalps, Mr Kent.
Having said that, no-one is above the law.
That's interesting.
My producer was told specifically that you wouldn't answer questions relating to a recent case involving the attorney-general, Mr Nicholas Quinn, but that's what you seem to have been doing.
I'm making this point - the law is available for all those seeking justice.
No special privileges for certain defendants.
Come on, Davey! And you believe justice was served in the case of Mr Quinn? Well, a committal hearing is not a trial.
You believe the case should have come to trial? Well, of course I do.
Otherwise my staff and I wouldn't have brought this very serious matter before the courts.
An indictment of two rapes brought against the state's chief law-maker is not a matter the DPP does lightly.
And you believe you had evidence strong enough to bring it to trial? - Careful.
- We believe so, yes.
Of course, I can't comment on Magistrate Morrissey's findings.
You think the magistrate was wrong? You know I can't say that, Adam.
You bloody well did, son.
You beauty! You know, Mr Sinclair, when listeners hear a senior lawman like yourself talk like that, they begin to think that there's a great big gap between what they perceive to be justice and the way justice is enacted.
That is a real concern.
How do we dismantle this perception? Information.
What, from who? Commentators that you say are stupid and uninformed? That was quite an introduction.
Yes, but you said it, though, didn't you? So I did, indeed.
Don't tell me you're doing work.
Five letters.
âIrritating colleague Don't you mean four letters? What's this for'? I shouldn't have gone a witness like that.
It was unprofessional.
It was awesome.
You good? Yep.
Let's go.
Sergeant Wright, you were Sergeant Harrison's training partner for the EPG - is that correct'? Yes.
Is it also correct you were the last person to see him alive? Yes, it is.
Will you explain what a training partner is? We were paired together for all the challenges.
We shared a tent.
You know, meals.
You were meant to look out for each other? Yes.
How was the course'? It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
Did you ever discuss this course with Sergeant Harrison? We'd both done training before, Anth m I mean, Sergeant Harrison, more than me.
But most of the training you do matches in some way to what you're gonna do, and unless the Elite Protection Unit was parachuting into Kandahar, we didn't see much point to most of it.
Are you saying it seemed excessively military? Very much so.
Did you and Sergeant Harrison ever discuss this with your superiors? Of course not.
Well, why âOf course notâ? Was there no formalised feedback mechanism? Complain and you're gone.
Every candidate knew that.
So you put up with it, no matter how you were feeling, no matter how pointless and gruelling the task might seem? Yes.
Anthony Harrison questioned the course, and look what happened to him.
On the night of December 15, you'd returned, just returned, from a 19km forced march with heavy packs.
Yes, sir.
And you'd had a 2-hour intensive psychological question-and-answer session.
Yes.
And you'd just fallen to sleep.
Yes.
Were you exhausted? Totally.
You'd just fallen off to sleep when you're awoken by Inspector Bindall and ordered on an additional march, this time a night march.
Yes.
How did you feel? Shattered.
Did Sergeant Harrison feel as you did? That's what he said.
And we felt punished.
Like you were being pushed to breaking point to see if you would break? Mr Gillies.
Does it surprise you, Sergeant Wright, that in this weakened state, mentally shattered, physically exhausted, in the pitch dark Does it surprise you that Sergeant Harrison lost his bearings and fell to his death'? No, it doesn't.
Thank you.
I don't understand why we have to go through this again.
Because despite talking for over three hours yesterday, we didn't actually get through your statement.
I can hear that tone, Richard.
I'm sorry, Carol, but Can we just return to the statement? Now, at the dispute centre, you said that you were making progress.
Uh The Lees said they'd install soundproofing, you agreed Rama would sleep in a part of the house away from the noise.
No more mirrors.
No more feng shui battles.
And then we all started fighting.
But how exactly? That's the bit that I don't get.
How is it that you're talking to someone normally and then they want to hit you in the face with their palm? I'm assuming you meant hand and not tree.
Did you mean tree? I don't know.
But you were hit first, from behind? Yes.
Well I don't know.
Carol, please.
Try to concentrate.
You're getting very hostile.
I think you'll find I'm not.
I'm just trying to nail down the facts.
Men always revert to verbal violence when they can't get what they want.
Not all men! Sorry, sorry.
I'm too tired to argue all this.
The chronic fatigue, is it? What is that supposed to mean? Nothing.
You don't think it's a real condition? I don't know anything about it.
You do look very tired, though.
Oh, gee, that makes me feel great.
Carol.
I thought this would be simple.
You seemed capable.
What, so I'm the disappointment, am I? Yes.
Yes, you are.
I wish you could just do your job and make this go away.
I'm sorry.
I'm just so tired.
I need your help.
First you must take this paperclip from my hand.
Can you please just help me? My witness is she's not up to it.
She's tired and overwrought, and it's not in her interest to push this to court.
Why don't you drop the whole thing from affray to common assault? I can do that? No.
I'm level two.
I can.
And I'm saying you can.
Talk to the other side.
Say you'll accept a plea of assault and recommend a diversion program.
Any prior convictions? No.
Then tell the defence slap on the wrist for Mr and Mrs Karaoke.
You clear the case.
That simple? That simple.
Sergeant Wright.
Were you aware that Sergeant Harrison suffered from a brain tumour? No.
But you were aware that he'd been vomiting that day? We'd all been vomiting.
And that he'd complained of severe headaches? Yes.
Again, we all had them.
Were you aware that these things in particular are common symptoms of a brain tumour? Sergeant, may I remind you, you are under oath.
No.
But I knew Anth was really sick.
It was obvious.
Why didn't you tell anyone about this, Sergeant? You don't understand what it's like.
Any hint you're struggling with anything, that's a sign of weakness.
And we can't show weakness.
And Bindall was over him.
So he felt he had to try even harder to keep it all together.
Did he tell you how long he'd been having these symptoms for? A few weeks.
So Sergeant Harrison wasn't ignorant on his medical? He lied on his medical'? No.
