Janus
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.
Overview
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
1. Malice Aforethought (Part 1)
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.
2. Malice Aforethought (Part 2)
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.
3. Not On The Merits
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.
Cast & Crew
Simon Westaway
Peter Faithful
Jennifer Jarman-Walker
Cath Darby
Chris Haywood
Michael Kidd
Jeremy Kewley
Vic Manoulis
Brett Swain
Mal Hennessey
Leon Teague
Steve Hennessey
