All language subtitles for Law.and.Order.S11E06.Burn.Baby.Burn.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

the people are represented
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.

Yo, you going to let JayCee
chill in your crib?

I'm saying he ain't got
no other place to go.

Why don't he go home?

His moms don't let
him cut school, B.

Oh, but it's all right
with you, though?

What am I, the principal?

Damn!

Yo, he a cop.

His name's Jake Kearsey.

Detective second grade.

He worked out of
our robbery squad.

You know him?

I had a few beers with him.

Wife and two kids
up in Rockland.

How old?

Girl's 14, 15.
Son's a few years younger.

You check the weapon?
Yeah.

Two rounds missing
from the clip.

We found the spent
shells in the hallway.

Entry craters in
the plaster here.

Any of the neighbors home?
They must be at work.

Which of you guys got here first?

Muniz and Nelson.

They're with the two
kids who called it in.

The apartment door was like this
when they got here?

No, it was locked.

When they saw Jake
on the floor

they busted it in.

Whoever was in there
is in the wind.

Unless the shooter
caught Kearsey's fire.

You know what--
check the local ERs

and get the borough
to broadcast an alarm

on reported
gunshot victims.

What happened up here, fellas?

I don't know.

We was leaving my apartment
to go to work

and we just seen
him like that.

Well, we called 911
right away, though.

You both live here?

Just me.

What time did
you get here?

Like around, like, 8:30.

You heard any shots?

We had the music up
real loud.

Who lives in that apartment?

Some lady.

She just moved in.

Alone? ! As far as I know.

I just got the page.
Excuse me, fellas.

Any idea how it went down?

No, not yet.

Kearsey get any rounds off?

Yeah, two.

Hopefully, one of
them's in the killer.

It's okay we're in here?
Yeah, the warrant's on the way.

Lennie, there's women's clothes

in the closets
and all the drawers.

I don't suppose she
wears a man's 11.

Would you bag these in case
Cinderella shows up?

Got something here.

Bullet wipe on
the window frame.

Slug's still in there.

So it's a straight
shot to the hallway.

Pretty sure it's
a nine-millimeter.

There's number two.

Tommie Cannizzaro, the Three-Six.

This is my partner,
Detective Hart.

Me and Jake, we went
to the Academy together.

I'm sorry about your buddy.

Yeah, me too--
thought maybe you needed

a hand tossing the
place or something?

It's actually a
little tight up here.

The bosses show up,
see too many people

we're going to catch heat.

All right.

Thanks.

No recent gunshot victims
at the local hospitals.

But Kearsey's partner's
downstairs.

Me and Jake got notification

on a Rob One we worked
about a year ago.

The ADA wanted
one of us up on the stand

first thing this morning.

I lost the coin toss.

So your partner
didn't go to court?

No, he was going to run down
the DA's next witness

a guy named Albert Rosa.

Bring him to One Hogan.

This Rosa-- he lived here?

No, other side of town.

East 122nd.

So, what was your partner doing

over here on
Saint Nicholas Avenue?

I wish I could
tell you.

Jake's wife know?

I'm on my way
up to their house.

Do you mind joining me?

That's a good idea.

Jake calls tails,
that's me on that gurney.

The apartment's rented
to a Selina Watts.

She moved in about
two months ago.

That name register
with your robbery case?

No, I never heard of her.

Nobody we canvassed
in the building

knew much about her.

Anybody notice a boyfriend?

No, and apparently Watts

wasn't into small talk.

She kept regular hours,
probably a nine-to-fiver.

Nobody knew where.

Find out how Kearsey
got to her door

from East 122nd street.

The detective was here

first thing this morning.

Buzzed me, asked me
where Mr. Rosa was.

What'd you tell him?

That Mr. Rosa left Monday night
with an overnight bag.

Hadn't seen him since.

He say when he was coming back?

Nope, just asked me
to hold his mail.

Oh, here's the DA's
trial subpoena.

Oh, looks like he was
shirking his civic duty.

Did Mr. Rosa mention
a robbery case?

No.

Did you tell the detective
where he'd be?

Well, I told him
where he worked.

Um, Ajax Transmissions.

Yeah...

the detective was here
a few hours ago.

What happened? You lost him?

He asked you about Albert Rosa.

And I told him,
Albert called yesterday

said he needed
a few personal days.

Did the detective talk
to anybody else here?

