Murder One (1995–1997): Season 2, Episode 9 - Chapter Nine, 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.

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

HIS PUBLIC IMAGE.

ANY CONCERN, RICKEY, ABOUT THE
RUMORS THAT YOU'RE THE PRIME SUSPECT...

IN THE MURDER OF SANDY FORTAS?

THE FACT THAT ANYBODY COULD
THINK THAT I COULD HARM HIM,

THAT JUST MAKES ME SICK.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M DEDICATING THE REST OF
THIS SEASON TO THE MEMORY OF SANDY FORTAS.

SOUNDS LIKE A MAN WHO DESERVES THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. OR AN ACADEMY AWARD.



KEY EVIDENCE.

DO YOU OWN A GUN? WE RECOVERED THE
MURDER WEAPON, AND IT'S REGISTERED TO YOU.

POLICE HAVE ARRESTED
BASKETBALL GREAT, RICKEY LATRELL.

GET ME OUT OF HERE.

DEFENSE STRATEGY.

NOW IF I STAND UP THERE, ARGUING
FOR A BLACK MAN'S FREEDOM,

WE'LL HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EDGE.

I DON'T WANT TO WIN THIS CASE BY PLAYING
THE VICTIM. I WANT TO WIN IT ON THE MERITS.

WE BOTH KNOW THAT CASES LIKE
THIS ARE WHY I WAS HIRED AT THIS FIRM.

WHATEVER I DECIDE, IT
WON'T BE BASED ON RACE.

THIS IS L.A., CHRIS.
EVERYTHING IS BASED ON RACE.

I'M DOING THE ARGUMENT.
I'LL GET THE JOB DONE.

YEAH, YOU'D BETTER, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T,
YOU STILL GET TO GO HOME EVERY NIGHT.

RICKEY GETS TO SIT IN HERE.



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

MONEY TALKS, CELEBRITY WALKS.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT
RICKEY LATRELL WILL APPEAR.

BAIL IS SET AT $10 MILLION.

THE ALTERNATE SUSPECT.

HE WAS THE ONLY OTHER PERSON BESIDES
RICKEY WHO WAS IN SANDY FORTAS'S OFFICE.

PLUS, HE FOUND THE BODY.

IF WE CAN HAMMER ON THE ANIMUS BETWEEN
FORTAS AND MICHAELSON, WE COULD HAVE A SHOT.

- AT WHAT, RUINING
AN INNOCENT MAN'S LIFE?
- NO, AT GETTING OUR CLIENT OFF.

I AM NOT HANGING LEE
MICHAELSON OUT TO DRY.

ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT LETTING YOUR PERSONAL
FEELINGS AFFECT THE WAY WE REPRESENT A CLIENT?

THIS IS ABOUT VIGOROUSLY
REPRESENTING OUR CLIENT...

IN A FAIR, RESPONSIBLE
AND ETHICAL WAY.

IF THAT'S ASKING TOO MUCH OF YOU GUYS, THEN
YOU SHOULD MOVE OVER AND LET ME HANDLE IT.

NO, I'M STILL HOLDING.
HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?

HEY, JOEL. TIME FOR YOUR
SEMIANNUAL SMOKE DETECTOR CHECK.

DON'T GO IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
THEY'RE HAVING A MEETING IN THERE.

NO, I'M HOLDING FOR
ALAN SHEINKMAN. STILL.

GEORGE DePETRI, WHITE, 42 YEARS
OLD, MANAGES A LUMBERYARD,

INCOME BETWEEN
40,000 AND 50,000 A YEAR.

- LOSE.
- DePETRI PLAYED BASKETBALL
FOR USC. I SAY WE KEEP HIM.

THE AFFINITY OF ONE JOCK
FOR ANOTHER. EXACTLY.

- WHAT YEARS WAS HE THERE?
- '74 TO '78.

HE WASN'T STARTING DURING
THAT TIME. I KNOW THAT.

SO HE'S BITTER ABOUT THAT.

HE'S BITTER ABOUT THE FACT THAT
HE'S WHITE AND WORKS IN A LUMBERYARD,

WHILE RICKEY LATRELL IS
BLACK AND PLAYS BASKETBALL.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU
COULDN'T PICK A WORSE JUROR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS ABOUT IT,
RICKEY? WE CAN PROBABLY LIVE WITH HIM.

THIS GUY CAN WORK FOR US.

HE'S A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT.
HIS WIFE BELONGS TO A LABOR UNION.

I'M NOT GONNA GET HIM
DISMISSED FOR CAUSE.

I SURE AS HELL DON'T WANT TO USE ONE OF OUR
TWO REMAINING STRIKES TO GET RID OF HIM.

TAKE A GOOD LAST
LOOK AT HIM IN COURT.

ON BALANCE, I THINK HE'S SOMEONE
WE CAN PROBABLY LIVE WITH.

WHO'S NEXT?

LOIS RENSCH, 55, WHITE,
FIFTH-GRADE SCHOOLTEACHER.

I'D LOSE THAT ONE TOO. SHE'S A
LIFELONG PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.

SHE NO DOUBT RESENTS THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY AND ATTENTION SPENT ON SPORTS.

AARON, IT'S POSSIBLE WE'RE NOT GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SEAT AN ALL-BLACK JURY.

I'M NOT LOOKING FOR
AN ALL-BLACK JURY.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE
BEST JURY THAT I CAN FIND.

I THINK ANY OF THEM WOULD
BE ALL RIGHT. ANY OF THEM?

YEAH. MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY
GET TO KNOW ME, THEY LIKE ME.

ALL RIGHT. DON'T GO GETTING COCKY
NOW. BABY, I'M NOT GETTING COCKY.

EXCUSE ME, FOLKS. I JUST NEED TO SERVICE
THE SMOKE DETECTOR UNITS IN THIS OFFICE.

- NOT RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T.
- IT'S REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONFERENCE.
YOU HAVE TO DO THAT LATER. THANK YOU.

- WHO'S NEXT?
- NATHAN SOLOVEYCHIK.

EXCUSE ME. I DON'T
WANT TO BE A PEST.

MR. LATRELL?

I JUST WANT TO SAY I THINK YOU ARE THE
GREATEST POINT GUARD IN THE GAME TODAY.

I THINK, IN TIME, YOU'LL
SURPASS OSCAR ROBERTSON.

- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
- MM-HMM.

WOULD IT BE AT ALL POSSIBLE FOR
YOU TO SIGN SOMETHING FOR MY SON?

- YEAH.
- COULD YOU MAKE THIS AS BRIEF
AS POSSIBLE, PLEASE?

OH, ABSOLUTELY. IT'D JUST MEAN
SO MUCH TO HIM. HE'S ASTHMATIC.

WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO SIGN?

