1. In the criminal justice system
Copy !req
2. the people are represented by two
separate yet equally important groups,
Copy !req
3. the police who investigate crime
Copy !req
4. and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.
Copy !req
5. These are their stories.
Copy !req
6. It's been three years.
Copy !req
7. I haven't talked to
her since she moved.
Copy !req
8. She is your mother, Leah.
Copy !req
9. She could call me, too.
Copy !req
10. You know that's not the point.
Copy !req
11. You obviously
feel guilty about it.
Copy !req
12. Remember, in the end, all we
have is our faith and our family.
Copy !req
13. I'll try, I guess.
Copy !req
14. Good. Now we should pray.
Copy !req
15. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Copy !req
16. Oh, God, Rachel.
Copy !req
17. Leah, what is it?
Somebody took Rachel.
Copy !req
18. Leah, Leah, what? What?
Copy !req
19. She's gone! My baby!
Copy !req
20. Priest said that they
were in confession.
Copy !req
21. The kid was in the
carriage right outside.
Copy !req
22. And nobody heard
anything? It's a church.
Copy !req
23. You're supposed to keep quiet.
Copy !req
24. This is Father Carner.
Copy !req
25. It's unbelievable.
Nothing like this
Copy !req
26. has ever happened here before.
Copy !req
27. And this is where
the carriage was?
Copy !req
28. Nobody's touched it.
Copy !req
29. Good. Take it down to Forensics.
Copy !req
30. How long were you in here?
Copy !req
31. Not long. Maybe five minutes.
Copy !req
32. Leah never has much to confess.
Copy !req
33. And you didn't see
anybody else, huh?
Copy !req
34. As far as I know, the
church was empty.
Copy !req
35. Thanks, Father.
Copy !req
36. Do you think
there's any chance...
Copy !req
37. Who would do this?
Copy !req
38. I always leave Rachel there.
Copy !req
39. I never thought that
anything could happen.
Copy !req
40. Was anyone else here, Leah?
Copy !req
41. Did you find her?
Copy !req
42. I'm sorry.
Copy !req
43. You're going to find her, right?
Copy !req
44. You're not going to
let anything happen.
Copy !req
45. Father.
Copy !req
46. Kidnap a kid from a church?
Copy !req
47. How many Hail Marys
does that get you?
Copy !req
48. Somehow, I don't think
this guy was counting.
Copy !req
49. She was wearing
her navy-blue dress,
Copy !req
50. the one with the frills around
the collar and a white hat.
Copy !req
51. Oh, God, it's all my fault.
Copy !req
52. I never should
have left her alone.
Copy !req
53. Are we gonna just sit here?
Copy !req
54. Some pervert's got my kid.
Copy !req
55. We've got our
guys out canvassing
Copy !req
56. the neighborhood, Mr. Coleman.
Copy !req
57. Well, he could be
out of state already.
Copy !req
58. Now, Leah, you didn't
see anybody following you?
Copy !req
59. I don't think so.
Copy !req
60. Where were you before church?
Copy !req
61. We went to the playground,
and then we went to the market.
Copy !req
62. Now, Leah, this is important.
Copy !req
63. When you got to the church, was
there anyone hanging around outside?
Copy !req
64. I don't know. I can't remember.
Copy !req
65. Oh, wait a minute.
Copy !req
66. When I got there, I sat
waiting for Father Carner,
Copy !req
67. and then when I
went in to confess,
Copy !req
68. there was someone
in the back row.
Copy !req
69. Good. Now, did you
see what he looked like?
Copy !req
70. He was young, maybe
20, and Puerto Rican.
Copy !req
71. Okay, Leah, I'll tell you
what we're gonna do.
Copy !req
72. You're gonna describe this
guy to a sketch artist, okay?
Copy !req
73. Please find Rachel.
Copy !req
74. How could someone
leave their kid alone?
Copy !req
75. Hey, she was in a church.
Copy !req
76. She actually believes in
that "Do unto others" stuff.
Copy !req
77. She says she saw a Puerto
Rican man in the back row.
Copy !req
78. It's not in Sluizer's report.
Copy !req
79. Well, she just remembered.
Copy !req
80. What, you think she's lying?
Copy !req
81. I wouldn't turn my back
on my kid in this city.
Copy !req
82. There is another possibility.
Copy !req
83. Get off it. You saw the girl.
Copy !req
84. She was hysterical.
Copy !req
85. You're not gonna find her baby in
a car at the bottom of some lake.
Copy !req
86. Talk to the priest. Maybe he can
help with the man in the back row.
Copy !req
87. Sure, we have Puerto
Rican members.
Copy !req
88. We also have Cubans, Mexicans,
Copy !req
89. Venezuelans, but none of them...
Copy !req
90. I know. They're all
good people, right?
Copy !req
91. No. But we're a
small congregation.
Copy !req
92. Leah knows them all.
She was very active.
Copy !req
93. Was?
Copy !req
94. Raising a child alone,
it takes a lot of time.
Copy !req
95. What do you mean alone?
We just met her husband.
Copy !req
96. She and Keith are separated.
Copy !req
97. I've been counseling them.
Copy !req
98. We're close to getting
their marriage back on track.
Copy !req
99. Did their problems have
anything to do with their daughter?
Copy !req
100. Oh, you don't suspect Keith?
Copy !req
101. Look, Leah is a good mother.
Copy !req
102. Keith knows that
and respects it.
Copy !req
103. She lets him see Rachel
as often as he likes.
Copy !req
104. They're good kids.
Copy !req
105. They just got married too young.
Copy !req
106. Yeah, she's a good mother,
except she lost her baby.
Copy !req
107. He's a good father, but he
can't stand to live with his family.
Copy !req
108. All I know is my girls
aren't getting married
Copy !req
109. till they graduate from college.
