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First day of law school, my professor says two things.
First, "From now on, when your mother says she loves you,"
- "get a second opinion." - And?
"You want justice, go to a whorehouse. Wanna get fucked, go to court."
Naomi!
Let's say you have a client you know is guilty.
No. Neither our justice system nor I care about that.
Every defendant, regardless of what he's done,
has the right to the best defence his attorney can provide.
- Where were you with the truth? - Truth? How do you mean?
Naomi!
I'm not sure how many ways there are to mean it.
- You think there's only one? - You're late.
- There's only one that matters. - Marty, hold still.
My version of it. The one I create in the minds of the twelve jurors.
If you want, you can call it something else. The illusion of truth.
- If you want. It's up to you. - OK.
Jack, you need more? Tomorrow afternoon?
- Yeah. - I'll have my secretary set it up.
OK.
- This is a cover story, right? - Yeah.
Yeah. OK, bye.
St. Michael's Boys Choir, thank you. A very talented group.
Right now, we're gonna have a brief photo session
while we have the boys here with His Excellency.
I'll be back in a few minutes. Bear with us, enjoy your dessert and thank you.
Mangia, mangia.
Thanks. Marty! What an unexpected surprise.
I'm here to help our friendly prosecutor off the hook.
- Excuse me. - What's it gonna cost?
A lot less than the alternative.
Tomorrow. My office. 9:30.
- Is this on? Yes, it is. - Nice to see you again.
We have come to the heart of the matter. Why we're here tonight.
It's the fifth straight year it's been my privilege
to serve as master of ceremony for the Chicago Bar Association...
- I'm afraid you'll have to put that out. - It's a bar for Christ's sake.
I thought you quit.
I cut down.
You look beautiful. Cut your hair?
Yeah, a few months ago.
Wanna dance?
- There isn't any music. - I'm sure there is.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen...
All you have to do is turn around.
I thought you liked it better like this.
That way you don't have to look at the person.
Mean.
Look at me.
Come on. Let's go find a bar you can still smoke in.
Thanks for the invite, but I don't like one-night stands all that much.
We saw each other for months.
It was a one-night stand, Marty. It just lasted six months.
Well, I must say I haven't seen this many lawyers and politicians
gathered together in one place since confession this morning.
There is no way the People will tolerate a monetary award
to a cockroach who deserves twenty-to-life.
He may be your client, but Joey Pinero was a hard-case felon.
- Dealing, racketeering, money... - Did you say "alleged", Yancy?
Did you hear him say "alleged"?
Mr Pinero has never been convicted of anything.
The cops left him bleeding in the snow. A miracle he survived.
Having said that, I'm not opposed to a settlement.
1,500,000 and Pinero leaves the state.
You can't limit a citizen's right to live where he wants to.
Legally, that's unenforceable.
Enforceable or just a gentleman's agreement,
Mr Pinero will know what we want.
Get the answer you're looking for, don't sit around and chat. A pleasure.
You're worse than the thugs you represent.
- That's enough, Bud. It's over. - I have to run this by him.
You're on a 40% commission. I'm sure your recommendation will prevail.
Thank you, John.
Oh, Jesus.
- Hey, Mr Vail. - How are you doing?
Buena.
Nice tune.
- Traeme dos tequilas por aqui. - Bien, m'hijito.
So, what did they say?
A take-it-or-leave-it offer of 1,500,000. From Shaughnessy himself.
What do you think?
We should take it. Unless you wanna spend two years in appellate court.
- No, fuck that. Close it. - Done.
- OK. - Gracias.
- Salud. - Salud.
- Mia? - Your shot.
There's one more little thing.
They want you to leave the state.
- They want you to disappear. - Disappear?
That's good. Same bullshit, right?
What? What are you talking about?
I keep getting these offers from these guys, Marty.
What offers?
A couple of months ago a cop walks in here. He says,
"You testify against Alderman Martinez, and we'll owe you, Joey."
Say he did you favours, say he's on your payroll.
So I tell him to go fuck himself. Martinez is a good man.
He's the one holding out
while the others try to turn South River into high-rent condos.
- Why didn't you tell me this before? - Why?
'Cause this shit happens every day.
I didn't think it had anything to do with this.
- You don't. - I've spent a lot of money here.
- They spent more. - I built a clinic here.
These people depend on me.
I don't give a shit. Send them cheques from California.