MAKE IT OUT TO JOEL.

SOMETHING'S BOTHERING YOU.
YOU WANNA TELL ME WHAT IT IS?

YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW? THAT
WOULD BE WHY I'M STANDING HERE.

YOU'RE LETTING CHRIS
DOCKNOVICH CALL THE SHOTS,

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

YOU TALKING ABOUT
ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

YEAH. HIS PICKING A
JURY. HOW 'BOUT THAT?

HE'S PUTTING PEOPLE
ON WHO WILL KILL US.

LIKE WHO?

LIKE DePETRI. I DON'T CARE
THAT HE'S A DEMOCRAT.

I DON'T CARE THAT HIS WIFE
BELONGS TO A LABOR UNION.

I'VE KNOWN FAR TOO MANY GUYS
LIKE THIS. HE DON'T LIKE BLACK FOLKS.

YOU'RE CONVINCED OF THIS?
THERE'S NOT A DOUBT IN MY MIND.

CHRIS.

WYLER DOESN'T WANT YOU
TO DO ANYTHING ON DePETRI...

UNTIL HE'S HAD A
CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU.

MR. SWABODA,

- ARE YOU A SPORTS FAN?
- YOU BET.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES,

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT COMES TO MIND?

MONEY.

TALENT.

SEX.

HAVE YOU EVER DATED A
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE?

NO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO? I DON'T KNOW.

NOT NECESSARILY.

IF I GOT TO KNOW ONE AND
LIKED HIM, MAYBE I WOULD.

MS. GUERIN, IS THIS TRUE OF
ANY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE?

WELL, I PARTICULARLY
LIKE BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

YOU THINK YOU'D HAVE NO PROBLEM JUDGING
THIS CASE FAIRLY THOUGH. IS THAT RIGHT?

ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD
BE TOTALLY FAIR.

SIDEBAR, YOUR HONOR?

APPROACH.

- THE PEOPLE CHALLENGE
FOR CAUSE, YOUR HONOR.
- THE CAUSE BEING?

BY WORD AND GESTURE, I
BELIEVE SHE'S DEMONSTRATED...

AN INSURMOUNTABLE BIAS
IN FAVOR OF THE DEFENDANT.

THAT'S NONSENSE. IT'S NONSENSE?
SHE ALL BUT SLOBBERED ON HIM.

MR. SCOTTO, THERE'S NO CAUSE.

YES, YOUR HONOR.

MS. GUERIN? YOU'RE EXCUSED
WITH THE THANKS OF THE COURT.

YOU'RE KIDDING!

YOU'RE A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER,
MRS. RENSCH? YES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
YOUR SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC BUDGET?

RELATIVE TO OTHER
THINGS, I THINK IT'S TOO HIGH.

DO YOU HARBOR ANY RESENTMENT TOWARDS THOSE
WHO SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNG BOYS,

PARTICULARLY YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS...

WHO MIGHT NEGLECT THEIR EDUCATION
IN PURSUIT OF ATHLETIC STARDOM?

I WOULDN'T PERMIT MY
RESENTMENTS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE,

TO INTRUDE ON MY
DETERMINATION...

OF WHETHER OR NOT
SOMEONE IS GUILTY OF MURDER.

I'M SURE YOU WOULDN'T.

THE DEFENSE PRESENTS NO
CHALLENGE TO MS. RENSCH.

DO YOU ADMIRE THE
DEFENDANT, MR. DePETRI?

I ADMIRE HIM AS AN ATHLETE.

BEYOND THAT, I DON'T KNOW HIM.

SHOULD THE EVIDENCE SUPPORT IT, WOULD YOU
BE ABLE TO RENDER A VERDICT OF GUILTY...

EVEN KNOWING IT COULD SEND A MAN
TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE?

IF THE EVIDENCE
SUPPORTED IT, YES, I WOULD.

PROSECUTION PRESENTS NO
CHALLENGE TO MR. DePETRI, YOUR HONOR.

THE, UH, DEFENSE ASKS TO
QUESTION MR. DePETRI AT A LATER TIME.

RICKEY! HEY, KEN!
HOW YOU DOIN', MAN?

HOW YOU DOIN' IS A BETTER
QUESTION. HOW YOU HOLDING UP?

MAN, I'M DOING ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW
CHRIS DOCKNOVICH, AARON MOSELY?

YOU USED TO WORK FOR
TEDDY HOFFMAN. RIGHT.

HOW'S YOUR NEW BOSS? HE'S FINE.

TELL JIMMY THAT
KEN HICKS SAID HELLO.

WE USED TO TUSSLE A FEW TIMES
WHEN I WAS STILL TRYING CASES.

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

- SOME GUYS NEVER LEARN
TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
- AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.

I AM. SAY, RICKEY, I HAVE A CELEBRITY
GOLF TOURNAMENT I WANT YOU TO PLAY IN.

YOU'RE SURE ABOUT
THAT? BABY, I'M SURE.

THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT
TIME. IT'S EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME.

HE NEEDS TO SHOW EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT
HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

AND YOU DON'T.

I'LL GET WITH YOU LATER
THOUGH, MAN. ALL RIGHT.

BE STRONG, MY BROTHER.

AARON, WOULD YOU COME
IN MY OFFICE FOR A MINUTE?

YOU AND I HAVE TO GET
SOMETHING STRAIGHT. WHAT'S THAT?

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

YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO
DO? I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

JIMMY CAME TO ME, OKAY? I DIDN'T
GO TO HIM. THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU WAITED UNTIL I WASN'T
THERE AND UNDERMINED ME.

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.

WHAT'S THIS?

HE WILL EITHER SUPPORT
ME AS SECOND CHAIR,

OR HE WILL REPLACE
ME AS LEAD COUNSEL.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO CHOICES.

THE DAY YOU GET TO TELL ME WHAT MY
CHOICES ARE IS THE DAY I WALK OUT THE DOOR.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU BOTH
WHAT YOUR CHOICES ARE.

YOU EITHER REPRESENT THE
CLIENT OR YOU HIT THE BRICKS.

THAT MEANS WHATEVER PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES
YOU HAVE ARE FORGOTTEN OR SETTLED.

YOU FEEL AGGRIEVED BECAUSE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE CASE BEHIND YOUR BACK.

GET OVER IT. I'M GOING WITH
HIS INSTINCTS IN THIS CASE.

DePETRI IS A LOSE.

YOU FEEL AGGRIEVED BECAUSE YOU'RE
IN SECOND POSITION. YOU GET OVER THAT.

I AM NOT GOING TO LET A LAWYER'S
PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT ANYTHING...

SWAY HOW WE MAKE
DECISIONS TO MANAGE THIS CASE.

WE MANAGE TO WIN, PERIOD.

