1 00:00:09,926 --> 00:00:10,301 . 2 00:00:10,343 --> 00:00:11,302 - In the criminal justice system, 3 00:00:12,095 --> 00:00:13,430 the people are represented 4 00:00:13,471 --> 00:00:15,807 by two separate, yet equally important groups: 5 00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:17,767 the police, who investigate crime, 6 00:00:17,809 --> 00:00:20,729 and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. 7 00:00:20,770 --> 00:00:22,731 These are their stories. 8 00:00:30,030 --> 00:00:33,283 [distant sirens wailing] 9 00:00:35,952 --> 00:00:38,204 [glass shattering] 10 00:00:38,246 --> 00:00:41,583 [tense music] 11 00:00:41,624 --> 00:00:43,585 * * 12 00:00:43,626 --> 00:00:47,130 - Yo. 13 00:00:47,172 --> 00:00:49,215 Yo. 14 00:00:49,257 --> 00:00:55,805 * * 15 00:01:04,022 --> 00:01:05,148 Hey! 16 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:06,941 [dramatic music] 17 00:01:06,983 --> 00:01:09,736 Yo, what you running for? 18 00:01:09,778 --> 00:01:11,321 Hey! 19 00:01:13,740 --> 00:01:15,825 - Early bird runner found him laying here. 20 00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:17,160 - Approximate time of death? 21 00:01:17,202 --> 00:01:19,245 - MLIs put it somewhere between 2:00 and 4:00 AM. 22 00:01:19,287 --> 00:01:20,705 - Witnesses? - None so far. 23 00:01:20,747 --> 00:01:21,873 - Yeah, nobody sees nothing, huh? 24 00:01:21,915 --> 00:01:23,041 - Eh. 25 00:01:23,083 --> 00:01:24,751 - [grunts] Blunt force trauma? 26 00:01:24,793 --> 00:01:25,752 - That'd be my guess. 27 00:01:25,794 --> 00:01:27,420 - ID? 28 00:01:33,885 --> 00:01:36,262 - Derek Stanton. 29 00:01:36,304 --> 00:01:38,181 - Still got his cash. 30 00:01:38,223 --> 00:01:40,725 Any indication that the body was moved here? 31 00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:42,352 - The way the blood has pooled and the spatter 32 00:01:42,394 --> 00:01:46,523 on the pavement, I think it all happened right here. 33 00:01:46,564 --> 00:01:48,566 - My boy had quite the rap sheet. 34 00:01:48,608 --> 00:01:50,860 Just got out of Fishkill nine months ago. 35 00:01:50,902 --> 00:01:53,113 - What was he in for? 36 00:01:53,154 --> 00:01:54,364 - Selling marijuana. 37 00:01:54,406 --> 00:01:55,907 Served four years. 38 00:01:55,949 --> 00:01:57,492 - Four years for selling weed? 39 00:01:57,534 --> 00:01:58,743 - Crazy. 40 00:01:58,785 --> 00:02:00,203 - Times have changed. 41 00:02:05,875 --> 00:02:08,795 [dramatic music] 42 00:02:08,837 --> 00:02:15,802 * * 43 00:02:52,172 --> 00:02:54,424 Surveillance footage from the park near the crime scene 44 00:02:54,466 --> 00:02:56,843 shows a guy wailing on Stanton. 45 00:02:56,885 --> 00:02:59,971 But it doesn't capture the whole thing. 46 00:03:00,013 --> 00:03:01,264 - Damn. 47 00:03:01,306 --> 00:03:03,308 Do we have any better video than this? 48 00:03:03,350 --> 00:03:04,517 - It's the only video we got. 49 00:03:04,559 --> 00:03:06,102 There weren't many cameras in the area. 50 00:03:06,144 --> 00:03:08,938 - I can't even make out his face or even a skin color. 51 00:03:08,980 --> 00:03:11,858 - But it's clear that the assailant and Stanton 52 00:03:11,900 --> 00:03:13,401 are about the same size, so we're looking for a guy 53 00:03:13,443 --> 00:03:14,944 who's about 6 feet tall. 54 00:03:14,986 --> 00:03:16,029 - What else do we know? 55 00:03:16,071 --> 00:03:18,031 - Well, the ME thinks that the perp 56 00:03:18,073 --> 00:03:20,825 might have been wearing a ring with some kind of stone in it. 57 00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:23,203 - So did we run the vic's body for DNA? 58 00:03:23,244 --> 00:03:24,537 - Yeah, they took samples, 59 00:03:24,579 --> 00:03:26,706 but the backlog's a few weeks out minimum. 60 00:03:26,748 --> 00:03:28,500 - All right, well, just keep digging in. 61 00:03:28,541 --> 00:03:30,585 You know, given this guy's history, 62 00:03:30,627 --> 00:03:32,045 it could be related to drugs 63 00:03:32,087 --> 00:03:34,547 or maybe even his time in Fishkill or both. 64 00:03:34,589 --> 00:03:36,049 - Hey, I found something interesting 65 00:03:36,091 --> 00:03:37,801 on the vic's phone. 66 00:03:37,842 --> 00:03:40,053 Past week, Stanton made 28 calls 67 00:03:40,095 --> 00:03:44,057 to a man named Jordan Spall, but he never answered. 68 00:03:44,099 --> 00:03:48,395 - So the vic's calling Spall, Spall's not picking up. 69 00:03:48,436 --> 00:03:50,230 There's got to be a good reason. 70 00:03:50,271 --> 00:03:52,107 Did Spall ever serve time? 71 00:03:52,148 --> 00:03:53,817 [keyboard clacking] 72 00:03:53,858 --> 00:03:55,443 - Sure did. 73 00:03:55,485 --> 00:03:57,987 Armed assault, sentenced to five years at Fishkill. 74 00:03:58,029 --> 00:03:59,823 Got out a few months ago. 75 00:03:59,864 --> 00:04:02,617 - He's probably still on parole. 76 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:09,207 - Jordan Spall hasn't missed an appointment, 77 00:04:09,249 --> 00:04:12,085 hasn't failed a urine test, hasn't re-offended, 78 00:04:12,127 --> 00:04:13,586 at least not yet. 79 00:04:13,628 --> 00:04:14,879 - You know, since we're here, 80 00:04:14,921 --> 00:04:16,464 would you mind seeing what you could find out 81 00:04:16,506 --> 00:04:18,383 about our vic, Derek Stanton? 82 00:04:18,425 --> 00:04:20,927 He's a Fishkill alum. 83 00:04:20,969 --> 00:04:25,140 - According to Stanton's chart, he was a model parolee, too. 84 00:04:25,181 --> 00:04:26,850 - Was he a model prisoner? 85 00:04:26,891 --> 00:04:28,643 - Looks like Stanton was disciplined 86 00:04:28,685 --> 00:04:30,020 a few times for fighting. 87 00:04:30,061 --> 00:04:32,480 - 20 bucks says he was scrapping with Spall. 88 00:04:32,522 --> 00:04:34,149 [keyboard clacking] 89 00:04:34,190 --> 00:04:36,192 - As a matter of fact. 90 00:04:36,234 --> 00:04:38,445 - Where's Spall living now? 91 00:04:38,486 --> 00:04:40,321 [dramatic music] 92 00:04:40,363 --> 00:04:42,157 [distant sirens wailing] 93 00:04:42,198 --> 00:04:43,825 - Is that him? 94 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:45,452 - Looks like it. 95 00:04:45,493 --> 00:04:49,664 Jordan Spall, I'd like to have a word with you. 96 00:04:49,706 --> 00:04:51,708 Jordan. 97 00:04:51,750 --> 00:04:52,959 [grunts] 98 00:04:53,001 --> 00:04:56,796 * * 99 00:04:56,838 --> 00:04:59,341 - [grunts] - [yelps, groans] 100 00:05:00,425 --> 00:05:01,760 - [grunts] Hey! 101 00:05:03,094 --> 00:05:04,846 - I've got this side. - 27 Squad to Central. 102 00:05:04,888 --> 00:05:06,556 10-85. 103 00:05:06,598 --> 00:05:09,309 Black male, 30s, blue jeans, green hoodie 104 00:05:09,351 --> 00:05:10,560 under a black jacket. 105 00:05:10,602 --> 00:05:13,897 In pursuit, Cherry Street flea market. 106 00:05:13,938 --> 00:05:15,482 - NYPD. 107 00:05:15,523 --> 00:05:17,317 Police, police. It's OK. It's OK. 108 00:05:17,359 --> 00:05:18,943 Watch yourself. Watch yourself. 109 00:05:31,664 --> 00:05:33,041 Spall! - [screams] 110 00:05:34,542 --> 00:05:36,836 - It's--it's the shoes. Sorry. 111 00:05:42,634 --> 00:05:44,010 [crib rattles] 112 00:05:47,389 --> 00:05:48,223 - Whoa, whoa, whoa! - Watch out! 113 00:05:48,264 --> 00:05:49,307 - Oh, my God! 114 00:05:49,349 --> 00:05:50,642 - Watch out! - [grunts] 115 00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:53,520 [crowd chattering] 116 00:05:54,646 --> 00:05:56,356 - Give me your hands. Stay down. 117 00:05:56,398 --> 00:05:57,732 Stay down. 118 00:06:10,662 --> 00:06:10,870 . 119 00:06:10,912 --> 00:06:11,329 - Usain Bolt. 120 00:06:12,831 --> 00:06:14,874 - I didn't have anything to do with killing Derek Stanton. 