Chucho, hazme el favor, scame el CD.
I respect your advice, Marty, but I can't take it.
- I'll take the money, but I ain't going. - I don't like it, Joey.
Chucho, dame. So, what are they gonna do? Kill me?
They've tried once.
How are they gonna kill a man who never sleeps?
- Get the money. - You're too much.
That song you liked, fourth cut.
Very nice, thank you.
Police'll have their hands full...
- Captain, can you tell us anything? - I don't know anything.
Captain Stenner, what's going on?
I haven't seen anything yet. As soon as I've been inside, I'll tell you.
You should be home in bed, Abel. It's going around.
I'll consider that, Harvey.
Christ. What a mess, huh?
- Sam, you got all you need? - Roll him over.
Hey, stop!
Four fingers severed.
A symbol, B 32.156, is carved into the chest.
Body temperature is still warm...
Captain, we've got a live one on the run.
A passing train has separated the suspect...
You want to know what I hate?
When they go on and on about what big whores defence attorneys are.
We're the bad guys? You know why?
We sit next to some creep, we start to look creepy.
They assume they're guilty, like we know it or something.
You don't know, you don't ask, you don't care. You do the damn job.
It's not like they're your friends for Christ's sake.
Well, some are your friends, but...
Why did you leave the State Attorney's office?
Dead-end job.
You can either run for office or end up a judge.
Why become an umpire when you can play ball?
around St. Michael's and the Archbishop's mansion...
Over here! He's over here!
We will of course stay with this story as it continues to unfold.
What we do know is that approx. 11:08 this morning...
So when did you know you had them?
What? Sorry?
When during the Pinero trial did you say to yourself, "I've got them"?
The day I took the case. Excuse me.
The shocking murder of one of Chicago's most beloved figures,
Archbishop Richard Rushman, has left the cityjust numb.
I understand we have Andy live.
We have just learned the police have arrested a 19-year-old man
identified as Aaron Stampler. According to Captain Stenner...
We have to reschedule. Call my office, OK? I'm sorry.
- Law offices of Martin Vail. - You got the news on by any chance?
Call Sullivan in Judge Trutter's office.
Find out where he is, and call me at the Alibi.
- A lot ofguys'll want this one. - OK.
The police have taken the first steps, acting with speed, with the arrest.
- Are you taking the Stampler case? - I'm sorry, I can't talk right now.
- State Attorney left yet? - Yeah, Yancy no less.
- PD? - Come and gone.
Lock up!
- Give my best to your brother. - Yeah, sure.
I'd like to see him alone if I could.
- All right, but I'll have to lock you in. - Understood.
You know who I am?
No, no, sir. No, I don't.
My name is Martin Vail. I'm what you call a big-shot attorney.
- I don't... I don't have no money. - I didn't think you did.
I'm willing to take your case pro bono,
which means you get all of my expertise and hard work for free.
Or you can get the 40,000-a-year court-appointed public defender,
who will almost certainly escort you to death row. Your choice.
No, sir. I'd surely be grateful for anything you can do.
You're welcome.
Now, your full name is...?
My... Aaron Luke Sta...
Stampler.
- You from Kentucky, Aaron? - Yes, sir. I'm from Creekside.
- Does it say that there? - No.
How long have you been here in Chicago?
Two years next month, I think.
- Have you been arrested? - No, sir.
How do you know the Archbishop?
I was begging on the street, up on the Wacker Drive.
Bishop Rushman came by in his Cadillac.
He saw me and he stopped.
He took me into Savior House.
I work as an altar boy.
And I sing in his choir.
How long were you there, Aaron, Savior House?
A year. Year and a half.
You're supposed to leave when you're 18, but...
But Bishop Rushman let me stay on way past my 19th birthday.
That was nice of him.
Yes. Yes, it was.
Aaron, did you have any reason to dislike the Archbishop?
Dislike? No, no, sir.
He was like a father to me.
Yeah, but you...
How am I gonna say this?
Were you in the room when he was murdered?
How can you explain that?
There was someone else in that room, Mr Vail.
- There was a third person? - Yes, sir.
- Did you tell the police this? - Yes, I did.
- But they didn't believe me. - All right. You tell me now.
I was returning a book
to Bishop Rushman's library.
I heard a noise, so I went back into his bedroom.
Bishop Rushman was lying on the floor.
There was blood all over everýthing.
Then I saw the shadow. I saw a person
Ieaning over Bishop Rushman.
