The show begins with young Kate Lawson (Jade Potts) taking pictures of Belinda Bain (Charlotte Lucas).

Diane Spears (Jenni Baird) hears Steve Dokic (Shane Connor) demand Robbie Lawson (Oscar Redding) tell the truth. She enters the hallway just as Dokic walks past. Inside the courtroom, Robbie looks shaken on the witness stand.

In a flashback, young Kate, young Robbie Lawson (Kai Lewins), and young Diane Lawson (Ava Carmont) watch a news segment about the arrest of young Steve Dokic (Joshua Brennan). The report says Belinda was discovered in the trunk of Dokic’s car. Andrew Lawson (Julian Garner) flips off the TV.

Back to the present – Judge Muir (James Lugton) asks Kate Lawson (Kate Mulvany) if she would like to continue. Brett Colby (Sam Neill) warns her that the jury is now tainted. She tells him that she can’t endure another trial. Ezekiel Aku (Mandela Mathia) suggests grounds for an appeal would be off the table if the jury finds her guilty. She says if Dokic’s story goes public, it will reach any future jury.

The jury discusses a potential Kate and Dokic relationship. Corrie D’Souza (Pallavi Sharda) suggests they wait for word from Muir before moving forward.

Lucy Bloom (Amy Kersey) denies any knowledge of Dokic’s court interruption. Colby tells Muir that the defense knew nothing even though Dokic’s stunk put admissible information out to the jury. Muir orders the Court Sheriff (Lee Robinson) to bring the jury back into the courtroom.

Robbie tells the jury that any correspondence from Claire was negative. Colby asks him to read his last text from Claire. He says the text cursed everyone, including himself. Colby asks if Claire’s text alluded to her wanting to run away. He says, “Yes.” Colby tells him that Claire did run away to his home. He denies the allegations before suggesting she may still be alive if she did.

Vanessa Young (Catherine Van-Davies) tells Margaret Brown (Gennie Nevinson) that the Lawson family is screwed up the most. Jarrod Saunders (Ngali Shaw) informs Farrad Jassim (Hazem Shammas) that he needs a few days off from jury duty.

Bloom asks Detective Sam Chedid (Louisa Mignone) if she had anything to do with Dokic. Sam assures her that she didn’t discourage him from doing it.

Garry Thorne (Brendan Cowell) is assisting Georgina Merrick (Brooke Satchwell) pick up her spilled goods when Simon Cavanaugh (Nicholas Cassim) approaches. He informs Georgina that Ava Cavanaugh (Olivia Allen) agrees to pick up her children after school. She gives Garry a quick hug for helping set it up. Garry celebrates his success.

Robbie asks Diane if it ever crossed her mind how things would’ve been different if they told the truth. Diane reminds him of Kate being only 14 at the time.

Peter Brodsky (Daniel Mitchell) invites Margaret to dinner. She accepts his offer.

Jarrad meets with Bryce (Yalin Ozucelik) and Yvie (Brenna Harding) to discuss his scholarship suspension. Bryce tells him that the essay issue must be cleared up. As he continues to talk, Yvie rubs Jarrad’s leg.

A drunken Garry grabs a Gambling Anonymous host (Stephanie Julien) while trying to convince her to come to his house. She orders him to leave. At home, he says a prayer.

Oscar Merrick (Gilbert Bradman) and Marcas Merrick (Alastair Bradman) jump on the sofa. Jamie Merrick (Hamish Michael) orders them to get down. Georgina informs him that a school mother recommended Ava.

Flip Menelaus (Ben Mingay) watches Alexi Menelaus (Damien Strouthos), Beccy Menelaus (Ava Caryofyllis), and Nell Menelaus (Kamillia Rihani) play soccer. Flip promises Jane (Cassie Howarth) to get their daughters in a better school when the business sells. He pleads with her to pretend they are still married for one dinner, but she refuses.

Yvie asks Jarrad if he ever thought his nightmares are linked to his drug use. When he makes a snide comment, she suggests he take it outside.

Zoe (Sheridan Harbridge) confronts Vanessa about their canceled egg harvest. Vanessa complains about her mental state. Zoe assures her it isn’t about her mental health. A frustrated Vanessa asks how she can consider having a child with her when she brings her down.

Garry attends AA. He admits to having a relapse. Otto (Toby Schmitz) tells him that he needs more specific information about the jurors. Garry says Simon has a problem daughter. Otto suggests they consider if specific jurors should be there to take a vote. Garry reminds him that getting jurors off the case is not part of their deal.

Jarrod meets with his mother, Hope Saunders (Ursula Yovich), grandmother (Pamela Young), grandfather (Billy McPherson), Warri Saunders (Tony Briggs), Yulu Saunders (James Saunders), and Hedley Saunders (Nathan Simon). They discuss his run-in with the police and suspended scholarship. Hope offers him a place to stay in her house. He assures her that he needs to figure it out on his own.