Copy !req
110. Hey, I'm too young to get
married, and I'm a grandfather.
Copy !req
111. Before church, she went
to the market up on 88th.
Copy !req
112. Maybe someone up
there saw something.
Copy !req
113. Puerto Ricans? What else is new?
Copy !req
114. This morning, I don't
know, around 11:00,
Copy !req
115. a young girl came in with
her baby. You remember that?
Copy !req
116. Sure. Leah. That baby
of hers is a real cutie.
Copy !req
117. Shame she's got to
grow up in this cesspool.
Copy !req
118. Do you remember anybody
paying special attention to them?
Copy !req
119. 11:00 a.m.? Let's see.
Copy !req
120. I probably sold Ricardo
his first six-pack by then.
Copy !req
121. You got a last name?
Copy !req
122. We're not that close.
Copy !req
123. He didn't rape her, did he?
Copy !req
124. This Ricardo, he's trouble?
Copy !req
125. Show me one who's not.
Copy !req
126. They want to break off from
the US of A, I say let them.
Copy !req
127. Besides Roberto Clemente, what
the hell good are they, anyhow?
Copy !req
128. Yeah, well I guess your boy,
Newt's gonna take care of them, huh?
Copy !req
129. Damn right.
Copy !req
130. So where can we find Ricardo?
Copy !req
131. Around the corner. OTB.
Copy !req
132. He's the one with
the 12 earrings.
Copy !req
133. Thank you for coming
in, Mrs. Coleman.
Copy !req
134. You caught the man?
Copy !req
135. We'd like you to take a look and
see if you recognize anybody, all right?
Copy !req
136. I don't know.
Copy !req
137. I'm not sure.
Copy !req
138. It was kind of dark
inside the church.
Copy !req
139. Take your time.
Copy !req
140. I'm sorry.It's okay.
Copy !req
141. Rey, why don't you
see Mrs. Coleman out?
Copy !req
142. Well, it's been fun
as always, Lieutenant.
Copy !req
143. I assume you have no
further use for me or my client?
Copy !req
144. The canvass is
coming up goose eggs.
Copy !req
145. Why don't you give the
husband another look?
Copy !req
146. Do you think Rachel's okay?
Copy !req
147. It's hard to say.
Copy !req
148. I mean, she could
be dead, right?
Copy !req
149. We shouldn't talk
like that, Leah.
Copy !req
150. Do you have any children?
Copy !req
151. Three girls.
Copy !req
152. Then you do understand.
Copy !req
153. Listen, if I were in
your position right now,
Copy !req
154. I don't know what I'd be doing.
Copy !req
155. Praying. You'd be praying.
Copy !req
156. Yeah, you're right.
Copy !req
157. Look, Leah's not perfect, but
she was always a good mom.
Copy !req
158. I mean, she was patient,
she never lost her temper,
Copy !req
159. and she spent every
second with Rachel.
Copy !req
160. Didn't leave much
time for you, huh?
Copy !req
161. Are you trying to say something?
Copy !req
162. You're a young guy,
Copy !req
163. maybe you'd rather
be out hitting the clubs
Copy !req
164. instead of home
changing diapers, huh?
Copy !req
165. So I take my own kid?
Copy !req
166. Does that make sense?
Copy !req
167. Some people would pay a lot
of money for a healthy little girl.
Copy !req
168. You know what? You're sick, man.
Copy !req
169. I mean, maybe I wasn't
the best husband or father,
Copy !req
170. but I'd never do anything
to hurt either one of them.
Copy !req
171. The kid's pretty worked up.
Copy !req
172. I don't think he had
anything to do with it.
Copy !req
173. What about the mother?
Copy !req
174. She can barely talk.
Copy !req
175. You know, everybody
says they saw the carriage,
Copy !req
176. but I don't remember
anybody saying
Copy !req
177. that they saw the
baby in the carriage.
Copy !req
178. A stranger lifts up a
sleeping eight-month-old,
Copy !req
179. you're gonna hear some wailing.
Copy !req
180. Not if he covers her mouth.
Copy !req
181. So we're nowhere.
Copy !req
182. So we start over.
Go back to the scene.
Copy !req
183. What the hell?
Copy !req
184. Oh, wonderful.
Copy !req
185. I'm so glad they're
finally done with O.J.
Copy !req
186. So, I'm begging whoever
it was who took Rachel
Copy !req
187. to bring her back home to us.
Copy !req
188. And I'm begging everyone
else, please pray with us.
Copy !req
189. Please light your
candles and pray with us.
Copy !req
190. Mrs. Coleman,
is it true the police
Copy !req
191. are looking for a
Puerto Rican male?
Copy !req
192. A man resembling this picture
is wanted for questioning.
Copy !req
193. Please, I want my daughter home.
Copy !req
194. This isn't a good idea, Father.
Copy !req
195. I thought the publicity would...
Copy !req
196. It's the last thing we want.
Copy !req
197. I've been advised
we'll have to end now.
Copy !req
198. Mrs. Coleman, one more question.
Copy !req
199. How did I look, Rey?
Copy !req
200. Where is that?
Copy !req
201. Got it. Thanks.
Copy !req
202. Mass hysteria time.
Copy !req
203. Anything worthwhile?
Copy !req
204. Since the Coleman's town
meeting, every nutjob in the city
Copy !req
205. who ever got a bad
taco is pointing the finger.
Copy !req
206. Lieutenant?
Copy !req
207. Listen, I've been thinking,
Copy !req
208. what if I took Leah
on a walk-through
Copy !req
209. of her morning
before the kidnapping?
Copy !req
210. Not so confident anymore
in the grieving mother?
Copy !req
211. Well, maybe something
will spark her memory.
Copy !req
212. All right, Mrs. Dichter.
Copy !req
213. Yeah, we'll get
somebody there right away.
