Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 9, Episode 10 - Snitch - full transcript
A 14-year-old African immigrant is murdered, and the evidence points to a neighborhood thug who intimidates murder witnesses. However, the case is complicated by the discovery that she was married to a 35-year-old polygamist.
(male announcer)
IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,
SEXUALLY BASED OFFENSES ARE
CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY HEINOUS.
IN NEW YORK CITY,
THE DEDICATED DETECTIVES
WHO INVESTIGATE
THESE VICIOUS FELONIES
ARE MEMBERS OF AN ELITE SQUAD
KNOWN AS
THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT.
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES.
WELCOME, EVERYONE,
TO THE EAST RIVER.
TODAY OUR JOB IS TO LOAD
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
INTO THE DUMPSTERS.
THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR VOLUNTEERING.
REMEMBER, WE HAVE
ENERGY BARS AND WATER
IN THE BUS.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
OYSTER BEDS USED TO COVER
350 SQUARE MILES
OF THE RIVER.
REALLY? I WOULDN'T WANT
TO EAT ANYTHING CAUGHT IN THERE.
I KNOW A GREAT PLACE WE COULD
GRAB SOME ORGANIC SUSHI.
YOU ASK OUT
ALL THE VOLUNTEERS?
ONLY THE REAL
ECO-FRIENDLY ONES.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE
USING THE RIVER AS THEIR DUMP?
THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW EASY
IT IS TO BE GREEN.
CAREFUL.
OH, MY GOD.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEENAGER.
FOUND IN THE TRASH BAG
BOUND AT THE ANKLES
WITH CABLE.
CABLE'S STRIPPED AWAY
AT THE END.
GUY PROBABLY WEIGHTED HER DOWN
BEFORE HE THREW HER IN.
SHE WAS DEAD BEFORE
SHE WENT IN THE RIVER.
THERE'S NO WATER
IN HER LUNGS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW SHE GOT THESE GASHES
ON HER ARM
AND ON HER FOREHEAD?
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA.
PERP HIT HER WITH SOMETHING
BEFORE HE DUMPED HER.
RIVER WOULD HAVE WASHED
AWAY ANY FLUIDS.
KNOW IF SHE WAS RAPED?
ABUSED.
SHE HAS SIGNIFICANT
GENITAL SCARRING.
HEY, DETECTIVES.
GOT A GUY DOWN OVER HERE.
[police radio chatter]
HE'S CLEAN.
ANY I.D.?
NO DRIVER'S LICENSE,
NO PLASTIC.
GOT ABOUT THREE BUCKS
IN THERE.
OHH!
POLICE, STOP!
OHH!
[thud]
(Benson)
STILL BREATHING.
I HOPE HE LIVES
LONG ENOUGH TO CONFESS.
HEY.
I'M DETECTIVE STABLER.
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
NO.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU FELL
RUNNING AWAY FROM US.
AFTER YOU GAVE MY PARTNER
A RIGHT HOOK TO THE JAW.
YEAH.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO HIT YOU.
RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT
BIGGER WORRIES THAN THAT.
TELL US WHO THE GIRL IS.
WHAT GIRL?
WE RAN YOUR PRINTS,
JESSE.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
A HISTORY OF PICKING UP HOOKERS.
WAS SHE ONE OF THEM?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
JESSE, LOOK AT YOURSELF.
YOUR HANDS ARE BLOODY.
YOU HAVE SCRATCHES
ALL OVER YOU FROM THE STRUGGLE.
WHO IS SHE?
(Stabler)
HEY...
IF YOU PUT UP A FIGHT
AND WENT INTO THE RIVER
BY ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW...
MAYBE IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
WHO IS SHE?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S ALL A BLUR.
THING'S BE A LOT EASIER ON YOU
IF YOU JUST COOPERATE.
WHO IS SHE?
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I HAVE A WEAKNESS
FOR YOUNGER WOMEN.
I KILLED HER?
WE NEED JESSE BLYER TRANSFERRED
TO THE PRISON WARD
AT BELLEVUE.
I WOULDN'T.
I JUST GOT
HIS TOX SCREEN BACK.
BELLEVUE HANDLES
PLENTY OF ADDICTS.
HE'S AN EPILEPTIC.
HE TESTED POSITIVE
FOR PHENYTOIN.
HIS EEG CONFIRMS IT.
THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T
HAVE ANY I.D.
THE STATE WON'T
GIVE HIM A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
AND IT MAY BE WHY
HE ATTACKED YOU.
EPILEPTICS CAN
COME OUT OF A SEIZURE
IN A HYPER-PARANOID STATE.
HE SHOULD BE PARANOID.
HE JUST CONFESSED TO MURDER.
WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
HE POSTICTAL AND HIGHLY
PRONE TO SUGGESTION.
DID YOU ASK HIM
LEADING QUESTIONS?
THE EVIDENCE IS LEADING.
HE'S GOT SCRATCHES
ALL OVER HIS FACE AND HANDS.
PROBABLY FROM THE SEIZURE,
WHICH CAUSED HIM
TO CONVULSE ON THE GROUND.
HE'S STILL OUR PRIME SUSPECT
UNTIL I HEAR OTHERWISE.
TRANSFER HIM.
I'M NOT SO SURE
JESSE IS YOUR MAN.
WHY?
THE CABLE THE GIRL
WAS TIED UP WITH
IS USED FOR CONNECTING
BUILDINGS TO CABLE TV.
(Fin)
THERE WERE THREE OUTAGES
THIS MORNING IN MANHATTAN.
SOMEBODY CUT 15 FEET OF CABLE
OUT OF A BACK ALLEY
ON 169TH STREET.
PERP PROBABLY KILLED HER
AROUND THERE.
(Stabler)
SO THE SERVICE WENT OUT
AT 7:54 A.M.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE WENT
IN THE RIVER IN UPPER HARLEM?
THIS TIDAL FLOW SIMULATION
SHOWS THE CURRENT
COULD HAVE TAKEN A BODY,
DROPPED IT
AT 169TH AT 8:00
TO WHERE SHE WAS FOUND
AT 9:15.
WELL, THE ECO-VOLUNTEERS
FISHED HER OUT AROUND 10:00.
DOES THE TIDAL FLOW EXPLAIN
WHY SHE DIDN'T FLOAT ANY FURTHER
OVER THE NEXT 45 MINUTES?
YEAH--HIGH TIDE
AND THE CROSS CURRENT
TRAPPED HER BODY
WITH THE REST OF THE TRASH.
YOU SURE SHE DIDN'T GO
IN THE SPOT WHERE WE FOUND HER?
IF SHE DID, YOUR FRIEND JESSE
DIDN'T DO IT.
HE WAS CAUGHT
ON A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
SLEEPING OUTSIDE
A NEARBY BODEGA UNTIL 10:30.
BENSON.
YEAH, SO HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE.
THAT WAS WARNER.
SHE GOT SOMETHING.
YOUR VICTIM WAS KILLED
WITH SOMETHING MADE OF WOOD.
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE.
(Stabler)
SPLINTERS.
FROM HER SCALP.
ROUGH-HEWN OAK FROM
WHATEVER SHE WAS HIT WITH.
COULD BE FROM
A CONSTRUCTION SITE?
OR A HOME REMODEL.
OAK IS PRETTY POPULAR
IN FLOORING.
YOU SAID SHE SHOWED SIGNS
OF LONG-TERM ABUSE.
COULD OUR PERP BE
A CONSTRUCTION WORKER?
ACTUALLY, I WAS WRONG.
THE SCARRING IS FROM
AN IMPROPERLY HEALED
FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.
SHE WAS MUTILATED.
ALONG WITH 150 MILLION
OTHER WOMEN IN AFRICA,
THE MIDDLE EAST,
AND PARTS OF ASIA.
BECAUSE MEN THINK
CUTTING A WOMAN TO SHREDS
WILL PREVENT HER
FROM BEING PROMISCUOUS.
DONE SAFELY,
THEY LOSE ALL
SEXUAL SENSATION.
BUT...TOO MANY
DIE FROM INFECTION.
SO WHY WOULD ANY WOMAN
AGREE TO IT?
TRADITION.
IN SOME CULTURES,
MEN WON'T COURT WOMEN
UNTIL THEY'VE
HAD THIS PROCEDURE.
ANY IDEA WHEN
THIS WAS DONE TO HER?
FROM THE SCAR TISSUE,
I'D SAY IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
HERE?
IT'S POSSIBLE.
CONGRESS BANNED
THE PRACTICE,
BUT THE CDC ESTIMATES 200,000
IMMIGRANT GIRLS IN THE U.S.
ARE AT RISK.
SO THAT'S WHERE
WE HAVE TO START.
HEY, ARE YOU
STILL FRIENDS
WITH, UH, AGENT WILLIAMS
FROM IMMIGRATION?
GOOD, MM-HMM.
(Williams)
WARNER SENT THE PRINTS OVER
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE
IN PERSON, ELLIOT.
WE'RE IN A BIT OF A RUSH.
THE BODY'S LESS
THAN EIGHT HOURS OLD.
AFIS IS ALMOST
DONE WITH THE SCAN.
I'M SURPRISED
I HADN'T HEARD FROM YOU.
I GOT BACK TOGETHER
WITH MY WIFE.
OH, GOOD FOR YOU.
THOUGHT THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN.
HERE WE GO.
HER NAME IS NIKKIEL KWAMBE,
FROM NIGERIA.
SHE'S 15, HERE ON
A 90-DAY FAMILY VISA...
WHICH EXPIRED
SIX MONTHS AGO.
DOESN'T IMMIGRATION REQUIRE
THAT THEY CHECK IN?
IT'S UP TO EACH IMMIGRANT
TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS
OF THEIR VISA.
DO YOU HAVE
AN ADDRESS FOR HER?
JUST FOR A SPONSOR.
HER AUNT.
MIRA OTUME.
124TH
AND FREDRICK DOUGLAS.
YEAH.
THANKS.
(Benson)
EXCUSE ME.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR MIRA OTUME.
MAY I HELP YOU
WITH SOMETHING?
MIRA IS BUSY FOR
THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.
POLICE.
CAN YOU MAKE HER
UN-BUSY, PLEASE?
[young girl shouting]
PERHAPS YOU CAN
COME BACK LATER.
SHE'LL HELP YOU THEN.
[girl crying]
WILL YOU TURN
THE MUSIC DOWN?
*
[music cuts off]
NO! STOP!
I DON'T WANNA DO THIS!
AAH!
YOU CAN'T GO DOWN THERE!
(girl)
HELP ME! STOP!
AAH!
POLICE!
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
HEY!
MOVE AWAY FROM HER!
MOVE AWAY FROM HER NOW!
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
I'M NOT FINISHED.
YEAH, YOU ARE.
DROP THAT. DROP IT.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
MILLIONS OF GIRLS HAVE
BEEN CIRCUMCISED FOR CENTURIES.
WELCOME
TO THE 21ST CENTURY.
MUTILATION IS A CLASS E FELONY
AND A FEDERAL CRIME.
IT IS NOT A CRIME.
IT IS A CELEBRATION.
THAT GIRL
WILL BE SCARRED FOR LIFE.
I AM A TRAINED ANAM-MBIBI.
I AM NO DIFFERENT
FROM A JEWISH MOHEL.
EXCEPT THAT
FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
HAS BEEN OUTLAWED IN NEARLY
EVERY COUNTRY
AROUND THE WORLD,
INCLUDING YOUR OWN.
NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING
AT FOUR YEARS PER COUNT.
AND, CLEARLY, THIS IS NOT
YOUR FIRST TIME.
DID YOU PERFORM A CIRCUMCISION
ON THIS GIRL?
[scoffs]
I HAVE NEVER
SEEN HER BEFORE.
WELL, THAT'S STRANGE...
SINCE YOU'RE LISTED
AS NIKKIEL'S AUNT
ON HER IMMIGRATION VISA.
WHY ARE YOU ASKING
ABOUT THIS GIRL?
BECAUSE SHE'S DEAD.
WE FISHED HER OUT
OF THE RIVER THIS MORNING.
I HAVEN'T...SEEN NIKKI
FOR MONTHS.
WHEN YOU PERFORMED
A CIRCUMCISION ON HER.
SHE WANTED IT!
SHE SAID IT WAS TIME
FOR HER TO BECOME A WOMAN.
SHE WAS A CHILD.
IN THIS COUNTRY...
15 YEARS OLD
IS A SPOILED TEENAGER.
BUT IN NIGERIA, A 15-YEAR-OLD
HAS LIVED A LIFETIME!
WHEN WE FIND
ALL OF THE OTHER GIRLS
YOU'VE MUTILATED,
YOU'RE GONNA SPEND THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE IN JAIL.
(Stabler)
THE COURT MIGHT SHOW LENIENCY.
IF YOU HELP US OUT.
HOW?
GIVE US NIKKI'S ADDRESS.
[knock on door]
YES?
DETECTIVES BENSON
AND STABLER.
MAY WE COME IN,
PLEASE?
I'D RATHER NOT.
OUR HOUSE IS A BEAT-UP MESS.
WE DON'T MIND.
DOES NIKKIEL KWAMBE
LIVE HERE?
YES.
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT?
DO YOU LIVE HERE
AS WELL?
YES. WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHERE IS NIKKI,
DETECTIVES?
WE FOUND HER AROUND
10:00 A.M. THIS MORNING.
SHE'S BEEN KILLED.
[door slams]
I'LL GO AROUND BACK.
[grunts]
STOP! POLICE!
