Secrets & Lies

Ben Gundelach (Martin Henderson) is an ordinary, everyday family man who finds the body of a murdered four-year-old boy. The boy, Thom Murnane (Hunter Stratton Boland), lived in Ben’s street with his single mother Jess (Adrienne Pickering). Now everyone in the street is a suspect and Ben is shocked that he is at the top of the list… Plainclothes cops watch Ben constantly. His once affable neighbours now turn away. Journalists swarm his home and Ben’s clients pull their business. At home, his already strained relationship with his wife Christy (Diana Glenn) threatens to snap and their older daughter, Tasha (Philippa Coulthard) begins receiving online hate messages. Under the watchful eye of inscrutable Homicide Detective Ian Cornielle (Anthony Hayes), Ben’s quiet suburban life begins to unravel. Ben struggles to deal with the fact that he’s the prime suspect in Thom’s murder. And that people believe he could be guilty. The question is—could Ben have done it?

Jess becomes an ally of Ben’s when she presents him with compelling evidence that suggests her ex-husband Paul Murnane (Ben Lawson) could be the killer. But with the police unwilling to listen, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands… As Ben hunts for Paul, there’s mounting pressure as the case against him builds. When Detective Cornielle visits the house with images of black metal torches, Ben realises the police have identified the murder weapon. Christy recognises one of the torches as the type Ben owns. And when Ben can’t find the torch in his toolbox, it is clear that Cornielle is even closer to charging him with murder. Ben tracks down an address Paul may be using, but when he investigates he is met with brutal resistance from two of Paul’s army mates. They knew he was coming, and they’re not giving anything away. Could Paul still be around? And could he be the killer? Meanwhile Ben’s 16 year old daughter, Tasha (Philippa Coulthard), is acting suspiciously. Secretive phone calls to a mysterious stranger have Ben worried that she may have got herself into some serious trouble. At Thom’s funeral, Ben catches Tasha sneaking off after another suspicious phone call. Ben decides to follow - but nothing can prepare him for the relationship he uncovers when he finds Tasha…

Jess becomes an ally of Ben’s when she presents him with compelling evidence that suggests her ex-husband Paul Murnane (Ben Lawson) could be the killer. But with the police unwilling to listen, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands… As Ben hunts for Paul, there’s mounting pressure as the case against him builds. When Detective Cornielle visits the house with images of black metal torches, Ben realises the police have identified the murder weapon. Christy recognises one of the torches as the type Ben owns. And when Ben can’t find the torch in his toolbox, it is clear that Cornielle is even closer to charging him with murder. Ben tracks down an address Paul may be using, but when he investigates, he is met with brutal resistance from two of Paul’s army mates. They knew he was coming, and they’re not giving anything away. Could Paul still be around? And could he be the killer? Meanwhile Ben’s 16-year-old daughter, Tasha (Philippa Coulthard), is acting suspiciously. Secretive phone calls to a mysterious stranger have Ben worried that she may have got herself into some serious trouble. At Thom’s funeral, Ben catches Tasha sneaking off after another suspicious phone call. Ben decides to follow—but nothing can prepare him for the relationship he uncovers when he finds Tasha… When Ben sees Paul Murnane entering Jess’s house across the street, he rushes in to protect her. The ensuing altercation between Paul and Ben gives a clear insight into the violence both men are capable of. But the question Ben is left with is—why did Paul return? And why did he target Jess? Working together, Jess and Ben soon uncover a secret that shocks Jess to her core. Nicole is revealed as Paul’s alibi for the night of Thom’s murder, leaving Paul in the clear… while Ben remains the prime suspect. When questioned by Christy about his relationship with Jess, Ben must finally admit his own shocking secret. That he once slept with Thom’s mother, Jess Murnane. This revelation threatens to tear his family apart for good. But nothing can prepare him for what he’s about to find… When he checks the back of his van, he comes face to face with the murder weapon. Ben’s missing torch has returned! But who put it there? Could someone in his street be setting him up for murder?

With Detective Cornielle (Anthony Hayes) moving ever closer to charging Ben for murder, Ben (Martin Henderson) becomes even more desperate to clear his name. The murder weapon is released to the press and it makes headlines everywhere. An emotionally distraught Jess goes to Ben for support. There is clearly a spark between them and with both emotionally vulnerable, they end up kissing... Meanwhile, Ben’s neighbour Vanessa Turner (Mouche Phillips), is hiding a dark secret that could turn Thom’s murder case on its head. And Ben is about to uncover it. While helping fix a leak, Ben finds suspicious items hidden in the Turner’s roof. What has Ben discovered? And why are the Turners so intent on covering it up? But Ben is doing some covering up of his own. After discovering the murder weapon back in his van with no explanation as to how it got there, Ben decides he has to get rid of it once and for all. He waits until nightfall and throws it into the river. But someone has seen him do it. Could this spell the end for Ben?

With Ben still struggling to clear to his name, he discovers a strange man squatting in a vacant house close to where he found Thom. He also discovers a blood-stained blue jacket in the house’s laundry. The police arrive and take the man away. But when Ben goes to show Cornielle the jacket, it’s gone. But who could have taken it? Back at home, Ben is shocked when Christy says she’s leaving him. She reveals she saw him throw something in the river. She gives him one last chance to tell her the truth …but Ben is torn. He can’t bring himself to reveal the truth to his wife. And with that, Christy walks out the door, taking the girls with her. Cornielle delivers another blow when he reveals to Ben that the man he found squatting in the house has an alibi. He did not kill Thom Murnane. Ben is left reeling—he’s still the number one suspect. In the shadows of his family leaving, a distraught Ben is tempted by the comfort Jess offers. They fall into bed together, but inside Jess’ bedroom, he finds a new clue that leaves him shocked to the core…

Ben's desperate struggle to clear his name has reached the eleventh hour. And when Eva goes missing Ben is finally pushed over the edge. A manic and desperate side of Ben is revealed as searches for his daughter. A bitter altercation with Jess over Eva's whereabouts sees him leave their relationship in ruins. But a conversation with Dave changes everything. He reveals new information about the night before the murder that puts Ben squarely in the frame. Meanwhile Cornielle is ready to strike. Patrol cars roll into Blackwood Crescent ready to make an arrest. But no one is prepared for the shocking final clue that brings into question the entire case. Will Cornielle catch the killer before it's too late?