1 00:00:09,536 --> 00:00:11,263 - In the criminal justice system, 2 00:00:11,288 --> 00:00:12,623 the people are represented 3 00:00:12,648 --> 00:00:14,984 by two separate, yet equally important groups: 4 00:00:15,009 --> 00:00:17,098 the police, who investigate crime, 5 00:00:17,123 --> 00:00:19,959 and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. 6 00:00:19,984 --> 00:00:21,722 These are their stories. 7 00:00:42,617 --> 00:00:46,121 - Yo. 8 00:00:46,163 --> 00:00:48,206 Yo. 9 00:01:03,013 --> 00:01:04,139 Hey! 10 00:01:05,974 --> 00:01:08,727 Yo, what you running for? 11 00:01:08,769 --> 00:01:10,312 Hey! 12 00:01:12,731 --> 00:01:14,816 - Early bird runner found him laying here. 13 00:01:14,858 --> 00:01:16,151 - Approximate time of death? 14 00:01:16,193 --> 00:01:18,236 - MLIs put it somewhere. - Between 2:00 and 4:00 AM. 15 00:01:18,278 --> 00:01:19,696 - Witnesses? - None so far. 16 00:01:19,738 --> 00:01:21,018 - Yeah, nobody sees nothing, huh? 17 00:01:21,027 --> 00:01:22,032 - Eh. 18 00:01:22,074 --> 00:01:23,742 Blunt force trauma? 19 00:01:23,784 --> 00:01:24,743 - That'd be my guess. 20 00:01:24,785 --> 00:01:26,411 - ID? 21 00:01:32,876 --> 00:01:35,253 - Derek Stanton. 22 00:01:35,295 --> 00:01:37,172 - Still got his cash. 23 00:01:37,214 --> 00:01:39,716 Any indication that the body was moved here? 24 00:01:39,758 --> 00:01:41,558 - The way the blood has pooled and the spatter 25 00:01:41,567 --> 00:01:45,514 on the pavement, I think it all happened right here. 26 00:01:45,555 --> 00:01:47,557 - My boy had quite the rap sheet. 27 00:01:47,599 --> 00:01:49,851 Just got out of Fishkill nine months ago. 28 00:01:49,893 --> 00:01:52,104 - What was he in for? 29 00:01:52,145 --> 00:01:53,355 - Selling marijuana. 30 00:01:53,397 --> 00:01:54,898 Served four years. 31 00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:56,483 - Four years for selling weed? 32 00:01:56,525 --> 00:01:57,734 - Crazy. 33 00:01:57,776 --> 00:01:59,194 - Times have changed. 34 00:02:51,163 --> 00:02:53,415 Surveillance footage from the park near the crime scene 35 00:02:53,457 --> 00:02:55,834 shows a guy wailing on Stanton. 36 00:02:55,876 --> 00:02:58,962 But it doesn't capture the whole thing. 37 00:02:59,004 --> 00:03:00,255 - Damn. 38 00:03:00,297 --> 00:03:02,299 Do we have any better video than this? 39 00:03:02,341 --> 00:03:03,508 - It's the only video we got. 40 00:03:03,550 --> 00:03:05,093 There weren't many cameras in the area. 41 00:03:05,135 --> 00:03:07,929 - I can't even make out his face or even a skin color. 42 00:03:07,971 --> 00:03:10,849 - But it's clear that the assailant and Stanton 43 00:03:10,891 --> 00:03:12,891 are about the same size, so we're looking for a guy 44 00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:13,935 who's about 6 feet tall. 45 00:03:13,977 --> 00:03:15,020 - What else do we know? 46 00:03:15,062 --> 00:03:17,022 - Well, the ME thinks that the perp 47 00:03:17,064 --> 00:03:19,816 might have been wearing a ring with some kind of stone in it. 48 00:03:19,858 --> 00:03:22,194 - So did we run the vic's body for DNA? 49 00:03:22,235 --> 00:03:23,528 - Yeah, they took samples, 50 00:03:23,570 --> 00:03:25,697 but the backlog's a few weeks out minimum. 51 00:03:25,739 --> 00:03:27,491 - All right, well, just keep digging in. 52 00:03:27,532 --> 00:03:29,576 You know, given this guy's history, 53 00:03:29,618 --> 00:03:31,036 it could be related to drugs 54 00:03:31,078 --> 00:03:33,538 or maybe even his time in Fishkill or both. 55 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:35,040 - Hey, I found something interesting 56 00:03:35,082 --> 00:03:36,792 on the vic's phone. 57 00:03:36,833 --> 00:03:39,044 Past week, Stanton made 28 calls 58 00:03:39,086 --> 00:03:43,048 to a man named Jordan Spall, but he never answered. 59 00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:47,386 - So the vic's calling Spall, Spall's not picking up. 60 00:03:47,427 --> 00:03:49,221 There's got to be a good reason. 61 00:03:49,262 --> 00:03:51,098 Did Spall ever serve time? 62 00:03:52,849 --> 00:03:54,434 - Sure did. 63 00:03:54,476 --> 00:03:56,978 Armed assault, sentenced to five years at Fishkill. 64 00:03:57,020 --> 00:03:58,814 Got out a few months ago. 65 00:03:58,855 --> 00:04:01,608 - He's probably still on parole. 66 00:04:04,778 --> 00:04:08,198 - Jordan Spall hasn't missed an appointment, 67 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,076 hasn't failed a urine test, hasn't re-offended, 68 00:04:11,118 --> 00:04:12,577 at least not yet. 69 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:13,870 - You know, since we're here, 70 00:04:13,912 --> 00:04:15,672 would you mind seeing what you could find out 71 00:04:15,681 --> 00:04:17,374 about our vic, Derek Stanton? 72 00:04:17,416 --> 00:04:19,918 He's a Fishkill alum. 73 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,131 - According to Stanton's chart, he was a model parolee, too. 74 00:04:24,172 --> 00:04:25,841 - Was he a model prisoner? 