POLICE, DON'T MOVE!
DON'T MOVE!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!
DO AS HE SAYS!
HANDS UP!
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!
DON'T SHOOT!
MY ARM IS BROKEN!
HANDS!
NO, MY ARM IS BROKEN,
PLEASE!
BACK UP TO THE CAR!
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT!
GET ON THE CAR!
GET ON THE CAR!
OKAY, OKAY.
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT.
DON'T MOVE.
OKAY, OKAY.
IF HE MOVES, SHOOT HIM.
[panting]
AAH!
MY ARM DOESN'T WORK!
PLEASE,
YOU MUST BELIEVE ME!
AGH!
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
CHUCKWEI.
CHUCKWEI BOTHAME.
WHAT'D YOU DO TO HER,
CHUCKWEI?
[panting]
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HER.
THAT IS MY WIFE.
THAT'S NIKKI BOTHAME.
WAIT...CAN I TOUCH HER?
NO, I'M SORRY, YOU CAN'T.
YOU THINK I KILLED HER?
YEAH, WE DO.
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
I LOVED HER.
HOW LONG WERE YOU
AND NIKKI MARRIED?
NINE MONTHS.
SHE WAS 15.
IN NEW YORK, IT'S LEGAL
TO MARRY WHEN YOU'RE 14.
WITH CONSENT OF A JUDGE.
I HAD THE NECESSARY
DOCUMENTATION.
WELL, THEN,
HOW COME YOUR NAME
WASN'T LISTED
ON HER VISA APPLICATION?
I'M NOT A CITIZEN.
I CAN'T SPONSOR HER.
ARE YOU GOING
TO INTERROGATE ME
IN FRONT OF MY DEAD WIFE?
YOUR DEAD WIFE IS A 15-YEAR-OLD
GIRL YOU MUTILATED.
THE CIRCUMCISION
WAS HER DECISION.
HMM.
YOU DIDN'T FORCE HER?
[scoffs]
YOU DON'T KNOW NIKKI.
YOU CAN'T FORCE HER
TO DO ANYTHING.
WELL, SOMEBODY FORCED HER
INTO THE RIVER.
HERE'S WHAT I THINK.
YOU BROUGHT A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
OVER FROM NIGERIA
TO BE YOUR WIFE.
AFTER SPENDING A YEAR
IN AMERICA, SHE DECIDES,
"YOU KNOW, INSTEAD
OF A CIRCUMCISION,
I'D RATHER HAVE AN IPHONE."
SO SHE TRIES TO BOLT...
YOU BEAT HER TO DEATH
AND DUMP HER IN THE EAST RIVER.
UHH!
NOW, HOW CAN I DO THAT?
MY LEFT ARM IS CRIPPLED.
OH, I DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
YOUR RIGHT ARM.
I WANT AN ATTORNEY.
FINE.
BUT SOONER OR LATER,
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED.
MR. BOTHAME,
YOU'RE FREE TO GO.
I'M NO LONGER
UNDER ARREST?
NO, BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED
IF YOU GET HOME
AND FIND US SEARCHING
THE PREMISES.
WE HAVE A WARRANT.
WHY'D YOU LET HIM GO?
CHUCKWEI'S GOT MOTIVE
AND OPPORTUNITY.
HIS ALIBI CHECKED OUT.
SECURITY CAMERAS PICKED HIM UP
ENTERING A SHOP
AT 7:00 THIS MORNING.
WELL, HE COULD HAVE
GONE OUT
THROUGH A BACK DOOR
OR A WINDOW.
KILLED NIKKI,
DUMPED HER IN THE RIVER.
CHUCKWEI'S HOUSE IS TWO BLOCKS
FROM WHERE THE CABLE WAS CUT.
HE ASKED FOR A LAWYER.
SO WE CAN STILL HOLD HIM.
ON WHAT CHARGES?
SEXUAL ABUSE, ENDANGERING
THE WELFARE OF A CHILD.
TAKE YOUR PICK.
AT THE VERY LEAST,
WE GOT HIM ON STATUTORY RAPE.
HE'S 35, SHE'S 14.
THEY'RE MARRIED.
THAT NULLIFIES
THE STATUTORY CHARGES.
CHUCKWEI SAYS
THAT THEY'RE MARRIED,
BUT THE LICENSE
IS FROM NIGERIA.
RUN IT PAST
THEIR CONSULATE.
IN THE MEANTIME,
FIN AND LAKE
ARE TOSSING THE HOME
FOR THE MURDER WEAPON.
EXCUSE ME, MA'AM--
YOU CAN'T DO THAT
TILL OUR PEOPLE ARE DONE.
I MUST, TO HONOR NIKKI.
HER SPIRIT WALKS THE HOUSE
UNTIL SHE'S BURIED.
PLEASE TAKE OFF
YOUR SHOES.
YOU AND NIKKI WERE CLOSE?
LIKE SISTERS.
I'M ALMANI,
CHUCKWEI'S COUSIN.
CAN WE HAVE SOME PUDDING?
NOT NOW, SWEETIE.
I'LL MAKE SOME LATER.
GO KEEP FELIX COMPANY.
THEY YOURS?
NO.
NIKKI AND I RUN A DAYCARE
TO HELP WITH THE RENT.
(Lake)
FIN, COME HERE.
CHUCKWEI MAKE ALL THIS?
YES, HE'S A CRAFTSMAN.
ONE-HANDED?
THEY'RE
REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
IS ANY OF THIS WOOD OAK?
NO, THIS IS ALL
AFRICAN SAVANNAH.
I'LL HAVE CSU TAKE A SAMPLE.
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WEARING THAT T-SHIRT?!
LET'S TAKE THAT OFF, BABY.
"LIE OR DIE."
THAT'S A HELL OF A T-SHIRT.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, LITTLE MAN?
OBIE.
HEY, OBIE, WHERE'D
YOU GET THAT T-SHIRT?
FROM A MAN.
WHAT MAN?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE GAVE IT TO ME,
SAID IT WAS A PRESENT.
WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?
HE WAS BIG.
WELL, DID HE HAVE
A BIG NOSE?
FUNNY FACE?
HOW 'BOUT A TATTOO?
I DON'T KNOW.
CAN I GO OUTSIDE NOW?
ONLY IN THE BACK YARD,
OBIE.
I NEED TO TEND
TO THE CHILDREN.
WHO'S TELLING YOU TO LIE?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNEW THE SECOND
YOU SAW THAT SHIRT.
I'M SORRY, I MUST GO.
WE'RE NOT GETTING
MUCH MORE OUT OF THEM.
NO, BUT WE WILL
FROM A GUY I KNOW--
AN ADAM CLAYTON POWELL.
MY SHIRTS
ARE A PUBLIC PROTEST
AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT'S
OVER RELIANCE
ON THESE SELF-SERVING
CRIMINAL INFORMANTS.
YOU'RE HIGH.
NO, I AM CLEAN, MAN,
AND I AM LIVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I GOT MY OWN BUSINESS.
YOUR SHIRTS ARE A PAIN
IN OUR ASS, WAXMAN.
I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT.
YOU THINK IT'S COOL
MAKING A LIVING
OFF INTIMIDATION?
NO, YOU KNOW WHAT
I THINK IS COOL?
I THINK IT IS COOL
THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY
WHERE I CAN EXPRESS
MY POLITICAL VIEWS FREELY.
NOW, BUY A SHIRT.
WHO BOUGHT THIS SHIRT
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOU WANT ME TO SNITCH?
I SAY TWO WORDS TO YOU,
MY CREDIBILITY, IT TANKS,
ALONG WITH MY SALES--
FORGET IT.
HOW DO YOU THINK
YOUR SALES WILL DO
IF WE JUST
CAMP OUT RIGHT HERE?
NOW THAT'D REALLY
HELP YOUR STREET CRED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, FIN?
I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
I LIKE THIS BLOCK.
LET'S HANG OUT.
NO, NO, HEY, HEY.
LISTEN...
I'M JUST THE TIP
OF THE ICEBERG, OKAY?
EVERYBODY,
AND I MEAN EVERYBODY,
IS CASHING IN ON THIS
STOP SNITCHING MOVEMENT.
OKAY?
LOOK...
I GOT DVDs, CDs, POSTERS.
THIS IS NOTHING.
THE REAL CASH IS COMING IN
OFF THIS WEBSITE--
THAT'S WHERE
THE MONEY'S BEING MADE.
THE SITE THAT RATS OUT
THE RATS.
IT COMES COMPLETE
WITH A PHOTO AND ADDRESS
OF ANYONE WHO'S BEEN REPORTED
TO BE AN INFORMANT.
SO IS NIKKI ON THE SITE?
CHUCKWEI IS.
IDENTIFIED BY STINKINRAT
AS A KEY WITNESS
IN THE MURDER TRIAL
OF ONE DENNIS HAROLD KING.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT NAME?
YOU KNOW HIM AS D. KING,
AS IN, "HE IS D' KING."
HE'S A SERIOUS
HARLEM DRUG DEALER
WITH A RAP SHEET
A MILE LONG.
NOT TO MENTION AN ENTREPRENEUR
EXTRAORDINAIRE.
HE'S A THUG.
WHO'D HE KILL?
DAMON MOORE,
A 16-YEAR-OLD KID.
KING BEAT HIM TO DEATH
FOR LOOKING AT HIS GIRLFRIEND
THE WRONG WAY.
WELL, WHEN
WAS CHUCKWEI'S IDENTITY
POSTED ON THE SITE?
TWO DAYS AGO.
ANY OTHER WITNESSES?
POLICE REPORTED
28 OTHER PEOPLE
SAW KING BEAT DAMON MOORE.
THE ONLY OTHER GUY TO COME
FORWARD BESIDES CHUCKWEI
WAS TOBY TORRES,
AN ADDICT
TESTIFYING
AS PART OF A PLEA.
CHECK OUT THE RAT
NEXT TO HIS NAME.
YEAH, THAT'S
HIS RAT STATUS.
HE WAS MURDERED LAST WEEK,
A DAY AFTER HIS INFO
WAS POSTED ON THIS SITE.
WE GOT THE WRONG GUY.
CHUCKWEI WAS ON OUR SIDE.
HE WAS GONNA TESTIFY,
BEFORE KING KILLED NIKKI
TO SHUT HIM UP.
CHUCKWEI'S ATTORNEY
IS IN MY OFFICE.
UH, SARA FLYNT WITH
WEST AFRICAN LEGAL SERVICES.
WHAT DOES SHE WANT?
I WANT YOU TO STOP
HARASSING MY CLIENT.
HE'S BURYING HIS WIFE TODAY.
WELL, RUNNING AWAY FROM US
MADE HIM LOOK PRETTY GUILTY.
CHUCKWEI RAN FROM YOU BECAUSE
HE'S AFRAID OF THE POLICE.
HE WAS A POLITICAL PRISONER
IN NIGERIA.
IS THAT WHAT
HE TOLD YOU?
I MET HIM THERE WHEN I WAS
WORKING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH.
WE FOUGHT
FOR CHUCKWEI'S RELEASE.
WHAT WAS HE
IN PRISON FOR?
HE PROTESTED WHEN
THE FORMER DICTATORSHIP
STARTED DUMPING
REFINERY WASTE ON HIS FARM.
THEY CONFISCATED HIS LAND.
THE POLICE JAILED HIM
AND BEAT HIM
UNTIL HE LOST THE USE
OF HIS LEFT ARM.
WELL, DENNIS KING
IS GONNA DO
A LOT WORSE TO HIM
IF HE DOESN'T HELP US
PUT KING AWAY.
CHUCKWEI'S A GOOD PERSON.
HE WANTED TO DO
THE RIGHT THING.
NOW HE SEES WHY THE OTHER
WITNESSES DIDN'T COME FORWARD.
HOW DO WE GET HIM
TO COOPERATE?
CAN YOU GIVE HIM PLASTIC SURGERY
AND MOVE HIM TO SCOTTSDALE?
WELL, THAT'S A QUESTION
YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE D.A.
WE DID--
THEY SAID INTIMIDATION
IS OUT OF CONTROL.
AND THE STATE'S WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM IS STRAPPED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
OR THE MANPOWER.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T WANT
TO BE LATE FOR NIKKI'S FUNERAL.
COME ON.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE.
[church bell tolling]
(Stabler)
SARA, JUST HOW DID CHUCKWEI
AND NIKKI MEET?
OVER THE PHONE.
IT WAS AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.
THAT'S NOT
VERY ROMANTIC.
IT WAS ABOUT SURVIVAL,
NOT ROMANCE.
NIKKI WAS IN DANGER?
YES, CHRISTIANS IN THEIR VILLAGE
HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK
AFTER NIKKI'S TWO SISTERS
WERE RAPED AND MURDERED.
CHUCKWEI AGREED TO MARRY NIKKI
SO SHE COULD COME HERE.
[singing]
*
I'M SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS.
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!
YOU HAVE PUT MY FAMILY
THROUGH ENOUGH.
CHUCKWEI,
THEY WANT TO HELP US
FIND OUT
WHO DID THIS TO NIKKI.
SO YOU WANT EVIDENCE
AGAINST KING?
LOOK OVER THERE.
THAT'S HIM.
DENNIS KING.
I KNOW YOU?
YOU DO NOW.
SINCE WHEN IS IT
AGAINST THE LAW
TO VISIT A CEMETERY, MAN.
WHEN IT'S TO INTIMIDATE
A WITNESS.
I'M PAYING MY RESPECTS.
