David Wenham

Prime Television will screen the world premiere of the controversial hard-hitting Australian drama series, Killing Time. Killing Time offers a fascinating insight into the brutal upheavals of the Australian justice system when the war between the criminal class and a corrupt police force finally became public.

New Zealand audiences will be the first in the world to see this ten-part dramatisation of the true crime story of Andrew Fraser, the high-flying criminal lawyer who represented the famous and notorious, including Dennis Allen, Jimmy Krakouer, Alan Bond and those accused of the Walsh Street murders in Melbourne, as plans for the Australian premiere are on hold due to legal proceedings.

Starring David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, Van Helsing, 300, SeaChange) Killing Time chronicles the life of Fraser who lost everything when his cocaine addiction spiralled into a thousand-dollar-a-day habit and his life became intertwined with villains and soldiers of justice. He was disbarred, discredited, financially bankrupt and spent five years in a maximum security prison for drug smuggling. After his years behind bars, Fraser eventually wrote a book that became the basis for the drama series. Should it air in Australia, at the present time, the drama could breach contempt of court because of an ongoing and high profile criminal legal case.

Seeing his life unfold on the small screen in such a raw and candid fashion, Fraser himself admits it wasn't an easy watch. "I don't think it would be possible to have a more confronting situation than to watch your life unravel before your eyes on TV," he said.

"The accuracy of the portrayal of all characters is breathtaking," Andrew added. "I might not be proud of what brought me undone, but I am certainly extremely proud of Killing Time."

Prime is equally proud to have yet another high-quality Australian drama series to add to their already established and popular line-up. "Joining the likes of perennial favourites Sea Patrol and Rescue Special Operations and the soon to air Cops LAC, Killing Time further boosts our fantastic drama offerings from across the Tasman," said Channel Manager Kathy Wright.

"Australian dramas do particularly well for Prime, and we have no doubt that Killing Time will captivate viewers from the first engrossing episode. With David Wenham heading the cast with an impressively credible performance, this series is not to be missed," she adds.

Killing Time was inspired by Andrew Fraser's best selling books 'Court In The Middle' and 'Lunatic Soup' published by Hardie Grant. These are two of three books written by Fraser giving a revealing insight into his career, criminals and corruption within the Australian police force.

Prime will announce a launch date for Killing Time shortly.

Killing Time was produced by FremantleMedia Australia and TV1 General Entertainment Partnership with Bravado Productions, with additional investment from Film Victoria, and distributed internationally by "FremantleMedia Enterprises".