75 00:04:25,882 --> 00:04:27,634 - Looks like Stanton was disciplined 76 00:04:27,676 --> 00:04:29,011 a few times for fighting. 77 00:04:29,052 --> 00:04:31,471 - 20 bucks says he was scrapping with Spall. 78 00:04:33,181 --> 00:04:35,183 - As a matter of fact. 79 00:04:35,225 --> 00:04:37,436 - Where's Spall living now? 80 00:04:41,189 --> 00:04:42,816 - Is that him? 81 00:04:42,858 --> 00:04:44,443 - Looks like it. 82 00:04:44,484 --> 00:04:48,655 Jordan Spall, I'd like to have a word with you. 83 00:04:48,697 --> 00:04:50,699 Jordan. 84 00:04:59,416 --> 00:05:00,751 Hey! 85 00:05:02,085 --> 00:05:03,837 - I've got this side. - 27 Squad to Central. 86 00:05:03,879 --> 00:05:05,547 10-85. 87 00:05:05,589 --> 00:05:08,300 Black male, 30s, blue jeans, green hoodie 88 00:05:08,342 --> 00:05:09,551 under a black jacket. 89 00:05:09,593 --> 00:05:12,888 In pursuit, Cherry Street flea market. 90 00:05:12,929 --> 00:05:14,473 - NYPD. 91 00:05:14,514 --> 00:05:16,308 Police, police. It's OK. It's OK. 92 00:05:16,350 --> 00:05:17,934 Watch yourself. Watch yourself. 93 00:05:30,655 --> 00:05:32,032 Spall! 94 00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:35,827 - It's... it's the shoes. Sorry. 95 00:05:46,246 --> 00:05:47,486 - Whoa, whoa, whoa! - Watch out! 96 00:05:47,495 --> 00:05:48,298 - Oh, my God! 97 00:05:48,340 --> 00:05:49,633 Watch out! 98 00:05:53,637 --> 00:05:55,347 - Give me your hands. Stay down. 99 00:05:55,389 --> 00:05:56,723 Stay down. 100 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:09,520 - Usain Bolt. 101 00:06:10,439 --> 00:06:12,720 - I didn't have anything to do with killing Derek Stanton. 102 00:06:12,729 --> 00:06:14,735 - So why'd you run when you saw us then? 103 00:06:14,776 --> 00:06:16,278 - 'Cause I had weed on me. 104 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,071 - Bro, having weed on you this day and age? 105 00:06:18,113 --> 00:06:19,906 You're not gonna get in trouble for that. 106 00:06:19,948 --> 00:06:22,159 But beating Derek Stanton to death, 107 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,494 that'll get your ass locked back up in genpop. 108 00:06:24,536 --> 00:06:25,954 - What? 109 00:06:25,996 --> 00:06:27,331 I didn't even know Derek was dead. 110 00:06:27,372 --> 00:06:29,291 - Oh, we'd like to believe you, Jordan. 111 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:30,459 We really would. 112 00:06:30,500 --> 00:06:32,100 Unfortunately, we're homicide detectives, 113 00:06:32,109 --> 00:06:33,670 so we don't believe anybody. 114 00:06:33,712 --> 00:06:35,213 So help us out. 115 00:06:35,255 --> 00:06:38,091 Where were you this morning between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM? 116 00:06:38,133 --> 00:06:41,928 - In my bed at the halfway house, sleeping. 117 00:06:41,970 --> 00:06:44,014 You could check with the tight-ass supervisor. 118 00:06:44,056 --> 00:06:45,349 Dude watches like a hawk. 119 00:06:45,390 --> 00:06:47,559 - Why was Stanton calling you so much? 120 00:06:47,601 --> 00:06:49,770 - Don't know, don't care. 121 00:06:49,811 --> 00:06:52,481 I didn't like the dude, so I ignored his calls. 122 00:06:52,522 --> 00:06:53,899 - Jordan, come on. 123 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:57,903 Either we tell your PO how cooperative you were, or... 124 00:06:57,945 --> 00:06:59,571 - Or we tell her something else. 125 00:07:02,574 --> 00:07:04,826 - All right. 126 00:07:04,868 --> 00:07:07,955 I heard Derek was reaching out to a bunch of ex-cons, 127 00:07:07,996 --> 00:07:10,832 trying to put together a crew, make some money. 128 00:07:10,874 --> 00:07:12,542 - Doing what? 129 00:07:12,584 --> 00:07:16,046 - Word is, they was meeting at a pizza place 130 00:07:16,088 --> 00:07:18,173 near the projects on Pitt Street. 131 00:07:18,215 --> 00:07:19,758 That's all I know. 132 00:07:24,721 --> 00:07:26,974 - Window was busted when I got here this morning. 133 00:07:27,015 --> 00:07:28,725 - What time was that? 134 00:07:28,767 --> 00:07:29,893 6:00 AM. 135 00:07:29,935 --> 00:07:31,436 Derek was supposed to be here. 136 00:07:31,478 --> 00:07:32,980 I thought maybe it was a robbery, 137 00:07:33,021 --> 00:07:34,398 but nothing's missing. 138 00:07:34,439 --> 00:07:36,191 - So you work here? - Assistant manager. 139 00:07:36,233 --> 00:07:37,609 - Where were you late last night? 140 00:07:37,651 --> 00:07:39,945 - In my room. - Can anyone verify that? 141 00:07:39,987 --> 00:07:41,822 - I live in a group home. You can check. 142 00:07:41,863 --> 00:07:43,240 There's lots of cameras. 143 00:07:43,282 --> 00:07:44,908 - Why was Derek here so early? 144 00:07:44,950 --> 00:07:46,350 - Gotten the lease to this pizzeria, 145 00:07:46,374 --> 00:07:47,333 and he was working around the clock 146 00:07:47,375 --> 00:07:48,787 to get it off the ground. 147 00:07:48,829 --> 00:07:50,289 Grand opening's tomorrow. 148 00:07:50,330 --> 00:07:52,624 Well, it was supposed to be anyway. 149 00:07:52,666 --> 00:07:53,625 - How'd you know Derek? 