Original subtitles

That's me, right there. And that's the guy with the gym bag.

That's me comin' over. I was merely doing my job.

What did you say to this man?

Well, I don't remember my exact words, but I told him...

he couldn't leave the store until I checked the contents of his bag.

When I asked to look in his bag, he got all belligerent.

That's when he came over. Who?

That man right there. And then what happened?

[ Man ] He started hasslin' me, and I explained to him it was none of his business.

Would he please step back. But he continued. I asked him to step back again.

And that's when this kid with the gym bag slams me into the display case.

I regained my balance. Then suddenly, there's these other kids that joined him.

And they're hittin' me out of nowhere. They throw me to the ground.

They start punchin' me and kickin' me.

- Where's the defendant now? - I don't know.

[ Woman ] Okay.

The tape has been edited to seven minutes later.

Can you describe to us what's happening now?

[ Man ] Well, as you can see, we were overrun with people...

comin' in from outside, stealin' things and runnin' out again.

[ Woman ] And what is the defendant doing at this time?

Well, he was over me at one point. There! Right there.

He's comin' back for more. Grabs me. The guard pulls him off.

He throws him into a table.

The guard continues to attempt to detain him and-- Here.

He just-- They scuffle a bit. The guy just went crazy.

[ Woman ] The guy being-- That man right there.

The defendant. He throws him two punches to the face. Watch.

Here it comes.

Bang. Bang.

And then he just throws him through the glass.

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Cell Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sirens Wailing ]

[ Female Reporter ] Overshadowing the facts is the ongoing controversy...

about the court's relocating of the trial outside Boston...

and the question of whether Aaron Wilton,

the African-American man accused of aggravated assault...

in the infamous SaveWorld riot,

can receive a fair trial from the all-white jury here in suburban Wellesley.

This is Melanie Morris, News 8.

"The African-American accused of aggravated assault."

That's-- That's what they call me.

Instead of the guy who was trying to stick up...

for an innocent guy accused of shoplifting,

I'm the African-American who caused the riot.

And I don't get to tell my side?

If we put you on the stand, Aaron, that old conviction could be put into evidence.

That was a hundred years ago. He was 18.

-Even so, the jury doesn't need to hear about it. -Excuse me. That all-white jury?

That's what you get in Wellesley. We didn't have a choice.

It just gives us greater grounds for appeal... if we need it.

A business degree from U. Mass,

vice president of a Fortune 500 company.

I go shoppin' for a pair of cross-trainers, and suddenly I'm big news?

You're "big news" 'cause you threw a guy through a window.

It really was the perfect wedding.

Well, it's not polite for me to say, but people did tell us...

that it was the most elegant affair they'd ever been to.

You had a nice time, Elly? I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see you.

Well, there were a lot of people there.

And I was sitting at the, uh, cousins' table.

This dress right here-- completely handmade.

So, uh, Myra, the reason you're here?

The honeymoon. I wanna sue that idiot travel agent, Gracie Kramer.

The woman is a giant fart. And you know it's not like me to be vulgar.

- A "giant fart"? - There were a few mix-ups.

Well, first she puts us in business, right?

Then the car she rented us was a sub-compact, not a sedan.

And she told us we were in a romantic, adults-only hotel,

which it was most definitely not.

Uh, Myra, sometimes it can be very difficult to sue travel agencies.

What about my emotional stress and physical hardship?

On the first day, Myra tripped on an inflatable sea horse.

Yeah. That's how she pulled the hamstring.

- Yes, I know, but is that-- - Ellenor, can I-- can I be open with you?

Sure.

We never even got to consummate our marriage.

- Okay? - Oh.

- Yeah. - Uh--

Are you really prepared to drag that aspect into court?

My happiness is at stake here. And if I have to drag whatever into court,

I don't care because I want her to pay.

- The giant-- - Fart. [ Sighs ]

The man you accused of shoplifting-- Was he... shoplifting?

No. Then you were mistaken?

On this occasion, yes.

"On this occasion."

- Mr. Robinson, how long have you worked at SaveWorld Drugs? - Five and a half years.

[ Eugene ] And in that time, it was your job to manage the store, hire employees,

interact with the customer base, correct? Correct.

About what percentage of that base would you say were from the African-American community?

Fifty percent?