YOU GOT IT?

YEAH.

GOOD.

HEY. OH, HI.

I DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
DID YESTERDAY. WHAT'D I DO?

YOU LIED TO ME SO YOU
COULD GET AN AUTOGRAPH.

AND YOU THINK SMOKE DETECTORS DON'T
REQUIRE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE?

NO, I THINK YOU SCAMMED YOUR WAY
IN, GOT ME IN TROUBLE WITH MY BOSS,

AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS HERE FOR WHOLLY LEGITIMATE
REASONS. AS FOR THE AUTOGRAPH, FORGIVE ME.

IT'S NOT EVERY DAY IN MY LIFE THAT I'M IN THE
SAME ROOM WITH A PERSON LIKE RICKEY LATRELL.

AND YOU JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE
A BASKETBALL WITH YOU. YES, I DID.

WELL, FROM NOW ON, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO JUST WANDER AROUND BY YOURSELF.

WE MEET AGAIN. JOEL. JOEL!

LIFE'S PRECIOUS MOMENTS.

WHAT IMPRESSION, IF ANY, DO
YOU HAVE OF THE DEFENDANT?

HE SEEMS LIKE A GOOD PERSON.

FROM A DISTANCE, HE SEEMS
LIKE A NICE, YOUNG MAN.

NO IMPRESSION OF ANY KIND.

MS. EMBRY, IN YOUR OPINION,

IS IT MORE LIKELY THAT THE DEFENDANT
WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THIS CRIME...

BECAUSE HE'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN...

OR BECAUSE OF GOOD-FAITH BELIEF ON BEHALF OF
THE POLICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE...

THAT HE'S GUILTY?

I THOUGHT THE PURPOSE OF
A TRIAL WAS TO FIND THAT OUT.

MA'AM, I ASKED WHAT YOU
THOUGHT WAS MORE LIKELY.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

THERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUNG MEN WHO ARE IN
TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE IN TROUBLE,

AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE
IN TROUBLE BECAUSE OF RACISM.

IN THE CASE OF A SUCCESSFUL AND
WELL-KNOWN YOUNG MAN LIKE MR. LATRELL,

I'M SURE THERE ARE THOSE
IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY...

WHO WOULD LIKE NOTHING
MORE THAN TO DESTROY HIM.

I AM, HOWEVER, CAPABLE
OF KEEPING AN OPEN MIND.

- SIDEBAR, YOUR HONOR.
- APPROACH.

- MOVE TO CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE.
- SPECIFICALLY?

THIS JUROR HAS AN INNATE
MISTRUST OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM...

WITH REGARD TO
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

SHE SAID SHE WOULD
KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

SHE'S CLEARLY PREDISPOSED TO
VIEW THE DEFENDANT AS A VICTIM.

YOU DON'T HAVE
CAUSE, MR. SCOTTO.

IF YOU WANT HER OFF, YOU'VE
GOT ONE PEREMPTORY LEFT.

YOU LEAVE ME NO CHOICE
BUT TO USE IT, YOUR HONOR.

MS. EMBRY, YOU ARE EXCUSED
WITH THE THANKS OF THE COURT.

YOU TOOK CHARGE OUT
THERE, CHRIS. THANKS.

WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO HAVING
A BLACK MAJORITY ON THAT JURY.

I KNOW THAT TOOK SOME
DOING. I SALUTE YOU FOR THAT.

IT'S NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE THAT
WE DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU, MR. HICKS.

ALLOW ME JUST ONE OBSERVATION.
DO WITH IT WHAT YOU WILL.

THE ONE THAT'S GONNA DO
YOU THE MOST GOOD IS OTWELL.

HE WAS AT THE MILLION
MAN MARCH IN WASHINGTON.

HE'S VERY ACTIVE IN
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

HE IDENTIFIES VERY MUCH
AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

SEE YOU INSIDE.

EVER BEEN ACCUSED OF
A CRIME, MR. OTWELL? NO.

EVER BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE
POLICE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING YOUR CAR?

YEAH, I'VE BEEN CHARGED
WITH D.W.B. A FEW TIMES.

- WHAT'S D.W.B.?
- DRIVING WHILE BLACK.

DOES IT MAKE YOU ANGRY
TO BE CHARGED WITH D.W.B.?

- DOESN'T MAKE ME HAPPY.
- DOES IT MAKE YOU ANGRY?

IF POLICE OFFICERS PULLED YOU OVER
WHILE YOU WENT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS,

INTIMIDATED YOU, INTERROGATED
YOU FOR NO REASON...

OTHER THAN THE
COLOR OF YOUR SKIN,

HOW DO YOU THINK IT
WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL?

ANGRY.

- SIDEBAR, YOUR HONOR?
- APPROACH.

- MOVE TO CHALLENGE
FOR CAUSE, YOUR HONOR.
- IT'S NOT THERE, COUNSEL.

YOUR HONOR, THIS MAN HAS
ADMITTED ANIMUS TOWARD THE POLICE.

NOTHING THIS JUROR SAID
DEMONSTRATES AN INABILITY...

OR AN UNWILLINGNESS
TO JUDGE THIS CASE FAIRLY.

THAT'S THE ONLY
CRITERIA. I AGREE.

YOU DON'T HAVE
CAUSE, MR. SCOTTO.

THE DEFENSE PRESENTS NO
CHALLENGE TO MR. OTWELL.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. OTWELL.
YOU'RE OUR 12th JUROR.

- MAY I BE HEARD, YOUR HONOR?
- SURE.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT
BRINGING THIS UP BEFORE NOW,

BUT AFTER HAVING A CONVERSATION
WITH MY WIFE LAST NIGHT,

IT OCCURS TO ME THAT A LONG TRIAL WOULD BE
SOMETHING OF A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR ME.

WELL...

YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.

YOU'LL BE RECEIVING FULL
SALARY. WHERE'S THE HARDSHIP?

I HAVE A SECOND JOB, YOUR HONOR.

I WORK IN AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
BOOKSTORE IN SOUTH CENTRAL.

I NEED THE INCOME
FROM BOTH JOBS.

IF I WIND UP TAKING EXTENDED
LEAVE, I'LL BE REPLACED.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
MR. OTWELL. YOU'RE ON THE JURY.

“DO YOU, AND EACH OF YOU,
UNDERSTAND AND AGREE...

"THAT YOU WILL ACCURATELY
AND TRULY TRY THE CASE...

"NOW PENDING
BEFORE THIS COURT...

"AND A TRUE VERDICT RENDER ACCORDING
TO THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO YOU...

AND THE INSTRUCTIONS
OF THE COURT?"

I DO.

MR. SCOTTO.

THERE ARE THOSE OF YOU,
NO DOUBT, WHO WONDER...