150 00:07:53,667 --> 00:07:54,835 - Fishkill. 151 00:07:54,876 --> 00:07:55,919 - What were you in for? 152 00:07:55,961 --> 00:07:57,337 - Heroin. 153 00:07:57,367 --> 00:07:59,247 Picked the wrong time to be an addict, you know? 154 00:07:59,256 --> 00:08:01,300 Nowadays, they bend over backwards to get you help. 155 00:08:01,341 --> 00:08:04,011 Back then, we were hardened criminals, man. 156 00:08:04,052 --> 00:08:05,679 - We heard Derek had been meeting 157 00:08:05,721 --> 00:08:07,841 with a bunch of ex-cons. You know anything about that? 158 00:08:07,850 --> 00:08:10,225 - Just trying to put together a team to open more pizzerias. 159 00:08:10,267 --> 00:08:11,601 Wanted to help. 160 00:08:11,643 --> 00:08:13,603 Was going to give us a piece of the action, too. 161 00:08:13,645 --> 00:08:14,563 - That's it? 162 00:08:14,604 --> 00:08:15,981 There was nothing else going on? 163 00:08:16,023 --> 00:08:18,233 - He was just trying to help a bunch of ex-cons out. 164 00:08:18,275 --> 00:08:19,776 - Sounds like a good dude. 165 00:08:19,818 --> 00:08:21,194 - He was. 166 00:08:21,236 --> 00:08:23,113 - You know anybody who didn't feel that way? 167 00:08:23,155 --> 00:08:24,781 Anybody who might have wanted him dead? 168 00:08:24,823 --> 00:08:27,784 Last few months, he's been all about making amends. 169 00:08:27,826 --> 00:08:29,453 Kept his nose real clean. 170 00:08:29,494 --> 00:08:32,497 Spent a lot of time with his daughter, too. 171 00:08:36,001 --> 00:08:38,337 - Sonya, Lena, 172 00:08:38,378 --> 00:08:41,798 I am terribly sorry that we have some very bad news. 173 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,302 Your father and your ex-husband 174 00:08:45,344 --> 00:08:48,180 was found murdered. 175 00:08:58,065 --> 00:09:02,653 I can't believe that he's gone. 176 00:09:02,694 --> 00:09:06,365 I just got him back. 177 00:09:06,406 --> 00:09:11,286 He spent all those years in prison over weed. 178 00:09:11,328 --> 00:09:15,248 He finally gets out, and then this? 179 00:09:18,794 --> 00:09:22,673 - If you don't mind my asking, why have you moved here? 180 00:09:22,714 --> 00:09:25,175 Does it have anything to do with your father? 181 00:09:25,217 --> 00:09:26,927 Was he violent to either one of you? 182 00:09:26,969 --> 00:09:30,472 - No. 183 00:09:30,514 --> 00:09:32,724 Never. 184 00:09:32,766 --> 00:09:37,229 - No, Derek wasn't about any of that. 185 00:09:37,270 --> 00:09:40,565 He had his issues, sure, but... 186 00:09:40,607 --> 00:09:43,694 he never raised his voice or his hands to either one of us. 187 00:09:43,735 --> 00:09:45,862 - So why are you here? 188 00:09:45,904 --> 00:09:49,032 Who are you afraid of? 189 00:09:49,074 --> 00:09:53,662 - My husband, William. 190 00:09:53,704 --> 00:09:56,581 He's got a temper. 191 00:09:56,623 --> 00:10:01,378 And when Derek got out of prison, things just got worse. 192 00:10:01,420 --> 00:10:06,174 We just needed to get away for a little while 193 00:10:06,216 --> 00:10:09,720 until things calmed down. 194 00:10:09,761 --> 00:10:13,765 - Did your husband and Derek, they ever argue or fight? 195 00:10:18,603 --> 00:10:20,731 - Yes. 196 00:10:20,772 --> 00:10:24,443 The last time my father came to the house, 197 00:10:24,484 --> 00:10:27,571 William chased him out. 198 00:10:27,613 --> 00:10:30,824 He said he was going to kill him. 199 00:10:35,829 --> 00:10:37,789 - I don't care what them girls said. 200 00:10:37,831 --> 00:10:41,293 They're crazy, tripping over nothing. 201 00:10:41,335 --> 00:10:42,935 I ain't lay a hand on either one of them. 202 00:10:42,944 --> 00:10:45,213 - What about Derek Stanton? You ever lay a hand on him? 203 00:10:45,255 --> 00:10:46,548 - No, sir. 204 00:10:46,590 --> 00:10:49,134 Wanted to, but I never did. 205 00:10:49,176 --> 00:10:50,927 Punk-ass drug dealer 206 00:10:50,969 --> 00:10:53,722 thought he could just walk back into everybody's life. 207 00:10:53,764 --> 00:10:56,767 - Lena's daughter said you threatened to kill him. 208 00:10:56,808 --> 00:10:58,226 - I did. 209 00:10:58,268 --> 00:10:59,853 Meant it, too. 210 00:10:59,895 --> 00:11:01,271 But I didn't kill nobody. 211 00:11:01,313 --> 00:11:03,273 - Where were you last night after midnight? 212 00:11:03,315 --> 00:11:06,109 - Midnight? I couldn't sleep. 213 00:11:06,151 --> 00:11:07,903 Got a lot on my mind. 214 00:11:07,945 --> 00:11:09,279 So I went for a walk. 215 00:11:09,321 --> 00:11:10,948 - You remember where? 216 00:11:10,989 --> 00:11:13,033 - Around. 217 00:11:13,075 --> 00:11:14,995 - How about we take a walk around to the precinct 218 00:11:15,004 --> 00:11:18,163 and jog your memory? 219 00:11:18,205 --> 00:11:19,790 - Lawyer. 220 00:11:21,667 --> 00:11:24,211 - Do we have any evidence that puts William Barnes 221 00:11:24,252 --> 00:11:27,172 and Derek Stanton together on the morning of the murder? 222 00:11:27,214 --> 00:11:28,894 - I've dug through every surveillance video 223 00:11:28,903 --> 00:11:29,903 from the neighborhood. 