Original subtitles

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.

No, no, I'm fine.

I think it was just allergies.

Mom, hold on a sec.

Hello? - Food delivery.

Leave it at the door, please.

Mom, I got to go. Food's here.

Okay.

Love you.

Really?

Hello?

It's the delivery man.

I just dropped off your food.

I'm sorry to do this, but my phone died

and I need to call my boss.

You want to use my phone?

I'll only be ten seconds.

I promise.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

What do we got?

Female, white, age 34.

Name is Angela Hart.

Wallet, phone, and laptop on the table there,

so we're probably not looking at a robbery.

Looks more like a sexual assault.

So he beats her up and then stabs her.

Any luck with the knife?

Witnesses? - No.

She have a security system?

What about the body? Who found it?

Victim's boyfriend, Mark Salerno.

He's waiting downstairs.

I don't care what that book says.

There's no way to forgive this.

Hey, Julia, start looking for street cam video.

Copy that.

Mark Salerno?

I'm Detective Riley.

Detective Shaw.

Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?

What time did you discover Angela's body?

Around 11:00.

I came by to check on her.

I called a few times.

She didn't answer, so I got nervous.

Why were you nervous?

'Cause she usually answers her phone or texts right back.

How'd you get in the apartment?

I have a key.

Okay, so you got here around 11:00,

you saw the body, you called 911.

Where were you prior to that?

At a bar, watching the Yankee game.

You and Angela were dating.

Yeah, for about eight months.

How was that? Was that good?

Really good.

I mean, sh

she was amazing.

You know anybody who might want to hurt her?

No.

I mean, like I said, she was amazing

and one of the kindest people on Earth.

But then again...

Then again what?

Some of the people she worked with were

some of the worst people on Earth.

I hate to say it,

but I was worried about this.

I just never understood why she was so committed

to helping people who were so troubled.

Nice people need therapists, too,

not just killers and rapists.

Were you aware of any problems

your daughter was having?

Was she being stalked or threatened by anyone?

No, not that I was aware of.

How about her boyfriend, Mark?

Were they happy?

I think so.

She thought he was a little immature at times,

but she seemed to really like him.

We only have a few more questions,

if that's okay.

When was the last time you spoke to Angela?

Last night.

It was around 9:00 or so.

Her dinner had just been delivered.

I dropped the food off at her door.

That's it.

I never stepped one foot inside the building.

So you never saw or talked to anyone else?

I rang the buzzer, a lady answered,

and she told me to leave the food at the door.

That's it. That's all I know.

So you never actually saw Angela in person?

Correct.

I just heard her voice over the intercom.

Look.

It shows right here.

I dropped the food off at 8:56.

Then I did another drop off three blocks away at 9:01.

You notice anybody else outside the building?

There was a guy standing across the street.

He was staring at me, or at the brownstone.

I don't know. Made me a little nervous.

What'd he look like?

Kind of my height, white, in his 30s, probably.

You recall what he was wearing?

There's our guy.

Hey, Mark.

We've got a few more questions we want to ask you.

Can I call you later today?

I got to get to work. - No.

No, we need to talk right now. - Why?

What's going on? - You know what?

Come with us down to the precinct.

We'll tell you all about it. - Precinct?

I... how come?

Because you were wearing a dark hoodie

and a baseball hat, that's why.

So?

Same outfit we think the killer was wearing.

That's absurd.

No, what's absurd is the text that you sent

Angela last night at 8:17 p.m. Remember that?

"You're making me crazy, Angela.

I swear to God, I could snap your neck."

Look, I...

Two hours later, she was dead.

That means you're coming with us right now.

No, look... hey, but...

Save it.

You guys are wasting your time.

I was upset.

Angela saw me texting with this woman I work with,

but it was nothing. - It was nothing,

why did you get so angry then? - I was in a bad mood.

I thought I was gonna book this job

an acting job... but I didn't get it.

So I got pissed off and I fired off a nasty text.

But I didn't mean it literally, for God's sake.

Take a seat.

Okay, so you didn't mean it literally.

So what were you doing outside of her building at 9:00 p.m.?

What are you talking about?

I didn't get there until much later, closer to 11:00.

I already told you that.