Hey, Louie, the detective
was here ask you about Albert?

Yeah.

What did you tell him?

Nothing--
I mean

I told him where he was.

And where was that?
At his cousin's place.

I'm supposed to bring his
check over there tomorrow.

It's 35 Saint Nicholas Avenue.

You give Detective Kearsey
the cousin's name?

No, but Albert wrote
it down for me.

Selina Watts?

Maria Santiago.

35 Saint Nicholas Place.

Ever done this before?

Yeah.
Twice.

Two times too many.

Ronnie, what are you
doing up here...

Annie...

Oh, my God.

Where's Jake?

Annie...

Oh, Ronnie, just tell me!

I'm sorry.

Your husband was
shot this morning

in the line of duty,
Mrs. Kearsey.

I should have been
there for him.

Is there anyone we
can call for you?

No, I don't know.

I'm going to stay here.

Call me if anything breaks.

This idiot gave Kearsey
the wrong address.

He winds up getting killed.

We're ruling out ambush?

The kid gave himself
up way too easy.

I got to figure wrong time,
wrong place.

What do we have on the woman
who rents the apartment?

We couldn't locate her landlord

so she's either at work
someplace, or she took off.

Get Byrne to run
her name with BCI.

How about our size 11?

Latent's got a stack
of prints to read.

Well, tell them to read faster.

Thanks.
The guys at the Three-Six

are about to collar our shooter.

One of my snitches

puts him in the back room
in a bar around the corner.

You got a name?
Yeah, "Junior."

18-year-old black male,
5'8", wears a goatee.

Where'd your snitch
get this information?

He knows a surgical nurse.

Dressed a minor bullet wound
in his apartment

he says belongs to the shooter.

Who called the local news?

They have scanners.

You didn't put it
on Division radio?

Hey, I'm sorry. I had more
important things to worry about

like were we going
to lose this guy or not.

Now, you want to stand here
and have this conversation

or go grab him up?

Everybody up!

Everybody, hands on the bar!

Hey, what's going on?

Come on!
Get them up there!

Come on, Pops, move it!

Hey, there's no need.
There's no need!

Where's Junior?

There's nobody
named Junior here.

Who's in the back room?

There's nothing back
there but some boxes.

You're lying to us. I'm going
to kick your black ass!

Hey!

Take the door.

It's clear.

It's a storage closet.

Yo, you put your hands on
an old man like that again

black or white-- you and me
going to have a problem.

That's funny 'cause
I was going to say

if you ever interfere
with me again

in the middle
of an operation

we're going to have
a big problem

and I'm going to solve it.
Do it now.

Oh, aren't you a big shot?
What are you?

Playing Al Sharpton
in front of the brothers?

Hey, man, I'll take you
anytime, anywhere.

Oh, like we don't know

who'll wind up all
jammed up out of that--

certainly not the brother.

You say "brother" like that
one more time, I swear to God

I'm going to stomp your ass
into the pavement.

What side is your partner on, Lennie? Same
side I'm on, all right?

Is our perp in there?
No.

Any problems?
No, we're fine.

You can read it in my report.

What am I supposed to know here?

Well, Officer Cannizzaro
could have used a little more

discretion in the bar.

You two, back to your precinct.

I want to talk to you.

Word is you have a suspect. We
thought we did.

Word is you have a suspect. We
thought we did.

So now I have to go back to the
mayor and tell him you don't?

Right.

Your people know the importance
of keeping City Hall apprised?

They do.

Sir, we just found out
it was a false alarm

otherwise we would have
saved you the trip.

Any leads on the woman
in the apartment?

We're making progress.

Joe, I have to get back.

I'll tell the Mayor
the investigation's proceeding.

Give me something soon, Anita.

Briscoe.
Green.

Fallout from the bar and grill?

What do you have?

Byrne pulled a sheet
on the woman

in 3D-- Selina Watts.

29 years old,
formerly of Brooklyn.

We got a car in the Seven-Four

en route to her
last known address.

Priors?

One recent arrest for
fraud--still pending.

All right, find the ADA
on her case.

We arrested Selina Watts

about three weeks ago.

She's an administrator at
the Riverside Action Project.

It's an eviction prevention
program up in Harlem.

She dipping into the till?

No, we found some irregularities
in their intake process.

Irregularities?

Tenants enrolled in the program
that aren't eligible.

That doesn't sound
too serious.