224 00:11:29,925 --> 00:11:32,260 Tracked Barnes on his late night walk. 225 00:11:32,302 --> 00:11:34,304 He heads north on Avenue C 226 00:11:34,346 --> 00:11:36,473 in the general direction of the pizzeria. 227 00:11:36,515 --> 00:11:38,600 He never crosses paths with Stanton. 228 00:11:38,642 --> 00:11:41,269 - Do we have any video of him actually near the pizzeria? 229 00:11:41,311 --> 00:11:43,188 - This is him two blocks east. 230 00:11:43,230 --> 00:11:44,648 It's the closest he gets, 231 00:11:44,690 --> 00:11:46,810 and then he crosses the street away from the pizzeria. 232 00:11:46,819 --> 00:11:49,027 What's that? 233 00:11:49,069 --> 00:11:51,196 Top right hand corner. 234 00:11:51,238 --> 00:11:52,990 - Looks like a dude throwing something. 235 00:11:53,031 --> 00:11:54,908 - What's he throwing, like rocks or something? 236 00:11:54,950 --> 00:11:57,995 - There's another camera that should cover that corner. 237 00:11:58,036 --> 00:11:59,997 - Dude's throwing rocks right next to where 238 00:12:00,038 --> 00:12:03,041 Stanton got his window broken that night. 239 00:12:03,083 --> 00:12:05,127 And now he's headed straight for the pizzeria. 240 00:12:05,168 --> 00:12:10,007 - Can you pull up the video of the actual assault? 241 00:12:10,048 --> 00:12:14,970 - Same body size, same type of hoodie, sneakers. 242 00:12:15,012 --> 00:12:18,807 - And if I'm not mistaken, that's a ring on his finger. 243 00:12:18,849 --> 00:12:20,392 Just like the M.E. said. 244 00:12:20,434 --> 00:12:23,270 - I think we might have our killer. 245 00:12:23,312 --> 00:12:25,314 - Yup. 246 00:12:25,355 --> 00:12:27,858 Now we just got to find him. 247 00:12:33,613 --> 00:12:35,373 - Looks like he made his way down the street, 248 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,993 and for some dumb-ass reason, just kept throwing rocks. 249 00:12:39,035 --> 00:12:40,835 - Yeah, Stanton must have been in the pizzeria 250 00:12:40,844 --> 00:12:42,580 when the rock came through the window, 251 00:12:42,622 --> 00:12:46,208 chased the kid down, confronted him. 252 00:12:48,127 --> 00:12:50,296 - Excuse me. 253 00:12:50,338 --> 00:12:52,423 You work here nights? - Yeah. 254 00:12:52,465 --> 00:12:54,746 - You think you might have seen this young man around here 255 00:12:54,755 --> 00:12:55,843 a couple nights ago? 256 00:12:55,885 --> 00:12:57,678 - Sorry, doesn't look familiar. 257 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,013 - Thanks. 258 00:13:01,682 --> 00:13:03,768 - Yeah, I remember that kid. 259 00:13:03,809 --> 00:13:05,729 Came in the other night just before we closed up. 260 00:13:05,738 --> 00:13:06,738 - What time was that? 261 00:13:06,771 --> 00:13:09,065 - Um, midnight. - You sure it's him? 262 00:13:09,106 --> 00:13:11,567 - Yeah. Thought he was handsome. 263 00:13:11,609 --> 00:13:13,069 - Did he buy anything? 264 00:13:13,110 --> 00:13:15,863 - No, he didn't have a card, 265 00:13:15,905 --> 00:13:18,282 but his friend did. 266 00:13:18,324 --> 00:13:20,368 - You have a record of that transaction? 267 00:13:20,409 --> 00:13:23,162 - Yeah, I could probably pull it up. 268 00:13:23,204 --> 00:13:26,749 - You can drink it now? 269 00:13:26,791 --> 00:13:29,710 - Kyle Brimmer. 270 00:13:29,752 --> 00:13:33,256 - Let's start with who you were with at the dispensary. 271 00:13:33,297 --> 00:13:36,425 - Just to be clear, Kyle has no knowledge of any crime. 272 00:13:36,467 --> 00:13:38,261 He was home in bed in his parents' condo 273 00:13:38,302 --> 00:13:39,887 an hour before the homicide. 274 00:13:39,929 --> 00:13:42,139 - Yeah, we got that. We saw the surveillance video. 275 00:13:42,181 --> 00:13:44,475 So right now, the only way Kyle can get into trouble 276 00:13:44,517 --> 00:13:47,144 is by lying to us. 277 00:13:47,186 --> 00:13:49,939 So who were you with? 278 00:13:49,981 --> 00:13:51,315 - Jesse Erickson. 279 00:13:51,357 --> 00:13:53,276 - And how do you know Jesse? 280 00:13:53,317 --> 00:13:55,486 - We're in the same class at Martindale. 281 00:13:55,528 --> 00:13:58,447 - Martindale? The prep school? 282 00:13:58,489 --> 00:13:59,729 - Why don't you walk us through 283 00:13:59,738 --> 00:14:01,367 what you and Jesse did that night? 284 00:14:01,409 --> 00:14:03,786 - Well, I just got my weed card, so we wanted to... 285 00:14:03,828 --> 00:14:05,705 - They're giving out medical marijuana cards 286 00:14:05,746 --> 00:14:07,456 to prep school seniors now? 287 00:14:07,498 --> 00:14:10,293 - My client has an exemption for an anxiety disorder. 288 00:14:10,334 --> 00:14:12,003 - Of course he does. 289 00:14:12,044 --> 00:14:13,963 So you and Jesse, you go downtown 290 00:14:14,005 --> 00:14:16,465 to buy some cannabis, what, around, like, what, 11 o'clock? 291 00:14:16,507 --> 00:14:19,260 - Yeah, Jesse wanted to get high. 292 00:14:19,302 --> 00:14:21,345 And he kept bugging me to take him to a dispensary. 