First viewed : 28 August 1990
This was a four part US mini-series about the 1943 murder of Sir Harry Oakes in the Bahamas. Oakes was a major landowner on the islands and a billionaire. Apart from the fact that it remains unsolved, what gives the case its enduring interest is the involvement of the Governor, the former King Edward VIII. The Duke of Windsor had been posted there to keep him safely out of Hitler's clutches and prevent him being used as a figurehead for a Quisling-style regime in Britain. He was in charge of directing the investigation into the death of Oakes, a friend of his, and brought in two US detectives who quickly settled on Oakes's arriviste son-in-law De Marigny. The Duke has been accused of accepting De Marigny's guilt too quickly to cover up his involvement in illegal currency transactions. He went to America to avoid being called as a witness at De Marigny's trial where the prosecutor's evidence unravelled.
There were no further legal proceedings regarding the murder and it's generally thought Oakes was killed by the Mob for obstructing plans for a casino on the island. No one has accused the Duke of complicity in the murder itself but the affair further damaged his reputation and he was unemployed for the rest of his life.
In the series Oakes was played by Rod Steiger, Armand Assante played De Marigny and Andrew Ray played the Duke.
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