Murder One (1995–1997): Season 2, Episode 10 - Chapter Ten, Year Two - full transcript

THE MURDER.

RICKEY AND I WERE IN SANDY'S
OFFICE JUST BEFORE HE GOT KILLED.

- I LEFT AROUND 2:00. RICKEY STAYED UNTIL... WHAT?
- 4:00, MAYBE.

AND THEN I CAME BACK TO SEE
HOW THINGS WENT. FORTAS WAS DEAD.

KEY EVIDENCE.

WE RECOVERED THE MURDER
WEAPON, AND IT'S REGISTERED TO YOU.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED
BASKETBALL GREAT, RICKEY LATRELL.

GET ME OUTTA HERE.

HE'S PREPARED TO PUT UP ALL OF HIS
ASSETS, INCLUDING HIS MOTHER'S HOME.

BAIL IS SET AT $10 MILLION.

- THE CONFLICT.
- SOMETHING'S BOTHERING YOU.



YOU'RE LETTING CHRIS
DOCKNOVICH CALL THE SHOTS.

AND IN MY OPINION, HE
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.

I CAN'T TRY THIS CASE AND
WATCH MY BACK AT THE SAME TIME.

JIMMY CAME TO ME.
I DIDN'T GO TO HIM.

YOU WAITED UNTIL WE WERE GOING
TO COURT TO TELL ME ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T TRUST YOU! I'M NOT
AUDITIONING FOR THE PART OF YOUR PAL.

THE AUTOGRAPH SEEKER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING
THAT HAS RICKEY LATRELL'S NAME ON IT.

OH, NO. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
NOT THE CASE. LET'S GO, JOEL.

THE RIVAL AGENT.

KEN'S BEEN TRYING TO REPRESENT ME
SINCE I WAS A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE.

SOME GUYS NEVER LEARN
TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. I AM.



I KNOW THAT HICKS HAS BEEN ALL OVER
YOU GUYS. SO HAVE A MILLION OTHER PEOPLE.

I'VE BEEN WITH THIS
GUY A LONG TIME.

I DON'T WANNA LOSE
HIM TO KEN HICKS.

THIS IS FOR YOU. KEN HICKS GAVE
ME AN ENVELOPE THIS MORNING.

OKAY? IT HAD A LIST OF
PROSECUTION WITNESSES...

AND THE PHONE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DAMAGING INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A
FRESH LOOK AT MICHAELSON.

OKAY. LET'S GET STARTED.

HOW LONG DID YOU WORK FOR
LEE, LARRY? YEAR AND A HALF.

WHY'D YOU LEAVE?

HE FIRED ME. WHY WAS THAT?

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T PLAY FAST AND
LOOSE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.

WOULD LEE MICHAELSON PLAY FAST
AND LOOSE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY?

OH, YEAH.

HOW WOULD HE DO
THAT? COMMINGLED FUNDS.

HELPED HIMSELF TO SHORT-TERM
LOANS WITH ZERO INTEREST.

- HE TOLD YOU THIS?
- HE DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL ME. I WAS WORKING IN HIS OFFICE.

WHAT'D YOU DO ABOUT IT? HEY,
I'M 23 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.

I'M NOT LOOKIN' TO
TAKE ANYBODY ON.

I TOLD YOU WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE. I CAN GET TANGIBLE EVIDENCE.

THERE ARE DEPOSIT SLIPS. THERE
ARE CANCELED CHECKS. IT'S ALL THERE.

WHY DIDN'T YOU COME FORWARD ON YOUR
OWN, LARRY? I WISH I HAD A GOOD ANSWER.

WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, I GUESS, IS THAT I'D
LIKE TO STAY IN THE SPORTS MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY,

AND I'VE BEEN FEARFUL
OF CONSEQUENCES.

SO, WHAT GIVES YOU THE
NERVE NOW? I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THE PROSPECT OF RICKEY GOING
TO PRISON WHILE SCUMBAG LEE GOES FREE...

WAS JUST A LITTLE TOO
TOUGH TO LIVE WITH.

WELL, THANKS FOR
COMING IN, LARRY.

SO, I SHOULD WAIT TO
HEAR FROM YOU? RIGHT.

YOU KNOW YOUR WAY
OUT? YEAH. I'M GOOD.

THIS IS IT?

OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED
THE DOCUMENTATION.

WE KNOW HE WORKED
FOR MICHAELSON. YEAH.

AND WE KNOW HE WAS FIRED.
LOOK, LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.

THIS IS NOTHING.

WE COULD GO INTO COURT TODAY AND
STRING TOGETHER A BUNCH OF ACCUSATIONS...

THAT WILL RUIN LEE
MICHAELSON'S REPUTATION.

THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO OFFER UP
PROOF, WE CAN DUCK OUT THE BACK DOOR.

OR WE CAN WAIT AND COME
UP WITH SOME REAL PROOF.

THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM.

WHILE WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROOF,
THE PROSECUTION IS MAKING THEIR CASE,

AND WE ARE MISSING A GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE REASONABLE DOUBT.

- THEN WE'LL LOOK
FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
- THIS FELL INTO OUR LAPS.

THAT MAKES IT EASY, NOT RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK EITHER ONE OF US ARE
LOOKING TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S EASY, OKAY?

THE FACT IS, IT'S EFFECTIVE.

IT'S ONLY EFFECTIVE IF YOU
CAN PROVE THE ALLEGATIONS.

MEANTIME, WE'RE
LOOKING AT A PARADE...

OF WITNESSES WHO PUT OUR GUY AT THE SCENE
WITH MOTIVE, OPPORTUNITY AND INCLINATION.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WAITING
FOR PROOF IS A LUXURY WE CAN'T AFFORD.

IT IS NOT A LUXURY. IF WE GO INTO COURT
WITH CHARGES THAT WE CAN'T PROVE,

WE'RE JUST GONNA HURT OURSELVES.

WE'LL BE WORSE OFF THAN IF WE'D NEVER
GONE IN WITH THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO, WHAT DO WE DO?
WE WORK HARDER.

YOU ARE THE GENERAL MANAGER OF A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL TEAM KNOWN AS THE LAS VEGAS STORM.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR.

WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO EXPLAIN,
FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T KNOW,

WHAT THE JOB OF A
GENERAL MANAGER IS?

BASICALLY, A GENERAL
MANAGER'S A C.E.O.

YOU OVERSEE TRADES. YOU'RE IN CHARGE
OF THE HIRING AND FIRING OF PLAYERS.

YOU LOOK FOR WAYS
TO MAXIMIZE INCOME.

AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE, YOU
TRY TO WIN A FEW BASKETBALL GAMES.

YOU WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE DEFENDANT WHEN SANDY FORTAS WAS MURDERED.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

HOW MUCH WERE YOU OFFERING HIM?

$50 MILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS.

HOW MUCH WAS HE ASKING FOR?
94 MILLION OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

SO YOU WERE $44 MILLION
APART? THAT'S RIGHT.

HOW HIGH WERE YOU WILLING TO GO?

THE FINAL DECISION ON THAT
WAS UP TO SANDY FORTAS.

ALL I DID WAS TO ADVISE.

HOW HIGH DID YOU ADVISE
SANDY FORTAS TO GO?

I ADVISED HIM TO STAY
RIGHT WHERE HE WAS.

RICKEY LATRELL'S NOT MICHAEL
JORDAN OR SHAQUILLE O'NEAL...

WHEN IT COMES TO FILLING
SEATS OR TV RATINGS.

