It's a powerful piece of reconstruction, but it's more than that – so much more that you can't help thinking there is an entire series here, squished a little uncomfortably into the space of a one-off special. It is both terrific and a missed opportunity.

John Silvester – senior crime writer at The Age, and (with Andrew Rule) the man whose books spawned the Underbelly franchise – narrates the film, by veteran documentary maker Terry Carlyon, and keeps the procedural aspect rattling along. There's an abundance of footage of the Brunswick crime scene, of the stretch of Sydney Road where the young ABC radio producer was last seen, of her husband Tom addressing the media from the steps of the magistrates court, of the 30,000-strong march, along the same stretch of Sydney Road where she was abducted, to demand an end to violence against women.

It comes as something of a shock to be reminded that the investigation unfolded so quickly that within six days police had their man, Adrian Bayley. As soon as they'd identified him as their prime suspect they swooped, because they thought there was a real chance they had a potential serial killer on their hands.

Jill Meagher, who was brutally murdered in September 2012.

There are missed clues and lucky breaks galore here – how easy it would have been for Jill and Bayley not to have been captured on CCTV in that doorway, where they met for fleeting seconds – and the story unfolds with as much tension as any episode of CSI: Melbourne could muster.

Conviction sheds new light on the impact the investigation had on those who ran it. Detective senior sergeant David Butler, who led the Meagher case, says he would go home each night and cry. Detective sergeant Paul Rowe, who conducted the interview with Bayley that led to his confession, chokes up as he recalls supplying a seemingly sympathetic ear as the killer spun six hours of lies. Former homicide team leader Ron Iddles tears up as he recalls missing his kids' birthdays, including his daughter's 21st, because of the demands of the job he did for 25 years. It's powerful stuff, and it might well have made for a doc in its own right.

Thousands took to the streets after Jill Meagher was killed.

The impact of social media – both as a force that helped the investigation and as a threat to the prospect of a fair trial – is touched on but similarly might have been more fully probed; ditto the failings of the parole and sentencing system that meant Bayley – with multiple convictions for rape and assault – was even free that night. Had he not been, Jill Meagher, murdered within 400 metres of her home, would likely still be alive. And surely the focus on the husband as first suspect – standard operating procedure in suspected homicide, we're told – is another rich topic worthy of more probing.

Homicide detectives Paul Rowe, left, and David Butler on Sydney Road, Brunswick. Photo: ABC

Really, the only problem with Conviction is that the Bayley case leads to so many avenues worthy of exploring that an hour is just not enough to do them all justice.

Had this been made for a streaming service, say, or an ABC with deeper pockets, chances are it would have emerged as a six-parter that might give Making a Murderer or The Jinx a decent run for its money. As a brisk one-hour film it has plenty to say, just not enough time in which to say it.

Conviction airs on ABC, Tuesday September 27, 8.30pm.

Karl Quinn is on facebook at karlquinnjournalist and on twitter @karlkwin