"Someone's set me up."
Brenda Murphy was a former officer at Wentworth Correctional Centre.
After Murphy was forced to resign after being made the scapegoat for Bea Smith's death and for letting Joan Ferguson into No Man's Land. Murphy ended up working at a supermarket in Frankston as a result.
Murphy later with the help of a very much alive Joan Ferguson after helping her escape the box made plans to raise enough money to flee the country so they both blackmail Vera.
Murphy is shot by former Regional Manager of Corrections Derek Channing in a case of mistaken identity, as a result Channing is charged with the murder of Murphy and attempted murder of Joan Ferguson.
Season 5[]
Murphy appeared again in the episode 5x01, when, after being blamed by Vera for not intervening in a brawl in the yard between the Freak and other inmates as several inmates were injured, she said to Vera that she "didn't want to get her neck broken", she was incriminated by officer Jake Stewart who gave her the blame of letting Ferguson free to attack Allie Novak in the showers. Vera forced her to resign, also blaming her for letting Bea Smith go out of the prison the day when she was killed and misplacing her swipe card (which was actually organized by Vera herself).
In episode two it is revealed that Vera had gone to a board meeting where Murphy had resigned from her job after "losing" her swipe card.
Officer Murphy is later mentioned in episode 5x11; when ex-governor Bennett says she will report Jake Stewarts’ crimes to the police if he does not resign, he replies that if she does, he will show the truth about the termination of Brenda: Vera was the real author of the set up for letting Bea Smith free to exit Wentworth.
Season 6[]
In episode 6x01, Jake meets her in order to get more information on how Vera set her up. Here, Brenda appears with a slightly different look: she has no heavy makeup like when she was an officer, and she wears a pink supermarket uniform. She reveals that she is actually working in a supermarket in Frankston; apparently, she does not like her new job at all, complaining about her uniform and having night shifts.
Ep 12[]
Murphy wants $500k in a blackmail attempt
Vera texts the blackmailer saying that they won and she wishes to talk to them soon. During the night Vera is sitting at her dining table looking at her phone as she walks around waiting for something to happen, Vera sits back down and texts the blackmailer and says that she just wants to talk, Vera puts the phone down as she does a message returns saying that they are at the door, Vera stands up and hesitates as she types the 000 number. As Vera opens the door the blackmailer is revealed to be Brenda Murphy. Murphy sits down on Vera's lounge and she takes off her shoes as she empties the bag of pamphlets on the floor saying that they are for the recycling. Vera questions her about why she is doing what she is doing and Murphy says that she really liked that job, as Vera says that she was terrible at it, and Murphy says that they could've been friends and says it was a pity that it worked out differently. Vera then says is it all for revenge, petty revenge and Murphy says that $500k is not petty and it could set her up nicely, as Murphy asks if she liked the magpie as she had found it in the park, the gloves and the epaulets were 'kack' and she smirks as she reckons Vera shat herself. Vera tells her that she broke into her house, Murphy then asks where the money is as Vera says that she doesn't even have that much money, as Murphy says that everyone knows that her 'bitch mother' had left her a house and then Murphy demands that Vera pay up or the photo will go to the papers and the police, Vera then says she will get her what she can as she needs time to get it, Murphy gives her 24 hours and says to her if she breathes a word of any of what is happening Vera is finished and that is also goes for 'Snakey Jake' and 'Dumbfuck Jackson' and says that it is just between the two of them. Vera asks how will she know if that will be the end of it, Murphy says that she doesn't and says that she will see her tomorrow night. Murphy puts her smoke out in Vera's table plant and starts making clucking noises and tells Vera that it is the sound of her chickens coming home to roost. Vera looks on as Murphy leaves.
When Vera is in hospital after being concussed she receives a message from Brenda saying that she will be at her house soon, and Vera tells the doctor that she can't stay and leaves. Vera is later sitting in her dining room as she is looking at the money on the table as she hears a knock on the door and Vera goes to answer it. Murphy stands outside as she has her head turned to Vera in a bun and says that she "wore it especially" and Vera tells her that she has the money and Vera says that she wants a guarantee that this will be the end of it, and Brenda says "whatever you say.." as Vera says that Brenda will get the money when she wipes the phone back to factory settings in front of her, as a shot rings out in the air, Brenda is shot in the side of the head, as the shooter comes out of the dark and it is Derek Channing who is excited and says that he "got the bitch" but when he gets closer a shocked Vera realises what is happening and he realises that the person he shot is not Ferguson and he realises this and runs away. After he goes on the run, Vera gets Brenda's phone and she calls the police, where Vera during a call with Jake says that Brenda the entire time was the blackmailer and Channing shot her and he is now on the run.
Murphy helps Ferguson out of the box
Season 8[]
It is revealed to Vera, Will and Jake that Murphy helped Ferguson escape the box and hid Ferguson in her house as her fingerprints were found everywhere. Ferguson had contacted Murphy beforehand about her escape and instructed her to follow Will's truck from the depo where he took Ferguson's box and watched him bury Ferguson alive. After Will left, Murphy dug Ferguson up and pulled her out of the box to safety and presumably helped her kill Kath Maxwell who Ferguson put in the box as a decoy and then took on her identity. Murphy concealed Ferguson in her house for the time being and assisted her in blackmailing Vera, Jake and Will for $500,000 but it ultimately failed as Murphy was shot and killed by Derek Channing leaving Ferguson to gather the money herself but Ferguson did gather some $30,000 in her time.
Trivia[]
- Actress Katerina Kotsonis also appears in Season 3 interpreting the role of nurse Sarah Collins.
Appearances[]
| Wentworth: Season 4 | |||||||||||
| "First Blood" Appears |
"Poking Spiders" Absent |
"Prisoner" Absent |
"Screw Lover" Absent |
"Love and Hate" Absent |
"Divide and Conquer" Absent |
"Panic Button" Absent |
"Plan Bea" Absent |
"After Life" Absent |
"Smitten" Absent |
"The Eleventh Hour" Absent |
"Seeing Red" Absent |
| Wentworth: Season 5 | |||||||||||
| "Scars" Appears |
"The Bitch is Back" Absent |
"Nothing but the Truth" Absent |
"Loose Ends" Absent |
"Belly of the Beast" Absent |
"Happy Birthday, Vera" Absent |
"The Pact" Absent |
"Think Inside the Box" Absent |
"Snake Head" Absent |
"Mere Anarchy" Absent |
"Coup de Grace" Absent |
"Hell Bent" Absent |
| Wentworth: Season 6 | |||||||||||
| Clean Slate Appears |
The Boxer Absent |
Bleed Out Absent |
Winter Is Here Absent |
Bitter Pill Absent |
The Angel of Wentworth Absent |
The Edge Absent |
Lovers and Fighters Absent |
Shallow Grave Absent |
Fractured Absent |
Indelible Ink Absent |
Showdown Appears |
| Wentworth: Season 8 | |||||||||
| Resurrection Absent |
Ends And Means Absent |
Enemy of the State Absent |
Revenant Appears |
Fallout Absent |
Fugitive Absent |
Battle Lines Absent |
Goldfish Part 2 Absent |
Monster Absent |
The Enemy Within Absent |