(Screaming and laughter)
Stop.
Let's go.
Radio: But first, we cross to court reporter Ben tan,
who's outside the parramatta supreme court
for the first day of a murder trial
that not everyone agrees is a murder.
Good morning to you, Ben.
Ben: That's right, Lexie,
legal opinion is fiercely divided
on whether the charges against Kate Lawson
should have made it through the committal process,
with some academics and even a retired judge
claiming the case has no merit.
And Ben, I believe the family are also divided.
They are, Lexie, and they've been very public in their disagreements.
Photographic artist, Kate Lawson, accused of killing her niece,
has been in custody since breaching her bail conditions last year.
Her defence argue that without a body,
the prosecution cannot prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that 14-year-old Claire Spears is dead.
The case, which has shocked the nation,
will go to trial this week,
with a jury set to be sworn in today.
(Camera shutters)
Woman: Mr Spears, any comment? Can you provide any comment to us?
Mr Spears, will you put your faith in a jury?
What I believe is that a jury
will find that my daughter was an innocent teenager
who was in the wrong hands.
(Beeps) Could I just get your bag, please?
Thanks.
Your t-shirt. You can't wear that in court, sir.
Ok, go through.
Mr Colby.
Thank you, sheriff.
Good morning. Good morning.
Good morning, Kate. Morning.
Pastries, from your sister.
Did you bring my...
I did. Right here.
Might I suggest, this is a slightly more jury-friendly shade, you know?
Anyway, have a pastry, then take these.
They'll help.
They've already given me my meds.
Who's they?
The prison psychiatrist.
And you've taken them?
'Cause last report,
I had mentioned something about self-harm.
Do I need to worry? How are you feeling?
They've put me in with child murderers
for my own protection.
Being depressed is a pretty normal response to that.
Fair enough.
Anyway, these are just beta-blockers.
They'll... they'll keep you calm in the dock, you know?
They're my son's pills. They're for stage fright.
I don't want them.
Ezekiel, are you sure that
they're not going to bring up what we spoke about?
Don't worry, Kate. We've dealt with that.
Put it out of your mind now.
Kate, listen to me.
From here on,
the most important thing is how you appear to the jury.
Your look, your behaviour...
But this is my look.
This is...
This is my behaviour. They'll be watching you.
They'll be forming opinions.
Show emotion, that's fine, but above all, no histrionics.
Do you understand?
Boo.
I just wish she'd come back.
Well, we all wish that.
But Kate.
The jury is everything.
Judge: Would the defendant please stand?
Kate Dawson, you are indicted
by that name that you, on 14 September 2019,
at castlecrag, in the state of new south wales,
did murder Claire Spears.
How say you? Are you guilty or not guilty?
Not guilty.
Members of the jury panel, if your number's drawn,
please stand and make your way to the jury box,
and if challenged, please return to your seat.
6-1-1-0-8.
6-1-2-5-4.
Bloom: Challenge.
If you could return to your seat please, madam.
6-1-2-1-6.
6-1-1-1-3.
6-1-0-4-5.
6-1-2-3-3.
6-1-0-7-9.
6-1-1-2-9.
Colby: Challenge.
You're excused from the court, madam.
6-1-0-2-2.
Number 0-2-2?
Fuck.
Challenge.
You have no further challenges,
unless you're making a challenge with cause, madam crown.
His t-shirt, your honour.
Yeah, sorry, I forgot the t-shirt said that.
That's why I turned it inside out before I came in.
I see. Thank you for explaining.
Are you willing to respect the decorum
of the court in this trial?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Join the jury.
6-1-0-7-2.
I thought that he said they were only going to choose 12?
They said there'd be two additional jurors,
just in case the trial takes a few months.
6-1-0-1-7.
Number 0-1-7?
For those of you who are taking the affirmation, please rise.
Do you solemnly and sincerely declare
and affirm that you will give a true verdict,
according to the evidence?
