Homicide — Season 8

Aired 19 January 1971 • 60 min

After discovering that she is short of money in the till, Margie, a popular barmaid in a Carlton hotel, goes to the police. She learns from the investigations that she has been fooled by two confidence men who demonstrated a 'magic trick' to her, using money from the till. The subsequent investigation soon becomes a possible murder case.

Aired 26 January 1971 • 120 min

After discovering that she is short of money in the till, Margie, a popular barmaid in a Carlton hotel, goes to the police. She learns from the investigations that she has been fooled by two confidence men who demonstrated a 'magic trick' to her, using money from the till. The subsequent investigation soon becomes a possible murder case.

Aired 2 February 1971 • 60 min

The man detectives seek for the murder of a young girl in a motel is a psychopath. But the killer eludes police with tragic results.

Aired 9 February 1971 • 60 min

Ben Davis, a depressed man under his mother's influence, takes part in a group psycho-therapy session and recalls horrifying memories from his past which throw light on a current murder case.

Aired 16 February 1971 • 60 min

Parts of Kurt Wenzel's body are found scattered in various areas. Suspects emerge when police probe his role in a fanatical political party.

Aired 23 February 1971 • 60 min

When factory hand Denny Mullins, formerly a union representative, is murdered at work shortly after clocking on, detectives learn from fellow workers that the man who replaced him as union delegate had a reason for wanting him out of the way. Complicating matters is Denny's brother Ray, who has a dubious interest in Denny's wife Jude.

Aired 2 March 1971 • 60 min

A woman journalist, Leigh Gardiner, dies after drinking a glass of port. Her husband and teenage daughter become prime suspects in a tragic situation involving drug addiction and suicide.

Aired 16 March 1971 • 60 min

When chicken farmer Alex Propi disappears, he is feared murdered when his girlfriend tells police that she heard a heated argument between Propi and his partner, followed by a gun shot.

Aired 23 March 1971 • 60 min

Blackmail, corruption, and the finding of a body in a park causes some complex problems for the Homicide squad, who find it difficult to sort out the truth from a mass of conflicting evidence.

Aired 30 March 1971 • 60 min

When two young women are strangled and another brutally attacked, detectives question the host of a party where the girls were guests. Policewoman Burke later acts as a decoy to trap the killer.

Aired 20 April 1971 • 60 min

Several small girls are attacked, and police suspect Hughie McBride, a mentally retarded, lonely man, who has befriended young Janet Forrester, who is then reported missing.

Aired 4 May 1971 • 60 min

Police investigate when elderly watchman Sid Brown is shot dead after disturbing two students painting protest slogans on a factory wall.

Aired 11 May 1971 • 60 min

Police search for Susan Scott, a girl psychopath, who they believe shot dead her boyfriend with a sawn-off rifle. They believe she could kill again. A tablet found near the victim provides an important clue for detectives when they question a doctor at a psychiatric clinic.

Aired 18 May 1971 • 60 min

Did John Meadows accidentally shoot dead a prowler at his home or was it a planned murder? Detectives are puzzled as to why Meadows returned home from a hunting trip earlier than expected.

Aired 25 May 1971 • 60 min

Englishman David Ryan dies mysteriously in his greenhouse. His diary, containing a list of women's names, provides clues to an unusual side of his character, as well as a possible motive.

Aired 1 June 1971 • 60 min

Major Curtis, a key witness in the murder trial of Jim Lennox, is shocked when Lennox is acquitted. Curtis can't understand the resigned attitude of Inspector Fox who says the case cannot be re-opened.

Aired 8 June 1971 • 60 min

After receiving anonymous letters threatening to kill her, Muriel Lumsden, an efficient shopkeeper, is shot. Homicide detectives find their task a difficult one when they discover she has many enemies due to her greater love of money than people.

Aired 15 June 1971 • 60 min

A compulsive psychopathic killer has strangled two women connected with beauty salons. The only clue for detectives is the white card he leaves behind with a large 'C' printed in lipstick.

Aired 22 June 1971 • 60 min

A devout minister, Pastor George Langley, preaches a forceful sermon. His emphasis on a particular commandment provides detectives with a clue and a number of suspects when two people are found murdered in the church building.

Aired 29 June 1971 • 60 min

The brutal murder of a service station attendant; an accident involving Sen. Det. Patterson's son, Jimmy; and the shooting dead of a criminal bring many problems to Sen. Det. Patterson when he is forced to face an inquest.

Aired 6 July 1971 • 60 min

Ruth Ritchie's death plunge in her car over a cliff edge, and a suicide note left at her home seems to be a straightforward case. But detectives suspect murder when they learn that she had invited a small girl from the local children's home, Sue Thomas, to spend another weekend with her - and the girl subsequently disappears.