He looked up, and he came at me. And that's when I lost time.
What does that mean? Lost time?
I bla... I blacked out.
It happens to me sometimes.
I have...
.. spells. I have spells.
I lose time.
I can't remember nothing.
Why did you run from the police, Aaron, if you didn't do anything wrong?
Well, when I woke up, I was covered in blood.
I didn't know what to do.
I got scared, I heard sirens, so I ran.
Look, I know how it looks, Mr Vail, but I swear...
I don't need you to convince me. Just answer my questions.
- I didn't do this. You got to believe me. - No, I don't. I don't care.
I am your attorney, which means I'm your mother, your father,
your best friend and your priest.
I don't want you talking to anyone but me.
Not the cops, the press, the guys in the cells, nobody,
without my permission. You understand?
- Yeah? - Yes. Yes, I do.
All right. Now the important stuff. What's your suit size?
- My what? - Suit size. What are you? A 38"?
- I don't know. - Well, a 38" long.
The police flushed Stampler from his hiding place behind the Cathedral.
They chased him through the train yard, almost losing him
as he scrambled over tracks before an oncoming train separated them.
Prominent local criminal defence attorney Martin Vail
is believed to have visited Stampler at the Maxwell Street ...
After a brief chase across the rail yard behind St. Michael's Cathedral,
Stampler was apprehended in a hole beneath train tracks...
- Are you defending this man? - I'm sorry...
Thank you very much. Thank you.
We've taken the first step in the process.
I can now take your questions.
Shaughnessy, what about the altar boy group Stampler was part of?
Not much at this time.
Could other altar boys be involved?
We have no reason to suspect anyone other than Stampler.
He had access to the Archbishop's quarters. He was caught as he fled.
The blood-soaked Aaron Stampler was chased under McCormick Place,
but not before he was almost killed by a passing train.
He's gonna call you as soon as he gets here. Thank you.
- Naomi! - Yeah.
Sorry, I'm late. We have a new client.
- I was afraid you were gonna say that. - Who?
You know what they're calling him? The Butcher Boy of St. Mike's.
- I like that. - You'll be hearing it a lot.
Is the kid who chopped up the Archbishop our client?
You have to get "allegedly" into your vocabulary if you want to be a lawyer.
- Coffee, Tommy? - No, thanks.
He admits he was in the room when the killing occurred, but he didn't see it.
- Can I stop you right there? - No. He was returning a book.
He heard loud noises in the bedroom.
He went in. He sees a figure in the shadows, kneeling over the body.
He blacks out. Next thing he knows,
sirens are screaming, he's covered in blood.
The cops find him in a train tunnel. He's got the Archbishop's ring on him.
- He stole the Archbishop's ring? - No, it was in his pocket.
Is that it?
Yep.
That's...
That's the worst bullshit story I've heard in my entire life.
Now it's our bullshit story.
OK. Let's get to work.
The name of the game is "motive". The Prosecution doesn't have one.
We have to prove that someone else could have committed the crime,
then we can establish reasonable doubt.
I want to know everýthing I can about this guy.
Go to Database, go to Hall of Records, IRS files.
- Even so-called charities. - So-called? He was a priest.
Naomi, write this down. B 32.156. It was carved into the Archbishop's chest.
- Allegedly. - No, that was a fact.
- But I appreciate the effort. - Thanks.
I also need case histories on murder by stabbing, mutilation and religion.
- Also I'm gonna need a psychiatrist. - You're telling me.
Not the kind who lives in a witness box. I need a real one.
- And an expert on amnesia. - What does he look like in person?
The Butcher Boy?
- Like a boy scout. - A boy scout...
.. with a merit badge in carving.
The Archbishop was a close friend of Mr Shaughnessy.
He asked me who my best man was.
- I said you. - Thank you.
I trust if I'm to prosecute this case,
I'll get the authority which comes with it.
You're the one trying the case.
But let's establish one thing at the outset. I want the death penalty.
I'd like to go over the case before we determine whether or not to seek that.
I'm open to anything you have to say, but in my mind there's no debate.
Did the boy they picked up say anything?
Yeah, he didn't do it.
- It's a slam dunk, Janet. - Excuse me.
I appreciate your faith in me. I don't mean to be argumentative.
- It's what we pay you for. - Open and shut, you don't need me.
The PD'll plead no contest and throw the kid on the mercy of the court.