He knew he was sick, but he didn't know what from.
He didn't He didn't want to know.
I wanted to tell someone.
He was a good mate.
You speak out of school in this job, you say the wrong thing to the wrong person and and suddenly you wind up where I am - 200 k's to the nearest dentist.
So it wasn't the rigours of the training exercise that made Sergeant Harrison so sick, disoriented and exhausted, but a pre-existing medical condition? The course didn't help.
It was that important to him to finish the course that he'd risk his health? He didn't want to be remembered as a failure.
Um, I might re-examine, Your Honour.
Would it be correct to say that Sergeant Harrison was competitive, he loved doing his best, he didn't give up easily, and that he loved his dad and he knew how proud he was of him, and he he didn't want to let him down? That's right.
Thank you, Detective.
Anth told me how you you taught him never to give up you know, tough things out.
I'm really sorry this happened.
He was a top bloke.
Any closing submissions? This inquiry has heard a lot about toughness and weakness and testing oneself to the limits of endurance.
It's heard about the price of silence and the even greater price of speaking up.
It's heard about what it means to be a man.
You know, I don't doubt that young men like Anthony Harris and Dimitri Wright need to push themselves to find their limits.
They need to know exactly what they can achieve in a potentially life-threatening situation.
But within that, a culture that doesn't allow a young man to admit that he's found his limits or reached his capabilities, that's a culture that prides itself on willed ignorance over self-knowledge, that brands the truth as weak and unmanly well, that's a culture that's unfit of the brave young men it sets out to teach.
That's a culture whose time is past and should be banished, like smoke, before more young lives are lost.
Mr Snyder, any closing submissions? Hey.
I thought we'd see you in here a bit earlier.
I stopped by and got some flowers for Margie on the way.
There's an amazing little florist down there in Milsons Point.
And the M4 traffic, of course.
I was trying to remember the last time a director of the DPP went after an attorney-general.
I think you'll find it happens to every director and every A-G at some stage.
Not like this, though.
No, not like this.
Do you still think, âWe could pursue this, but would we want to?â I was wrong.
Going after Quinn, this is exactly the sort of thing the DPP should do.
Yes, Erin? You both might want to see this.
That's why Pm announcing that from today, I'm leaving parliament and will not contest the next election.
I feel I still have much left to do, but I'll leave that to another man.
The fact is, I'm dying.
Six months ago, I was diagnosed with lymphoma, a condition I chose to keep quiet for my family's sake.
My outlook was serious then, and recent tests have shown that the cancer has metastas/sed.
My specialists have given me less than a year to live.
I was going to try and keep on working for the people of this great state, but my daughter Holly said said, âDad, âlook after yourself for once.
âBe with us.
â So that's what I'm going to do.
Now that the malicious personal smear campaign against me by the DPP is over, a campaign I am certain exacerbated my condition, I can now go on enjoying what little time I have left with those I love.
Somebody turn that bloody thing off.
Thank you.
Enjoy your little frolic? Nothing's changed, except the next time the DPP need a favour from the police Oh, piss off, Gary.
Get back under your rock.
Thank you.
I'll buy you a coffee? I owe you one.
Thank you.
Can I be inappropriate and ask what you'll find? No.
But the evidence is strong for a finding of an accident.
The brain tumour, however, can't be discounted as contributing.
And the training course? Lack of compassion from an instructor didn't kill Sergeant Harrison, Tony.
But you were right to pursue this as you did.
I will recommend more comprehensive medical screenings and that the training course be written down and formalised in the future.
Recommendations that may or may not be acted upon.
That's all we can do.
We're having Gail's birthday cake now.
Uh, yeah.
I'll just, um Did you hang that mirror near the door of the conference room? It's supposed to bring calm.
I like it.
I just Gail's card.
Just leave it.
Make a wish! I don't care if Quinn is dying.
Why should he get to spend his last moments feeling loved and respected while those women go home to nothing, no-one? I'm asking for a direct indictment.
Straight to trial? Exactly.
We go after him.
- Hip, hip! - Hooray! Hip, hip! Hooray! Hip, hip! Hooray! Hooray!
I can't take it anymore.
Just something else! Anything.
Please? If you can't cope, I'm more than happy to write a glowing reference.
Guess who's instructing the Quinn case.
David thinks you're hot.
Yeah, or dispensable.
No forensic evidence, no crime scene evidence and no medical evidence.
Just the statements of the two women.
Who waited two years before going to the police.
And then he drove off into the night, just one tail-light looking back at us, like an eye, always watching.
I'll do what I have to to put that man in jail.
She's articulate, David, and she's believable, and she wants some good to come of this.
She's put in for crime compensation.
How much? '20 grand and a 'mp home to Serra Leone.
The defence are going to paint her as greedy and opportunistic.
You had consensual sex with Nicholas Quinn? It has nothing to do with the rape.
It's about the women's credibility.
Now they're saying that details were left out, changing the story.
âThese are the silent ones, the invisible ones.
âThe ones who, for those of us who work in the city, âare in front of our eyes every day, âand yet we don't see.
âThey clean our homes and our workplaces, âthey wipe up the ordinary messes of our lives, without complaint, and with care.
âAnd all they ask is that we treat them with respect and common humanity.
âBut respect and humanity were absent from that country weekender âon the night of October 10, 2009, âand in its place came fear, humiliation, degradation and rape.
âYou will hear about the brutal sexual assault of two trusting women - âNadia Tesla and Bintu Sesay - âby a man they thought was good, an important man who lied to themâ If I could just stop you there.
All this âsilent ones, vulnerable ones We're not writing a play, are we, Kowalski? Effective language is plain language.
Yes, of course, David.
And anyway, we might not even be allowed to do an opening.
What time's the committal? Uh, 2:00.
But our witnesses are coming in this morning for a final conference.
Good, good.
Keep me informed.
I suppose David's so edgy because if this thing blows up, he's the one who cops it.
David Sinclair has life tenure.