Someone else told us that they saw a person standing

across from Angela's apartment wearing a baseball cap

and a hoodie around 9:00 p.m.

I'm not the only guy in New York who wears

hoodies and baseball hats.

All right, wise ass.

Well, you're the only one that found Angela's dead body.

I would never hurt Angela,

or anyone else, for that matter.

- So now we know you're lying. - Excuse me?

We saw your rap sheet.

You have two priors for battery.

Means you got a temper.

It means I was a bouncer.

You know, getting in fights is part of the job.

And for the record, I was never convicted.

DA's office dismissed both cases.

Doesn't make you a choirboy, though, does it?

It doesn't make me a killer either!

Okay, calm down.

Watch yourself in here.

Now let's go over your timeline one more time.

So you were at a bar.

You were watching the Yankees game.

What bar?

Peluso's on 26th and 7th.

What time did you leave there?

Around 9:15.

Hey, these are the names of Angela's clients

who were paroled in the past year.

Some pretty serious players on it, too.

Killers, rapists.

Well, might be nothing.

But then again, I can only imagine what these guys

are dreaming about in prison.

I'd rather not think about it.

Look, you're wrong. I loved Angela.

I would never hurt her.

I'm Lieutenant Dixon.

Let's just say we believe you.

For now, anyway.

Here is a list of Angela's clients.

Any of those names ring a bell?

Did she ever mention any of those people to you?

She talked about this guy before.

Shawn Payne.

He sent her this creepy letter from prison.

Creepy how?

He just kept talking about how amazing she was

and that he wanted to be friends with her

after he was released.

Hey.

I got Shawn Payne.

27, 5'8", white,

did five years for aggravated rape.

Just got released from Otisville four days ago.

- Only five years for ag rape? - Yeah.

Yeah, the case was brutal too.

Victim was nearly beaten to death.

Not to mention all the horrific internal injuries.

I'll just leave it at that.

Just talked to Payne's parole officer.

He's gone AWOL.

Hasn't been able to reach him for two days.

So it looks like this Shawn Payne guy has

suddenly become a legitimate suspect.

Yeah, and the worst part is,

he never should have been released.

I mean, five years for ag rape?

Are you kidding me?

We got to fire the do-gooding prosecutor

idiot that cut that deal.

Or not.

The do-gooding prosecutor idiot was Nolan Price.

Payne's out already?

Really?

Well, I mean, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

You pled him out to only five years.

You really think that Payne killed Angela Hart?

We don't have anything firm,

but he does match the general description

of someone seen outside of Angela's building that night.

And his parole officer hasn't been able

to get in touch with him since the murder, so...

I knew Angela.

She was a good person.

She actually advocated for Payne.

She thought he was smart.

She thought that he was capable of living

a high-functioning life if given the proper counseling

and support.

And you believed her.

I considered her point of view.

Some people are just unfixable.

You might be right.

Truth is, I was most concerned about the victim,

Chelsea Shell.

She was so traumatized by what happened,

she begged me to make the case go away.

So I was trying to do right by everyone.

That's a recipe for disaster.

Hello?

S... slow down.

Yes, I will be right there.

That was Chelsea Shell.

Apparently, Payne just dropped off some kind of love letter

at her apartment.

He left a note with the doorman,

and I...

It's okay, Chelsea.

Take your time.

He said that he thinks about me all the time,

and that he wants to make things right and,

and reconnect.

I don't know what else it says.

I stopped reading after that.

Man, I can't believe he's really out of prison.

Ma'am, do you still have that note?

Yeah, it's, um...

It's over there.

- In the kitchen. - Mm-hmm.

You know, maybe I should go somewhere else.

Like, to a hotel or my sister's house in Connecticut.

We are gonna find this guy.

For now, I think you just stay here.

Yeah, I agree with Detective Riley.

It's better to be here inside your apartment

with the door locked.

Okay.

Just to be safe, we will have

a police officer guard your door.

Absolutely.

You're gonna be okay.

Look, I know this is hard, but the good news is,

he left his phone number on this note,

and we can track him with that.

The woman that was just murdered,

the psychologist...

Do you think he killed her?

I don't know, Chelsea.

The police are still investigating.