There's not a public defender.
He's got a lawyer? Already? Who?
Hey, I'm Martin Vail.
I'm defending Aaron Stampler. I need to inspect the murder site.
Oh, the Butcher Boy, huh?
Thank you, yes. I forgot his real name.
What's the matter, Marty? Lost your faith?
Looking for a little religion?
Tell me, counsellor. Which one of us is the true headline chaser here?
- Unlike you, I was assigned. - Yeah? And you're up to it?
Sold the book rights, or will you wait? Wanna see some pictures?
They're kind of cute.
I think you'll agree they clearly show the heinous nature of the crime.
Small piece of advice. Don't use the word "heinous" in the courtroom.
Half the jury won't know what you mean.
Small piece of advice. I'm not sitting second chair to you any more.
In case you hadn't noticed, I graduated.
- I had no reason to leave. - You had every reason to leave.
- How can you still work for them? - You expect me to trot out after you?
Quit just because you did?
I don't need a Mercedes. I don't need to see my face on the evening news.
You knew I was coming here, didn't you?
You knew I would defend him. That's why you took the case.
Oh, please. What's the matter, Marty? Are you nervous?
Been a while since you rubbed up against a woman with a brain?
What's the matter? You tired, you haven't been sleeping well?
You're the one with the score to settle. I sleep great at night.
Cook County Dept. Of Corrections Div. IX Maximum Security Dormitory
Thanks.
- Hey. Where is he? - Over here.
We'll be sitting at a table with two of my associates.
Once the charges are read, the judge'll ask how you plead.
- Not guilty. - No.
But I'm not guilty, Mr Vail.
It doesn't matter. Keep your mouth shut.
- Are you gonna say I'm not guilty? - I'll say whatever I say. Don't worry.
- But... - This is what I mean.
This can't go on in the courtroom. Get used to it. I speak, you do not speak.
- Your job is to sit and look innocent. - I am innocent.
That's it! That's how I want you to look.
Can you remember that? Look in the mirror if you have to.
I don't have to. This is how I always look.
Then you're way ahead of the game already, aren't you?
Don't smile.
Don't.
- Mr Vail, can we have a statement? - We're gonna find out what happened.
The only pressure is to find the truth.
You've talked to the police. I told you not to. They get everýthing wrong.
How will you explain his blood-soaked clothes?
I won't explain anything now. I've just been retained in this case.
Significant facts are in dispute here and continue to be so.
You're a master at putting the victim on trial to help your client.
That'll be very difficult in this case.
The victim in this case is my client.
We have two victims here, no suspects. Thank you.
- You worried about his safety? - No. Thank you.
I don't think there's any question about the verdict.
All rise.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Bailiff.
The State versus Aaron Stampler.
- Is every... Sit down. Everyone here? - Yes, Your Honour.
Madame Prosecutor.
The State charges Aaron Stampler with murder in the first degree.
How does your client plead?
If it pleases the Court, I need time to make
a psychiatric evaluation before charges are brought against us.
The State has enough evidence to warrant the allegations.
I agree. Motion denied. Mr Stampler.
- Do you understand the charges? - Yes.
I direct my client not to answer that. His response might incriminate him.
He is taking the Fifth on whether or not he understands the charges?
Yes. Until we have a complete psychological evaluation,
he will be taking the Fifth on any and all questions posed to him.
The State versus Appleby.
For your review on precedent. Thank you.
No, I can't do that. No.
What do you want?
I'm looking for the room a kid named Aaron Stampler stayed in.
- Are you the police? - I'm his uncle.
Well, hey.
- This is Alex's. - Who's Alex?
He's one of the other altar boys.
An altar boy. An altar boy was wearing this?
Well, not at mass.
This altar boy attacked a colleague of mine and hurt him pretty bad.
What do you think he was doing in your room?
I can't... I don't know. I don't have nothing.
- You know where to find him? - Who? Alex?
- No, I don't know where he is. - You don't?
- Who's Linda? - L-Linda?
Is she your girlfriend?
Where is she? I'd like to talk to her.
I don't know where she is.
I get this feeling you're not telling me something.
- I'm telling you the truth. - I don't think so.
Are you surprised that Alex attacked my friend?
No. No, he has a temper.
Yeah, I'd say so.
Do you think it could be Alex
who was that figure you saw at the Archbishop's room?
I... Alex? I couldn't be sure.
