All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S11E04.Standoff.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

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.

Got a bunch of newjacks
coming in this afternoon.

Glad it's not my shift.

Amen. Nothing
I hate more...

Back off!

Everybody, stay where you are!

You stay there.

Lock it down.

Everybody line up
on the wall!

Against the walls!

Everybody line up!

Nobody move!

I got one down here.

I need a medic.

We need a medic
in the hallway.

Son of a bitch
stabbed me!

Who di...? Who was it?

Son of a bitch!

Radson.

Who is it?

Alejo.

Dead.

M.E. says

one well-placed stab
to the heart

and death would have been
instantaneous.

Luck or skill,
I wonder.

One or the other.

We found this on the floor.

We marked the location.

Any idea who
belongs to it?

We're working on that.

Rafael Alejo?

If it had to be somebody.

Head of the Latin Lobos.

I thought he was
bolted down in Attica

till the next ice age.

He killed some guy
that touched his weights.

Judge moved the trial
down here.

Now we got him.

What about the other
guy who got stabbed?

Hector Diaz.

Yeah, he a Lobo, too?

File says he joined

a couple of years ago

but he was moving up
pretty fast.

Maybe too fast.

I don't know.

That's your job to find out

isn't it?

Well, the hours
aren't that good

but you sure meet
a lot of interesting people.

Right there.

That's Diaz
in the white shirt...

and here's Alejo
not too far behind.

We've watched it four times.

We can't tell from this
what started the fight

or who did the stabbing.

What about
the other camera?

There's a blind spot.

Place is full of them.

No doubt
the inmates know

where the blind spots are.

Mm-hmm.

They know everything.

What's Hector
Diaz in for?

Assault

on a police officer--
a Detective Quinn.

So, where'd the shank come from?

We should

have found it.

You can't kick us any harder
than we're kicking ourselves.

They in contact with each other?

Diaz and Alejo?

Don't see how.

Diaz is in general population.

Alejo's locked down
in the segregation unit.

How'd they end up in the
corridor at the same time?

Guard 2:
Move these
guys around

Anything can happen.

A CO is hung up,
can't release a gate in time.

You're waiting,
someone shows up

on his way to
somewhere else.

You want to
control it

but sometimes
it gets away from you.

Okay, Diaz,
somebody stabs you

and you don't see anything?

Yeah.

Alejo come after you,
or you go after him?

Neither one.

We got a shank
dripping with blood.

We going to turn up
your prints on it?

You do, and
you let me know.

Until then, get your
black nose out of my ass.

Am I going to have
to conduct

a race relations workshop
with you?

Oh, you just got
yourself written up.

Might as well make it
an advanced workshop.

No more ignorant remarks,
Hector.

I knew Rafael Alejo

when I was in the gang unit.

The guy's the worst.

I'm glad we took him down
when we did.

What'd you get him for?

He put out a hit
on one of his lieutenants.

The shooter took
out the target

the target's wife,
and the wife's sister.

Isn't that against the rules?

Mm-hmm, which is
why Alejo killed
the shooter.

That's the one
we got him for

although he's racked up
a few more since then.

Why are you thinking
Hector Diaz killed him?

Mainly their position
in the hallway.

What's the motive?

As long as he's alive

Alejo's on top,
in prison or out.

Now, somebody wanted
to get rid of him

and, uh, it looks like
Diaz got the assignment.

Thanks.

The prints on the shank
found at the scene

are too smudged to ID.

All right, right now
we're guessing.

Check with the gang unit.

See if you can get
something concrete.

We haven't been
on the Lobos much

since Alejo went away.

He was the big problem.

The others are small time,
not worth the manpower.

Why'd Diaz
go after Detective Quinn?

They ran into
each other.

Hey, let's go,
man, you're late.

Quinn collared him
a couple of times.

Diaz decided
to get even.

Who knows with
these guys?

Maybe he was on the pipe.

Who took over as jefe
when Alejo went upstate?

Nobody.

Without Alejo, these clowns
can't organize a sock drawer.

Maybe Diaz thought
he could take over.

No idea.

Is it worth
asking Quinn?

Detective Quinn's

on medical leave till...
who knows when.

It was three weeks ago.

How bad did
he get hurt?

Bad.

Maybe Diaz is your guy,
but you know Alejo, eh?

He had enough enemies
to populate a small country.

Sorry I can't help.

Thanks, Avarro.