Fifty percent? Actually, SaveWorld's own figures show that, uh,

56% of your customer base were African-American.

Well, then I guess that's the case.

Is anyone besides you empowered to stop suspected shoplifters?

No. Just me.

And how often do you stop customers for shoplifting?

Probably once or twice a day.

[ Eugene ] So with the average month being 30 days,

and you being open seven days a week, that would be...

60-some odd customers stopped.

- Uh, sound right? - Yes.

And in the last month, how many customers have you stopped that were white?

I know what you're trying to do.

Just answer my question.

I don't recall.

[ Eugene ] You don't recall stopping any white customers?

Or you don't recall stopping any white customers in the last month?

Or you just don't recall anything?

I don't recall stopping any white customers.

So even though 44% of your customers are white,

zero percent were stopped for shoplifting?

That would mean 100% of suspected shoplifters were African-American.

I'm not sure it's such a smart idea making it about race.

Wellesley, all-white jury--

Mmm, I think it's a perfect jury to make it about race.

Rich, affluent white town.

These are the people that are desperate to reach out to minorities...

so long as they don't actually have to meet one.

You're such a cynic.

Well, trust me. White suburbanites feel guilty about their swimming pools.

Showing compassion to an African-American is a way of atonement.

I slept with a guy from Wellesley once.

We came this close to even having dinner.

That was a joke.

Why do you do that-- try to shock me?

- The truth? - No. Lie to me.

I think you're a little buttoned down.

I'm not buttoned down.

- I think you are. - I'm not.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not.

- Okay, sexually conservative then. - Why do you-- You--

You know nothing about what I'm like sexually.

Okay? Exactly.

We've been on three dates, I don't have a clue.

- Either you're not attracted to me, or-- - What am I supposed to do?

Uh, attack you? Is that what you want?

Well?

I'm thinking.

[ Aaron ] Hey. What's up? What's the matter?

[ Eugene ] The security guard, the one you pushed through the window?

Mm-hmm. He died.

When? About an hour ago.

Oh, God.

I can't believe this.

Aaron,

I've been asked to surrender you to the police.

They're revoking bail. What?

They've upped the charges to manslaughter. Manslaughter?

You mean he's being charged with murder? No, no-- No, no, no.

It's homicide-- Wait, wait, wait. How-- How can they do that?

They can do that because a man is dead now.

We knew this could happen.

Yeah, but even-- I mean, I--

I certainly didn't mean for a man to die.

Look, it doesn't change anything as far as our case goes.

You were assaulted first. You found yourself in a fight.

You defended yourself. Nothing's changed.

Nothing's changed?

A man is now dead, Eugene.

A white man killed by a black man.

Nothing's changed?

Why don't you just take a seat, and I'll be with you in a minute.

Mm-hmm.

Incredible wardrobe, straight A's, perfect figure.

Every time I saw her, she had another drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend.

- I hated girls like that. - When I was 12, at Thanksgiving,

she took me and all of my other cousins back behind the garage...

so she could teach us how to pop our zits.

But really, she just wanted to count mine.

Don't you just wanna go in there and muss up her hair? [ Sighs ]

I shouldn't be so catty. I mean, she's fine. I like her.

She's, you know-- She's nice. She's just, uh--

She's fine. Nice try.

No talking to the press, Aaron.

Hey, Bobby. Hey.

- How's it goin' with Helen? - Why? What'd she say?

Nothing. How's it going here? Don't ask.

Okay, this is the hotel pharmacy bill, this is the airline receipt,

and this is the receipt from the duty-free shop at the Cancún airport.

Total comes to $6,020.12,

not including what we expect for hardship and emotional trauma.

You know, Myra, these cases can sometimes be hard to put a price on.

I think that we should try to go for reimbursement on the hotel.

Ellenor, I love you.

And forgive me for saying this, but you need to understand this thing.

Sex can be very important in a couple's relationship.

Without it, there can be strain in the marital bed. My marital bed.

Wasn't there any, uh, premarital sex?

Yes, of course, all the time. But that's not the point.

Okay, then why don't we, um,

take a look at the other forfeited aspects of the honeymoon.

Okay, like what?

Like touristy things you were prevented from doing because of the hamstring.

I-- I don't know.

Okay. How about, oh, let's say snorkeling, sailing? Okay!

Do you and Oren play any sports? Was that on your schedule?