121 00:06:14,916 --> 00:06:17,127 - So why'd you run when you saw us then? 122 00:06:17,168 --> 00:06:18,670 - 'Cause I had weed on me. 123 00:06:18,712 --> 00:06:20,463 - Bro, having weed on you this day and age? 124 00:06:20,505 --> 00:06:22,298 You're not gonna get in trouble for that. 125 00:06:22,340 --> 00:06:24,551 But beating Derek Stanton to death, 126 00:06:24,592 --> 00:06:26,886 that'll get your ass locked back up in genpop. 127 00:06:26,928 --> 00:06:28,346 - What? 128 00:06:28,388 --> 00:06:29,723 I didn't even know Derek was dead. 129 00:06:29,764 --> 00:06:31,683 - Oh, we'd like to believe you, Jordan. 130 00:06:31,725 --> 00:06:32,851 We really would. 131 00:06:32,892 --> 00:06:34,310 Unfortunately, we're homicide detectives, 132 00:06:34,352 --> 00:06:36,062 so we don't believe anybody. [chuckles] 133 00:06:36,104 --> 00:06:37,605 So help us out. 134 00:06:37,647 --> 00:06:40,483 Where were you this morning between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM? 135 00:06:40,525 --> 00:06:44,320 - In my bed at the halfway house, sleeping. 136 00:06:44,362 --> 00:06:46,406 You could check with the tight-ass supervisor. 137 00:06:46,448 --> 00:06:47,741 Dude watches like a hawk. 138 00:06:47,782 --> 00:06:49,951 - Why was Stanton calling you so much? 139 00:06:49,993 --> 00:06:52,162 - Don't know, don't care. 140 00:06:52,203 --> 00:06:54,873 I didn't like the dude, so I ignored his calls. 141 00:06:54,914 --> 00:06:56,291 - Jordan, come on. 142 00:06:56,332 --> 00:07:00,295 Either we tell your PO how cooperative you were, or-- 143 00:07:00,337 --> 00:07:01,963 - Or we tell her something else. 144 00:07:04,966 --> 00:07:07,218 - All right. 145 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,347 I heard Derek was reaching out to a bunch of ex-cons, 146 00:07:10,388 --> 00:07:13,224 trying to put together a crew, make some money. 147 00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:14,934 - Doing what? 148 00:07:14,976 --> 00:07:18,438 - Word is, they was meeting at a pizza place 149 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,565 near the projects on Pitt Street. 150 00:07:20,607 --> 00:07:22,150 That's all I know. 151 00:07:22,192 --> 00:07:27,072 * * 152 00:07:27,113 --> 00:07:29,366 - Window was busted when I got here this morning. 153 00:07:29,407 --> 00:07:31,117 - What time was that? 154 00:07:31,159 --> 00:07:32,285 - 6:00 AM. 155 00:07:32,327 --> 00:07:33,828 Derek was supposed to be here. 156 00:07:33,870 --> 00:07:35,372 I thought maybe it was a robbery, 157 00:07:35,413 --> 00:07:36,790 but nothing's missing. 158 00:07:36,831 --> 00:07:38,583 - So you work here? - Assistant manager. 159 00:07:38,625 --> 00:07:40,001 - Where were you late last night? 160 00:07:40,043 --> 00:07:42,337 - In my room. - Can anyone verify that? 161 00:07:42,379 --> 00:07:44,214 - I live in a group home. You can check. 162 00:07:44,255 --> 00:07:45,632 There's lots of cameras. 163 00:07:45,674 --> 00:07:47,300 - Why was Derek here so early? 164 00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:48,635 - Gotten the lease to this pizzeria, 165 00:07:48,677 --> 00:07:49,636 and he was working around the clock 166 00:07:49,678 --> 00:07:51,179 to get it off the ground. 167 00:07:51,221 --> 00:07:52,681 Grand opening's tomorrow. 168 00:07:52,722 --> 00:07:55,016 Well, it was supposed to be anyway. 169 00:07:55,058 --> 00:07:56,017 - How'd you know Derek? 170 00:07:56,059 --> 00:07:57,227 - Fishkill. 171 00:07:57,268 --> 00:07:58,311 - What were you in for? 172 00:07:58,353 --> 00:07:59,729 - Heroin. 173 00:07:59,771 --> 00:08:01,606 Picked the wrong time to be an addict, you know? 174 00:08:01,648 --> 00:08:03,692 Nowadays, they bend over backwards to get you help. 175 00:08:03,733 --> 00:08:06,403 Back then, we were hardened criminals, man. 176 00:08:06,444 --> 00:08:08,071 - We heard Derek had been meeting 177 00:08:08,113 --> 00:08:10,156 with a bunch of ex-cons. You know anything about that? 178 00:08:10,198 --> 00:08:12,617 - Just trying to put together a team to open more pizzerias. 179 00:08:12,659 --> 00:08:13,993 Wanted to help. 180 00:08:14,035 --> 00:08:15,995 Was going to give us a piece of the action, too. 181 00:08:16,037 --> 00:08:16,955 - That's it? 182 00:08:16,996 --> 00:08:18,373 There was nothing else going on? 183 00:08:18,415 --> 00:08:20,625 - He was just trying to help a bunch of ex-cons out. 184 00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:22,168 - Sounds like a good dude. 185 00:08:22,210 --> 00:08:23,586 - He was. 186 00:08:23,628 --> 00:08:25,505 - You know anybody who didn't feel that way? 187 00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:27,173 Anybody who might have wanted him dead? 188 00:08:27,215 --> 00:08:30,176 - [sighs] Last few months, he's been all about making amends. 189 00:08:30,218 --> 00:08:31,845 Kept his nose real clean. 190 00:08:31,886 --> 00:08:34,889 Spent a lot of time with his daughter, too. 191 00:08:38,393 --> 00:08:40,729 - Sonya, Lena, 192 00:08:40,770 --> 00:08:44,190 I am terribly sorry that we have some very bad news. 193 00:08:44,232 --> 00:08:47,694 Your father and your ex-husband 194 00:08:47,736 --> 00:08:50,572 was found murdered. 195 00:08:50,613 --> 00:08:54,200 * * 196 00:08:54,242 --> 00:08:56,411 - [exhales] 197 00:09:00,457 --> 00:09:05,045 I can't believe that he's gone. 198 00:09:05,086 --> 00:09:08,757 I just got him back. 199 00:09:08,798 --> 00:09:13,678 He spent all those years in prison over weed. 200 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,640 He finally gets out, and then this? 201 00:09:21,186 --> 00:09:25,065 - If you don't mind my asking, why have you moved here? 202 00:09:25,106 --> 00:09:27,567 Does it have anything to do with your father? 203 00:09:27,609 --> 00:09:29,319 Was he violent to either one of you? 204 00:09:29,361 --> 00:09:32,864 - No. 205 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:35,116 Never. 206 00:09:35,158 --> 00:09:39,621 - No, Derek wasn't about any of that. 207 00:09:39,662 --> 00:09:42,957 He had his issues, sure, but... 208 00:09:42,999 --> 00:09:46,086 he never raised his voice or his hands to either one of us. 209 00:09:46,127 --> 00:09:48,254 - So why are you here? 210 00:09:48,296 --> 00:09:51,424 Who are you afraid of? 211 00:09:51,466 --> 00:09:56,054 - My husband, William. 212 00:09:56,096 --> 00:09:58,973 He's got a temper. 213 00:09:59,015 --> 00:10:03,770 And when Derek got out of prison, things just got worse. 214 00:10:03,812 --> 00:10:08,566 We just needed to get away for a little while 215 00:10:08,608 --> 00:10:12,112 until things calmed down. 216 00:10:12,153 --> 00:10:16,157 - Did your husband and Derek, they ever argue or fight? 217 00:10:20,995 --> 00:10:23,123 - Yes. 218 00:10:23,164 --> 00:10:26,835 The last time my father came to the house, 219 00:10:26,876 --> 00:10:29,963 William chased him out. 220 00:10:30,005 --> 00:10:33,216 He said he was going to kill him. 221 00:10:33,258 --> 00:10:38,179 * * 222 00:10:38,221 --> 00:10:40,181 - I don't care what them girls said. 223 00:10:40,223 --> 00:10:43,685 They're crazy, tripping over nothing. 224 00:10:43,727 --> 00:10:45,270 I ain't lay a hand on either one of them. 225 00:10:45,311 --> 00:10:47,605 - What about Derek Stanton? You ever lay a hand on him? 226 00:10:47,647 --> 00:10:48,940 - No, sir. 227 00:10:48,982 --> 00:10:51,526 Wanted to, but I never did. 228 00:10:51,568 --> 00:10:53,319 Punk-ass drug dealer 229 00:10:53,361 --> 00:10:56,114 thought he could just walk back into everybody's life. 230 00:10:56,156 --> 00:10:59,159 - Lena's daughter said you threatened to kill him. 231 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:00,618 - I did. 232 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,245 Meant it, too. 233 00:11:02,287 --> 00:11:03,663 But I didn't kill nobody. 