Copy !req
214. Now, this could be something.
Copy !req
215. Landlady says her Hispanic
tenant suddenly became a daddy.
Copy !req
216. No wife, no girlfriend.
Copy !req
217. Check it out. Take Profaci.
Copy !req
218. Remind the girl to stay
away from the press.
Copy !req
219. Albert's a good tenant.
Copy !req
220. Clean, quiet, rent on time.
Copy !req
221. Couple of cats, but
I can live with that.
Copy !req
222. And you're sure he's single?
Copy !req
223. Oh, Albert's definitely single.
Copy !req
224. An artiste, if you get my drift.
Copy !req
225. But who am I to judge?
Copy !req
226. And you saw the
baby, Mrs. Dichter?
Copy !req
227. Well, I saw him carrying
a box of Pampers.
Copy !req
228. I don't know much about
those people, but you tell me.
Copy !req
229. Now, you're gonna tell me what a
single guy's doing with all this stuff?
Copy !req
230. Alternative lifestyle or no.
Copy !req
231. Do you know where
Mr. Martinez works?
Copy !req
232. Well, what the hell
do you want us to do?
Copy !req
233. I mean, it's the second day.
Copy !req
234. You guys don't
even have a suspect.
Copy !req
235. And now you may have
scared off the guy who did this.
Copy !req
236. Oh, my God. It was
Father Carner's idea.
Copy !req
237. He thought getting
the whole community
Copy !req
238. working together would be good.
Copy !req
239. Look, Leah, I have an idea.
Copy !req
240. It could be helpful.
Copy !req
241. Anything.
Copy !req
242. I want you to walk me
through your morning
Copy !req
243. before you went to the church.
Copy !req
244. You might see something
or remember something.
Copy !req
245. What the hell.
Copy !req
246. I mean, I'll go nuts
just sitting here.
Copy !req
247. No, I think it's better if
it's just me and Leah.
Copy !req
248. She's my daughter,
too, you know.
Copy !req
249. Well, that's why
you should stay here.
Copy !req
250. Maybe somebody'll call.
Copy !req
251. This is where we sat.
Copy !req
252. My mom used to bring me here.
Copy !req
253. Was there anything out of
the ordinary here that day?
Copy !req
254. Just the kids
playing, like always.
Copy !req
255. I can't wait for
Rachel to grow up.
Copy !req
256. I'm going to teach her how to
ride a bike, like my dad taught me.
Copy !req
257. I just taught my oldest.
Copy !req
258. What's her name?
Copy !req
259. Olivia.
Copy !req
260. That's pretty.
Copy !req
261. Take a look.
Copy !req
262. Oh, she's beautiful.
Copy !req
263. Second grade spelling champ.
Copy !req
264. You're so lucky.
Copy !req
265. Well, she can be a handful.
Copy !req
266. Sometimes I feel like...
Copy !req
267. Oh, you don't mean that.
Copy !req
268. I love her,
Copy !req
269. but my wife's the one with
all the patience in my family.
Copy !req
270. Next stop, the market, right?
Copy !req
271. Right, and what
time was that, ma'am?
Copy !req
272. Okay, thank you.
Copy !req
273. Here, this looks
iffy, but give it a shot.
Copy !req
274. Albert Martinez is a negative.
Copy !req
275. It was his sister's kid.
Copy !req
276. She won an all-expense-paid trip
Copy !req
277. to Atlantic City for the week.
Copy !req
278. He's watching the kid.
You took his word for it?
Copy !req
279. It was a boy, Lennie. You sure?
Copy !req
280. I walked in, he's changing
the kid right in front of me.
Copy !req
281. I think I can tell
the difference.
Copy !req
282. I bought some cereal.
Copy !req
283. Mr. Cox was up front.
Copy !req
284. Do you remember
any other customers?
Copy !req
285. No, it was pretty empty.
Copy !req
286. There was a black man over
there, near the dairy case.
Copy !req
287. I bought some milk.
Copy !req
288. I remember one
time, when I was a kid,
Copy !req
289. I pulled everything
out of the refrigerator,
Copy !req
290. and I dumped it onto the floor.
Copy !req
291. What'd your mom do?
Copy !req
292. Not a lot.
Copy !req
293. I did, however, get a smack
in the head from my dad.
Copy !req
294. You're kidding.
Copy !req
295. It was nothing.
Copy !req
296. I always got a little smack on
the head when I was out of line.
Copy !req
297. That's wrong, Rey.
Copy !req
298. What your father
did is very wrong.
Copy !req
299. "Spare the rod, spoil the
child." That's what the Bible says.
Copy !req
300. Besides, I know my dad loved me,
Copy !req
301. and I turned out okay, didn't I?
Copy !req
302. My baby screams,
and I never hit her.
Copy !req
303. Keith never hits her.
Copy !req
304. My parents never hit me.
Copy !req
305. Well, we were just brought
up different, that's all.
Copy !req
306. I should get back to Keith.
Copy !req
307. He must be out of his mind.
Copy !req
308. Okay. Okay, we're almost done.
Copy !req
309. And this is important.
Copy !req
310. Where did you go next?
Copy !req
311. The coffee shop up the street.
Copy !req
312. When I was 10, my mom used to
drag me to church every Sunday.
Copy !req
313. It's not punishment, you know.
Copy !req
314. Hey, my buddies
were all out playing ball.
Copy !req
315. Believe me, it was torture.
Copy !req
316. I like the singing.
Copy !req
317. Yeah?
Copy !req
318. I got kicked off the choir.
Copy !req
319. Couldn't carry a tune.
Copy !req
320. The part I hated
the most, confession.
Copy !req
321. It's the only road
to absolution.
Copy !req
322. Yeah.
Copy !req
323. You know, it's kind of funny.
Copy !req
324. What I did was I'd
make up stories.