So, we're going to have
to talk to every inmate

in Rikers, and not one of them
is going to tell us a thing.

Avarro's not being
straight with us.

Would Avarro have any reason
to lie to you?

To him, information
is power.

He likes to keep it
in the family.

And you're not family anymore.

I got a friend
from the old days

I can talk to.

I got a nephew...

What's this one need?

He's selling hot dogs
down on Astor Place.

Cops keep hassling him
over nothing--

uh, an expired tax stamp,
peddler's permit...

They keep this up

he's going to be doing
burglaries again.

All right, I'll talk
to my summons guy at the Ninth.

Is that cool?

Yeah.

Look, all I know about Diaz
is Alejo really liked him style.

He was moving him up
pretty fast.

So Alejo put Diaz in
charge when he went away?

No way.

Alejo was running the gang
till the day he died.

He busted his butt
for about a year

trying to break into the
big-time distribution, you know?

Well, how the hell
is Alejo going
to run things

when's he's on
lockdown in Attica?

No unmonitored phone calls,
or letters, no visitors.

Except from his lawyer?

According to my informant

the drug deal
that Alejo was working on

was worth a couple mil

and then Alejo's lawyer
was the point man

arranging everything.

Any indication Diaz moved in
on the deal?

Well, the CI doesn't know

but he did say
that Diaz is ambitious

and has whatever it takes.

So we're thinking Diaz knew
Alejo was going to be at Rikers

and got himself
arrested so he
could kill Alejo

and take over his
half of the proceeds.

But he could have
gotten himself collared

for kicking
the detective's shin.

Why'd he bust him up so bad?

Payback.

Drug deal go down yet?

Nope.

Your CI know the
time or place?

He said the lawyer
was the only one

that knew the details.

Yeah. Benson White.

We checked with the
State Bar Association.

The guy should have
been disbarred by now.

Well, if Diaz killed Alejo
for half a share

Mr. White may be a dead man
for the other half.

I don't know any Hector Diaz.

My client was Rafael Alejo.

He's dead, end of story.

Yeah, except for the
$2 million delivery

you two set up.

If I had $2 million,
I'd be on Crete

playing strip backgammon
with Helen of Troy.

Well, we'll check in
next week--

see if you're still alive.

You think you'll remember him
when he's stabbing you?

Your concern
is touching.

I still don't
know Hector Diaz.

How reliable
is your informant?

He's been wrong, but
he's never lied to me.

You think this guy's lying
about not knowing Diaz?

I don't know.

Would a lawyer lie?

It's a first time
for everything.

Let's talk to Diaz again.

Maybe you ought to pick up
a little something, something

let him know you're sorry
about last time.

Don't worry, Lennie,
I'll be nice.

Diaz, Hector:
made bail yesterday.

1400 hours, $150,000.

I guess the price
of assaulting a cop's gone up.

Who posted the bond?

A party name
of Benson White.

Your CI's good.

I don't think it was that hard
for him to find Diaz.

Apparently,
he was bragging

all over town

he put a detective
in the hospital.

Want to pick him up?

Why not?

He can't be hungry again
already.

Security Council meeting?

Let's find out.

Take the back.

You got kielbasa?

Polish sausage.

Police!

Open up!

What's your hurry?

Ah, ah, ah,
right over here.

Who else is in the back?

You got a warrant?

I don't need a warrant.

What I have
is exigent circumstances.

Wouldn't you agree?

All right, stand up,
nice and slow.

put your hands
on top of your head.

Don't move!

Detective Green.

Detective Quinn.

This is Quinn?

Detective Diaz,
I presume.

I guess I got to take
the cuffs off.

Don't fall all over
yourself apologizing.

Don't worry about it.

These idiots came close
to blowing two years

of undercover
work.

These idiots?

What about you not
giving us a heads-up

when you knew we
were investigating
one of your people?

It was too big a risk
and you know it.

All right

it's not like we're
cops or anything.

Not like I wasn't
in the gang unit

for two-and-a-half years.

Well, you're not
in it now.

I operate on a strict
need-to-know basis.

People's lives
depend on that.

Don't you dare lecture us

on what people's lives
depend on.

These detectives
did need to know

you didn't tell them

and because of that
we wasted days

thinking Diaz
was the killer.

I still haven't
heard anything

that proves
he's not.

Diaz didn't kill
that puke.

Well, can he
tell us who did

or would he
rather not say?

He has no idea.