234 00:11:03,705 --> 00:11:05,665 - Where were you last night after midnight? 235 00:11:05,707 --> 00:11:08,501 - Midnight? I couldn't sleep. 236 00:11:08,543 --> 00:11:10,295 Got a lot on my mind. 237 00:11:10,337 --> 00:11:11,671 So I went for a walk. 238 00:11:11,713 --> 00:11:13,340 - You remember where? 239 00:11:13,381 --> 00:11:15,425 - Around. 240 00:11:15,467 --> 00:11:17,177 - How about we take a walk around to the precinct 241 00:11:17,218 --> 00:11:20,555 and jog your memory? 242 00:11:20,597 --> 00:11:22,182 - Lawyer. 243 00:11:24,059 --> 00:11:26,603 - Do we have any evidence that puts William Barnes 244 00:11:26,644 --> 00:11:29,564 and Derek Stanton together on the morning of the murder? 245 00:11:29,606 --> 00:11:30,899 - I've dug through every surveillance video 246 00:11:30,940 --> 00:11:32,275 from the neighborhood. 247 00:11:32,317 --> 00:11:34,652 Tracked Barnes on his late night walk. 248 00:11:34,694 --> 00:11:36,696 He heads north on Avenue C 249 00:11:36,738 --> 00:11:38,865 in the general direction of the pizzeria. 250 00:11:38,907 --> 00:11:40,992 He never crosses paths with Stanton. 251 00:11:41,034 --> 00:11:43,661 - Do we have any video of him actually near the pizzeria? 252 00:11:43,703 --> 00:11:45,580 - This is him two blocks east. 253 00:11:45,622 --> 00:11:47,040 It's the closest he gets, 254 00:11:47,082 --> 00:11:49,000 and then he crosses the street away from the pizzeria. 255 00:11:49,042 --> 00:11:51,419 - [snaps fingers] What's that? 256 00:11:51,461 --> 00:11:53,588 Top right hand corner. 257 00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:55,382 - Looks like a dude throwing something. 258 00:11:55,423 --> 00:11:57,300 - What's he throwing, like rocks or something? 259 00:11:57,342 --> 00:12:00,387 - There's another camera that should cover that corner. 260 00:12:00,428 --> 00:12:02,389 - Dude's throwing rocks right next to where 261 00:12:02,430 --> 00:12:05,433 Stanton got his window broken that night. 262 00:12:05,475 --> 00:12:07,519 And now he's headed straight for the pizzeria. 263 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:12,399 - Can you pull up the video of the actual assault? 264 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:17,362 - Same body size, same type of hoodie, sneakers. 265 00:12:17,404 --> 00:12:21,199 - And if I'm not mistaken, that's a ring on his finger. 266 00:12:21,241 --> 00:12:22,784 Just like the M.E. said. 267 00:12:22,826 --> 00:12:25,662 - I think we might have our killer. 268 00:12:25,704 --> 00:12:27,706 - Yup. 269 00:12:27,747 --> 00:12:30,250 Now we just got to find him. 270 00:12:37,465 --> 00:12:37,674 . 271 00:12:37,716 --> 00:12:38,800 - Looks like he made his way down the street, 272 00:12:40,343 --> 00:12:43,096 and for some dumb-ass reason, just kept throwing rocks. 273 00:12:43,138 --> 00:12:44,597 - Yeah, Stanton must have been in the pizzeria 274 00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:46,683 when the rock came through the window, 275 00:12:46,725 --> 00:12:50,311 chased the kid down, confronted him. 276 00:12:50,353 --> 00:12:52,188 [indistinct chatter] 277 00:12:52,230 --> 00:12:54,399 - Excuse me. 278 00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:56,526 You work here nights? - Yeah. 279 00:12:56,568 --> 00:12:58,111 - You think you might have seen this young man around here 280 00:12:58,153 --> 00:12:59,946 a couple nights ago? 281 00:12:59,988 --> 00:13:01,781 - Sorry, doesn't look familiar. 282 00:13:01,823 --> 00:13:03,116 - Thanks. 283 00:13:05,785 --> 00:13:07,871 - Yeah, I remember that kid. 284 00:13:07,912 --> 00:13:09,748 Came in the other night just before we closed up. 285 00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:10,832 - What time was that? 286 00:13:10,874 --> 00:13:13,168 - Um, midnight. - You sure it's him? 287 00:13:13,209 --> 00:13:15,670 - Yeah. Thought he was handsome. 288 00:13:15,712 --> 00:13:17,172 - Did he buy anything? 289 00:13:17,213 --> 00:13:19,966 - No, he didn't have a card, 290 00:13:20,008 --> 00:13:22,385 but his friend did. 291 00:13:22,427 --> 00:13:24,471 - You have a record of that transaction? 292 00:13:24,512 --> 00:13:27,265 - Yeah, I could probably pull it up. 293 00:13:27,307 --> 00:13:30,852 - You can drink it now? 294 00:13:30,894 --> 00:13:33,813 - Kyle Brimmer. 295 00:13:33,855 --> 00:13:37,359 - Let's start with who you were with at the dispensary. 296 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,528 - Just to be clear, Kyle has no knowledge of any crime. 297 00:13:40,570 --> 00:13:42,364 He was home in bed in his parents' condo 298 00:13:42,405 --> 00:13:43,990 an hour before the homicide. 299 00:13:44,032 --> 00:13:46,242 - Yeah, we got that. We saw the surveillance video. 300 00:13:46,284 --> 00:13:48,578 So right now, the only way Kyle can get into trouble 301 00:13:48,620 --> 00:13:51,247 is by lying to us. 302 00:13:51,289 --> 00:13:54,042 So who were you with? 303 00:13:54,084 --> 00:13:55,418 - Jesse Erickson. 304 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:57,379 - And how do you know Jesse? 305 00:13:57,420 --> 00:13:59,589 - We're in the same class at Martindale. 306 00:13:59,631 --> 00:14:02,550 - Martindale? The prep school? 307 00:14:02,592 --> 00:14:03,718 - Why don't you walk us through 308 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,470 what you and Jesse did that night? 309 00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:07,889 - Well, I just got my weed card, so we wanted to-- 310 00:14:07,931 --> 00:14:09,808 - They're giving out medical marijuana cards 311 00:14:09,849 --> 00:14:11,559 to prep school seniors now? 312 00:14:11,601 --> 00:14:14,396 - My client has an exemption for an anxiety disorder. 313 00:14:14,437 --> 00:14:16,106 - Of course he does. 314 00:14:16,147 --> 00:14:18,066 So you and Jesse, you go downtown 315 00:14:18,108 --> 00:14:20,568 to buy some cannabis, what, around, like, what, 11 o'clock? 316 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:23,363 - Yeah, Jesse wanted to get high. 317 00:14:23,405 --> 00:14:25,448 And he kept bugging me to take him to a dispensary. 318 00:14:25,490 --> 00:14:27,867 So we bought some dabs. 319 00:14:27,909 --> 00:14:30,745 - Concentrated hash oil. 320 00:14:30,787 --> 00:14:31,996 Then what? 321 00:14:32,038 --> 00:14:34,124 - We went to some diner, had a couple of burgers, 322 00:14:34,165 --> 00:14:35,417 and then I left. 323 00:14:35,458 --> 00:14:37,168 I took an Uber at 1:08 AM. 324 00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:38,878 I have the receipt. 325 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,716 - How about your boy, Jesse? 326 00:14:42,757 --> 00:14:46,011 - Well, he didn't want to leave. 327 00:14:46,052 --> 00:14:47,262 He said he wanted to walk around 328 00:14:47,303 --> 00:14:50,348 and explore the East Village. 329 00:14:50,390 --> 00:14:55,270 I told him to come with me, but he sort of ran off. 330 00:14:55,311 --> 00:14:58,815 - Ran off? 331 00:14:58,857 --> 00:15:00,775 - Yeah. 332 00:15:00,817 --> 00:15:03,319 It was really weird. 333 00:15:05,989 --> 00:15:08,700 - Jesse Erickson, 18 years old, lives on the Upper East Side 334 00:15:08,742 --> 00:15:10,160 with his investment banker father 335 00:15:10,201 --> 00:15:11,619 and his book editor mother. 