But it's... but it's possible.

Is that what you're saying?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's possible.

You okay?

Do you want me to call someone?

No, no, no, no.

No, no, I'm fine.

I'm...

Thank you.

Thank you for coming today.

Thank you.

Hey, Vi, it's me.

I need you to trace a number right now.

Hey, what do you got?

Signal's still active.

Looks like he's heading south on 7th Ave, just below 24th.

Last hit was south of 24th and 7th.

He's staying at the halfway house on 22nd, right?

- Yeah. - Okay.

We need to speak to Shawn Payne.

What's this about?

Is he here in the building?

Yeah, he just got back about five minutes ago.

What room is he in?

Down the hall to the left.

Room 21.

Nobody home.

Whoa.

What's that?

Woman's necklace.

Hey, you seen Shawn Payne?

Yeah, why?

This is why.

Where'd he go?

I saw him headed for the bathroom.

Where's that?

Through the double doors on your right.

Shawn Payne, police.

Hey. Hey. Hey!

Move!

- Flank. - Flank.

Freeze!

Hey!

Police!

Hands up!

Get your hands up now!

Against the wall!

Against the wall.

Easy on the cuffs.

That's too tight.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

How's that?

That hurts.

You shut up, or I'll make them tighter.

Well, looks like your little experiment with freedom

didn't work out, did it?

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

Oh, the facts tell a much different story.

We got your DNA all over Angela's body.

I mean, that's almost as good as having a video of you

committing the crime.

Actually, it's better 'cause, this way,

the jury doesn't have to turn their heads

to avoid seeing all the despicable things

that you did to that woman.

That kind, decent woman who was just trying to help you.

And we have a witness,

one that puts you outside of her brownstone

30 minutes prior to the murder.

So that's it.

It's all over.

So, I mean, you could help us out.

You could tell us what happened.

I mean, who knows? Maybe we missed something.

Maybe there's some logical explanation for all this.

The only thing that I know is that...

Angela was a whore, so maybe one of the guys

that she was hooking up...

Say that again.

You say that again. You say that to me again!

Say that to me again! - Hey, don't!

Huh? Then what?

Come on.

This is it.

This is the last chance you're gonna get

to tell your story.

Okay.

Well, here it is.

Bad things happen

to good people and to bad people.

And that's just the way it is, boys.

Is that your way of saying you're guilty?

That's my way of saying I want a lawyer.

Yeah, that's probably a good idea,

'cause you're under arrest for rape and murder.

Stand your punk ass up right now.

Hands behind your back.

Sounds like we have a strong case.

Very strong, on paper anyway.

And from what I hear, you have

a pre-existing relationship with the defendant.

I was the prosecutor on Payne's rape case.

And you pled him out to five years?

And he killed his counselor

three days after he was out of prison.

I'm not proud of what has transpired.

That's not what I meant.

Then what did you mean?

That you're compromised.

In what way?

In retrospect, the plea deal was

obviously a mistake.

I mean, he committed a heinous murder

72 hours after he was out.

But if you take first chair,

it'll appear you're trying to redeem yourself.

Well, perhaps, but it's not like Payne

is the first recidivist this office has ever...

I'm gonna take the lead.

- Excuse me? - I'll take first chair.

You take second.

You seem surprised.

I am.

Why is that?

You're the district attorney.

You have more important things to do...

Than this?

Than getting justice for a young woman

who was just brutally raped and murdered?

Hey.

Sorry to interrupt.

Defense has filed a motion to suppress the jewelry

found in the halfway house.

When the police entered the room,

they noticed a half open closet door

and they spotted Angela Hart's necklace inside in plain view.

The police didn't have a warrant.

They didn't need one.

Parolees like Mr. Payne are not entitled

to the full scope of protections

under the Fourth Amendment.

That doesn't mean they have carte blanche

to search his room whenever they want.

It does when they've gone AWOL.

At the time of the search, the defendant hadn't responded

to his PO's calls or texts.

It doesn't matter.

In People v. Randazzo, the court made it clear

that parolees have some sort of right to privacy,

even when they're in violation of their parole.

To hold otherwise would be to treat

a parolee like a prisoner. - Mm.