"HOW COULD SOMEONE LIKE RICKEY
LATRELL DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?"

SETTING ASIDE ANY MORAL
CONVICTION HE MAY HAVE HAD,

HOW COULD HE DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEND
HIM TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE?

HERE, AFTER ALL, IS A
25-YEAR-OLD MULTIMILLIONAIRE...

WHO, WHEN ALL IS SAID
AND DONE, HAS A GREAT LIFE.

WHY WOULD HE BE
WILLING TO GIVE THAT UP?

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M
HERE TO TELL YOU THAT HE'S NOT.

WHEN HE LEFT HIS HOUSE THAT DAY,
BEING SURE TO TAKE ALONG HIS GUN,

AND WHEN HE SHOT
SANDY FORTAS TO DEATH,

THEN LEFT AND GOT ON A WAITING
PRIVATE PLANE BACK TO LAS VEGAS,

AT NO TIME WAS RICKEY LATRELL
WILLING TO GIVE UP ANYTHING.

HE WAS CONVINCED THEN
HE WOULDN'T GET CAUGHT,

AS HE IS CONVINCED TODAY
THAT HE WON'T BE CONVICTED.

WHAT HE SAYS TO
HIMSELF THEN AND NOW...

AND EVERY DAY OF HIS
LIFE IS, "I'M RICKEY LATRELL.

I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT."

THE REASON I'M HERE...

THE REASON THERE'S A PAYCHECK
ON MY DESK EVERY OTHER FRIDAY...

IS THAT SOCIETY,
MEANING THE REST OF US,

HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
INTEREST IN SAYING TO RICKEY,

"NO, YOU CAN'T. YOU
CAN'T DO THIS, RICKEY.

YOU CAN'T COMMIT MURDER."

NOW, THE DEFENSE MAY VERY WELL TRY
TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THAT BASIC TRUTH.

THEY MAY FOLLOW THE PATH OF OTHER
DEFENSE LAWYERS IN OTHER CASES...

WHO HAVE MADE RACE THE
CENTRAL ISSUE OF THEIR CASE.

THEY MAY TRY TO CONVINCE
YOU THAT THIS IS LESS A TRIAL...

TO DETERMINE THE GUILT
OR INNOCENCE OF ONE MAN...

THAN A REFERENDUM ON RACIAL
INEQUITIES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.

SHOULD THE DEFENSE DO THAT,

THEN THEY'LL BE INSULTING THE
INTELLIGENCE OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

WHETHER YOU'RE BLACK OR WHITE,

I THINK YOU CAN WITHSTAND
ATTEMPTS TO DISTRACT YOU.

I THINK THAT ONCE WE'VE DEMONSTRATED
WITH EVIDENCE AND WITH TESTIMONY...

THAT RICKEY LATRELL DID,
IN FACT, COMMIT MURDER,

THAT YOU WILL DO WHAT YOUR
SWORN OATH REQUIRES YOU TO DO...

YOU WILL FIND THE DEFENDANT...

GUILTY.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY HE
CALLED HIM "RICKEY," WASN'T THERE?

BY THE WAY, WHO'S GONNA BE
GIVING YOUR OPENING STATEMENT?

CHRIS DOCKNOVICH.

THAT'S FUNNY. I WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT YOU'D BE DOING IT.

AND WHY IS THAT?

YOU HAVE JUST AS MANY YEARS
TRIAL EXPERIENCE AS DOCKNOVICH HAS.

PROBABLY MORE, SINCE YOU CAME FROM THE P.D.'s
OFFICE WHERE ALL YOU DID WAS TRY CASES.

NOT TO MENTION THE FACT
THAT IT'S YOU, NOT DOCKNOVICH,

WHO UNDERSTANDS
WHAT THIS CASE IS ABOUT.

WHICH IS WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION?

BEING A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA.

MM-HMM.

IT WOULDN'T BE OF ANY
PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE TO YOU...

THAT THIS PARTICULAR BLACK MAN IN
AMERICA MADE $4.2 MILLION LAST YEAR?

YOU THINK IT'S JUST
THE MONEY WITH ME.

YOU WANT TO BE RICKEY'S
AGENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE GETTING 10%
OF HIS ACTION. GOD BLESS YA. THAT'S FINE.

IT'S A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD,

AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS GO AFTER
EACH OTHER'S MEAL TICKETS ALL THE TIME.

DO ME A FAVOR THOUGH. KEEP THE
TRIAL COMMENTARY TO YOURSELF.

I STILL THINK YOU'RE THE ONE WHO
SHOULD BE DOING THE TALKING IN THERE.

I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND
THIS CASE IS LIKE ANY OTHER.

IT'S NOT.

THE DEFENDANT IS A
FAMOUS YOUNG MAN...

AND WEALTHY BEYOND ANY
OF OUR WILDEST DREAMS.

BUT FOR ALL THAT, THIS CASE COMES
DOWN TO A SINGLE SIMPLE QUESTION.

THAT RICKEY LATRELL
KILLED SANDY FORTAS?

NO.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT THEY WILL NOT.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT THEY CANNOT.

THEY CANNOT BECAUSE RICKEY
LATRELL IS AN INNOCENT MAN.

HE'S ALSO WHAT IS
KNOWN AS A "BIG FISH."

IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT FROM
THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT...

TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,

THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS
OBSESSED WITH LANDING A BIG FISH,

WHETHER THE FACTS
WARRANTED IT OR NOT.

OH, MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THE PROSECUTION IS GONNA TRY TO USE RICKEY
LATRELL'S CELEBRITY AGAINST HIM. THEY ALREADY HAVE.

YOU HEARD MR. SCOTTO'S
OPENING STATEMENT.

WHAT HE'S DOING IS DARING YOU
TO FIND RICKEY LATRELL GUILTY.

HE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL THAT THE ONLY
REASON YOU WOULDN'T FIND HIM GUILTY...

WOULD BE HIS CELEBRITY...

OR, ALTERNATIVELY,
HIS, UH... HIS RACE.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU...

MUST WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP
YOUR MINDS FOCUSED ON THE FACTS.

YOU MUST JUDGE RICKEY LATRELL JUST
AS YOU WOULD JUDGE ANYBODY ELSE.

IF YOU DO THAT,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU'LL
FIND HIM NOT GUILTY,

HAVING NOTHING TO
DO WITH HIS CELEBRITY,

HAVING NOTHING
TO DO WITH HIS RACE,

HAVING ONLY TO DO...

WITH JUSTICE.

AS ONE OF THE LEAD DETECTIVES IN THIS
CASE, YOU'RE CONVERSANT, ARE YOU NOT,

WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTED
PRIOR TO THE DEFENDANT'S ARREST?

YES, I AM.