293 00:14:21,387 --> 00:14:23,764 So we bought some dabs. 294 00:14:23,806 --> 00:14:26,642 - Concentrated hash oil. 295 00:14:26,684 --> 00:14:27,893 Then what? 296 00:14:27,935 --> 00:14:30,021 - We went to some diner, had a couple of burgers, 297 00:14:30,062 --> 00:14:31,314 and then I left. 298 00:14:31,355 --> 00:14:33,065 I took an Uber at 1:08 AM. 299 00:14:33,107 --> 00:14:34,775 I have the receipt. 300 00:14:34,817 --> 00:14:38,613 - How about your boy, Jesse? 301 00:14:38,654 --> 00:14:41,908 - Well, he didn't want to leave. 302 00:14:41,949 --> 00:14:43,229 He said he wanted to walk around 303 00:14:43,238 --> 00:14:46,245 and explore the East Village. 304 00:14:46,287 --> 00:14:51,167 I told him to come with me, but he sort of ran off. 305 00:14:51,208 --> 00:14:54,712 - Ran off? 306 00:14:54,754 --> 00:14:56,672 - Yeah. 307 00:14:56,714 --> 00:14:59,216 It was really weird. 308 00:15:01,886 --> 00:15:04,597 - Jesse Erickson, 18 years old, lives on the Upper East Side 309 00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:06,057 with his investment banker father 310 00:15:06,098 --> 00:15:07,516 and his book editor mother. 311 00:15:07,558 --> 00:15:09,560 - He's a senior at Martindale. 312 00:15:09,602 --> 00:15:12,021 - Fancy. - He's a star varsity athlete 313 00:15:12,063 --> 00:15:13,397 and in the top 10% of his class. 314 00:15:13,439 --> 00:15:15,358 - Any discipline problems? 315 00:15:15,399 --> 00:15:17,526 - No, he just won a citizenship award. 316 00:15:17,568 --> 00:15:19,987 - Good kid, good family, never been in any trouble. 317 00:15:20,029 --> 00:15:23,699 - And yet he brutally beats an ex-con to death? 318 00:15:23,741 --> 00:15:25,034 I don't know. Why? 319 00:15:25,076 --> 00:15:26,869 - That is the million dollar question. 320 00:15:28,955 --> 00:15:31,874 OK, I'll call for a warrant. 321 00:15:31,916 --> 00:15:33,709 - There's got to be some kind of mistake. 322 00:15:33,751 --> 00:15:35,920 - Mr. Erickson, just tell us if Jesse is here or not. 323 00:15:35,962 --> 00:15:37,797 - Jesse is a kind and lovely boy. 324 00:15:37,838 --> 00:15:39,215 You can ask anyone. 325 00:15:39,257 --> 00:15:41,008 - We need to speak with Jesse now. 326 00:15:41,050 --> 00:15:43,386 - Well, you can't treat him like he's some common criminal. 327 00:15:43,427 --> 00:15:44,987 - We're treating him like he's a suspect 328 00:15:44,996 --> 00:15:46,847 in a murder investigation. 329 00:15:46,889 --> 00:15:50,059 - Sounds like he's down here. 330 00:15:50,101 --> 00:15:52,478 Young man, will you stand up please? 331 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:53,437 Stand up. 332 00:15:53,479 --> 00:15:54,638 Put your hands behind your back. 333 00:15:54,647 --> 00:15:55,764 - Wait, wait, wait, wait. - Jesse Erickson, 334 00:15:55,773 --> 00:15:57,413 we're placing you under arrest for murder. 335 00:15:57,441 --> 00:15:59,161 - Hold on, hold on. - Do what they say, son. 336 00:15:59,185 --> 00:16:00,844 And don't say a word, no matter what they tell you 337 00:16:00,853 --> 00:16:02,905 or promise you. - What happened to your hand? 338 00:16:02,947 --> 00:16:05,157 - So me and my buddy... - Don't answer that. 339 00:16:05,199 --> 00:16:06,993 - Dad, help me! 340 00:16:07,034 --> 00:16:08,369 - I will. 341 00:16:08,411 --> 00:16:09,704 Now, remember, don't say a word. 342 00:16:09,745 --> 00:16:11,205 - Let's go. 343 00:16:15,585 --> 00:16:17,587 - Calling docket ending in 9710, 344 00:16:17,628 --> 00:16:19,297 People versus Jesse Erickson, 345 00:16:19,338 --> 00:16:21,424 charged with murder in the second degree. 346 00:16:21,465 --> 00:16:24,176 - I'll hear you on bail, Ms. Maroun? 347 00:16:24,218 --> 00:16:29,015 - This was a brutal, unprovoked attack on a defenseless man. 348 00:16:29,056 --> 00:16:30,600 The defendant threw a rock, 349 00:16:30,641 --> 00:16:33,394 smashing Derek Stanton's pizza shop window. 350 00:16:33,436 --> 00:16:36,522 When confronted about it, the defendant reacted 351 00:16:36,564 --> 00:16:38,941 by beating Derek Stanton to death 352 00:16:38,983 --> 00:16:40,401 with his bare hands. 353 00:16:40,443 --> 00:16:43,738 He's facing life in prison, has tremendous resources, 354 00:16:43,779 --> 00:16:46,824 and has every incentive to flee the jurisdiction. 355 00:16:46,866 --> 00:16:48,743 The People submit that no amount of bail 356 00:16:48,784 --> 00:16:50,328 will secure his appearance at trial. 357 00:16:50,369 --> 00:16:51,871 We're seeking remand. 358 00:16:51,913 --> 00:16:53,372 - Mr. Thorpe. 359 00:16:53,414 --> 00:16:55,458 - Holding my client without bail 360 00:16:55,499 --> 00:16:57,335 is completely uncalled for. 361 00:16:57,376 --> 00:16:59,462 My client is a high school student 362 00:16:59,503 --> 00:17:01,255 with no criminal history, 363 00:17:01,297 --> 00:17:03,215 which is more than I can say for Mr. Stanton. 364 00:17:03,257 --> 00:17:05,176 - Well, the People have a strong case. 365 00:17:05,217 --> 00:17:07,261 The attack was captured on video. 366 00:17:07,303 --> 00:17:09,805 - A portion of the attack was captured. 