If so, please say 'i do.'
all: I do.
How do you know whether to take an oath or an affirmation?
People who are not christians don't take an oath on the Bible.
And it's binding, regardless.
Sorry. Excuse me, sorry.
Sorry.
Do you know, if there is 14 of us,
do we all have to stay until the end of the trial?
No idea. Well, we do.
If there are still 14 at the end,
then we each take a ballot to see which 12 get to vote.
Does anyone know if we can use phones during the trial?
Says no in the information booklet.
I've got a business to run.
Well, who knows? Maybe she'll just turn up halfway through the trial.
They never found her body, right?
Oh, should we introduce ourselves?
Trevor. We can stay anonymous.
Isn't that what they said?
Yeah.
Maybe we should stay anonymous.
(Laughs)
We don't have to give surnames.
Mm.
Well, it's up to the group.
Well, we're humans, not numbers.
I'm Vanessa.
Simon.
Margaret.
Peter.
I'm corrie.
I'm garry.
Hey, you look familiar. You're not from glebe, are you?
Parramatta.
Alexi. Hi.
Farrad.
Jarrod. Hey.
Farrad and jarrod.
My name's Lily.
I don't want to give my name.
Can we just call you number eight?
Suits me.
Mel. Hi.
Georgina. Hi.
Anyone else feel like they're at a 12-step meeting?
(Laughter)
At least we're getting paid for it, though.
106 bucks and change a day.
It costs me ten times that.
Maybe we should just go over the rules again.
So we can't make any inquiries outside the courtroom,
which means we can't Google anything,
read any media coverage on the case, visit the scene of the crime...
How do they police that?
I don't know but it says here it's a criminal offence,
so I probably wouldn't do it.
And it's the responsibility of jurors
to report misconduct of another jury member.
Like what?
That's if we find out someone's been looking up the case on the Internet.
Or if we're discussing it with the media.
So any volunteers to be jury foreman?
Foreperson.
I'll do it.
Anyone else?
I'm happy to do it too.
Too slow. You snooze, you lose.
There are two takers. We'll vote.
All in favour of corrie, wasn't it?
Corrie, yeah. Say aye.
Aye. Aye.
She's got it.
It's cool. If you'd like to do it, you should do it.
You had your hand up first.
I was only offering you a way out.
Jamie, we're home!
Hello.
Dad. Dad.
Oh, hey!
Oh, my goodness, there's way too much love in this room.
Argh. Just get off me, you little monsters. Get off.
Alice, go start your piano practice.
I'll come help you in a sec. Ok? Come on, boys.
Come and play minecraft.
Hey. Hey.
What's for dinner?
Chicken and salad.
Oh, how was the jury duty thing? Did you get out of it?
Yeah.
They let you off?
Yep.
Great work, George.
Did you wear what I suggested?
Yeah, I looked like a hooker.
(Chuckles)
(Heavy breathing)
Stop. Stop. Stop.
You ok?
I hate this house.
I need to get rid of it.
Jane: Hey, Alexi, I know it's your weekend,
but Dan has a few days off
and we're thinking of taking the girls camping.
So if we could do a handover tomorrow instead, that'd be great.
Let me know.
Nice of you to show up, bro.
Told you, I've got jury duty.
What excuse did you give 'em?
None.
Sorry?
I'm on the jury.
What, so I'm working my balls off doing two jobs,
and you're swanning around, calling yourself the ceo?
Fuck that.
Does Helen know you're sitting here getting pissed?
I might be a little bit pissed, alright,
but someone's gotta do the paperwork.
Someone's gotta do this, or we might spook the buyers.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll be ready, don't worry.
Alright, this can wait. I'm taking you home.
New south wales police have issued an Amber alert
for a 14-year-old schoolgirl,
missing from Sydney's northern suburbs.
Claire Spears, a border
at the exclusive Norwich ladies college
was last seen by her aunt.
Police are appealing for public assistance
to locate a 14-year-old schoolgirl missing on Sydney's north shore.