Won't be the director who burns for this.
That's why he can afford to run a case so tenuous.
This isn't tenuous.
Really? To me, it looks like a missing tail-light and two inconsistent witnesses.
Or am I missing something here, Ben? They make alarm clocks for little boys too, you know.
And dummies for little girls.
So, what do we have this morning? Coronial inquiry into the death of a young police sergeant while on a training course.
Anthony Harrison.
Athletic kid from a happy, stable family.
Bravery commendation.
Rapid promotion.
The future was his.
Decides to toss it all in and try out for the EPG, the Elite Protection Group.
How'd he die? That will be what the coroner will aim to discover, Tatum.
That's what coronial inquiries are for.
But as counsel assisting the coroner, Tony, what are we saying happened? On the night of December 15, seven days into an arduous 10-day selection course, Sergeant Harrison and his training partner, Sergeant Dimitri Wright, were woken from their sleep and ordered on a 5km forced march.
Sometime during the night, Sergeant Wright heard a scream, a crashing noise and a thump.
At dawn, the body of Sergeant Harrison was discovered at the base of a very steep hill.
He had wounds to his head and forearm and fractures to his wrist and leg.
I will suggest Sergeant Harrison died as the result of a fall.
No evidence of drugs or foul play.
Training mishap.
That will be for the coroner to review.
Sometimes you almost sound professional.
I didn't win that wig at the Easter Show, chickadee.
So, are we ready? Uh, you go on.
I'll meet you there.
What have you forgotten? Nothing! I just want to go via the TAB.
It's a good tip! You want to get on it.
OK.
This time, Rhys is going to take you through what the defence is probably going to ask you today.
Thank you, Mr Kowalski, for helping us.
The evidence is what's going to help you, not me, and that's what we're going to test.
You have a strong and moving story, Nadia.
You tell it forcefully and well.
So this morning might just help us help you to not be surprised by what's gonna happen.
TY RES SCREECH) - You pay for what's on the meter! - No way, champ! That's all you're getting.
You pay me now! Well, you shouldn't have taken me the long way around, then.
I never took the long way, mate! Bloody idiot! How much did you lose? None of your business.
Mr Gillies.
Ah, squire.
How'd you end up over the weekend? Oh, couldn't pick me nose, I'm afraid.
This'll be a smooth run? Don't imagine it'll take long.
The matter's straightforward.
Good man.
Buy you a drink after? You know me.
That I do.
It's quiet.
Compact today, missy, is with the dead.
Coroners Court is not a place of adversaries or arguments but of respect and sober inquiry.
There's no-one on trial here.
So there's no accused'? Poor sod's dead, but there's no-one in the dock for deading him.
Court of respect.
Exactly.
I'll meet you in there.
So whose side are you on? There are no sides today, sir.
It's an inquiry.
You've just answered my question.
Oh, I forgot to mention.
Sergeant Wright, Sergeant Harrison's training partner, won't be able to give evidence until tomorrow.
Flight was cancelled.
He lives in Redfern.
Not anymore.
Walgett.
Past Walgett.
- Right.
- All rise.
Be seated.
Apologies, Your Honour - the first witness, Sergeant Wright, has been delayed and won't be available until tomorrow.
Should I proceed with the second witness? You are confident the witness can appear tomorrow? Um Yes, Your Honour.
Then proceed.
Detective Kelleher, you were the principal investigating officer into the death of Sergeant Anthony Harrison.
I was, yes.
You have prepared a report into the investigation, which I will tender shortly.
What conclusions did you make? The deceased was engaged in a training course that involved a level of high-risk activity.
During one of these exercises, the deceased became confused in the dark, lost his footing and fell off a cliff.
He died at the scene.
And would it be correct to say there were no sounds of a struggle before Sergeant Harrison's death? Correct.
Sergeant Wright heard what he thought was a cry and then the crash of bushes breaking and then nothing more.
No noise indicating a struggle.
Now, in your report, you said you believe the evidence indicated an accidental death.
Has your opinion changed? No, it has not.
Thank you, Detective.
I tender the report.
I'd like to ask some questions, Your Honour.
I'm Anthony's father.
Yes, Mr Harrison? Did you find out why my son was doing a forced march in total darkness, in an area he'd never been to, with cliffs all around him, on less than one hour's sleep? It was explained to me it was a stage of the training course.
Do you think that sounds stupid, if not reckless? What were they trying to do to him? I can't comment on that, sir.
I can.
And ifs not called an accident.
I would counsel you to be very careful, Mr Harrison, in what you're implying.
I'm not implying it, I'm saying it.
Not that I'll get an answer.
Whole thing's closed shop.
Detective, if no other parties wish to cross-examine, then you are excused, thank you.
I need a coffee.
Yeah, full-on.
So next of kin can cross-examine witnesses just like that? Well, generally they have counsel to do it, but yes.
I said I need a coffee, skinny latte.
There's a place around the corner.
Three sugars.
Soy cappuccino coming right up.
So Why the big move for the training partner, Sergeant Wright? He get mouthy with someone? Oh, I know.
You're not gonna tell me.
They say these bush posts are alright if you're laid-back and if you can keep your blinkers on.
Then it's the same as anywhere, old son.
Same as anywhere.
Now, Nadia, four weeks after your visit to Mr Quinn's weekender, you lost your job - is that correct? - That was because of him.
- Please, just yes or no.
Four weeks after your visit to Mr Quinn's weekender, you lost your job? Yes.
And sometime later, you made a statement to police complaining that Mr Quinn had done certain things to you while you were at his house.
Sexual things.
Horrible, disgusting.
Now, the day after your visit to the weekender, you came home.
It was a Sunday night.
The following day, a Monday, you started work.
You didn't go to a doctor, you didn't tell a friend.
You didn't even tell your boyfriend, who you were living with at the time.
But you want us to believe that Mr Quinn did these things to you for almost three and a half hours only the day before.
Yes! '8 that your evidence? In fact, it would take you 23 months to report this.