One more day, we'd
have been all over
that drug delivery.

We'd have shut
the Lobos down.

Quinn told us

that Diaz's job was

to find the time
and the place of the drug deal.

The gang unit dummied
up his arrest

so he could get close
to Alejo in Rikers.

Yeah.

Look, this came from the M.E.

The metal bolt found
at the scene

doesn't match the wound.

The murder weapon
is still out there.

How often do you
search the place?

Let's put it
this way:

It's not an
infrequent
occurrence.

And you find
everything, right?

Everything.

Drugs, liquor,
cooktops, steam
irons...

How the hell do they

manage to bring in
steam irons?

They manage.

Captain.

22 so far.

22 shanks?

In a variety of sizes
and styles.

We'll bag them and tag them
and send them to the M.E.

The M.E. says that's
the murder weapon

wiped clean,
no prints.

Yeah, it was found
in the Central Punitive
Segregation unit

cell of inmate
Daniel M. Kiley.

The only inmate
from CPSU

who was in the visit
area was Alejo.

You know, this shank
could have been

passed around
a dozen times

since the murder.

Well, we'd like
to talk to Kiley.

Be my guest.

I didn't know
the weapon was in there.

Nobody passed it
to you to hide?

Your friend deaf?

How long you been
in that cell?

Five weeks.

One hour a day in the yard,
the occasional shower...

otherwise, in the cell.

They ever double
you up with anybody?

Frequently.

According to
the records

September 17,
it was Judd Larson?

Yes.

What a dear, sweet man.

I think it's been
almost a year

since he
killed anyone.

The day Alejo was killed

did Larson go
to the visit room?

Yes, he did.

And no, I don't know
who it was to see

and no, I didn't
ask him.

Did you notice anything
unusual when he got back?

He was bleeding.

Not that that's
overly unusual.

Bleeding, where?

His arm.

Who escorted him
to the visit room?

There wasn't
any paperwork

because it was
a last-minute visit.

Larson's attorney
called to set it up.

I did the paperwork
later.

This is
the list

you gave us
of the inmates
in the hallway.

There's no
Judd Larson on here.

You said you wanted

the gang members
who were there.

Could Judd Larson
have killed Alejo?

I don't see how--
I was with him.

His cellmate
said he had

a cut on his arm.

The infirmary
had no record

of it being treated.

I didn't see it, and he
didn't tell me about it.

Well, did you search
him before you took him

back to the
segregation unit?

In a situation
like that, we
frisk everybody.

You did frisk him,
right, Pete?

I gave him
a quick pat-down.

I wanted to get him
out of there and
back to the CPSU

Thank you,
Officer Bennett.
That'll be all.

What's Larson's
story?

He's doing natural life
at Sing Sing.

He came here to Manhattan
for a court appearance.

Any contact between
Larson and Alejo
before the murder?

Not likely, Alejo
was segregated.

Well, how did Larson
know that Alejo

would be in the
visit area?

Inmate grapevine--
I don't know.

Well, according
to this, Larson
called his attorney

the day before
the murder.

Bennett said the
lawyer called at
the last minute

to request a visit.

Yeah, Larson called
her to come out

she called to make
the arrangements.

I mean, so what?

So, did he really
need to see his lawyer

or was this some scam
to get Larson

in the same
room with Alejo?

You'll have to ask Larson.

Larson's in for killing
his wife.

He stabbed her 14 times.

Before that, he did eight years

for stabbing some guy
outside a bar.

What's his connection
with Alejo?

The only thing
that we could find

is that they were
at Sing Sing together

a couple of years ago.

Yeah, we called up there.

They're checking
the records.

Larson's cellmate

at Rikers said that he

had a cut on his arm
when he came back

from the
visit area.

The metal bolt that was
found at the scene

had blood
on it, yes?

We sent it to the lab

to see if the blood-type

matches Larson's.

Well, you know what to do
if it does.

Larson and Alejo were here

at the same time,
two years ago.

From April 20
to July 8, when

we transferred
Alejo to Attica.

Any incidents between them?

Alejo had incidents
with a lot of people.

What was the
one between him
and Larson?

Uh, "July 7, 1998,
inmate Alejo claimed

"inmate Larson received
more than the allotted

"three waffles
at breakfast.

"A fight ensued
in the mess hall.

"Inmate Larson slammed
inmate Alejo into the wall

"and informed him
that an upward thrust

"under the third button
from the top

"would puncture the heart

and cause
immediate death."