We charged Watts hoping
she'd flip on the higher-ups.

The place is run by an activist
named Lateef Miller.

Used to be Bobby Miller.

The former Black Panther?

One and the same.

He and his pals
robbed some banks

upstate back in the '60s.

They also ran a free breakfast
program up in Harlem.

So, how long's Robin Hood

been running this
Riverside Action Project?

The Board of Directors hired
him about five years ago.

He's been successful in getting
some pretty big grants.

He turned the project into a
real force in the neighborhood.

You got anything on Miller?

No, Watts isn't cooperating.

Her lawyer insists they're
not doing anything illegal.

I'm sure she's told him
he's under investigation.

Watts is still working
for him at Riverside.

Selina Watts?

Can I help you?

I'm Detective Green.
This is Detective Briscoe.

We just need to ask you
a couple questions.

First off, where were
you today at 9:15?

Why?

There was a detective shot
in your building this morning.

I don't know anything
about that.

What time did you
leave for work?

What am I, a suspect?

It's just a simple
question, Ms. Watts.

And I have a simple answer.

I don't have to account
for my whereabouts to you

or anybody else.

What can you tell us
about Lateef Miller?

Not a damn thing.

He is your boss, isn't he?

Right, he's my boss.

Well, where is he now?

No idea.

Somebody at your apartment was

involved in that shooting.

How do you know that?

There were fresh
bullet holes inside.

You went inside my apartment?

Who gave you the
right to do that?

I don't think you're seeing
the big picture here.

We're going to have to ask you
to come with us, Miss Watts.

Well, you can forget about it

'cause I'm not going
anywhere with you.

We're going to have
to place you

under arrest.
For what?

Criminal possession
of a handgun.

I don't have a handgun.

You had one at your apartment.

Please.

Whose size 11s were
in your living room?

That is none of your business.

There was a dead cop
outside your door.

I don't know anything
about that.

The shots came from
inside your apartment.

I don't know anything
about that, either

including I don't
know it's true.

Did Lateef Miller spend
the night with you?

That, for sure,
is none of your business.

Look, if you're not going
to help us out here

Miss Watts, we have
three fraud counts pending

we could use against you.

Not to mention accessory
after the fact to murder.

I've got nothing
to do with that.

Look, all you have to do
to walk out of here is

tell us
about Lateef.

Then I guess I ain't going
to be walking out of here

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

So you have an
unexplained shooting

and your only suspect

just happens to be
Lateef Miller?

Latent lifted four of his prints
from inside the apartment.

So how do we know
he wasn't there

last Sunday for
tea and crumpets?

If you're jumping
to conclusions

because Miller
was a Panther...

He was under investigation
by the D.A.'s Frauds Bureau.

So he shoots a cop?

Miller's dropped
off the radar

and Watts is covering for him.

It's just too big
of a coincidence.

You'd better be right.

Race relations in this city
what they are

the Department can't afford another black
eye.

They're fully aware of that.

Good.

So do we pick him up or not?

Yeah, pick him up.

And make sure Miller's in one
piece

when you bring him in.

Last known for Lateef Miller:
2017 Amsterdam.

So what are we
waiting for?

A warrant. We've got cars on his building
and the R.A.P. office.

Green and I will take
E.S.U. into his apartment

as soon as the
paperwork gets here.

What do you have
on the gun?

Ballistics makes the murder
weapon a Glock nine-millimeter.

It's their new
"Compensated" model.

You've all seen it.

It has vents on the slide
to reduce recoil.

All right, people, keep working your eyes
and ears on the street

and be ready to move
as soon as we see what turns up

in Miller's apartment.
All right?

Police! Freeze!

What are you doing?

What are you...
what are you doing?

It's clear.

All right,
he's a kid.

We're looking
for Lateef Miller.

You just can't
break down our door.

We've got
a no-knock warrant.

Yeah.
Can I see it?

Do you know Lateef Miller?

Lateef Miller
is our father.

"Murder in the
first degree"?

He didn't kill anybody.

Where was he
the night before last?

Here.

We don't have to answer
any questions.

You're right. You don't.

Our father warned us
about people like you.

Uh, I'll take that back
if you're done.

Or I'll wind up like my cousin?

What happened to your cousin?

He got shot by a cop like you.

Anything turn up at
Miller's apartment?

No. Nothing
but his two scared kids.

His place was clean.