AMONG THAT EVIDENCE, WERE THERE ANY
BULLETS RECOVERED FROM THE VICTIM'S BODY?

YES.

THE WEAPON THAT FIRED THESE BULLETS
WAS ALSO RECOVERED? YES, IT WAS.

- DID YOU IDENTIFY THE GUN?
- IT WAS A SPHINX .380.

IS THIS THAT GUN?

YES, IT IS.

PROSECUTION ASKS THAT THE MURDER
WEAPON BE INTRODUCED INTO EVIDENCE...

AS PEOPLE'S EXHIBIT ONE.

- SO ORDERED.
- HOW DID YOU COME INTO
POSSESSION OF THIS GUN?

AN INDIVIDUAL BY THE NAME OF JAMES
ASKIE WAS PICKED UP FOR ARMED ROBBERY.

- THE GUN WAS IN HIS CAR.
- DID YOU FIND OUT
HOW HE GOT IT?

HE BOUGHT IT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WE
LATER IDENTIFIED AS ONE HECTOR SOTO.

- OBJECTION. HEARSAY.
- FOUNDATIONAL, YOUR HONOR.

I'LL ALLOW IT TO ESTABLISH
CHAIN OF CUSTODY.

DID YOU LOCATE
MR. SOTO? YES, WE DID.

HE WORKED AT THE SOUTH COAST WASTE TREATMENT
FACILITY. FOUND THE GUN ON A GARBAGE TRUCK.

DID YOU ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT
THE ROUTE TAKEN BY THAT GARBAGE TRUCK...

INTERSECTED AT ANY POINT WITH THE
ROUTE TAKEN BY THE DEFENDANT THAT DAY?

I REITERATE MY OBJECTION TO THIS
TESTIMONY AS CONSTITUTING PURE HEARSAY.

- SIT DOWN, MR. DOCKNOVICH. YOU'RE OVERRULED.
- DETECTIVE?

AMONG THE STOPS MADE BY THIS
PARTICULAR TRUCK WERE SEVERAL DUMPSTERS...

LOCATED AT THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT.

MR. LATRELL TOLD US THAT HE
FLEW OUT OF THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT.

WERE YOU ABLE TO ASCERTAIN TO
WHOM THE GUN WAS REGISTERED?

YES, WE WERE. THE GUN IS
REGISTERED TO THE DEFENDANT,

RICHARD HAYES LATRELL.

BY THE WAY, DETECTIVE, WERE YOU ABLE TO
REVIEW THE BALLISTICS REPORT ON THAT GUN?

- YES, I WAS.
- HOW CONCLUSIVE WAS IT THAT THIS
GUN WAS THE MURDER WEAPON?

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

- YOU GET ANY FINGERPRINTS
OFF THE GUN, DETECTIVE?
- NOTHING USABLE.

SO, THE ANSWER
WOULD BE NO. RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S THEORY...

THAT IT WAS MR. LATRELL
WHO FIRED THIS GUN?

NO. NO RESIDUE TESTS
ON HIS HANDS OR CLOTHES?

OBJECTION. WITNESS ALREADY
ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.

OVERRULED. DETECTIVE?

THE ARREST WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROXIMATE TO THE
SHOOTING. THERE WERE NO RESIDUE TESTS PERFORMED.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE WAS
ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE ADDUCED...

TO INDICATE THAT MR. LATRELL WAS EVEN
CARRYING THIS GUN ON THE DAY IN QUESTION,

WAS THERE?

NO.

THANK YOU, DETECTIVE.

WHAT IS YOUR
OCCUPATION, MR. VOPARIL?

I'M IN THE SECURITY FIELD.
AND WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?

THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT
AT 1080 HILGARD.

WERE YOU AT WORK AT 1080
HILGARD ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER?

YES, I WAS.

WOULD YOU TELL US IF, AT ANY TIME OVER THE
COURSE OF THE DAY, YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT?

- YES, I DID.
- WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BOTH THE
TIME AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

IT WAS 4:15 ON A
SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

I OBSERVED MR. LATRELL WALKING
UNACCOMPANIED OUT OF THE ELEVATOR...

AND PROCEEDING TOWARD THE EXIT.

AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING,
TRANSPIRED BETWEEN YOU?

WELL, I ENGAGED THE DEFENDANT
IN A BRIEF CONVERSATION...

AND OBTAINED AN AUTOGRAPH,

THOUGH, UH, NOT FOR MYSELF.

IS THIS THAT AUTOGRAPH?

YES, IT IS.

ASK THAT THIS BE INTRODUCED INTO EVIDENCE
AS PEOPLE'S EXHIBIT FIVE, YOUR HONOR.

SO ORDERED.

MR. VOPARIL, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID YOU
OBSERVE ABOUT THE DEFENDANT AT THAT TIME?

- JUST THAT HE WAS IN A HURRY.
- OBJECTION.

SPECULATION. ASK
THAT IT BE STRICKEN.

SUSTAINED AND STRICKEN.
THE JURY WILL DISREGARD.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

- YOU SAID YOU WERE
IN THE SECURITY FIELD?
- YES.

- YOU'RE A GUARD.
- RIGHT.

YOU WEAR A UNIFORM.
YOU CARRY A STICK.

SHOULD YOU CONFRONT A CRIMINAL, THE FIRST
THING YOU WOULD DO WOULD BE TO CALL THE POLICE.

AM I RIGHT? OBJECTION.
COUNSEL'S MOCKING THE WITNESS.

WITHDRAWN.

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU CONTACT THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PRIOR TO TESTIFYING TODAY?

- OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT.
- OVERRULED.

I GOT IN TOUCH WITH
THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES.

I THOUGHT I HAD FAIRLY
PERTINENT INFORMATION.

YOU'VE ALSO APPLIED FOR A JOB AT THE LOS
ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAVE YOU NOT?

- YES, I HAVE.
- WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

- I WAS REJECTED.
- ON WHAT GROUNDS?

THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I SCORED
TOO LOW ON THE WRITTEN TEST.

UH-HUH. YOU'VE ALSO APPLIED TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENTS OF BEVERLY HILLS, HUNTINGTON BEACH,

REDONDO BEACH, PASADENA,
LOMPOC AND SAN LUIS OBISPO.

WHAT KEPT YOU OUT OF THEM?

- OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT.
- I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE IT WAS
THE COLOR OF MY SKIN.

THE OBJECTION'S SUSTAINED.

DID YOU APPLY TO BE AN INVESTIGATOR AT
THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

- OBJECTION.
- I'LL ALLOW IT.

- UH, YES.
- WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

THE APPLICATION'S STILL PENDING.

IS IT YOUR HOPE, MR. VOPARIL, THAT IF YOU MAKE
A GOOD WITNESS TODAY, THEY'LL GIVE YOU A JOB?