IN TERMS OF HIS ABILITY
AS A POINT GUARD,

HE'S NOT PENNY HARDAWAY,
AND HE'S NOT GARY PAYTON.

AS GOOD A SEASON AS
RICKEY HAD LAST YEAR,

I FELT HE COULD BE REPLACED,
AND I WAS PREPARED TO DO SO.

WERE YOU AWARE OF WHETHER OR NOT
SANDY FORTAS WAS PREPARED TO DO SO?

SANDY COULD BE A SOFT
TOUCH AND VERY SENTIMENTAL.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO DOING
BUSINESS, HE COULD SAY NO TO ANYBODY.

BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD
WITH HIM THE MORNING OF THE DAY HE DIED,

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
PREPARED TO LET RICKEY WALK.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THANKS.

WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DID YOU
HAVE WITH RICKEY LATRELL, MR. HASSICK?

I ALWAYS THOUGHT RICKEY AND I
HAD A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

THEN WHY WAS HE NEGOTIATING
WITH SANDY FORTAS?

YOU'VE TESTIFIED THAT
THAT WAS YOUR JOB,

DID YOU NOT? LEE
MICHAELSON'S WHY.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT MR. MICHAELSON
YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH?

EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM. HIS DEMANDS
WERE UNREASONABLE. HE LIED REPEATEDLY.

HE TURNED EVERY
NEGOTIATION INTO A WAR.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST WITH RICKEY
EITHER. THIS IS WITH ALL HIS PLAYERS.

I DON'T KNOW A GENERAL MANAGER
IN THE LEAGUE THAT CAN STAND HIM.

DID YOUR FEELINGS REGARDING
MR. MICHAELSON AFFECT IN ANY WAY...

YOUR FEELINGS
REGARDING RICKEY LATRELL?

NO.

WELL, THEN I'M CONFUSED
ABOUT SOMETHING.

YOU SAID ON DIRECT
EXAMINATION, AND I QUOTE,

"IN TERMS OF HIS
ABILITY AS A POINT GUARD,

HE'S NOT PENNY HARDAWAY,
HE'S NOT GARY PAYTON."

AT THE BEGINNING OF
LAST SEASON, MR. HASSICK,

YOU TOLD SPORTS ILLUSTRATED THAT RICKEY
LATRELL WAS THE BEST POINT GUARD IN THE LEAGUE.

WERE YOU MISQUOTED? I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING IN A LITTLE PRESEASON HYPERBOLE.

HIS NUMBER OF ASSISTS? I CAN'T COMPLAIN
ABOUT RICKEY'S PERFORMANCE ON THE COURT.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO CHANGE
YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM, MR. HASSICK.

AND WHAT I'M WONDERING IS WHETHER OR
NOT THAT SOMETHING ISN'T LEE MICHAELSON.

I THINK RICKEY SHOULD HAVE
REINED HIM IN MORE THAN HE DID.

IS THAT WHAT BALLPLAYERS COMMONLY
DO WITH THEIR AGENTS, THEY REIN THEM IN?

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
BALLPLAYERS IN GENERAL.

I KNOW THAT RICKEY LATRELL SHOULD
HAVE SHOWN MR. FORTAS THE RESPECT.

AND YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED
FOR NOT SHOWING HIM THAT RESPECT,

DON'T YOU, MR. HASSICK?

WHAT I THINK HE SHOULD
BE PUNISHED FOR IS MURDER.

NEXT TO THAT, THE REST
OF IT DOESN'T MUCH MATTER.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE
DEFENDANT, MR. PARNELL?

I WAS HIS TEAMMATE IN LAS VEGAS.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
NATURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

RICKEY FIRST CAME TO THE
NBA, HE WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

I'M 10 YEARS OLDER. I'D BEEN
IN THE LEAGUE FOR A WHILE.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I
LOOKED OUT FOR HIM A LITTLE BIT.

OUR WIVES BECAME
FRIENDS. WE HUNG OUT.

FOR A WHILE,
EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

WE HAD A HEAD COACH NAMED
AL O'DONNELL... 60 YEARS OLD.

AL HAD BEEN HEAD COACH EVER
SINCE THERE WAS A TEAM IN LAS VEGAS.

RICKEY AND HE HAD
SOME DISAGREEMENTS.

AL USED A SET OFFENSE.
RICKEY LIKED TO RUN.

AL WAS STRICT ABOUT PRACTICES.
RICKEY DIDN'T LIKE TO BE PUSHED.

ONE DAY, AL ACCUSED HIM OF DOGGIN' IT.
RICKEY MOUTHED OFF, AND AL SENT HIM HOME.

THE NEXT DAY, AL WAS GONE.

DID THE DEFENDANT OFFER UP ANY
EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED?

- OBJECTION. CALLS FOR HEARSAY.
- GOES TO THE DEFENDANT'S
STATE OF MIND, YOUR HONOR.

OVERRULED. WITNESS MAY ANSWER.

HE SAID THAT HE TOLD SANDY
HE COULDN'T PLAY FOR AL.

HE SAID, WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE,
SANDY ALWAYS GAVE HIM WHAT HE WANTED.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WHO REPLACED AL O'DONNELL
AS HEAD COACH, MR. PARNELL?

PHIL YACCAVONE.

YOU WERE DROPPED FROM THE SQUAD
UNDER COACH YACCAVONE. IS THAT RIGHT?

YEAH.

WERE THERE A LOT OF OTHER
TEAMS VYING FOR YOUR SERVICES? NO.

GIVEN THAT YOU WERE CUT
LOOSE WHEN HE WAS FIRED,

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU WERE
BEING PROTECTED BY COACH O'DONNELL?

I NEVER LOOKED AT IT THAT WAY.

IS IT ALSO FAIR TO SAY THAT, SINCE
YOU BLAME RICKEY FOR HIS FIRING,

THAT YOUR TESTIFYING HERE
TODAY CONSTITUTES PAYBACK TIME?

NO, SIR. I'M NOT
LOOKIN' FOR A PAYBACK.

OKAY.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU GUYS NEED ANYTHING
ELSE? NO. WE'RE FINE.

THEN I'M GOIN' HOME.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANKS.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON,
JIMMY? HEY, LEE.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN THREE
DIFFERENT CLIENTS CALLED ME TODAY...

AND ASKED ME IF I'D EVER
STOLEN ANY MONEY FROM THEM.

WELL, WE HEARD SOME RUMORS, AND
WE WERE JUST CHECKING THEM OUT.

- WHO DID YOU HEAR RUMORS FROM?
- LARRY SILVESTRI.

OH, LARRY SILVESTRI. WELL,
THERE'S SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST.

I FIRED HIM FOR DEALING
COKE OUT OF THE OFFICE.

HE SAYS YOU FIRED HIM BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T
STEAL FOR YOU. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

WHAT DOES SOME SCUMBAG DRUG DEALER HAVE TO
DO WITH RICKEY STANDING TRIAL FOR MURDER?

GOOD QUESTION. SO YOU THINK
THAT I GOT JAMMED UP WITH SANDY,

AND I HAD TO KILL HIM...
IS THAT THE THEORY?

IT'S A THEORY. YEAH.

EXCEPT THAT IT HAS
NO BASIS IN REALITY.

I HAVE NEVER STOLEN MONEY FROM A
CLIENT, AND I DIDN'T KILL SANDY FORTAS.

WE SUPPOSED TO TAKE YOUR WORD
FOR THAT? OVER LARRY SILVESTRI'S?

YEAH, YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO TAKE MY WORD OVER HIS.