I don't know. I think-- I think Oren has a tennis racquet.

How about bicycling?

Irritates. I get a yeast flare-up. Is this really necessary?

I'm just trying to establish your expectations for the honeymoon.

It would be very helpful if you could just write a list of things...

you and Oren wanted to do, you know, hobbies or--

Okay, I've only been with the guy four and a half months.

It's not like I know him inside out, okay? All right.

Oh! Mush.

We can't just switch from assault to homicide in the middle of a trial.

We put them on notice from the start. This should be a mistrial.

- Same facts, same case. - Except now, you're switching to homicide.

- It's either new trial or mistrial. - I'm afraid it's neither.

You're not prejudiced by this. It doesn't affect the evidence.

And you knew they might do this.

You can't just add a charge in the middle of a trial. That's unprecedented.

It's not unprecedented. It might be irregular, but you take that up with appeals.

Now, this case goes on with the manslaughter charge.

Can you describe the scene for us when you first arrived at 4:15?

There were people running out of the store carrying merchandise.

Other people from the street were rushing back inside at the same time.

That's when I saw the body crash through the front window.

And that would be the body of the deceased, Mr. Roman Rosemont?

-Yes, ma'am. -Did you see who actually hurled the body through the window?

Objection. Counsel has not established...

that Mr. Rosemont was "hurled" or otherwise acted upon.

- Overruled. - What did you see, Officer?

I saw the defendant, Mr. Wilton, standing on the other side of the window.

And did he see you?

Did he say anything to you? [ Whispering ]

Objection. Leading the witness.

I'll rephrase, Your Honor. Officer Tedesco,

when you saw Mr. Wilton standing in the window of the SaveWorld Drugs,

what did he do?

- Object to the form. - What happened when Mr. Wilton saw you?

He said, "Whose side are you on, brother?

You should be helping us to burn this place down."

[ Woman ] And what do you think he meant by that remark?

- Objection. - Overruled.

He wanted me to join him and the others destroying the store.

[ Woman ] Thank you.

We're in trouble. We took a hit. We can recover.

We gotta buy some time. We're still okay.

We start with the customers in the store.

Diandra Jackson, Ty Mallone--

The ones who will swear it was the store manager who provoked Aaron.

It's still justified defense of others, and we just keep goin'--

Eugene. The jury just heard intent to commit.

Whatever liberal sympathy we had, it's gone now.

He's the angry black killer now. Let's not kid ourselves.

- Maybe we should go with that. - What?

The Reginald Denny beating. Remember after the L.A. riots?

That's how they got those guys off.

- How? - It was called a social deviance defense.

As angry black men, they had this right to explode.

The jury bought it.

It's not my theory. I'm just sayin' that's what they used.

Look it up. Dr. Troub, Alvin, whatever his name was.

He was the expert on the Hilburn case.

[ Lindsay ] We don't have a Reginald Denny situation here.

We have an upper-middle-class defendant, college-educated--

Not only that, we spent the last two weeks buildin' up that he's an upstanding citizen.

Now we're gonna chuck all of that and make him a poster boy for Negro inferiority?

It's an option. Maybe the only one we have left.

He won't do it. He's too proud.

Well, 15 years to life is a high price for pride.

Jimmy, see if we can still argue diminished capacity.

We should be able to since they added homicide.

I think we gotta at least take it to him.

Please, tell me you're not serious.

I'm not necessarily recommending it, Aaron.

You're talking about humiliating me...

in front of my friends, my family, the whole world.

How the hell is that supposed to help me?

It helps by maybe keeping you out of jail.

Explain this to me again.

You argue that he's a deviant?

We would argue that he has a pathological tendency towards violence.

Like a wild monkey defense?

Like I said, I'm not recommending it.

Then why are you even presenting it, man?

Because you're staring at a possible homicide conviction.

Even if we get it chopped down to involuntary manslaughter, you're lookin' at five.

[ Woman ] I still don't understand...

the "group contagion" part.

Basically, instead of tryin' to argue defense of others, we argue that...

once the people started fightin' around you, you kind of went on automatic pilot.

That's where the "social deviant" thing comes in.

We say you lacked the power to stay out of it.

You really expect me to testify to that?

Something to that effect.

But if he testifies, doesn't the previous conviction come in?

We want it in. It works for us now.