Copy !req
325. You know, I cheated in school,
I stole money from my pops.
Copy !req
326. Father Mike
actually fell for it.
Copy !req
327. You lied to your confessor?
Copy !req
328. Well, don't tell me you
never left anything out.
Copy !req
329. No. I'd feel too guilty.
Copy !req
330. Yeah. Yeah, I guess
I'm the same way.
Copy !req
331. Every week, I'd go back, and
I'd tell Father Mike the truth.
Copy !req
332. Was he mad?
Copy !req
333. I think he was disappointed
more than anything else.
Copy !req
334. That's where he was sitting.
Copy !req
335. Are you sure?
Copy !req
336. Can we go?
Copy !req
337. Why don't...
Copy !req
338. Why don't we sit down
for a minute, okay?
Copy !req
339. Hmm.
Copy !req
340. I like it when
it's quiet like this.
Copy !req
341. Really helps you think better.
Copy !req
342. I made my first communion here.
Copy !req
343. My dad invited the
whole neighborhood.
Copy !req
344. And I cried at Rachel's baptism.
Copy !req
345. Do you think there's any chance?
Copy !req
346. The more time that
passes, the less likely it is.
Copy !req
347. I'm sorry.
Copy !req
348. I don't blame you.
Copy !req
349. Do you think she's dead?
Copy !req
350. You know what bothers me?
Copy !req
351. If she is, you know,
Copy !req
352. poor Rachel, she...
Copy !req
353. She should have
a Christian burial.
Copy !req
354. We should pray.
Copy !req
355. You take your time.
Copy !req
356. I'll wait for you outside.
Copy !req
357. Oh, no. Please stay with me.
Copy !req
358. My baby's in heaven.
Copy !req
359. Tell me.
Copy !req
360. I made sure she'd
be all right for heaven.
Copy !req
361. How did she die?
Copy !req
362. A pillow.
Copy !req
363. She couldn't breathe.
Copy !req
364. Where is she, Leah?
Copy !req
365. Oh, my little angel.
Copy !req
366. She deserved the best, you know.
Copy !req
367. Smothering your own baby
and then cremating her?
Copy !req
368. Makes me wish I
went to art school.
Copy !req
369. Never underestimate the
depravity of American society.
Copy !req
370. The good news about this one is
it should be over nice and quick.
Copy !req
371. You're not thinking
of dealing this down?
Copy !req
372. A dead baby, a solid confession,
Copy !req
373. any lawyer with an ounce of
lucidity will take 25-to-life and run.
Copy !req
374. Who do we have?
Copy !req
375. Ross Fineman, Legal Aid.
Copy !req
376. Never heard of him. That's good.
Copy !req
377. He didn't put up
much of a fight on bail.
Copy !req
378. Good sign.
Copy !req
379. Or else he saw the mob
outside the courthouse,
Copy !req
380. and he figured that Coleman
would be safer in Rikers.
Copy !req
381. Yes? Send him in.
Copy !req
382. Five minutes, tops.
Copy !req
383. Hello. Hi.
Copy !req
384. Mr. McCoy, it's an honor.
Copy !req
385. The pleasure is
mine, Mr. Fineman.
Copy !req
386. Ross. Two years in
misdemeanors, and now this.
Copy !req
387. It's unbelievable.
Copy !req
388. Hell of a way to cut your teeth.
Copy !req
389. I guess Bernstein figured I
couldn't screw up too bad.
Copy !req
390. So, what do you say, Jack?
Copy !req
391. How does man one sound?
Copy !req
392. Not very good.
Copy !req
393. A few more homicides, you'll
find some cases are not dealable.
Copy !req
394. Well, I thought
I'd give it a shot.
Copy !req
395. You know, if you're gonna lose,
Copy !req
396. might as well be
on the front page.
Copy !req
397. Make my mom proud.
Copy !req
398. My motion to exclude
Leah Coleman's confession.
Copy !req
399. You're kidding.
Copy !req
400. Hey, I got to at least look
like I'm doing something, no?
Copy !req
401. An affidavit from Detective
Curtis, Your Honor.
Copy !req
402. The defendant offered her
confession of her own volition.
Copy !req
403. Granted, this is all new to me,
Copy !req
404. but as I understand it,
Copy !req
405. Detective Curtis never
read my client her rights.
Copy !req
406. I seem to remember
that failure to do so
Copy !req
407. constitutes an
irrebuttable presumption
Copy !req
408. that a confession
was involuntary.
Copy !req
409. Only if it's the result
of an interrogation.
Copy !req
410. Detective Curtis never asked
the defendant if she killed her child.
Copy !req
411. Now, I'm no expert,
but I think in Innis,
Copy !req
412. the Supreme Court
requires Miranda warnings
Copy !req
413. whenever a person is
subjected to direct questions
Copy !req
414. or its subjective equivalent.
Copy !req
415. Blanche Gelfant down
at Brooklyn Law taught us
Copy !req
416. that includes any words or
actions that the police should know
Copy !req
417. are reasonably likely to elicit
an incriminating response.
Copy !req
418. Blanche taught you
well, Mr. Fineman,
Copy !req
419. but tell me, what did the
arresting officer here do?
Copy !req
420. He took my client, an
extremely religious woman,
Copy !req
421. to her church and
said, and I quote,
Copy !req
422. "Your daughter is entitled
to a Christian burial."
Copy !req
423. Now, that sounds to
me like it was intended
Copy !req
424. to provoke an
incriminating response.
Copy !req
425. Mrs. Coleman confessed
in her own church.
Copy !req
426. No reasonable person could think
Copy !req
427. that she wasn't
free to walk away.
Copy !req
428. After four hours of
continuous dialogue,
Copy !req
429. who knows what a
reasonable person might think?