He did these things It was 23 months before you reported it to police, wasn't it? Yes.
After you'd been fired from your job.
Yes.
Yes! Shall we continue? This.
And these.
And can you sign this, please? For Gail.
Richard.
Have you signed this card? Uh For Gail.
Sure.
She's lovely.
Um, hey, I was thinking.
I feel like I've come a long way in my time here, and I've had some victories, I've done some important work.
Um And w-while I like being part of a team and offering advice, I also like being independent.
So Yes? Well, I was thinking maybe, um Yes? Richard, do you know the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'? Of course.
Young man feels neglected and so looks for the attention and admiration of his colleagues by fabricating a nonexistent threat? I mean, works fine for a while, but he's eventually eaten by a wolf when everyone gets bored of his tiresome complaints.
I don't remember it like that.
But did you know that there's another Aesop story about a boy and a wolf? It's called 'The Boy Who Didn't Cry Wolf'.
Again, young man.
Again, feels neglected and undervalued by his village and/or office.
But this time when he sees a wolf, he doesn't call out anything, or nothing understandable anyway, so no-one saves him, he's eaten by the wolf - terrible story, a tragedy.
Um, am I supposed to cry wolf now? Yes! What do you want? I want to do some more challenging work.
That's all? Yeah.
Good.
So? Not yet.
Now, you've lodged a claim for victims of crime compensation, haven't you? I'm allowed.
In fact, you've claimed the maximum allowable, as well as return airfares to Bucharest, counselling and massage therapy.
They told me to do this.
I deserve something for what he does.
For offering you friendship? For offering to help with your visa? Did you find Mr Quinn attractive, Nadia? Come off it, Rhys! Didn't you tell a workmate, a Ms Sandra Harwood, that you thought Mr Quinn was handsome? No! Did you hope something might happen between you? A romance? No! But you've had relationships with older men before, haven't you? Many of them.
In fact, your boyfriend at the time was much older, wasn't he? Ignore it.
A magistrate will never let him ask you that.
Can I suggest, Nadia, that you're making all of this up? That this is the lie of a disappointed employee against a powerful older man that she felt had rejected her.
Look, objection! You know how the system works.
You're playing it to the hilt.
No! You throw some mud at Mr Quinn, Crimes Compensation will pay.
Yes! Yes what, Nadia? Yes, he should pay.
He thinks that he can just do what he likes and then sack us? He should pay.
Good.
You can't let yourself get angry.
But I am angry.
He says I look for a lover in Mr Quinn.
He blames me! I know.
We've talked about this before.
Rhys is only trying to prepare you for what might happen.
The thing is, Nadia, if you get angry, it makes you look defensive.
And a defensive witness looks like she's lying.
You did well, Nadia.
Very well.
I'll walk you out, if you like.
Can we have a moment first? Of course.
Excuse me.
What are you doing? Satisfying myself we have a case to answer.
By breaking our witnesses before they get in the box? I've spent days earning these women's trust and you call her a liar? She'll be called a lot worse this afternoon.
I suggest you think less about being Mr Fucking Empathy and more about backing me up.
Being nice won't win this.
Did you have any trouble finding the place? I have heard it can be a bit tricky.
Prick, prick, prick.
How can you even work with him? Prick, prick, pricks I work with? You'll have to narrow it down.
Oh, Rhys Cockhead Kowalski.
Oh.
That prick, prick, prick.
Why, what's he done? Oh, just everything he can to derail the Quinn committal before it even begins, and it's all about covering arse so that if it falls apart, he can say it wasn't his fault.
Rhys is a prick as a barrister, granted, but he's a good man.
He wouldn't sabotage his own case, especially one he was forced to take.
Ever thought he's just trying to be prepared? Oh, right, right, right, yeah, 'cause he just basically called our witness a slut.
Probably 'cause he's allowed to.
Not Rhys's fault the way sexual assault plays versus common assault.
If it was a common assault, if it'd been a guy walking down a dark alley who got bashed and robbed, Rhys wouldn't get to ask, âWhy were you walking down an alley at night with 80 bucks in your wallet?â Or, âDon't you think that was a bit reckless? âDon't you think you were asking for it?â Only in sexual assault can you put a victim's character in issue to such an extent.
That doesn't seem the smallest bit fucked up to you? That women victims are treated differently in the courts than men? Never crossed my mind, Ben.
Remember, you're both supposed to be on the same side.
Richard.
Tell me about feng shui.
Um Oh, I assumed you'd know.
Yes, it's the ancient Chinese art of living.
Getting the most positive chi, isn't it? Close.
A rather tricky affray.
Great! Perhaps you'd best get onto it.
So, Mrs Wolfe? Wolfe.
Carol.
Uh, my notes say that you were involved in an affray.
Which I did not start.
Before we get into the details, I'd like to go through the statement that you gave police, if that's alright? Oh, sure.
Um, so let's go back to the start.
OK.
You have a 6-month-old baby? He's nearly two now.
And your baby's name is Rama'? So that wasn't a typo.
OK.
And Rama wasn't sleeping? No, and I tried everything.
Singing, rocking, wrapping tight, wrapping loose, dummies, night-lights, mobiles.
But finally you got Rama to sleep consistently, you state, in mid-November 2010'? Yes.
It made such a difference, to both of us.
And then in late November 2010, your new neighbours moved in.
The Lees.
Andrew and Poppy.
Generation Y.
But very different to you.
How do you mean? Well, you have a poise and maturity about you.
And the same could not be said for the Lees.
So immature and selfish.
I'm sorry to hear that.
You're sensitive.
I can tell.
I feel I'm in very good hands with you.
Thanks.
Dr Zen, you were the forensic pathologist who examined Sergeant Harrison? I was, yes.
What did you find were the injuries sustained? A blunt-force trauma to the left hemisphere of the brain.
He also had a Colles' fracture to his left wrist and a scrape to his right knee.
