Claudia Leigh
Walton's casting was announced on 1 February 2009 and she made her debut screen appearance in the second season episode "Rage", which was broadcast on 22 March 2009.
As profiling is not a big department within the Australian police force, dramatic licence was taken with Claudia and it was stated that she came up through the detective ranks, before becoming a specialised criminal psychologist.
On 1 February 2009, Luke Dennehy reported Walton had joined the cast of City Homicide as semi-regular character Claudia Leigh.
[1] Dennehy observed Walton last had a regular television job as Dash McKinley in Blue Heelers, a role she quit in 1999.
[5] She told a TV Week writer that profiling is not a big department within the Australian police force and explained "Usually what happens is you have detectives who do that sort of psychology work, but who also do something else, such as ballistics or forensics.
"[5] Walton explained to a Who magazine writer that Claudia often talks a lot and uses police jargon, so she had to learn large amounts of dialogue.
[7][9] Claudia is unaware Daniel has followed her home and as she is unlocking her front door, he pulls a plastic bag over her head and takes her inside.
[9] Walton told The Daily Telegraph's Darren Devlyn that the scenes portraying Claudia's attack were "challenging and required a strong level of emotional intensity over a long period of time.
[8] While leaving the homicide department, Clauda is approached by Simon Joyner (Daniel MacPherson), who asks for her opinion on a case involving a man who has deliberately run down a teenager.
When Bernice Waverley's son, Josh (William Jarratt), is kidnapped by Billy Pierce (Simon Stone), Claudia briefs the team on the situation.
Claudia learns Duncan Freeman (Aaron Pedersen) has returned to full duties, after being beaten almost to death by two criminals, and confronts his Sergeant Stanley Wolfe (Shane Bourne) about the decision.
Claudia helps Simon when he is framed for murder and investigated by Susan Blake (Georgie Parker) of the Ethical Standards Division.
When a business woman is brutally raped and murdered, the homicide squad ask Claudia to out a profile together for their prime suspect, Daniel Worthington.
Claudia later returns to work and helps the team in their investigations into the disappearance and murder of a young woman who vanished after a party and a suspect who has become a vigilante.
Watching Claudia's first episode, Dianne Butler, writing for The Courier-Mail, said "I believe I'll also struggle to take Tasma Walton seriously after hearing her describe a suspect as extremely intelligent.
"[10] While commenting on the team, Debi Enker from The Age stated "Worst affected is poor Tasma Walton in the largely thankless role of psychologist Claudia Leigh.
[12] During the Daniel Worthington storyline, a TV Week reporter branded Claudia "pretty" and wrote that she "may regret her hard-ball approach" to the case.