Copy !req
430. Well, I consider
myself fairly reasonable.
Copy !req
431. I will hear testimony on the
custody issue Thursday morning.
Copy !req
432. He came to my apartment.
Copy !req
433. He told me we were
going to retrace my steps.
Copy !req
434. Was your husband there?
Copy !req
435. Yes. But Detective Curtis
said he should stay behind.
Copy !req
436. And did he?
Copy !req
437. Yes.
Copy !req
438. And then where did you go?
Copy !req
439. First we went to the park.
Copy !req
440. We sat on the bench and talked.
Copy !req
441. Did he ask you questions?
Copy !req
442. Yes.
Copy !req
443. Did you ever say you
wanted to go home?
Copy !req
444. Yes, I said I should be
with Keith, my husband.
Copy !req
445. And what did
Detective Curtis say?
Copy !req
446. He said this was important.
Copy !req
447. He said that we
should go to the church.
Copy !req
448. Now, Leah, this
is very important.
Copy !req
449. Did you feel free to leave
Detective Curtis at any time?
Copy !req
450. No. He was a policeman.
Copy !req
451. He said that it was
important that I go with him.
Copy !req
452. Thank you.
Copy !req
453. Did Detective Curtis tell you
why he wanted you with him?
Copy !req
454. He said that maybe I
would remember something
Copy !req
455. to help find Rachel.
Copy !req
456. So you never thought he
considered you a suspect.
Copy !req
457. I didn't think about it.
Copy !req
458. In all the time that you
spent with Detective Curtis,
Copy !req
459. did he ever ask you
if you killed Rachel?
Copy !req
460. No.
Copy !req
461. You testified that you were
with him for nearly four hours.
Copy !req
462. In all that time, did he
ever leave you alone?
Copy !req
463. He wanted to, but
I asked him to stay,
Copy !req
464. so that we could pray together.
Copy !req
465. So had you not stopped him,
Copy !req
466. you would have been
free to go on your way.
Copy !req
467. Yes.
Copy !req
468. Now, who is Ross Fineman?
Copy !req
469. Legal Aid. This is his
first homicide case.
Copy !req
470. Hate to be here when he
actually learns what he's doing.
Copy !req
471. We won the motion, Adam.
Copy !req
472. Coleman's confession
is admissible.
Copy !req
473. Yep. Now we get to hear all
about how the girl was abused
Copy !req
474. by some drunken lesbian who's
watching too much television.
Copy !req
475. Mr. Fineman hasn't indicated
Copy !req
476. that there would be any sort of
diminished capacity testimony.
Copy !req
477. In this case, I doubt if an
abuse excuse would fly anyway.
Copy !req
478. Considering we got a
bunch of Einsteins on our jury.
Copy !req
479. No. But the Oprah-fication
of America ended
Copy !req
480. when the Menendez
brothers weren't convicted.
Copy !req
481. The pendulum has swung, Adam.
Copy !req
482. People don't care about why
anymore, they just care about what.
Copy !req
483. Just get this over with before
the pendulum swings back.
Copy !req
484. On Tuesday, October 3rd,
Copy !req
485. Leah Coleman woke up at
about 7:30 in the morning.
Copy !req
486. Like any other
day, she showered,
Copy !req
487. dressed, ate a bowl of cereal.
Copy !req
488. And just as she would on any
other day, she fed her baby, Rachel,
Copy !req
489. put her in her carriage and went
downstairs to run her daily errands.
Copy !req
490. But, ladies and gentlemen,
this wasn't just any other day
Copy !req
491. because on this particular
Tuesday, in October,
Copy !req
492. Leah Coleman went down to
the basement of her building.
Copy !req
493. She held a pillow
Copy !req
494. over the face of her
eight-month-old daughter
Copy !req
495. until she could
no longer breathe.
Copy !req
496. She opened the door to the
furnace and placed Rachel inside.
Copy !req
497. Then she locked the door
Copy !req
498. and went on her way.
Copy !req
499. How do I know this?
Copy !req
500. She told us, in her
own words, that's how.
Copy !req
501. Your opening, Mr. Fineman?
Copy !req
502. The Defense reserves
its opening statement
Copy !req
503. until the State finishes its
case in chief, Your Honor.
Copy !req
504. Objection. It's my discretion
Copy !req
505. to set the order
of trial, Counselor.
Copy !req
506. You do have good
cause, Mr. Fineman?
Copy !req
507. Well, it's a bit
embarrassing, Your Honor,
Copy !req
508. but it seems that I'm not...
Copy !req
509. I'm not quite prepared.
Copy !req
510. Call your first
witness, Mr. McCoy.
Copy !req
511. The Crime Scene Unit found ashes
Copy !req
512. and a baby's wool
cap in the furnace.
Copy !req
513. It wasn't burned?
Copy !req
514. No.
Copy !req
515. It must have fallen off when the
baby was put into the chamber.
Copy !req
516. What did you find in the hat?
Copy !req
517. We found several
strands of hair.
Copy !req
518. What did you do with
the hair, Dr. Hayashi?
Copy !req
519. We compared them with several
strands of hair we took from her crib.
Copy !req
520. And what did you find?
Copy !req
521. They were an exact match.
Copy !req
522. Thank you.
Copy !req
523. Cross-examination, Mr. Fineman?
Copy !req
524. The Defense has no questions
for this witness, Your Honor.
Copy !req
525. She took me to the basement,
told me she smothered her baby.
Copy !req
526. I asked her where the victim
was, she opened the furnace door.
Copy !req
527. Did you ask her how her
baby ended up in the furnace?
Copy !req
528. I did.
Copy !req
529. She told me she put her there.
Copy !req
530. What did you do then, Detective?
Copy !req
531. I informed her she was under
arrest, I read her her rights,
Copy !req
532. and I took her back to the 27.
