All language subtitles for Law & Order S12e01.Who Let the Dogs out-eng

NARRATOR:
In the criminal justice system

the people are represented
by two separate
yet equally important groups,

the police
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

RITTER: I already
started writing.

So what happens
if you stop?
They fire you?

You got it.
Oh, I'm sure.

So maybe you can
tell me when it is okay
to park here?

Read the signs.

I've read them,
I just can't
understand them!

Call the police!
Call the police!

Oh, my God,
somebody call the police!

Jogger tripped over the body
around quarter to seven.

Hell of away
to start the day.

Yeah. What's left
of the body, anyway.

Whoa. What's that
supposed to mean?

You'll see.

Detectives,
right over here.

Hey, the call
that came in said
there was one victim.

Species bias.

One woman, one dog.

Jack Russell,
I think.

You think?
Both mauled to death.

Mauled? You mean...

Something cut her throat out
and then did a number
on her arms and legs.

ED: What thing?

They're saying a dog.
Animal Control's
sweeping the park now.

You mean,
we got a wild animal
on the loose?

Unless you believe
in werewolves.

How bad is it?

Pretty bad.

Oh, man.

You got an ID?

CSU found these
over there.

House keys.

Any collar on
the Jack Russell?

If he had one,
it's not there now.

How about an age
on the lady?

Thirty-ish. Maybe.

She's got a rock
on her third finger but
there's no wedding band.

Short engagement.

Thorax ripped open,
larynx crushed.

Then Cujo proceeded
to rip her apart
like a rag doll.

Both arms were severed,
one of her legs.

Jane Doe and
her four-legged
companion

were definitely done in
by one very strong,
very savage animal.

Your woman at the scene
thought it might have
been a werewolf.

Teeth marks are
definitely canine.

What kind of dog
are we talking about?

Oh, hard to tell
at this point.

There's too much
tissue damage.

But if Animal Control
catches the damn thing,

we can do
a dental impression.

Also, if there's
still human flesh
in its teeth,

we can run the DNA,
see if it matches
the victim.

ED: God, what a way to go.
Getting mauled by a dog.

If it's any consolation,
the victim had
a hearty meal.

The lady,
not the dog.

Blueberry muffin and coffee,
just before the attack.

Thanks.

And no one reported
a lost dog?

Not that we know of.

Animal Control's
still searching the park.
Maybe it was a stray.

Oh, I'd hate to think
this was anything
but an accident.

Someone sickin' a dog
on another person
like that.

In this town,
you never know.

Well, what about
the woman?

There wasn't much
left to work with.

And her prints aren't
in the system.

The only thing left
at the scene
was her house keys.

Well, she was probably out
for a run with her dog.

The M.E. says
she had a meal.

Yeah.
Coffee and a muffin.

You don't eat
before you work out,
do you, Detective?

I'm not going to
even ask you.

Oh, you're saying
she just finished
her jog.

And was close to home.

Blonde in a jogging suit?

Sure, I've seen
somebody like that,

try every
two minutes or so.

Well, this woman
was in the park between
6:30 and 7:00 this morning.

She had a little
dog with her.

They all got little dogs
and they're all nasty.

BRISCOE: Not much of
a pet lover, huh?

I was referring
to the owners.

Well, she had
shoulder-length hair,

she was wearing
a black jogging suit,

dog was
a Jack Russell.

There is a woman
comes by most days
with a dog like that.

Sundays,
she picks up The Times.

You ever notice
which direction
she went?

Towards Broadway,
I think.

Thanks.
Bye-bye.

Sounds like Sandra.

Fifty-fifty low fat latte
with a twist.

Cute little dog.

Sandra have a last name?

(SIGHS) I guess so,
but she wouldn't tell me.

Good lookin' chick,
I hit on her,

but she wasn't
interested.

Said I was too young,
be like dating one
of her students.

Oh, she was a teacher?

Yeah. She'd come in
sometimes, mark papers.

ED: You have any idea
where she taught?

Some private school.

Sometimes she came in,
wore a baseball cap.

Had an "A" on it.

H ELLER:
Sandra. Miss Meekin.

She's been at Ashfield
almost three years.

Then today she just
didn't show up.

No call, no message,
not like her at all.

Oh, we're very sorry
to have had
to tell you like this.

I never imagined.

(SIGHS) Sandra was
a lovely young woman.

She taught English,
coached our volleyball team.

BRISCOE: ls there
a contact number?

Rich. Her fiancé.

Will somebody
from the police
be notifying him?

Yeah, we'll
take care of that.

(BELL RINGING)

I left work as soon
as I found out.

Came straight home.

I guess a part of me
still expected her
to be here.

Who dies this way?

We're really
very sorry.

You know,
it was my turn
to take Max

to the dog run
this morning.

Only I had
an early meeting.

Maybe I could've
fought back.

Our people say no one
would have stood a chance
against this dog.