Claire Spears was...
Are not you meant to be not watching any of this?
Shh.
Reporter: Police have made a shock breakthrough
in the Claire Spears case,
today arresting her aunt after a six-week investigation
into the schoolgirl's disappearance.
Claire, if you're listening to this
we just want you to come home safely, sweetheart.
We love you.
This is what mum doesn't want you to see.
5pm and she hasn't moved since breakfast.
What are you doing?
Claire: Prepping for family therapy.
Oh, don't be a bitch.
I know, right?
It's pathetic.
Do you ever feel she's still out there,
watching this whole fucking circus?
Maybe.
(Sombre instrumental music)
Jarrod: I got selected for jury duty.
Oh, that's great. Yeah.
Anyway, I took my jury duty form to student services,
and they said I had to let all my lecturers know.
Good to know you're on jury duty.
Now I know you're on the electoral roll.
Is this the Kate Lawson trial? Yeah.
Ooh! When does it start?
Today.
And this won't stop you coming to my night classes?
Night? Two nights a week,
that's how the part-timers do the course
when they're working full time.
Well, what if I can't?
You have won the Stewart scholarship.
Jarrod, that's a privilege.
I'm not, not motivated, I just... Ok, great.
Let me put it like this, then.
There has been a history of kids like you letting me down,
it is pretty disappointing.
My tolerance level is this high.
You can still buck the trend.
Reporter: Today marks the first day of proceedings
in the controversial trial of Kate Lawson,
which is expected to last ten weeks or more.
One high court justice has slammed...
Yeah. So I'm trying to line up one of the school mums
for the pick-up,
but I just can't ask them to do it for weeks on end, you know.
Well, I don't have enough brownie points.
Yeah.
Hey?
What if I just don't turn up?
They've got extras.
Quick, before a bus rams my arse.
You know, you can just drive us to the beach.
We can swim. Sunbake?
Get the fuck out of my car, bitch.
Seriously, what are they going to do if I'm a no-show?
They'll fine you.
We can't afford it.
Yeah. No, that... it's fine.
Just sit them in front of the telly and give them a snack
and some homework and...
Honestly, Gabby, I can't thank you enough.
Alright. Thanks, Gabby.
Slightly different vibe today.
You were hoping they weren't going to pick you, right?
Yeah, well, bummer for you. They don't mind a hot mess.
Reporter: First day of the trial.
Hi. Hey.
..Kate Lawson's defence team.
When asked to plead
by supreme court judge, justice muir,
Kate Lawson gave a firm "not guilty."
The artist, whose provocative photographs
of her 14-year-old niece haunt these proceedings,
stood silent in the dock while the jury was sworn in
for what is expected to be a two-month trial.
Morning, bloom. Don't fuck it up.
Fuck you too, Colby.
You don't have to be here.
We're not going to call you for weeks.
I can't be anywhere else.
Ok.
Officer: Would the defendant please rise?
Claire Spears was 14 years old when she was murdered
by Kate Lawson...
..And her body dumped.
She was strangled with her own school tie.
We know from Claire's social media that she was a bright young girl,
blossoming with life and talent...
..Vibrant, beautiful,
embracing the promise of her future.
But all of this was taken away.
She was seduced into sexual role-playing,
becoming an object of obsession in Kate Lawson's artwork.
Artwork that graphically depicts an adult grooming, exploiting
and ultimately murdering a child that Kate had the duty to protect.
We will show evidence
that Kate Lawson dragged Claire's dead body through the bush
and dumped her in Sydney harbour.
It's the only reasonable explanation to fit the facts.
Claire was loved by her family, adored by her friends,
followed by a dedicated online community
all who threw their hearts into searching for the missing girl.
And while her loved ones looked for her,
Kate Lawson covered her tracks.
Conscious of her own guilt,
she went to extraordinary lengths, destroying evidence
and lying to the police.
Leaving Claire's mother, Diane...