Copy !req
533. Did she ever say why
she had killed her baby?
Copy !req
534. I asked her several times,
Copy !req
535. and all she said was that
her baby deserved the best.
Copy !req
536. Thank you.
Copy !req
537. Cross, Mr. Fineman?
Copy !req
538. No, Judge.
Copy !req
539. The People rest, Your Honor.
Copy !req
540. Fine. We are in recess
until tomorrow morning,
Copy !req
541. at which time I assume the
Defense will begin its case.
Copy !req
542. Five witnesses, no
cross examination.
Copy !req
543. Hell, he didn't even object.
Copy !req
544. Somehow, I don't attribute
that to your fine lawyering.
Copy !req
545. Maybe he knows he
has no case, Adam.
Copy !req
546. Maybe he didn't want
to waste the court's time.
Copy !req
547. A fiscally responsible
defense attorney.
Copy !req
548. I heard Johnnie
Cochran waived his fee.
Copy !req
549. I wouldn't put
Mr. Fineman in that league.
Copy !req
550. He sat there scribbling
on his legal pad.
Copy !req
551. He looked bored.
Copy !req
552. Probably writing
his first screenplay.
Copy !req
553. Yes.
Copy !req
554. On Tuesday morning, October
the 3rd, at approximately 10:20 a.m.,
Copy !req
555. Leah Coleman killed and
cremated her eight-month-old baby.
Copy !req
556. A mother killing her baby.
Copy !req
557. It makes you wonder.
Copy !req
558. What kind of a woman
could do such a thing?
Copy !req
559. She's never been involved in
any sort of criminal activities before.
Copy !req
560. I checked.
Copy !req
561. She wasn't brought
up by abusive parents.
Copy !req
562. I checked that, too.
Copy !req
563. You'll hear witness
after witness tell you
Copy !req
564. what a good person she is and
how much she loved her baby.
Copy !req
565. She loved little Rachel
more than she loved herself.
Copy !req
566. She has no reason whatsoever
for wanting her baby dead.
Copy !req
567. So why did this
terrible thing happen?
Copy !req
568. What kind of God would sit by
Copy !req
569. and let such a horrendous thing
Copy !req
570. happen to one of his children?
Copy !req
571. Believe me, I've thought
about this long and hard,
Copy !req
572. and as far as I can see,
there is only one reason.
Copy !req
573. There is one reason only
why a tragedy this outrageous
Copy !req
574. could have happened,
ladies and gentlemen.
Copy !req
575. God wanted it to.
Copy !req
576. Objection.
Copy !req
577. So I want you not to
look at what my client did,
Copy !req
578. but at what God did.
Copy !req
579. And remember, if you
convict Leah Coleman,
Copy !req
580. you are questioning
the will of God.
Copy !req
581. Your Honor.
Copy !req
582. In my chambers.
Copy !req
583. His opening was
irrelevant, inflammatory
Copy !req
584. and prejudicial, not
to mention comical.
Copy !req
585. The law allows me to offer
any defense that I see fit.
Copy !req
586. Any relevant defense.
Copy !req
587. Oh, I see. God isn't relevant?
Copy !req
588. Not in a courtroom, it's not.
Copy !req
589. Begging your pardon, but
I think you should all listen
Copy !req
590. to the oath before a
witness takes the stand.
Copy !req
591. Your Honor, the
canons require me
Copy !req
592. to represent my client
with zealousness.
Copy !req
593. Within the bounds of the law.
Copy !req
594. You can't raise something
in opening argument
Copy !req
595. you can't possibly
prove during your case.
Copy !req
596. Or did you miss that
day in Blanche's class?
Copy !req
597. Nice try, Mr. Fineman.
Copy !req
598. Artful but inadmissible.
Copy !req
599. I assume you'll
declare a mistrial.
Copy !req
600. I think that's a
bit extravagant.
Copy !req
601. I will instruct the
jury to disregard
Copy !req
602. the Defense's
opening in its entirety.
Copy !req
603. Well, if that's the case,
Copy !req
604. I'd like to change the plea to not
guilty by reason of mental defect.
Copy !req
605. Out of the question.
Copy !req
606. The statute requires 60 days'
notice for an insanity plea.
Copy !req
607. I didn't know that.
Copy !req
608. Look, Your Honor, it's
my first homicide trial.
Copy !req
609. I screwed up.
Copy !req
610. You can't hold that
against my client.
Copy !req
611. Legal incompetence
as a defense at trial?
Copy !req
612. You're kidding.
Copy !req
613. What can I say?
I'm out of my league.
Copy !req
614. Look, Your Honor, if you
don't allow the change,
Copy !req
615. my client will have an appeal
on Sixth Amendment grounds.
Copy !req
616. She'll win, too,
because I'll sign affidavits
Copy !req
617. enumerating the 12 grievous
errors I've already made.
Copy !req
618. Either you are a brilliant
strategist, Mr. Fineman,
Copy !req
619. or you are the biggest jackass
Copy !req
620. ever to set foot
in my courtroom.
Copy !req
621. I will allow the change of plea,
Copy !req
622. but, please, no more surprises.
Copy !req
623. Don't worry, Jack, your expert
can examine the defendant
Copy !req
624. and testify on rebuttal.
Copy !req
625. Okay, Mr. Fineman,
the party's over.
Copy !req
626. She's depressed. She's suicidal.
Copy !req
627. She should have
done us all a favor.
Copy !req
628. Are you kidding? That
would be too cruel,
Copy !req
629. leaving her child
without a mommy.
Copy !req
630. She actually said that?
Copy !req
631. Did the girl know what
she did was wrong, Liz?
Copy !req
632. In some sort of
abstract way, yeah.