336 00:15:11,661 --> 00:15:13,663 - He's a senior at Martindale. 337 00:15:13,705 --> 00:15:16,124 - Fancy. - He's a star varsity athlete 338 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:17,500 and in the top 10% of his class. 339 00:15:17,542 --> 00:15:19,461 - Any discipline problems? 340 00:15:19,502 --> 00:15:21,629 - No, he just won a citizenship award. 341 00:15:21,671 --> 00:15:24,090 - Good kid, good family, never been in any trouble. 342 00:15:24,132 --> 00:15:27,802 - And yet he brutally beats an ex-con to death? 343 00:15:27,844 --> 00:15:29,137 I don't know. Why? 344 00:15:29,179 --> 00:15:30,972 - That is the million dollar question. 345 00:15:31,014 --> 00:15:33,016 - [sighs] 346 00:15:33,058 --> 00:15:35,977 OK, I'll call for a warrant. 347 00:15:36,019 --> 00:15:37,812 - There's got to be some kind of mistake. 348 00:15:37,854 --> 00:15:40,023 - Mr. Erickson, just tell us if Jesse is here or not. 349 00:15:40,065 --> 00:15:41,900 - Jesse is a kind and lovely boy. 350 00:15:41,941 --> 00:15:43,318 You can ask anyone. 351 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,111 - We need to speak with Jesse now. 352 00:15:45,153 --> 00:15:47,489 - Well, you can't treat him like he's some common criminal. 353 00:15:47,530 --> 00:15:48,865 - We're treating him like he's a suspect 354 00:15:48,907 --> 00:15:50,950 in a murder investigation. [video game chirping] 355 00:15:50,992 --> 00:15:54,162 - Sounds like he's down here. 356 00:15:54,204 --> 00:15:56,581 Young man, will you stand up please? 357 00:15:56,623 --> 00:15:57,540 Stand up. 358 00:15:57,582 --> 00:15:58,708 Put your hands behind your back. 359 00:15:58,750 --> 00:15:59,834 - Wait, wait, wait, wait. - Jesse Erickson, 360 00:15:59,876 --> 00:16:01,503 we're placing you under arrest for murder. 361 00:16:01,544 --> 00:16:03,004 - Hold on, hold on. - Do what they say, son. 362 00:16:03,046 --> 00:16:04,673 And don't say a word, no matter what they tell you 363 00:16:04,714 --> 00:16:07,008 or promise you. - What happened to your hand? 364 00:16:07,050 --> 00:16:09,260 - So me and my buddy-- - Don't answer that. 365 00:16:09,302 --> 00:16:11,096 - Dad, help me! 366 00:16:11,137 --> 00:16:12,472 - I will. 367 00:16:12,514 --> 00:16:13,807 Now, remember, don't say a word. 368 00:16:13,848 --> 00:16:15,308 - Let's go. 369 00:16:19,688 --> 00:16:21,690 - Calling docket ending in 9710, 370 00:16:21,731 --> 00:16:23,400 People versus Jesse Erickson, 371 00:16:23,441 --> 00:16:25,527 charged with murder in the second degree. 372 00:16:25,568 --> 00:16:28,279 - I'll hear you on bail, Ms. Maroun? 373 00:16:28,321 --> 00:16:33,118 - This was a brutal, unprovoked attack on a defenseless man. 374 00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:34,703 The defendant threw a rock, 375 00:16:34,744 --> 00:16:37,497 smashing Derek Stanton's pizza shop window. 376 00:16:37,539 --> 00:16:40,625 When confronted about it, the defendant reacted 377 00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:43,044 by beating Derek Stanton to death 378 00:16:43,086 --> 00:16:44,504 with his bare hands. 379 00:16:44,546 --> 00:16:47,841 He's facing life in prison, has tremendous resources, 380 00:16:47,882 --> 00:16:50,927 and has every incentive to flee the jurisdiction. 381 00:16:50,969 --> 00:16:52,846 The People submit that no amount of bail 382 00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:54,431 will secure his appearance at trial. 383 00:16:54,472 --> 00:16:55,974 We're seeking remand. 384 00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:57,475 - Mr. Thorpe. 385 00:16:57,517 --> 00:16:59,561 - Holding my client without bail 386 00:16:59,602 --> 00:17:01,438 is completely uncalled for. 387 00:17:01,479 --> 00:17:03,565 My client is a high school student 388 00:17:03,606 --> 00:17:05,358 with no criminal history, 389 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,318 which is more than I can say for Mr. Stanton. 390 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:09,279 - Well, the People have a strong case. 391 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,364 The attack was captured on video. 392 00:17:11,406 --> 00:17:13,908 - A portion of the attack was captured. 393 00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:16,077 Mr. Erickson was in an unfamiliar neighborhood 394 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,204 when he came upon a criminal 395 00:17:18,246 --> 00:17:20,081 who confronted and threatened him. 396 00:17:20,123 --> 00:17:22,459 He panicked and he fought back. 397 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:25,045 And we expect a full exoneration at trial. 398 00:17:25,086 --> 00:17:27,839 I'd also point out that Mr. Erickson is a valued member 399 00:17:27,881 --> 00:17:29,466 of his community. 400 00:17:29,507 --> 00:17:33,136 His parents are here, his classmates, 401 00:17:33,178 --> 00:17:35,764 his teammates, his minister. 402 00:17:35,805 --> 00:17:39,934 - OK, I'm setting a $2 million cash bail. 403 00:17:39,976 --> 00:17:42,103 - His parents will post forthwith. 404 00:17:42,145 --> 00:17:43,271 [gavel thunks] 405 00:17:43,313 --> 00:17:45,273 - Next case please. 406 00:17:45,315 --> 00:17:51,363 * * 407 00:17:52,822 --> 00:17:54,532 - They're making my dad out to be a monster. 408 00:17:54,574 --> 00:17:56,826 - Well, it's just a legal tactic, OK? 409 00:17:56,868 --> 00:17:59,537 It doesn't mean anything. - It does to me. 410 00:17:59,579 --> 00:18:01,956 My dad was the victim. They called him a criminal. 411 00:18:01,998 --> 00:18:04,459 - It's what lawyers do. 412 00:18:04,501 --> 00:18:06,628 - He was trying to turn his life around, 413 00:18:06,670 --> 00:18:09,547 be a better person, a better dad. 414 00:18:09,589 --> 00:18:12,467 - I know this must be hard. 415 00:18:12,509 --> 00:18:17,389 Losing a family member is a pain like no other. 416 00:18:19,015 --> 00:18:21,893 It just never goes away. 417 00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:26,356 * * 418 00:18:26,398 --> 00:18:30,527 - His family can buy his way out of this. 419 00:18:30,568 --> 00:18:34,030 Who's going to stand up for my family, for my dad? 420 00:18:34,072 --> 00:18:36,658 - I will. I promise. 421 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:39,035 I'm--I'm going to do everything I can 422 00:18:39,077 --> 00:18:41,705 to honor his memory. 423 00:18:54,342 --> 00:18:54,551 . 424 00:18:54,592 --> 00:18:54,884 - [sighs] 425 00:18:56,553 --> 00:18:59,264 [indistinct chatter] 426 00:18:59,305 --> 00:19:01,474 - Nice. What's the occasion? 427 00:19:01,516 --> 00:19:07,439 - Oh, it's the anniversary of my sister's death. 428 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:09,524 - Oh, I'm sorry. 429 00:19:09,566 --> 00:19:11,693 - It's OK. [chuckles] 430 00:19:11,735 --> 00:19:13,403 Yeah, every--every year, 431 00:19:13,445 --> 00:19:15,864 my parents send me yellow roses. 432 00:19:15,905 --> 00:19:18,575 It was her favorite flower. 433 00:19:18,616 --> 00:19:20,201 - That's nice. 434 00:19:20,243 --> 00:19:22,162 - Yeah. 435 00:19:22,203 --> 00:19:24,956 So it definitely looks like 436 00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:27,292 Erickson is going to claim self-defense. 437 00:19:27,334 --> 00:19:29,044 - It makes sense. 438 00:19:29,085 --> 00:19:32,297 Derek Stanton was poor. He had a criminal record. 439 00:19:32,339 --> 00:19:35,091 They'll push the narrative that he was obviously the aggressor. 