I CALL 'EM THE WAY I
SEE 'EM, COUNSELOR.

I'M THAT WAY ON THE JOB. I'M
THAT WAY TESTIFYING IN COURT.

- YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME
HERE TODAY, MR. VOPARIL?
- OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

WITHDRAWN.

GWEN.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, JOEL?
I COME WITH A PEACE OFFERING.

THIS IS A SCORECARD FROM A GOLF
MATCH THAT DINAH SHORE PLAYED IN,

SIGNED BY DINAH
SHORE BEFORE SHE DIED.

YOU'RE KIDDING. PUT IT IN A
DRAWER, FORGET ABOUT IT.

TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, IT'LL BE
WORTH BETWEEN $300, $400, MAYBE MORE.

IS THAT TRUE? ABSOLUTELY. TRY
NOT TO HANDLE IT EXCESSIVELY.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

I DID SOMETHING WRONG, AND I
WANTED TO SHOW YOU I WAS SORRY.

WELL, THANKS. IT'S VERY SWEET.

IF I EVER HAVE TO SERVICE
SOMETHING IN YOUR OFFICE,

I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL AS
THOUGH YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE.

OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
YOU HAVE A PLEASANT EVENING.

OKAY.

THE DETECTIVE'S
TESTIMONY, OVERALL, HELD UP.

- AARON?
- CHRIS DID A GOOD JOB
WITH THE SECURITY GUARD.

I THINK THE DETECTIVES COULD BE SUBJECTED
TO GREATER COLLATERAL ATTACK THAN THEY WERE.

WE'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY JENNIFER FREELAND.
SHE'S A PUBLICIST RICKEY'S APPARENTLY HIRED.

HE DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

SHE'S IN THE PROCESS OF LINING UP
VARIOUS BENEFITS AND INTERVIEWS,

AND SHE WANTS TO COORDINATE WITH
OUR OFFICE TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE.

NO. TELL HER TO WAIT
TILL THE TRIAL'S OVER.

SHE SEEMS INTENT ON GETTING
STARTED WITH IT RIGHT AWAY.

WHILE THIS TRIAL IS GOING ON, WE DON'T
WANT HIM DOING INTERVIEWS, PERIOD.

- THIS IS KEN HICKS BEHIND THIS.
- WHAT DOES HE STAND TO GAIN?

HE WANTS RICKEY TO DUMP
MICHAELSON AND GIVE THAT 10% TO HIM.

TO THE EXTENT THAT HE'S GOT
RICKEY'S EAR, HE'S MAKING PROGRESS.

HE'S BEEN WORKING US
SINCE THE TRIAL BEGAN.

WHAT'S HE WORKIN' US FOR? WE'RE
IN THIS BECAUSE OF MICHAELSON.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. KEN HICKS LOOKS
TO DRIVE A WEDGE WHEREVER HE CAN.

- HE'S COMING AT RICKEY
FROM MORE THAN ONE ANGLE.
- THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM.

- LEE'S THE REASON
WE'RE IN THIS CASE.
- IT DOESN'T MATTER.

- HE'S ALSO A FRIEND OF YOURS.
- THAT'S TRUE. HE IS.

BUT I'M NOT GETTING DRAWN INTO
A RANGE WAR BETWEEN AGENTS.

OUR ONE AND ONLY FUNCTION IS TO GET OUR
CLIENT ACQUITTED OF THE MURDER CHARGES.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
TAKE SIDES ON ANY OTHER ISSUE,

WE RUN THE RISK OF ALIENATING OUR CLIENT
AND COMPROMISING OUR OWN EFFECTIVENESS,

AND I WON'T DO IT.

- YOU PREPPING
MICHAELSON TONIGHT?
- ONLY ABOUT HIS TESTIMONY.

JUST DON'T GET HIM MAD AT
RICKEY BEFORE HE TAKES THE STAND.

AT THE TIME YOU LEFT THE ROOM,

WHAT WAS THE TONE OF THE EXCHANGE
BETWEEN MR. FORTAS AND MR. LATRELL?

- IT WAS BUSINESSLIKE.
- YET YOU WERE ASKED TO LEAVE. WHY?

- HAVEN'T WE DONE THIS ENOUGH?
- LEE, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE
ANY SURPRISES IN THERE FOR YOU.

I'M READY. I PROMISE.

OKAY.

SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT TO
TALK TO ME ABOUT? LIKE WHAT?

LIKE RICKEY'S THINKING
VIS-À-VIS KEN HICKS.

RICKEY DOESN'T CONFIDE IN
ME ABOUT BUSINESS MATTERS.

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

ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A
LITTLE ADVANCE WARNING.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

I LOOK AT EVERYTHING
IN MY LIFE...

AT THIS MOMENT.

TWO BUSTED MARRIAGES,

A MOTHER, BROTHER AND
SISTER THAT WON'T TALK TO ME.

I MEAN, NO LIFE AT
ALL OUTSIDE OF WORK.

AND I CAN STILL POINT AT ONE
THING IN MY LIFE THAT I'M PROUD OF,

AND THAT'S RICKEY'S CAREER.

BEYOND THE MONEY, BEYOND IT
BEING ANOTHER PELT IN MY SADDLEBAG,

I'VE BEEN WITH THIS
GUY A LONG TIME.

IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME.

I KNOW IT DOES.

I DON'T WANT TO
LOSE HIM TO KEN HICKS.

LOOK, IF I HEAR
ANYTHING SPECIFIC,

I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

GOT A SECOND?

DON'T YOU HAVE A DAY JOB, HICKS?

SOME THINGS TAKE PRECEDENCE.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

WHAT'S IN IT? NAMES, NUMBERS.

I SUGGEST YOU HAVE
SOMEONE CALL THEM.

BECAUSE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP
TO THE DEFENDANT,

COUPLED WITH HIS EXTREME
RELUCTANCE TO TESTIFY,

THE PEOPLE WOULD ASK THAT MR. JACKSON
BE DESIGNATED AS A HOSTILE WITNESS...

FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DIRECT EXAMINATION.

- WE OPPOSE THAT, YOUR HONOR.
- I'M GIVING MR. SCOTTO SOME
LEEWAY IN HIS QUESTIONING.

WE'RE BOTH HERE TO MAKE SURE HE
DOESN'T GET OUT OF LINE. MOTION GRANTED.

PROCEED, MR. SCOTTO.

DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE DEFENDANT, IF YOU WOULD, SIR.

HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE. HOW
LONG HAS THAT BEEN THE CASE?

OH, SINCE I'M FIVE.

ON THE DAY THAT SANDY
FORTAS WAS KILLED,

DID YOU DRIVE THE DEFENDANT TO
McCARRAN AIRPORT IN LAS VEGAS?