Well, you follow up
at the R.A.P. office?

We made visits to the staff.

No Lateef Miller.

No love from the staff
or the community.

Well, no one likes cops
at their door.

That's not all
they don't like.

Lateef's like a living legend.

You know what that makes me.

Oh, I know
you're not buying into that.

Van Buren:
What do you have?

I pulled some
of Miller's old cases.

I figured maybe he's hooked up

with one of his
old radical friends.

He did a few robberies
with a guy

named Rolando August.

Who has a real estate business
in the Bronx.

Ex-Panther makes good.

I haven's seen Lateef
in ten years.

You did time together.

That's right, but I haven't
seen him in ten years.

A vacant apartment in
one of your buildings

is a great place to
stash an old comrade.

I wouldn't do that.

Would you make
an emergency loan?

No, I wouldn't

and I resent the accusatory tone in your
voice.

Well, you kind of made that bed
30 years ago, Mr. August.

People change, Detective Green.

I do pretty well here
for an ex-con.

I wouldn't risk it all
for Lateef Miller.

I'm sure
you'll understand

we can't just take
your word for it.

Here are my listings.

You want to bust
down 200 doors...

be my guest.

We finally got the LUDs
for Watts.

Miller checked his answering
service from her phone

a half hour
before Kearsey was shot.

Great. All we got to
do is find the guy.

Well, if we can't find Miller

maybe we can find
the murder weapon.

I'm sorry, I'm late for
my daily spanking at One P.P.

This doesn't
make much sense.

Maybe he thought
Kearsey was there

to take him
back to jail.

Hmm. You know, I know this guy--
Fort Washington Park.

I heard of this Lateef Miller.
What did he do?

You know about the cop
on Saint Nicholas?

Big news, man.

What'd you got
for me?

What do you
got for me?

The same parole violation

that's been hanging over
your head for three years.

I'll make some inquiries.

He might be trying
to sell off

a state-of-the-art
Glock nine-mill.

A C model, the one with
the flash holes on the slide.

You heard about one
on the market?

Tough piece to turn over.

Burner like that goes
for $1,500, $1,800.

Who do you know
that handles

that kind of high-end merchandise?

I can think
of two or three guys.

Who's there?

Lottery Winners
Payment Unit.

Also known as the
Police Department.

What's this?

Step into the
hallway, Natron.

You buy a guy
from Lateef Miller?

I didn't buy no gun.

You know what?
We're going to wait

till they get here
with a warrant.

Then we're going to go in
and tear your place apart.

You got anything
in there

you'd rather
we didn't find?

What I got to do?

Where's Lateef?

I don't know.

Call for
the warrant.

Look, Lateef's a Muslim, right?

All Muslims' Friday afternoons
are at Jumah.

What's "Jumah"?

It's prayer.

Where?

At the mosque.

Which mosque?

135th Street.

Our source said Miller's been
taking his meals at the mosque

Our source said Miller's been
taking his meals at the mosque

the past two days,
sleeping there...

Any muscle
in there?

He doesn't think so.

So we wait for E.S.U.?

No. That'll bring out the whole
neighborhood.

You know what?
I'm going in.

What? You're going
to go in the back?

No. I'm going to
come out the back.

Van Buren: You sure you want to do it this
way?

What? You want a riot
on your hands?

Asalaam alaikum.

Wa alaikum salaam.

Are you Muslim?

No. I'm a cop.

I need to talk
to Lateef Miller.

Now, you know you don't
belong here, brother.

Look, man, I know,
but it's either me

or an E.S.U. team with
assault rifles and tear gas.

We don't need that.

They're inside making Salat.

I won't interrupt, I swear.

Asalamo Alaikum wa Ramatullah.

Asalamo Alaikum wa Ramatullah.

Mr. Miller.

Please don't make us disrespect your house
of worship.

You already have.

I need you to
come with me.

I want to go out the front.

The back is better.

So you can shoot me?

If they shoot you

they're going to have
to shoot me, too.

I'll take it from here.

There's going to be
press at the house.

You okay
with doing the walkout?

Lennie could go alone.

No, I'll do it.

All right.

Murder in the first degree.

If I hear another word
from the gallery

I'm going to clear
the courtroom.

Give me a break!

How does the defendant plead?

My client has a statement,
Your Honor.

Given that I'm here
as a political prisoner

the Geneva Convention

doesn't afford this court
jurisdiction.