440 00:19:35,133 --> 00:19:36,468 - It had to be, right? 441 00:19:36,509 --> 00:19:39,804 I mean, he's an ex-con, sold marijuana. 442 00:19:39,846 --> 00:19:41,222 How evil. 443 00:19:41,264 --> 00:19:42,766 And of course, he's Black, so... 444 00:19:42,807 --> 00:19:44,267 - Right, I get it. 445 00:19:44,309 --> 00:19:47,312 There are a lot of unanswered questions here, though. 446 00:19:47,354 --> 00:19:51,316 High school kid, great grades, great reputation, 447 00:19:51,358 --> 00:19:54,152 no history of violence, crosses paths with a felon. 448 00:19:54,194 --> 00:19:56,821 - A felon? He's a victim. 449 00:19:56,863 --> 00:19:59,449 - No, I understand, Sam. I'm just stating a fact. 450 00:19:59,491 --> 00:20:02,410 - Question is, can we prove murder two? 451 00:20:02,452 --> 00:20:04,579 Show that it was an intentional act, 452 00:20:04,621 --> 00:20:08,041 or was it something else, a fistfight, mutual combatants? 453 00:20:08,083 --> 00:20:09,459 - Not sure just yet. 454 00:20:09,501 --> 00:20:12,170 We need to figure out motive first 455 00:20:12,212 --> 00:20:15,590 or offer a plea to a reduced charge. 456 00:20:15,632 --> 00:20:17,634 Man one? - Plead him out? 457 00:20:17,676 --> 00:20:19,135 Just like that? 458 00:20:19,177 --> 00:20:20,553 - Well, unless more evidence drops, 459 00:20:20,595 --> 00:20:22,347 this is going to be a tough case to prove. 460 00:20:22,389 --> 00:20:25,308 - Why? Because the defendant is a rich white kid? 461 00:20:25,350 --> 00:20:26,851 - Excuse me? 462 00:20:26,893 --> 00:20:28,937 - If a poor Black kid beat the hell out of Stanton, then-- 463 00:20:28,978 --> 00:20:31,481 - Then we'd still need to prove motive. 464 00:20:31,523 --> 00:20:34,150 And that's not what happened. A rich white kid did it. 465 00:20:34,192 --> 00:20:36,695 And right or wrong, fair or unfair, 466 00:20:36,736 --> 00:20:38,321 that's the case we're trying. 467 00:20:38,363 --> 00:20:41,199 - I understand, but Ms. Maroun has a point. 468 00:20:41,241 --> 00:20:42,867 Even though the facts are confusing, 469 00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:45,662 we need to be aware of the optics. 470 00:20:45,704 --> 00:20:46,830 - Fine. 471 00:20:46,871 --> 00:20:49,165 I'll press forward with murder two. 472 00:20:49,207 --> 00:20:51,334 - Good. But get ready for the defense. 473 00:20:51,376 --> 00:20:53,003 They're going to attack the victim's character, 474 00:20:53,044 --> 00:20:55,171 blame him for his own murder, 475 00:20:55,213 --> 00:20:57,632 so you'll need to counteract that. 476 00:20:57,674 --> 00:21:01,469 Find some way to level the playing field. 477 00:21:01,511 --> 00:21:04,472 [tense music] 478 00:21:04,514 --> 00:21:10,061 * * 479 00:21:13,231 --> 00:21:15,191 - The people would like to call character witnesses 480 00:21:15,233 --> 00:21:16,818 on behalf of Derek Stanton. 481 00:21:16,860 --> 00:21:17,986 - The victim? 482 00:21:18,028 --> 00:21:19,362 - Yes, to demonstrate that he was 483 00:21:19,404 --> 00:21:22,323 a peaceful, hardworking member of his community, 484 00:21:22,365 --> 00:21:23,616 far different from the way 485 00:21:23,658 --> 00:21:25,035 the defense is trying to portray him. 486 00:21:25,076 --> 00:21:28,038 - Your Honor, Rule 4.11 allows a defendant 487 00:21:28,079 --> 00:21:29,873 to call character witnesses, not the victim. 488 00:21:29,914 --> 00:21:31,833 - But there's nothing in the rules 489 00:21:31,875 --> 00:21:33,376 that specifically precludes it. 490 00:21:33,418 --> 00:21:35,920 - Nice try, Mr. Price, but I agree with Mr. Thorpe. 491 00:21:35,962 --> 00:21:37,088 If you want to change the rules, 492 00:21:37,130 --> 00:21:40,884 take it up with the state legislature. 493 00:21:40,925 --> 00:21:43,261 - Thank you, Your Honor. 494 00:21:43,303 --> 00:21:45,597 Defense's witness list is unbelievable. 495 00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:47,390 There's a federal judge? 496 00:21:47,432 --> 00:21:50,894 [laughs] The CEO of a Fortune 500 company, 497 00:21:50,935 --> 00:21:52,896 the head of a charitable foundation? 498 00:21:52,937 --> 00:21:54,147 All nine of these character witnesses 499 00:21:54,189 --> 00:21:56,316 are incredibly impressive. 500 00:21:56,358 --> 00:21:57,650 - That's what the wealthy do 501 00:21:57,692 --> 00:21:59,319 when their backs are up against the wall. 502 00:21:59,361 --> 00:22:03,239 They band together, protect their own. 503 00:22:03,281 --> 00:22:06,409 - Well, that may be true, but the question remains. 504 00:22:06,451 --> 00:22:09,079 Why did Jesse Erickson, who, by all accounts, 505 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:12,123 was a good kid, rich or not, 506 00:22:12,165 --> 00:22:14,793 suddenly decide to beat a stranger to death? 507 00:22:14,834 --> 00:22:16,002 - I don't know. 508 00:22:16,044 --> 00:22:17,420 And legally, it doesn't really matter. 509 00:22:17,462 --> 00:22:19,756 - Uh, no, I'm not so sure about that, Sam. 510 00:22:19,798 --> 00:22:21,925 If we don't know what precipitated the fight-- 511 00:22:21,966 --> 00:22:24,094 - It was an attack, not a fight. 512 00:22:24,135 --> 00:22:25,387 - You saw the video. 513 00:22:25,428 --> 00:22:27,263 - But we don't know what happened before, 514 00:22:27,305 --> 00:22:28,682 and that's relevant. 515 00:22:28,723 --> 00:22:30,308 The jury's going to want to know the full picture. 516 00:22:30,350 --> 00:22:31,935 - I understand, and we'll keep looking, 517 00:22:31,976 --> 00:22:36,314 but for now, since we can't explain why Erickson did it, 518 00:22:36,356 --> 00:22:39,651 let's focus on the horror of what he actually did. 519 00:22:42,696 --> 00:22:46,199 - Mr. Stanton had a shattered occipital bone. 520 00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:48,118 That's the bone that's in the back of the head 521 00:22:48,159 --> 00:22:50,370 that connects to the cervical spine. 522 00:22:50,412 --> 00:22:52,997 It essentially protects the brain. 523 00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:55,291 He also had several other broken bones-- 524 00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:59,504 his nose, his eye socket, his jaw. 525 00:22:59,546 --> 00:23:02,507 - Did you make a ruling as to the cause of death? 526 00:23:02,549 --> 00:23:05,468 - Cranial cerebral trauma so severe 527 00:23:05,510 --> 00:23:09,097 that the brain hemorrhaged and flooded with blood. 528 00:23:09,139 --> 00:23:11,641 - [whimpers] 529 00:23:11,683 --> 00:23:15,020 - Were there wounds on Mr. Stanton's torso? 530 00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:16,896 - He had three broken ribs. 531 00:23:16,938 --> 00:23:20,066 - Did you form an opinion as to how he sustained those wounds? 532 00:23:20,108 --> 00:23:23,153 - Mr. Stanton had been kicked four times. 533 00:23:23,194 --> 00:23:25,196 - I have nothing further. 534 00:23:26,865 --> 00:23:29,784 - We've all seen the video of the fight and the crime scene 535 00:23:29,826 --> 00:23:33,747 photos, but you don't know why my client had an altercation 536 00:23:33,788 --> 00:23:35,206 with Mr. Stanton, do you? 537 00:23:35,248 --> 00:23:37,000 - No, I have no idea. 538 00:23:37,042 --> 00:23:39,794 - So you don't know if my client was protecting himself. 539 00:23:39,836 --> 00:23:41,504 - I don't. 540 00:23:41,546 --> 00:23:43,965 - Thank you. 541 00:23:44,007 --> 00:23:46,676 - Were there any scrapes or bruises 542 00:23:46,718 --> 00:23:50,096 on Mr. Stanton's fists, on his palms, on his forearms? 543 00:23:50,138 --> 00:23:51,514 - No. 544 00:23:51,556 --> 00:23:53,683 - Any wounds which suggest he was the aggressor? 