I agree with the defense.

The necklace is out.

I've known Judge Nelson for 20 years.

We're not getting any favors. Trust me.

You think he's biased?

He's political.

He's worried about the optics.

He doesn't want to be overturned on appeal,

so every close call is gonna go to the defense.

That's why we need to introduce as much evidence as we can.

Our case is still strong.

We have the DNA.

We have the delivery man who saw Payne

outside the brownstone. - I know.

But I'm front and center on this,

and the election is only a month away, so...

If you're really concerned, I'm happy to take the lead.

What does that mean?

Well, it means I'm in a different position than you.

I don't have all the political concerns

and headaches you have.

I'm not looking to hide, Nolan.

I'm looking to win.

I walked in, and I saw all this blood on the floor

and some shattered glass, and,

and then I saw Angela.

And can you tell the jury what you saw,

what she looked like?

She was naked.

And her face was swollen and bruised.

And there was blood everywhere.

It's the most horrible thing I've ever seen.

I'm showing you what was previously recorded

as People's Exhibit 24.

It's a letter the defendant sent to Angela from prison.

Could you please read the third paragraph aloud for the jury?

"I've been thinking about you a lot.

"You're like an angel sent to find the goodness

"in a man who possesses none.

"Your warmth and beauty keep my soul from withering.

"When I am free,

"I am hopeful that we can connect

"as people, as friends,

as man and woman."

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Mr. Salerno

you and Angela Hart were dating.

Yes, for about eight months.

And you loved her.

I did.

Yet, you sent a series of threatening texts to her

on the day of her murder.

"You're acting like a child.

"You're making me crazy, Angela.

"I swear to God, I could snap your neck."

Yes, but I didn't mean it.

We were arguing, and I was upset, so I...

So you threatened to snap her neck?

Like I said, I didn't mean it.

But you put it in writing.

It was stupid.

Yes.

It also shows that you have violent tendencies.

Objection. Argumentative.

Sustained.

Get to the point, Ms. Carter.

You also have two prior arrests for battery, correct?

Yes, but they were both dismissed.

Defense Exhibit 24 and 25.

The charges may have disappeared,

but their injuries and trauma certainly didn't.

They threw the first punch, so I...

I fought back.

You beat the hell out of them.

But you don't just beat up men.

You beat up women also...

Objection.

Mr. Salerno is not the one on trial here.

He should be. He's the one...

- Your Honor. - Enough, Ms. Carter.

One more word, and I will hold you in contempt.

This court is in recess.

I will see you in chambers now.

This is ridiculous.

I have a right to impeach Salerno's testimony.

Impeach him, yes.

Accuse him of murder, no.

Your Honor, if you preclude this line of questioning,

you, in effect, preclude me from presenting my defense.

What is your defense?

That someone other than my client killed Angela Hart,

most likely Mark Salerno.

Do you have any evidence to support this theory?

Mr. Salerno's ex-girlfriend is prepared to testify

to his propensity for violence.

So what does that have to do with this case,

with Angela Hart?

Is there any actual evidence to back up her testimony,

or is this just a hit job on Salerno

to manufacture reasonable doubt?

That's for the jury to decide.

I... I agree with Ms. Carter.

My decision is final.

Prior to your relationship with Angela Hart,

you dated Ella Hunter for several months.

I wouldn't say that we were dating.

Oh, what would you say?

You were doing what?

Just having sex?

Something like that.

During this time period, you two were

involved in a number of altercations

and arguments, correct?

No, that's not true.

But on two separate occasions,

you physically attacked her.

I never laid a hand on Ella.

That's a lie.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Salerno, did you kill Angela Hart?

Of course not.

I loved her very much.

Nothing further.

The People rest.

Mark was charming and kind at first.

But after a while, he started getting jealous.

Can you be more specific?

If he saw me talking to another man,

he'd get really upset.

And sometimes, he'd get physical.

Did Mark Salerno ever strike you with his fist?

Yes, on two occasions.

Did you seek medical treatment

as a result of these attacks? - Once.

I went to an urgent care facility.

What sort of treatment did you receive?

I got six stitches right here above my eye.

Did you break up with him after that?

- Yes. - Was he upset?

Yes, very much so.