I'M LOOKIN' AT SPENDIN' THE
REST OF MY LIFE IN PRISON.

DON'T YOU TELL ME
WHOSE WORD TO TAKE.

LOOK, WHY DON'T YOU
LET US SORT THIS OUT?

I TOLD YOU THIS
WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

I'M SORRY, LEE. OKAY.

HOW DO I PROVE TO YOU
THAT I'M NOT THE GUY? HMM?

TELL ME. HELP ME. YOU
HAVE TO LET US DO OUR WORK.

NOBODY'S GONNA MAKE ACCUSATIONS
AGAINST YOU THAT CAN'T BE PROVED.

BUT YOU HAVE TO
LET US DO OUR WORK.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR ME IF I
GOT SOMEONE ELSE TO BE MY AGENT FOR NOW.

DON'T DO THIS TO ME, RICKEY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU SEE MY NAME ON
MY SHIRT TODAY, COOKIE?

I'M OUTTA UNIFORM. THAT MEANS I'M HERE
AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL TO SEE JIMMY WYLER.

AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION,
HE WANTS TO SEE ME.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE YOU
ANY MORE THAN I WANT TO SEE YOU.

WELL, YOU'RE VERY WRONG, AND YOU'RE ABOUT
TO GET YOURSELF INTO A WORLD OF TROUBLE.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

I COME WITH A VERY EXCITING POTENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN THE RICKEY LATRELL CASE,

AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING
TO WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

UH-HUH? UH-HUH.

IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD
BUSINESS PROPOSITION, JIM.

CONVINCE RICKEY LATRELL TO HELP ME SUPPLY
THE HIGH-END, LOW-VOLUME COLLECTIBLES MARKET,

AND CUT YOURSELF IN
FOR 15% OF THE GROSS.

WHAT? HIGH-END COLLECTIBLES.

ANY CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN
RICKEY LATRELL AND SANDY FORTAS.

UNIFORMS. ANYTHING AT ALL
FROM THE DAY OF THE MURDER.

AND BY THAT, I MEAN A SIGNED
MATCHBOOK FROM THE CHARTERED JET,

THE CLOTHES HE WORE THAT DAY,
THE UNIFORM HE WORE THAT NIGHT.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? JOEL MYTELKA.

DO YOU STILL WORK FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF THE BUILDING, JOEL?

YES, I DO. GOOD. THEN I'LL MAKE THIS
AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS POSSIBLE.

I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT INTERESTED INTO GETTING
INTO ANY KIND OF BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT WITH YOU.

I DON'T WANNA BROKER ANY DEALS. I
DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY PERCENTAGES.

I WANT NOTHING TO
DO WITH IT OR YOU.

OH. IS IT ME OR THE IDEA OF GETTING
INTO COLLECTIBLES THAT'S A TURNOFF?

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? IF
YOU'RE LUKEWARM ON COLLECTIBLES,

I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE RETURN ON
YOUR INVESTMENT THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IF IT'S ME, I'D LIKE TO TELL
YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M ABOUT... MR. MYTELKA,
PLEASE DON'T DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.

CAN I CALL YOU IN A MONTH'S
TIME TO REVISIT THIS? NO.

CAN I SEND YOU A CATALOG? NO.

NOTHING? NOTHING.

YEAH.

CA... UH.

WERE YOU PRESENT, MR. SWEENEY, AT
AN ESTABLISHMENT KNOWN AS SATCH'S...

IN THE CITY OF BOSTON ON
MARCH 10, 1995? YES, I WAS.

WOULD YOU TELL US IF THE
DEFENDANT WAS ALSO PRESENT? HE WAS.

DID YOU HAVE OCCASION
TO SPEAK TO HIM? YES, I DID.

WOULD YOU TELL US THE
NATURE OF THAT EXCHANGE?

STARTS OUT I'M STANDIN' AT THE
BAR, WAITIN' TO ORDER A DRINK.

THIS GIRL'S STANDIN' NEXT TO ME.

I STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION,
YOU KNOW, JUST TO PASS THE TIME.

NOTHIN' SUGGESTIVE, NOTHIN'
HEAVY. JUST "BIP BAP" CONVERSATION.

AT THAT POINT, MR. LATRELL
APPROACHED ME.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
MR. LATRELL AT THAT MOMENT?

HE WAS VERY ANGRY. THOUGHT I
WAS HITTIN' ON THE YOUNG LADY.

- OBJECTION. SPECULATIVE.
- SUSTAINED.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED
NEXT? HE PUSHED ME. I PUSHED HIM BACK.

HE HIT ME, AND I HIT HIM BACK.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S GOT A GUN IN
HIS HAND. HE SAID... AND I'M QUOTING HIM...

HE WAS GONNA SHOOT MY WHITE
ASS DEAD RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

DID YOU PRESS WEAPONS
CHARGES? NO, I DIDN'T.

BY THE TIME THE COPS GOT THERE,
HE'D DITCHED THE GUN. OBJECTION.

PURE SPECULATION ON
THE PART OF THE WITNESS.

ASK THAT IT BE
STRICKEN. SO STRICKEN.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

MR. DOCKNOVICH?

YOUR HONOR, MR. MOSELY WILL BE
CONDUCTING CROSS-EXAMINATION.

YOU'RE A CELTIC
FAN, MR. SWEENEY?

BORN AND BRED. OKAY.

ON MARCH 10, 1995, RICKEY LATRELL WAS
IN BOSTON TO PLAY THE CELTICS, RIGHT?

RIGHT. DID YOU GO TO THAT GAME?

NO. HOW COME?

TICKETS ARE A LITTLE
OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE.

DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE...

THAT IF TEAMS WEREN'T PAYING THE
EXORBITANT SALARIES THAT THEY ARE...

- THAT TICKET PRICES
WOULD BE LOWER?
- I'M SURE IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT YOU DON'T BEGRUDGE RICKEY
LATRELL THE MONEY HE MAKES, DO YOU?

HEY, THIS IS AMERICA, RIGHT? HE'S
ENTITLED TO WHATEVER HE CAN GET.

SO, PRIOR TO THE
NIGHT IN QUESTION,

YOU HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
WHATSOEVER AGAINST RICKEY LATRELL.

THAT'S RIGHT. NOT HIS
SALARY, NOT HIS FAME,

NOT THE FACT THAT HE PLAYED
BASKETBALL FOR A LIVING.

- AND CERTAINLY NOT HIS RACE.
- THAT'S RIGHT. CERTAINLY NOT HIS RACE.

HAVE YOU LIVED IN SOUTHIE
ALL YOUR LIFE, SIR? YES, I HAVE.

WERE YOU GOING TO SOUTH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AT THE TIME OF THE SCHOOL BUS BOYCOTT IN 1974?

- YES, I WAS.
- WERE YOU KEPT HOME FROM
SCHOOL DURING THAT TIME?

YOUR HONOR, I'M GOING TO
OBJECT TO THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING.

YOUR HONOR, I'M ENTITLED TO
EXAMINE THE WITNESS'S UPBRINGING...

RELATIVE TO THE ISSUE
OF RACIAL PREJUDICE.

I'LL ALLOW IT.

YOU'RE GONNA
EXAMINE MY UPBRINGING?

DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH THAT, MR. SWEENEY?

YOU'RE GONNA PASS JUDGMENT ON
MY MOTHER? MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY I GOT
A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

WAS YOUR MOTHER ONE OF THOSE
WOMEN SCREAMING "GO BACK TO ROXBURY"...

AT BLACK SCHOOLCHILDREN
AS THEY GOT OFF THE BUSES?

