ITV orders twelfth 'Trial & Retribution'

Production has begun on a twelfth instalment in Lynda La Plante's Trial & Retribution series of dramas.

Trial & Retribution XII: Paradise Lost will guest star Adrian Lukis (Pride & Prejudice) alongside the regular team - David Hayman as DCS Mike Walker, Victoria Smurfit as DCI Roisin Connor and Dorian Lough as DS Dave Satchell.

The story will centre on the rape and murder of Sarah Tennant, a young, white primary school teacher. Her black boyfriend, Milton Jones, is arrested at the scene of the crime covered in his girlfriend's blood and claiming a drug-induced amnesia.

But when more victims emerge, it becomes clear that a serial rapist is stalking London's black community - targeting white women with black boyfriends.

"This is a powerful story of grief, racism and revenge," said La Plante. "The viewer is brought right in, seeing just how difficult and sensitive a case that involves racial issues can be for the police, still battling against the 'institutionally racist' public image. It's an emotionally charged, contentious story with a wonderful twist at the end."

The tenth and eleventh stories will transmit on ITV1 later this year.