australian television information archive

Not on the Merits

Steve Hennessey’s girlfriend, Kirsty Nicholls, turns to the police for protection in return for giving evidence against Mal on a drug charge.

With the Hennessey family in the court watching her every move, her courtroom experience is a nightmare. Michael Kidd attacks Kirsty's credibility as an honest person leading to an exchange in which Kirsty's testimony alters from her sworn statement, ruining the prosecution’s case.

With a grinning Shirl looking on from the gallery, Kirsty recants her original statement to the police, saying she was coerced on the promise of not going to jail herself. So with a lack of evidence against Mal, Magistrate Glenda de Bono rules there is no case for the defence to answer and discharges the case against Mal. A triumphant Shirl leaves court with Kirsty at her side.

For young Jamie Thomas, an assault charge becomes his own nightmare