Larson made shanks?

We've taken, uh...

31 of them off him
over the years.

We take his privileges away,
keeplock him--

nothing makes a bit
of difference.

He ever
threaten Alejo

other than
that one time?

Never got
the chance.

The next day Alejo
was shipped out.

Judd Larson?

Since you're
outside my cell

I have to assume
you know what
my name is.

And I have to assume
you know why we're here.

So, why don't you just
stand up

and let's get this
over with, huh?

Where am I being
transported to?

Rikers, all right?

You're under arrest

for the murder of
Raphael Alejo.

You like Rikers,
right, Larson?

I like it fine.

You can't tie the weapon
to Mr. Larson.

Nobody saw anything.

You've got a hallway
full of people

who could have done it.

You'll never even
get an indictment.

You're aware you'll be
facing the death penalty?

Will we be done in time
for lunch in the mess hall

or will I be provided
with my meal in here?

We'll be done
in plenty of time.

You want to save
the state the time

and expense of a trial

I'll see what
I can do for you.

It's not my expense.

And I got nothing but time.

Give it up, Mr. McCoy.

You have no case.

Let's find out how he knew

Alejo would be
in the visit room.

An inmate named Soriano

seems to have been
the flash point for the trouble.

He says a C.O. shoved him,
knocking him into another inmate

who took offense
and started swinging.

Shoved him deliberately?

So he says.

No reason
to lie about that

unless he started it
himself.

He's five-four, 120 pounds.

Why would he
start anything?

The disturbance was staged
to cover the crime.

I'd say it's
a distinct possibility.

By whom?

The C.O. who escorted Larson

to the visit room?

Peter Bennett.

You looked at
his personnel file?

Captain Webber wouldn't let me.

He cited confidentiality

of employee
records.

Get a subpoena.

This is a fishing expedition,
Your Honor.

Officer Bennett escorted
inmate Larson to the visit room.

There've been allegations
he created the disturbance

that allowed Larson
to get to Alejo.

Allegations made
by whom?

An inmate looking
to get even.

I'm duty bound
to investigate

even allegations
made by inmates.

Judge Bourke:
At this point,
you have nothing

that links Officer Bennett
to the crime, is that right?

What I have

is purely
circumstantial

and a long ways
from sufficient

to make a case.

Then why are we here?

What I'm looking
for is the ability

to further investigate

what may, or may not have
been Officer Bennett's role.

Well, I see nothing
unduly burdensome in that.

The administration
at Rikers Island is instructed

to turn over
the requested documents

to the District Attorney's
office forthwith.

How long

will your
clients need,
Mr. Granick?

72 hours, minimum.

If Rikers is
short of clerks

I can pull the file
and copy it myself, Your Honor.

And we have a solution.

Should I just keep
the originals here?

Sure.

Excuse me.

Thanks for your help.

Any time.

Bennett worked
the Segregation Unit

three of the five days
preceding the murder.

So, he had the opportunity

to chat with Larson.

And Officer Philip McNaught

was assigned to escort Larson
to the visit room.

Bennett replaced him
at the last minute

at Bennett's
request.

Does it say why?

No.

I'm getting a lot
of nasty calls

from the Department
of Corrections.

How sure are we
that an officer's
involved?

Well, Larson
carried a shank

from the CPSU
to the visit room and back.

Officer Bennett failed
to discover the weapon

either before or after
the murder.

Even though searches were
mandated by the circumstances.

Bennett also failed
to identify Larson

to the police as
being one of the
inmates at the scene.

It's arguable

although not yet provable

that Bennett started
the disturbance.

What's his motive?

Don't know yet.

We're not getting
much cooperation

from the Department
of Corrections.

No, they've circled the wagons.

Well, the D.O.C.'s not running

its own little fiefdom
over there.

If they won't cooperate,
hit them with more subpoenas.

Why would Bennett want
Alejo dead?

I talked to Alejo's
relatives, my C.I.

None of them heard of Bennett.

Bennett had a habit
of switching assignments

shifts, days off,
holiday time.

So does half
the squad here.

Take a look
at their duty rosters.

Every shift change
for the past year

put him with an Officer Donahue.

Angela Donahue?

Yeah.

I saw her name
in Alejo's case file.

When she was at Attica,
he raped her.

Okay, we're sure Bennett
and her were involved.

It's not just a coincidence

him changing
his shifts.