That's enough!

Mr. Miller, I'm entering a plea
of not guilty.

People request remand-- Your
Honor

Mr. Miller killed
a police officer

and then fled the scene
in order to avoid capture.

He was praying in a mosque,
Your Honor.

He's a pillar of his community.

The People are considering
the death penalty.

No bail.

Defendant is remanded.

Move on to motions.

I had to duck out
the back exit

on Baxter Street
to avoid the mob.

If you think
the arraignment

was a circus,
wait for the trial.

Who's representing him?

Leon Chiles.

Mm. How's our case?

We've had better.

The shot that killed Kearsey

came from Miller's
girlfriend's apartment.

We can put Miller inside.

Any witnesses? A gun?

Neither one. Any chance for a deal?

You make a deal
for manslaughter

you break faith
with every cop in the city.

But was it manslaughter?

No, I don't
believe it was.

Still, we prosecute for homicide

we could get accused of racism.

In other words, we can't win. Right.

Okay, well,
let's call it for what it is.

Let's prosecute for homicide.

A woman named Selina Watts lives in
3D.

Our Latent Print Unit lifted
four fingerprints

belonging to Lateef Miller
from her apartment.

We also found a pair of shoes,
his size, in her hallway.

Was there anything that
connected Mr. Miller

to Miss Watts' apartment

on the morning
of the incident?

When we subpoenaed Watts' telephone
record

there was a phone call

from her apartment

to the defendant's
answering service

37 minutes
before the 911 call.

Could anybody do this?

They would have to have Mr. Miller's
private PIN code:

4-2-4-4-8.

4-24-48 is Mr. Miller's
birthday, isn't it?

I believe it is. Yes.

And it's fairly common,
is it not

to use one's birthday
for one's PIN code?

It may be.
I don't really know.

But wouldn't anyone
who knew Mr. Miller's birthday

have a good chance of
accessing his messages?

Assuming they also
had his phone number.

And I take it
the police department

has access to both of those

pieces of information.

Right.

When your lab ran

all the prints found
in Selina Watts' apartment

how many other individuals
were there beside Mr. Miller?

I believe there were 14.

14... but only one belonging
to a former Black Panther.

Right, Detective?

Right.

Ah... oh, um, how many
other individuals were there

who had size 11 feet?

We didn't run their shoe sizes.

Hmm.

I was Jake Kearsey's
partner for 18 months.

I've known him and his
family for seven years.

Which family members in particular?

His wife Ann.

His children,
Julie and Brian.

On the day
Detective Kearsey was killed

what happened?

While Jake was
running down a witness

somebody gave him
the wrong address.

Did the case you
and Detective Kearsey

were working on

have anything to do
with Lateef Miller?

Nothing whatsoever.

In the time that you

worked with him, did
Detective Kearsey ever mention

Lateef Miller in particular

or the Black Panther Party
in general?

No, he did not.

You're a... partner

didn't live
in New York City, did he?

No. He lived up
in Rockland County.

He was a member
of the Emerald Society?

Objection.

I'm laying
the foundation

to establish an
ultimate reason

for Detective
Kearsey's visit.

Overruled.

Yeah, the Emerald Society.

Which is a secret,
all-white clique

within the police department?

It's a social club
for Irish cops.

A fraternal
organization.

But the only brothers
of this fraternal organization

are white?

Objection.

Move along,
Mr. Chiles.

It's it a fact
that Detective Kearsey

belonged to a
motorcycle gang

called the
White Knights?

Yeah, it's a group of overweight
middle-aged guys

who like to ride bikes
on Sundays.

But did not the son
of one of the members

of this gang, get arrested

for scrolling "KKK" on the wall
of his high school?

Objection
Move to strike.

The question is stricken.

Did Detective Kearsey have six
excessive force complaints

filed against him at CCRB...
five by African Americans?

The ones I know about
were dismissed.

What about the one

that was sustained?

Where he put a young black man
in a choke-hold

that sent him
to the hospital?

That guy was a PCP freak,
resisting arrest.

How many white PCP freaks

did your partner overpower
during his career?

Nothing more.

Mr. McCoy?

Can't you do something
about that?

The judge is giving him
some leeway, Mrs. Kearsey.

Leeway? He's making him look
like Jake had it coming.

Attacking the victim

will probably backfire.

Well, what
if it doesn't?