Oh. Oh, it works for us now? I see.

The strategy has changed, Aaron. That's what I'm tryin' to tell you, man.

Before, we were arguing you were justified.

Now, it's more like insanity. You got this pathological thing that makes you violent.

No.

- Aaron-- - Baby, no!

I mean, how am I-- How am I supposed to walk back into work...

after I say I'm some kind of pathological, violent animal?

You don't get to walk back into work if you're in prison.

What about our son?

Our home? Our life together?

What about all that?

Baby, you're suggesting that I pretend to be a social deviant?

I don't know! [ Sobbing ]

I don't know.

It's not a strong case, but it's makable.

With just two crimes? Two assault crimes.

Together with his past history-- getting pulled over, falsely accused--

Every black man in America has that history.

As I said, it's not a strong case.

But all you need is reasonable doubt.

Doctor, we're in the middle of the trial. Could you possibly testify tomorrow?

No problem. All I need to do is interview Mr. Wilton.

And I would need $10,000 in advance.

And, uh, if you could think...

of any other horrible things you've done, it would be helpful.

So basically, we're betting everything on this theory.

Bobby will question the doctor. It'll be better coming from him.

He'll do you as well, and I'll do the closing.

You don't feel a little funny about this?

Funny? It makes me sick. But let's get the acquittal first.

[ Bobby ] Yeah, let's get the acquittal.

Now, come on. We do what we have to do.

We're not losing here. We're not losing.

Mrs. Kramer, I really appreciate you coming down here today.

I've advised Mrs. Kramer not to say anything at this time until we can--

Listen, young lady, I've been in this business for 30 years,

and I've never carried liability insurance.

Who ever heard of suing your travel agent?

Well, Myra Glenn feels that her damages are very real.

Our position remains, however, until we have-- Damages? Name them.

Uh, inconvenience,

fraudulent representations, and, um,

impediment to, uh, sexual satisfaction.

I can't promise you anything, but there may still be room in all of this for a settlement.

We might look very favorably upon-- Not the skinniest of a chance.

Mrs. Kramer, you can't deny that there were foul-ups on the honeymoon.

Can I tell you something?

When I went on my honeymoon, my husband Hershel-- may he rest in peace--

never made a big deal of the sex.

Gracie-- We talked. We played canasta. We'd go for a stroll.

We really got to know each other.

There was still time for love, but it wasn't the be-all and end-all...

that these kids make it out to be.

No. No settlement.

And if you're their adviser, Ms. Frutt,

you tell them what really matters in a relationship.

[ Door Opens, Closes ] Maybe we could work this out.

Yeah. That would be nice.

Could you explain to the court the science of urban anthropology?

Urban anthropology is the study of human interaction in the inner cities.

And in all your years as an urban anthropologist,

have you ever studied situations like the riot that occurred in Brighton, Massachusetts?

Many times. In fact, I authored a paper published in the Journal of Urban Studies...

entitled "Group Contagion and Racial Violence."

Is this the journal? Yes.

If you would read from your article this paragraph right here.

"It is the finding of this study that group violence...

"often triggers a contagious behavior...

"within the African-American community which aggravates in African-American males...

an innate pathological tendency to commit acts of violence."

Well, that is a pretty bold statement, don't you think, Doctor?

Aren't you concerned with being labeled a racist?

[ Troub ] My concern is scientific study.

Racism plays no part in it.

I see. If you would read...

the rest of the outlined portion aloud, right here.

"This frenzy of aggression precludes the individual African-American male...

from forming a specific intent to hurt or commit mayhem."

- Oh, give me a break. - Ms. Hart.

In simpler language, Doctor?

We found that black men cannot be held psychologically accountable for their actions...

when taken over by this form of temporary insanity.

It's not unlike pack behavior you see among many animal groups.

Objection, Your Honor! Are we supposed to allow this racist quackery...

to be passed off as legitimate science?

The court's position is not to judge scientific validity, Ms. Hart. Only relevancy.

- Overruled. - Doctor, help us out here.

How do you account for this-- this tendency among black males?

The group contagion comes from commonly shared emotions of frustration,

from feeling locked out from full participation in society.

And when a situation presents itself...

that gives them a way to release that powerful frustration,

it's like lighting a spark to an explosive.

- It can't help but blow up. - And this impulse--

this tendency to violence-- you don't find among whites?