Pull Bennett's LUDS
and credit card data.

We'll need a subpoena.

I'll get you a subpoena.

Officer Donahue?

Yep.

I'm Abbie Carmichael

from the Manhattan
District Attorney's
Office.

What can I do for you?

We have information
that you and
Peter Bennett

are romantically
involved with
each other.

That's none
of your business.

I'm doing what
I have to do,
Officer.

Why?

Because Raphael Alejo
got killed?

No.

All you have to do
with this one

is throw dirt on him
and forget he ever lived.

We know you
worked at Attica

and we know what
Alejo did to you.

No stone unturned, right?

He had Alejo killed
because of what
he did to you.

Look, as far as I know

it was one inmate
stabbing another.

Peter had nothing
to do with it.

If Peter would plead guilty
to a lesser charge

we'd be open to discussing

a considerable reduction
in his sentence.

You want me
to talk him into it?

As of now

he may be charged
with murder for hire.

That carries
a possible death sentence.

At a minimum, 25-to-life.

Yeah, well,
shame on you for that.

Alejo's attack
on Ms. Donahue
was brutal.

It took her a long time
to recover

both physically,
and emotionally.

So, Bennett sees himself
as the white knight?

Well, Briscoe and Green
dug up three incidents

where Bennett decked guys
for hitting on Donahue.

Two in a bar,
one at a ball game.

So, he had Alejo killed
to avenge her honor.

Can't say it's never
happened before.

And to sell this
to a jury

we have Judd Larson,
sociopath and murderer.

Who Bennett knew when they were
both upstate at Attica.

I believe Bennett
set it up, Jack.

Will anyone else?

I don't know.

What does Bennett say?

Bennett's not talking.

Let's see what we can get
out of Larson.

Mr. Larson
can't confirm or deny

your suspicions
about Officer Bennett.

He doesn't know anything

about who killed
Raphael Alejo.

We're way past that,
Ms. Aaronson.

We don't think
we're past anything.

We don't think
you have a case.

I have a 17-year-old son.

He's incarcerated
at Coxsackie.

I'd like him transferred
to Hudson.

Can I have a moment
with my client, please?

If he stays where he is

the same thing that happened
to me will happen to him.

Arrange for a transfer
and I'll testify.

To what?

Wait a second.

Before he says
anything

take the death penalty
off the table.

Since he's already
a lifer

that would be one murder free.

Do what I'm asking
with my son.

If I can use
what you tell me

you have a deal.

Bennett told me
they'd go easy on my boy

if I'd fix a problem
for him.

What exactly did Mr. Bennett
ask you to do?

What I said-- fix Alejo.

Next case.

Indictment number 20561--

People v. Peter Bennett,
murder in the second degree.

Mr. Granick.

Your Honor,
it's my understanding

that Correction Officer
Bennett

was transported
to the courthouse.

Beyond that,
I have no idea

as to
his whereabouts.

The defendant

is not available
at this time,
Your Honor.

We'll come back to him.

Next case.

No defendants

are available, Judge.

Excuse me?

To show solidarity with Bennett,
the officers at Rikers

are doing everything
by the book.

Which means not
handing over prisoners

for arraignment or trial

unless all the paperwork
is done perfectly.

How many went through?

Well, Burman had 83
cases on his docket.

He arraigned ten.

It's a one-day action.

What'll they do

if we convict him?

What's the likelihood
of that happening?

Let's see--
Larson's our star witness.

He murdered
three people.

And the victim makes Larson
look like Mother Teresa.

Well, what about a plea?

He's not interested.

Why plead

when you can walk?

You're romantically involved

with the defendant

is that not right,
Officer Donahue?

Yes.

Does this relationship date
to when you were both working

at Attica
State Prison?

Right.

Which is where

you were raped by Rafael Alejo.

Right again.

What was Officer
Bennett's reaction

to your being raped?

What do you think?

You've been qualified

as a hostile witness,
Ms. Donahue.

There's no onus on you
to prove that you're hostile.

Please answer the question.

He was upset.

Officer Bennett was transferred
to another facility

immediately following
the incident, wasn't he?

A few days after what you call
"the incident," yes.

C.O.s are transferred
all the time.

Wasn't the reason
it happened

in Officer
Bennett's case

that the Prison Authority
was concerned

about him taking
violent retribution

against
Rafael Alejo?

You'd have to ask
the Prison Authority.