367 00:17:09,847 --> 00:17:11,974 Mr. Erickson was in an unfamiliar neighborhood 368 00:17:12,016 --> 00:17:14,101 when he came upon a criminal 369 00:17:14,143 --> 00:17:15,978 who confronted and threatened him. 370 00:17:16,020 --> 00:17:18,356 He panicked and he fought back. 371 00:17:18,397 --> 00:17:20,942 And we expect a full exoneration at trial. 372 00:17:20,983 --> 00:17:23,736 I'd also point out that Mr. Erickson is a valued member 373 00:17:23,778 --> 00:17:25,363 of his community. 374 00:17:25,404 --> 00:17:29,033 His parents are here, his classmates, 375 00:17:29,075 --> 00:17:31,661 his teammates, his minister. 376 00:17:31,702 --> 00:17:35,831 - OK, I'm setting a $2 million cash bail. 377 00:17:35,873 --> 00:17:38,000 - His parents will post forthwith. 378 00:17:39,210 --> 00:17:41,170 - Next case please. 379 00:17:48,719 --> 00:17:50,439 - They're making my dad out to be a monster. 380 00:17:50,471 --> 00:17:52,723 - Well, it's just a legal tactic, OK? 381 00:17:52,765 --> 00:17:55,434 It doesn't mean anything. - It does to me. 382 00:17:55,476 --> 00:17:57,853 My dad was the victim. They called him a criminal. 383 00:17:57,895 --> 00:18:00,356 - It's what lawyers do. 384 00:18:00,398 --> 00:18:02,525 - He was trying to turn his life around, 385 00:18:02,567 --> 00:18:05,444 be a better person, a better dad. 386 00:18:05,486 --> 00:18:08,364 - I know this must be hard. 387 00:18:08,406 --> 00:18:13,286 Losing a family member is a pain like no other. 388 00:18:14,912 --> 00:18:17,790 It just never goes away. 389 00:18:22,295 --> 00:18:26,424 - His family can buy his way out of this. 390 00:18:26,465 --> 00:18:29,927 Who's going to stand up for my family, for my dad? 391 00:18:29,969 --> 00:18:32,555 - I will. I promise. 392 00:18:32,597 --> 00:18:34,932 I'm... I'm going to do everything I can 393 00:18:34,974 --> 00:18:37,602 to honor his memory. 394 00:18:53,785 --> 00:18:55,954 - Nice. What's the occasion? 395 00:18:55,996 --> 00:19:01,919 - Oh, it's the anniversary of my sister's death. 396 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,004 - Oh, I'm sorry. 397 00:19:04,046 --> 00:19:06,173 It's OK. 398 00:19:06,215 --> 00:19:07,883 Yeah, every... every year, 399 00:19:07,925 --> 00:19:10,344 my parents send me yellow roses. 400 00:19:10,385 --> 00:19:13,055 It was her favorite flower. 401 00:19:13,096 --> 00:19:14,681 - That's nice. 402 00:19:14,723 --> 00:19:16,642 - Yeah. 403 00:19:16,683 --> 00:19:19,436 So it definitely looks like 404 00:19:19,478 --> 00:19:21,772 Erickson is going to claim self-defense. 405 00:19:21,814 --> 00:19:23,524 - It makes sense. 406 00:19:23,565 --> 00:19:26,777 Derek Stanton was poor. He had a criminal record. 407 00:19:26,819 --> 00:19:29,571 They'll push the narrative that he was obviously the aggressor. 408 00:19:29,613 --> 00:19:30,948 - It had to be, right? 409 00:19:30,989 --> 00:19:34,284 I mean, he's an ex-con, sold marijuana. 410 00:19:34,326 --> 00:19:35,702 How evil. 411 00:19:35,744 --> 00:19:37,246 And of course, he's Black, so... 412 00:19:37,287 --> 00:19:38,747 - Right, I get it. 413 00:19:38,789 --> 00:19:41,792 There are a lot of unanswered questions here, though. 414 00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:45,796 High school kid, great grades, great reputation, 415 00:19:45,838 --> 00:19:48,632 no history of violence, crosses paths with a felon. 416 00:19:48,674 --> 00:19:51,301 - A felon? He's a victim. 417 00:19:51,343 --> 00:19:53,929 - No, I understand, Sam. I'm just stating a fact. 418 00:19:53,971 --> 00:19:56,890 - Question is, can we prove murder two? 419 00:19:56,932 --> 00:19:59,059 Show that it was an intentional act, 420 00:19:59,101 --> 00:20:02,521 or was it something else, a fistfight, mutual combatants? 421 00:20:02,563 --> 00:20:03,939 - Not sure just yet. 422 00:20:03,981 --> 00:20:06,650 We need to figure out motive first 423 00:20:06,692 --> 00:20:10,070 or offer a plea to a reduced charge. 424 00:20:10,112 --> 00:20:12,114 Man one? - Plead him out? 425 00:20:12,156 --> 00:20:13,615 Just like that? 426 00:20:13,657 --> 00:20:15,033 - Well, unless more evidence drops, 427 00:20:15,075 --> 00:20:16,827 this is going to be a tough case to prove. 428 00:20:16,869 --> 00:20:19,788 - Why? Because the defendant is a rich white kid? 429 00:20:19,830 --> 00:20:21,331 - Excuse me? 430 00:20:21,373 --> 00:20:23,693 - If a poor Black kid beat the hell out of Stanton, then... 431 00:20:23,702 --> 00:20:25,961 - Then we'd still need to prove motive. 432 00:20:26,003 --> 00:20:28,630 And that's not what happened. A rich white kid did it. 433 00:20:28,672 --> 00:20:31,175 And right or wrong, fair or unfair, 434 00:20:31,216 --> 00:20:32,801 that's the case we're trying. 435 00:20:32,843 --> 00:20:35,679 - I understand, but Ms. Maroun has a point. 436 00:20:35,721 --> 00:20:37,347 Even though the facts are confusing, 437 00:20:37,389 --> 00:20:40,142 we need to be aware of the optics. 438 00:20:40,184 --> 00:20:41,310 - Fine. 439 00:20:41,351 --> 00:20:43,645 I'll press forward with murder two. 440 00:20:43,687 --> 00:20:45,814 - Good. But get ready for the defense. 