What kind was it?

BRISCOE:
We're not sure yet.

Are you telling me
that the dog
that killed Sandy

is still out there?

Animal Control is
combing the park
as we speak.

You mentioned
a dog run just before?

Yeah. In the park.

It's a few blocks
from here.

Sandy would
go for her jog,

pick up some coffee

and walk over
and let Max play
with the other dogs.

(DOGS BARKING)

They don't have to
be on leashes here,
Officer.

Detective. And, yeah,
we know that.

Can we ask you
a couple of questions?

Sure. About what?

Do you recognize
this woman?

Oh, that's Sandy.
Of course.

And that's Max. Why?

I'm sorry
to tell you,

Ms. Meekin was
attacked by a dog
not too far from here.

Oh, my God.
That was Sandy?

Somebody spoke to
the search crew
this morning,

but you're still looking?

Do you know if Sandy
had any problems
with the other owners?

Someone with a dog
that could have done
something like that?

No. I mean, everybody knows
each other pretty well here,

and the dogs
are all familiar
with one another.

There was
this one person.
BRISCOE: Who's that?

Ah, he comes by
now and then with
his Rottweiler.

She's fairly bossy
with the smaller animals

and some of
the owners spoke
to him about it,

and I'm pretty sure
Sandy was one of them.

Do you know his name
or where he lives?

No, I'm sorry.

But I know he
recently got a ticket
from the park police

for not
having his dog
on a leash.

BRISCOE: Thanks.
Okay.

(KNOCKING on DOOR)
(nos BARKING)

Mr. Manos?

Yeah.
What do you want?

Would you chain up
the dog, please?

What's this about?
Lock it up.
Lock it up!

All right.
Wait one minute.

All right.
Hold on. Nitro!

In the room.
In the room.
Good dog.

(BARKING CONTINUES)

You be quiet now.

Nitro?

So?

You in the park
this morning with
that dog, Mr. Manos?

Why?

Yes or no?
Yes.

Did some of those people
at the dog run complain
about her again?

The way we heard it,
you have a pretty
aggressive animal.

She minds me.

You know a woman
named Sandy Meekin?

No. Who's that?

Woman lived
a few blocks
from here.

Owned a Jack Russell.

Some people
at the dog run

thought you two
had a dispute
a few weeks ago.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Excuse me.

(SOFTLY)
Well, some of the dogs
been bothering Nitro.

Well, she looks like
she can take pretty
good care of herself.

What's that supposed
to mean?

The woman this morning
was brutally mauled
by a dog.

Nitro's very sensitive.

Then you wouldn't
mind Animal Control
conducting a saliva test.

What for?

Lennie. There was
another attack
in the park.

They got the dog.

See, I told you
it wasn't Nitro.

Cute name, though.

Everybody all right?

It was just laying
on some rocks there
looking at us.

I just went over
to make sure
the dog was okay,

and... and then
it was like
on top of me.

Eric pulled him
off me somehow.

I don't know how
I did it.

I never ran so fast
before in my life.

Where's the dog?
Crew's cornered it
at a pedestrian tunnel.

(BARKING FIERCELY)

MAN 1: We've just
gotta hit it.

MAN 2: All right.

Hey, why don't you
tranquilize it?

We did. That's when
my officer got bit.

We'll shoot
the damn thing
if we have to.

Hey, you're Animal Control.
Control it.

(SNARLING)

Come on now.

Come on over here.

Get it. Come on.

(BARKING CONTINUES)

Okay. Now!

(SNARLING)

Easy boy, easy.
That's a good boy.

Okay.

ED: I think
he likes you, Lennie.

On second thought...

Hey, check it out,
he's got a collar.

I'll take your word
for it, man.

No tag.
But he's definitely
not a stray.

(BARKING)

Rodgers says
the bite marks match up.

Which means this dog
is our killer.

And we're sure
it's not a stray?

ED: Dog has a collar.

What are we doing
to find the owner?

We got uni's canvassing
the neighborhood
with the dog's picture.

Animal Control says
he's a well-nourished,

groomed, wormed,
20 month old male.

Has all his shots.

Someone loves
this monster.

Not quite. The report says
the dog's been tortured,
probably some time ago.

The fur's grown
over his scars.

Lieutenant,
looks like we might
have caught a break.

Uniforms find a witness?

Wonderful world
of technology.

A microchip implanted
in the ear?

Think of it as
a doggie LoJack.

Not unusual
with purebreds.

Actually, these babies
can start at four grand.

I've had new cars
that cost less.

So, how do we retrieve
the information?

Scanner.

And that's
gonna tell you
who the owner is?

Just hit "last entry".
I already ran it.

Ah, Glen Malloran.

ID number for the dog.
Phone number for Glen.

Montauk.
Mr. Malloran's listed
in the breeder's guide

licensed by the American
Kennel Association.