On March 17 of this year

did the defendant,
in your presence

in a bar in Pearl River
attack another man

for asking
to buy you a drink?

I was propositioned.

The guy was rude and insulting,
and Officer Bennett did

what most guys I know
in that situation would do.

Was that also the case
in the stands at a Jets game

and the parking lot
of the Short Hills Mall

both of which times

the police
were called

and Officer Bennett
led away in handcuffs?

Officer Bennett felt it
necessary to defend me.

In each case, I feel
his actions were justified.

Are you in love with Officer
Bennett, Officer Donahue?

Yes.

Is it fair to say

that your answers here
today are calculated

to prevent him

from having
to go to prison?

My answers are the truth.

Nothing further.

I know this is difficult,
but I'd like you

to describe
the circumstances

of your attack and rape
at the hands of

Rafael Alejo.

Objection,
your honor.

That the rape occurred
is a matter of record.

The details of it
are irrelevant

and it can only serve
to prejudice the jury

against
the murder victim.

Your Honor, the rape
was introduced into evidence

by Mr. McCoy.

The objection's overruled.

Officer Donahue?

Alejo said he had chest pains.

I... I took him out of his cell

and escorted him
to the infirmary.

We were on a stairwell,
and he collapsed.

I thought he was having

a heart attack,
and I leaned down

to check for a pulse.

When I did so, he grabbed me,
he overpowered me

and he got my radio

away from me.

Would you describe
what happened next?

He... he held me down.

He ripped my pants off.

He took my stick

and he raped
me with it.

And the whole time

he had this look on his face
like, um...

like it was a practical joke.

Like it was nothing.

Would you describe what happened
in the aftermath?

I went on disability
for six months.

The inmate was sent to solitary.

He was tried and convicted
of forcible rape.

They added

30 years to a
life sentence,
with no parole.

Did you ever see the inmate
subsequent to his trial?

I saw him when they brought him
down to Rikers.

And what,
if anything

did he do when he saw you?

He winked.

Did Officer Bennett,
at any time

express a desire
to kill the inmate?

I was the one

who wanted to kill him.

Officer Bennett
wanted me to get counseling--

a different job.

He wanted me to do anything
to put it behind me...

and at night
when he would wake up

and see me sitting
there crying

he would get up and
he would sit with me

and he would hold me

until I would fall asleep again.

I have no further questions.

Did you kill
Rafael Alejo?

Yes, I did.

How did you kill him?

I stabbed him
in the chest

with a shank.

How did you obtain
the shank?

Officer Bennett gave it to me
the night before--

when he asked me to kill Alejo.

Are you in the habit
of killing people

because you're
asked to?

No, I am not.

Why did you do it this time?

Officer Bennett said he'd have
my son transferred

to the correctional facility
at Hudson

which I felt

was a safer environment
than where he is currently.

Since Alejo
was confined

to his cell
in a segregated housing unit

how were you supposed
to gain access to him?

Alejo would be in a hallway

when he was being transferred
to court.

Officer Bennett would take me
down the same hallway

and create
a diversion.

Is that, in fact,
what happened?

Yes, it is.

Had it not been
for the defendant

could you have known that Alejo
was present at Rikers?

No.

Had it not been

for what the defendant
agreed to do

on behalf
of your son

would you have killed
Mr. Alejo?

No.

Nothing further.

You and Rafael Alejo
were imprisoned at Sing Sing

at the same time, were you not?

Yes.

Isn't it a fact
that during

that time, you had
an altercation with Alejo

and threatened his life?

Yes.

And when you got out of solitary

was Alejo

still at Sing Sing?

No.

So, Rikers Island

was your first opportunity

to make good on your threat,
wasn't it?

I wasn't looking
for an opportunity

to make good on my threat.

Why were you incarcerated
at Sing Sing, Mr. Larson?

Objection, irrelevant.

I think the jury
is entitled to know

the background
of the witness, Your Honor.

I'll allow it.

I killed my wife.

How'd you do that?

I stabbed her.

And on the very same day
that you stabbed

Mr. Alejo to death

you also stabbed
an undercover police officer

named Hector Diaz,
isn't that right?

He got between myself

and Alejo.

It was unavoidable.

So it wasn't
per Mr. Bennett's request?

No.

You threw in a freebie.

Objection.

Sustained.

I have no

further questions.

Redirect,
Your Honor.

Did you tell Officer Bennett

that you had
had a prior altercation

with Rafael Alejo?

He knew.