441 00:20:45,856 --> 00:20:47,696 They're going to attack the victim's character, 442 00:20:47,705 --> 00:20:49,651 blame him for his own murder, 443 00:20:49,693 --> 00:20:52,112 so you'll need to counteract that. 444 00:20:52,154 --> 00:20:55,949 Find some way to level the playing field. 445 00:21:07,704 --> 00:21:09,704 - The people would like to call character witnesses 446 00:21:09,713 --> 00:21:11,298 on behalf of Derek Stanton. 447 00:21:11,340 --> 00:21:12,466 - The victim? 448 00:21:12,508 --> 00:21:13,842 - Yes, to demonstrate that he was 449 00:21:13,884 --> 00:21:16,803 a peaceful, hardworking member of his community, 450 00:21:16,845 --> 00:21:18,096 far different from the way 451 00:21:18,138 --> 00:21:19,578 the defense is trying to portray him. 452 00:21:19,587 --> 00:21:22,518 - Your Honor, Rule 4.11 allows a defendant 453 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:24,353 to call character witnesses, not the victim. 454 00:21:24,394 --> 00:21:26,313 - But there's nothing in the rules 455 00:21:26,355 --> 00:21:27,856 that specifically precludes it. 456 00:21:27,898 --> 00:21:30,400 - Nice try, Mr. Price, but I agree with Mr. Thorpe. 457 00:21:30,442 --> 00:21:31,722 If you want to change the rules, 458 00:21:31,731 --> 00:21:35,364 take it up with the state legislature. 459 00:21:35,405 --> 00:21:37,741 - Thank you, Your Honor. 460 00:21:37,783 --> 00:21:40,077 Defense's witness list is unbelievable. 461 00:21:40,118 --> 00:21:41,870 There's a federal judge? 462 00:21:41,912 --> 00:21:45,374 The CEO of a Fortune 500 company, 463 00:21:45,415 --> 00:21:47,376 the head of a charitable foundation? 464 00:21:47,417 --> 00:21:48,857 All nine of these character witnesses 465 00:21:48,866 --> 00:21:50,796 are incredibly impressive. 466 00:21:50,838 --> 00:21:52,130 - That's what the wealthy do 467 00:21:52,172 --> 00:21:53,799 when their backs are up against the wall. 468 00:21:53,841 --> 00:21:57,719 They band together, protect their own. 469 00:21:57,761 --> 00:22:00,889 - Well, that may be true, but the question remains. 470 00:22:00,931 --> 00:22:03,559 Why did Jesse Erickson, who, by all accounts, 471 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,603 was a good kid, rich or not, 472 00:22:06,645 --> 00:22:09,273 suddenly decide to beat a stranger to death? 473 00:22:09,314 --> 00:22:10,482 - I don't know. 474 00:22:10,524 --> 00:22:12,004 And legally, it doesn't really matter. 475 00:22:12,013 --> 00:22:14,236 - Uh, no, I'm not so sure about that, Sam. 476 00:22:14,278 --> 00:22:16,405 If we don't know what precipitated the fight... 477 00:22:16,446 --> 00:22:18,574 - It was an attack, not a fight. 478 00:22:18,615 --> 00:22:19,867 - You saw the video. 479 00:22:19,908 --> 00:22:21,743 - But we don't know what happened before, 480 00:22:21,785 --> 00:22:23,162 and that's relevant. 481 00:22:23,203 --> 00:22:25,163 The jury's going to want to know the full picture. 482 00:22:25,187 --> 00:22:26,772 - I understand, and we'll keep looking, 483 00:22:26,813 --> 00:22:30,794 but for now, since we can't explain why Erickson did it, 484 00:22:30,836 --> 00:22:34,131 let's focus on the horror of what he actually did. 485 00:22:37,176 --> 00:22:40,679 - Mr. Stanton had a shattered occipital bone. 486 00:22:40,721 --> 00:22:42,598 That's the bone that's in the back of the head 487 00:22:42,639 --> 00:22:44,850 that connects to the cervical spine. 488 00:22:44,892 --> 00:22:47,477 It essentially protects the brain. 489 00:22:47,519 --> 00:22:49,771 He also had several other broken bones... 490 00:22:49,813 --> 00:22:53,984 His nose, his eye socket, his jaw. 491 00:22:54,026 --> 00:22:56,987 - Did you make a ruling as to the cause of death? 492 00:22:57,029 --> 00:22:59,948 - Cranial cerebral trauma so severe 493 00:22:59,990 --> 00:23:03,577 that the brain hemorrhaged and flooded with blood. 494 00:23:06,163 --> 00:23:09,500 - Were there wounds on Mr. Stanton's torso? 495 00:23:09,541 --> 00:23:11,376 - He had three broken ribs. 496 00:23:11,418 --> 00:23:14,546 - Did you form an opinion as to how he sustained those wounds? 497 00:23:14,588 --> 00:23:17,633 - Mr. Stanton had been kicked four times. 498 00:23:17,674 --> 00:23:19,676 - I have nothing further. 499 00:23:21,345 --> 00:23:24,264 - We've all seen the video of the fight and the crime scene 500 00:23:24,306 --> 00:23:28,227 photos, but you don't know why my client had an altercation 501 00:23:28,268 --> 00:23:29,686 with Mr. Stanton, do you? 502 00:23:29,728 --> 00:23:31,480 - No, I have no idea. 503 00:23:31,522 --> 00:23:34,274 - So you don't know if my client was protecting himself. 504 00:23:34,316 --> 00:23:35,984 - I don't. 505 00:23:36,026 --> 00:23:38,445 - Thank you. 506 00:23:38,487 --> 00:23:41,156 - Were there any scrapes or bruises 507 00:23:41,198 --> 00:23:44,576 on Mr. Stanton's fists, on his palms, on his forearms? 508 00:23:44,618 --> 00:23:45,994 - No. 509 00:23:46,036 --> 00:23:48,163 - Any wounds which suggest he was the aggressor? 