Copy !req
633. So you'll testify that she was
legally sane at the time of the murder?
Copy !req
634. Yes.
Copy !req
635. But?
Copy !req
636. You've been in front
of enough juries, Jack.
Copy !req
637. I've got to tell you, a
mother killing her own baby
Copy !req
638. without any motive
whatsoever, it makes you wonder.
Copy !req
639. Do I have to explain
the law to you, Claire?
Copy !req
640. Crazy is not the
same as legally insane.
Copy !req
641. Jack, I'm just saying
Copy !req
642. that what Leah Coleman
did is incomprehensible to me.
Copy !req
643. The jury's got to
feel the same way.
Copy !req
644. If she isn't sick, who is?
Copy !req
645. Then what are we doing here?
Copy !req
646. Jack... No, Claire,
Copy !req
647. substitute psychology for morality,
and our jobs become obsolete.
Copy !req
648. But, Jack, this is
an extreme case.
Copy !req
649. A jury is going to want to
know why she did what she did.
Copy !req
650. Maybe she was
just downright bad.
Copy !req
651. You actually believe that?
Copy !req
652. With all due respect
for your profession, Liz,
Copy !req
653. I think it's been
overplayed in the courtroom.
Copy !req
654. So people are just
good or bad, period.
Copy !req
655. It's better than
healthy or sick.
Copy !req
656. Deny evil, you
deny responsibility.
Copy !req
657. Open up the jails.
Copy !req
658. Send everyone to a shrink.
Copy !req
659. We got married when
we finished high school,
Copy !req
660. and we were together until
maybe four months ago.
Copy !req
661. And what happened?
Copy !req
662. I don't know. Maybe
we were too young.
Copy !req
663. She spent all her
time with Rachel.
Copy !req
664. I needed a wife.
Copy !req
665. Was Leah a good mother?
Copy !req
666. She was the best.
Copy !req
667. She quit her job to stay home.
Copy !req
668. She'd sit up all
night with Rachel
Copy !req
669. if she was sick, or
crying, or something.
Copy !req
670. That's why I can't believe...
Copy !req
671. Thank you, Mr. Coleman.
Copy !req
672. During the years
that you lived together,
Copy !req
673. did Leah ever seek
psychiatric help?
Copy !req
674. No.
Copy !req
675. Did you ever suggest
that she should?
Copy !req
676. I never...
Copy !req
677. What? You never
thought she needed it?
Copy !req
678. I'm not a doctor.
How would I know?
Copy !req
679. When was the last
time you saw her
Copy !req
680. before the death
of your daughter?
Copy !req
681. The day before.
Copy !req
682. We took Rachel to the zoo.
Copy !req
683. And you didn't
notice anything wrong
Copy !req
684. with your wife at
that time, did you?
Copy !req
685. Well, maybe.
Copy !req
686. I didn't really, I
mean, she was...
Copy !req
687. If you thought she
was sick, Mr. Coleman,
Copy !req
688. why would you have left
her alone with your daughter?
Copy !req
689. She loved Rachel so much.
Copy !req
690. Look,
Copy !req
691. I hate her for what she did.
Copy !req
692. She had to be crazy.
Copy !req
693. Leah was a regular
member of our congregation.
Copy !req
694. She attended mass every Sunday.
Copy !req
695. She always appeared
to be a good mother.
Copy !req
696. In recent months, did you notice
Copy !req
697. any strange
behavior on her part?
Copy !req
698. In retrospect, yes.
Copy !req
699. It was during the
Susan Smith episode.
Copy !req
700. She overreacted.
Copy !req
701. Broke down in
tears in my office.
Copy !req
702. "How could she
kill her own babies?"
Copy !req
703. And how did you console her?
Copy !req
704. I told her that everything
that happens is for the best,
Copy !req
705. that Susan Smith's babies
were now in heaven with God.
Copy !req
706. She found enormous
comfort in that.
Copy !req
707. You've known Leah
for how long, Father?
Copy !req
708. Nearly 15 years.
Copy !req
709. And would you say, basically,
that she is a good person?
Copy !req
710. Without a doubt.
Copy !req
711. That's why this
is all so shocking.
Copy !req
712. "Susan Smith's babies are
now in heaven with God."
Copy !req
713. Was that a license to
do whatever you want?
Copy !req
714. That's not what I
meant, for the life of me.
Copy !req
715. I was trying to rationalize
a horrendous event.
Copy !req
716. In other words,
Copy !req
717. you were searching
for some kind of good
Copy !req
718. coming out of this
terrible tragedy?
Copy !req
719. It's a bit simplistic, but yes.
Copy !req
720. For a lot of us, it's the
only conceivable way
Copy !req
721. to go on in the face
of such misfortune.
Copy !req
722. The only way to
reconcile a benevolent God
Copy !req
723. with all the evil in the world.
Copy !req
724. Yes.
Copy !req
725. So, what, in some way,
everything is a part of God's plan?
Copy !req
726. We're not that
fatalistic, Mr. McCoy.
Copy !req
727. You should know that.
Copy !req
728. God gave man free will.
Copy !req
729. That's right.
Copy !req
730. Man is free to choose
between good and evil.
Copy !req
731. That's why there's a
heaven and a hell, right?
Copy !req
732. That's correct.
Copy !req
733. So tell me, Father, is everyone
in hell psychologically disturbed?
Copy !req
734. Beating up on a priest,
hell of a way to win a case.
Copy !req
735. I was trying to make a point.
Copy !req
736. That God is impotent,
sitting on the sidelines
Copy !req
737. with his fingers crossed, hoping
that man will do the right thing?
Copy !req
738. And as Leah Coleman
proved, sometimes he doesn't.
Copy !req
739. For a reason, not
because she's innately bad.
Copy !req
740. Evil is learned.
Look at a newborn.
