All language subtitles for Murder_One_Case2_-_2x09_-_Chapter_Nine_(dvdrip)_Riot

NARRATOR:
THe murder,

We were with Sandy
before he got killed .

-I left at 2, Rickey stayed until . . . .
-Four, maybe?

MICHAELSON : I came back to see
how things went. Fortas was dead .

NARRATOR:
His public image,

Any concern, Rickey, about the rumors, , ,

, , , you 're the prime suspect
in the murder of Sandy Fortas?

THe fact that anybody could think I
could harm him, that makes me sick,

THat's why I'm dedicating the
season to the memory of Sandy Fortas,

-He deserves the benefit of the doubt.
-Or an Academy Award .

NARRATOR:
Key evidence,

SEYBOLT : Do you own a gun?
-We recovered the murder weapon. . .

. . .and it's registered to you.

MAN IOVER TV] : Police arrested
basketball great Rickey Latrell,

Get me out of here.

NARRATOR:
Defense strategy,

If I argue for a black man's freedom,
we'lI have a psychological edge.

I don't wanna win the case by playing
victim . I wanna win it on the merits.

We both know that cases like this
are why I was hired here.

Whatever I decide won't be
based on race.

This is L.A. , Chris.
Everything is based on race.

I'll do the argument.
I'll get the job done.

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 his assets,
including his mother's home.

Grant bail and send the message:
Money talks, celebrity walks.

There is no question that
Rickey Latrell will appear.

Bail is set at $ 1 0 million.

He was the only person, besides
Rickey who was in Sandy Fortas' 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' m not. . .

. . . hanging Lee Michaelson
out to dry.

Are you sure you' re not letting
feelings affect how . . .

-. . .we represent a client?
-This is about representing our client. . .

. . .in a fair, responsible and ethical way.
If that's asking too much of you guys. . .

. . .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 .

No, I' m holding for Alan Sheinkman.
Still .

George DePetri : White, 42 years old,
manages a lumberyard .

lncome between
40 and 50,000 a year.

Lose.

George DePetri played basketball
for USC. I say we keep him .

-The affinity of one jock for another?
DOCKNOVICH : 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 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 .
DOCKNOVICH : This guy can work for us.

He's a registered Democrat,
his wife belongs to a labor union.

I won't get him dismissed for cause.
I don't want to use. . .

. . .our remaining strikes
to get rid of him .

Take a look at him in court. On balance,
I think he's someone we can live with.

-Who's next?
-Lois Rensch.

Fifty-five, white,
5th-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 I can find .

I think any of them would be all right.

-Any of them?
-Yeah.

When people get to know me,
they like me.

-All right. Don't go getting cocky.
-Baby, I' m not getting cocky.

Excuse me, folks. I need to service
the smoke detector units in this office.

-Not right now, you don't.
-It's scheduled maintenance.

We' re in the middle of a conference.
Come back and do that later.

DOCKNOVICH : 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.

Would it be at all possible
for you to sign something for my son?

-Yeah.
-Could you make this brief, please?

Absolutely. lt just means so much
to him . He's asthmatic.

LATRELL:
What did you want me to sign?

Make it out to Joel .

Something's bothering you.
You want to 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 mean anything in particular?

Yeah. His picking a jury. How about 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 .

ICHATTER]

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.

And 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.

Uh, If I got to know one and I liked him,
maybe I would .

Ms. Guerin, is this true of
any professional athlete?

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.

-People challenge for cause, Your Honor.
-The cause being?

By word and gesture,
she's demonstrated . . .

. . .an insurmountable bias
in favor of the defendant.

-Nonsense.
-Nonsense?

She all but slobbered on him .

BORNSTEIN :
Mr. Scotto, there's no cause.

Did you want to exercise
one of your peremptories?

Yes, Your Honor.

Ms. Guerin, you are excused
with the thanks of the court.

You' re kidding .

-You' re a 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 resentment toward those
who serve as role models for boys. . .

. . . particularly 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 someone is guilty of murder.

I' m sure you wouldn't.

The defense presents
no challenge to Ms. Rensch.

You admire the defendant, Mr. DePetri?

I admire him as an athlete.
Beyond that, I don't know him .

Should evidence support it,
could you render a verdict. . .

. . .of guilty, knowing it could send
a man to prison for life?

If the evidence supported it,
yes, I would .