YES, I DID.

WAS THAT FOR A REGULARLY
SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL FLIGHT?

IT WAS A CHARTER. HE
CHARTERED A PRIVATE JET.

THAT'S RIGHT. HOW MANY
PASSENGERS WERE ON THAT PLANE?

THREE... RICKEY,
CARLA AND MYSELF.

TELL ME, MR. JACKSON... BECAUSE
I'VE NEVER FLOWN ON A PRIVATE PLANE...

- DO YOU GO THROUGH A METAL
DETECTOR TO FLY ON ONE?
- NO, YOU DON'T.

DID YOU KNOW THE DEFENDANT TO
HAVE BEEN CARRYING A GUN ON THAT DAY?

HE WAS NOT CARRYING A
GUN THAT DAY I KNOW OF.

HAD HE BEEN ARMED, HOWEVER, HE
WOULD HAVE AVOIDED BEING DETECTED...

BY FLYING ON A PRIVATE
PLANE, IS THAT NOT THE CASE?

- OBJECTION. SPECULATIVE.
- SUSTAINED.

DID THE DEFENDANT
CONFIDE IN YOU, MR. JACKSON?

WERE HIS FEELINGS ABOUT SANDY FORTAS
ONE OF THOSE THINGS ABOUT WHICH HE DID?

- NO.
- REALLY?

REALLY.

AND AT NO TIME DID RICKEY LATRELL GIVE YOU
ANY INDICATION OF WHAT HIS FEELINGS WERE...

TOWARD THE MAN HE WAS
GOING TO LOS ANGELES TO MEET?

THAT'S RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU
DO FOR A LIVING, MR. JACKSON?

I MANAGE SOME PROPERTIES.

I HAVE SOME ENTREPRENEURIAL
THINGS HAPPENING.

WHO PAYS YOU?

RICKEY LATRELL PAYS ME.

- EVER SEE HIM BECOME VIOLENT?
- NO.

WERE YOU PRESENT AT A CLUB
CALLED SATCH'S IN BOSTON ON...

MARCH 10, 1995?

- WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT
WASN'T RICKEY'S FAULT.
- WHOSE FAULT WAS IT?

YOU GO OUT IN PUBLIC WITH RICKEY LATRELL, YOU
SEE PEOPLE COME UP TO HIM LIKE THEY OWN HIM.

I'VE SEEN HIM TAKE MORE OFF OF
PEOPLE THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE.

PEOPLE COMING UP TO HIM WITH
THEIR HANDS OUT, WANTING SOMETHING.

WANTING TO BE NEAR HIM, WANTING
TO MAKE LIKE THEY'RE HIS FRIEND.

BUT THEY'RE NOT LIKE YOU ARE, ARE THEY,
MR. JACKSON? YOU'RE REALLY HIS FRIEND.

YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT.

WOULD YOU LIE FOR RICKEY
LATRELL, MR. JACKSON?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DO KNOW I'D LAY MY
LIFE DOWN FOR HIM.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

HAS ANYTHING YOU'VE SAID TODAY
CONCERNING RICKEY LATRELL BEEN A LIE?

- NO.
- NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING? UH, RECYCLING.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, RECYCLING?

ALL THIS PAPER CAN BE REUSED.

YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH OUR GARBAGE.

I'M NOT GOING THROUGH
YOUR GARBAGE.

I'M REMOVING THE STAPLES AND BRADS
BEFORE THE PAPER GETS FED TO THE SHREDDER.

I SERVICE YOUR SHREDDER. I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE STAPLES AND BRADS AREN'T REMOVED.

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- HE SAYS HE'S REMOVING STAPLES.

I HAD A LITTLE TIME ON MY HANDS.

SO YOU THOUGHT YOU'D JUST COME UP
HERE TO SEE IF ANYTHING NEEDED TO BE DONE?

WHAT A THOUGHTFUL GUY YOU ARE. GWEN, THERE'S
REASONS THAT THOSE PAPERS ARE ON MY CART.

OH, I KNOW THERE IS. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
ANYTHING THAT HAS LATRELL'S NAME ON IT.

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

I THINK YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO
ALWAYS ASSUMES THE WORST IN PEOPLE.

WELL, THIS TIME I'M RIGHT. MAY I AT
LEAST CLEAN UP THE MESS I'VE MADE?

NO, YOU MAY NOT, AND YOU CAN TAKE
BACK YOUR DINAH SHORE GOLF SCORECARD.

GWEN, NO, PLEASE. OUT, JOEL.

HI, I'M HERE TO SEE JIMMY WYLER.

I CAME OVER DURING THE
LUNCHEON RECESS, MR. WYLER,

BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS
IMPORTANT THAT I SPEAK TO YOU.

PLEASE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME OBJECTION
TO MY HUSBAND DOING PUBLIC RELATIONS.

MY OBJECTION RUNS TO
TRYING THIS CASE IN THE MEDIA.

WHY NOT TRY IT
WHEREVER YOU CAN WIN IT?

BECAUSE IT'S THE JURY
THAT REALLY MATTERS,

AND I THINK IT WILL BE PERCEIVED AS
A CYNICAL ATTEMPT AT MANIPULATION.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THAT WITH RICKEY.

HE COMES ACROSS VERY
WELL WITH THE PUBLIC.

IT'S NOT THE PUBLIC
I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

IT'S THOSE 12 PEOPLE IN THE JURY ROOM
WHO MAY ACTUALLY TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY.

MR. WYLER,

PLEASE BELIEVE THAT I AM SPEAKING
FOR MY HUSBAND WHEN I TELL YOU...

THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
HE VERY MUCH WANTS TO DO.

HE DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT
OF THIS ACQUITTED BY THE JURY...

AND DESPISED BY
THE WORLD AT LARGE.

IT IS NOT JUST THE
JURY THAT MATTERS.

IS THIS RICKEY TALKING NOW?

YES, IT IS.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE DEFENDANT, MR. MICHAELSON?

I'M HIS AGENT. I'M
ALSO HIS FRIEND.

ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER, YOU WERE
WITH THE DEFENDANT, WERE YOU NOT?

- YES, I WAS.
- WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR US
THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

WE WENT IN TO SANDY FORTAS'S
OFFICE TO DISCUSS HIS CONTRACT.

WHO WAS PRESENT IN THE ROOM
WHEN YOU MET WITH MR. FORTAS?

JUST THE THREE OF US. WHAT
WAS THE TONE OF THAT MEETING?

- IT WAS BUSINESSLIKE.
- HAD YOU REACHED AN AGREEMENT?

- NOPE.
- WHY NOT?

WE WERE AT AN IMPASSE. I'M NOT GONNA
LIE TO YOU AND TELL YOU IT WAS A LOVEFEST.

