Judge John Deed: Season 5

For Judge John Deed (Martin Shaw, Death in Holy Orders, The Murder Room), following the letter of the law can be tricky. Deed presides over a murder that threatens to uncover corruption in prison, while the case of an animal rights activist accused of murdering a scientist brings Deed into conflict with his own daughter. Meanwhile, his relationship with Jo Mills deteriorates when her former lover returns out of the blue.

1. Hard-Gating
A young black man is stabbed to death in a shared cell - by a known racist - a week before he is due for release. Over-crowding is the Prison Service's excuse, but the Judge's questioning reveals that this prison wasn't up to capacity. Eventually, it becomes clear that the murder was a set-up and the killer was manipulated by the principal prison officer. Deed, meanwhile, is hearing a case at appeal with Sir Joseph Channing and Morag Hughes. A drunk driver has killed a young boy and pleaded guilty. Sir Joseph believes they should reduce the sentence in line with the government's sentencing directive, which Deed won't accept. Deed tells Sir Ian Rochester that they need to look at who they're putting in prison, and why. With this in mind, Deed shocks everyone by eventually ruling for a non-custodial sentence, on condition that the driver meets the victim's family as an act of reconciliation. Throughout the case, Jo Mills becomes increasingly distant from Deed. When he challenges her, she says that she's learning to live without him. What she fails to tell him is that Marc Thompson has returned from South Africa.

2. My Daughter, Right or Wrong
A fire-bomb in the animal "hotel" of the science faculty at Sussex University destroys the new multi-million-pound building and kills a scientist. Henry Free, an animal rights movement organizer is put on trial for murder. He refuses to name anyone else and, armed with information from an informer and some dubious forensic evidence, the police investigation implicates him in a conspiracy to destroy the building. Charlie Deed gets the case as defense junior but when Henry falls out with and sacks his counsel he begs Charlie to represent him. Despite opposition from her father, Charlie runs the case on her own, but finds it impossible to separate her personal beliefs from her professional role. Realizing that she's losing the case she risks everything by personally investigating the identity of the police informer. When Deed finds out, he and his daughter come to blows. Marc Thompson and Jo Mills have re-ignited their relationship. In response, Deed declares his love for Jo, but she walks away. Deed turns for solace to Morag Hughes, a newly appointed judge, not realizing that she is in Sir Ian Rochester's camp. When Jo points this out to him, he refuses to believe it.

3. Lost Youth
At Marc Thompson's hospital, staff resuscitates a comatose two-year-old boy. Marc tells the child's parents that it would be in the baby's best interests if they did not resuscitate him again. The parents believe it is God's will that he should live and say they'll fight for him in court. Jo Mills is in front of Deed defending a teenager, Macdonald Brock, accused of stealing a mobile phone. After court, she goes to see Deed and drops a bombshell. She is going to marry Marc. Back in court the jury find Macdonald guilty. A shocked Jo says that he is likely to self-harm if incarcerated. When the Judge gives him two years, Jo is incensed and accuses him of getting back at her for agreeing to marry Marc. She tells Deed that whatever happens to the boy will be his responsibility. Deed spends the night with Morag. The next morning Jo informs him that Macdonald has been found hanging in his cell. In the baby case, the Judge decides in favor of the parents; the doctors must resuscitate the baby. Jo accuses Deed of trying to save this baby's life because he feels guilty about Macdonald. But when, miraculously, the baby regains consciousness, Jo's anger thaws.

4. Silent Killer
Gilly Bridges is rushed into hospital with breathing difficulties. She has neuron disease. Gilly's husband, Jake, is suffering from stomach cancer and has been forced to retire from the police force. They are convinced that their illnesses have been caused by a mobile phone mast that has been erected above their flats and is used by the police for internal communication. They are suing the local council and Judge John Deed hears the case. Meanwhile, Rose Hussein, the wife of a former minister in the Iraqi government, approaches Deed. She claims that her husband, three children and seven grandchildren were poisoned and killed by depleted uranium used by the British Army on its shells. She wants to sue the British Government, but no one will take on such a political case and she has come to Deed as a last resort. Later, Deed tries to persuade Jo not to marry Marc, but she tells him that it's too late. He also tries to persuade her to take on Mrs. Hussein's case. Marc's behavior is increasingly erratic, but Jo puts it down to stress over having to go back to South Africa to answer questions about some medical procedures he helped to pioneer.

Directed by Andy Hay, Steve Kelly, Jonny Campbell
Written by G.F. Newman
Produced by G.F. Newman
Executive Produced by Ruth Caleb, Mal Young, Alison B. Matthews, Richard Burrell
Original Music by Debbie Wiseman
Cinematography by Peter Chapman
Film Editing by David Kew, Cassian Hall, Nigel Cattle, Nick Ames
Costume Design by Colin Lavers, Robert Lever