And are these injuries consistent with a fall? A tumble down a cliff, landing on his hand and then over onto the left side of his face.
And you found the blunt trauma to the brain resulted in death? Yes.
Thank you, Dr Zen.
Uh, did you take toxicology samples? Yes.
What did you find? There were no drugs, prescription or othen/vise, in his system at all.
One final thing.
In your post-mortem report, you note you discovered Sergeant Harrison was suffering from a tumour in the brain.
That's correct.
Will you explain what this was? Sergeant Harrison's tumour was a relatively small glioma.
And would this tumour have contributed to Sergeant Harrison's death? No.
In fact, it was reasonably well encapsulated, and, in my opinion, it would have been treatable.
Thank you, Dr Zen.
I tender Dr Zen's post-mortem report.
Gary Snyder, acting for the police service.
Sergeant Harrison didn't disclose this tumour on his medical history sheet for entrance to the training course, did he? No, but that may have been an honest mistake on his part.
As I said, the glioma was relatively small.
There's a chance that Sergeant Harrison wasn't being affected by any symptoms and wasn't even aware he had it.
But you cannot say, however, that he didn't experience any symptoms? No.
So it's possible, isn't it, that on the night he died, Sergeant Harrison did experience symptoms - for example, became disoriented, suffered a seizure or even lost consciousness as a result of this tumour? Uh, it is possible.
So the fall might not have been due to the darkness or to the training exercise but due to the tumour - a tumour his instructors knew nothing about.
Isn't that a possibility? Yes.
Thank you, Doctor.
I know none of us are adversarial here, but I think our police colleagues are trying to blame Sergeant Harrison for his own death.
Do you just? Don't you just? I just saw a barrister doing his job, following evidence.
Are you serious? Some of us don't let our emotions cloud ourjudgements.
They're washing their hands of him.
But you know that already.
My family say, âLeave it alone.
You're making things worse.
â Worse? Shit.
Letting my son get treated like that by people he thought had his back.
What sort of a father would just let that happen? Look, the coroner can see what's going on, Mr Harrison.
She's not blind.
Don't want to upset your mates, eh? I've been watching you.
Handshakes.
Pats on the back.
You're one of the boys.
And my son's dead.
You'll need to be clear on that fact during cross-examination.
Sorry.
Didn't realise you'd started.
Now Ms Sesay, you say you were scared of what Mr Quinn would do to you if you left immediately after the alleged assaults.
Yes, sir.
But not so scared that you couldn't go to work, knowing you might see him there.
I had to work.
I understand.
And maybe you weren't that scared.
According to your second police statement, you and Mr Quinn had had sexual relations before - isn't that correct? I was scared of him.
You didn't tell anyone about the alleged assault for almost two years.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
And when you decided to tell someone, it was only because you'd run into Ms Tesla again at a later cleaning job.
Isn't that right? Yes, sir.
And she told you about the Crimes Compensation money for victims? No.
She didn't tell you about the compensation money? She did, but that wasn't why I told.
Nevertheless, you found out there was money to be had - money I imagine you needed.
As you say, you had to work.
I will tell you why I waited, sir.
Mr Quinn, he makes the laws.
What would happen to me from a man like that? I think you didn't report this for two years because you're making it up.
There's only one liar in this - Mr Quinn.
No further questions.
He thought we were nothing.
Dirt on his feet.
That no-one would listen to women like us.
They're listening now, and they see him for exactly what he is.
That was excellent, Bintu.
Really good.
Thank you.
I think it's time.
I wish I could be in there with you today.
Impossible, I know, and imprudent.
But I wish I was the one looking Quinn in the eye when he learns he's going to be called to account for what he's done.
There he is.
I'll call you once it's over.
Call me at the first break.
Mr Kowalski! Excuse me, please.
- Excuse me.
- What do you say to that? Thank you.
Nadia'? Nadia'? Say something quickly to the cameras.
Thank you.
Sorry about that, Carol.
I just had a bit of an emergency on another case.
Oh, sure.
But I am back with you now.
So, um, you stated that the Lees liked to play music late at night? Yes.
Karaoke.
Um, and this karaoke interfered with Rama's sleep? Andrew told me he was going for the Australian title, so he needed to practise.
Richard, I like to think of myself as a global citizen.
I make a real effort to get along with all types of people.
What future does our planet have otherwise? But the constant, repetitive singing.
It was too much.
So you contacted the police.
Yeah, who didn't take me seriously.
I mean, one of them was even laughing.
I am afraid that sometimes the police aren't as sensitive as they could be.
No, and I understand that.
They have murderers to deal with.
Which is why I bought these.
I felt like I had no other choice.
As well as a great big fuck-off flowerhorn, but I I couldn't bring that in.
Um, what is all this, Carol? I'm not a confrontational person.
I hate violence.
So I wasn't going to become physical to get them to leave.
But I thought the Chinese heritage, maybe there's something in that.
Mmm.
And finally it came to me.
Enter the dragon.
Um, you know how I said that funny thing this morning about wanting more challenging work? YES') The thing is, maybe I don't anymore.
Maybe I was challenged enough doing the work that I was doing.
You don't want the affray? I'm not saying that.
It's a great case.
Did you actually have a peek at that before you gave it to me? Why? No reason.
I just wondered if you gave it to me because, um, perhaps you thought I was good at dealing with unusual matters.
You asked for something difficult.
I scanned it, it looked difficult.
That was it.
I just hope that all the challenges weren't gonna be the same sort of challenges, if you know what I mean.
No.
What do you mean? People with certain unconventional attitudes towards the law, shall we say? Every person who walks through our door deserves diligent and impartial representation, no matter who they are or what their attitudes might be.
Of course, Tracey.
Frankly, Richard, I'm stunned by your attitude.
I thought you were better than this.
Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it, fuck it! She pretends she's completely impartial.
âL didn't even read the file, Richard.
â But what what happens is she sees a nutter and thinks, âRichard.
â Runaway-style witness? Richard.