He said if for some reason
I got caught

it would look like a beef
between inmates.

Did he give you any assurances
in the event that occurred?

He said he'd stick me in the arm
with a shank

then plant it on Alejo

to make it look
like self-defense.

Is that, in fact, what he did?

Yes, it is.

You wouldn't
last one shift
at Rikers.

No one's saying
we would.

Forget a shift.

I'd like to see you
make it through lunch.

Take one tier
of prisoners down
to the mess hall

and get them back
into their cells

without getting stabbed

or having
a riot start.

This probably isn't
a conversation

we should be having here.

And when I hear some
prissy son-of-a-bitch

stand in judgment

about what we should
and should not do

it makes me want
to put him in a cell

with one of my 250-
pound CPSU all-stars.

And I'd go home, have a hot meal

get a good night's sleep...

and come back in the morning
to watch them mop.

I'll take the next one.

What kind of an officer

is Pete Bennett,
Captain Webber?

The kind you want
to have work for you.

He keeps his cool

knows how to assert
his authority--

dead-on
dependable.

Have you ever known
Officer Bennett

to pit one inmate

against another

or use one inmate to
take revenge on another?

Objection, leading.

Sustained.

A commendation was issued

to Officer Bennett
on March 4, 1999.

Could you tell the court
what that was for?

We had a disturbance

in Mod Four, Upper.

And Pete-- Officer Bennett--
risked his life

to rescue an inmate who was
being attacked by gang members.

Thank you, sir.

No further questions.

Captain Webber

you and several
other corrections officers

testified that Mr. Bennett

was a dedicated,
conscientious,
competent officer.

That's right.

Yet his personnel file

shows 27 complaints against him

none of which
he was ever disciplined for.

Making complaints

is what inmates do, Mr. McCoy.

It's... their recreation.

And by the way, 27 is nothing.

On July 7 of this year,
was Officer Bennett involved

in an incident
with an inmate named Caldwell?

Yeah, he pulled
Caldwell off
another inmate.

Did Officer Bennett
strike Caldwell with his baton?

Whatever he did
was not considered excessive.

People's Four, Your Honor.

How long was

inmate Caldwell in the infirmary
following this incident?

Two weeks.

Nothing further.

Officer Bennett, why did you
become a corrections officer?

I'd like to say I had
some noble purpose in mind.

What it was, I was just
out of the military

and looking for a secure job

and the Department
of Corrections was hiring.

That's how you got in.

What made you stay there?

I got to like it.

I got to thinking
that, uh...

decent people
deserve a barrier
between themselves

and the criminals
who prey on them.

I liked that I was
part of that barrier.

Have you ever
struck an inmate?

Yes, sir, when I've
been attacked

or another officer or
inmate has been attacked

I've had to respond.

Sometimes that meant
responding with force.

Now, quite a bit has been made
of your reaction

to Mr. Alejo's rape
of Officer Donahue.

Maybe you could tell us
how you felt about that?

It's hard to put into words
what I felt.

To see someone you love
have her life changed

and not because of anything
she did

but because of something
that was done to her.

And for no reason other
than this guy

just felt like doing it.

Have you ever thought
of killing Rafael Alejo?

Of course I did.

Anyone close to a rape victim
would like nothing better

than to get their hands
on the rapist.

While you were working
at Attica

while he was still
a prisoner then

why didn't you kill him there?

I wouldn't have wanted

to jeopardize my job,
my pension.

I didn't want to go to jail.

And even if I could have
gotten away with it

I wouldn't have.

I've been around
a lot of killers.

It's just not something
I could ever bring myself to do.

Did you ask Judd Larson
to kill Rafael Alejo?

I did not.

Did you give him a weapon?

I did not.

Did you create a diversion
so that he'd have

an opportunity
to kill Rafael Alejo?

I did not.

Thank you,
Officer Bennett.

Did you have any conversation
with Judd Larson

while he was at Rikers?

We talked about the Mets.

He complained about having
to share a cell.

That was about it.

Larson didn't tell you
about his concern for his son?

No.

The name "Rafael Alejo"
never came up?

It did not.

You did escort Mr. Larson
from the Segregation Unit

to the Visit Room,
did you not?

Yes, I did.

No doubt you searched him

before you left
the Segregation Unit.

I did.

And obviously

you did not recover any weapon.

Right.

How do you imagine
Larson managed

to have a weapon on him
by the time he ran

into Alejo?