UNFORTUNATELY, MY MOTHER
WASN'T AS WELL-EDUCATED AS YOU.

SHE JUST DIDN'T SEE THE VALUE OF
PUTTING HER CHILDREN ON A BUS TO ROXBURY...

AT 6:00 EVERY MORNING.

WHAT DID YOUR MOTHER TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE
BLACK SCHOOLCHILDREN COMING FROM ROXBURY?

THAT THE LITTLE NIGGERS
HAD TO BE STOPPED...

- OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR!
- MR. MOSELY.

ONE MORE WORD ABOUT MY MOTHER,
AND I'M COMIN' OUTTA THIS WITNESS BOX.

MR. SWEENEY. YOU HEAR ME?

WILL THE BAILIFFS PLEASE COME
TO THE FRONT OF THE COURTROOM?

YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO THREATEN ANYONE
WITH PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN MY COURTROOM.

IF YOU DO SO AGAIN, I WILL HOLD
YOU IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF COURT...

AND HAVE MY BAILIFF
TAKE YOU INTO CUSTODY.

I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS.

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE
TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH...

AND NOTHING BUT THE
TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD? I DO.

STATE YOUR NAME,
PLEASE. DEBORAH CUMMINGS.

BE SEATED.

- MS. CUMMINGS, DO YOU
KNOW THE DEFENDANT?
- YES, I DO.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

WHEN RICKEY WOULD COME INTO
MIAMI, HE'D CALL ME UP. WE'D GO OUT.

WAS IT A SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP? YES.

WAS IT A MONOGAMOUS SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP? NO, IT WAS NOT.

SO YOU WOULD SEE OTHER
PEOPLE. OF COURSE I WOULD.

DID THAT FACT COME TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE DEFENDANT?

IT CAME TO HIS ATTENTION BECAUSE
HE HAD ME FOLLOWED. OBJECTION.

- IRRELEVANT.
- YOUR HONOR, WE BELIEVE
THE DEFENDANT'S VOLATILITY...

AND RELATED PROPENSITY FOR
VIOLENCE IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT.

WE ASK THE COURT TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT
LEEWAY FOR US TO ESTABLISH THIS VOLATILITY.

I'LL GIVE YOU ONE INCIDENT'S
WORTH OF LEEWAY, MS. WEIKOPF.

THANK YOU, YOUR
HONOR. MS. CUMMINGS,

WHAT DID THE DEFENDANT
DO WHEN HE FOUND OUT?

HE WENT NUTS. COULD
YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC?

HE CONVINCED ME TO MEET HIM IN A
PRIVATE AIRPORT LOUNGE IN ATLANTA...

WHERE HE FOLLOWED
ME INTO THE LADIES' ROOM,

POUNDED MY HEAD AGAINST A TILE
WALL AND FORCED HIMSELF ON ME ORALLY.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO BE
MORE SPECIFIC THAN THAT?

I OBJECT TO THIS, YOUR
HONOR. OVERRULED.

MS. CUMMINGS, WHY DID
YOU NEVER PRESS CHARGES?

I DIDN'T WANNA BE KNOWN
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE...

AS THE GIRL WHO CHARGED
RICKEY LATRELL WITH RAPE.

AND YET YOU'RE HERE
TODAY. WHY? WHEN I HEARD...

HE WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER, I
FELT AN OBLIGATION TO COME FORWARD...

AND TELL THE WORLD
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HIM.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING,
MS. CUMMINGS? I'M A DANCER.

A BALLET DANCER? I'M A STRIPPER.

DO YOU THINK THE PUBLICITY YOU'RE RECEIVING
HERE TODAY WILL BE OF ANY USE TO YOU?

I HAVE NO IDEA. THAT'S
NOT WHY I'M HERE.

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE
YOU FELT AN OBLIGATION TO COME FORWARD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THINK YOU WOULD HAVE FELT THAT
OBLIGATION SOMEWHAT LESS ACUTELY...

IF RICKEY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT
YOU THE CONDO YOU ASKED FOR?

- OBJECTION!
- SUSTAINED. NO FOUNDATION, MR. DOCKNOVICH.

- ARE YOU ACQUAINTED
WITH ARNOLD ROSENSTEIN?
- YES.

IS ARNOLD ROSENSTEIN
CURRENTLY YOUR BOYFRIEND? YES.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FACT THAT ARNOLD
ROSENSTEIN WAS ARRESTED IN MARCH OF 1996...

AND CHARGED WITH EIGHT
SEPARATE COUNTS OF FRAUD...

WITH REGARDS TO CLONING
CELLULAR PHONE NUMBERS?

- YES, I'M AWARE OF THAT.
- ARE YOU FURTHER AWARE THAT
THOSE CHARGES WERE REDUCED...

TO A SINGLE COUNT
OF THEFT OF SERVICES...

FOR WHICH MR. ROSENSTEIN
RECEIVED A SUSPENDED SENTENCE?

YEAH. SO, WHAT? ARE
YOU OFFENDED BY THAT?

THERE'S MURDERERS
WALKING AROUND FREE.

I ASK THAT THE WITNESS CONFINE HER
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED HER.

MY DEEPEST APOLOGIES.

MS. CUMMINGS, DOES IT SEEM STRANGE
THAT THE CHARGES AGAINST MR. ROSENSTEIN...

WERE REDUCED AFTER YOU AGREED
TO TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION?

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

WOULD YOU TELL US WHO THE DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
WAS IN CHARGE OF PROSECUTING MR. ROSENSTEIN?

MS. WEIKOPF WAS IN CHARGE.

THAT WOULD BE
PAIGE WEIKOPF? RIGHT.

THE SAME PAIGE WEIKOPF CURRENTLY
SERVING AS COCOUNSEL IN THIS CASE?

HOW MANY PAIGE
WEIKOPFS ARE THERE?

I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR THIS WITNESS.

KEN HICKS IS HERE TO
SEE YOU. HAVE HIM COME IN.

HOW ARE YOU,
JIMMY? I'M GOOD, KEN.

HOW ARE YOU? PLEASE?

FIRST OFF, LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOUR
LIEUTENANTS ARE ACQUITTING THEMSELVES ADMIRABLY.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT. SINCE YOU DON'T
NEED ME TO KEEP YOU CURRENT ON THE TRIAL,

LET ME LEAP INTO THE
REAL REASON I'M HERE.

PLEASE. AS OF TODAY, I'M
RICKEY LATRELL'S NEW AGENT.

WHAT A SURPRISE.

GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, JIMMY,
HE VERY WELL COULDN'T STAY WITH LEE.

HE KNOWS ME. HE TRUSTS ME.

HIS CAREER'S AT A CRITICAL
JUNCTURE, AND HE NEEDS ME.

AND WHAT DO YOU
WANT FROM ME, KEN?

I WANT YOU TO BE FOR ME RATHER
THAN AGAINST ME. THAT'S FOR STARTERS.

I KNOW LEE IS YOUR FRIEND.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I BEAR
HIM NO ILL WILL WHATSOEVER.

I HAVE NO STAKE IN WHO
SERVES AS RICKEY'S AGENT.

IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

I RESPECT THAT POSITION,
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD. WHAT ELSE?

NOT TO DISPARAGE HIS ATTORNEYS,
BUT RICKEY'S GREATEST ASSET IS RICKEY.

I WANT TO MAKE USE
OF THAT. MEANING WHAT?

MEANING HE MAKES
HIMSELF VISIBLE.

THAT COULD MEAN A CELEBRITY
WEB SITE ON AMERICA ONLINE.