- But it could be him. - I don't know.
You don't understand. The State wants you dead.
You don't help me, that's what they'll get.
I'm trying. I can't remember.
I don't understand. Why would Alex wanna do such a thing?
For his own reasons. Maybe someone hired him.
- Hired by who? - Forget it.
Do you think he's capable of doing it?
I don't know.
I don't know who's capable of such a thing.
- Oh, thanks. - Sure.
He claims there was someone else in the room, and he can't remember.
You want me to look into this amnesia question and see what he knows?
What if he knows he did it?
Major causes of amnesia are:
substance abuse, seizures, head injuries and malingering.
I think the kid is telling the truth.
OK. Then let's get something straight.
I'm happy to go in and analyse him, in fact I'm looking forward to it,
but I won't go in there to validate a story. Understood?
You do your job, I do mine, yatta, yatta.
If I think it's necessary,
I'd wanna get an MRl, EEG and Neuropsych testing.
- Yes, doctor. Good night. - Good night.
I'll be recording our meetings for Mr Vail.
So it isn't as confidential as it would be if you were consulting with the doctor.
He may even call me as a witness. If you have any questions...
- ... you should raise them to him now. - No, ma'am. I understand.
Good. So, OK. I think we'll be fine.
- I'll see you later. - OK.
Bye.
Vail told me there's time surrounding the death you don't remember.
- Is that right? - Yes.
I lost the time.
I mean I blacked out.
- Have you had blackouts before? - Yes, I have.
When's the first time you remember them happening?
They started when I was about twelve.
Were your parents aware of what was happening to you?
N-no. My m-m-mother was dead.
And your father?
No, no. He was not a nice man.
- Did you seek treatment? - Did I what?
- Did you see a doctor for them? - Oh.
No.
You don't go to a doctor in Creekside unless your leg's broken.
- Hey. Can I talk to you? - Talk.
Excuse us. I'll bring her right back.
How dare you?
Am I a chess piece you can move around? I was having lunch.
When are we getting all the discovery?
- What do you want? - I want to know when.
- I've got motions to file. - No, you don't.
You're looking to make a deal.
I have no authority to deal from my client. What's your excuse?
If we needed to make a deal, I have all the authority I want.
Bullshit! Shaughnessy wants the whole shot. He's using you to get it.
Deal this down to murder with no death penalty.
Deal down? We have a fucking great case.
Great case? Lack of prior record, no eye witness, no confession, no motive.
Hard evidence. I assume you're not going with insanity, which is a shame.
My shrinks would have torn him apart.
Your pleading the Fifth on the charges was brilliant.
It was good, wasn't it? I liked it.
You lose this case, you take the fall, not Shaughnessy.
- Talk to me. - We're going to trial, Marty.
All right. All it takes is one. One juror who doesn't believe he did it.
One juror with a kid who looks into that face...
That face is great. You prepping him to take the stand?
That stutter is p-p-priceless.
Oh, Marty.
Don't tell me you think he didn't do it.
Has little Aaron Stampler gotten to you?
We're not just talking about jail here, but ending someone's life.
If you're wrong and Shaughnessy's made you do this, can you live with it?
I'll live.
See you in court.
We stipulate that murder was done here.
So these photos have no probative value.
This is not just murder, it's mutilation and torture.
The Prosecution wants to show them to the jury for shock appeal.
Not true. They clearly identify the heinous nature of the crime,
and they connect the defendant, found covered in blood, to the crime scene.
- Prejudicial. - I beg to differ.
Counsel, please! The photos are in, Mr Vail.
Would you like a recess to carry on with this in private?
I'm sorry, Your Honour, but this is too much.
Next thing, he'll be objecting if we bring in the murder weapon.
Now that she brings it up...
This is a public building.
Excuse me, Mr Vail.
Would you sign this for me?
Tell me about Linda. Mr Vail said she was your girlfriend.
Yes, she was.
How did you meet?
Well, we were both at the Savior House.
I was an altar boy. She was doing work for Bishop Rushman.
- What was the relationship like? - Me and Linda?
She is real cultural, real cultural and very smart.
We had a nice time together.
We might get married.
Were you sleeping together?
- Well, that's private. - I know. I have to ask the question.
Were you having a sexual relationship, Aaron?
Yes, we were.
Were you sleeping with anyone else at the time?
No.
Was she?
Has she been to see you, Aaron?