..Eternally trapped in ambiguous grief,
a grief with no answers...
Your honour.
I have a matter to raise in the absence of the jury.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, from time to time matters arise
and I need to speak to the crown and defence counsel alone.
So I'll ask you to retire to the jury room
and wait until you're recalled.
I hope it won't be too long.
Thank you.
So what, they just send us in here
when they don't want us to hear something?
Yeah, looks that way.
What do they not want us to hear, the truth?
Judging by how they reacted,
she must have mentioned things prejudicial to the case.
Since when does the law care about being prejudiced, mate?
Hm. She's had a privileged life.
Who? Jarrod: Kate, the killer.
I don't think we're meant to see her as a killer just yet.
Yeah, nah, I'm kidding.
Keep an open mind.
It's intriguing how it all works, isn't it?
Yeah...
(Scoffs) ..But also daunting.
Guilty, not guilty.
What if we can't decide?
I think I already know.
Best I keep my thoughts to myself, I think,
at least till we've heard all the evidence.
The phrase used was "ambiguous grief."
My learned friend is, in effect,
making a victim's impact statement in her opening address.
I'll ask the jury to disregard those words,
and madam crown, aim for relevant and probative.
Yes, your honour.
And speaking of probative,
your honour has already ruled that the artwork cannot be used
to suggest a tendency to murder... And I didn't.
The artworks are evidence that Kate groomed Claire,
instructing her in the auto-erotic asphyxiation technique
that killed her.
Judge muir: Mr Colby, I agree with madam crown here
but I warn you, ms bloom, it's a very fine line.
Understood, your honour.
And we'll resume after lunch.
And as per my previous ruling,
you will not mention the historical crime
or reference excluded material, no matter how nuanced.
Hey.
Did you have any problem getting out of work or uni?
I mean, do they really expect us not to Google the case?
I think we have to try and avoid it.
Yeah, but it's been in the news for years already.
Members of the jury?
Judge has decided to resume after lunch.
You told me they wouldn't be able to use any of that against me.
The old story won't come up,
but the judge is allowing your artwork as evidence of context.
There's nothing we can do about that.
Fuck!
Kate, this is exactly what we have to avoid.
You can't get upset like this... Did you see their...
Did you see their faces? The jury?
Did you see their faces? Yes, the jury.
They hate me. Kate...
They... they fucking hate me.
Listen, Kate. I've been watching.
Nobody hates you, ok?
Now you just need to trust the process.
Hm?
Anyone like a fork? Thanks.
I do understand what you're saying, Simon. I do.
Parramatta? Yeah.
Near there. Yeah, I'm out that way.
I worked a big job site at camellia a couple of years.
Camellia? Yeah.
Don't know where that is.
Oh, hey. Do you go to the horse races?
Sometimes.
So that's where I recognise you from, Rose hill.
Maybe.
It's a yes or no answer.
Why would she kill her niece?
That's what everyone's been saying all along.
Why? It makes no sense.
The lawyer made it sound like it was a hotbed of lesbian sex,
so who knows what went on.
Ignore that.
Does anyone want sauce?
No sauce for me, thanks.
Yeah, tomato.
Jarrod: I'll get some barbecue. Lily: Is there any chilli?
Yes.
Thank you. Thanks.
Salt?
Pepper. Pepper?
It's Diane. Hey, come on.
Come on.
You should be aware.
There'll be things you don't want to know
when I get on the stand. Ok.
Claire's nickname for you will probably come up.
She called you 'puttana siciliana'.
If they ask, I'm going to have to answer honestly.
That's enough, Diane. No, no, no, I'm being genuine.
I just want you to know it's not personal.
It's just the truth.
They'll bring up the fact you never paid child support, too.
Yeah, right.
Well, if it is all about the truth then I hope they get across
how screwed up your sister is,
and how you never listened.
Oh, go ahead Nathan, blame me, you always have.
Has he leached you dry yet?