YOU'RE INTERRUPTING
A FUNERAL.
OH, THIS--
OH, YOU KIDDING ME, RIGHT?
OH, HE PRAYIN'!
THAT'S POLICE BRUTALITY
RIGHT HERE, MAN!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO AN ATTORNEY.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD ONE,
ONE WILL BE
PROVIDED FOR YOU.
(man)
MY CLIENT WAS VERY SORRY
TO HEAR
ABOUT NIKKI'S DEATH,
BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
LINKING HIM TO HER MURDER.
NOT YET,
BUT WE'LL FIND SOME.
YEAH, OR YOU'LL
PLANT IT.
PRETTY HARD TO PLANT EVIDENCE
IN THESE MURDERS.
MAYBE THEY HAD IT
COMING TO THEM.
IS THAT AN ADMISSION.
NO, IT'S AN OBSERVATION.
CASUAL CONVERSATION,
YOU MIGHT SAY.
HUH.
LOOK, MAN,
WHERE I'M FROM,
PEOPLE DON'T TAKE KINDLY
TO FOLKS WHO RAT
TO GET THEIR OWN
SENTENCES REDUCED.
I READ IN THE PAPERS...
THESE GUYS TOOK
A BRANDING IRON,
BURNT THE WORD "SNITCH"
IN A WOMAN'S FACE.
THAT'S COLD, RIGHT THERE.
HOW 'BOUT NIKKI?
WHAT'D SHE DO?
DON'T ANSWER THAT.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING
AT HER FUNERAL?
TOLD YOU.
I WAS PAYING RESPECTS
TO A FRIEND.
A FRIEND MURDERED
BY THE POLICE.
I'VE GOT
MY OWN PICTURES.
REGGIE TOSSEN,
SHOT BY THE COPS
IN THE BRONX LAST YEAR.
HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE...
AND GRAVE STONE NUMBER...
WHERE MY CLIENT WAS PRAYING.
CHRISTINE.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO SEE YOU.
A.D.A. DANIELSON,
HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF.
OH, SO YOU'VE
HAD THE PLEASURE
OF TRYING MR. KING'S
MURDER CASE.
YES.
UH, WE WERE JUST LEAVING,
ACTUALLY.
NOBODY'S FILING CHARGES
AGAINST MY CLIENT TODAY.
NOT FOR INTIMIDATION,
BUT HE DID VIOLATE
AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED ANY CLOSER
TO CHUCKWEI THAN 100 FEET.
NICE BOOTY.
OH, YEAH?
WATCH IT KICK YOUR ASS.
(Danielson)
THE PEOPLE CHARGE MR. KING
WITH CRIMINAL CONTEMPT
AND VIOLATION OF BAIL.
THE PEOPLE REQUEST
MR. KING BE REMANDED
AND HELD IN CUSTODY
UNTIL TRIAL.
YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT
HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
OF THE FUNERAL.
THAT'S ABSURD.
IT JUST HAPPENED
THAT MR. KING
WAS GRIEVING AT EXACTLY
THE SAME TIME AS MR. BOTHAME?
WELL, THERE ARE ONLY
SO MANY...CEMETARIES
IN THE CITY, YOUR HONOR,
AND, UH, A GREAT DEAL
OF DEATH.
YOUR HONOR, MR. KING
WAS STARING DOWN A WITNESS
IN HIS MURDER TRIAL.
HE WAS ENJOYING
THE SINGING.
YOUR CLIENT MAY BE
A MUSIC LOVER, MR. BRADEN,
BUT HE VIOLATED
A COURT ORDER.
IT'S A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE,
YOUR HONOR.
MURDER ISN'T.
IN ADDITION TO HIS
UPCOMING MURDER TRIAL,
KING IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR A SECOND...
OH, UH--
AND A THIRD HOMICIDE.
HASN'T BEEN CHARGED
IN EITHER OF THOSE--
WELL, THEN,
JUST THE FIRST MURDER
AND HIS PRIOR CONVICTION
SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO REVOKE BAIL.
I GET THE IDEA.
BAIL IS SET AT $1/2 MILLION.
(Bailiff)
DOCKET NUMBER 2876-351,
PEOPLE VERSUS CARTER
FOR ILLEGAL USE
OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
NOTHING WILL STOP HIM.
HE HAS MORE MONEY
THAN GOD HIMSELF.
HE'LL BE OUT ON THE STREETS,
AND I'LL BE DEAD.
I'LL TALK TO THE DETECTIVES.
[gangsta rap music]
*
CHUCKWEI.
COME WITH US.
YOU'RE UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY
UNTIL THE TRIAL'S OVER.
WHAT ABOUT ALMANI
AND THE CHILDREN AND SARA.
UNFORTUNATELY,
WITNESS PROTECTION
ONLY EXTENDS
TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
BUT THEY ARE MY FAMILY.
IN THIS COUNTRY,
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
MEANS YOUR WIFE
AND YOUR CHILDREN.
ALMANI, SARA,
AND THE CHILDREN,
THEY ARE
MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY!
NIKKI WAS YOUR WIFE.
YES.
AND SO ARE ALMANI AND SARA.
CHUCKWEI IS A POLYGAMIST.
HE'S BREAKING THE LAW.
NOT IN NIGERIA.
IF IT'S LEGAL FOR A MAN
TO HAVE THREE WIVES OVER THERE,
WHAT'S HE SUPPOSED TO DO
WHEN HE MOVES HERE?
WELL, IN FRANCE,
THEY MAKE ALLOWANCES
FOR PRE-EXISTING
MULTIPLE MARRIAGES
FOR AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS.
WE'RE NOT IN FRANCE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO ARREST HIM.
WELL, YOU'D BETTER
GET BUSY.
THERE'S UP TO 100,000
WEST AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS
IN NEW YORK.
THE POLICY'S BEEN
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL.
CHUCKWEI TOLD.
WELL, GOOD LUCK
CONVICTING HIM.
HE'LL USE
THE CULTURAL DEFENSE.
LIKE THAT LAOTIAN STUDENT
WHO KIDNAPPED
AND RAPED A GIRL
BECAUSE HIS TRIBE HAS
A LOVELY TRADITION
OF MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE?
BUT HE DIDN'T
GET OFF COMPLETELY.
HE PLED DOWN
TO FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
MAYBE HE'LL TAKE A PLEA.
POOR GUY COULD GET
ONE TO THREE OFF EACH COUNT.
POOR GUY?
I FIND POLYGAMY DEGRADING.
HIS THIRD WIFE
WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD
THAT HE MARRIED
OVER THE PHONE.
YEAH, TO SAVE HER FROM
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN AFRICA.
ONLY TO MUTILATE HER
IN AMERICA.
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE
WITH THE D.A.'s OFFICE.
LET ME GUESS:
THEY WANT US
TO OVERLOOK THE POLYGAMY
TO GET A CONVICTION KING.
THEY WANNA KNOW
HOW BAD THIS IS.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
DOZENS OF WIVES,
INCEST, INBREEDING?
I DON'T THINK SO.
THEN YOU STILL GOT
SOME INVESTIGATING TO DO.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE
GOT TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTION
THAT WE PROMISED CHUCKWEI.
GET HIM HOME,
PACK UP HIS THINGS,
TAKE HIM TO A SAFE HOUSE.
WE'LL SECURE HIM FIRST.
THE D.A.'s OFFICE WILL
KEEP HIM IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.
MAKE SURE THERE
ARE NO MORE SURPRISES.
IF THIS ALL WORKS OUT...
MOVE THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH HIM.
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND,
WE'RE A GOOD CHRISTIAN FAMILY.
NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE
IS POLYGAMY BANNED.
ABRAHAM, JACOB,
KING DAVID--
ALL HAD MANY WIVES.
WE'RE NOT REALLY DIFFERENT
FROM MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,
DETECTIVE.
(Stabler)
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
DON'T PRACTICE POLYGAMY
IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT A THIRD OF THE WORLD
STILL LIVES IN CULTURES THAT DO.
WE'RE A GLOBAL SOCIETY NOW.
THE U.S. NEEDS
TO BE MORE TOLERANT.
SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND MARRIED NIKKI?
NO...ALMANI AND I
WELCOMED HER INTO OUR HOME.
SARA'S CITIZENSHIP ALLOWED
NIKKI AND I TO MOVE HERE.
TWO OF OUR CHILDREN
ARE CITIZENS,
AND I HOPE ONE DAY
WE'LL ALL BE AMERICANS.
TELL ME, ALMANI,
WHY IS IT OKAY
FOR A MAN TO HAVE
THREE WIVES,
AND YET WE NEVER HEAR OF
A WOMAN HAVING THREE HUSBANDS.
IN NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE,
WOMEN CAN HAVE MANY HUSBANDS.
SO SHOULDN'T IT
BE MY CHOICE
TO DECIDE WHAT KIND
OF MARRIAGE I WANT?
SO IF YOU WANT
TO MARRY A CAT?
[sighs]
DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME,
DETECTIVE.
POLYGAMIST FAMILIES ARE STRONGER
THAN MONOGAMOUS ONES.
SAYS WHO?
HOW MANY MEN IN THIS COUNTRY
HAVE AFFAIRS?
OR ABANDON THEIR WIVES
FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
MY DAD LEFT SIX WIVES,
ALL LEGALLY.
WE'RE A FAMILY
THAT STICKS TOGETHER.
WE'RE ALL READY TO GO.
COME ON!
COME ON.
COME ON.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT CHUCKWEI
HAD MORE THAN THREE WIVES.
THAT'S COMFORTING.
WE'VE MOVED THEM
TO A MOTEL,
BUT THE FAMILIES
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN
ABOUT BEING SEEN
COMING OR GOING.
CHUCKWEI CAN'T LEAVE.
THE OTHERS SHOULDN'T
UNLESS THEY HAVE TO.
WELL, THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE
LIVING IN ONE ROOM.
I MEAN, SARA GOES TO WORK,
THE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.
WE'D LIKE
TO STATION A CAR
OUTSIDE THEIR MOTEL.
IF I ONLY HAD THE MONEY.
THIS OFFICE
HAS $1.2 MILLION
TO PROTECT
THOUSANDS OF WITNESSES
FOR THE ENTIRE
FISCAL YEAR.
I THOUGHT THAT CONVICTING KING
WAS A TOP PRIORITY.
IT IS, WHICH IS WHY
WE'RE GIVING CHUCKWEI A PASS
ON THE POLYGAMY.
I'M NOT A FAN, EITHER,
BUT THE MAN
IS PUTTING HIS AND HIS FAMILY'S
LIFE ON THE LINE.
ALL FOR A TRIAL THAT'S ALREADY
COST HIM HIS WIFE.
I MEAN, WHAT GUY
IN HIS RIGHT MIND
WOULD EVER BECOME
A WITNESS IN THIS SYSTEM?
I WISH I COULD DO MORE.
BUT EVERY DOLLAR I SPEND
ON CHUCKWEI
I'M TAKING AWAY FROM ANOTHER
WITNESS'S SAFETY.
EVERY ONE OF THEM
WANTS MORE PROTECTION.
OKAY, SO WHAT
DO WE TELL THEM?
NEXT TIME,
TO WITNESS A FEDERAL CRIME.
THEY KNOW HOW
TO TREAT THEIR WITNESSES.
THIS AWARD THAT YOU GOT
FROM PROJECT PROTECT--
WE USED TO GIVE OUT
THESE ALARM PENDANTS
TO VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
CAN'T WE GIVE THESE
TO CHUCKWEI'S FAMILY?
THAT'S ANOTHER CASUALTY
OF BUDGET CUTS.
WE STOPPED USING THOSE
A FEW MONTHS AGO.
BUT THEY STILL WORK.
THESE ARE A DIRECT LINE
TO SVU.
YOU JUST GIVE US TWO:
ONE FOR SARA AND ONE FOR ALMANI.
I'LL PULL A COUPLE
FROM STORAGE.
[knocking]
CHUCKWEI, IT'S
DETECTIVE STABLER.
EXCUSE ME, MISS.
DID YOU CLEAN
THAT ROOM TODAY?
I DID THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE
FAMILY LIVING IN THERE.
I NEED YOU TO OPEN THE DOOR.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW THE FAMILY?
OH, THEY LEFT
MAYBE AN HOUR AGO.
HOPE THEY DON'T EXPECT ME
TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS AGAIN.
LIV, LOOKS LIKE
THEY'VE CHECKED OUT.
OH, I KNOW, HE JUST
WALKED IN HERE WITH HIS FAMILY.
SOMEBODY SLIPPED A NOTE
UNDER THEIR DOOR.
YEAH.
HEY. HI.
HI, HOW ARE YOU?
"TOMORROW OBIE BOTHAME
"WILL BE BEATEN TO DEATH
IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER,
BROTHERS, AND SISTERS."
I WON'T RISK
MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.
WE GOT THE D.A. TO PUT SECURITY
CAMERAS AT THE MOTEL.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
TO PROTECT US.
KING KNOWS WHERE WE ARE.
NO, STOP!
STOP!
NO MORE POLICE.
NO MORE INVESTIGATING.
IT'S OVER.
WE'LL KEEP YOU SAFE.
THE D.A.'S OFFICE
GAVE US THESE BODY ALARMS.
THEY'RE A DIRECT LINE
TO US.
AND WHAT ABOUT
AFTER THE TRIAL, HUH?
WHAT IF KING IS ACQUITTED?
THE ONLY WAY HE WALKS
IS IF YOU LET HIM.
I KNOW MEN LIKE KING.