Margaret talks to Peter while he prepares dinner. When she pats his hand, he jerks it back and suggests they end their dinner. She is taken aback by his reaction.

Jenny Raison (Amy Kersey) informs Bloom that Nathan Spears (Matt Nable) and Sonia Spears (Silvia Colloca) are in the courtroom. She reminds her of there being ramifications for them being in court. Bloom suggests they wait to see how it plays out.

Colby asks Diane to describe her and Nathan’s marriage. She claims Nathan cheated and lied to her. Colby asks how she knew Nathan was a cheater. She says he left her for another woman. Colby asks if he was abusive. She claims he was controlling with her and Claire before explaining how she views Kate’s art.

In a flashback – young Kate asks young Diane to lie to their dad about where she is going. When Diane refuses to do it, Kate threatens to tell their father about her and Ed. Andrew speaks to the police about Dokic enticing Belinda to pose nude. When the phone call ends, Andrew forces the kids to say Kate returned home at 11:30 and they never left the house. After ordering Kate to remove her makeup, Andrew demands to know why he didn’t watch the little “sl**.” When Robbie suggests he tell the truth, Andrew assures him that they won’t have their name slandered before hitting him.

Back to the present, Diane tells the jury that Andrew forced Robbie to leave.

Margaret asks Peter if he is sure about not letting her take him home. He warns it would be taking advantage of her if she gives him a ride every day. Corrie asks if everyone is okay mentally. Vanessa admits to having a bad day before declaring Kate innocent. Alexi asks Corrie if she would pretend to be her wife for a dinner to impress a potential buyer for his business.

Colby asks Diane when Claire began to act out. She tells the jury that it was when Nathan started dating Sonia. Colby asks why she decided to bring Kate into the picture. After claiming Nathan devoted his attention to Sonia, she admits bringing Kate in to help deal with Claire. She breaks down on the stand when talking about the improvement in Claire’s behavior.

Lily Powell (Bishanyia Vincent) tells jurors about a friend’s son who reappeared after a 5-year disappearance. Garry receives a text requesting information about Ava. Georgina talks about the difficulties of parenting. Garry suggests Claire could still be alive. Mai (Gabrielle Chan) collapses on the floor.

Muir informs the jury, defense, and prosecution that Mai will be removed due to an illness. Bloom asks Diane who was Claire’s caregiver on the night of her disappearance. Diane tells the jury that Kate was caring for her. Bloom asks if Kate was her only source of information as to what happened on the night of Claire’s disappearance. Diane has a flashback of pleading with Kate to tell her Claire’s whereabouts. Back to the present, Diane assures the jurors that Kate wouldn’t lie. Bloom pressures Diane about Claire being dead until she breaks down sobbing.

Diane and Kate embrace before the Court Sheriff forces her to leave.

Garry informs Otto of Mai being removed from the jury.

When Vanessa visits Northern Health Mental Health Services, the receptionist (Liz Esguerra) tells her services aren’t rendered without a referral.

Jamie isn’t happy when he realizes Ava picked the children up after school.

Corrie, Flip, and Alexi have dinner with Mr. Hong (Bruce Poon), David Hong (Shan-Ree Tan), and Mrs. Hong (Susan Ling Yong). They toast a deal. After dinner, Alexi thanks Corrie for helping him secure the deal. After imagining Luiz Alves (Wil Santana) getting out of the taxi, he tells Corrie that he is going home. An unhappy Corrie leaves in the taxi.

Alexi watches Carla Alves (Paula Garcia) and her daughter (Mia Cortez) from his car.

Garry becomes irate when he discovers his dogs are missing as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Twelve Review

While the episode was good, it could’ve been so much better. The kangaroo court is run by a bunch of incompetent jurors, prosecution, and defense. The show gives wrongly accused murder defendants no hope of a fair jury trial.

The trial is developing as Diane takes the stand. She claims to believe Claire is still alive, but her flashbacks say otherwise. Just when you think you know who the killer is, something cast doubt on your theory.

Andrew Lawson is now being portrayed as having something to do with Belinda’s murder. He was an abusive father who forced his kids to falsify their versions of what happened when Belinda was discovered dead. Since viewers are only given bits and pieces of Belinda’s story, it is impossible to come up with a theory as to what really happened. Surely, the next episode will shed some light on what happened to Belinda and Claire.

I truly don’t find the jurors’ stories that interesting. I will say, Alexi, is digging himself into a deeper hole. I fear for Ava as she may get caught up in Jamie’s delusional world. Garry has gotten himself in a dangerous situation. It is questionable who Otto is working with at this point.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more of The Twelve recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.