The prosecution presents no
challenge to Mr. DePetri, Your Honor.

The defense asks to question
Mr. DePetri at a later time.

HICKS: Rickey!
-Hey, Ken! How you doing?

How you' re doing
is the better question.

I' m doing all right. Hey, you know
Chris Docknovich, Aaron Mosely?

-You worked for Hoffman.
DOCKNOVICH : Right.

-How's your new boss?
-He's fine.

Tell Jimmy that Ken Hicks said hello.

We tussled a few times
when I was trying cases.

Ken's been trying
to represent me since college.

-Some guys never take no for an answer.
-You' re one of them .

I am . Say, Rickey, I have a celebrity
goIf tournament I want you to play in.

-You sure about that?
-Baby, I' m sure.

-This might not the right time.
-It's exactly the right time.

He needs to show everybody he has
nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of.

And you don't.

-I'll get with you later, man. All right?
-All right.

Be strong, my brother.

Aaron, would you come
into my office for a minute?

-We have to get something straight.
-What's that?

I can't try this case and
watch my back at the same time.

-That's what you have to do?
-That's what I have to do.

Jimmy came to me, okay?

-I didn't go to him .
-lt doesn't matter.

You waited until I wasn't there
and undermined me.

You waited until we were going
to court to tell me.

-I can't trust you!
-I' m not auditioning to be your pal !

What's this?

He'll either support me as second chair,
or he'll replace me as lead counsel .

Those are the only two choices.

The day you tell me what my choices are
is the day I walk out the door.

JIMMY : I' m gonna tell you
what your choices are.

You either represent the client,
or you hit the bricks.

That means whatever difficulties
you have are forgotten or settled .

You' re aggrieved because we
discussed the case without you.

Get over it.

I' m going with his instincts in this case.
DePetri is a lose.

You' re aggrieved because
you' re second position. Get over it.

I am not going to let a lawyer's
personal feelings about anything . . .

. . .sway how we make decisions in
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 to get an autograph.

And you think smoke detectors don't
require maintenance?

No, I think you scammed your way in,
you got me in trouble. . .

. . .and you won't do it again.

Excuse me. I was here
for legitimate reasons.

As for the autograph, forgive me.
It's not every day in my life. . .

. . . I' m in the same room
with Rickey Latrell .

And you just happened to
have a basketball .

Yes, I did .

GWEN : From now on, you' re not
allowed to wander around by yourself.

-We meet again.
GWEN : Joel? Joel?

IGWEN CLEARS THROAT]

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 the defendant was
arrested and charged with this crime. . .

. . . because he's African-American,
or because of a good faith belief. . .

. . .on behaIf of police and
the DA'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.

Well, I have no idea.

There are African-American men
who are in trouble because they. . .

. . .deserve to be in trouble. And there are
those 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'd 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 preemptory left.

You leave me no choice
but to use it, Your Honor.

Ms. Embry, you are excused
with the thanks of the court.

HICKS: 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.
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 while driving?

Yeah, I've been charged
with DWB a few times.

-What's DWB?
-" Driving while black. "

Does it make you angry
to be charged with DWB?

-lt doesn't make me happy.
-Does it make you angry?

If police pulled you over
while you went about your business. . .

. . .intimidated you, interrogated you
because of the color of your skin. . .

. . . how would it make you feel?

Angry.

Sidebar, Your Honor?

Approach.

-Move to challenge for cause.
-It's not there.

Your Honor, this man has admitted
animus toward the police.

Nothing he said
demonstrates an inability. . .

. . .or unwillingness to judge this
case fairly. That's the only criterion.

I agree. You don't have cause,
Mr. Scotto.

The defense presents no challenge
to Mr. Otwell .

Congratulations, Mr. Otwell,
you' re our 1 2th juror.

-May I be heard, Your Honor?
-Sure.

OTWELL: Sorry for not bringing
this up, but after talking . . .

. . .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
receive full salary. Where's the hardship?

I also work in an African-American
bookstore in South Central .

I need the income from both jobs. If l
take 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,
how could he do something . . .

. . .that would send
him to prison for life?

I mean here, after all, is
a 25-year-old multimillionaire. . .

. . .who 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 and
left in a plane back to Las Vegas. . .

. . .at no time was Rickey Latrell
willing to give up anything .