545 00:23:53,725 --> 00:23:55,226 - Nothing like that. 546 00:23:55,268 --> 00:23:57,729 - And there was no indication he had a weapon of any kind? 547 00:23:57,771 --> 00:23:59,189 - Correct. 548 00:23:59,230 --> 00:24:01,483 - And Mr. Stanton was 2 inches shorter 549 00:24:01,524 --> 00:24:04,652 and 40 pounds lighter than the defendant? 550 00:24:04,694 --> 00:24:05,987 - That's true. 551 00:24:06,029 --> 00:24:07,530 - And no drugs in Mr. Stanton's system? 552 00:24:07,572 --> 00:24:09,908 - Toxicology was negative for alcohol 553 00:24:09,949 --> 00:24:11,785 and controlled substances. 554 00:24:11,826 --> 00:24:13,912 - Nothing further. 555 00:24:13,953 --> 00:24:20,960 * * 556 00:24:21,002 --> 00:24:22,879 The M.E. did a good job, 557 00:24:22,921 --> 00:24:25,840 but I think we still need a few more witnesses 558 00:24:25,882 --> 00:24:28,510 to help offset the self-defense claim. 559 00:24:28,551 --> 00:24:30,720 - Like who? - Not sure. 560 00:24:30,762 --> 00:24:32,639 Someone who can speak to his state of mind 561 00:24:32,681 --> 00:24:35,892 prior to his death, someone who can say he was in a good mood, 562 00:24:35,934 --> 00:24:38,978 he was focused on the opening of his pizzeria. 563 00:24:39,020 --> 00:24:40,480 - Well, I'll look into it. 564 00:24:40,522 --> 00:24:44,401 But if you ask me, I think the M.E. pretty much destroyed 565 00:24:44,442 --> 00:24:46,861 their self-defense argument. 566 00:24:46,903 --> 00:24:48,655 - We still have no idea why this kid killed Stanton. 567 00:24:48,697 --> 00:24:49,823 [phone vibrating] 568 00:24:49,864 --> 00:24:51,616 Whole thing still doesn't make any sense. 569 00:24:51,658 --> 00:24:55,245 - Defense just changed their plea. 570 00:24:55,286 --> 00:24:57,580 - Their plea? To what? 571 00:24:57,622 --> 00:25:00,125 - Not guilty by reason of mental defect. 572 00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:01,710 - He's claiming insanity? 573 00:25:01,751 --> 00:25:03,753 - They're alleging Jesse Erickson 574 00:25:03,795 --> 00:25:06,840 had a mental impairment when he killed Derek Stanton. 575 00:25:06,881 --> 00:25:08,091 - What's the impairment? 576 00:25:08,133 --> 00:25:10,593 - Cannabis intoxication. 577 00:25:10,635 --> 00:25:13,888 - They're using marijuana as the basis for a-- 578 00:25:13,930 --> 00:25:16,808 for an insanity defense? 579 00:25:23,940 --> 00:25:24,315 . 580 00:25:24,357 --> 00:25:25,483 - I understand you'd like to change your plea. 581 00:25:26,693 --> 00:25:28,528 - We plan to present evidence that my client 582 00:25:28,570 --> 00:25:30,363 was in the throes of a psychotic episode 583 00:25:30,405 --> 00:25:31,990 the night of Mr. Stanton's death. 584 00:25:32,032 --> 00:25:35,160 My client went to a dispensary earlier and bought cannabis. 585 00:25:35,201 --> 00:25:36,536 - Yeah, something you've gone out of your way 586 00:25:36,578 --> 00:25:38,455 to denigrate Mr. Stanton for doing. 587 00:25:38,496 --> 00:25:41,124 - We denigrated him for selling it, for committing a felony. 588 00:25:41,166 --> 00:25:42,625 - Regardless, 589 00:25:42,667 --> 00:25:45,378 if the defendant voluntarily ingested an intoxicant, 590 00:25:45,420 --> 00:25:48,423 he can't turn around now and claim insanity. 591 00:25:48,465 --> 00:25:49,924 - My client didn't understand how potent 592 00:25:49,966 --> 00:25:51,551 this dose of cannabis was. 593 00:25:51,593 --> 00:25:53,553 No idea what it could do to him. 594 00:25:53,595 --> 00:25:55,764 That means his consumption wasn't voluntary. 595 00:25:55,805 --> 00:25:57,390 - I've never seen a claim of insanity 596 00:25:57,432 --> 00:25:58,892 based on marijuana usage. 597 00:25:58,933 --> 00:26:00,977 Do you have any science to back that up? 598 00:26:01,019 --> 00:26:03,396 - Data from medical journals detailing the frequency 599 00:26:03,438 --> 00:26:05,231 of cannabis-induced psychosis 600 00:26:05,273 --> 00:26:07,150 and a board-certified psychiatrist 601 00:26:07,192 --> 00:26:08,985 who will testify that my client was 602 00:26:09,027 --> 00:26:10,653 in the midst of such a psychosis 603 00:26:10,695 --> 00:26:13,490 when he came across Mr. Stanton. 604 00:26:13,531 --> 00:26:15,784 - Well, if that's your case that you present, 605 00:26:15,825 --> 00:26:16,951 I'm OK with it. 606 00:26:16,993 --> 00:26:19,245 I'll grant the defendant's request. 607 00:26:19,287 --> 00:26:20,747 And the People can call their own expert 608 00:26:20,789 --> 00:26:24,793 to interview the defendant and challenge the findings. 609 00:26:24,834 --> 00:26:26,878 - I've researched the potency of the THC 610 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,130 he claims to have ingested, and I met with the defendant 611 00:26:29,172 --> 00:26:32,634 for approximately two hours, got a full medical history, 612 00:26:32,676 --> 00:26:34,886 and it's scientifically possible that the cannabis 613 00:26:34,928 --> 00:26:37,263 caused him to experience irrational thoughts 614 00:26:37,305 --> 00:26:39,349 and paranoid delusions. 615 00:26:39,391 --> 00:26:41,101 - Possible that pot can 616 00:26:41,142 --> 00:26:42,977 make someone kill another human being? 617 00:26:43,019 --> 00:26:44,437 - It sounds farfetched. 618 00:26:44,479 --> 00:26:46,481 - But we're talking about pot. 619 00:26:46,523 --> 00:26:48,692 - This sure as hell isn't the pot I grew up with. 620 00:26:48,733 --> 00:26:52,612 Back in the '90s, the THC level in marijuana was below 2%. 621 00:26:52,654 --> 00:26:54,197 Now? 622 00:26:54,239 --> 00:26:58,451 Some dispensaries are selling dabs that are 80% or 90% THC. 623 00:26:58,493 --> 00:27:01,538 Put that in a vape and smoke it? 624 00:27:01,579 --> 00:27:05,542 It can absolutely trigger a psychotic episode. 625 00:27:05,583 --> 00:27:08,920 If I'm being honest, he seemed like a good kid 626 00:27:08,962 --> 00:27:13,133 who smoked some really strong marijuana 627 00:27:13,174 --> 00:27:16,177 and lost his damn mind. 628 00:27:19,889 --> 00:27:23,518 - So you want to concede that he had an altered mental state 629 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,146 and reduce the charges? - It makes sense to me. 630 00:27:26,187 --> 00:27:27,313 - Not to me. 631 00:27:27,355 --> 00:27:29,941 He literally beat Stanton to death. 632 00:27:29,983 --> 00:27:33,820 Each punch required independent thought and movement. 633 00:27:33,862 --> 00:27:36,823 High or not, his acts were still intentional. 634 00:27:36,865 --> 00:27:39,075 - Intentional? Our own doctor believes the defendant 635 00:27:39,117 --> 00:27:40,618 was in a psychotic state. 636 00:27:40,660 --> 00:27:43,455 Not only that, he ingested the pot legally. 637 00:27:43,496 --> 00:27:47,250 - The legal age is 21, not 18, and for good reason. 638 00:27:47,292 --> 00:27:50,503 The teenage brain is more susceptible to THC. 639 00:27:50,545 --> 00:27:51,796 - Well, you're making my point. 640 00:27:51,838 --> 00:27:55,133 - No, Erickson knew he was underage. 641 00:27:55,175 --> 00:27:57,552 That means he assumed the risk. 642 00:27:57,594 --> 00:27:59,846 - Technically, yes, I suppose, but come on, Jack. 643 00:27:59,888 --> 00:28:02,015 No one on the jury views marijuana 644 00:28:02,057 --> 00:28:03,850 as an illicit drug anymore. 645 00:28:03,892 --> 00:28:06,936 Man two is the appropriate charge. 646 00:28:06,978 --> 00:28:09,356 - You saw those autopsy photos, Nolan. 647 00:28:09,397 --> 00:28:11,399 He pummeled that man to death. 648 00:28:11,441 --> 00:28:13,401 We can't just give this guy a slap on the wrist. 