No violations,
no complaints.

Until now.

MALLORAN:
Can't be one of mine.

It's your microchip,
it's your dog.

What's the chip number?

(DOGS BARKING)
If it's the one
I'm thinking of,

I can't believe
he'd be involved in
an unprovoked attack.

He was really
good-natured, sweet.

Hey, I'm sure
you know your animals,

but this dog practically
decapitated a woman

and almost took
another girl's arm off.

I bred that
dog's sire and bitch
back five generations.

There wasn't
a mean one
in the line.

ED: So do you think
Pit Bulls are born mean?

Naturally,
when the genetic traits

for strength and tenacity
have been enhanced,

there's a heightened
physical response,

an aggressive nature
not found in other breeds,

but that
can be controlled.

With the right trainer.

So you're saying
that once they're weaned,
it's all up to the owner?

More or less.

Dogs don't kill people,
people kill people.

People with dogs
like that.

Hey, any animal can be
turned into a killer,
canine or human.

Your line of work,
you probably know that.

So who did you
sell the dog to?

A company
called Pound Partners
over in Brooklyn.

BRISCOE: And how was
the dog shipped?

Some guy used to
drive out here
in a blue pick-up.

You mean,
he drove out here
more than once?

And if you don't mind
my asking,

what happened
to the other dogs?

What other dogs?

This company bought
five more from me
just last year.

Two Pits, two Dobies,
and a German Shepherd.

Guard dogs, they said.

(DOOR SLAMS OPEN)
ED: Police!

We have a warrant
for the premises.

On the plus side,
I don't hear
any barking.

Maybe they were trained
not to bark.

Well, that's
a cheerful thought.

Hit it.

Damn! It's like
an S&M club for canines.

These bastards
were training 'em
to fight.

Oh!

This is Donald Keller
He drives for this
beverage distributor.

He's here every night.
He was just telling me

that he hasn't seen anybody
in the last couple of days.

I'll tell you the truth
I ain't really sad to
know they're gone.

You have a problem?
I'd come home
from a shift,

those damn dogs
howling and barking
all night long.

ED: Why didn't you
ever call anybody?

You seen those dogs?
(SCOFFS)

I ain't gettin' involved,

especially with
those characters
traipsing in and out.

What kind
of characters?

Oh! They'd come in
all kinds of cars,
music blaring.

Get out with dogs
wearing masks,

you know, like,
Hannibal Lecter.

We were told
it was a company
that sold guard dogs.

I don't know
nothin' about that.

Hey, did you ever
see a guy driving
a blue pick-up truck?

Uh, yeah.
White guy.

Maybe 30, 35.

You didn't happen
to get a plate number?

No. But it was a Chevy.
Chevy Sierra.

All right, man, thanks.
Hey, listen,

if you see that dude again,
would you please give us
a call?

All right.

Gives a whole new meaning
to the term "doggie bags."

Seven dogs.
All dead from
a drug overdose.

Somebody got scared.

What was going on there?

From what we saw,
they were fightin'
those dogs.

And they
close up shop right after
Sandra Meekin's death.

Yeah. It's gotta
be more than
just a coincidence.

Well, who owns
the building?

Well, believe it or not,
the city.

The place has been
in foreclosure
for almost three years.

The original owner's
in Florida.

He says that
he lost the place
in a tax proceeding.

He didn't know anything
about the Pound Partners
company or the dogs.

And we ran
the corporate name
through Albany.

The paper trail ends up
at a P.O. Box
in Schenectady.

Well, please tell me
we have at least
a lead on the owner.

Well, just on
the two guys

who supposedly
ran the operation.

And the cars
they drove.

A red sports car and
a blue Chevy pick-up.

Well, they kept these dogs
so they had to feed 'em.

So let's canvass
the local markets.

Maybe someone
can make an ID.

Mid-thirties.
Receding hairline.

Yeah. Guy comes in
every couple of weeks,

buys a ton
of ground beef.

Sometimes I put
some bones aside
for him.

Do you ever
get a name?

No, I mean,
I know his face,

but just enough
to say hello.

Actually,
one of these kids
may know him.

He usually helped him
carry the stuff out.

Hey, what's the name
of the guy comes in here

and buys all that meat
for those dogs?

I think Bill.

He drive
a blue truck?

Yeah. That's him.

ED: Hey, you ever
get a last name

or some reference
to where he lives?

No. But he comes out
with a pharmacy bag
sometimes.

Pharmacy's
in the back?

Yeah.
I got it.

He's got one of
those silver bracelets,

I think
for like diabetes
or something.

Thanks.

That's him.

Hey, Bill.

Sorry,
do I know you?

We're gonna get
real well acquainted
from here on in.

Put your hands
on the truck.

READE: What do you
guys want from me?

Lennie, check this out.

READE: Hey,
what's goin' on here?
What did I do?

Looks like dried blood.