He was convinced then
he wouldn't caught. . .

. . .as he is convinced today that he
won't be convicted .

What he says to himseIf 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 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 take the path
of other lawyers. . .

. . .in other cases who made race
the central issue of the case.

They may try to convince you this. . .

. . .is less a trial to determine the guilt
of a 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 demonstrate with
evidence and with testimony. . .

. . .that Rickey LatrelI did
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?

ISIGHS]

By the way, who's going to be
giving your opening statement?

Chris Docknovich.

Funny, I would've thought
you'd be doing it.

Why is that?

You have just as many years
experience as Docknovich has.

Or more, since you came from the PD'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-hm .

lt wouldn't be of any significance
to you that this particular. . .

. . . black man in America made
$4. 2 million last year.

ILAUGHS]

You think it's just the money with me.

You want to be Rickey's agent.
I understand that.

You want 1 0 percent of his action.
God bless you, that's fine.

It's a dog-eat-dog world . . .

. . .and you guys go after each other's
meal tickets all the time.

Do me a favor, though. Keep the
trial commentary to yourself.

I stilI think you' re the one who
should be doing the talking in there.

I' m not going to 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:

Will the prosecution prove that
Rickey Latrell killed Sandy Fortas?

No. I' m here to tell you
that they will not.

I am 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's our contention
that from the L.A. P. D. . .

. . .to the L.A. County district attorney's
office, there were 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 is 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 race.

Each and every one of you must work
very hard to keep 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 the case, you are conversant. . .

. . .with the evidence found
prior to Rickey's arrest?

-Yes, I am .
-Among that evidence. . .

. . .were bullets recovered
from the victim's body?

-Yes.
-Was a weapon recovered?

Yes.

-Did you identify the gun, detective?
-lt was a Sphinx 380.

ls this that gun?

Yes, it is.

SCOTTO: The prosecution asks
that the weapon be introduced . . .

-. . .as people's Exhibit One, Your Honor.
-So ordered .

SCOTTO: How did you obtain
this gun, detective?

A man named James Askie was picked
up for robbery. The gun was in his car.

SCOTTO:
Did you learn how he got it?

Yes. 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.

SCOTTO:
Did you locate Mr. Soto?

Yes. He worked at the South
Coast Solid Waste Treatment Facility.

He found it on a garbage truck.

SCOTTO: And did you determine if
the route taken by that truck. . .

. . .intersected 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 .

SCOTTO: Detective?
-Among the stops made by this. . .

. . . particular truck were dumpsters
at the Van Nuys Airport.

Mr. LatrelI told us he flew
out of the Van Nuys Airport.

Did you ascertain to whom
the gun was registered?

SEYBOLT : Yes, the gun is registered
to the defendant. . .

. . . Richard Hayes Latrell .

SCOTTO: Were you able to review the
ballistics report on that gun?

SEYBOLT :
Yes.

How conclusive was it that
this gun was the murder weapon?

One hundred percent.

SCOTTO:
No further questions.

You get any fingerprints off the gun?

Nothing usable.

DOCKNOVICH :
So the answer would be no.

-Right.
-Do you have any evidence to support. . .

. . .the theory that it was Mr. Latrell
who fired this gun?

SEYBOLT : No.
DOCKNOVICH : No residue test. . .

-. . .on his hands or clothes?
-Objection.

-Witness already answered .
-Overruled .

The arrest wasn't proximate
to the shooting .

There were no residue tests performed .

DOCKNOVICH : Matter of fact,
there was no evidence adduced . . .

. . .to indicate that Mr. Latrell
was carrying the gun. . .

-. . .on the day in question, was there?
-No.

Thank you, detective.

SCOTTO: What is your occupation?
VOPARIL: I' m in the security field .

SCOTTO:
Who do you work for?

The building management
at 1 080 Hilgard .

Were you at work at 1 080 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 the
time and the circumstances?

lt was 4: 1 5 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 him in a brief
conversation and got an autograph.

Though not for myself.

ls this that autograph?

Yes.

Ask that this be introduced as
people's Exhibit Five, Your Honor.

So ordered .

Mr. Voparil, what, if anything, did you
observe about the defendant?

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 actually confront a
criminal, you'd call the police--

Objection. Counsel's
mocking the witness.

DOCKNOVICH :
Withdrawn.

How many times did you contact the
DA's office prior to testifying today?