No. Hispanics?

No. Asians?

No. Only African-American males in a group setting...

may be incapable of resisting this contagious violence,

like victims of a disease.

So black men just can't lay off violence?

What I said was in some situations-- I heard what you said.

Blacks are subject to group contagion, which is basically mob violence.

I said in some situations,

depending upon the underlying sociological history, that pathology can develop, yes.

And I'm certainly not the only doctor or professor to make this claim.

But you're the one making it today, Doctor.

I sit here saying that it is possible.

Possible... when the price is right.

[ Bobby ] Objection. How much are you charging for today's testimony?

Objection. [ Judge ] Overruled.

- I'm interested to know myself. - How much, Doctor?

$10,000.

Plus expenses. You charge for mileage? Yes.

And in preparation for today's expert testimony,

how much time did you spend with the defendant...

to see if he was "subject to group contagion"?

I'm not sure. More or less than a day?

Less. More or less than an hour?

- Less. - This witness makes me sick!

- Objection! - That remark is stricken.

- I'm surprised at you. - Objection!

[ Judge ] Ms. Hart!

The fact that he's withholding is a good sign. How do you figure?

Bobby always goes for the wrong girls because it's safe.

He knows he'll never fall too deep.

He's scared with you because you could be right.

That's ridiculous. It isn't, Helen.

Be patient.

You know what I think we should do? "We"?

Remember the time-- Forget it!

All right. Your birthday's coming up. I've been wondering what I should get you.

Three words, Helen-- For-get it!

Okay. Your loss.

I gotta go after him, Eugene. I know he's our client, but--

I know the strategy, Bobby.

I'm sorry. I know this is hard.

Did you tell him what he's in for? No.

So he has no idea where I'm coming from?

Nope.

[ Door Opens ]

Why'd you have to jump in? You weren't involved.

Well, because I've been stopped so many times in my life...

for no other reason than the fact that I'm black.

I just-- Well, I just couldn't accept it when I saw what they were doin' to this kid.

You were angry? Yes.

Angry enough to hurt that security guard?

I didn't mean to be involved in a brawl. Things flew out of control.

Suddenly, I found that I had to defend myself.

[ Bobby ] We've all watched the videotape. Are you denying that you were on the attack?

[ Aaron ] I didn't start it. You could have walked away.

By then the others had joined in.

It was four against one. Why didn't you stop it then? [ Hart ] Objection.

Is counsel declaring his own client a hostile witness?

Mr. Donnell? I'm advancing a theory my client doesn't agree with.

- I may have to treat him as hostile. - [ Judge ] Right.

When you had the upper hand,

why didn't you stop the fight and leave the store?

I tried to, but like I said, things flew out of control.

Watch the tape again, Mr. Wilton.

Show us where you tried to stop.

Okay, it wasn't like that. I mean, you know, it happened so much faster.

It was like everything was happening all at once.

[ Bobby ] Like this? Or like this?

That's how it seemed.

I see. And when the security guard-- Mr. Rosemont-- tried to restrain you--

Excuse me! Strangle me.

Okay. "Strangle you."

When Mr. Rosemont tried to strangle you, what were you thinking?

Thinking? I don't know, man.

Did you want to hurt him? [ Hart ] Objection.

You wanted to hurt him. I said I don't know what I was thinking.

Did you want to kill him? [ Hart ] Objection!

Were you thinking that you'd get your revenge on him, the manager,

the store, on every white person in America...

if you put Rosemont through that plate glass window?

No! I wasn't thinking anything! [ Hart ] Objection!

The jury will disregard the last exchange. Mr. Donnell!

Those theatrics might play in Boston,

but here in Wellesley we don't go for it.

Do you recognize the name Samuel Baxter?

Yes, I do.

Who is Samuel Baxter?

He was a janitor at the Academy Homes in Roxbury.

The projects where you grew up? Yes.

Was he a white man or a black man?

He's a black man.

And how would you characterize your relationship with Mr. Baxter back then?

It was friendly.

- You still friendly with Mr. Baxter? - No.

You were arrested and convicted of aggravated assault against Mr. Baxter.

Objection, Your Honor. Aside from the question of relevance,

he's talking about something that happened almost 20 years ago.

[ Bobby ] Your Honor, this case today revolves around the issue of group contagion.