IN NIGERIA,
THEY KILL THOUSANDS.
THEY THINK THEY ARE
ABOVE THE LAW.
I CAME TO AMERICA BECAUSE
IT IS A LAND OF DREAMS.
I NEED IT TO STAY THAT WAY.
WELL, HOW CAN IT
IF YOU DON'T TALK?
NOW, YOU DON'T WANNA
GO BACK TO THE MOTEL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, FINE.
GO HOME.
I'LL STAY WITH YOU.
YOU WOULD DO THAT
FOR US?
LOOK, I NEED YOU SAFE.
I NEED YOUR TESTIMONY.
(Danielson)
MR. BOTHAME, WOULD YOU
TELL US WHERE YOU WERE
AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 P.M.
ON OCTOBER THE 11TH, 2005?
I WAS WALKING HOME FROM WORK
ON 168TH STREET.
PLEASE TELL THE COURT
WHAT YOU WITNESSED.
I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING
ANYTHING UNUSUAL THAT DAY.
MR. BOTHAME...
MR. BOTHAME,
I AM REMINDING YOU
YOU ARE UNDER OATH.
I'M AWARE OF THAT FACT.
IN MY HAND IS YOUR STATEMENT
TO THE POLICE
TAKEN AT 4:08 THAT DAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT
BACK TO THE COURT?
OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.
THE WITNESS JUST TESTIFIED
TO WHAT HE SAW.
ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS,
HE HAS GIVEN
CONSISTENT STATEMENTS
CONFIRMING THAT THE DEFENDANT,
DENNIS KING,
BEAT DAMON MOORE TO DEATH
ON THE CORNER OF 168TH
AND AMSTERDAM.
DIDN'T YOU TELL
DETECTIVE STABLER
THAT EXACT SAME STORY
YESTERDAY?
OBJECTION!
SHE'S PUTTING WORDS
IN HIS MOUTH.
(judge)
SUSTAINED.
JURY IS INSTRUCTED
TO DISREGARD
MS. DANIELSON'S REMARKS.
YOUR HONOR, CLEARLY,
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED
TO MAKE HIM
CHANGE HIS MIND.
PERHAPS IT'S THE FACT
THAT THE DEFENDANT
IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR KILLING ANOTHER WITNESS
AND MR. BOTHAME'S--
OBJECTION!
MS. DANIELSON,
ARE YOU GUNNING
FOR A MISTRIAL?
NO, YOUR HONOR.
MR. BOTHAME,
TAKE A MOMENT
AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT YOU REALLY SAW.
IS THERE A REASON
YOU DON'T RECALL
THE EVENTS IN QUESTION?
YOUR HONOR...
I MAKE NO EXCUSE
FOR THE CHOICES I HAVE MADE.
BUT I AM SORRY
FOR WASTING YOUR TIME.
I WANTED TO BE A HERO.
BUT I AM NOT.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
CHUCKWEI SCREWED US.
WE SHOULD LOCK HIM UP
FOR PERJURY, CONTEMPT,
AND POLYGAMY.
DON'T YOU THINK
HE'S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH?
SINCE WHEN DID YOU
BECOME HIS DEFENDER?
WELL, YOU JUST SAID
THAT HE LIED UNDER OATH
TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY.
NOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT'S EASY
FOR A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN.
ANY RULING YET?
TALK TO DANIELSON.
HEY, HEY, HEY.
HOW DO YOU
SLEEP AT NIGHT?
SORRY?
YOU CAN'T WIN
WITH THE TRUTH,
SO YOU LET YOUR CLIENT
INTIMIDATE GOOD PEOPLE
WHO STAND UP TO HIM?
IF ANYONE'S
INTIMIDATING WITNESSES,
IT'S THE POLICE
AND YOUR D.A.
YOU COERCE,
YOU PLEA BARGAIN,
YOU THREATEN THEM
WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES
UNLESS THEY TESTIFY.
YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
REALLY?
COULD CHUCKWEI BE TESTIFYING
TO AVOID PROSECUTION
FOR POLYGAMY?
HE CAME FORWARD
ON HIS OWN.
MY DUDE!
[laughs]
NICE JOB, BROTHER.
THERE'S A BOTTLE OF CRISTAL
WITH OUR NAME ON IT.
LITTLE EARLY TO BE CELEBRATING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE
THAT'LL CONVICT MY CLIENT.
TELL ME THAT THE JUDGE
DID NOT JUST DISMISS THAT CASE.
SHE CONTINUED KING'S BAIL
AND GAVE US 24 HOURS
TO PROVE INTIMIDATION.
WELL, LET'S START
WITH THE DEATH THREAT.
THESE ARE THE ANOMALIES
FROM THE PRINTER ROLLERS
ON THE DEATH THREAT.
AND THESE ARE TEST PAGES
FROM ALL OF KING'S PRINTERS.
HOME, OFFICE, BUSINESS,
AND EVERY ASSOCIATE
WE COULD FINE.
THE ROLLER MARKS
DON'T MATCH.
WELL, IT ONLY MEANS KING
WAS SMART ENOUGH
TO USE KINKO'S.
WELL, THAT'S
WHAT I THOUGHT.
SO I TOOK THE LIBERTY
OF ANALYZING
A FEW OTHER SAMPLES
AND FOUND A MATCH.
IT'S CHUCKWEI'S DEPOSITION.
THE NOTE CAME
FROM HIS HOME OFFICE.
CHUCKWEI WAS IN PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY AT THE HOTEL,
SO HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
AND THE KIDS
AREN'T OLD ENOUGH
TO WRITE A NOTE
THIS SOPHISTICATED.
OKAY, THAT LEAVES US
WITH TWO POSSIBILITIES:
SARA AND ALMANI.
WHY WOULD THEY STAGE
A DEATH THREAT TO THEIR SON?
TO GET MORE PROTECTION.
THAT'S ONE WAY
TO GET OUR ATTENTION.
[cell phone ringing]
CERTAINLY GOT CHUCKWEI'S.
O'HALLORAN.
YEAH, I'LL TELL HIM.
ALMANI JUST TRIGGERED
HER ALARM PENDANT.
HEY.
PARAMEDICS TOOK ALMANI
TO THE HOSPITAL.
WHERE'S SARA?
UP AT RIKER'S
WITH CHUCKWEI.
ALMANI
WAS HERE ALONE?
WE DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS
WHEN PATROL FOUND HER.
SHE GONNA MAKE IT?
THEY'RE NOT SURE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
PICKING UP A LOT
OF HAIR AND FIBERS,
BUT WITH SEVEN PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE HOUSE,
IT'LL TAKE WEEKS TO SORT
THROUGH THE FORENSICS.
WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT
18 HOURS.
THEN I BETTER GET TO WORK.
ALMANI MAY HAVE
TYPED UP THE NOTE,
BUT SHE SURE AS HELL
DIDN'T BEAT HERSELF UNCONSCIOUS.
ANY SIGN
OF FORCED ENTRY?
NO, ALL THE DOORS
AND WINDOWS WERE INTACT.
WELL, MAYBE...
KING OR ONE OF HIS CREW
FOLLOWED HER IN HERE.
WELL, IF HE DID,
HE DIDN'T GO FAR.
WHOA, OKAY?
SLOW DOWN, DETECTIVE.
I'M 130 FEET AWAY.
MEASURE IT.
THERE'S NO VIOLATION.
WELL, HOW ABOUT
IF I FIND ONE?
I MEAN, AFTER ALL,
THERE ARE NO WITNESSES
AROUND HERE, HUH?
OH, THEY'LL SHOW UP
FOR POLICE BRUTALITY.
SMILE, DETECTIVE.
[camera phone clicks]
WHO ARE YOU, HUH?
YOU A BIG MAN?
LETTING THIS GUY
GET AWAY WITH MURDER?
YOU'RE NOT A MAN,
YOU'RE A COWARD.
IF JUST ONE OF YOU STEPS UP,
KING'S DONE.
ANYBODY GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY?
[cell phone ringing]
ANYBODY?
BENSON.
PLEASE.
TELL THESE FINE DETECTIVES.
YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE
AFRAID OF YOU, DETECTIVE.
THAT'S WHY YOU AIN'T
GOT NO WITNESSES.
(Benson)
THANKS.
YEAH, WE DO.
(Almani)
TELL THE DOCTOR I MUST GO.
THE CHILDREN WILL BE
HOME SOON FROM SCHOOL.
THE DOCTOR SAID
YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS
FOR A WHILE.
SO THEY WANNA MAKE SURE
YOU'RE OKAY.
I DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE.
ALMANI, WE CAN HELP YOU.
BUT YOU NEED
TO TALK TO US...OKAY?
NOW, THE DEATH THREAT
WAS MADE FROM A COMPUTER
IN YOUR HOUSE.
DID YOU WRITE THAT NOTE?
NO!
WHY WOULD I SEND A DEATH THREAT
TO MY OWN SON?
BECAUSE YOU WERE AFRAID.
AND YOU WANTED THE POLICE
TO TAKE YOUR FEARS
MORE SERIOUSLY.
SO YOU WROTE
THE THREATENING NOTE
AND YOU POPPED IT
UNDER THE DOOR.
I DIDN'T!
I SWEAR!
DID SARA?
SARA SPONSORED MY VISA.
IT'S ABOUT TO EXPIRE.
IF SHE DOESN'T RENEW IT,
I'LL BE DEPORTED.
BECAUSE YOU'RE A WITNESS,
WE CAN GET YOU A "W" VISA,
WHICH MEANS
THAT YOU CAN STAY.
BUT YOU HAVE
TO COOPERATE.
ALMANI, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO LIVE IN FEAR.
[sniffles]
SARA DO THIS TO YOU?
[crying]
YES.
SHE KILL NIKKI?
I WAS IN THE KITCHEN,
AND I HEARD
NIKKI AND SARA FIGHTING.
ABOUT WHAT?
THE SAME THING WOMEN
ALWAYS FIGHT ABOUT: A MAN.
[crying]
I HEARD NIKKI SCREAM
AND FALL DOWN THE STAIRS.
I WENT TO LOOK.
NIKKI WAS LYING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
SARA SAID SHE WOULD
TAKE NIKKI TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND I SHOULD
STAY WITH THE BABY.
SHE CAME BACK AN HOUR LATER
WITHOUT NIKKI.
SHE TOLD ME
NOT TO SAY ANYTHING,
OR I WOULD BE DEPORTED.
AFTER YOU TOOK
CHUCKWEI THIS MORNING,
I TOLD SARA
I WOULDN'T LET HIM
GO TO PRISON
FOR HER CRIME.
THAT'S WHY SHE BEAT YOU?
SARA IS MY FAMILY.
I STAYED SILENT
AS LONG AS I COULD,
BUT MY CHILDREN
NEED THEIR FATHER,
AND I NEED MY HUSBAND.
ALMANI IS LYING
TO SAVE HERSELF.
SARA, STOP.
THE ROLLER MARKS
ON THE DEATH THREAT
WERE AN EXACT MATCH
TO YOUR PRINTER.
BECAUSE YOU WROTE IT.
I DIDN'T THINK THE COPS
WERE DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT US.
YOU KNOW HOW THE POLICE LIE.
YOU DIDN'T WANT PROTECTION,
YOU WANTED CHUCKWEI
TO DROP OUT OF KING'S TRIAL
SO WE'D STOP INVESTIGATING
NIKKI'S MURDER.
IS THIS TRUE?
OF COURSE NOT.
THIS IS LUDICROUS.
KING KILLED HER.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO OUR FAMILY?
I DIDN'T DO THIS TO US.
YOU DID...
WHEN YOU LET NIKKI
INTO OUR HOME.
WHAT?
I ACCEPTED ALMANI
AS YOUR WIFE.
YOU MARRIED HER
BEFORE WE MET.
BUT THERE WAS NO NEED
FOR NIKKI.
I MARRIED NIKKI
TO SAVE HER LIFE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HER.
GUARD!
NO...NO, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS,
CHUCKWEI, I SWEAR.
SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.
GUARD!
[sobbing]
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!
SARA FLYNT...
[hysterical]
SARA FLYNT,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER
OF NIKKIEL BOTHAME.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT...
KING IS A THUG!
HE DESERVES
TO GO TO PRISON!
NOT YOU!
NOT ME.
[Nikki sobbing]
(Danielson)
PLEASE TELL THE JURY
WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS WALKING HOME FROM WORK
ON 168TH STREET
WHEN I SAW A MAN BEAT A BOY
WITH A METAL PIPE.
THIS IS THE VICTIM
DAMON MOORE.
IS HE THE BOY YOU SAW?
YES.
AND THE MAN WHO BEAT HIM
TO DEATH,
IS HE IN THIS COURTROOM?
THAT IS THE MAN.
THERE.
HE'S A LIAR.
DENNIS.
COPS ARE MAKING HIM LIE.
SHUT UP.
(Chuckwei)
NO! NO!
YOU MURDERED THAT BOY
IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE!
AND IN FRONT OF GOD!
YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!
[all shouting]
(judge)
ORDER!
GET THE JURY OUT OF HERE!
COURT OFFICERS!
GET 'EM OFF!
GET 'EM OFF ME!
ORDER!
YOU'RE DEAD!
YOUR FAMILY'S DEAD!
EVERYTHING YOU LOVE IS DEAD!
TAKE THE DEFFENDENT
FOR LOCKUP.
YOU'RE DEAD!
ARE YOU OKAY?
YES.
I'M NO LONGER AFRAID.
IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,
SEXUALLY BASED OFFENSES ARE
CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY HEINOUS.
IN NEW YORK CITY,
THE DEDICATED DETECTIVES
WHO INVESTIGATE
THESE VICIOUS FELONIES
ARE MEMBERS OF AN ELITE SQUAD
KNOWN AS
THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT.
THESE ARE THEIR STORIES.
WELCOME, EVERYONE,
TO THE EAST RIVER.
TODAY OUR JOB IS TO LOAD
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
INTO THE DUMPSTERS.
THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR VOLUNTEERING.
REMEMBER, WE HAVE
ENERGY BARS AND WATER
IN THE BUS.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
OYSTER BEDS USED TO COVER
350 SQUARE MILES
OF THE RIVER.
REALLY? I WOULDN'T WANT
TO EAT ANYTHING CAUGHT IN THERE.
I KNOW A GREAT PLACE WE COULD
GRAB SOME ORGANIC SUSHI.
YOU ASK OUT
ALL THE VOLUNTEERS?
ONLY THE REAL
ECO-FRIENDLY ONES.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE
USING THE RIVER AS THEIR DUMP?
THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW EASY
IT IS TO BE GREEN.
CAREFUL.
OH, MY GOD.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEENAGER.
FOUND IN THE TRASH BAG
BOUND AT THE ANKLES
WITH CABLE.
CABLE'S STRIPPED AWAY
AT THE END.
GUY PROBABLY WEIGHTED HER DOWN
BEFORE HE THREW HER IN.
SHE WAS DEAD BEFORE
SHE WENT IN THE RIVER.
THERE'S NO WATER
IN HER LUNGS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW SHE GOT THESE GASHES
ON HER ARM
AND ON HER FOREHEAD?
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA.
PERP HIT HER WITH SOMETHING
BEFORE HE DUMPED HER.
RIVER WOULD HAVE WASHED
AWAY ANY FLUIDS.
KNOW IF SHE WAS RAPED?
ABUSED.
SHE HAS SIGNIFICANT
GENITAL SCARRING.
HEY, DETECTIVES.
GOT A GUY DOWN OVER HERE.
[police radio chatter]
HE'S CLEAN.
ANY I.D.?
NO DRIVER'S LICENSE,
NO PLASTIC.
GOT ABOUT THREE BUCKS
IN THERE.
OHH!
POLICE, STOP!
OHH!
[thud]
(Benson)
STILL BREATHING.
I HOPE HE LIVES
LONG ENOUGH TO CONFESS.
HEY.
I'M DETECTIVE STABLER.
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
NO.
WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU FELL
RUNNING AWAY FROM US.
AFTER YOU GAVE MY PARTNER
A RIGHT HOOK TO THE JAW.
YEAH.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO HIT YOU.
RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT
BIGGER WORRIES THAN THAT.
TELL US WHO THE GIRL IS.
WHAT GIRL?
WE RAN YOUR PRINTS,
JESSE.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
A HISTORY OF PICKING UP HOOKERS.
WAS SHE ONE OF THEM?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
JESSE, LOOK AT YOURSELF.
YOUR HANDS ARE BLOODY.
YOU HAVE SCRATCHES
ALL OVER YOU FROM THE STRUGGLE.
WHO IS SHE?
(Stabler)
HEY...
IF YOU PUT UP A FIGHT
AND WENT INTO THE RIVER
BY ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW...
MAYBE IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
WHO IS SHE?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S ALL A BLUR.
THING'S BE A LOT EASIER ON YOU
IF YOU JUST COOPERATE.
WHO IS SHE?
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I HAVE A WEAKNESS
FOR YOUNGER WOMEN.
I KILLED HER?
WE NEED JESSE BLYER TRANSFERRED
TO THE PRISON WARD
AT BELLEVUE.
I WOULDN'T.
I JUST GOT
HIS TOX SCREEN BACK.
BELLEVUE HANDLES
PLENTY OF ADDICTS.
HE'S AN EPILEPTIC.
HE TESTED POSITIVE
FOR PHENYTOIN.
HIS EEG CONFIRMS IT.
THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T
HAVE ANY I.D.
THE STATE WON'T
GIVE HIM A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
AND IT MAY BE WHY
HE ATTACKED YOU.
EPILEPTICS CAN
COME OUT OF A SEIZURE
IN A HYPER-PARANOID STATE.
HE SHOULD BE PARANOID.
HE JUST CONFESSED TO MURDER.
WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER THING.
HE POSTICTAL AND HIGHLY
PRONE TO SUGGESTION.
DID YOU ASK HIM
LEADING QUESTIONS?
THE EVIDENCE IS LEADING.
HE'S GOT SCRATCHES
ALL OVER HIS FACE AND HANDS.
PROBABLY FROM THE SEIZURE,
WHICH CAUSED HIM
TO CONVULSE ON THE GROUND.
HE'S STILL OUR PRIME SUSPECT
UNTIL I HEAR OTHERWISE.
TRANSFER HIM.
I'M NOT SO SURE
JESSE IS YOUR MAN.
WHY?
THE CABLE THE GIRL
WAS TIED UP WITH
IS USED FOR CONNECTING
BUILDINGS TO CABLE TV.
(Fin)
THERE WERE THREE OUTAGES
THIS MORNING IN MANHATTAN.
SOMEBODY CUT 15 FEET OF CABLE
OUT OF A BACK ALLEY
ON 169TH STREET.
PERP PROBABLY KILLED HER
AROUND THERE.
(Stabler)
SO THE SERVICE WENT OUT
AT 7:54 A.M.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE WENT
IN THE RIVER IN UPPER HARLEM?
THIS TIDAL FLOW SIMULATION
SHOWS THE CURRENT
COULD HAVE TAKEN A BODY,
DROPPED IT
AT 169TH AT 8:00
TO WHERE SHE WAS FOUND
AT 9:15.
WELL, THE ECO-VOLUNTEERS
FISHED HER OUT AROUND 10:00.
DOES THE TIDAL FLOW EXPLAIN
WHY SHE DIDN'T FLOAT ANY FURTHER
OVER THE NEXT 45 MINUTES?
YEAH--HIGH TIDE
AND THE CROSS CURRENT
TRAPPED HER BODY
WITH THE REST OF THE TRASH.
YOU SURE SHE DIDN'T GO
IN THE SPOT WHERE WE FOUND HER?
IF SHE DID, YOUR FRIEND JESSE
DIDN'T DO IT.
HE WAS CAUGHT
ON A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
SLEEPING OUTSIDE
A NEARBY BODEGA UNTIL 10:30.
BENSON.
YEAH, SO HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN
IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE.
THAT WAS WARNER.
SHE GOT SOMETHING.
YOUR VICTIM WAS KILLED
WITH SOMETHING MADE OF WOOD.
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE.
(Stabler)
SPLINTERS.
FROM HER SCALP.
ROUGH-HEWN OAK FROM
WHATEVER SHE WAS HIT WITH.
COULD BE FROM
A CONSTRUCTION SITE?
OR A HOME REMODEL.
OAK IS PRETTY POPULAR
IN FLOORING.
YOU SAID SHE SHOWED SIGNS
OF LONG-TERM ABUSE.
COULD OUR PERP BE
A CONSTRUCTION WORKER?
ACTUALLY, I WAS WRONG.
THE SCARRING IS FROM
AN IMPROPERLY HEALED
FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.
SHE WAS MUTILATED.
ALONG WITH 150 MILLION
OTHER WOMEN IN AFRICA,
THE MIDDLE EAST,
AND PARTS OF ASIA.
BECAUSE MEN THINK
CUTTING A WOMAN TO SHREDS
WILL PREVENT HER
FROM BEING PROMISCUOUS.
DONE SAFELY,
THEY LOSE ALL
SEXUAL SENSATION.
BUT...TOO MANY
DIE FROM INFECTION.
SO WHY WOULD ANY WOMAN
AGREE TO IT?
TRADITION.
IN SOME CULTURES,
MEN WON'T COURT WOMEN
UNTIL THEY'VE
HAD THIS PROCEDURE.
ANY IDEA WHEN
THIS WAS DONE TO HER?
FROM THE SCAR TISSUE,
I'D SAY IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
HERE?
IT'S POSSIBLE.
CONGRESS BANNED
THE PRACTICE,
BUT THE CDC ESTIMATES 200,000
IMMIGRANT GIRLS IN THE U.S.
ARE AT RISK.
SO THAT'S WHERE
WE HAVE TO START.
HEY, ARE YOU
STILL FRIENDS
WITH, UH, AGENT WILLIAMS
FROM IMMIGRATION?
GOOD, MM-HMM.
(Williams)
WARNER SENT THE PRINTS OVER
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE
IN PERSON, ELLIOT.
WE'RE IN A BIT OF A RUSH.
THE BODY'S LESS
THAN EIGHT HOURS OLD.
AFIS IS ALMOST
DONE WITH THE SCAN.
I'M SURPRISED
I HADN'T HEARD FROM YOU.
I GOT BACK TOGETHER
WITH MY WIFE.
OH, GOOD FOR YOU.
THOUGHT THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN.
HERE WE GO.
HER NAME IS NIKKIEL KWAMBE,
FROM NIGERIA.
SHE'S 15, HERE ON
A 90-DAY FAMILY VISA...
WHICH EXPIRED
SIX MONTHS AGO.
DOESN'T IMMIGRATION REQUIRE
THAT THEY CHECK IN?
IT'S UP TO EACH IMMIGRANT
TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS
OF THEIR VISA.
DO YOU HAVE
AN ADDRESS FOR HER?
JUST FOR A SPONSOR.
HER AUNT.
MIRA OTUME.
124TH
AND FREDRICK DOUGLAS.
YEAH.
THANKS.
(Benson)
EXCUSE ME.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR MIRA OTUME.
MAY I HELP YOU
WITH SOMETHING?
MIRA IS BUSY FOR
THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.
POLICE.
CAN YOU MAKE HER
UN-BUSY, PLEASE?
[young girl shouting]
PERHAPS YOU CAN
COME BACK LATER.
SHE'LL HELP YOU THEN.
[girl crying]
WILL YOU TURN
THE MUSIC DOWN?
*
[music cuts off]
NO! STOP!
I DON'T WANNA DO THIS!
AAH!
YOU CAN'T GO DOWN THERE!
(girl)
HELP ME! STOP!
AAH!
POLICE!
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!
HEY!
MOVE AWAY FROM HER!
MOVE AWAY FROM HER NOW!
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
I'M NOT FINISHED.
YEAH, YOU ARE.
DROP THAT. DROP IT.
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
MILLIONS OF GIRLS HAVE
BEEN CIRCUMCISED FOR CENTURIES.
WELCOME
TO THE 21ST CENTURY.
MUTILATION IS A CLASS E FELONY
AND A FEDERAL CRIME.
IT IS NOT A CRIME.
IT IS A CELEBRATION.
THAT GIRL
WILL BE SCARRED FOR LIFE.
I AM A TRAINED ANAM-MBIBI.
I AM NO DIFFERENT
FROM A JEWISH MOHEL.
EXCEPT THAT
FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
HAS BEEN OUTLAWED IN NEARLY
EVERY COUNTRY
AROUND THE WORLD,
INCLUDING YOUR OWN.
NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING
AT FOUR YEARS PER COUNT.
AND, CLEARLY, THIS IS NOT
YOUR FIRST TIME.
DID YOU PERFORM A CIRCUMCISION
ON THIS GIRL?
[scoffs]
I HAVE NEVER
SEEN HER BEFORE.
WELL, THAT'S STRANGE...
SINCE YOU'RE LISTED
AS NIKKIEL'S AUNT
ON HER IMMIGRATION VISA.
WHY ARE YOU ASKING
ABOUT THIS GIRL?
BECAUSE SHE'S DEAD.
WE FISHED HER OUT
OF THE RIVER THIS MORNING.
I HAVEN'T...SEEN NIKKI
FOR MONTHS.
WHEN YOU PERFORMED
A CIRCUMCISION ON HER.
SHE WANTED IT!
SHE SAID IT WAS TIME
FOR HER TO BECOME A WOMAN.
SHE WAS A CHILD.
IN THIS COUNTRY...
15 YEARS OLD
IS A SPOILED TEENAGER.
BUT IN NIGERIA, A 15-YEAR-OLD
HAS LIVED A LIFETIME!
WHEN WE FIND
ALL OF THE OTHER GIRLS
YOU'VE MUTILATED,
YOU'RE GONNA SPEND THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE IN JAIL.
(Stabler)
THE COURT MIGHT SHOW LENIENCY.
IF YOU HELP US OUT.
HOW?
GIVE US NIKKI'S ADDRESS.
[knock on door]
YES?
DETECTIVES BENSON
AND STABLER.
MAY WE COME IN,
PLEASE?
I'D RATHER NOT.
OUR HOUSE IS A BEAT-UP MESS.
WE DON'T MIND.
DOES NIKKIEL KWAMBE
LIVE HERE?
YES.
DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT?
DO YOU LIVE HERE
AS WELL?
YES. WHAT'S GOING ON?
WHERE IS NIKKI,
DETECTIVES?
WE FOUND HER AROUND
10:00 A.M. THIS MORNING.
SHE'S BEEN KILLED.
[door slams]
I'LL GO AROUND BACK.
[grunts]
STOP! POLICE!
POLICE, DON'T MOVE!
DON'T MOVE!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!
DO AS HE SAYS!
HANDS UP!
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!
SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!
DON'T SHOOT!
MY ARM IS BROKEN!