All I did was take care
of the dogs.

You got a funny way
of taking care of 'em.

You wanna consider
revising your
previous statement?

We have a witness
who ID'd you

from the kennel
as the guy who
bought the dogs.

And at the supermarket,
where you bought the food.

Look, I just worked there,
ran errands and such.

BRISCOE:
So, I suppose those
bloodstains we found

were from you delivering
T-bone steaks?

ED: You do realize
you're on the hook

for a manslaughter charge,
don't you?

What are you
talking about?

One of your dogs
attacked a woman
in a park.

She was killed.

I'm telling you,
those dogs aren't mine.

I just look after them.

ED: Then whose
were they?

(SIGHS)

Now's not the time
to get shy, Bill.

You know, you've got
about 30 seconds

before we write this up
as a homicide.

Guy's name is Leon.
But I don't think
that's his real name.

But he's the owner.

He's the one
who pays me.

BRISCOE:
Where does he live?

No clue.

Someone's gonna feel
this woman's pain.

You sure you want
that person to be you,
Mr. Reade?

Look, a couple of times
Leon had me take some
of the dogs to a vet.

The guy there
knows him pretty well.

Write down the address.

(SIGHS)

Now we'll see
how you feel livin'
in a cage.

Leon brought
his dogs here for
their shots, that's all.

We were led
to believe that Leon
wasn't his real name.

That's the only name
I knew.

How did he pay you?

Cash.
What'd you do for him?

I took care of
some of his dogs.

Did you keep
a medical record
of that?

(CHUCKLING)
Oh, I'm not sure.

He's not sure.

I think
I read somewhere

you're supposed
to do that.

What kind of drug
do you use to
put a dog down?

Sodium Phenobarbital.

Ah, that's the drug
that killed those dogs
over at Leon's place.

I wouldn't know anything
about that either.

And what about
dog fighting,

what do you know
about that?

ED: You know,
they put two dogs
in a pit,

and they fight each other
till one of them dies.

Yeah. I hear it attracts
a real low-class clientèle.

I also heard that
they place wagers
on the outcome.

I mean,
without a friendly wager,

it's just two dogs ripping
each other apart, right?

You realize
you could get
your license revoked

if people knew
you were working
dogfights.

ED: Especially if
you supplied drugs

and didn't keep
any medical records.

You know how to do
anything else besides
veterinary work, Doc?

What happens
if I tell you
what I know?

Well, we report
to the D.A.

how you showed
a true spirit
of cooperation.

Then maybe
we don't take you
to jail tonight.

And my license?

(CHUCKLES)
Don't get greedy, Doc.

He was training
the dogs to fight.

I'd patch them up
as best as I could.

A few days ago,
he asked me for
the Sodium Phenobarbital.

ED: Leon did?

His real name
is Ralph Carson.

He's on parole,
I think.

(SIGHS) And you risked
your license for this guy?

I gamble.

I got behind.

Ma'am, do you know
the man that owns
that car?

I know him enough
not to know him!

Is he home?

Came in about
an hour ago.

Do you know if
he has any dogs
in there with him?

I haven't heard 'em
in a few days.

First time in a year.

(SCOFFS) It's about time
you people showed up.

The way he treats
them animals.

What type of dogs
are we talking about?

Mean ones.

Ralph Carson. Police.

CARSON:
Give me a minute!

Carson,
open the door!

Come on!
Open it now.

What?

Where's he goin'?

BRISCOE:
We have a warrant to
search the premises.

For what?

Well, this would
be a good start.

The house is full of
drugs and syringes.

Oh, this is
not good, Ralph.

I want a lawyer.
Hey!

What's down there?

Huh?

Put your hands
behind your back.

For what?
You're under arrest?

For being a sick bastard.
Now shut your mouth

before I put one
of these on you.

You have the right to
remain silent.

Anything you do say
can and will be used

against you
in a court of law.

You have the right
to an attorney...

CARSON:
I don't know what dogs
you're talking about.

This dog!
Never seen it before.

You know what
this dog did?

It ripped the throat out of
a young school teacher.

We know about
Pound Partners.

We know where
you fought the dogs.
We know where you kept them.

Under the law,
that makes you
the owner.

You know what
that means?

That means you're looking
at a manslaughter charge.

Oh, manslaughter?
You can't put that
on me!

BRISCOE: (SCOFFS)
Just watch us.

We're gonna tack
10, 15 years onto your
parole violation, Ralph.

The only way
you can help yourself

is to tell us
who had the dog.

Otherwise, it's you.

I just ran the fights,
sold some dogs,
that's all.

For who?

Hey man, the D.A.'s
right behind that window.

You show her
how remorseful you are
for what this dog did,

she might cut you
some slack.

Who had the dog?

You talk to this guy,
you don't let on
you heard from me.

Who?

His name's Danny Miller.

The whole damn
dog business
is his idea.