Can you be more specific?

He

He threatened to kill me.

Thank you.

Ms. Hunter, you have absolutely no proof

that Mark Salerno had anything to do with Angela Hart's death.

Yes, that's correct.

Nothing further.

Just got off the phone with Salerno.

He swears that Ella is lying,

claims he can prove it too.

Maybe we should call him as a rebuttal witness?

Not worth it.

The less we talk about Ella or Salerno, the better.

I understand, but we should probably do something

to discredit her testimony.

The damage has already been done.

She said what she said.

The jury will either believe her or not.

If that's what you think.

No, what I think is that it would have

been nice to know about the ex-girlfriend before trial.

I agree, but...

But what?

You wanted to fast track the case.

That obviously compressed the amount of time...

That is not an excuse.

No.

That's a fact.

I think your perception of me is starting

to affect our relationship.

Excuse me?

Let's just cut to the chase.

You think I'm using this trial to get reelected,

to get my name in the press.

Come on, Nolan. Now's your chance.

Queen for a day.

Speak your truth.

Okay, I will.

Yes, I think the upcoming election

was part of your calculus.

And because of that, you think I'm more politician

than prosecutor?

No, I never said that.

But you think it.

Jack McCoy is gone.

And I'm sorry if that distorted your sense of stability

and security, but let me be as transparent as I possibly can.

I am not trying to be the next Jack McCoy.

I don't want to be the next Jack McCoy.

I don't care how he ran this office

or how he conducted himself with the press,

but that does not mean that I am

some sort of political carnival barker,

looking to whore out this office to advance my ambition.

You know, if I'm gonna be perfectly honest,

you're not entirely wrong either.

I am well aware that this case is getting

lots of press attention.

And, yes, that was part of my plan.

And, yes, I want to win this election

very badly because I love this job

and I love trying cases.

And if you don't understand or respect that or me,

then you are free to get the hell out.

All I can say is you are wrong.

And for the record,

I think your perception of who I am

is the thing affecting our relationship.

You look at me like I'm... like I'm constantly judging you,

like I'm constantly comparing you to Jack McCoy.

I'm not.

I'm just trying to do my damn job.

That's the truth.

There is no point in us debating this.

We've got a trial to win,

and Shawn Payne is taking the stand tomorrow.

I met Angela five years ago.

When I got arrested, she tried to help me.

What do you mean?

She was my therapist.

She really thought that if I tried really hard,

I might be able to live a decent life someday.

So she believed in you.

Is that what you're saying? - Yes.

Probably the first person who ever did, if I'm being honest.

Did you like Angela?

Yes.

Very much.

After you were released from prison,

did you see Angela?

Yes.

Did you see Angela Hart the day she was raped and killed?

Yes, in the afternoon.

What did you two do on this occasion?

We talked for a while,

and then we had sex.

Did you wear a condom?

No.

I didn't have one.

And it just sort of happened.

So that is why your DNA was on her body.

Yes.

What time did you leave Angela's apartment?

Around 7:00 p.m.

And as you were leaving, did you see

anything or anyone unusual?

I saw her boyfriend, Mark Salerno.

He was lurking by the door.

Did you say anything to him?

No.

I just kept walking.

Nothing further.

It's getting late.

Let's pick this up tomorrow.

Be honest.

Is sitting second chair to Baxter

more stressful than sitting first chair to me?

It's not even close.

He's the boss.

And he needs to win.

The election's only a month away,

and, according to the polls, it's neck and neck.

To be honest, he's been really good at ignoring all of that.

The only thing he's focused on is the case,

and he's doing a good job.

You seem surprised.

At what?

The fact that Baxter is a good lawyer.

I guess I wasn't expecting him to be

as thorough and dedicated as he is.

And, you know, seeing him in court...

What is it?

What am I looking at?

The marking on her leg, on the inner thigh.

Yeah, and?

Looks like he was trying to carve an S into her leg,

but didn't quite finish, which means

there's a pattern to his violence, a modus operandi.

This is a photo of Chelsea's leg

20 minutes after she was attacked.

This is exactly what we need.

But I have a request.

I want to use a threat of this evidence to leverage a plea.

Why the hell would we do that?

