Janus

Name: Janus
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 1994-09-01
Rating: 9
Cast: Simon Westaway, Jennifer Jarman-Walker, Chris Haywood, Jeremy Kewley, Brett Swain

★ 9 /10 (2) • 1994–1995

Drama Crime

Creator Tony McDonald, Alison Nisselle

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.

Seasons

Episodes

Country

Australia

Status

Ended

Cast

Simon Westaway

Peter Faithful · 26 eps

👤

Jennifer Jarman-Walker

Cath Darby · 14 eps

Chris Haywood

Michael Kidd · 26 eps

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Louise Siversen

Judge Glenda De Bono · 26 eps

Jeremy Kewley

Vic Manoulis · 26 eps

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Felix Nobis

Rob Griffin · 24 eps

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Leon Teague

Steve Hennessey · 23 eps

Brett Swain

Mal Hennessey · 22 eps

Belinda McClory

Kirsty Nichols · 18 eps

Tracy Mann

Tina Bertram · 17 eps

Jane Menelaus

Jenny · 15 eps

Sean Scully

Ian Cochrane · 13 eps

Jack Finsterer

Bronowski · 11 eps

Nique Needles

Darren Mack · 8 eps

Maude Davey

Leslie Keilor · 4 eps

Damien Richardson

Gazza · 3 eps

Jim Daly

Journo · 3 eps

Shane Lee

Male Reporter · 3 eps

Chris Connelly

Chris · 3 eps

Marion Heathfield

Betty · 3 eps

Peter Hardy

Gavin Lindsay · 3 eps

Kevin Summers

Don · 3 eps

Alan Dale

Richard Issacs · 2 eps

David Whiteley

Court Security · 2 eps

Grant Piro

Cassidy · 2 eps

Neil Melville

Sergeant Morris · 2 eps

Chris Bidlo

Prisoner · 2 eps

Reviews

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Where to Watch

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Episode Guide

Malice Aforethought (Part 1)

01 Sep 1994

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.

Malice Aforethought (Part 2)

01 Sep 1994

Not On The Merits

08 Sep 1994

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.

A Rare Crushing Reversal

15 Sep 1994

Having attacked Kirsty outside of court months earlier [ep 3], Rhonda Hennessey is now on trial herself facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice for threatening Kirsty to keep her from testifying against Mal and Steve. Despite a last minute attempt by the defence to keep Kirsty from testifying due to her delicate condition (she is now six months pregnant with Steve's child), Kirsty takes to the witness stand for the prosecution but in recounting the incident, she is evasive and downplays Rhonda's threats.

Judgement Amongst Short Men

22 Sep 1994

A youth is charged with a long list of offences, including attempted murder, after a high-speed chase ends with him nearly running down a police officer. The young man refuses to give his name to investigators and is remanded into custody until such time as he reveals his name.

Reckless Indifference

29 Sep 1994

Steve Hennessey appeals for bail on a minor drug charge, and his lawyer Michael Kidd plays the system well. Kidd delays the hearing to a date when all the top prosecutors will be tied up and gets the case before a favourable magistrate.

Without Consent

06 Oct 1994

The pressure is finally beginning to tell on Steve Hennessey. He has a fight with his girlfriend Kirsty the night before his bail hearing and goes out to drown his sorrows. He ends up crashing at a mate’s house and misses his bail hearing. This is not a clever move as the robbery squad have linked him with a recent bank job. The police haul him back to jail and charge him with armed robbery.

Fail To Appear

13 Oct 1994

Steve Hennessey is still on the run. However, Kenny, a small-time crook and criminal colleague of Steve’s, is facing an attempted murder charge after a bank job went wrong and he wants to make a deal with the cops. Kenny used to use the Hennesseys’ safe house whenever the heat "got a bit tropical" and he is sure that is where Steve is hiding now and offers Peter Faithful the address as part of a plea bargain.

A Mischevious Offence

20 Oct 1994

Vic Manoulis tries to remain impartial when justice-seeker Michael Kidd takes on the defence of two detectives charged with assaulting a bouncer, an event that leaves the cops with a lot of mixed emotions. Kidd is a crafty operator, but a man who makes a living defending cop-killers seems somewhat inapt for this case.

A Familiar Utterance

27 Oct 1994

The drug trial of Steve Hennessey and Darren Mack begins in the County Court with Michael Kidd and Vic Manoulis taking their places at the bar table. The prosecution’s case isn†t helped by their star witness, Dale Cassidy, a former drug addict who knows that turning on the Hennessey’s may cost him his life, being so scared of retribution from the Hennessey clan that he attempts suicide on the first morning of the trial. He does, however, finally make it to court and puts in a surprisingly good performance, despite being scowled at by Mal and made to sound unreliable by Michael Kidd.

Without Prejudice

03 Nov 1994

It seems that fate is conspiring to keep Steve Hennessey out of jail—even though the evidence against him is overwhelming. As Steve and Darren Mack’s heroin-dealing trial enters its fourth week, a lengthy prison sentence looks likely, given their appalling past records, and Steve’s recent jail escape hasn’t exactly endeared him to the authorities.

Improper Influences

10 Nov 1994

Peter Faithful’s evidence against Steve Hennessey and Darren Mack proves to be extremely incriminating. However, it is up to Michael Kidd to discredit the experienced detective. He accuses Peter of conducting a vendetta against the Hennessey family, improper police practices, carrying out illegal searches on the Hennessey home, and planting drugs.

Burden Of Proof

17 Nov 1994