From where we sit
your case

isn't going
all that great.

These cheap shots
won't make any difference.

Well, they make
a difference to me.

My husband is not
on trial here.

I know it's difficult, Mrs.
Kearsey.

You'll have to excuse us.

We have a witness to prep.

I didn't come all this
way to let this guy go.

What are you thinking?

Nobody saw Lateef between the crime scene
and the mosque?

We struck out with the cab drivers and the
bus companies.

Maybe were looking
for the wrong address.

You're Lateef and you know
you just gunned down a cop

who do you go see?

A lawyer.

I can't find this thing.

Maybe tomorrow, guys.
It's been a crazy day here.

You don't tell us
about crazy.

We've been running around
looking at trip sheets

for the last eight hours.

Wait a minute.

I think I got it.

Let me see that.

Lenny, look at this.

Morning of shooting:
drop-off, 1840 Broadway.

That's Leon Chiles's
law office.

Mm-hmm.
The driver's Jean Marchier.

This is my trip sheet

but I don't remember
every fare from that day.

Well, how come you filed it
a week late?

I share my car with
two other drivers.

I don't go into the office
that much.

Wait, hold up.
Hold up.

Is this the guy
you picked up

in front of 33
Saint Nicholas?

Yes, it is.

I remember he came out of
the building and he hailed me.

I remember
he was little bit upset.

So, after your officers

broke down Selina
Watts's door

they were in the apartment
alone, without supervision?

I was on the way.

Which gave them
the opportunity

to tamper with the crime scene, did it
not?

Objection.

Approach.

He needs a good-faith basis

to pose these kinds
of questions.

I've given you some latitude,
Mr. Chiles

but my patience
is running thin.

Could I have a moment, Judge?

The people would like
to add a witness

to our witness list.

A little late,
aren't you?

He saw the defendant
exit the scene of the crime

at the time
of the murder.

He drove him from there
to Mr. Chiles' office.

I'll allow it.

You want to continue your cross,
Mr. Chiles

I'll withdraw my objection.

That won't be necessary.

The defendant will be pleading
self-defense.

So, now Miller's asserting

a justification
defense?

Chiles left
his options open.

He didn't lock himself

into anything inconsistent
with that defense.

Well, is there
any reason to think

that Detective Kearsey
was the aggressor?

It's subjective.

If Miller had reason
to believe it

then he was entitled
to use deadly force.

Do we have any evidence to
refute the self-defense claim?

The ballistics analysis

is equivocal.

Both were standing
when the shots

were fired.

They'll claim the officer
shot first.

I can't see it.

Detective Kearsey went
to that apartment

looking for a witness.

Except they've already
set the table

by insinuating
Kearsey's a racist.

I think this jury
might buy it.

He's hitching
his wagon

to the anti-police sentiment
in the city.

And that's just the beginning.

What evidence are seeking
to admit, Mr. Chiles?

Evidence of
police violence

against African Americans--

The Abner Louima assault

the Amadou Diallo
murder...

The police in that case
were acquitted.

Not in my client's neighborhood.

The Michael Stuart murder

Eleanor Bumpers,
Rodney King in L.A.

the Fred Hampton
assassination in Oakland.

3,000 miles away.

Some of these incidents

happened over 30 years ago.

They all worked
to shape Mr. Miller's

distrust of the police.

They are all relevant
to establish his state of mind.

I have my own list, Judge.

Statements made by Mr. Miller
inciting his followers

to kill
police officers.

A Black Panther
newsletter

from July 1969 in which Mr. Miller is
quoted as saying

"When the pigs knock
on your door, brothers

"it's them or you.

"The only way to stop

oppression in Amerika..."
spelled with a "K."

"Is with a sawed-off 12-gauge."

Colorful language
for a colorful time.

It wasn't meant
to be taken literally.

He can argue that
to the jury.

It's an attack on my client's
character.

He put his client's

character in issue.

That's true, Mr. Chiles.

I also plan to cross-examine Mr.
Miller

about improprieties
at the Riverside Action Center.

He was never charged with that.

You two want a free-for-all?

Fine.

Let the jury sort it out.

I met Lateef in 1967 at City
College.

We were recruiters

for the Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee.

How did the two
of you

get involved with
the Black Panther Party?

The Committee wasn't

speaking to the times
by the mid-'60s.

After Martin and Malcolm
were killed

there was a lot of pent-up
anger on the streets.