649 00:28:13,443 --> 00:28:14,486 - We're not suggesting that we do. 650 00:28:14,527 --> 00:28:17,739 I'll recommend a minimum of 10 years. 651 00:28:17,781 --> 00:28:20,617 [dramatic music] 652 00:28:20,658 --> 00:28:24,371 - We're not pleading him out to man two, not yet anyway. 653 00:28:28,291 --> 00:28:30,210 - OK. 654 00:28:30,251 --> 00:28:35,382 If that's what you want to do, I think Sam should take over. 655 00:28:35,423 --> 00:28:36,633 I'll--I'll sit second chair. 656 00:28:36,675 --> 00:28:40,512 I'll support her as best I can. 657 00:28:40,553 --> 00:28:43,056 I don't see murder two here. 658 00:28:43,098 --> 00:28:44,349 I just don't. 659 00:28:44,391 --> 00:28:46,309 But you do. 660 00:28:46,351 --> 00:28:52,899 * * 661 00:28:52,941 --> 00:28:54,526 - Are you good with that? 662 00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:57,237 - Yes, absolutely. 663 00:28:57,278 --> 00:29:04,452 * * 664 00:29:08,039 --> 00:29:09,582 - Tell the jurors what happened the night 665 00:29:09,624 --> 00:29:12,502 of Mr. Stanton's death. 666 00:29:12,544 --> 00:29:15,588 - My friend, Kyle, he has a cannabis card. 667 00:29:15,630 --> 00:29:18,800 So it means he can legally buy marijuana. 668 00:29:18,842 --> 00:29:21,219 So we went to a dispensary down on the Lower East Side. 669 00:29:21,261 --> 00:29:23,096 - Did your friend buy marijuana? 670 00:29:23,138 --> 00:29:24,264 - Yes. 671 00:29:24,305 --> 00:29:26,099 - Did you partake? 672 00:29:26,141 --> 00:29:27,559 - Yes. 673 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,103 - And did you ever smoke or eat pot before that night? 674 00:29:30,145 --> 00:29:31,521 - Yes. 675 00:29:31,563 --> 00:29:33,231 But it wasn't anything like this. 676 00:29:33,273 --> 00:29:35,442 - Can you describe your experience? 677 00:29:35,483 --> 00:29:37,318 - So I started seeing things 678 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,237 that, like, weren't actually there. 679 00:29:39,279 --> 00:29:42,032 And I just felt like everybody was threatening me. 680 00:29:42,073 --> 00:29:44,117 - Is that why you started throwing rocks? 681 00:29:44,159 --> 00:29:45,535 - Yes. 682 00:29:45,577 --> 00:29:47,620 - Do you remember meeting Mr. Stanton? 683 00:29:47,662 --> 00:29:50,331 - Yes, I threw a rock at his store. 684 00:29:50,373 --> 00:29:52,334 It's a pizza place. 685 00:29:52,375 --> 00:29:54,294 And it shattered the glass. 686 00:29:54,336 --> 00:29:55,503 - What did Mr. Stanton do? 687 00:29:55,545 --> 00:29:58,089 - He came out, trying to talk to me. 688 00:29:58,131 --> 00:30:02,135 But I walked away, and, uh, he ran after me. 689 00:30:02,177 --> 00:30:03,595 - You felt threatened? 690 00:30:03,636 --> 00:30:05,013 - Objection, leading. 691 00:30:05,055 --> 00:30:06,806 - Sustained. 692 00:30:06,848 --> 00:30:08,975 - Tell the jurors how you felt. 693 00:30:09,017 --> 00:30:10,560 - OK. 694 00:30:10,602 --> 00:30:13,688 I thought Mr. Stanton was-- was going to kill me. 695 00:30:13,730 --> 00:30:17,317 And now I know that that's not true, 696 00:30:17,359 --> 00:30:18,693 but at the time, like, in the moment, 697 00:30:18,735 --> 00:30:22,030 it felt super real, like very real. 698 00:30:22,072 --> 00:30:24,532 So I hit him. 699 00:30:29,204 --> 00:30:30,497 - Thank you. 700 00:30:30,538 --> 00:30:32,624 Nothing further. 701 00:30:49,265 --> 00:30:52,143 - You didn't just hit him. 702 00:30:52,185 --> 00:30:54,813 You beat him to death. 703 00:30:54,854 --> 00:30:57,565 - I feel awful, all right? 704 00:30:57,607 --> 00:30:59,609 I'm so sorry for everything I've done. 705 00:30:59,651 --> 00:31:02,570 I'm so sorry for the pain that I've caused my family 706 00:31:02,612 --> 00:31:04,280 and Mr. Stanton's family. 707 00:31:04,322 --> 00:31:06,116 - And up until this very moment, 708 00:31:06,157 --> 00:31:08,576 you've never expressed a shred of remorse 709 00:31:08,618 --> 00:31:10,870 for what you've done. 710 00:31:10,912 --> 00:31:13,873 - That's 'cause my lawyer and my dad told me not to. 711 00:31:13,915 --> 00:31:17,460 - Oh, so you're blaming this on your father and-- 712 00:31:17,502 --> 00:31:18,920 - No. No. - Lawyer? 713 00:31:18,962 --> 00:31:20,171 - See, that's not what I'm saying. 714 00:31:20,213 --> 00:31:22,674 I'm saying I'm a-- I'm not a bad person. 715 00:31:22,716 --> 00:31:24,926 - [scoffs] Not a bad person? 716 00:31:24,968 --> 00:31:27,595 [tense music] 717 00:31:27,637 --> 00:31:30,932 * * 718 00:31:30,974 --> 00:31:32,976 - Yeah. 719 00:31:33,018 --> 00:31:35,562 Yeah, I wish I could take it back. 720 00:31:35,603 --> 00:31:37,522 I'd do anything to have that night back. 721 00:31:37,564 --> 00:31:39,649 - But you can't. 722 00:31:39,691 --> 00:31:42,444 That's not how the world works. 723 00:31:42,485 --> 00:31:44,821 You did what you did. 724 00:31:44,863 --> 00:31:49,200 And now a good man, an innocent man is dead and buried, 725 00:31:49,242 --> 00:31:51,578 and his family is grieving. - Objection. 726 00:31:51,619 --> 00:31:55,081 - Sustained. Watch it, Ms. Maroun. 727 00:31:55,123 --> 00:32:02,088 * * 728 00:32:05,675 --> 00:32:08,219 - And after you brutally murdered Mr. Stanton, 729 00:32:08,261 --> 00:32:10,930 you went to great lengths to cover your tracks, didn't you? 730 00:32:10,972 --> 00:32:12,223 - Look, I don't know what you mean. 731 00:32:12,265 --> 00:32:14,225 - Yeah, you went to a hospital to get treatment. 732 00:32:14,267 --> 00:32:16,436 You paid out of pocket so it wouldn't be reflected 733 00:32:16,478 --> 00:32:17,771 in your insurance claim. 734 00:32:17,812 --> 00:32:18,897 - See, that was my family's decision. 735 00:32:18,938 --> 00:32:21,024 - Yes, I know. It's all their fault. 736 00:32:21,066 --> 00:32:22,442 - Please. 737 00:32:22,484 --> 00:32:27,113 [crying] I'm so sorry for what I did. 738 00:32:27,155 --> 00:32:29,657 I'm so sorry. 739 00:32:29,699 --> 00:32:33,203 I'm so sorry. 740 00:32:33,244 --> 00:32:35,914 I'm so sorry. 741 00:32:37,999 --> 00:32:41,920 [crying] 742 00:32:41,961 --> 00:32:44,714 - That's all I have for this witness. 743 00:32:44,756 --> 00:32:51,888 * * 744 00:32:58,853 --> 00:33:00,313 Went too far, didn't I? 745 00:33:00,355 --> 00:33:02,023 - No, not necessarily. 746 00:33:02,065 --> 00:33:06,111 I think we still have a few jurors in our corner. 747 00:33:15,161 --> 00:33:15,328 . 748 00:33:15,370 --> 00:33:15,954 - You're doing great. 749 00:33:17,038 --> 00:33:18,415 - Be honest. 750 00:33:18,456 --> 00:33:19,749 - I am. 751 00:33:19,791 --> 00:33:21,793 You are doing great. 752 00:33:21,835 --> 00:33:24,504 But the facts are the facts. 753 00:33:24,546 --> 00:33:26,548 No matter how well you present the case, 754 00:33:26,589 --> 00:33:28,591 the jury is going to want to know why 755 00:33:28,633 --> 00:33:31,136 the defendant had such a violent outburst 756 00:33:31,177 --> 00:33:33,596 and killed another human being. 757 00:33:33,638 --> 00:33:39,185 And, well, unless we can give them an understandable motive, 758 00:33:39,227 --> 00:33:42,355 I don't see us getting a conviction on murder two. 759 00:33:42,397 --> 00:33:44,441 - Last time I tell you to be honest. 760 00:33:44,482 --> 00:33:46,901 - [laughs] Does that mean you agree? 761 00:33:46,943 --> 00:33:50,321 - That we need to offer up additional information 762 00:33:50,363 --> 00:33:52,907 or find some sort of reason for Erickson's violence? 763 00:33:52,949 --> 00:33:54,576 Yes, absolutely. 764 00:33:54,617 --> 00:33:56,661 And I've been looking for one, but-- 765 00:33:56,703 --> 00:34:00,331 - You know, it occurred to me when Erickson was on the stand 766 00:34:00,373 --> 00:34:04,252 that neither he nor his lawyer have talked about college. 