As we have already established by Dr. Alvin Troub,

"tendency to violence" pathology may not be limited to single incidents.

My client and three others beat up this man.

- Objection! Now he's testifying. - Withdrawn.

Did you and your friends assault Samuel Baxter?

Okay, look, that happened such a long time ago--

- You were drinking? - Yes.

And this man, a custodian, asked you to pick up some bottles?

- Yes. - And you beat him up.

Things just got out of control.

- The four of you beat him up. - A fight ensued.

This man asked you to pick up some bottles, and you beat him half to death.

I read the police report. Why'd you do that?

I don't know. Couldn't help yourself?

I said I don't know. Mr. Wilton.

At the time of the incident in question today, did you know that...

your actions inside the SaveWorld Drugstore...

were being videotaped by the surveillance camera?

Yes.

Well, if you knew that you'd be identified and arrested,

why didn't you alter your behavior?

- I don't know. - You don't know?

I don't know!

Could it be that you lost control?

You look like you're ready to lose it now, Aaron.

Legal experts acknowledge that the strategy is an enormous risk,

but one that Wilton's defense attorneys must think is necessary.

It's as if with an all-white jury, they figure race will be a factor.

So rather than beat the potential racism, why not use it to your advantage?

This is Melanie Morris-- I'd say that nail got hit on the head.

It isn't that simple. Really?

Look. I'm not gonna pretend that I am proud of this defense.

But how is that different from what we did in the Braun case?

We argued that the guy had a Jewish right to revenge.

- This is a lot different. - Why?

Gerald Braun avenged the death of his daughter.

We argued that he was acting out of some kind of moral outrage, and he was.

There's nothing moral about the arguments we're making now, and you know it.

I know you are angry, and Rebecca's out with the blue flu.

You don't think I know what that's about? But this is what we do, Eugene!

Sometimes we-- Hey! I know what we do!

We get people off! We're good lawyers. We come up with the best defenses.

There's nothin' we won't stoop to. We're the best!

I know what we do.

Eugene, are you ready? Ready.

Eugene, for us to have any chance, you gotta go all out in there.

I know. I'm ready.

And also, how difficult this is--

I do understand.

It was successful in Los Angeles.

If you remember, after the Reginald Denny beating,

lawyers got acquittals by arguing--

Diminished capacity under the group contagion theory of mob violence.

[ Man ] Emotional outpouring of violence.

Now basically, the argument is that...

Wilton lacked the specific intent to commit mayhem.

It ain't dull here.

Nope. Fun place.

[ Chattering ] [ Clears Throat ]

What we thought, given the nature of the suit,

you might want to submit to binding arbitration.

I don't-- I don't want arbitration. I want my day in court.

Okay, Myra, you might be spending a dollar to save 50 cents.

I don't want arbitration. I want my day in court.

I'm not afraid of a trial. Why are you? I am not af--

All right. Would you consider small claims court?

Small claims court? Don't you wanna handle this?

Well, to be perfectly honest, Myra, I think this case is a bit of a nuisance suit.

- Tell me about it. - Let's not inflame the situation.

Oh, quiet. You fight fire with fire. And don't tell me not to inflame!

Okay, this doesn't have to be a fight.

Yes, of course it is a fight! Why do you think we hired you,

to lick opposing counsel's earlobes?

Okay. You know what? I'm gonna need a little time alone with my client.

Do you mind? No, that's fine.

And I apologize because I know this now means you have to be alone with yours.

Thank you.

This... isn't a case of false accusation.

I've been falsely accused of shoplifting... three times.

And I've lost count of how many times I've felt suspected.

My black friends, they talk about being followed around in stores.

It's sad.

But the answer isn't a riot.

And the answer most certainly is not throwing somebody through a window.

Basically, they're asking you to accept...

that when black angry men are in a group,

it's an excuse to kill somebody.

And that should offend you as civic-minded people.

And the suggestion...

that blacks should be given some special exception...

because we, as a race, are just less able to resist violence--

That's obscene.

And as a black woman, you--

I'll tell you.

I'm going to go home...

and weep tonight.

Whether the argument prevails or not, no matter,

because I'm going to go home and cry...

just because it was made.

Counsel?

"Group contagion."

Our evidence was uncontested.

We put the leading urban anthropologist on the stand here,

and he told you the black man cannot be held psychologically accountable...

for his actions when he's in a pack.