IT COULD MEAN THE
ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW.

WHAT I'VE GONE AHEAD AND
SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW...

IS A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT AT
RICKEY'S OLD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WHAT IS HE GONNA
TALK ABOUT? HIS FAITH IN GOD,

THE DIFFICULTY OF GROWING
UP POOR AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN,

HIS CHAMPIONSHIP
YEARS AT SYRACUSE.

I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA. I TOLD
CARLA THAT, AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO
GAIN AND EVERYTHING TO LOSE.

ASSUME FOR THE SAKE OF
ARGUMENT THAT HE'S INTENT ON DOIN' IT.

IF HE'S INTENT ON DOING IT,

I WON'T RESIGN AS HIS COUNSEL,

BUT I WILL INSIST THAT AN
ATTORNEY FROM THE FIRM...

IS PRESENT AT
WHATEVER IT IS HE'S DOING.

IT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU
PAYING SILVESTRI?

EXCUSE ME? JUNIOR G-MAN
THAT WORKED FOR MICHAELSON.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING HIM?

IT VIOLATES THE BASIC
ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE...

FOR A BLACK MAN TO MAKE MONEY
OFF OF A BLACK MAN, DOESN'T IT?

IF YOU WANNA FEED OFF
RICKEY LATRELL, FEED OFF HIM.

BUT SPARE ME THE
PAN-AFRICANISM SPEECH.

WHEN THIS TRIAL IS
OVER, MY FRIEND...

AND YOU'RE OPINING ABOUT THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM ON LARRY KING LIVE,

WHEN A LINE FORMS AT THE
REAR OF YOUR RECEPTION AREA,

FULL OF RICH CRIMINALS
LOOKIN' TO GET OFF,

WHEN YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY
AND YOU REALIZE HOW EASY IT IS...

TO GET USED TO A
SEVEN-FIGURE INCOME,

THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN TALK TO
ME ABOUT FEEDING OFF RICKEY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
WE NEED TO COVER TODAY?

JUST THIS.

RICKEY NEEDS FOR US
TO GET ALONG, JIMMY,

NO MATTER WHAT WE
MIGHT THINK OF EACH OTHER.

MR. BATTAGLIO, WOULD YOU TELL
THE COURT WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I'M A BOOKIE. IN THAT CAPACITY,
HAVE YOU EVER MET THE DEFENDANT?

A MUTUAL FRIEND INTRODUCED
US IN HIS ROOKIE YEAR.

HE SAID RICKEY WAS
INTERESTED IN BETTIN' FOOTBALL.

HOW DID HE DO? THE FIRST
YEAR OR SO, PRETTY GOOD.

BUT HE KEPT WANTIN' MORE ACTION. HE'D
WIN 10 GRAND ONE WEEK, BET 20 THE NEXT.

- IT CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.
- IN WHAT WAY?

HE STARTED LOSIN' BIG-TIME.

SUPER BOWL WEEKEND, HE TRIED
TO CATCH UP BY BETTIN' ON DALLAS.

HOW MUCH DID HE LOSE? $200,000.

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT
KIND OF MONEY TO LOSE.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID HE DO?

HE OFFERED TO SHAVE POINTS ON ONE OF THE
STORM'S GAMES AS A WAY OF CANCELING HIS DEBT.

WOULD YOU EXPLAIN FOR
THE JURY WHAT THAT MEANS?

MOST OF THE BETTING IN
BASKETBALL IS DONE ON THE SPREAD.

IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER WHO WINS.
IT'S BY HOW MANY POINTS A TEAM WINS BY.

A PLAYER LIKE RICKEY LATRELL IS IN A POSITION
TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME...

BY FAILING TO SCORE AS MANY
POINTS AS HE OTHERWISE WOULD.

HOW DID YOU RESPOND
TO THE DEFENDANT'S OFFER?

- I TOLD HIM I'D THINK ABOUT IT.
- DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

I DID MORE THAN THAT. I
SET UP A SECOND MEETING.

BUT THIS TIME, I HAD A TAPE
RECORDER IN MY BRIEFCASE.

I GOT HIM ON TAPE,
OFFERING TO FIX A GAME.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO
DO THAT? VERY SIMPLE.

SANDY FORTAS BET ON THE
HORSES LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.

WHEN HE WON, HE
EXPECTED TO BE PAID.

WHEN HE LOST, SUDDENLY HIS
BUSINESS TOOK HIM OUT OF TOWN A LOT.

GIVEN MR. FORTAS'S
STAKE IN KEEPIN'...

RICKEY ON A BASKETBALL
COURT AND OUT OF JAIL,

I LOOKED AT THE TAPE AS A MEANS
TO AN END... CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL.

DID YOU SHOW THE TAPE
TO SANDY FORTAS? YES, I DID.

- WHAT DID HE DO?
- HE TOOK $600,000
OUT OF AN OFFICE SAFE...

AND BOUGHT IT FROM ME
RIGHT THERE AND THEN.

IN OTHER WORDS,
PRIOR TO HIS DEATH,

SANDY FORTAS WAS IN
POSSESSION OF A TAPE...

THAT COULD HAVE BOTH DESTROYED RICKEY
LATRELL'S CAREER AND PUT HIM IN PRISON.

YES. THAT'S CORRECT.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

SIR, THIS TAPE THAT YOU ALLEGE
MAKING, DO YOU HAVE A COPY?

I GAVE THE ONLY COPY TO SANDY.

IF IT WAS AS INCRIMINATING AS YOU SAY,
WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE ANOTHER COPY...

AND USE IT TO
BLACKMAIL MR. LATRELL?

BECAUSE I'M NOT A BLACKMAILER.

YOU'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF
BOOKMAKING SEVEN TIMES. THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S BECAUSE I'M A BOOKMAKER.

IT'S MY SOLE
CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE.

THIS GAME IN WHICH YOU ALLEGE
MR. LATRELL SHAVED POINTS...

HOW MANY POINTS DID MR. LATRELL
SCORE? TWENTY-FIVE MAYBE.

- WHAT WAS HIS SCORING AVERAGE
PRIOR TO THAT GAME?
- IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, MR. LATRELL HAD A PRETTY
TYPICAL NIGHT, DIDN'T HE?

EXCEPT HE MISSED TWO LAYUPS LATE IN
THE GAME THAT WOULD HAVE BEAT THE SPREAD.

YOU EVER SEEN MICHAEL JORDAN
PLAY BASKETBALL? OF COURSE.

- YOU EVER SEE HIM MISS A LAYUP?
- SURE.

IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY THAT MICHAEL
JORDAN IS SHAVING POINTS TOO?

- ABSOLUTELY NOT.
- OH, BY THE WAY,

WERE YOU PROMISED LENIENCY FOR
ANY FUTURE BOOKMAKING ARRESTS...

IN RETURN FOR TESTIFYING TODAY?

I'M TESTIFYING TODAY SO THAT
I MIGHT BE OF SERVICE. PERIOD.

WELL, YOU ARE QUITE AN
OUTSTANDING CITIZEN, SIR.

I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

YOU MAY STEP
DOWN, MR. BATTAGLIO.

MR. SCOTTO, CALL
YOUR NEXT WITNESS.

UH, PEOPLE CALL CHRISTINE
PHILLIPS, YOUR HONOR.

I NEED TO SEE COUNSEL
IN MY CHAMBERS.

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY
ATTENTION THAT ONE OF OUR JURORS...

MAY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING THE
SALE OF CERTAIN TRIAL MEMORABILIA.