SANDY REFUSED TO PAY
RICKEY WHAT HE WAS WORTH.

HE FELT THAT RICKEY OWED HIM
SOME SORT OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATION,

AND BY HIMSELF, RICKEY WAS
SOFTHEARTED ENOUGH TO BUY THAT.

NOT YOU? NO, NOT ME.

SANDY WAS TRADING ON
SENTIMENTALITY TO SAVE HIMSELF MONEY.

- WITH ME, THAT DOESN'T WORK.
- BUT IT DOES WORK WITH RICKEY?

ABSOLUTELY. BEEN UP TO RICKEY, HE WOULD
HAVE TAKEN WHATEVER FORTAS OFFERED.

FROM WHAT LITTLE I REMEMBER OF
AGENCY LAW, IT WAS UP TO RICKEY.

I DON'T OPERATE ACCORDING TO
BASIC AGENCY LAW, COUNSELOR.

I HAVE AN EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT
TO WHAT I DO. IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS.

MY INSTINCT IS TO PROTECT, AND RICKEY
LATRELL IS SOMEONE THAT NEEDS PROTECTING.

THEN WHY'D YOU LEAVE
HIM ALONE IN THE ROOM?

BECAUSE SANDY WANTED
TO TALK TO RICKEY ALONE.

BUT IT WAS RICKEY WHO
TOLD YOU TO LEAVE HIM ALONE.

BECAUSE SANDY WANTED IT.
RICKEY WENT ALONG TO BE A NICE GUY.

- I LET HIM GO ALONG,
AND I WISH TO HELL I HADN'T.
- WHY DO YOU WISH THAT?

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE
TO PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED FROM HAPPENING?

NO, MR. SCOTTO.

THERE WAS NOTHING RICKEY
DID THAT THERE WAS TO PREVENT.

I WISH I WAS THERE BECAUSE THEN I WOULD BE AN
EYEWITNESS TO THE FACT RICKEY DIDN'T KILL ANYONE.

WHAT TIME WAS IT WHEN
YOU LEFT, MR. MICHAELSON?

ABOUT 2:00. DID YOU
RETURN AT SOME POINT?

YES, I DID. WHAT TIME WAS THAT?

ABOUT 5:00. WHAT'D YOU FIND?

I FOUND SANDY
FORTAS ON THE FLOOR.

WHAT DID YOU DO? I CALLED 911.

SO, TO REVIEW,

YOU LEFT THE DEFENDANT
WITH THE DECEASED...

AT THE DEFENDANT'S REQUEST,

AND WHEN YOU RETURNED, THE DECEASED
WAS DECEASED, AND THE DEFENDANT WAS GONE.

OBJECTION. SUSTAINED.

ONLY IT WASN'T WHILE RICKEY WAS THERE
THAT HE WAS KILLED, OKAY, SMART GUY?

SIR, THIS IS YOUR FIRST AND LAST WARNING.
NEXT TIME, I CITE YOU FOR CONTEMPT.

THE JURY WILL DISREGARD
THE WITNESS'S REMARKS.

- WHAT PERCENTAGE DO YOU TAKE
OF THE DEFENDANT'S INCOME?
- OBJECTION.

OVERRULED. MR. MICHAELSON?

TEN PERCENT.

SO BETWEEN SALARY
AND ENDORSEMENTS,

MR. LATRELL MADE BETWEEN $5
MILLION AND $6 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT WOULD PUT YOU DOWN FOR
ABOUT HALF A MILLION, WOULDN'T IT?

AND THIS PROVES WHAT, EXACTLY?

THAT YOU STAND TO LOSE A LOT SHOULD
LATRELL NEVER PLAY BASKETBALL AGAIN.

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR. THE
PROSECUTOR IS NOW GIVING TESTIMONY.

SUSTAINED. THE
JURY WILL DISREGARD.

NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.

YOUR HONOR, GIVEN THE
LATENESS OF THE HOUR,

THE DEFENSE ASKS TO BE PERMITTED TO
START CROSS-EXAMINATION IN THE MORNING.

I'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT.

THE JURY IS ADMONISHED NOT TO TALK ABOUT
THE CASE AMONG THEMSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE,

TO AVOID ANY AND ALL NEWS
REPORTS ABOUT THE CASE...

AND TO REFRAIN FROM READING
ANYTHING ABOUT THE CASE.

SOMETHING'S DROPPED IN OUR LAPS.
WE THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

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.

INCLUDED AMONG THE
WITNESSES WAS LEE MICHAELSON.

AND? NOT WITHSTANDING
HICKS'S OBVIOUS BIAS,

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

FORTAS'S PRIVATE DETECTIVE, WHO
SZYMANSKI KNOWS AND CAN VOUCH FOR,

SAID MICHAELSON WAS
CAUGHT STEALING FROM CLIENTS.

FORTAS WAS ABOUT
TO GO PUBLIC WITH IT.

MICHAELSON WOULD HAVE
BEEN FINISHED AS AN AGENT.

EVERY ONE OF HIS CLIENTS WOULD
HAVE LEFT HIM, INCLUDING RICKEY.

WE KNOW HE WAS TAKEN TO
THE CLEANERS IN HIS DIVORCE.

HE'S BEEN HAVING A LOT OF MONEY
PROBLEMS. HE'S BEEN ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS.

YOU THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH ON HIM TO
GO IN THERE AND SAY HE'S GUILTY OF MURDER?

WE DEFINITELY HAVE ENOUGH TO INTRODUCE IT FOR
THE PURPOSES OF CREATING REASONABLE DOUBT.

HE HAD MOTIVE, OPPORTUNITY AND, IN ALL
LIKELIHOOD, HE HAD ACCESS TO RICKEY'S GUN.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE'S
GUILTY, BUT WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION,

THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT HE SHOULD BE A SUSPECT.

HEY. HAVE YOU HAD DINNER?

LEE MICHAELSON DID
NOT COMMIT THIS MURDER.

YOU'RE SURE?

NO.

LOOK,

IF HE'S HIDING SOMETHING,
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

WE NEED TO EXPLOIT THAT.

IF HE'S NOT, WE DESTROY THE REPUTATION
OF A MAN I'VE KNOWN FOR 20 YEARS.

WELL, MAYBE A MAN WHO STEALS
FROM HIS CLIENTS DESERVES IT.

MAYBE WE NEED TO CONSIDER
THE SOURCE OF THE ALLEGATION.

FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT WHAT IF THE ALLEGATION
TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE?

THEN WE'VE GOTTA GO WITH IT.

SO... WHAT ABOUT DINNER?

I'M NOT REALLY UP FOR
IT TONIGHT, JUSTINE.

OKAY.