He's the one
who told me to
shut the place down.

You know,
after the lady
got killed.

He'll know
who had the dog.

Where is
this Danny Miller?

Attica?

According to Carson,
Miller runs the whole show
from a prison cell.

Apparently,
selling attack dogs
to ex-cons

for dog fights is
a pretty good business.

What's Miller in for?

Multiple homicides.

And Carson
claims Miller knows
who had the dog

that attacked this woman
in the park?

That's his story.

How did Miller
set all this up?

Believe it or not,
he used the prison
law library.

I pulled all
the corporate files

for this Pound Partners
from Albany.

They're actually
well-prepared.

Probably not what
the Supreme Court
had in mind

when they gave
prisoners access.

A post office box in
Schenectady, New York.

Since Miller couldn't
pick up the mail,

I faxed over
Carson and Reade's
arrest photographs.

No one at the post office
recalls ever seeing them.

So who was
the messenger?

Let's get Miller
down to Rikers
for an interview.

What about Carson?

Wait on
the manslaughter charge.

Hold him on
a parole violation.

Okay.

I'm doing
25-to-life, twice.

What're you gonna do,
take away my cigarettes
for being a dog lover?

JACK: We have
telephone records
showing that you placed

a collect call
to Ralph Carson's home

one day after Sandra
Meekin was attacked
in Riverside Park.

Who?

She was killed
by a dog

purchased from
your company,
Mr. Miller.

Hey, Ralph's
a friend of mine.
I wanted to say hello.

We think you were
giving him orders to
shut down your business.

Which means
you already knew
about the dog attack.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

You don't get newspapers
in maximum security,
Mr. Miller.

Or the 6:00 news.

Somebody told you
about what happened.

Probably the person
who had the dog.

I got nothin' to say
about any of this.

It's that kind
of thinking

that got you
two life sentences,
Mr. Miller.

Like I said.

I guess we're gonna
find out what
it gets you this time.

What now?

He won't talk
to us here.

We find out who
he did talk to

at his base
of operations.

Attica?

You don't have to go,
you just have to call.

Well, could you
check your records
for a Ralph Carson.

You're sure?

Okay, thank you.

Danny Miller's
been confined

to a maximum security
cell block for
almost four years.

That's 2317 in a cell.

Plus he has
no friends or family

and his last visit was
more than two years ago.

So how does he run
a dog business

from inside a prison cell
without anyone's help?

He has a lawyer.

She's up there
almost once a week.

A lawyer?

Sherri Quinn.
She's handling
his appeal.

And who's
this Roger Quinn?

Her husband.

Another lawyer?
A C.P.A.

They both visited Miller
the day after the dog attack.

SERENA:
Why did you visit
Mr. Miller so often?

I'm not sure
our relationship
with Danny Miller

is any of your business.

Presumably,
you've both heard of
attorney-client privilege.

Well, Mr. Quinn
is not an attorney.

Roger is employed by me
on behalf of Mr. Miller.

His efforts are
attorney work-product,
hence privileged.

You represent Miller
on a homicide appeal.

How does a C.P.A. fit
into that?

I don't think it would
be appropriate for me
to comment on that.

Well, in any event,
we're investigating
new criminal charges.

What new criminal charges?

Your client was involved
in a dog breeding business.

What does that have
to do with us?

According to
prison reports,

you're the only visitors
he's had in years.

SERENA: There is
no way he could've
run this business

from prison
without your help.

Mr. Miller's corporation
had a post office box
in Schenectady.

You own a house
in Schenectady.

It's possible
we assisted Danny in
certain business ventures.

But I can assure you,
we broke no laws.

Pit Bulls,
Dobermans,
Rottweilers.

Your client was
training fight dogs.

Dogs being taught
to kill.

One of them mauled
a woman to death

while she was jogging
in a public park.

Why are you
telling us this?

Because you visited him
in prison the day
after the attack.

We visit Danny a lot.

JACK: So we noticed.

According to
your phone records,

after every visit
you placed a call
to Ralph Carson.

You pulled
my office phone records?

Most of those calls
were to clients.

ROGER:
This man, Carson,

he gave us breeding lines
and pictures of the dogs,

we passed those along
to Danny.

And that is all we did.

Sandra Meekin had
her throat ripped out

by a dog trained
to do exactly that.

If either of you
assisted Miller in
the sale of this dog

without disclosing
the danger...

I don't think
we have anything more
to say on the subject.

So we still can't
place this dog
with its owner?

Carson claims he has
no sales records.

The Dog Man of Attica
isn't talking.

So, who are
the Quinns protecting?

Not Miller.

The man's already serving
two consecutive life terms.

What happens when
we do put this dog
with someone, Jack?

We look long and hard
at a homicide charge.

(EXHALES)
That's a tough charge to
make with what we've got.

This is no ordinary dog.