Because I'm worried about Chelsea.

She is extremely fragile.

She's still struggling with all of the trauma.

And I'm not sure she could handle

seeing Payne face to face.

I can only imagine what that poor woman has endured,

but I do not think that Shawn Payne should be

the beneficiary of that pain and suffering.

I'm not giving that bastard a damn thing, Nolan.

Not an inch.

I want to nail him too.

Trust me.

That son of a bitch made me look like an idiot

for believing in him.

But there are no guarantees we're gonna win this case,

even with Chelsea's testimony.

So why risk an acquittal?

Not to mention the election.

You have got a lot riding on this.

Why roll the dice?

It's not about me.

It's not about you.

It's not even about Chelsea Shell.

It's about getting justice for Angela Hart.

And we are gonna do everything we can to get a conviction.

The defendant has clearly displayed

a distinct pattern of behavior, or modus operandi.

During or after his violent sexual assaults,

he carves the letter S into his victim's leg.

He did this to Chelsea Shell, and he did this to Angela Hart.

So where's the S on Angela's leg?

I just see a little line or scribble.

It doesn't matter if he completed it or not.

It does matter.

There is no proof that the mark in Angela's leg

was actually intended to be an S.

What the hell was it intended to be?

A piece of art?

Your Honor, it's clear that this was meant to be an S.

Payne probably heard a siren or a door slam,

and he left before he could finish what he started.

But for the sake of argument, even if it wasn't

meant to be an S, it still clearly shows

a distinct pattern of conduct that Payne carves

something into his victims' legs.

Well, if it were an actual S, well,

then you'd have a point, but...

That's preposterous.

Watch yourself, Mr. Baxter.

- I've had enough. - Excuse me?

Look, Steve, we don't like each other.

That's okay.

But we need to act like professionals here

and focus on the case.

Or better yet, the law underlying the case.

These photos clearly show

a pattern of conduct admissible under Molineux,

and the jury should know about it.

Like I said...

And if you don't understand the law here

or its application to this particular fact pattern,

that's fine. Make your ruling.

We'll file an immediate interlocutory appeal,

and I'll alert the press as to why the trial's been delayed.

I don't care what your title is, Nick.

This is my courtroom.

Do you understand?

Now, I'm gonna need some more time

to analyze this a bit, but I will get back

to the two of you shortly.

About time that arrogant bastard ruled in our favor.

I'm stunned.

His back was against the wall.

He didn't have a choice. - Meaning?

Nelson's an ambitious social climber,

and he's on the short list for the Court of Appeals.

Last thing he wants right now

is to have his name in the press

or have a controversial ruling overturned.

So I called his bluff.

Well, it worked. Nice job.

Now we just have to make sure Chelsea's ready to go.

So do what you can to alleviate her anxiety

and get her prepped for this afternoon.

One more thing.

I want you to do the direct examination.

I was a junior at NYU,

and I was tutoring high school kids.

And then, one day, he...

He asked if he could come to my dorm.

Wanted to see what college was like.

Told me he always dreamed of going to a school like NYU.

And what happened then?

I took him to the dorm,

showed him around.

And, uh

then we went into my room.

And he

he...

Take your time.

I know this is difficult.

And he attacked me.

Raped me.

Choked me and punched me in the face over and over.

And then he took a knife

and he carved the letter S

into my leg.

Is that marking still there on your leg?

No. No.

I replaced it with a tattoo of a flower

because I wanted to erase all of the evil from my body.

Is the man who sexually assaulted you five years ago

in this courtroom today?

You okay?

Your Honor, just...

Please, please have some respect.

Don't worry.

You're safe.

Ms. Shell

is the man who carved that S into your leg,

sexually assaulted you,

broke your nose and your jaw and your left cheekbone

is he in this courtroom?

Yes.

Could you please point him out?

He's right there.

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, we have.

How do you find?

In the charge of murder in the second degree,

we find the defendant, Shawn Payne

guilty.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

This court is adjourned.

Well done, Nolan.

You too.

And for the record, you were wrong.

I never thought you were a carnival barker.

I appreciate that.

Oh.

What is it?

Chelsea Shell is in the ER.

She tried to kill herself.

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