MS. WEIKOPF, YOU'RE
PREPARED TO SUBSTANTIATE THIS?

YES, I AM, YOUR HONOR.

EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR.

ON WHAT BASIS
WAS THIS TAPE MADE?

ON WHAT BASIS WERE JURORS
PLACED UNDER SURVEILLANCE?

IN A HIGH-PROFILE CASE, JURORS ARE SUBJECT TO
PRESSURES THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE PRESENT.

SINCE IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO ASSURE
THE INTEGRITY OF THE JURY SYSTEM,

WE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO USE
LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL...

TO OBSERVE POTENTIALLY
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

PLAY THE TAPE, MS. WEIKOPF.

LET'S FIRST TAKE A MOMENT
TO GIVE THANKS, MR. OTWELL,

THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY
WHERE THIS IS POSSIBLE.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TALKIN'
TO ANYBODY ABOUT THE CASE.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT ANYBODY.

I'M A LICENSED DEALER IN
CELEBRITY COLLECTIBLES.

AND SECOND OF ALL, I'M NOT
TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE CASE.

WHAT I'M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT
IS THE PHENOMENON OF THE CASE.

I'M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE
HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE CASE.

AND I'M ALSO TALKIN' ABOUT A BOATLOAD
OF CASH. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

MEMBERS OF THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT...

HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING
SURVEILLANCE ON YOU, MR. OTWELL.

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT
YOU'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING...

WITH AN INDIVIDUAL BY THE
NAME OF JOEL MYTELKA...

FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SELLING OFF TRIAL MEMORABILIA.

IS THAT TRUE? WAIT A MINUTE.

HE CAME TO ME. I DIDN'T
GO LOOKIN' FOR HIM.

AND WHAT WAS IT HE
WAS INTERESTED IN?

PRIMARILY THE VERDICT SLIP.
HE SAID IF I COULD GET IT FOR HIM,

IT'D BE WORTH $10,000 TO ME.

BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE A
TAPE RECORDING OF YOU AGREEING TO DO SO.

MR. OTWELL?

YOUR HONOR, I MEANT NO
DISRESPECT TO THE COURT.

IT WAS MY THINKING THAT THE
TRIAL WOULD BE OVER BY THAT POINT,

AND I WAS ENTITLED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE AN OBVIOUS
PROBLEM. YOUR HONOR,

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULD BE CORRECTED
WITH AN ADMONITION FROM THE COURT.

NO, NO. HE WAS ADMONISHED
BEFORE HE WAS SWORN IN,

AND HE STILL ENTERED
INTO THE AGREEMENT.

PEOPLE MOVE THAT
MR. OTWELL BE REPLACED.

MOTION GRANTED. YOU'RE
KICKIN' ME OFF THE JURY?

YOU SOUGHT TO HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST
IN THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL, MR. OTWELL.

OH, UNLIKE THEM, WHO ARE ONLY HERE
OUT OF A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

BRING UP THE FIRST ALTERNATE.
YOU'RE EXCUSED, MR. OTWELL.

WERE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH
SANDY FORTAS, MS. PHILLIPS? YES.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
FOR US HOW YOU KNEW HIM?

I WAS A CHEERLEADER
FOR HIS TEAM.

DID YOU KNOW THE
DEFENDANT'S WIFE? YES.

WOULD YOU TELL US
HOW YOU KNEW HER?

SHE WAS A CHEERLEADER
SAME TIME I WAS.

WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER?

SHE KNEW EVERYTHING
THAT WAS GOING ON IN MY LIFE,

AND I ASSUMED I KNEW EVERYTHING
THAT WAS GOING ON IN HERS.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, DID
CARLA LEAVE THE CHEERLEADING SQUAD?

YES. WOULD YOU TELL US
AT WHAT POINT THAT WAS?

THE POINT AT WHICH SHE STARTED
SLEEPING WITH SANDY FORTAS.

ORDER!

OBJECTION. NO FOUNDATION.

SUSTAINED. ON WHAT DO
YOU BASE YOUR STATEMENT...

THAT CARLA AND SANDY FORTAS
WERE SLEEPING TOGETHER?

AS SOON AS CARLA JOINED THE
SQUAD, SANDY WAS CHECKING HER OUT.

ONE DAY, I SAW HER
LEAVING THE ARENA WITH HIM.

I ASKED HER WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SHE TOLD ME NOTHING WAS GOING ON.

WITHIN A WEEK, SHE HAD
A JOB IN THE FRONT OFFICE.

SHE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT
NOTHIN' WAS GOIN' ON AFTER THAT.

BUT SHE LEFT NO DOUBT
THAT SHE AND SANDY FORTAS...

WERE INDEED CARRYING
ON A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP?

- OBJECTION. LEADING THE WITNESS.
- I'LL ALLOW IT.

MS. PHILLIPS?

I KNEW ALL ABOUT IT.

WERE YOU AWARE OF WHEN CARLA
BEGAN SEEING THE DEFENDANT?

YES, I WAS. TO THE BEST
OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE,

WHAT DID THAT DO TO CARLA'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH SANDY FORTAS?

TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE, IT ENDED IT.

RICKEY WAS VERY POSSESSIVE,

AND SANDY MOVED ON
TO ANOTHER BLACK GIRL.

IT ALSO ENDED OUR RELATIONSHIP.

WHY WAS THAT? I KNEW TOO MUCH.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

YOU WERE LET GO AS A
CHEERLEADER LAST YEAR,

WERE YOU NOT? YES.

WHAT REASON WAS
GIVEN? I TURNED 30.

AND NOW YOU'RE AN ASSISTANT
BUYER AT NEIMAN-MARCUS? RIGHT.

AND YOU'RE NOT BITTER? YOU DON'T
RESENT THE FACT THAT CARLA LATRELL...

WENT FROM BEING A CHEERLEADER
TO BEING A FRONT-OFFICE EXECUTIVE...

TO BEING THE WIFE
OF A BASKETBALL STAR?

IF I WAS WILLING TO SLEEP WITH
WHATEVER MAN COULD DO ME ANY GOOD,

I COULD HAVE WHAT CARLA HAS TOO.

INSTEAD, I HAVE MY VALUES.

I HAVE MY CHARACTER. I
HAVE MY SELF-RESPECT.

AND SO YOU DON'T VIEW
THE COMINGS AND GOINGS...

OF CARLA AND RICKEY
AND SANDY FORTAS...

FROM A PERSPECTIVE
OF ENVY OR BITTERNESS?

NO, I DO NOT.

I ENVY CARLA NOTHING.
YES, THAT'S QUITE APPARENT.

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. I
HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WE NEED TO STEP IN HERE
FOR A MOMENT. ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU ARE ON TRIAL FOR MURDER,
YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN...

TO PREVENT YOUR LAWYERS
FROM BEING SURPRISED IN COURT.

WE DID NOT KNOW THAT
WAS GOING TO COME OUT.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT CARLA IS
GOING TO SAY ON THE WITNESS STAND TOMORROW.

I GOT LUCKY. GOD GRANTED
ME THE ATHLETIC TALENT...

TO PLAY BASKETBALL ON
A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.

THAT MEANS I RECEIVED A LOT
OF HELP TO GET THROUGH SCHOOL.

THAT MEANS I MAKE A
LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN
THAT I'M JESUS CHRIST.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD LINE UP RIGHT
HERE AND DO WHATEVER I TELL YOU TO DO.

BUT I'VE BEEN ALIVE ON THIS EARTH
ABOUT 10 YEARS LONGER THAN MOST OF YOU,

AND THERE ARE SOME
THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED.