This is a 70-pound Pit Bull
trained to fight.

There are hundreds
of them in the city.

In some neighborhoods,
they're a status symbol.

Someone's twisted idea
of machismo.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
I just ran the Quinns
through the computer.

Turns out Danny Miller
is not the only
convicted murderer

Sherri Quinn
represented.

Warren Shane?

Guy's on parole.
Seems to have
taken issue

with the quality
of Ms. Quinn's work
at his murder trial.

She took out
a restraining order
against him

three months ago
for making death threats.

So you think
the Quinn's themselves
could have had the dog?

Shane's threat would
explain their being

in the market
for this kind of dog.

And they live on
the Upper West Side,

just a few blocks away
from where Sandra Meekin
was attacked.

They also set up
Miller's business.

Let's get a warrant.

This is an outrageous
intrusion of our privacy.

Come on, Counselor.
You've read
a search warrant before.

Why don't you
and your husband

just stand back
and let us do our jobs.

What are you
looking for?

Evidence that you were
in possession of a dog.

There's no dog here.

Yeah, well,
your neighbors seem

to think you had one
a little while ago.

They're saying
it was a Pit Bull.

No dog bowls,
no dog food.

There. Now, Detectives,
if there's nothing else,

I'm afraid I'm going
to ask you to leave.

Hey, Lennie!
Check this out.

Same thing over here
on the couch.

What did this then?

(SIGHS) Sherri Quinn,
Roger Quinn.

You're both under arrest
for the murder
of Sandra Meekin.

You can't!

It was a stray.
It ran away.

ED: You took in
a stray Pit Bull?

I am telling you,
it was not our fault!

You're howlin'
at the moon, Counselor.

"Docket Number 3699,
People v. Sherri
and Roger Quinn."

Manslaughter
in the Second Degree,
one count each.

This is nothing more
than a tragic accident.

The People give notice
of our intention

to present
this tragic accident
to a Grand Jury.

Well, if you ever really
do present your case,

defense hereby serves
cross grand jury notice.

Both my clients intend
to testify.

JUDGE PATE: I'll hear
the People on bail.

SERENA: The defendants
are accused

of recklessly
causing the death
of Sandra Meekin.

Complaint's a little fuzzy
on the how, Your Honor.

SERENA: The Quinns
knowingly possessed

an extremely dangerous
Pit Bull, Your Honor,

which they
recklessly exposed
to the public

resulting in
a woman's death.

The People have no way
to prove this is
the same animal

unless we're talking
about conducting

some sort of
doggie line-up here.

Tell me we're not
talking about that,
Miss Southerlyn.

SERENA: DNA samples taken
from the defendants' home,

as well as dental
impressions cast
from their furniture

indicate it's the same dog,
Your Honor.

BEHRENS: They still
have no eye-witnesses,
Your Honor.

No way to prove
the actual circumstances
of the attack.

The circumstances are
that this victim

was literally torn
limb from limb
by their dog.

We have no idea
what caused this attack.

Whether this woman
did something,

whether it was
her own dog
that provoked it.

Her scent,
her perfume...

Your Honor...
Save it for trial,
Mr. Behrens.

Meantime, the defendants
are released on
their own recognizance.

Judge, the defendants
are facing substantial
jail time.

If they're convicted.

Which is a big if,
Miss Southerlyn.

(GAVEL BANGS)

Their lawyer
actually stood there

and tried to blame
Sandra Meekin's perfume
for the attack.

And just how do we prove
that's not what happened?

JACK: It doesn't matter.

What,
did the Court of Appeals
change the burden of proof,

while I wasn't watching?

The Quinns' commission
of the crime

was complete with
their possession
of the dog.

A strict
liability standard.
I like that.

JACK: We show the jury

the attack
was the reasonably
foreseeable consequence

of merely
having the dog.

It's the same standard
we apply

to a loaded firearm
everyday.
(PHONE RINGING)

A.D.A. Southerlyn.

We're equating dogs
and firearms?

You know,
that's a tough sell

if the jury has so much
as one dog lover on it.

Not any dog, Nora.
This dog.
You're kidding.

It killed Sandra Meekin,
it attacked that other girl.

Where's it now?
SERENA: This is impossible.

Being held as evidence.
SERENA: When?

Okay.
I'll let him know.

The Quinns just filed
a motion to dismiss.

Their lawyer is claiming
the Quinns never knew
how dangerous the dog was.

No one's disputing
the tragic nature
of the attack.

Tragic nature.

And no one's going
to lay the blame
on my clients, either.

These defendants
possessed a lethal weapon
in the form of an animal,

took it to the park,
lost control of it.

Which is only relevant
if my clients knew
the animal was lethal.

The dog was tortured,
bred to fight
by their client.

They had no idea
about any of that.

As far as they knew,
Danny Miller was running
a legitimate business.

Judge, anybody
who has a dog like that

has to know
how dangerous it is.

