Dear Murderer - Full Series

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mike Bungay, and I appear for the money...ah, the defence.

– Lawyer Mike Bungay plays it up in court, in episode one

Shaky identification is hardly a technicality — burden of proof, Senior Sergeant Latimer, burden of proof!

– Defence lawyer Mike Bungay wins one over the prosecution — again — in episode one

The thing is, my book is the story of a man who I knew intimately. But the TV series is about a man I knew of. Although I would probably have found him clever and charming and complex, I would never have related myself to him — because that sort of wildness of character would be fabulous to be around for a little while, but it wouldn't be great on a fulltime basis. But he changed — he stopped drinking altogether after we were married.

– Ronda Bungay, author of book Dear Murderer, a key inspiration for the show, Stuff, 3 September 2017

It was a lot of fun to play somebody who was complex, but wasn't a murderer or a psychopath or some of those other unsavoury characters I've played. But when you play those characters, it also gives you a really great insight into the human condition when it does go wrong, and there was a little bit of Mike that was a little bent and a little twisted. But that's also what made him such a lovable character to play.

– Actor Mark Mitchinson on playing infamous criminal lawyer Mike Bungay, Stuff, 3 September 2017

There was a letter sent to Mike when he was in hospital recovering from a heart attack. It read: 'Dear Mr Bungay, I've heard on the radio and heard in the newspapers that you're extremely ill. I would just like to wish you a long, lingering and very painful death. Yours faithfully...' This was from a person who he'd defended for murder who didn't get off. So Mike immediately replied: 'Dear Murderer, it's a beautiful spring morning here in Wellington. I've French champagne in the chiller, and then defrosting some prime fillet steaks. My friends and I are heading out to the beach shortly to enjoy a leisurely picnic. What are you doing? Mike Bungay.'

– Ronda Bungay on the inspiration for her book Dear Murderer, Stuff, 3 September 2017

No paper shuffler he, the art of the true advocate at the Bar is oratory and by reason, persuasion to a cause. So it was no coincidence that cases of great moment were successfully argued by him and those that made him truly famous occurred in quick succession: Sutch, Geiringer, Minnitt. From then the parade was endless with no less than 100 homicides to test his resolve, not to mention countless other cases from the criminal calendar.

– Friend and fellow barrister Gary Turkington pays tribute to Mike Bungay, New Zealand Law Society, 1993

If we open, it just signals that we accept there's a case to be answered, and we don't accept that. So when the Crown's done I'm going to go for dismissal under 347.

– Mike Bungay explains why he doesn't want to make an opening statement in the spy trail of Bill Sutch, in episode two

Inadmissable evidence is like a pimple on the end of your nose: people try not to look at it but hey, it's there...and it's full of pus.

– Mike Bungay (Mark Mitchinson) gets caught out during a complicated murder trial, in episode four

Never ask whether they did it.

– Mike Bungay (Mark Mitchinson) on his position as a defence lawyer, in episode five

They are painting [David] Minnitt as a well-connected wifebeater who's got a slap on the wrist for taking it up a notch to murder, and you as good as his accomplice in their eyes. 

– Sally Burke (Liesha Ward Knox) argues with her boyfriend Mike Bungay about the David Minnitt case, in episode three