- Well, no, but... - And that upsets you.
No. No, the thing is she went away.
She went away for a while.
She left before this happened. I don't even think...
I don't even think she knows about it.
- Yo, boss. - Hey. Got something for me?
Yeah.
There's nothing catalogued downtown under the numbers B 32156.
But I don't think the B is a B. It's an 8. I think the knife slipped. 832156.
Thomas Jefferson. I don't think he did it.
This won't help. Rushman's charities and his foundation's investments.
Nothing startling, except how many there are.
Wait a minute here.
What was he doing with the South River deal? Pull that up.
LOADING FILE
Yeah. The investors.
Shaughnessy?
That's Joey Pinero's neighbourhood.
See this lot here? This all used to be houses.
In fact, there was a house in the corner where I kissed my first girlfriend.
Got her pregnant, too.
- Hell of a kiss, Joey. - Oh, yeah.
The neighbourhood will end up high-rent condos if they get their way.
That's why I'll buy back the lot with the settlement you got me.
You heard about the money, right?
- Who hasn't? - Marty's the best, man.
Just doing my job.
1,500,000. He's just doing his job.
Alderman, Joey tells me a cop came around, wanting him to set you up.
It's typical.
Can't buy me, so they try to buy a brother.
Most people assume this land we're walking on belongs to the railroad.
But it doesn't. It belongs to the Church.
The Church?
- So that's the Rushman Foundation. - That's right.
- With a bunch of rich developers. - Including John Shaughnessy.
They bought up land and buildings around the Church property
and tore them down. Our neighbourhood would disappear.
I went to the Archbishop and said, "What are you doing to these people?"
"They're poor. They're getting kicked out of their homes."
- "And they're Catholic." - Fucking A.
He listened. I couldn't believe it.
He told them to stop developing around the Church property.
The partners hold buildings they can't demolish and land they can't build on.
Shaughnessy loses millions.
- If I need you to, will you testify? - Who? Me?
Oh, yeah. Easy.
Just change out of this suit, put on a Brooks Brothers with loafers and...
No, Joey. Not you.
Sure.
I'll testify.
You know what people think? That this great city runs itself.
They think it gets up, goes to work and climbs into bed at night, like we do.
Unaware of what it takes to make sure it doesn't break down.
Crime, fires, riots.
The water pipes bursting under the city. What a mess that was.
And the Water Commissioner calls the contractor who built it?
No, he calls me. They all call me.
Goddamn, this is terrific.
They call me because I keep the peace. That's my job.
This city doesn't burn because I won't permit it.
I'm the great negotiator.
You think people get that? The truth is I don't care.
The dumb bastards don't even vote.
They just eat, sleep, watch TV and occasionally fuck their wives.
Guess we should all thank you.
You're welcome.
John, you need some new material.
I've heard this great-city speech ten times already.
Your boy Pinero is not honouring his side of the deal.
- Is that what this dinner is about? - In part.
I told him what the deal is. He's a grown up. What else?
Your assistant's been digging around in the Archbishop's finances.
Yeah, well.
How much did you lose when he pulled the plug from South River?
Let me tell you something.
It's a mistake to stick your thumb in the eyes of the city's most powerful.
It's not their eyes I'm aiming for.
Do not fuck with me, Marty.
The pipes are bursting again, John.
In the most anticipated murder trial in recent Chicago history,
former State Attorney Prosecutor Martin Vail will lead...
Richard Rushman was a man of God.
He spent his life giving to the people of Chicago.
He was a beacon ofinspiration, not only as a spiritual leader...
deliver his opening statement tomorrow...
My name is Martin Vail. The reason I'm here, and the reason you're here,
is to make sure the whole truth is known.
We can learn the truth
by talking about what the Prosecution does not want you to hear.
Do not be fooled by the defendant's innocent appearance and demeanour.
Aaron Stampler sat injudgment ofArchbishop Rushman
and determined that not only should he die,
but he should die the most brutal...
We all saw Aaron being arrested minutes after the Archbishop's death.
But why? Because he was convenient and the police were under pressure...
The evidence will show that Aaron Stampler stalked, ambushed
and savagely murdered this great man.
The Prosecution doesn't want you to hear about
the other altar boys who have mysteriously disappeared.
At the close of evidence, you will learn
that Aaron Stampler had everything he needed
for the perfect assassination. Using this knife...