Just go ahead for a sec. I'm ok. Uh...
Please, just for a sec.
Fuck.
Is that necessary?
Look at me.
You sound pathetic, Diane.
You're damaged.
And you and your sister, you're a matched pair,
you know that?
Let's go.
Nathan.
We don't know each other, obviously, but here's something about me,
I have always loved a good story.
A story well told is a beautiful thing.
And we as humans, we crave a good yarn,
something that captures our imagination.
And this,
this is what the prosecution is relying on.
Your desire, your human desire for a good yarn,
for salacious gossip.
Here we go.
Because what the police and the prosecution have done here
is construct a narrative that has no real basis in fact.
It is just a story.
There is no real evidence against Kate Lawson.
And they've done this to cover the glaring weakness in their case.
There is no body.
There is not enough substantial evidence
that anyone is dead, let alone murdered.
There is no real evidence of intent of motive
and there is no evidence
that the defendant was a bad influence on her niece.
Kate Lawson was, and is, a loving aunt.
My learned friend would have you believe
that Claire was an angelic, delightful child,
but that is not so.
Claire Spears was headstrong, she was full of adolescent curiosity
and more than anything, she was deeply, deeply troubled.
Now, no one knows what's happened for sure, to Claire.
But what I do know for sure
is that Kate Lawson had nothing to do with it.
So, I beg you, to pay attention,
to pay close attention.
Not to the bells and whistles
and the dramatics of the prosecution's narrative,
but to the silent, gaping holes in their case.
You cannot find my client,
a woman whose fate is now entirely in your hands,
you cannot find her guilty
as long as there is any reasonable doubt.
Now the defence will be putting forward
an alternative scenario to that of the crown.
Though the police searched Kate Lawson's property and her car,
they did not extend the search to other suspects.
Hey, you know you're not meant to show emotion?
I could see you leaning in on her lawyer's speech.
Where does it say on the info sheet that we can't show emotion?
You need a poker face.
Yeah, if you're playing poker, maybe.
All I'm saying is, you're the head juror,
you need to set an example.
Ok.
Thanks for mansplaining that.
See you, guys.
See you, mate.
Bet you ten bucks I can make you thank me.
Sorry?
Thank you.
Parked nearby?
Uh, I took public transport.
Really? Yeah.
I hate public transport.
Oh, god, dammit.
Yeah, I hate parking tickets.
So what do you do?
I'm running my dad's construction company with my brother,
till we sell it.
How about you?
I work at Vinnie's.
It's a charity shop.
I know, I know.
Yeah.
Ok, I'm gonna go.
Do you want a lift?
Ah, no, I'd rather take the bus.
You owe me ten bucks!
What?
(Sighs)
What?
Did you know?
About what?
Claire's name for me was puttana siciliana?
No, I didn't know.
That's ridiculous anyway, right?
You're not even sicilian, you're venetian.
Hey, Sonia, you know what this is, right?
This is Diane trying to hurt us.
You know that.
Sweetheart, open the door.
(Sighs)
Hey.
Why couldn't you help me pay for our honeymoon?
Why are you asking me this now?
Because you're always saying you can't afford things
because of child support,
but she said you haven't been paying any.
Well, it's a lie.
It's a lie. Ok.
Look, I didn't...
I didn't pay weekly.
I didn't have an account set up where it went into automatically,
but, I gave Claire money all the time.
All the time, alright?
I paid money to the school.
Alright, it was, it was in like, lump sums.
Ok, I did.
Ok, ok.
Hey, jarrod.
Wait up.
If it wasn't for the scholarship, I'd ditch her class altogether.
Dude, report her.
What she said was racist.
That's not gonna fly, man.
She's a blackfella, too.
Home-grown, baby.
None of that hydro shit.
Nah, not for me.
I got night class bullshit.
'Death of the author'.
Is that one of those whodunits?
Righto, bra.
I gotta go.
Alright, see ya.
I didn't expect to see you here.