C hange-you r-sto ry-i n-the-box-style witness? Richard.
Feng shui nutjob? Richard.
And then tie it all up in a neat little bundle and send it off to Judge Walker to complete the humiliation.
It's jammed.
I know.
What, so your witness whacked her neighbour with a mirror? That doesn't make her a nutjob.
But she didn't whack her neighbour with a mirror.
She arranged the mirror and pictures of her own dead grandparents in her window to harness the power of feng shui to whack her neighbours for her, so to speak - to get them to move out.
Well, did it work? Uh-uh.
But it did drive the other family absolutely crazy, especially when the in-laws from Singapore came to visit.
Turns out that Karaoke King's mother is a serious feng shuist, and she brought it big-time.
Well, this is great! How is it great? Finally, it ends up in a meeting in some local council dispute centre, which turns into a massive multi-party assault.
Not that we've even gotten to that part yet.
My witness had to leave halfway through her statement.
What do I do? Feng shui shit fight, hey? Be affray.
Be very affray.
Thank you.
They're heading back in.
OK.
Are you smoking? Inspector Bindall, you are the commander of the Elite Protection Group? Correct.
And you're also in charge of its training course? I am.
Could you detail the functions of the group? EPG was formed in 2004 to deal with extraordinary and high-risk police matters - sieges, searches of dangerous premises, arresting armed offenders.
And would it be correct to say there's a rigorous selection process? Has to be.
We receive hundreds more applications than we have positions available.
Best of the best.
You may have heard of the SAS.
Our selection process is partly based on theirs.
So, uh, high physical demands and psychological stresses, um, limited sleep, minimum food and water, that sort of thing? Correct.
That's brutal.
We expect a failure rate of 95%.
The exercises are tough, but they're designed so we can save lives.
The lives of people like yourself, Mr Gillies.
Mmm.
I apologise if I'm asking about the, uh training in general terms.
It's just as I understand it, there is no manual, nothing written down.
I've run this course for six years.
Over 500 candidates have come through.
And you have an excellent memory? I don't need folders full of notes.
Your Honour, because the course is flexible, I can tailor it to work on problem areas I perceive with the candidates.
Oh, and did Sergeant Harrison have problem areas? Yes.
Right.
So these physical tests are a means of weeding out unsuitable candidates? It works out that way.
I take it the candidates have their health regularly assessed during the course? Correct.
Was Sergeant Harrison struggling physically with the course? No.
So his problem area wasn't physical fitness? The course is not all about fitness.
It's also temperament.
Well, would you explain that? Part of my selection process is judging how a member might potentially fit into my team.
And you couldn't see Anthony as part of your team? Sergeant Harrison had some behavioural issues.
Talking back, you mean? Among other things.
And your course demands strict obedience? It demands silence.
You call this course brutal.
Maybe it is.
But it has to be brutal.
We're teaching these men how to use lethal force.
Oh, I thought the modern police force was about observing and interacting, thinking before we pull out our weapons.
With respect, that's in the brochure.
But that's not the real world, Mr Gillies.
In the real world, the public demand protection, not conversation.
So in your view, a candidate's measure is his ability to do the course, keep his mouth shut, not complain and learn to be a killer? Mr Gillies! I apologise.
Uh, but I am curious.
Was this talking back perhaps the real reason you ordered Sergeant Harrison on that additional night march on December 15? You knew he was exhausted, and you hoped this would break him.
Inspector? I didn't know about the brain tumour, and I'm sorry Sergeant Harrison died like he did.
But I'm glad he didn't get through my course.
If this tumour thing he had occurred in an operational situation, then perhaps many more other lives other than Sergeant Harrison's might have been put at risk.
Better it happened now than later? Yes.
Do you know how most people die from a brain tumour, Inspector? They become so tired they finally can't stay awake.
They are often surrounded by friends and family and die with some grace and dignity.
Not like Sergeant Harrison, in the bush, in the dark, alone.
Harrison lied on his medical.
It wasn't my responsibility.
With respect, I'm the leader of these men.
I know what's required for them to succeed.
With all due respect, you don't sound like much of a leader of anything.
You sound like a dictator.
Mr Gillies! This wasn't a training course.
It only had one lesson.
Talk back, and you get punished.
Mr Gillies! No, you can't be held legally responsible.
You were smart.
You didn't write anything down.
But you know and I know you are morally responsible for this young man's death! Mr Gillies! No further question.
Prick.
What are you doing? Your mate's a fuckwit.
30'? Look, the family don't want this.
We don't want this.
You don't want this.
I advise you to pull your head in.
Yes? Oh, shit! Excuse me.
We have nothing to say.
Excuse us, please.
Thank you.
No comment.
No case to answer.
What?! It's over, David.
We lost.
I know the DPP was only doing its job.
I'd like to thank my family for their love and support.
It's been a difficult The magistrate's a personal friend of the accused.
Look, I knew Morrissey before he got kicked upstairs.
He was a shitty fuckin' barrister on a shitty fuckin' list, but he had an important mate in the government.
What are you gonna do, David? Direct indictment? That's gonna strengthen our brief? That bastard raped, abused, degraded, humiliated those two women, and then he smears them as liars in court.
Thanks for the summary, Tony.
Direct indictment will get Quinn in the dock, and once he's there - it's gonna look like ego on my part.
- So? You're the bloody director of public prosecutions! Look, forget about the committal.
Go to the court of public opinion.
Take it to Adam Kent.
Talkback? Yeah, yeah.
Say you want to discuss sentencing, victims' rights.
Just show 'em the DPP aren't a bunch of soft-cocks.
Kent will naturally want to talk about Quinn, so you can Which you can't do, because you're the director of the DPP, and yet it's not strictly sub judice.
Highly political matter, more than you can let on at the moment, compelling evidence.
Justice for the underdog.
Sounds messy.
You're gonna have to go in boots and all.
If you're gonna kiss it, you might as well fuck it.
You know Adam Kent hates my guts.