BEHRENS: And I have
a dozen witnesses

who'll testify
that Pit Bulls make
wonderful house pets.

And we'll have ones
who'll testify that
owning a Pit Bull,

especially one who's
been trained to fight,

is the equivalent
of owning a loaded firearm.

And therein lies
the problem.

I'm not going to
have this trial

become a battle
of experts.

Not as to the knowledge
of the defendants.

Either the People can prove
that the defendants

were aware of the danger
this dog represented.

Or they walk
and go back
to representing

the Danny Millers
of the world.

Careful, Miss Southerlyn.

(DOOR BUZZING)

Have a seat,
Mr. Miller.

I told you.
I got nothing to say.

You remember I said
I'd let you know

what your lack
of cooperation was
going to mean to you?

What?
Are you cutting off
my movie privileges?

I intend to charge you with
Murder in the First Degree,
Mr. Miller.

How're you gonna do that
when you can't even

make out manslaughter
against the Quinns?

Their crime was reckless,
yours was intentional.

We brought along
the penal law,
so you can follow along.

You owned the dog,
Mr. Miller.

You controlled its training
and then you placed it

without any warning
to the new owners

about the dangers
it represented.

This is a bluff.
Is it?

We think once a jury
sees these photos,

they won't be so picky
about our theory.

Maybe you want to
run this by Sherri Quinn?

Of course,
you can only have
so much confidence

in her legal abilities
given your present
circumstances.

Okay, murder two maybe.

But there's no way
you get murder one.

When your crime
was committed,

you were serving
a life term, Mr. Miller.

That elevates it
to murder one.

That's only if
I killed somebody
on the inside.

Actually, that's not
how the statute reads.

So, the real question is
whether a jury thinks

life without parole
is enough punishment,

given you're serving
two life terms already.

We don't think they will.

JACK: Sherri Quinn
that good a lawyer

you'd risk your life
for her, Mr. Miller?

He threatened him
with a lethal injection,
Your Honor.

I merely pointed out
the consequences

if Mr. Miller refused
to cooperate.

It's still coercion.

SCHOLL: It's pretty close
to the line, Mr. McCoy.

But not over it,
Your Honor.

The law prohibits me
from forcing a plea

by threatening
the death penalty.

I never even
offered him one.

But you're not
prosecuting him.

It seems to me
if you believe

that Mr. Miller's
testimony's coerced,

you're free to try
and demonstrate that

in cross-examination,
Counselor.

But if he's willing
to testify that
these defendants

were aware of
this dog's propensity
for violence,

your clients
are going to trial.

JACK: Would you tell
the jury your qualifications,
Dr. Collin?

I hold a degree
in veterinary medicine
from Cornell University.

Did you have an opportunity
to examine and observe

the Pit Bull that
attacked Sandra Meekin?

Yes. The dog is
an American Pit Bull.

Twenty months of age.

Approximately 70 pounds.

Overall,
in excellent health.

Extremely assertive,
aggressive.

JACK: How did you
determine that?

The dog shows an almost
uncontrollable urge
to dominate.

For example,
when placed in a room
with other dogs,

no matter how big
or how many,

he can't resist an urge
to bully them.

Is that typical
of the breed?

Pits have a propensity
toward aggression.

It's only natural,
they were originally bred
to fight bulls.

In my opinion,
that propensity
in this dog

was heightened to
an extraordinary degree

by its training
and brutal treatment.

In your opinion,
Dr. Collin,

is this a safe animal
to be around?

No.

Now, Dr. Collin,

would you give us
some idea
of the strength,

of the physical capacities
of this dog.

Pits of his
size and age

have been known to pull
a 4,000 pound sled
over 20 yards.

The average Pit
can generate
a bite-strength

of about 2,000 pounds
per square inch.

In lay terms?

He can crush
a human skull easily.

By contrast,
the African Plains
leopard,

which feeds primarily
on gazelle,

produces 700 pounds
per square inch.

Doctor, I show you
People's Exhibit 12.

A through H,
photos of the crime scene.

BEHRENS:
Continuing objection,
Your Honor.

Inflammatory.
Overruled.

JACK: Would you
describe for the jury

how those wounds
were inflicted?

The lacerations to
the face and shoulders

are typical of
canine claw marks.

The deeper wounds,
here and here,

to the neck
and throat,

those are the product
of bicuspids, molars.

In other words?

In reconstructing
the attack,

I believe the animal
drove his victim
to the ground

by applying
his body weight
to the woman's torso.

Knocked her
off her feet.

The dog then grabbed her
by the throat,

at first tearing away
part of the upper thorax
and esophagus,

then holding and
crushing the larynx.

JACK: The Medical Examiner
has already testified

that death
from these wounds

was inevitable,
but not immediate.

That would be consistent
with the attack style
of the Pit, Mr. McCoy.