Aired 13 July 1971 • 60 min

Mrs. Bettine Fraser and her seven-year-old daughter are bashed to death with no apparent motive. Suspects include a door-to-door salesman and the youth who found the bodies.

Aired 20 July 1971 • 60 min

16-year-old Kirsty Mills, just released from a girls home, has her adjustment period made more traumatic when police inquire about her father, who is believed to be involved in a hold-up and the death of a guard. She becomes more involved when police begin to suspect her criminal friend, Ron Fisher.

Aired 27 July 1971 • 60 min

Shy teenager Elly Goss disappears while on her way to her first party. Detectives fear foul play and question two layabout brothers, Arnie and Joe Watson, who were seen with the girl that evening. Involved in the investigation is Gordon Allen, whose marriage is on the rocks because he treats his wife Nola more like his mother, and Nola is embittered because of it.

Aired 3 August 1971 • 60 min

Criminal Ern Fuller is killed by a shotgun as he walks down along with his defacto, Elsie. Investigating his death, detectives question Elsie about her former husband believed to be killed in a car crash in Britain. They have reason to suspect that he could be still alive.

Aired 10 August 1971 • 60 min

An Italian prisoner is wrongly accused of taking part in the murder of a warder at Maldara Prison Farm during an escape. The actual murderer, George Mason, escapes and terrorises the people of the surrounding district.

Aired 17 August 1971 • 60 min

Marjorie Nolan, a 22-year-old computer operator, is shot dead at home. Detectives question a man known to have been at the girl's home on the night of her death. A photograph of the victim's former boyfriend from Sydney also provides a clue.

Aired 24 August 1971 • 60 min

Bikie John Murray kills to avenge the serious injury of his sister; another man kills through fear; and police race against time to prevent a third killing.

Aired 31 August 1971 • 60 min

The only witness to a murder is a wine-drunk derro; the only suspect is a stoned hippie, Rollo, who threatens Eve Harrison, the murder victim's wife. Rollo can't be found - and it takes some time to find the body.

Aired 7 September 1971 • 60 min

A man suspected of bashing a wealthy woman to death is fleeing in a car, pursued by Det. Sgt. Mackay and Det. Barnes. They find the car in the bush at Warrandyte, with a dummy rigged up in the front seat, and dynamite in the back with the fuse nearly burnt down.

Aired 14 September 1971 • 60 min

Det. Barnes is cynical when he hears that Joe Craig, known to him as a professional gunman from Sydney, is working legitimately in Melbourne as a social worker.

Aired 21 September 1971 • 60 min

Inspector Fox finds himself a possible target when a fisherman acquaintance is shot dead while Fox is on leave.

Aired 28 September 1971 • 60 min

Sen. Det. Patterson takes his family to the zoo on his day off, and is horrified when someone goes berserk with a rifle, shooting dead a number of people. Another random shooting in the city leads detectives on the trail of a man with an unusual phobia.

Aired 5 October 1971 • 60 min

Tragedy comes to Jane and Charles Hutchinson when their three-month-old baby is kidnapped during a fancy dress party at their home, which provided a perfect disguise for the kidnappers. The solitary clue police have is that two people left the party early, but there is no evidence to reveal their identities.

Aired 12 October 1971 • 60 min

The young leader of a street gang pretends to buy a gun from a sports store proprietor, then uses it to shoot him in cold-blood. After a series of armed robberies occur, police suspect the same youth is responsible.

Aired 19 October 1971 • 60 min

The discovery of a body at Stony Point, a fisherman's obsession with oil pollution and his claim that fish are dying near the Hastings oil refinery present the Homicide detectives with an intriguing case.

Aired 26 October 1971 • 60 min

When hamburger shop owner Bill Walker is stabbed to death, his son Michael, with blood on his hands, tells police that an intruder murdered his father, and when he tried to intervene his hand was slashed with the knife.

Aired 2 November 1971 • 60 min

A man is killed when the car he is driving explodes and bursts into flames. Homicide is told by Forensic that the explosives used were the work of an expert, and they later question John Turner, an electrician with past convictions.

Aired 9 November 1971 • 60 min

A young delivery van driver, Greg Lane, is killed when a parcel labelled "Handle With Care" falls at his feet and explodes. The only clues are a few splinters of wood, a piece of jagged metal, and some charred paper. With the help of Det. Bill Williams from Forensic, they are enough to enable the Homicide squad to track down a psychopathic killer.

Aired 16 November 1971 • 60 min

Playboy Roger Taylor is fascinating to women, but a pathological liar. His many affairs catch up with him when one of his old girlfriends Is killed, and police are anxious to question him about his involvement with her.