Copy !req
741. Babies are not born
good, they're born innocent.
Copy !req
742. This is murder trial,
not a theodicy seminar.
Copy !req
743. You got sandbagged by a rookie.
Copy !req
744. Excuse me.
Copy !req
745. Did you ever think
that Mr. Fineman
Copy !req
746. had all this planned
from the start?
Copy !req
747. His ridiculous opening,
late insanity plea...
Copy !req
748. And after Fineman's shenanigans,
Copy !req
749. the jury might believe that
she's better off in a hospital.
Copy !req
750. I believe she knew what she was
doing when she killed her daughter.
Copy !req
751. I also believe she
knew it was wrong,
Copy !req
752. and therefore I believe
she deserves to rot.
Copy !req
753. Good. Now go and prove it.
Copy !req
754. What were you thinking
when you smothered Rachel?
Copy !req
755. Nothing.
Copy !req
756. I mean, I don't remember.
Copy !req
757. It was like I was in a trance.
Copy !req
758. You said that you
were feeling badly
Copy !req
759. in the weeks before the murder.
Copy !req
760. What exactly did you mean?
Copy !req
761. I was all by myself.
Copy !req
762. It was just me and Rachel, and
I couldn't work or go to school.
Copy !req
763. We didn't have much money.
Copy !req
764. Your husband
supported you, didn't he?
Copy !req
765. Keith worked in a tire store.
Copy !req
766. We didn't have enough.
Copy !req
767. This depressed you?
Copy !req
768. I wanted the best for my baby.
Copy !req
769. It wasn't just the
money, you know.
Copy !req
770. What was it, Leah?
Copy !req
771. It's just this city.
Copy !req
772. This world.
Copy !req
773. I look around...
Copy !req
774. Tell us, Leah.
Copy !req
775. I go to the store, and somebody
tries to steal my pocketbook.
Copy !req
776. My neighbor, Mrs.
Gorfitz on the third floor,
Copy !req
777. they killed her for her
Social Security check.
Copy !req
778. She was 76 years old, and they
raped her, and they killed her.
Copy !req
779. And the police caught the men,
Copy !req
780. and they couldn't
even put them in jail.
Copy !req
781. I once saw a boy, he
was no more than 14,
Copy !req
782. slash another boy's
throat for an ounce of dope.
Copy !req
783. Terrorists are trying to blow
up the World Trade Center.
Copy !req
784. Schools have metal detectors.
Copy !req
785. Families are stocking their own
weapons and forming their own armies.
Copy !req
786. What kind of a
world do we live in?
Copy !req
787. There's so much hate
and suffering and distrust.
Copy !req
788. It's not gonna go away.
Copy !req
789. Is that what you meant
Copy !req
790. when you told Detective Curtis
Copy !req
791. that Rachel deserves the best?
Copy !req
792. Why should she have to see this?
Copy !req
793. Now she's in heaven with God.
Copy !req
794. Thank you, Leah.
Copy !req
795. Doesn't the Bible tell us
not to kill, Mrs. Coleman?
Copy !req
796. I am already
suffering for what I did.
Copy !req
797. So now you know what
you did was wrong?
Copy !req
798. Yes.
Copy !req
799. Did you know it was wrong
when you woke up that morning?
Copy !req
800. Yes.
Copy !req
801. Did you know it was wrong
when you ate your cereal?
Copy !req
802. Yes.
Copy !req
803. He's badgering, Your Honor.
Copy !req
804. Sit down and shut
up, Mr. Fineman.
Copy !req
805. Overruled. And you will address
the court from now on, Mr. McCoy.
Copy !req
806. Let me ask you
this, Mrs. Coleman.
Copy !req
807. Is God happy about what you did?
Copy !req
808. He has my Rachel.
That's what he wanted.
Copy !req
809. That's what Father Carner said.
Copy !req
810. He wanted it?
Copy !req
811. I see.
Copy !req
812. Mr. Fineman was right.
Copy !req
813. This was all
God's will, after all.
Copy !req
814. I'd say that was pretty
selfish of him, wouldn't you?
Copy !req
815. No.
Copy !req
816. Why not?
Copy !req
817. The God you describe sounds
like he's sitting around heaven,
Copy !req
818. he gets bored, so he arranges
for you to kill your child.
Copy !req
819. No. God is not like that.
Copy !req
820. God is good and benevolent.
Copy !req
821. Benevolent? He makes you murder
Copy !req
822. your eight-month-old daughter...
Copy !req
823. That was me!
Copy !req
824. Rachel was screaming,
but I did it anyway.
Copy !req
825. So you do remember what you did.
Copy !req
826. And you knew it was wrong.
Copy !req
827. You know what that
means, Mrs. Coleman.
Copy !req
828. That means you're guilty as sin.
Copy !req
829. Objection.
Copy !req
830. Withdrawn.
Copy !req
831. Madam Forewoman,
have you reached a verdict?
Copy !req
832. We have, Your Honor.
Copy !req
833. On the sole count of the indictment,
murder in the second degree,
Copy !req
834. how do you find?
Copy !req
835. We find the defendant,
Leah Coleman, guilty.
Copy !req
836. To tell you the truth, I didn't
think you'd pull that one off.
Copy !req
837. What can I say?
Freud's out, the devil's in.
Copy !req
838. Admit it, Jack, you were
a little tough on that priest.
Copy !req
839. When you're raised
by the Jesuits,
Copy !req
840. you end up obedient
or impertinent.
Copy !req
841. I didn't order this.
Copy !req
842. It's on the
gentleman at the bar.
Copy !req
843. Take it back.
Copy !req
844. Can't forgive anyone, huh?
Copy !req
845. No, I can't.
Copy !req
846. Besides, that was bourbon.
Copy !req
847. I'm drinking Scotch.
Copy !req