He has a susceptibility to group violence. Something animal takes over.

Scientific fact.

What crap.

- Your Honor-- - I'm doing my closing!

See, what happened here is that...

this man got frustrated, and he fought back.

He was justified. But as a legal strategy,

we didn't think we could get you to believe he was justified.

We thought we'd have a better chance of convincing a white jury that he was an animal.

So it became good legal strategy to argue that our client...

was like some pack animal, a social deviant, and it's crap.

This is a good man-- Aaron Wilton--

with a family, a son.

He's an executive vice president at his place of work.

He is a very good man.

He just finally had had it.

Seeing somebody being falsely accused, he sticks up for him.

This thing breaks out. Security officers are jumpin' on him.

He had damn well had it. And if you don't understand...

how this man could impulsively lash out, well, all you prove...

is that you don't understand.

Oh, I know you can sympathize, but until you've been yanked out of your car,

until you've been searched just because of how you look,

until you see the look of fear in somebody else's eyes...

staring back at you simply because you're black--

Until that kind of thing happens to you...

over and over and over...

and over and over,

you can't know.

My cocounsel, Bobby Donnell,

looked me in the eyes this morning and said...

he understands.

He doesn't. He might think that he does,

but he doesn't.

Aaron Wilton went to the aid of a victim of racism.

He then became the enemy and was assaulted by security guards,

and he reacted with moral and personal outrage!

That's what happened.

I won't ask any of you to understand.

I know that's not possible.

All I'll say--

This man is no deviant.

This man...

was justified.

I just mean it's a silly lawsuit.

Silly? Well, maybe you're just trivializing the importance of a honeymoon...

because it helps you cope with the likelihood that you'll never have one.

I beg your pardon?

What was I thinking coming here expecting you...

to embrace the idea of sex being important in the union?

Don't turn this on me, Myra. You're the one turning it. You just called me stupid.

I'm not calling you stupid. I just said it was silly to prosecute a travel agent.

Which brings me back to the fact that you don't have a clue. A clue what about?

You know what, Ellenor? Probably the only long-term sexual relationship...

you've ever had has been with your left hand.

It was a mistake to come here. Good-bye.

Myra?

Yes?

Never insult the left!

Ellenor? Wh-- She tripped.

[ Groans ]

[ Snickering ]

You ought to go before the Bar. You should lose your license for a stunt like that!

You want my license? Take my license. Take my license!

Did you tell the client you were gonna pull that? Did you ask me?

I didn't need to ask! The hell you didn't!

He comes before your black pride, Eugene! If he goes to jail--

Then we get grounds for appeal. You can argue his lawyer was a deviant!

It's irresponsible! All right!

All right, look. The truth is,

I don't know if I could've lived with an acquittal on that contagion defense anyway.

How could I explain that to my son, Bobby?

Even so, he should've asked you.

It's like he said. He didn't need to.

[ Door Opens ]

Jury's back.

Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please stand?

How do you find?

In the matter of the Commonwealth versus Aaron David Wilton,

on the first charge of voluntary manslaughter,

we find the defendant not guilty.

On the second charge of aggravated mayhem, we find the defendant not guilty.

On the third charge of felony assault, we find the defendant not guilty.

[ Scattered Applause ]

So say you one, so say you all? Very well.

Members of the jury, thank you for your service. You're now excused.

Court is adjourned. [ Gavel Raps ]

[ Reporters Shouting Questions ]

Congratulations.

I think your closing did it. Thanks.

You want to talk to the press on this, or you want me to do it?

Uh, you're better at spin. You do it.

Eugene, you claim I don't understand.

I'll accept-- I'll accept that. I will.

I don't understand what it's like to be subjected...

over and over and over again.

I'll accept I'll never get that.

But you know a man did die here.

And the "I've had it" theory as a defense to manslaughter--

I'll never understand that either.

[ Sighs ]

Just a legal strategy.

You got yours, and, uh,

I got mine.

Yeah.

But yours came from your heart.

We simply sought the jury's understanding...

of Aaron Wilton's state of mind at the time of the event.

That understanding between a white jury and a black defendant...

can only be construed as a positive outcome...

beyond the guilt or innocence of one man.

It's a larger statement for our commonwealth and for our country.

[ Woman ] You stinker!