No more police interviews.
Whoo! Yay! And no more, um, Detective Mach Machete.
M oretti.
M o retti.
He was hot, though.
Did you see his partner? They were, like, the hot squad.
No more Jimmy the Butcher sniffing around.
No more Butcher sniffing! No more good cop, bad cop when you know they're both bad cops.
We've already done the cops, Richard.
You've done the cops.
What are we celebrating? Quinn's charges getting dropped.
Yeah, awesome.
So, what are we celebrating? No no more You know, no more, âWho took the file?â No more, âWho took the file'? Tell us who took the file!â Hey.
I've got one.
What about no more Internet dating.
What? I said no more.
Hang on, I've got a better one.
No more guilty people getting charged.
Yeah! Awesome, hey? Awesome.
Mine mine was more fun.
No, mine is.
I'll drink to it.
They always get away with it anyway.
Hey, idiots.
This doesn't mean the file's going away.
Quinn might be even more vindictive now that he's in the clear.
It it could get worse.
You're with Adam Kent on 2CT 893, classic talk.
And, of course, the director of the DPP, Mr David Sinclair, has on many occasions been dismissive and patronising to those who would dare to discuss his deliberations.
Earlier this year, Mr Sinclair said, âAn informed public will make better judgements âthan a public that has ingested uncritically âthe pre-packaged attitudes peddled by talkback âand other uninformed commentators and entertainers.
â Well, I suppose uninformed commentators are people like me.
And those who ingest uncritically are you, who are stupid enough to listen to talkback.
But only Mr Sinclair gets it right all the time.
And that's why we've invited him on the program this morning.
Good morning, Mr Sinclair.
Good morning, Mr Kent.
Thank you for your time.
We've been trying to get you on this program for months.
As your listeners would be aware, it's been a very busy time for the DPP.
What, fishing for high-profile scalps? The DPP doesn't fish for scalps, Mr Kent.
Having said that, no-one is above the law.
That's interesting.
My producer was told specifically that you wouldn't answer questions relating to a recent case involving the attorney-general, Mr Nicholas Quinn, but that's what you seem to have been doing.
I'm making this point - the law is available for all those seeking justice.
No special privileges for certain defendants.
Come on, Davey! And you believe justice was served in the case of Mr Quinn? Well, a committal hearing is not a trial.
You believe the case should have come to trial? Well, of course I do.
Otherwise my staff and I wouldn't have brought this very serious matter before the courts.
An indictment of two rapes brought against the state's chief law-maker is not a matter the DPP does lightly.
And you believe you had evidence strong enough to bring it to trial? - Careful.
- We believe so, yes.
Of course, I can't comment on Magistrate Morrissey's findings.
You think the magistrate was wrong? You know I can't say that, Adam.
You bloody well did, son.
You beauty! You know, Mr Sinclair, when listeners hear a senior lawman like yourself talk like that, they begin to think that there's a great big gap between what they perceive to be justice and the way justice is enacted.
That is a real concern.
How do we dismantle this perception? Information.
What, from who? Commentators that you say are stupid and uninformed? That was quite an introduction.
Yes, but you said it, though, didn't you? So I did, indeed.
Don't tell me you're doing work.
Five letters.
âIrritating colleague Don't you mean four letters? What's this for'? I shouldn't have gone a witness like that.
It was unprofessional.
It was awesome.
You good? Yep.
Let's go.
Sergeant Wright, you were Sergeant Harrison's training partner for the EPG - is that correct'? Yes.
Is it also correct you were the last person to see him alive? Yes, it is.
Will you explain what a training partner is? We were paired together for all the challenges.
We shared a tent.
You know, meals.
You were meant to look out for each other? Yes.
How was the course'? It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
Did you ever discuss this course with Sergeant Harrison? We'd both done training before, Anth m I mean, Sergeant Harrison, more than me.
But most of the training you do matches in some way to what you're gonna do, and unless the Elite Protection Unit was parachuting into Kandahar, we didn't see much point to most of it.
Are you saying it seemed excessively military? Very much so.
Did you and Sergeant Harrison ever discuss this with your superiors? Of course not.
Well, why âOf course notâ? Was there no formalised feedback mechanism? Complain and you're gone.
Every candidate knew that.
So you put up with it, no matter how you were feeling, no matter how pointless and gruelling the task might seem? Yes.
Anthony Harrison questioned the course, and look what happened to him.
On the night of December 15, you'd returned, just returned, from a 19km forced march with heavy packs.
Yes, sir.
And you'd had a 2-hour intensive psychological question-and-answer session.
Yes.
And you'd just fallen to sleep.
Yes.
Were you exhausted? Totally.
You'd just fallen off to sleep when you're awoken by Inspector Bindall and ordered on an additional march, this time a night march.
Yes.
How did you feel? Shattered.
Did Sergeant Harrison feel as you did? That's what he said.
And we felt punished.
Like you were being pushed to breaking point to see if you would break? Mr Gillies.
Does it surprise you, Sergeant Wright, that in this weakened state, mentally shattered, physically exhausted, in the pitch dark Does it surprise you that Sergeant Harrison lost his bearings and fell to his death'? No, it doesn't.
Thank you.
I don't understand why we have to go through this again.
Because despite talking for over three hours yesterday, we didn't actually get through your statement.
I can hear that tone, Richard.
I'm sorry, Carol, but Can we just return to the statement? Now, at the dispute centre, you said that you were making progress.
Uh The Lees said they'd install soundproofing, you agreed Rama would sleep in a part of the house away from the noise.
No more mirrors.
No more feng shui battles.
And then we all started fighting.
But how exactly? That's the bit that I don't get.
How is it that you're talking to someone normally and then they want to hit you in the face with their palm? I'm assuming you meant hand and not tree.
Did you mean tree? I don't know.
But you were hit first, from behind? Yes.
Well I don't know.
Carol, please.
Try to concentrate.
You're getting very hostile.
I think you'll find I'm not.