NUMBER ONE. EACH OF
YOU HAS WITHIN YOU...

THE POWER TO MAKE A POSITIVE
CONTRIBUTION IN THIS WORLD.

NUMBER TWO. THERE'S NO ONE SO
STRONG THAT DRUGS CANNOT DESTROY THEM.

NUMBER THREE. IT'S A BIG,
COMPLICATED WORLD OUT HERE,

AND THE MORE EDUCATION YOU HAVE, THE
BETTER EQUIPPED YOU ARE TO DEAL WITH IT.

I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING BEEN
BLESSED WITH GREAT TEACHERS IN MY LIFE...

MY GRANDMOTHER,
MY COACH AL VITELLO,

MY FRIEND SANDY FORTAS...
MAY THEY ALL REST IN PEACE.

LOOK TO THE
TEACHERS IN YOUR LIVES.

LEARN FROM THEM, HONOR
THEM, RESPECT THEM.

BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THEY'RE GONE,

EVEN WHEN THEY GO AND DIE ON
YOU... AND ONE DAY THEY ALL WILL...

THEY'LL ALWAYS
LIVE ON INSIDE YOU,

AND YOU'LL BE GRATEFUL
THAT THEY'RE THERE.

- YEAH?
- WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU?

I DON'T KNOW. ALL
I CAN SAY IS THAT...

I HAVE FAITH IN THE
AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM,

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING
THE WITNESS STAND AND TELLING MY STORY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
LOOKING PEOPLE RIGHT IN THE EYE...

AND TELLING THEM
EXACTLY WHO I AM.

THAT, AND MY FAITH IN GOD,
WILL GET ME THROUGH THIS.

THANK YOU.

WERE YOU EVER ROMANTICALLY
INVOLVED WITH SANDY FORTAS, MS. LATRELL?

YES, I WAS.

WOULD YOU TELL US WHEN THAT WAS?

I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATES.

I DO KNOW, WHENEVER IT WAS,
IT WAS BEFORE I MET RICKEY.

WAS THE DEFENDANT AWARE OF
YOUR ROMANTIC INVOLVEMENT?

I TOLD HIM BEFORE
WE GOT MARRIED,

AND I'VE BEEN COMPLETELY
FAITHFUL TO HIM SINCE.

SO WHEN THE DEFENDANT MET WITH
SANDY FORTAS ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER,

HE WAS AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT YOU HAD HAD THAT AFFAIR?

YES. IS IT YOUR
TESTIMONY, MS. LATRELL,

THAT YOUR HUSBAND
WAS NOT JEALOUS...

OVER YOUR PREVIOUS
INVOLVEMENT WITH SANDY FORTAS?

I'VE NEVER GIVEN MY HUSBAND
ANY REASON TO BE JEALOUS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED, MA'AM.

HE WASN'T JEALOUS OF ANYONE,
LEAST OF ALL SANDY FORTAS.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

DID YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND EVER
SOCIALIZE WITH SANDY FORTAS AND HIS WIFE?

YES, ON MANY OCCASIONS.

DID YOU EVER HAVE THEM
OVER TO YOUR HOUSE? YES.

DID THEY EVER HAVE YOU OVER
TO THEIR HOUSE? YES, THEY DID.

ON THESE OCCASIONS, WAS YOUR
HUSBAND UPSET BY THE FACT...

THAT YOU AND MR. FORTAS HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED?

IF HE WAS, I DIDN'T
KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND I DON'T THINK
THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I KNOW MY HUSBAND VERY WELL.

YOUR HUSBAND WAS UNFAITHFUL TO
YOU. YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

MY HUSBAND WAS A PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL PLAYER ON THE ROAD.

YES, HE TRIED TO CONCEAL
SOME THINGS FROM ME.

BUT IN THE END,
HE COULDN'T DO IT.

HE SWORE TO ME THAT HE WOULD
NEVER BE UNFAITHFUL AGAIN,

AND I DO BELIEVE HE'S
BEEN TRUE TO THAT.

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO
YOU TO EXACT REVENGE?

NO.

MY FEELING IS YOU EITHER
MAKE YOUR MARRIAGE WORK...

OR YOU MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.

I WOULD NEVER PUT OUR
CHILDREN THROUGH THE PAIN...

OF LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE
PEOPLE WERE EXACTING REVENGE.

CARLA, TO THE BEST
OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE,

DID YOUR HUSBAND TRUST YOU?

YES, SIR.

I'VE NEVER GIVEN HIM
ANY REASON NOT TO.

REDIRECT, YOUR HONOR.

MS. LATRELL, YOU SAID THAT YOUR HUSBAND
WASN'T UPSET. YOU SAID THAT HE TRUSTED YOU.

BUT ISN'T IT HUMAN NATURE... GIVEN THE
FACT THAT RICKEY GOT BUSTED HIMSELF...

FOR BEING UNFAITHFUL...
THAT EVEN IF HE WAS UPSET,

EVEN IF HE DIDN'T TRUST YOU, HE WOULD
HAVE KEPT THOSE FEELINGS TO HIMSELF?

I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT.

I SUBMIT INTO EVIDENCE
THIS POLICE REPORT...

AS PEOPLE'S EXHIBIT
NUMBER 19, YOUR HONOR.

SO ORDERED.

ONE DAY... JUST ONE DAY BEFORE
THE MURDER OF SANDY FORTAS,

THE LAS VEGAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
RESPONDED TO A REPORT...

OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT
YOUR HOME, DID THEY NOT?

AN OBNOXIOUS NEIGHBOR
MADE THAT REPORT.

THERE WAS NO
VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND.

RICKEY AND I WERE
HAVING AN ARGUMENT.

AND WHAT WAS THE ARGUMENT ABOUT?

HE WAS LATE PICKING UP OUR
DAUGHTER FROM PRESCHOOL.

THAT'S ALL IT WAS
ABOUT. THAT'S IT.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN NO
WAY RELATED TO SANDY FORTAS?

NO, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

AT THIS TIME, THE PEOPLE REST.

THERE'S NO QUESTION BUT
THAT THE JURY WANTS TO HEAR...

A DECLARATION OF INNOCENCE
FROM RICKEY'S OWN MOUTH.

YEAH, BUT DO THEY
NEED TO HEAR IT?

I THINK THEY DO.

I AGREE. IF WE DON'T
PUT HIM ON THE STAND,

I'M AFRAID WE'LL NEVER OVERCOME THE
INFERENCE THAT HE'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE.

GIVEN THAT THE PROSECUTION'S
CASE... WHILE NOT AIR-TIGHT,

IS NOT SOMETHING
TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY...

YEAH, I THINK WE
GOTTA PUT HIM UP THERE.

AND WHO'S GONNA PREP HIM?

YOU CAN DO A BETTER IMPERSONATION
OF A PROSECUTOR THAN EITHER OF US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MEETING WITH
SANDY FORTAS ON THE DAY HE WAS KILLED.

IT STARTED WITH YOU, SANDY AND
LEE MICHAELSON. IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

DESCRIBE FOR US, IF YOU WOULD,
HOW THAT MEETING STARTED.

LEE LAID OUT A PROJECTION OF WHAT THE TEAM'S
REVENUE WOULD BE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

PLUS HE SHOWED SANDY WHAT THE
VALUE OF A CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BE.

- AND DID SANDY ACCEPT THESE
PROJECTIONS AS BEING ACCURATE?
- NO, HE DID NOT.

SANDY DIDN'T LIKE ANYBODY
TELLIN' HIM HIS BUSINESS.