-Objection. lrrelevant.
-Overruled .

I got in touch a number of times.
I thought I had pertinent information.

You've also applied for a job at
the L.A. P. D, have you not?

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. lrrelevant.

Maybe it was the color of my skin.

The objection's sustained .

Did you apply to the
L.A. district attorney's office?

-Objection.
-I'll allow it.

-Yes.
-What happened there?

The application's still pending .

ls it your hope, Mr. Voparil, that if
you make a good witness here today. . .

. . .they'll give you a job?

I call them the way l
see them, counselor.

I' m that way on the job. I' m that way
testifying in court.

-You having a good time here today?
-Objection, Your Honor.

Withdrawn.

Gwen.

-What can I do for you, Joel?
-I come with a peace offering .

This is a scorecard from a
goIf game Dinah Shore played . . .

-. . .signed by her before she died .
-You' re kidding .

Put it away, in 20 years
it'll be worth. . .

. . . between $300, $400, maybe more.

-ls that true?
-Absolutely.

-Try not to handle it excessively.
-You didn't have to do this.

Well, I did something wrong,
and I wanted to show you I was sorry.

Well, thanks. It's very sweet.

If I should ever have
to fix something . . .

. . . I don't want you to be concerned .

Okay.

That's all I have to say.
You have a pleasant evening .

Okay.

-The detectives' testimony held up.
-Aaron?

Chris did a good job
with the security guard .

The detectives could be subjected
to greater collateral attack.

We were called by Jennifer Freeland .
She's a publicist Rickey's hired .

He didn't tell me about that.

She's lining up benefits and interviews. . .

-. . .and wants us to have someone there.
-No.

Tell her to wait till the trial's over.

She's intent on starting 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 give
that 1 0 percent to him .

To the extent that he's got
Rickey's ear, he's making progress.

He's worked us since
the trial began.

Why us? We' re here
because of Michaelson.

lt 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 here.

-Well, it doesn't matter.
-He's also a friend of yours.

That's true, he is. But I am 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. . .

. . . I think that 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 between
Mr. Fortas and Mr. Latrell?

-lt was businesslike.
-Yet you were asked to leave. Why?

Jimmy, haven't we done this enough?

Lee, I don't want any
surprises in there for you.

I' m ready. I promise.

Okay.

Something else you want to talk about?

-Like what?
-Rickey's thinking vis-�-vis Ken Hicks.

He doesn't confide in me
about business matters.

Hicks is 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 outside of work.

I can still point at one thing
in my life 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.
lt 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?

ILAUGHS]

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. . .

. . .and his reluctance to testify, we
ask that Mr. Jackson be designated . . .

. . .as a hostile witness for the
purpose of direct examination.

We oppose that.

Mr. Docknovich, I' m giving Mr. Scotto
some leeway in his questioning .

We'll both ensure
he doesn't get out of line.

Motion granted . Proceed, Mr. Scotto.

Describe your relationship
with the defendant, sir.

-He's a friend of mine.
-For how long?

Oh, since I' m 5.

And on the day that
Sandy Fortas was killed . . .

. . .did you drive the defendant
to McCarran Airport?

Yes, I did .

-Was that for a commercial flight?
-lt 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, because I've never
flown on a private plane. . .

. . .do you go through a metal
detector to fly on them?

No, you don't.

Did you know the defendant to have
been carrying a gun that day?

He was not carrying a gun
that day I know of.

Had he been armed, he would have
avoided being detected by flying . . .

. . .on a private plane, right?

-Objection. Speculative.
-Sustained .

Did the defendant confide
in you, Mr. Jackson?

About some things he did,
about some things he didn't.

Did he confide his feelings
about Fortas?

-No.
-Really?

Really.

At no time did Rickey Latrell
give you any indication. . .

. . .of his feelings 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.

-Did you ever see him become violent?
-No.

Were you present at a club
called Satch's in Boston on. . .

. . . March 1 0th, 1 995?

What happened that night
wasn't Rickey's fault.

-Whose fault was it?
-Look, you go out with Rickey Latrell . . .

. . . people treat him
like they own him .

He takes more than you can imagine.

People come up to him
with their hands out. . .

. . .wanting to be near him,
wanting to be his friend .

But they' re not like you,
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.

APPLETON :
What are you doing?

Recycling .