They disable, first,

then hold on
until death ensues.

In most cases,
the victim would
either bleed to death

or suffocate
on her own blood.

Nothing further.

How did you come
to your conclusions
concerning this dog, Doctor?

COLLIN: Clinical
physical examination,

followed by several hours
of observation.

You prodded and poked
in other words,

and then sat
with the dog
and watched it?

Yes.

Did he bite you?

I was very careful.

Did he try
to bite you?

As I said,
I was careful.

Did he fall asleep while
you were observing him?

Yes.

At your feet,
in fact, curled up?

Yes, Counselor.

Isn't it fair to say,
that when unprovoked,
he can be a good dog?

He has his moments.

But then, a gun is
only dangerous
when it goes off.

Move to
strike, unresponsive.

The jury will disregard
that last remark
from the witness.

We had King
about five weeks.

BEHRENS: You're referring
to the Pit Bull we've
heard testimony about?

Yes.

In those five weeks,
did the dog ever bite you?

No.

Menace you
in any way?
No.

Your husband?
No.

No he was gentle
with us.

You just had to be
slow and steady
with him.

What happened
in the park?

We had him
on the leash.

When we got to a footpath,
we heard this dog barking.

What dog?
A terrier.

It was running at us.

A lady in a jogging suit
came running after it.

And then?

King began to growl.

His hair was
standing up on end.

He was afraid.

A 70 pound Pit Bull afraid
of a little terrier?

He was afraid for us,
Mr. Behrens.

Roger and me.

Roger tried to
grab the leash,
to help me hold him.

But it broke.

And King went
for the terrier.

That's when
this woman tried
to protect her dog.

What were you and
your husband doing?

Roger tried
to stop it.

And?

King had the terrier
in its mouth.

It was dead already,
I think.

But the lady kept on
trying to get it away
from him.

That's when
King went for her.

It was so fast.
Then there was
blood everywhere.

I am so sorry.

Nothing further.

Sorry,
but not sorry enough
to call 911.

She was already dead.

And the dog?

I don't know.
It ran away.

And neither you
nor your husband

let anyone know
about that either.

BEHRENS:
Objection, Your Honor.

SCHOLL: Overruled.

We were in a state
of shock.

JACK: Were you still
in shock when you
denied owning the dog?

We were scared.

But not too scared
to drive up

and see Danny Miller
in prison.

Not too scared,

according to his testimony,
to tell him about the attack

and make him put down
the rest of his dogs.

You didn't tell Mr. Miller
to put down his dogs

to eliminate
potential evidence?

Once we saw
what King had done,

we realized that
Danny had lied to us

about the type of dogs
he was training.

So it's your testimony
that you didn't realize

how dangerous
this dog was
prior to that?

We got the dog
for protection,

because of
how he looked,

but he was
a good animal.

No.

Until that day
I had no idea.

Because the dog
had always been
gentle with you?

That's right.

(DOG SNARLING)

(BARKING)

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

(GAVEL BANGING)

Your Honor.

Mr. McCoy?

Defendants claim the dog
is gentle, Your Honor.

The jury has a right
to decide for itself.

Bring the dog
into the well.

JACK: Care to pet
your dog, Mrs. Quinn?

BEHRENS: Objection.

How about you,
Mr. Quinn?

Shall we take the muzzle off
so you can pet your dog?

(BARKING)

BEHRENS: I move for
an immediate mistrial,
Your Honor.

SCHOLL: That's enough.
Show is over.

Mr. Quinn,
take your seat.

You too, Mr. Behrens.
Mr. McCoy, remove
that dog right now.

(SNARLING)

I'll see everyone
in my chambers.

What kind of a stunt
was that, McCoy?

Judge,
the central issue

is whether this dog
was a lethal weapon

waiting to go off
or just a house pet

provoked into
defending its owners.

You must have done
something to him.

You mean something
other than torturing him?

BEHRENS: Your Honor...
I'm not declaring
a mistrial, Mr. Behrens.

Your clients
opened the door.

They've spent most
of their time

trying
to convince the jury

the victim caused
her own death.

My own conclusion is
that defense

has been exposed,
to say the least.

Make them an offer.

Man two.
They'll serve
three-to-nine years.

BEHRENS: No.
Absolutely not.

We don't deserve that.

Don't force me to
reconsider my decision
on the mistrial, Mr. McCoy.

Two-to-six.
If the defendants
reject that,

the People will just
have to live with
the court's ruling.

SCHOLL: Mr. Behrens?

Prison?

You expect us to
go to prison?

My clients aren't
interested in any
jail time, Your Honor.

No, I'm sure
they're not.

However, that's not
up to them anymore,
is it?

I just got off
with Animal Control.

The dog was put down.

Quinns' trial was
the only thing
keeping it alive.

Abused, tortured
and now destroyed.

Almost makes you wish
you could reverse
the sentences.