marcus returns again in august 2015, when max branning (jake wood) hires him to represent him after he is accused of the murder of lucy beale (hetti bywater). phil tries to threaten him into dropping the case, while jane beale (laurie brett), who wants to see max found innocent, contacts him and formulates a fake alibi for max, claiming she slept with him on the night of lucy's death. marcus points the blame towards max's daughter abi branning (lorna fitzgerald), who is furious with her father for allowing this. max asks marcus to stop this line of questioning towards abi but marcus insists it is necessary to help clear his name and that it will raise the question of reasonable doubt in the jury's eyes. despite marcus's best efforts, max is found guilty of murder because the jury foreman was bribed by phil. however, max's conviction is later quashed when the real killer, bobby beale (eliot carrington), confesses to lucy's murder.