HANDS!
NO, MY ARM IS BROKEN,
PLEASE!
BACK UP TO THE CAR!
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT!
GET ON THE CAR!
GET ON THE CAR!
OKAY, OKAY.
PLEASE DON'T SHOOT.
DON'T MOVE.
OKAY, OKAY.
IF HE MOVES, SHOOT HIM.
[panting]
AAH!
MY ARM DOESN'T WORK!
PLEASE,
YOU MUST BELIEVE ME!
AGH!
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
CHUCKWEI.
CHUCKWEI BOTHAME.
WHAT'D YOU DO TO HER,
CHUCKWEI?
[panting]
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HER.
THAT IS MY WIFE.
THAT'S NIKKI BOTHAME.
WAIT...CAN I TOUCH HER?
NO, I'M SORRY, YOU CAN'T.
YOU THINK I KILLED HER?
YEAH, WE DO.
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.
I LOVED HER.
HOW LONG WERE YOU
AND NIKKI MARRIED?
NINE MONTHS.
SHE WAS 15.
IN NEW YORK, IT'S LEGAL
TO MARRY WHEN YOU'RE 14.
WITH CONSENT OF A JUDGE.
I HAD THE NECESSARY
DOCUMENTATION.
WELL, THEN,
HOW COME YOUR NAME
WASN'T LISTED
ON HER VISA APPLICATION?
I'M NOT A CITIZEN.
I CAN'T SPONSOR HER.
ARE YOU GOING
TO INTERROGATE ME
IN FRONT OF MY DEAD WIFE?
YOUR DEAD WIFE IS A 15-YEAR-OLD
GIRL YOU MUTILATED.
THE CIRCUMCISION
WAS HER DECISION.
HMM.
YOU DIDN'T FORCE HER?
[scoffs]
YOU DON'T KNOW NIKKI.
YOU CAN'T FORCE HER
TO DO ANYTHING.
WELL, SOMEBODY FORCED HER
INTO THE RIVER.
HERE'S WHAT I THINK.
YOU BROUGHT A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
OVER FROM NIGERIA
TO BE YOUR WIFE.
AFTER SPENDING A YEAR
IN AMERICA, SHE DECIDES,
"YOU KNOW, INSTEAD
OF A CIRCUMCISION,
I'D RATHER HAVE AN IPHONE."
SO SHE TRIES TO BOLT...
YOU BEAT HER TO DEATH
AND DUMP HER IN THE EAST RIVER.
UHH!
NOW, HOW CAN I DO THAT?
MY LEFT ARM IS CRIPPLED.
OH, I DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
YOUR RIGHT ARM.
I WANT AN ATTORNEY.
FINE.
BUT SOONER OR LATER,
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED.
MR. BOTHAME,
YOU'RE FREE TO GO.
I'M NO LONGER
UNDER ARREST?
NO, BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED
IF YOU GET HOME
AND FIND US SEARCHING
THE PREMISES.
WE HAVE A WARRANT.
WHY'D YOU LET HIM GO?
CHUCKWEI'S GOT MOTIVE
AND OPPORTUNITY.
HIS ALIBI CHECKED OUT.
SECURITY CAMERAS PICKED HIM UP
ENTERING A SHOP
AT 7:00 THIS MORNING.
WELL, HE COULD HAVE
GONE OUT
THROUGH A BACK DOOR
OR A WINDOW.
KILLED NIKKI,
DUMPED HER IN THE RIVER.
CHUCKWEI'S HOUSE IS TWO BLOCKS
FROM WHERE THE CABLE WAS CUT.
HE ASKED FOR A LAWYER.
SO WE CAN STILL HOLD HIM.
ON WHAT CHARGES?
SEXUAL ABUSE, ENDANGERING
THE WELFARE OF A CHILD.
TAKE YOUR PICK.
AT THE VERY LEAST,
WE GOT HIM ON STATUTORY RAPE.
HE'S 35, SHE'S 14.
THEY'RE MARRIED.
THAT NULLIFIES
THE STATUTORY CHARGES.
CHUCKWEI SAYS
THAT THEY'RE MARRIED,
BUT THE LICENSE
IS FROM NIGERIA.
RUN IT PAST
THEIR CONSULATE.
IN THE MEANTIME,
FIN AND LAKE
ARE TOSSING THE HOME
FOR THE MURDER WEAPON.
EXCUSE ME, MA'AM--
YOU CAN'T DO THAT
TILL OUR PEOPLE ARE DONE.
I MUST, TO HONOR NIKKI.
HER SPIRIT WALKS THE HOUSE
UNTIL SHE'S BURIED.
PLEASE TAKE OFF
YOUR SHOES.
YOU AND NIKKI WERE CLOSE?
LIKE SISTERS.
I'M ALMANI,
CHUCKWEI'S COUSIN.
CAN WE HAVE SOME PUDDING?
NOT NOW, SWEETIE.
I'LL MAKE SOME LATER.
GO KEEP FELIX COMPANY.
THEY YOURS?
NO.
NIKKI AND I RUN A DAYCARE
TO HELP WITH THE RENT.
(Lake)
FIN, COME HERE.
CHUCKWEI MAKE ALL THIS?
YES, HE'S A CRAFTSMAN.
ONE-HANDED?
THEY'RE
REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
IS ANY OF THIS WOOD OAK?
NO, THIS IS ALL
AFRICAN SAVANNAH.
I'LL HAVE CSU TAKE A SAMPLE.
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WEARING THAT T-SHIRT?!
LET'S TAKE THAT OFF, BABY.
"LIE OR DIE."
THAT'S A HELL OF A T-SHIRT.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, LITTLE MAN?
OBIE.
HEY, OBIE, WHERE'D
YOU GET THAT T-SHIRT?
FROM A MAN.
WHAT MAN?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE GAVE IT TO ME,
SAID IT WAS A PRESENT.
WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?
HE WAS BIG.
WELL, DID HE HAVE
A BIG NOSE?
FUNNY FACE?
HOW 'BOUT A TATTOO?
I DON'T KNOW.
CAN I GO OUTSIDE NOW?
ONLY IN THE BACK YARD,
OBIE.
I NEED TO TEND
TO THE CHILDREN.
WHO'S TELLING YOU TO LIE?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNEW THE SECOND
YOU SAW THAT SHIRT.
I'M SORRY, I MUST GO.
WE'RE NOT GETTING
MUCH MORE OUT OF THEM.
NO, BUT WE WILL
FROM A GUY I KNOW--
AN ADAM CLAYTON POWELL.
MY SHIRTS
ARE A PUBLIC PROTEST
AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT'S
OVER RELIANCE
ON THESE SELF-SERVING
CRIMINAL INFORMANTS.
YOU'RE HIGH.
NO, I AM CLEAN, MAN,
AND I AM LIVING
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I GOT MY OWN BUSINESS.
YOUR SHIRTS ARE A PAIN
IN OUR ASS, WAXMAN.
I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT.
YOU THINK IT'S COOL
MAKING A LIVING
OFF INTIMIDATION?
NO, YOU KNOW WHAT
I THINK IS COOL?
I THINK IT IS COOL
THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY
WHERE I CAN EXPRESS
MY POLITICAL VIEWS FREELY.
NOW, BUY A SHIRT.
WHO BOUGHT THIS SHIRT
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOU WANT ME TO SNITCH?
I SAY TWO WORDS TO YOU,
MY CREDIBILITY, IT TANKS,
ALONG WITH MY SALES--
FORGET IT.
HOW DO YOU THINK
YOUR SALES WILL DO
IF WE JUST
CAMP OUT RIGHT HERE?
NOW THAT'D REALLY
HELP YOUR STREET CRED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, FIN?
I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
I LIKE THIS BLOCK.
LET'S HANG OUT.
NO, NO, HEY, HEY.
LISTEN...
I'M JUST THE TIP
OF THE ICEBERG, OKAY?
EVERYBODY,
AND I MEAN EVERYBODY,
IS CASHING IN ON THIS
STOP SNITCHING MOVEMENT.
OKAY?
LOOK...
I GOT DVDs, CDs, POSTERS.
THIS IS NOTHING.
THE REAL CASH IS COMING IN
OFF THIS WEBSITE--
THAT'S WHERE
THE MONEY'S BEING MADE.
THE SITE THAT RATS OUT
THE RATS.
IT COMES COMPLETE
WITH A PHOTO AND ADDRESS
OF ANYONE WHO'S BEEN REPORTED
TO BE AN INFORMANT.
SO IS NIKKI ON THE SITE?
CHUCKWEI IS.
IDENTIFIED BY STINKINRAT
AS A KEY WITNESS
IN THE MURDER TRIAL
OF ONE DENNIS HAROLD KING.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT NAME?
YOU KNOW HIM AS D. KING,
AS IN, "HE IS D' KING."
HE'S A SERIOUS
HARLEM DRUG DEALER
WITH A RAP SHEET
A MILE LONG.
NOT TO MENTION AN ENTREPRENEUR
EXTRAORDINAIRE.
HE'S A THUG.
WHO'D HE KILL?
DAMON MOORE,
A 16-YEAR-OLD KID.
KING BEAT HIM TO DEATH
FOR LOOKING AT HIS GIRLFRIEND
THE WRONG WAY.
WELL, WHEN
WAS CHUCKWEI'S IDENTITY
POSTED ON THE SITE?
TWO DAYS AGO.
ANY OTHER WITNESSES?
POLICE REPORTED
28 OTHER PEOPLE
SAW KING BEAT DAMON MOORE.
THE ONLY OTHER GUY TO COME
FORWARD BESIDES CHUCKWEI
WAS TOBY TORRES,
AN ADDICT
TESTIFYING
AS PART OF A PLEA.
CHECK OUT THE RAT
NEXT TO HIS NAME.
YEAH, THAT'S
HIS RAT STATUS.
HE WAS MURDERED LAST WEEK,
A DAY AFTER HIS INFO
WAS POSTED ON THIS SITE.
WE GOT THE WRONG GUY.
CHUCKWEI WAS ON OUR SIDE.
HE WAS GONNA TESTIFY,
BEFORE KING KILLED NIKKI
TO SHUT HIM UP.
CHUCKWEI'S ATTORNEY
IS IN MY OFFICE.
UH, SARA FLYNT WITH
WEST AFRICAN LEGAL SERVICES.
WHAT DOES SHE WANT?
I WANT YOU TO STOP
HARASSING MY CLIENT.
HE'S BURYING HIS WIFE TODAY.
WELL, RUNNING AWAY FROM US
MADE HIM LOOK PRETTY GUILTY.
CHUCKWEI RAN FROM YOU BECAUSE
HE'S AFRAID OF THE POLICE.
HE WAS A POLITICAL PRISONER
IN NIGERIA.
IS THAT WHAT
HE TOLD YOU?
I MET HIM THERE WHEN I WAS
WORKING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH.
WE FOUGHT
FOR CHUCKWEI'S RELEASE.
WHAT WAS HE
IN PRISON FOR?
HE PROTESTED WHEN
THE FORMER DICTATORSHIP
STARTED DUMPING
REFINERY WASTE ON HIS FARM.
THEY CONFISCATED HIS LAND.
THE POLICE JAILED HIM
AND BEAT HIM
UNTIL HE LOST THE USE
OF HIS LEFT ARM.
WELL, DENNIS KING
IS GONNA DO
A LOT WORSE TO HIM
IF HE DOESN'T HELP US
PUT KING AWAY.
CHUCKWEI'S A GOOD PERSON.
HE WANTED TO DO
THE RIGHT THING.
NOW HE SEES WHY THE OTHER
WITNESSES DIDN'T COME FORWARD.
HOW DO WE GET HIM
TO COOPERATE?
CAN YOU GIVE HIM PLASTIC SURGERY
AND MOVE HIM TO SCOTTSDALE?
WELL, THAT'S A QUESTION
YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE D.A.
WE DID--
THEY SAID INTIMIDATION
IS OUT OF CONTROL.
AND THE STATE'S WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM IS STRAPPED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
OR THE MANPOWER.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T WANT
TO BE LATE FOR NIKKI'S FUNERAL.
COME ON.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE.
[church bell tolling]
(Stabler)
SARA, JUST HOW DID CHUCKWEI
AND NIKKI MEET?
OVER THE PHONE.
IT WAS AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.
THAT'S NOT
VERY ROMANTIC.
IT WAS ABOUT SURVIVAL,
NOT ROMANCE.
NIKKI WAS IN DANGER?
YES, CHRISTIANS IN THEIR VILLAGE
HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK
AFTER NIKKI'S TWO SISTERS
WERE RAPED AND MURDERED.
CHUCKWEI AGREED TO MARRY NIKKI
SO SHE COULD COME HERE.
[singing]
*
I'M SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS.
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!
YOU HAVE PUT MY FAMILY
THROUGH ENOUGH.
CHUCKWEI,
THEY WANT TO HELP US
FIND OUT
WHO DID THIS TO NIKKI.
SO YOU WANT EVIDENCE
AGAINST KING?
LOOK OVER THERE.
THAT'S HIM.
DENNIS KING.
I KNOW YOU?
YOU DO NOW.
SINCE WHEN IS IT
AGAINST THE LAW
TO VISIT A CEMETERY, MAN.
WHEN IT'S TO INTIMIDATE
A WITNESS.
I'M PAYING MY RESPECTS.
YOU'RE INTERRUPTING
A FUNERAL.
OH, THIS--
OH, YOU KIDDING ME, RIGHT?
OH, HE PRAYIN'!