More militant brothers
like me and Lateef

gravitated toward
the Panthers.

What was the Panther's
experience

with the police in those days?

They hated us

and we hated them.

How did the police hatred
manifest itself?

There was constant
day-to-day harassment

of our people
on the streets

infiltration
of our meetings

by police operatives.

The FBI led a campaign
of disinformation against us.

Several brothers were
outright murdered

in so-called police raids.

What impact did these events
have on you?

They left me pretty cynical
about the police.

Even after
30 years?

Not much has changed.

You recruit a bunch
of white high school kids

from up in New Paltz
to come down

and keep order
in the 'hood

that's how
you wind up

with 41 shots on some poor
black guy coming home from work.

Do the police
in your neighborhood

know you were once with
the Panthers, Mr. August?

Some do.

Any one of them
ever take

a shot at you?

No.

They ever
single you out

for persecution
or harassment because of your

past affiliation?

I know that when
a white cop

looks at me
he doesn't see a businessman.

He sees a potential criminal.

The question was whether
you were singled out

for you past affiliation?

Not to my knowledge.

Prior to this trial

when was the last time
you spoke

to Lateef Miller?

I couldn't
give you

a precise figure,
Mr. McCoy.

Six months? A year?

I couldn't
tell you.

Didn't you tell
the investigating police

that it had been
ten years

since you had spoken
or seen Lateef Miller?

It's possible that I did.

Was that because
you no longer

wanted to associate
with a person

who was still committed
to violence?

I promise you, sir, his fear
of cops is my fear of cops

and his anger is my anger.

Every time a police siren
pulls up behind me

I still get a feeling
in my gut

they're going to pull over
and mess with me.

Does that mean

that you could see yourself
shooting a cop

who came to your door?

It means I'm tired
of being messed with.

A week before
I was arrested

my 17-year-old nephew

was shot by the police
in Newark.

What were the circumstances?

They said he robbed
a woman's jewelry

and he was evading apprehension.

Only they didn't find
any jewelry on him.

So the best we could figure

he ran because

he had a joint
in his pocket.

What happened to your nephew?

He's in a wheelchair.

They say
he may never walk again.

Now I'm going to bring
your attention

to the day in question.

Tell the jury what happened.

I slept over at Selina's
that night on the couch.

I do that sometimes
when we work late.

After our morning prayers

she went to work.

I made some
phone calls

and then there was a loud banging on the
door.

What did you do?

I said,
"What is it?"

Did you get a response?

He said,
"Open the door."

I said again, I said,
"Who is it?"

And he said, "Open the door!"

What happened next?

I went into
the bedroom

and I got a gun that Selina
keeps for protection.

Why did you
do that?

There was this guy--
he was banging on the door.

He was cursing;
he was abusive.

So then I opened
the door.

And he was standing there
with a pistol in his hands.

Did he identify himself?

At that time,
yes.

What did you do
with your gun?

Well, I had it

by my side, by my leg.

And then he looked at me...

and I could see
he recognized me.

Move to strike.

The last part of the answer is
stricken.

When you looked
into that detective's eyes

What did you observe?

I could see a look
come over his face.

I'd seen that
look before.

He raised his gun...

and he pointed it at me.

I stepped away...

and I raised my gun
and I pointed it at him.

It was reflex.

And then we both
started shooting.

You both started shooting
at the same time?

Yes.

Then he got hit.

And I went over

and I put my fingers on his neck
to try to feel a pulse.

He was dead.

God, I panicked.

I knew I couldn't stay there
because nobody would believe me.

Now, Mr. Miller, from the time

that you opened the door
to the time

that you started shooting,
how much time had elapsed?

It was fast.
It was real fast.

It was maybe a second
or two at the most.

Why did you shoot him,
Mr. Miller?

I was defending myself.

It was either him or me.

No further questions.

You were convicted

on multiple counts
of armed robbery in 1971?

It was an act

of civil disobedience.

Getting compensation
for centuries of repression.

So you think what you did
was right?

It was justified

by the times.

And when you called
on your supporters

to murder police officers
in the late '60s

that was justified?

I've done positive things
in this city

for 15 years.

For 15 years, Mr. McCoy.

You're aware that the District
Attorney

is investigating

the Riverside Action Project
for fraud?

There is no fraud.

The government places
restrictions

on our services.

