Episode 16

Lina and Janet get a surprise visit from a witness on the Gardiner case while Justice Rosenberg and Julie find themselves in trouble after Jimmy exposes a scandal.

Janet, Lina and Detective Dylan Thorne are surprised when Virginia Gardiner arrives at the DPP. Racked by guilt, she wants to help the prosecution, and agrees to make a new statement. Janet and Lina are still at loggerheads over Max. But when Virginia crumbles during the Committal in front of the formidable Judge Hansby, this already murky case is made even more complicated. only serves to raise tensions in the DPP.
As if Lina didn't have enough on her plate, she realizes that it is finally time for her and Andy to come out. When Jimmy scoops that Judge Rosenberg asked Julie to take the wrap for him on a driving offence, it starts a series of events that leads to Ben busting up with Julie, and Rosenberg losing his job in the messy scandal. Ben is excited to be going to the Supreme Court. Mrs Wallace, the kid-drugging and smothering mother has been released from hospital and found to be mentally fit to stand trial. But when Tony tells him he's already accepted the plea, Ben is furious, and goes straight to David. David soon puts him in his place, though. Richard prosecutes a ridiculous arson case, while Tatum seeks welcome distraction from a boring wire tap case.
Janet, Lina and Detective Dylan Thorne are busy prepping for the Max Gardiner Committal hearing when they receive a surprise visit from Max's mother, Virginia Gardiner. Arriving at the DPP, Virginia reveals she has had a change of heart and is now willing to do whatever it takes to help the prosecution. She cannot bear the thought that Max might hurt someone again (especially her unborn son). Virginia agrees to make a new statement and Janet and Lina (and Dylan) are polarised in their views of the significance of the fact that Max isn't Sean's biological child. Sean arrives at the DPP to reveal that all the kids knew Max wasn't Sean's biological child and that Jake was goading Max the day he died. The day of the Committal arrives and Janet is still reluctant to prosecute an eleven year old. When Virginia folds in the box under questioning from Janet, Magistrate Hansby refuses to allow her to step down. To Lina's distress, Janet sides with the Defence. Virginia assaults the Court Officer and is arrested and placed in the cells below the Court. Lina is also contending with pressure from Tariq and the amorous attentions of Dylan. Andy is not happy about this and by the end of the episode, Lina decides it's time her and Andy came out.
Court Reporter Jimmy Butcher writes an article exposing Justice Rosenberg as having driven through a red light and blaming a mystery female companion. Ben confronts Julie who denies the charges, but Ben realises that Julie is covering for Rosenberg. Later, hurrying to Court, Julie sees Jimmy and Ben chatting and assumes that Ben is ratting her out to Jimmy. Jimmy tells Julie he knows she wasn't in the car and that she signed the stat dec for Rosenberg. Julie begs him not to expose her name in the scandal, but Jimmy will not be swayed. Julie warns Rosenberg that they have been discovered and pleads with him to come clean. She won't be a part of further deception and refuses to help Rosenberg for a second time. Rosenberg is stood down in disgrace and Julie is left waiting to be assigned her new judge. Ben is excited that he's going to the Supreme Court. Mrs Wallace, the kid-drugging and smothering mother has been released from hospital and found to be mentally fit to stand trial. Tony, however, advises him that he's already well under way with plea negotiations with the Defence and they won't be going to trial. Ben is furious and tries to undermine Tony by going to David, but David puts Ben firmly in his place. Tony is right, going to trial is too risky. Ben knows, in his heart, that David and Tony are right, though it kills him to admit it..
Richard has the world's most ridiculous Arson case to prosecute while Tatum has yet another boring phone intercepts matter. Looking for distraction, Tatum runs off to Court to perve at the Supermax hotties and while there, is surprised to see Tracey doing exactly the same thing! Erin tries not to think about Rhys by dating Jimmy, even going so far as to call him her boyfriend, but when the seamier side of his profession creeps her out, she puts distance between them again. Rhys has also told her to stay away from Jimmy so that she doesn't jeopardise the Quinn trial.