THAT'S POLICE BRUTALITY
RIGHT HERE, MAN!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO AN ATTORNEY.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD ONE,
ONE WILL BE
PROVIDED FOR YOU.
(man)
MY CLIENT WAS VERY SORRY
TO HEAR
ABOUT NIKKI'S DEATH,
BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
LINKING HIM TO HER MURDER.
NOT YET,
BUT WE'LL FIND SOME.
YEAH, OR YOU'LL
PLANT IT.
PRETTY HARD TO PLANT EVIDENCE
IN THESE MURDERS.
MAYBE THEY HAD IT
COMING TO THEM.
IS THAT AN ADMISSION.
NO, IT'S AN OBSERVATION.
CASUAL CONVERSATION,
YOU MIGHT SAY.
HUH.
LOOK, MAN,
WHERE I'M FROM,
PEOPLE DON'T TAKE KINDLY
TO FOLKS WHO RAT
TO GET THEIR OWN
SENTENCES REDUCED.
I READ IN THE PAPERS...
THESE GUYS TOOK
A BRANDING IRON,
BURNT THE WORD "SNITCH"
IN A WOMAN'S FACE.
THAT'S COLD, RIGHT THERE.
HOW 'BOUT NIKKI?
WHAT'D SHE DO?
DON'T ANSWER THAT.
WHAT WERE YOU DOING
AT HER FUNERAL?
TOLD YOU.
I WAS PAYING RESPECTS
TO A FRIEND.
A FRIEND MURDERED
BY THE POLICE.
I'VE GOT
MY OWN PICTURES.
REGGIE TOSSEN,
SHOT BY THE COPS
IN THE BRONX LAST YEAR.
HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE...
AND GRAVE STONE NUMBER...
WHERE MY CLIENT WAS PRAYING.
CHRISTINE.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO SEE YOU.
A.D.A. DANIELSON,
HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF.
OH, SO YOU'VE
HAD THE PLEASURE
OF TRYING MR. KING'S
MURDER CASE.
YES.
UH, WE WERE JUST LEAVING,
ACTUALLY.
NOBODY'S FILING CHARGES
AGAINST MY CLIENT TODAY.
NOT FOR INTIMIDATION,
BUT HE DID VIOLATE
AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED ANY CLOSER
TO CHUCKWEI THAN 100 FEET.
NICE BOOTY.
OH, YEAH?
WATCH IT KICK YOUR ASS.
(Danielson)
THE PEOPLE CHARGE MR. KING
WITH CRIMINAL CONTEMPT
AND VIOLATION OF BAIL.
THE PEOPLE REQUEST
MR. KING BE REMANDED
AND HELD IN CUSTODY
UNTIL TRIAL.
YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT
HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
OF THE FUNERAL.
THAT'S ABSURD.
IT JUST HAPPENED
THAT MR. KING
WAS GRIEVING AT EXACTLY
THE SAME TIME AS MR. BOTHAME?
WELL, THERE ARE ONLY
SO MANY...CEMETARIES
IN THE CITY, YOUR HONOR,
AND, UH, A GREAT DEAL
OF DEATH.
YOUR HONOR, MR. KING
WAS STARING DOWN A WITNESS
IN HIS MURDER TRIAL.
HE WAS ENJOYING
THE SINGING.
YOUR CLIENT MAY BE
A MUSIC LOVER, MR. BRADEN,
BUT HE VIOLATED
A COURT ORDER.
IT'S A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE,
YOUR HONOR.
MURDER ISN'T.
IN ADDITION TO HIS
UPCOMING MURDER TRIAL,
KING IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR A SECOND...
OH, UH--
AND A THIRD HOMICIDE.
HASN'T BEEN CHARGED
IN EITHER OF THOSE--
WELL, THEN,
JUST THE FIRST MURDER
AND HIS PRIOR CONVICTION
SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO REVOKE BAIL.
I GET THE IDEA.
BAIL IS SET AT $1/2 MILLION.
(Bailiff)
DOCKET NUMBER 2876-351,
PEOPLE VERSUS CARTER
FOR ILLEGAL USE
OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
NOTHING WILL STOP HIM.
HE HAS MORE MONEY
THAN GOD HIMSELF.
HE'LL BE OUT ON THE STREETS,
AND I'LL BE DEAD.
I'LL TALK TO THE DETECTIVES.
[gangsta rap music]
*
CHUCKWEI.
COME WITH US.
YOU'RE UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY
UNTIL THE TRIAL'S OVER.
WHAT ABOUT ALMANI
AND THE CHILDREN AND SARA.
UNFORTUNATELY,
WITNESS PROTECTION
ONLY EXTENDS
TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
BUT THEY ARE MY FAMILY.
IN THIS COUNTRY,
IMMEDIATE FAMILY
MEANS YOUR WIFE
AND YOUR CHILDREN.
ALMANI, SARA,
AND THE CHILDREN,
THEY ARE
MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY!
NIKKI WAS YOUR WIFE.
YES.
AND SO ARE ALMANI AND SARA.
CHUCKWEI IS A POLYGAMIST.
HE'S BREAKING THE LAW.
NOT IN NIGERIA.
IF IT'S LEGAL FOR A MAN
TO HAVE THREE WIVES OVER THERE,
WHAT'S HE SUPPOSED TO DO
WHEN HE MOVES HERE?
WELL, IN FRANCE,
THEY MAKE ALLOWANCES
FOR PRE-EXISTING
MULTIPLE MARRIAGES
FOR AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS.
WE'RE NOT IN FRANCE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO ARREST HIM.
WELL, YOU'D BETTER
GET BUSY.
THERE'S UP TO 100,000
WEST AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS
IN NEW YORK.
THE POLICY'S BEEN
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL.
CHUCKWEI TOLD.
WELL, GOOD LUCK
CONVICTING HIM.
HE'LL USE
THE CULTURAL DEFENSE.
LIKE THAT LAOTIAN STUDENT
WHO KIDNAPPED
AND RAPED A GIRL
BECAUSE HIS TRIBE HAS
A LOVELY TRADITION
OF MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE?
BUT HE DIDN'T
GET OFF COMPLETELY.
HE PLED DOWN
TO FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
MAYBE HE'LL TAKE A PLEA.
POOR GUY COULD GET
ONE TO THREE OFF EACH COUNT.
POOR GUY?
I FIND POLYGAMY DEGRADING.
HIS THIRD WIFE
WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD
THAT HE MARRIED
OVER THE PHONE.
YEAH, TO SAVE HER FROM
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN AFRICA.
ONLY TO MUTILATE HER
IN AMERICA.
I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE
WITH THE D.A.'s OFFICE.
LET ME GUESS:
THEY WANT US
TO OVERLOOK THE POLYGAMY
TO GET A CONVICTION KING.
THEY WANNA KNOW
HOW BAD THIS IS.
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
DOZENS OF WIVES,
INCEST, INBREEDING?
I DON'T THINK SO.
THEN YOU STILL GOT
SOME INVESTIGATING TO DO.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE
GOT TO PROVIDE THE PROTECTION
THAT WE PROMISED CHUCKWEI.
GET HIM HOME,
PACK UP HIS THINGS,
TAKE HIM TO A SAFE HOUSE.
WE'LL SECURE HIM FIRST.
THE D.A.'s OFFICE WILL
KEEP HIM IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.
MAKE SURE THERE
ARE NO MORE SURPRISES.
IF THIS ALL WORKS OUT...
MOVE THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH HIM.
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND,
WE'RE A GOOD CHRISTIAN FAMILY.
NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE
IS POLYGAMY BANNED.
ABRAHAM, JACOB,
KING DAVID--
ALL HAD MANY WIVES.
WE'RE NOT REALLY DIFFERENT
FROM MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,
DETECTIVE.
(Stabler)
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
DON'T PRACTICE POLYGAMY
IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT A THIRD OF THE WORLD
STILL LIVES IN CULTURES THAT DO.
WE'RE A GLOBAL SOCIETY NOW.
THE U.S. NEEDS
TO BE MORE TOLERANT.
SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND MARRIED NIKKI?
NO...ALMANI AND I
WELCOMED HER INTO OUR HOME.
SARA'S CITIZENSHIP ALLOWED
NIKKI AND I TO MOVE HERE.
TWO OF OUR CHILDREN
ARE CITIZENS,
AND I HOPE ONE DAY
WE'LL ALL BE AMERICANS.
TELL ME, ALMANI,
WHY IS IT OKAY
FOR A MAN TO HAVE
THREE WIVES,
AND YET WE NEVER HEAR OF
A WOMAN HAVING THREE HUSBANDS.
IN NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE,
WOMEN CAN HAVE MANY HUSBANDS.
SO SHOULDN'T IT
BE MY CHOICE
TO DECIDE WHAT KIND
OF MARRIAGE I WANT?
SO IF YOU WANT
TO MARRY A CAT?
[sighs]
DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME,
DETECTIVE.
POLYGAMIST FAMILIES ARE STRONGER
THAN MONOGAMOUS ONES.
SAYS WHO?
HOW MANY MEN IN THIS COUNTRY
HAVE AFFAIRS?
OR ABANDON THEIR WIVES
FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
MY DAD LEFT SIX WIVES,
ALL LEGALLY.
WE'RE A FAMILY
THAT STICKS TOGETHER.
WE'RE ALL READY TO GO.
COME ON!
COME ON.
COME ON.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT CHUCKWEI
HAD MORE THAN THREE WIVES.
THAT'S COMFORTING.
WE'VE MOVED THEM
TO A MOTEL,
BUT THE FAMILIES
EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN
ABOUT BEING SEEN
COMING OR GOING.
CHUCKWEI CAN'T LEAVE.
THE OTHERS SHOULDN'T
UNLESS THEY HAVE TO.
WELL, THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE
LIVING IN ONE ROOM.
I MEAN, SARA GOES TO WORK,
THE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.
WE'D LIKE
TO STATION A CAR
OUTSIDE THEIR MOTEL.
IF I ONLY HAD THE MONEY.
THIS OFFICE
HAS $1.2 MILLION
TO PROTECT
THOUSANDS OF WITNESSES
FOR THE ENTIRE
FISCAL YEAR.
I THOUGHT THAT CONVICTING KING
WAS A TOP PRIORITY.
IT IS, WHICH IS WHY
WE'RE GIVING CHUCKWEI A PASS
ON THE POLYGAMY.
I'M NOT A FAN, EITHER,
BUT THE MAN
IS PUTTING HIS AND HIS FAMILY'S
LIFE ON THE LINE.
ALL FOR A TRIAL THAT'S ALREADY
COST HIM HIS WIFE.
I MEAN, WHAT GUY
IN HIS RIGHT MIND
WOULD EVER BECOME
A WITNESS IN THIS SYSTEM?
I WISH I COULD DO MORE.
BUT EVERY DOLLAR I SPEND
ON CHUCKWEI
I'M TAKING AWAY FROM ANOTHER
WITNESS'S SAFETY.
EVERY ONE OF THEM
WANTS MORE PROTECTION.
OKAY, SO WHAT
DO WE TELL THEM?
NEXT TIME,
TO WITNESS A FEDERAL CRIME.
THEY KNOW HOW
TO TREAT THEIR WITNESSES.
THIS AWARD THAT YOU GOT
FROM PROJECT PROTECT--
WE USED TO GIVE OUT
THESE ALARM PENDANTS
TO VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
CAN'T WE GIVE THESE
TO CHUCKWEI'S FAMILY?
THAT'S ANOTHER CASUALTY
OF BUDGET CUTS.
WE STOPPED USING THOSE
A FEW MONTHS AGO.
BUT THEY STILL WORK.
THESE ARE A DIRECT LINE
TO SVU.
YOU JUST GIVE US TWO:
ONE FOR SARA AND ONE FOR ALMANI.
I'LL PULL A COUPLE
FROM STORAGE.
[knocking]
CHUCKWEI, IT'S
DETECTIVE STABLER.
EXCUSE ME, MISS.
DID YOU CLEAN
THAT ROOM TODAY?
I DID THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE
FAMILY LIVING IN THERE.
I NEED YOU TO OPEN THE DOOR.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW THE FAMILY?
OH, THEY LEFT
MAYBE AN HOUR AGO.
HOPE THEY DON'T EXPECT ME
TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS AGAIN.
LIV, LOOKS LIKE
THEY'VE CHECKED OUT.
OH, I KNOW, HE JUST
WALKED IN HERE WITH HIS FAMILY.
SOMEBODY SLIPPED A NOTE
UNDER THEIR DOOR.
YEAH.
HEY. HI.
HI, HOW ARE YOU?
"TOMORROW OBIE BOTHAME
"WILL BE BEATEN TO DEATH
IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER,
BROTHERS, AND SISTERS."
I WON'T RISK
MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.
WE GOT THE D.A. TO PUT SECURITY
CAMERAS AT THE MOTEL.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH
TO PROTECT US.
KING KNOWS WHERE WE ARE.
NO, STOP!
STOP!
NO MORE POLICE.
NO MORE INVESTIGATING.
IT'S OVER.
WE'LL KEEP YOU SAFE.
THE D.A.'S OFFICE
GAVE US THESE BODY ALARMS.
THEY'RE A DIRECT LINE
TO US.
AND WHAT ABOUT
AFTER THE TRIAL, HUH?
WHAT IF KING IS ACQUITTED?
THE ONLY WAY HE WALKS
IS IF YOU LET HIM.
I KNOW MEN LIKE KING.
IN NIGERIA,
THEY KILL THOUSANDS.