767 00:34:04,294 --> 00:34:06,338 - What do you mean? - He's a high school senior. 768 00:34:06,379 --> 00:34:08,506 He's a great student, talented athlete 769 00:34:08,548 --> 00:34:11,926 from a wealthy, educated family. 770 00:34:11,968 --> 00:34:14,846 For a kid like Jesse Erickson not to be on his way 771 00:34:14,888 --> 00:34:18,141 to some sort of elite college, it doesn't make sense. 772 00:34:18,183 --> 00:34:20,393 Has to be a reason. 773 00:34:25,648 --> 00:34:27,192 - He was accepted early at Brown, 774 00:34:27,233 --> 00:34:29,110 but decided to take a gap year. 775 00:34:29,152 --> 00:34:30,653 - To do what? 776 00:34:30,695 --> 00:34:32,447 - He's enlisted in a youth volunteer group 777 00:34:32,489 --> 00:34:34,115 to build a school in Kenya. 778 00:34:34,157 --> 00:34:35,367 - [scoffs] Kenya? 779 00:34:35,408 --> 00:34:38,453 - That's the plan-- or it was the plan. 780 00:34:38,495 --> 00:34:41,289 - So he's never been in trouble? 781 00:34:41,331 --> 00:34:43,124 Suspended, discipline? 782 00:34:43,166 --> 00:34:44,834 - Not to my knowledge. 783 00:34:44,876 --> 00:34:47,045 - Ever shown signs of violence? 784 00:34:47,087 --> 00:34:49,714 - Not that I'm aware of. 785 00:34:49,756 --> 00:34:52,342 - Has he ever expressed racist thoughts 786 00:34:52,384 --> 00:34:55,011 and shown bias against people of color? 787 00:34:55,053 --> 00:34:56,513 - No. 788 00:34:56,554 --> 00:34:59,265 I'm telling you, he's a good kid. 789 00:34:59,307 --> 00:35:01,142 I've been his advisor since freshman year. 790 00:35:01,184 --> 00:35:03,687 - So he's perfect? That's what you're saying? 791 00:35:03,728 --> 00:35:06,606 He just runs around, getting straight As, 792 00:35:06,648 --> 00:35:09,401 playing football, winning citizenship awards, 793 00:35:09,442 --> 00:35:13,071 and then one night, out of the blue, he beats a man to death? 794 00:35:13,113 --> 00:35:15,115 - It was the cannabis. 795 00:35:15,156 --> 00:35:19,035 That's the only thing that makes sense. 796 00:35:19,077 --> 00:35:22,372 I don't understand all your anger. 797 00:35:22,414 --> 00:35:26,751 Why are you hell bent on ruining Jesse's life? 798 00:35:26,793 --> 00:35:29,713 [soft dramatic music] 799 00:35:29,754 --> 00:35:34,509 * * 800 00:35:34,551 --> 00:35:36,261 - You should have heard this guy. 801 00:35:36,302 --> 00:35:39,931 He--he made Erickson out to be a saint. 802 00:35:39,973 --> 00:35:42,892 He turned it around, started pointing fingers at me 803 00:35:42,934 --> 00:35:45,061 like I have some personal vendetta 804 00:35:45,103 --> 00:35:47,272 against Erickson. 805 00:35:47,313 --> 00:35:53,528 * * 806 00:35:54,612 --> 00:35:57,282 What? What are you... 807 00:35:59,701 --> 00:36:01,911 - OK. 808 00:36:01,953 --> 00:36:05,123 I have wondered the same thing. 809 00:36:07,709 --> 00:36:09,836 From the second we charged this kid, 810 00:36:09,878 --> 00:36:12,839 you've been convinced that he's a monster 811 00:36:12,881 --> 00:36:14,090 in spite of the evidence. 812 00:36:14,132 --> 00:36:15,759 - The evidence? 813 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,845 He bludgeoned a man to death with his fists. 814 00:36:18,887 --> 00:36:20,597 I mean, those were the most 815 00:36:20,638 --> 00:36:23,016 horrific crime scene photos I have ever seen. 816 00:36:23,058 --> 00:36:27,812 - I agree, which is why we brought the murder two charge. 817 00:36:27,854 --> 00:36:30,607 But... 818 00:36:30,648 --> 00:36:33,902 the evidence no longer backs our original theory, 819 00:36:33,943 --> 00:36:36,780 and we're losing the jury. 820 00:36:36,821 --> 00:36:38,990 [sighs] Manslaughter is still a serious charge. 821 00:36:39,032 --> 00:36:41,493 Like I said before, we can recommend 10 years. 822 00:36:41,534 --> 00:36:45,497 - That's not enough, not for what he did. 823 00:36:51,169 --> 00:36:54,130 - I'm not a psychiatrist, but... 824 00:36:54,172 --> 00:36:56,007 is there a chance this has something 825 00:36:56,049 --> 00:36:58,009 to do with your sister? 826 00:36:58,051 --> 00:36:59,594 - [scoffs] 827 00:36:59,636 --> 00:37:01,805 - You know, OK, I'm-- I'm sorry to even-- 828 00:37:01,846 --> 00:37:04,641 - You--you think I'm trying to blame Jesse Erickson 829 00:37:04,683 --> 00:37:06,559 for what happened to my sister? 830 00:37:06,601 --> 00:37:10,021 - No, not consciously, but there is a resemblance, 831 00:37:10,063 --> 00:37:12,982 on paper anyway, between him and-- 832 00:37:13,024 --> 00:37:15,944 and the young man who... 833 00:37:19,739 --> 00:37:23,785 OK, I'm wrong. 834 00:37:23,827 --> 00:37:26,705 I'm sorry for even bringing it up. 835 00:37:26,746 --> 00:37:32,168 * * 836 00:37:32,210 --> 00:37:34,879 I'm just trying to help, Sam. 837 00:37:37,757 --> 00:37:40,260 - I know. 838 00:37:40,301 --> 00:37:47,392 * * 839 00:37:55,233 --> 00:37:58,028 - Breakfast on a work day? 840 00:37:58,069 --> 00:38:00,488 - Oh. 841 00:38:00,530 --> 00:38:02,449 It's been a while. 842 00:38:02,490 --> 00:38:05,493 Just thought I'd come by, say hello. 843 00:38:05,535 --> 00:38:07,704 - I'm thrilled. 844 00:38:07,746 --> 00:38:10,540 And thanks for bringing the fresh croissants. 845 00:38:24,054 --> 00:38:28,892 - I thought it'd get easier. 846 00:38:28,933 --> 00:38:31,353 - It doesn't. 847 00:38:31,394 --> 00:38:34,939 It's an ache that will never go away. 848 00:38:34,981 --> 00:38:38,693 But I tell myself that the pain is a good thing. 849 00:38:38,735 --> 00:38:41,863 Lets me know that I'm still alive, 850 00:38:41,905 --> 00:38:44,657 that I'm still capable of feeling. 851 00:38:54,292 --> 00:38:56,961 - It doesn't help that 852 00:38:57,003 --> 00:39:01,633 the police never arrested the son of a bitch. 853 00:39:01,675 --> 00:39:04,803 Just knowing that smug bastard is still out there 854 00:39:04,844 --> 00:39:09,099 walking around free as a bird... 855 00:39:09,140 --> 00:39:12,268 If I think about it too much, I'm going to go crazy. 856 00:39:12,310 --> 00:39:15,397 - So don't. 857 00:39:15,438 --> 00:39:17,565 - Don't what? 858 00:39:17,607 --> 00:39:20,026 - [sighs] Think about it. 859 00:39:20,068 --> 00:39:22,612 Focus instead on Christina, 860 00:39:22,654 --> 00:39:27,367 her smile, her laughter, her kindness. 861 00:39:27,409 --> 00:39:32,455 Just forget about all this stuff-- 862 00:39:32,497 --> 00:39:37,544 the hatred, the frustration. 863 00:39:37,585 --> 00:39:39,295 - I don't think it's possible. 864 00:39:39,337 --> 00:39:41,131 - It is. 865 00:39:41,172 --> 00:39:43,842 I promise. 866 00:39:43,883 --> 00:39:46,845 [soft music] 867 00:39:46,886 --> 00:39:50,181 * * 868 00:39:50,223 --> 00:39:53,476 I'm so glad you came by. 869 00:39:53,518 --> 00:39:55,353 - [chuckles] 870 00:39:55,395 --> 00:39:58,314 - It's been too long, hm? 871 00:39:58,356 --> 00:40:05,196 * * 872 00:40:05,238 --> 00:40:08,366 [indistinct chatter] 873 00:40:10,243 --> 00:40:14,039 - What's going on? 874 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:16,458 - I pled him out to man two. 875 00:40:16,499 --> 00:40:20,170 - Really? Man two. 876 00:40:20,211 --> 00:40:22,213 - You were right. 877 00:40:22,255 --> 00:40:23,840 Without a credible motive, 878 00:40:23,882 --> 00:40:26,843 the jury wasn't going to convict Erickson of murder, 879 00:40:26,885 --> 00:40:30,680 but he's still going to do a lot of time. 880 00:40:30,722 --> 00:40:33,641 If this law thing doesn't work out, 881 00:40:33,683 --> 00:40:36,895 you should think about becoming a psychiatrist. 882 00:40:36,936 --> 00:40:43,860 * * 883 00:41:28,113 --> 00:41:31,074 [wolf howls]