I'm just trying to nail down the facts.
Men always revert to verbal violence when they can't get what they want.
Not all men! Sorry, sorry.
I'm too tired to argue all this.
The chronic fatigue, is it? What is that supposed to mean? Nothing.
You don't think it's a real condition? I don't know anything about it.
You do look very tired, though.
Oh, gee, that makes me feel great.
Carol.
I thought this would be simple.
You seemed capable.
What, so I'm the disappointment, am I? Yes.
Yes, you are.
I wish you could just do your job and make this go away.
I'm sorry.
I'm just so tired.
I need your help.
First you must take this paperclip from my hand.
Can you please just help me? My witness is she's not up to it.
She's tired and overwrought, and it's not in her interest to push this to court.
Why don't you drop the whole thing from affray to common assault? I can do that? No.
I'm level two.
I can.
And I'm saying you can.
Talk to the other side.
Say you'll accept a plea of assault and recommend a diversion program.
Any prior convictions? No.
Then tell the defence slap on the wrist for Mr and Mrs Karaoke.
You clear the case.
That simple? That simple.
Sergeant Wright.
Were you aware that Sergeant Harrison suffered from a brain tumour? No.
But you were aware that he'd been vomiting that day? We'd all been vomiting.
And that he'd complained of severe headaches? Yes.
Again, we all had them.
Were you aware that these things in particular are common symptoms of a brain tumour? Sergeant, may I remind you, you are under oath.
No.
But I knew Anth was really sick.
It was obvious.
Why didn't you tell anyone about this, Sergeant? You don't understand what it's like.
Any hint you're struggling with anything, that's a sign of weakness.
And we can't show weakness.
And Bindall was over him.
So he felt he had to try even harder to keep it all together.
Did he tell you how long he'd been having these symptoms for? A few weeks.
So Sergeant Harrison wasn't ignorant on his medical? He lied on his medical'? No.
He knew he was sick, but he didn't know what from.
He didn't He didn't want to know.
I wanted to tell someone.
He was a good mate.
You speak out of school in this job, you say the wrong thing to the wrong person and and suddenly you wind up where I am - 200 k's to the nearest dentist.
So it wasn't the rigours of the training exercise that made Sergeant Harrison so sick, disoriented and exhausted, but a pre-existing medical condition? The course didn't help.
It was that important to him to finish the course that he'd risk his health? He didn't want to be remembered as a failure.
Um, I might re-examine, Your Honour.
Would it be correct to say that Sergeant Harrison was competitive, he loved doing his best, he didn't give up easily, and that he loved his dad and he knew how proud he was of him, and he he didn't want to let him down? That's right.
Thank you, Detective.
Anth told me how you you taught him never to give up you know, tough things out.
I'm really sorry this happened.
He was a top bloke.
Any closing submissions? This inquiry has heard a lot about toughness and weakness and testing oneself to the limits of endurance.
It's heard about the price of silence and the even greater price of speaking up.
It's heard about what it means to be a man.
You know, I don't doubt that young men like Anthony Harris and Dimitri Wright need to push themselves to find their limits.
They need to know exactly what they can achieve in a potentially life-threatening situation.
But within that, a culture that doesn't allow a young man to admit that he's found his limits or reached his capabilities, that's a culture that prides itself on willed ignorance over self-knowledge, that brands the truth as weak and unmanly well, that's a culture that's unfit of the brave young men it sets out to teach.
That's a culture whose time is past and should be banished, like smoke, before more young lives are lost.
Mr Snyder, any closing submissions? Hey.
I thought we'd see you in here a bit earlier.
I stopped by and got some flowers for Margie on the way.
There's an amazing little florist down there in Milsons Point.
And the M4 traffic, of course.
I was trying to remember the last time a director of the DPP went after an attorney-general.
I think you'll find it happens to every director and every A-G at some stage.
Not like this, though.
No, not like this.
Do you still think, âWe could pursue this, but would we want to?â I was wrong.
Going after Quinn, this is exactly the sort of thing the DPP should do.
Yes, Erin? You both might want to see this.
That's why Pm announcing that from today, I'm leaving parliament and will not contest the next election.
I feel I still have much left to do, but I'll leave that to another man.
The fact is, I'm dying.
Six months ago, I was diagnosed with lymphoma, a condition I chose to keep quiet for my family's sake.
My outlook was serious then, and recent tests have shown that the cancer has metastas/sed.
My specialists have given me less than a year to live.
I was going to try and keep on working for the people of this great state, but my daughter Holly said said, âDad, âlook after yourself for once.
âBe with us.
â So that's what I'm going to do.
Now that the malicious personal smear campaign against me by the DPP is over, a campaign I am certain exacerbated my condition, I can now go on enjoying what little time I have left with those I love.
Somebody turn that bloody thing off.
Thank you.
Enjoy your little frolic? Nothing's changed, except the next time the DPP need a favour from the police Oh, piss off, Gary.
Get back under your rock.
Thank you.
I'll buy you a coffee? I owe you one.
Thank you.
Can I be inappropriate and ask what you'll find? No.
But the evidence is strong for a finding of an accident.
The brain tumour, however, can't be discounted as contributing.
And the training course? Lack of compassion from an instructor didn't kill Sergeant Harrison, Tony.
But you were right to pursue this as you did.
I will recommend more comprehensive medical screenings and that the training course be written down and formalised in the future.
Recommendations that may or may not be acted upon.
That's all we can do.
We're having Gail's birthday cake now.
Uh, yeah.
I'll just, um Did you hang that mirror near the door of the conference room? It's supposed to bring calm.
I like it.
I just Gail's card.
Just leave it.
Make a wish! I don't care if Quinn is dying.
Why should he get to spend his last moments feeling loved and respected while those women go home to nothing, no-one? I'm asking for a direct indictment.
Straight to trial? Exactly.
We go after him.
- Hip, hip! - Hooray! Hip, hip! Hooray! Hip, hip! Hooray! Hooray!