THEY THINK THEY ARE
ABOVE THE LAW.
I CAME TO AMERICA BECAUSE
IT IS A LAND OF DREAMS.
I NEED IT TO STAY THAT WAY.
WELL, HOW CAN IT
IF YOU DON'T TALK?
NOW, YOU DON'T WANNA
GO BACK TO THE MOTEL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, FINE.
GO HOME.
I'LL STAY WITH YOU.
YOU WOULD DO THAT
FOR US?
LOOK, I NEED YOU SAFE.
I NEED YOUR TESTIMONY.
(Danielson)
MR. BOTHAME, WOULD YOU
TELL US WHERE YOU WERE
AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 P.M.
ON OCTOBER THE 11TH, 2005?
I WAS WALKING HOME FROM WORK
ON 168TH STREET.
PLEASE TELL THE COURT
WHAT YOU WITNESSED.
I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING
ANYTHING UNUSUAL THAT DAY.
MR. BOTHAME...
MR. BOTHAME,
I AM REMINDING YOU
YOU ARE UNDER OATH.
I'M AWARE OF THAT FACT.
IN MY HAND IS YOUR STATEMENT
TO THE POLICE
TAKEN AT 4:08 THAT DAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT
BACK TO THE COURT?
OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.
THE WITNESS JUST TESTIFIED
TO WHAT HE SAW.
ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS,
HE HAS GIVEN
CONSISTENT STATEMENTS
CONFIRMING THAT THE DEFENDANT,
DENNIS KING,
BEAT DAMON MOORE TO DEATH
ON THE CORNER OF 168TH
AND AMSTERDAM.
DIDN'T YOU TELL
DETECTIVE STABLER
THAT EXACT SAME STORY
YESTERDAY?
OBJECTION!
SHE'S PUTTING WORDS
IN HIS MOUTH.
(judge)
SUSTAINED.
JURY IS INSTRUCTED
TO DISREGARD
MS. DANIELSON'S REMARKS.
YOUR HONOR, CLEARLY,
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED
TO MAKE HIM
CHANGE HIS MIND.
PERHAPS IT'S THE FACT
THAT THE DEFENDANT
IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FOR KILLING ANOTHER WITNESS
AND MR. BOTHAME'S--
OBJECTION!
MS. DANIELSON,
ARE YOU GUNNING
FOR A MISTRIAL?
NO, YOUR HONOR.
MR. BOTHAME,
TAKE A MOMENT
AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT YOU REALLY SAW.
IS THERE A REASON
YOU DON'T RECALL
THE EVENTS IN QUESTION?
YOUR HONOR...
I MAKE NO EXCUSE
FOR THE CHOICES I HAVE MADE.
BUT I AM SORRY
FOR WASTING YOUR TIME.
I WANTED TO BE A HERO.
BUT I AM NOT.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.
CHUCKWEI SCREWED US.
WE SHOULD LOCK HIM UP
FOR PERJURY, CONTEMPT,
AND POLYGAMY.
DON'T YOU THINK
HE'S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH?
SINCE WHEN DID YOU
BECOME HIS DEFENDER?
WELL, YOU JUST SAID
THAT HE LIED UNDER OATH
TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY.
NOW, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT'S EASY
FOR A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN.
ANY RULING YET?
TALK TO DANIELSON.
HEY, HEY, HEY.
HOW DO YOU
SLEEP AT NIGHT?
SORRY?
YOU CAN'T WIN
WITH THE TRUTH,
SO YOU LET YOUR CLIENT
INTIMIDATE GOOD PEOPLE
WHO STAND UP TO HIM?
IF ANYONE'S
INTIMIDATING WITNESSES,
IT'S THE POLICE
AND YOUR D.A.
YOU COERCE,
YOU PLEA BARGAIN,
YOU THREATEN THEM
WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES
UNLESS THEY TESTIFY.
YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
REALLY?
COULD CHUCKWEI BE TESTIFYING
TO AVOID PROSECUTION
FOR POLYGAMY?
HE CAME FORWARD
ON HIS OWN.
MY DUDE!
[laughs]
NICE JOB, BROTHER.
THERE'S A BOTTLE OF CRISTAL
WITH OUR NAME ON IT.
LITTLE EARLY TO BE CELEBRATING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE
THAT'LL CONVICT MY CLIENT.
TELL ME THAT THE JUDGE
DID NOT JUST DISMISS THAT CASE.
SHE CONTINUED KING'S BAIL
AND GAVE US 24 HOURS
TO PROVE INTIMIDATION.
WELL, LET'S START
WITH THE DEATH THREAT.
THESE ARE THE ANOMALIES
FROM THE PRINTER ROLLERS
ON THE DEATH THREAT.
AND THESE ARE TEST PAGES
FROM ALL OF KING'S PRINTERS.
HOME, OFFICE, BUSINESS,
AND EVERY ASSOCIATE
WE COULD FINE.
THE ROLLER MARKS
DON'T MATCH.
WELL, IT ONLY MEANS KING
WAS SMART ENOUGH
TO USE KINKO'S.
WELL, THAT'S
WHAT I THOUGHT.
SO I TOOK THE LIBERTY
OF ANALYZING
A FEW OTHER SAMPLES
AND FOUND A MATCH.
IT'S CHUCKWEI'S DEPOSITION.
THE NOTE CAME
FROM HIS HOME OFFICE.
CHUCKWEI WAS IN PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY AT THE HOTEL,
SO HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
AND THE KIDS
AREN'T OLD ENOUGH
TO WRITE A NOTE
THIS SOPHISTICATED.
OKAY, THAT LEAVES US
WITH TWO POSSIBILITIES:
SARA AND ALMANI.
WHY WOULD THEY STAGE
A DEATH THREAT TO THEIR SON?
TO GET MORE PROTECTION.
THAT'S ONE WAY
TO GET OUR ATTENTION.
[cell phone ringing]
CERTAINLY GOT CHUCKWEI'S.
O'HALLORAN.
YEAH, I'LL TELL HIM.
ALMANI JUST TRIGGERED
HER ALARM PENDANT.
HEY.
PARAMEDICS TOOK ALMANI
TO THE HOSPITAL.
WHERE'S SARA?
UP AT RIKER'S
WITH CHUCKWEI.
ALMANI
WAS HERE ALONE?
WE DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS
WHEN PATROL FOUND HER.
SHE GONNA MAKE IT?
THEY'RE NOT SURE.
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
PICKING UP A LOT
OF HAIR AND FIBERS,
BUT WITH SEVEN PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE HOUSE,
IT'LL TAKE WEEKS TO SORT
THROUGH THE FORENSICS.
WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT
18 HOURS.
THEN I BETTER GET TO WORK.
ALMANI MAY HAVE
TYPED UP THE NOTE,
BUT SHE SURE AS HELL
DIDN'T BEAT HERSELF UNCONSCIOUS.
ANY SIGN
OF FORCED ENTRY?
NO, ALL THE DOORS
AND WINDOWS WERE INTACT.
WELL, MAYBE...
KING OR ONE OF HIS CREW
FOLLOWED HER IN HERE.
WELL, IF HE DID,
HE DIDN'T GO FAR.
WHOA, OKAY?
SLOW DOWN, DETECTIVE.
I'M 130 FEET AWAY.
MEASURE IT.
THERE'S NO VIOLATION.
WELL, HOW ABOUT
IF I FIND ONE?
I MEAN, AFTER ALL,
THERE ARE NO WITNESSES
AROUND HERE, HUH?
OH, THEY'LL SHOW UP
FOR POLICE BRUTALITY.
SMILE, DETECTIVE.
[camera phone clicks]
WHO ARE YOU, HUH?
YOU A BIG MAN?
LETTING THIS GUY
GET AWAY WITH MURDER?
YOU'RE NOT A MAN,
YOU'RE A COWARD.
IF JUST ONE OF YOU STEPS UP,
KING'S DONE.
ANYBODY GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY?
[cell phone ringing]
ANYBODY?
BENSON.
PLEASE.
TELL THESE FINE DETECTIVES.
YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE
AFRAID OF YOU, DETECTIVE.
THAT'S WHY YOU AIN'T
GOT NO WITNESSES.
(Benson)
THANKS.
YEAH, WE DO.
(Almani)
TELL THE DOCTOR I MUST GO.
THE CHILDREN WILL BE
HOME SOON FROM SCHOOL.
THE DOCTOR SAID
YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS
FOR A WHILE.
SO THEY WANNA MAKE SURE
YOU'RE OKAY.
I DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE.
ALMANI, WE CAN HELP YOU.
BUT YOU NEED
TO TALK TO US...OKAY?
NOW, THE DEATH THREAT
WAS MADE FROM A COMPUTER
IN YOUR HOUSE.
DID YOU WRITE THAT NOTE?
NO!
WHY WOULD I SEND A DEATH THREAT
TO MY OWN SON?
BECAUSE YOU WERE AFRAID.
AND YOU WANTED THE POLICE
TO TAKE YOUR FEARS
MORE SERIOUSLY.
SO YOU WROTE
THE THREATENING NOTE
AND YOU POPPED IT
UNDER THE DOOR.
I DIDN'T!
I SWEAR!
DID SARA?
SARA SPONSORED MY VISA.
IT'S ABOUT TO EXPIRE.
IF SHE DOESN'T RENEW IT,
I'LL BE DEPORTED.
BECAUSE YOU'RE A WITNESS,
WE CAN GET YOU A "W" VISA,
WHICH MEANS
THAT YOU CAN STAY.
BUT YOU HAVE
TO COOPERATE.
ALMANI, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO LIVE IN FEAR.
[sniffles]
SARA DO THIS TO YOU?
[crying]
YES.
SHE KILL NIKKI?
I WAS IN THE KITCHEN,
AND I HEARD
NIKKI AND SARA FIGHTING.
ABOUT WHAT?
THE SAME THING WOMEN
ALWAYS FIGHT ABOUT: A MAN.
[crying]
I HEARD NIKKI SCREAM
AND FALL DOWN THE STAIRS.
I WENT TO LOOK.
NIKKI WAS LYING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS.
SARA SAID SHE WOULD
TAKE NIKKI TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND I SHOULD
STAY WITH THE BABY.
SHE CAME BACK AN HOUR LATER
WITHOUT NIKKI.
SHE TOLD ME
NOT TO SAY ANYTHING,
OR I WOULD BE DEPORTED.
AFTER YOU TOOK
CHUCKWEI THIS MORNING,
I TOLD SARA
I WOULDN'T LET HIM
GO TO PRISON
FOR HER CRIME.
THAT'S WHY SHE BEAT YOU?
SARA IS MY FAMILY.
I STAYED SILENT
AS LONG AS I COULD,
BUT MY CHILDREN
NEED THEIR FATHER,
AND I NEED MY HUSBAND.
ALMANI IS LYING
TO SAVE HERSELF.
SARA, STOP.
THE ROLLER MARKS
ON THE DEATH THREAT
WERE AN EXACT MATCH
TO YOUR PRINTER.
BECAUSE YOU WROTE IT.
I DIDN'T THINK THE COPS
WERE DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT US.
YOU KNOW HOW THE POLICE LIE.
YOU DIDN'T WANT PROTECTION,
YOU WANTED CHUCKWEI
TO DROP OUT OF KING'S TRIAL
SO WE'D STOP INVESTIGATING
NIKKI'S MURDER.
IS THIS TRUE?
OF COURSE NOT.
THIS IS LUDICROUS.
KING KILLED HER.
YOU KNOW THAT.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO OUR FAMILY?
I DIDN'T DO THIS TO US.
YOU DID...
WHEN YOU LET NIKKI
INTO OUR HOME.
WHAT?
I ACCEPTED ALMANI
AS YOUR WIFE.
YOU MARRIED HER
BEFORE WE MET.
BUT THERE WAS NO NEED
FOR NIKKI.
I MARRIED NIKKI
TO SAVE HER LIFE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE
TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HER.
GUARD!
NO...NO, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS,
CHUCKWEI, I SWEAR.
SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.
GUARD!
[sobbing]
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!
SARA FLYNT...
[hysterical]
SARA FLYNT,
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER
OF NIKKIEL BOTHAME.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT...
KING IS A THUG!
HE DESERVES
TO GO TO PRISON!
NOT YOU!
NOT ME.
[Nikki sobbing]
(Danielson)
PLEASE TELL THE JURY
WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS WALKING HOME FROM WORK
ON 168TH STREET
WHEN I SAW A MAN BEAT A BOY
WITH A METAL PIPE.
THIS IS THE VICTIM
DAMON MOORE.
IS HE THE BOY YOU SAW?
YES.
AND THE MAN WHO BEAT HIM
TO DEATH,
IS HE IN THIS COURTROOM?
THAT IS THE MAN.
THERE.
HE'S A LIAR.
DENNIS.
COPS ARE MAKING HIM LIE.
SHUT UP.
(Chuckwei)
NO! NO!
YOU MURDERED THAT BOY
IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE!
AND IN FRONT OF GOD!
YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!
[all shouting]
(judge)
ORDER!
GET THE JURY OUT OF HERE!
COURT OFFICERS!
GET 'EM OFF!
GET 'EM OFF ME!
ORDER!
YOU'RE DEAD!
YOUR FAMILY'S DEAD!
EVERYTHING YOU LOVE IS DEAD!
TAKE THE DEFFENDENT
FOR LOCKUP.
YOU'RE DEAD!
ARE YOU OKAY?
YES.
I'M NO LONGER AFRAID.