Detective PJ Hassham

PJ stands for Patrick Joseph and he comes from a Lebanese background.  He is in his mid thirties and has been in Mt Thomas for 8 years or so.  He was a member of the gaming squad in the city but was transferred because he was thought to be involved in some kind of scandal.  Later it was proved that he had not been involved and was actually set-up to be the fall guy.  Not much is really known about his past other than the fact that it was very dodgy, and that Inspector Monica Draper may have been involved - she's certainly got it in for PJ. PJ was promoted to Acting Sergeant in 1998 when Tom had a heart attack, but it was for a very short time.  He detested being back in uniform and missed the detective work, so he chose to return to being a Senior Detective. PJ has always had a love-hate relationship with Maggie, but they finally got together in 1997 in the episode Possession.  PJ had offered to help Maggie cover up for her brother Robbie who had been involved in stealing some paintings from a local painter - Maggie realised that he really did love her and the rest was history.  However, it was quite a rocky relationship - they had to keep it a secret, as relationships within the force are frowned upon.  Maggie had to go into witness protection in 1999 (Web of Lies) and it was set-up so it looked like she had died  - the burnt out wreckage of her car was found on a road leading out of Mount Thomas.  A distraught PJ thought she was dead and could barely believe it when Maggie's brother Mick brought her back to say goodbye to him and the viewers were left very unsure about whether their relationship was on or off.  On her return (Perfect Match) Maggie resigned from the position of Acting Sergeant as she wanted to return to 'everyday policing' as a Senior Constable, and to spend more time with PJ - it quickly became clear that their relationship was definitely on! Later on in 1999, while they were both drunk, Maggie kissed fellow officer Ben Stewart on his birthday and was thrown by her attraction to him. But at the end of the 1999 season Maggie realised that PJ was the man for her when his and Ben's lives were put in danger.  PJ later told her that he could see that she really wanted to be with Ben but Maggie told PJ that she'd rather be unhappy with him.  Later on that night PJ was winding up for a proposal and Maggie seriously thought he was going to leave her - anyway, he popped the question and they became engaged. In the run up to their wedding in 2000, Maggie had to go into Witness Protection again, but this time it was forever - Maggie Doyle had to disappear.  However, she was murdered before she could be taken to safety and she died in the episode 'One More Day', screened on 16th February 2000, leaving behind a devastated PJ, family and friends.  In the episode 'Shadow of Doubt' PJ was arrested for her murder but his innocence was confirmed and he was eventually

PJ Hassham

released.  The unsolved case was passed on to Melbourne.  In the episode 'Out of the Shadows' it was revealed that Maggie's brother, Mick, had murdered her.  PJ exposed him but Maggie's father Pat shot Mick and is now going to jail, despite the fact that it was probably in self-defence.  Before his arrest however, Pat and PJ were able to scatter Maggie's ashes and finally close the door on the tragedy of her death. In season 8 it looks like PJ is ready to move on and is tempted into an affair with a visiting detective.  However, it turns out that she had taken him for a ride and basically used him for her own purposes.  PJ hasn't faired much better so far in Season 9.  His mother arrived back in town to tell him that she was dying (again.... and it was finally true this time!) and she passed away in the 9th episode of the season.  It doesn't look like PJ is going to handle another bereavement very well - we'll have to wait and see.  He does seem to have managed to find himself a few women however, including Ben's sister and colleague Constable Jo Parrish.  Jo moves in with Ben and PJ and one thing leads to another, leaving the pair extremely uncomfortable the following morning.  A hostage situation brings them back on speaking terms, and after Jo has to face her feeling after a shooting incident, they once again find themselves in bed. But in the final ep of season 9, he tells Jo he doesn't love her, breaking her heart.