.. Aaron Stampler repeatedly stabbed at the Archbishop's chest,
his genitals and his eyes.
They don't want you to hear that the Archbishop
invested on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church.
Investments resulting in huge losses for some very powerful people.
They don't want you to hear about the 20 death threats he received this year.
And they really don't want you to hear about their theory of motive.
Why is that? Very simple.
They don't have one.
Inspector Woodside, explain to the court where the sneakers came from.
They were taken off the defendant when he was apprehended.
What was the result of the blood-stain analysis?
They proved to be human blood
matching the blood type and DNA characteristics of the Archbishop.
What did the bloody footprints surrounding the body tell you?
The killer left a pattern of footprints around the area of the struggle,
as indicated by the spread of blood through the room.
Yes or no, inspector. Could there have been a third person in the quarters?
- There's no evidence to suggest that. - No evidence proves there wasn't.
No.
What happened after the struggle?
Our analysis suggests the killer was startled and ran
from the bedroom and down the stairs.
Is it possible, inspector... that the real killer, the third person,
who maybe was smart enough not to tramp a whole freeway of blood
through the whole place,
couldn't this third person have placed the defendant's prints on the knife...
- ... while he was passed out? - Anything is possible.
Clearly the victim suffered a great number of stab wounds.
Yes, he did. 78.
He tried to defend himself, that explains cuts on hands and forearms.
Doctor, isn't it a fact that you can't be sure
whether more than one person inflicted these 78 stab and incised wounds?
It could have been more than one, but I doubt it.
From your analysis of the knife wounds,
do you have an opinion whether the killer was left or right-handed?
The wounds to the throat and most of the chest wounds
were made from an angle that strongly suggests a left-handed person.
- Is the defendant left-handed? - Yes, he is.
It's possible a right-handed person could have used his left hand.
Yes, I suppose that's possible.
Then it's reasonable to assume there was a third person at the crime scene.
Reasonable, no. But it is possible.
then following opening statements it was a day ofstrong testimony
from the Prosecution's first witnesses,
Forensics ChiefHarvey Woodside and Medical Examiner Emile Weil.
It was also tough cross-examination of Woodside and Weil
by Stampler defence attorney Martin Vail.
Captain Stenner, thank you for the time you've given us.
But finally, I'd like to turn your attention to the symbol carved into the chest.
Would you please tell the jury about that, captain?
Yes, the letter and the numbers
B 32.156 were carved into the Archbishop's chest.
Have you been able to find an identical reference anywhere?
I believe so, yes.
The symbol B 32.156 is actually catalogue code for a book
discovered in a private reading room located in the church basement.
That particular number, the B 32 part, refers to a book, The Scarlet Letter,
by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
When we opened the book to page 156,
we discovered an underlined passage.
Could you please read this underlined passage to the court?
"No man, for any considerable period,"
"can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude"
"without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true."
Thank you.
What does that passage mean to you?
Objection. He's a policeman, not an English professor.
His interpretation will be speculative and irrelevant.
She didn't ask for an expert opinion. Witness can answer.
Well, to me it's simple.
The killer thought his victim was two-faced, dishonest in some way.
In your experience, captain,
do killers ever intentionally leave clues to their motive?
Not often, but it happens.
Thanks.
- Thanks, man. - Yeah, sure.
Did you underline that book?
- What? - Did you underline that book?
- No, Mr Vail. - No?
No, Mr Vail. I never even opened The Scarlet Letter.
I don't like Hawthorne.
We had that one about the house with the seven somethings in high school,
I couldn't even get past page 10.
I wasn't the only one using Bishop Rushman's library.
Everybody borrowed books from Bishop Rushman.
He encouraged it. Altar boys, staff, everyone was in there.
Guard.
You don't give up, do you?
- You didn't know anything about that? - No.
- What about the impact...? - I can't talk right now.
My office will call you, right? OK, bye.
- Thanks. - See you.
Bye.
What the fuck happened in there?
I guess that 8 was a B after all.
You think this is funny? We're losing this case.
What happened? How could you've missed that?
There are 50 of them, plus the entire Chicago PD.
How was I to know he had a reading room in the basement?
- It's your job. - You want my job?
- No, I want you to do your job! - Marty, come on.
I'm working on a third-man defence. Figured that out yet?
I don't have a third man. Why? Because you can't fucking find him!
- Is it that hard to find one indigent kid? - Maybe we already got the kid.
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