What do you mean, recycling?

All of this paper can be reused .

You' re going through our garbage.

I' m not going through your garbage.

I' m removing staples before the
paper is fed to the shredder.

I service the shredder, I know what
happens when staples aren't removed .

-What are you doing?
-He says he's removing staples.

I had time on my hands.

So you thought you'd come see
if anything needed to be done?

What a thoughtful guy you are.

Gwen, there's reasons
those papers are on my cart.

You' re looking for anything that
has Rickey Latrell's name on it.

-That's not the case.
-Let's go, Joel .

You' re someone who assumes
the worst in people.

Yeah? Well, this time, I' m right.

May I at least clean up?

No, you may not. And you can take
back your Dinah Shore goIf scorecard .

-Gwen, no. Please.
-Out, Joel .

Hi, I' m here to see Jimmy Wyler.

I came over during luncheon recess
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'll 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 1 2 people on the jury who
may actually take their job seriously.

Mr. Wyler. . .

. . . please believe I am speaking
for my husband when I tell you. . .

. . .this is something
he very much wants to do.

He doesn't wanna come out
acquitted by the jury. . .

. . .and despised by the world at large.

It is not just the jury that matters.

-ls this Rickey talking now?
-Yes, it is.

SCOTTO: Describe your relationship
with the defendant, Mr. Michaelson.

I' m his agent. I' m also his friend .

SCOTTO: On the day of the murder,
you were with him, were you not?

-Yes, I was.
-Would you describe the circumstances?

We went into Sandy Fortas'
office to discuss his contract.

-Who was present in the room?
-Just the three of us.

What was the tone of that meeting?

lt was businesslike.

-Had you reached an agreement?
-Nope.

-Why not?
-We were at an impasse.

I' m not gonna lie and tell
you it was a love fest.

Sandy refused to pay Rickey
what he was worth.

He felt that Rickey owed him
some sort of special consideration.

By himself, Rickey was
softhearted enough to buy that.

-Not you.
-No, not me.

Sandy was trading on sentimentality
to save himseIf money.

With me that doesn't work.

-But it does work with Rickey?
-Absolutely.

If it had been up to Rickey, he would
have taken whatever Fortas offered .

You know, 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 them .

Because Sandy wanted it.
Rickey went along . . .

. . .to be a nice guy. I let him go,
and I wish the hell I hadn't.

Why is that? ls there
something you could've done. . .

. . .to prevent what happened?

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 that fact.

SCOTTO:
What time was it when you left?

MICHAELSON : About 2.
SCOTTO: Did you return at some point?

-I did .
-What time was that?

-About 5.
-What'd you find?

I found Sandy Fortas on the floor.

-What did you do?
-I called 91 1 .

So to review . . .

. . .you left the defendant with the
deceased at the defendant's request.

When you returned the. . .

. . .deceased was deceased,
the defendant gone.

-Objection.
BORNSTEIN : Sustained .

lt wasn't while Rickey was there
that he was killed, okay. . .

-. . .smart guy?
BORNSTEIN : This is your only 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 .

SCOTTO:
Mr. Michaelson?

Ten percent.

Between salary and endorsements,
Mr. Latrell made between 5. . .

. . .and 6 million dollars a year. That
would put you down for haIf a million.

And this proves what, exactly?

You stand to lose a lot if Rickey
Latrell never plays 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 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 with anyone
else, to avoid 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 .

lt had a list of prosecution witnesses
and phone numbers of people. . .

. . .who have damaging
information about them .

lncluded among the witnesses
was Lee Michaelson.

And?

DOCKNOVICH :
Notwithstanding Hicks' obvious bias. . .

. . . I think we have to take
a fresh look at Michaelson.

Fortas' private detective,
who Szymanski knows. . .

. . .said Michaelson was
caught stealing from clients.

Fortas was about to go public.

MOSELY :
Michaelson would have been finished .

Every one of his clients would have
left him, including Rickey.

We know he was cleaned out
in his divorce.

He's been having money problems.
He's been on antidepressants.

You think you have enough
to say he's guilty of murder?

I think we definitely have enough
to create reasonable doubt.

He had motive, opportunity, and in all
likelihood, access to Rickey's gun.

I don't know if he's guilty,
but with this information. . .

. . .there is no doubt in my
mind he should be a suspect.

APPLETON :
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.

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.

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