And sometimes we have
to push the envelope

in order to keep families
in their apartments.

Selina Watts told you the D.A.'s
Office was targeting you?

Yes.

So, for all you knew

Detective Kearsey had come
to her apartment on that matter.

But he wasn't from Frauds,
was he, Mr. McCoy?

And he never said he was.

And he never identified himself
as a police officer

while the door
was closed?

When the
banging started

I was in the bedroom.

Now if he said
anything at all

I didn't hear it.

And nevertheless, you chose
to answer the door

with an illegal
gun in your hand?

There was
a maniac

trying to break down the door.

When you opened the door,
he pointed his gun at you?

Yes.

Because he saw a gun
in your hand?

No.

Because he
recognized me.

I could see by the way
he looked at me.

A look you say

you'd seen before, Mr. Miller?

What was it?

It was hate, Mr. McCoy.

Isn't it a fact
it was fear?

You heard about him.

He was a racist.

Even if he was

you couldn't have known anything
about that at the time.

I could see it in his eyes.

You were angry
because of your nephew?

Yes.

Angry that he might
have to spend

the rest of his life
in a wheelchair?

How would you feel?

Isn't it a fact
that you took out your anger

on Detective Kearsey?

No. I reacted.

You overreacted...

because he was
a police officer

and because he was white.

I had to make a judgment call
in a split second.

You made
the same kind

of racial assumption that
you charge the police with?

It's my life's experience.

So your own racism

justified this killing,
is that what you're saying?

No, Mr. McCoy.

You're twisting my words.

You are twisting the truth.

Whose truth, Mr. Miller?

Objection.

Nothing further.

I think you have
a very good picture

of what the world looks like
to Lateef Miller:

a man whose suspicions
of the police

was nurtured by the racism
that existed

and still exists
in this country;

a worldview shaped by the
political foment of the '60s

and then crystallized
by current events;

a never-ending list
of African Americans

that have been attacked
or murdered

by white police officers;

and then personalized

by a family tragedy

that occurred a few days
before the incident.

Lateef Miller believed
in his heart of hearts

that when he shot
Detective Kearsey

that he was defending his life.

That makes him not guilty
of all charges.

Now when you go
to the jury room

I ask you not
to be swayed

by the sympathy that you will naturally
feel

for the victim
and his family.

I ask you, and the law requires

that you put yourself
in Lateef Miller's shoes.

If you are
Lateef Miller

and a police officer

shows up at your door
with hatred in his eyes

and pointing a gun at you,
what goes through your head?

Defend myself.

Thank you.

Jake Kearsey and Lateef Miller
didn't go out

on the morning in question
to have a gun battle.

One thing
we'll never know for sure

is what set off the explosion

that left
Detective Kearsey dead.

The defendant has
plausible explanations

for everything
that happened.

But you also have
the luxury

of placing those
explanations

in context.

Lateef Miller promoted
cop-killing 30 years ago.

He admitted dishonesty
in his job

and his claim

of self-defense is belied
by his own actions.

He ran from
the crime scene

hid from the police.

When he was captured
he proclaimed his innocence

and now that he's facing
the death penalty

it's not "I didn't kill him."

It's "I had to kill him."

Ask yourself,
if Detective Kearsey were here

to give his side
of the story

would it look anything
like Lateef Miller's?

The defense urges you
to see the world

through Lateef Miller's eyes.

Do that, ladies and gentlemen

if you want to contaminate
the truth with Mr. Miller's

anger
and racial mistrust.

Acquit Mr. Miller

if you think it's fit
to allow him to avoid

the moral consequences
of his actions

by portraying

himself
as the victim.

The victim here is
Detective Kearsey

who innocently went
to the wrong apartment

looking for a witness
and wound up dead.

I don't doubt
that Mr. Miller

has encountered
racism in his life.

But it's not a free pass
to commit murder.

Has the jury reached
a verdict, Mr. Foreman?

Yes, Your Honor.

On the count of murder in the first
degree

how do you find?

We find the defendant
not guilty.

You're missing
the Lateef Miller show.

Which channel?

Two, Four, Five, Seven

Nine.

Glad I have cable.

Don't beat yourself
up too badly

over this one, Jack.

A guy shoots a New York City police
officer

in the line of duty

and I can't convict him.

Enough of the jury identified
with his fear of cops.

Used to be fear of cops
didn't justify shooting them.

Used to be a lot of things.