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

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

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

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

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

Never ask whether they did it.

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

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

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

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