My guess is someone
passed it to him.

You didn't see
someone pass it to him.

If I did

I would have done something
about it.

Nor did you

recover any weapon
from him after the fact.

As I told my supervisor,
I patted Mr. Larson down.

I did not strip search him.

At the time, I thought
it was more important

to get him out of the area
and locked down in a cell.

So Mr. Larson was lying...

Yeah. Yeah, he is.

And the testimony that we heard
about you creating a diversion

that allowed Larson
to get to Alejo,
that was a lie?

Yes, it was.

You requested
to escort Larson

did you not, Officer Bennett?

I wouldn't call it

a request.

Officer McNaught
was busy with something

and I offered
to take care of it.

That kind of thing happens

a dozen times a day.

You still seeing
Officer Donahue?

Yes, I am.

Any plans
for the future?

Objection, irrelevant.

I'll allow it.

As soon as
our divorces are final

we plan to get married.

Would you say
that her being raped

has taken a toll
on your relationship?

Officer Donahue
was dealing with it.

I'd like to think that I was
helping her to deal with it.

This is the rest
of your lives
we're talking about.

You and Officer
Donahue retire.

You put the stink
of prisons behind you.

Didn't you want
to put Rafael Alejo
behind you as well?

Yes! Of course I did!

For 17 years, I've been
locked up with these mutts.

After 17 years,
wasn't it worth the life

of one of them to get
a little closure?

To not have to wake up
in the middle of the night

and see the woman you love
sitting up crying?

Your honor, this...

I believe it's wrong
to take the life

of another human being, sir.

I wouldn't do that.

Under any circumstances.

The evidence means nothing.

The jury will ignore everything

and just compare
Bennett to Alejo.

Guess who comes up short?

Well, I could say
that the jury
is duty-bound

not to ignore everything.

Yeah. You could.

I think we're whipped.

Here's what we have,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

On one side, Peter Bennett:

a dedicated and experienced
corrections officer.

A man who has
spent his career

safeguarding you
and your families

from the worst society
has to offer.

On the other side,
Judd Larson: one
of the very worst.

A man who murdered his wife
by stabbing her to death

murdered a man in a bar fight
by stabbing him to death

and murdered Rafael Alejo by
stabbing him to death, as well.

This convicted murderer
has said that he

never would have killed
his latest victim

had not Officer Bennett
asked him to.

Now, if you have the slightest
notion that the good Mr. Larson

might be telling the truth

remind yourselves
that his testimony
is bought and paid for

compliments of the
District Attorney

with a sweetheart
plea bargain
and a transfer

for Mr. Larson's
convict son.

Who are you going to believe?

Because if you strip Judd Larson
from the People's case

they've got nothing.

Maybe you should dock

Officer Bennett a
couple of vacation days

for short-cutting
regulation procedures

because that's all that
the prosecution has proven.

My recommendation?

Send him back to his job
and put a medal on his chest.

Thank you.

I'm not going to stand here
and defend Judd Larson--

or, for that matter,
Rafael Alejo.

If the character
of either one of them

is what you base
your verdict on

we've all been wasting
our time here.

We should have,
as Mr. Granick suggested

pinned a medal on the defendant
and called it a day.

The problem is

if we do that,
we're not doing our job

We're disregarding our oath,
because it's easy

because it's hard to punish
someone who's avenging a rape

even though
this was not a crime

committed
in the heat of passion

but planned and calculated
over time

even though... it's our job

to make the punishment
fit the crime

and not
the nature of the victim.

When I say Judd Larson
should be believed

it's not because
he's a good guy.

It's because his testimony
is corroborated

by every shred of evidence
we've presented here.

Just as it's corroborated by
what every one of you knows.

The defendant wanted
Rafael Alejo dead.

Mr. Granick suggests
Mr. Alejo's life

is not worth caring about

let alone sending someone
to prison over

but he's wrong.

If you allow the rule of law
to stop at the wall of a prison

you've allowed it
to stop everywhere.

The streets of New York
will be no better

than the cell blocks of Rikers.

Madame Foreperson,
has the jury

reached a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor.

As to the sole count
of the indictment

the jury finds the defendant

Peter Bennett, not guilty.

Yes!

Congratulations
Counselor.

Excellent.

People v. Bennett?

All packed up
and headed for
Central Files.

File it under
"Jury Nullification."

Texas law in Manhattan.

They tried the victim.

And made a badge
a license to kill.