(Laughter)
Ok.
Five principles in 'the death of the author'.
One, the author's intention does not...
It explains everything in there.
And they think it's going to take about two to three months.
Thank you.
So you won't be able to work.
Is that ok?
I'm sorry. No! It's not your fault.
Think she did it?
We're not really meant to talk about it.
Can you please pass me the brown one?
Thank you very much for picking them up,
and I'll try and sort something out with the other mums.
Honestly, it's fine. The school's just around the corner, alright?
Is there any reason Jamie can't pick them up while the trial's on?
Got it.
We're not supposed to talk about that, either.
Um, kids, you want to grab your bags?
You ready to go?
Thank you.
Don't lose that crayon.
Alright... And that one.
Thanks, Gabby. See ya, kids.
Say, bye. Thanks, bye-bye.
See you later, alligators.
In a while, crocodile.
Let's go.
Just out the front here, ok?
Higher? Yeah!
Woo! Oh, careful!
Hold on!
Alright, higher?
Both: Yeah!
Hey, your mum's here.
Oh, yeah!
Hey, girls, girls, girls, your bags!
Does dad get a hug?
See you next week.
I love you, bye. Mum: Hi!
(Excited chatter)
(Intercom ringing)
Who is it?
Oh, hi, it's Michael sleiman from the real estate agency.
We have an appointment. Yeah, just a sec.
Not this time, I have a job.
I'll have the cash next week.
Yeah, well if you break my legs I'll be even less use to you, mate.
Yeah, sweet, hold off until... (Truck honking)
Hello?
Oh. Corrie d'souza?
Yeah.
Come in.
Thanks.
Are you the owner?
Yeah.
I only ask because you seem young.
Um, yeah.
My parents are dead. Oh.
I'm sorry.
That's ok.
It's an amazing place.
Thank you.
When was it built?
Um...
A lot of people love to know the history of the house.
(Groans)
Reporter: From the crown prosecutor, Lucy bloom, sc,
and the judge called a recess.
Alleged murderer, Kate Lawson,
a significant figure in the art world,
appeared agitated in the dock.
The opening address by prominent criminal barrister,
Brett Colby, sc, focused on the lack of evidence,
warning jurors that the prosecution
would be relying on the case's notoriety
to convince them of Kate Lawson's guilt.
Parallels have been drawn to other high-profile cases
where public opinion has swayed the verdict,
including the highly contentious case...
(Indistinct chatter)
(Deep sigh)
You were home late today. Hmm?
Is there someone else?
What, don't you think you're enough for me?
I wouldn't blame you.
I know I'm not the easiest guy to live with.
(Moaning)
Mum!
Oh, no.
Mummy!
No, don't go.
No, I've gotta go. Don't...
I've gotta go.
Just hold that thought.
Reporter: Will you put your faith in a jury?
Man: What I believe is that a jury will find
that my daughter was an innocent teenager who was in the wrong hands.
Another goodnight kiss.
This is probably that trial you would have been put on, yeah?
This is what this is about. Yeah.
Just going to brush my teeth.
Reporter: When asked to plead
by supreme court judge justice muir,
Kate Lawson gave a firm "not guilty."
The artist, whose provocative photographs
of her 14-year-old niece haunt these proceedings,
stood silent in the dock
while the jury was sworn in for what is expected to be a two-month trial.
Did you get put on that jury after all?
Um...
I can't be cer... not really.
Not really?
What does that mean, Georgina? Are you on it or not?
I'm just... I'm an extra juror.
They chose 14 instead of 12.
Do you have to be there every day?
Right, so you are on the jury.
I tried to get out of it...
So you lied to me?
Yeah, I did.
I'm sorry.
I was gonna tell you. When?
After you'd softened me up with a blow job?
Jamie?
You can't be serious.
Please open the door.
Please don't do this!
(Sombre music)
(Heavy breathing)
(Crying)
Captioned by ai-media ai-media. TV