LEE TOLD SANDY HE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL...

AND THAT HE WAS TOO CHEAP
TO BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.

I DON'T THINK SANDY WAS OVERLY
CONCERNED ABOUT LEE'S OPINION OF HIM.

UH-UH, DON'T JOKE.

I'M SORRY. NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

DID THERE COME A POINT
WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED...

THAT THE PROCESS
MIGHT BE FACILITATED...

IF LEE MICHAELSON
WERE TO LEAVE THE ROOM?

YES, THERE DID. WHO
SUGGESTED THAT?

SANDY SUGGESTED IT. AND
YOU WENT ALONG WITH IT?

YES. WHY?

WE WEREN'T GETTING ANYWHERE THE WAY
THINGS WERE GOING. WHAT DID I HAVE TO LOSE?

DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN LEE MICHAELSON LEFT.

SANDY STARTED TALKING ABOUT
THINGS THAT WERE BOTHERING HIM...

UM, HIS SON, HEALTH PROBLEMS,
MONEY HE WAS LOSING.

AND THEN HE ASKED ME HOW MUCH
OF THE SALARY DEMANDS I WAS MAKING...

WAS COMING FROM ME
VERSUS LEE MICHAELSON.

HOW DID YOU RESPOND? I TOLD
HIM LEE WAS MY REPRESENTATIVE...

AND THAT HE WAS DOING
WHAT I WANTED HIM TO DO.

AND SANDY SAID THERE WAS
NOTHING LEFT TO TALK ABOUT.

AND WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT
POINT? I LEFT THE ROOM, I CALLED HILLY.

HE PICKED ME UP AND DROVE ME TO VAN
NUYS AIRPORT, AND I FLEW BACK TO LAS VEGAS.

AND SANDY FORTAS WAS
ALIVE WHEN YOU LEFT HIM?

SO HELP ME GOD,
SANDY FORTAS WAS ALIVE.

OKAY, GOOD.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POINTS
THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.

BUT BASICALLY THAT
WAS IT. ALL RIGHT.

NOW I'M GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH
THE CROSS-EXAMINATION. GOOD.

NOW, IT MUST BE TOUGH
FOR YOU TO TRUST PEOPLE...

WHEN EVERYBODY THAT YOU
MEET WANTS SOMETHING FROM YOU.

DO YOU FIND THAT TO BE SO? THERE'S
PEOPLE I CAN TRUST. THERE'S PEOPLE I CAN'T.

AND WHICH CATEGORY DID SANDY FORTAS
FALL INTO? I FELT LIKE I COULD TRUST HIM.

BUT YOU WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE
DEAL THAT HE WAS OFFERING YOU THOUGH.

NO, I WASN'T.

WERE YOU PREPARED
TO WALK? ABSOLUTELY.

GIVEN THAT SANDY FORTAS WAS
SOMEWHAT OF A FATHER FIGURE TO YOU,

WOULDN'T THAT
HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT?

DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

I MEAN, WE'RE ALL ADULTS. AND WHEN IT COMES
TO BUSINESS, WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.

I WANT TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT YOUR WIFE.

NOW, WAS SHE SOMEONE
THAT YOU COULD TRUST? YES.

EVEN THOUGH YOU SAT IN THIS COURTROOM
AND HEARD THAT, PRIOR TO MEETING YOU,

THAT SHE'D HAD AN AFFAIR
WITH SANDY FORTAS? RIGHT.

- AND THAT DIDN'T BOTHER YOU?
- I'M NOT GONNA SAY
IT MADE ME HAPPY,

BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I MET CARLA.

NO, IT DIDN'T PARTICULARLY BOTHER ME,
AND IT DIDN'T PREVENT ME FROM TRUSTING HER.

WELL, LET ME ASK YOU A
QUESTION, MR. LATRELL,

BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN
THROUGH MOMENTS LIKE THIS.

I MEAN, GOD KNOWS I HAVE.

DO YOU EVER WAKE UP IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT...

AND LOOK AT YOUR SLEEPING
WIFE AND WONDER ABOUT HER?

NO, I DON'T. WHEN YOU LOOKED
AT THE FACE OF SANDY FORTAS,

DIDN'T YOU SEE SOMEONE
WHO, AT ONE POINT,

USED TO BE SERVICED BY THE
MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN?

NO, I DID NOT.

COME ON, RICKEY. IT'S THE
OLDEST IMPULSE IN THE WORLD.

ARE YOU GONNA SIT THERE AND
TELL US THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL IT?

NOW, THEY SAY THAT WHEN YOU BURY A
THREE-POINTER WITH ONE SECOND LEFT ON THE CLOCK,

THAT YOU HAVE ICE WATER
RUNNING THROUGH YOUR VEINS.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ICE WATER RUNNING THROUGH
YOUR VEINS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR WIFE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT. LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU.

YOUR FATHER FIGURE HELPED
HIMSELF TO YOUR WIFE, DIDN'T HE?

THAT WAS BEFORE CARLA
AND I GOT TOGETHER.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT THERE IS A HISTORY
CREATED BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

THAT FAT OLD MAN MADE
A LITTLE BOY OUT OF YOU.

HEY, WAIT. COME ON NOW. SCOTTO'S
NOT ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.

DON'T LOOK AT HER. LOOK AT ME.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU
ARE TELLING THE TRUTH.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU ARE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR BASE
INSTINCT IN CHECK LIKE YOU SAY YOU ARE ABLE TO.

MY BASE INSTINCT? SANDY
FORTAS INSULTED YOU...

BY NOT PAYING YOU
WHAT YOU WERE WORTH.

HE THREATENED YOU WITH
DISCLOSURE OF THE FACT...

THAT YOU HAD SHAVED POINTS
OFF A GAME TO PAY A GAMBLING DEBT.

AND HE ADDED YOUR WIFE TO A VERY LONG LIST
OF ATTRACTIVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN...

THAT HE HAD SLEPT WITH... TRUE
OR FALSE? WAIT A SECOND, JIMMY.

I'M NOT GONNA WAIT A SECOND,
AND DON'T CALL ME JIMMY.

ONCE AGAIN, SANDY FORTAS. HE
DIDN'T PAY YOU, HE THREATENED YOU,

AND HE HAD SEX WITH
YOUR WIFE... TRUE OR FALSE?

TRUE! NOW, PUT ALL
THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.

DIDN'T THAT MAKE YOU
WANT TO MURDER HIM?

IN FACT, DIDN'T IT CAUSE
YOU TO MURDER HIM? YES!

WHAT?

CARLA WENT TO L.A. TO SEE SANDY.

WHEN SHE CAME BACK,

SHE HAD THE TAPE OF ME
AGREEING TO SHAVE POINTS.

I ASKED HER WHY HE GAVE
IT TO HER, AND SHE HEDGED.

SHE TOLD ME ONE THING.
THEN SHE TOLD ME ANOTHER.

THEN SHE BROKE DOWN.

SHE TOLD ME THE PRICE
OF GETTIN' THAT TAPE...

WAS AGREEING TO GO
TO BED WITH HIM AGAIN.

NOW MY FIRST REACTION
WAS TO STRIKE OUT AT HER.

THAT'S WHEN THE COPS CAME.

AND AFTER THINKING
ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE,

I REALIZED I WASN'T
ANGRY AT HER.

I WAS ANGRY AT HIM.

IT WASN'T ENOUGH
TO CONFRONT HIM.

IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO HURT HIM.

I HAD TO KILL HIM.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
I DID. I SHOT THAT SUCKER.