510 00:23:48,205 --> 00:23:49,706 - Nothing like that. 511 00:23:49,748 --> 00:23:52,209 - And there was no indication he had a weapon of any kind? 512 00:23:52,251 --> 00:23:53,669 - Correct. 513 00:23:53,710 --> 00:23:55,963 - And Mr. Stanton was 2 inches shorter 514 00:23:56,004 --> 00:23:59,132 and 40 pounds lighter than the defendant? 515 00:23:59,174 --> 00:24:00,467 - That's true. 516 00:24:00,509 --> 00:24:02,029 - And no drugs in Mr. Stanton's system? 517 00:24:02,052 --> 00:24:04,388 - Toxicology was negative for alcohol 518 00:24:04,429 --> 00:24:06,265 and controlled substances. 519 00:24:06,306 --> 00:24:08,392 - Nothing further. 520 00:24:15,482 --> 00:24:17,359 The M.E. did a good job, 521 00:24:17,401 --> 00:24:20,320 but I think we still need a few more witnesses 522 00:24:20,362 --> 00:24:22,990 to help offset the self-defense claim. 523 00:24:23,031 --> 00:24:25,200 - Like who? - Not sure. 524 00:24:25,242 --> 00:24:27,119 Someone who can speak to his state of mind 525 00:24:27,161 --> 00:24:30,372 prior to his death, someone who can say he was in a good mood, 526 00:24:30,414 --> 00:24:33,458 he was focused on the opening of his pizzeria. 527 00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:34,960 - Well, I'll look into it. 528 00:24:35,002 --> 00:24:38,881 But if you ask me, I think the M.E. pretty much destroyed 529 00:24:38,922 --> 00:24:41,341 their self-defense argument. 530 00:24:41,383 --> 00:24:43,423 - We still have no idea why this kid killed Stanton. 531 00:24:44,344 --> 00:24:46,096 Whole thing still doesn't make any sense. 532 00:24:46,138 --> 00:24:49,725 - Defense just changed their plea. 533 00:24:49,766 --> 00:24:52,060 - Their plea? To what? 534 00:24:52,102 --> 00:24:54,605 - Not guilty by reason of mental defect. 535 00:24:54,646 --> 00:24:56,190 - He's claiming insanity? 536 00:24:56,231 --> 00:24:58,233 - They're alleging Jesse Erickson 537 00:24:58,275 --> 00:25:01,320 had a mental impairment when he killed Derek Stanton. 538 00:25:01,361 --> 00:25:02,571 - What's the impairment? 539 00:25:02,613 --> 00:25:05,073 - Cannabis intoxication. 540 00:25:05,115 --> 00:25:08,368 - They're using marijuana as the basis for a... 541 00:25:08,410 --> 00:25:11,288 For an insanity defense? 542 00:25:16,876 --> 00:25:18,676 - I understand you'd like to change your plea. 543 00:25:19,212 --> 00:25:21,047 - We plan to present evidence that my client 544 00:25:21,089 --> 00:25:22,882 was in the throes of a psychotic episode 545 00:25:22,924 --> 00:25:24,509 the night of Mr. Stanton's death. 546 00:25:24,551 --> 00:25:27,679 My client went to a dispensary earlier and bought cannabis. 547 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:29,480 - Yeah, something you've gone out of your way 548 00:25:29,489 --> 00:25:30,974 to denigrate Mr. Stanton for doing. 549 00:25:31,015 --> 00:25:33,643 - We denigrated him for selling it, for committing a felony. 550 00:25:33,685 --> 00:25:35,144 - Regardless, 551 00:25:35,186 --> 00:25:37,897 if the defendant voluntarily ingested an intoxicant, 552 00:25:37,939 --> 00:25:40,942 he can't turn around now and claim insanity. 553 00:25:40,984 --> 00:25:42,544 - My client didn't understand how potent 554 00:25:42,553 --> 00:25:44,070 this dose of cannabis was. 555 00:25:44,112 --> 00:25:46,072 No idea what it could do to him. 556 00:25:46,114 --> 00:25:48,283 That means his consumption wasn't voluntary. 557 00:25:48,324 --> 00:25:49,909 - I've never seen a claim of insanity 558 00:25:49,951 --> 00:25:51,411 based on marijuana usage. 559 00:25:51,452 --> 00:25:53,496 Do you have any science to back that up? 560 00:25:53,538 --> 00:25:55,915 - Data from medical journals detailing the frequency 561 00:25:55,957 --> 00:25:57,750 of cannabis-induced psychosis 562 00:25:57,792 --> 00:25:59,669 and a board-certified psychiatrist 563 00:25:59,711 --> 00:26:01,504 who will testify that my client was 564 00:26:01,546 --> 00:26:03,172 in the midst of such a psychosis 565 00:26:03,214 --> 00:26:06,009 when he came across Mr. Stanton. 566 00:26:06,050 --> 00:26:08,303 - Well, if that's your case that you present, 567 00:26:08,344 --> 00:26:09,470 I'm OK with it. 568 00:26:09,512 --> 00:26:11,764 I'll grant the defendant's request. 569 00:26:11,806 --> 00:26:13,366 And the People can call their own expert 570 00:26:13,375 --> 00:26:17,312 to interview the defendant and challenge the findings. 571 00:26:17,353 --> 00:26:19,397 - I've researched the potency of the THC 572 00:26:19,439 --> 00:26:21,649 he claims to have ingested, and I met with the defendant 573 00:26:21,691 --> 00:26:25,153 for approximately two hours, got a full medical history, 574 00:26:25,195 --> 00:26:27,405 and it's scientifically possible that the cannabis 575 00:26:27,447 --> 00:26:29,782 caused him to experience irrational thoughts 576 00:26:29,824 --> 00:26:31,868 and paranoid delusions. 577 00:26:31,910 --> 00:26:33,620 - Possible that pot can 578 00:26:33,661 --> 00:26:35,496 make someone kill another human being? 579 00:26:35,538 --> 00:26:36,956 - It sounds farfetched. 580 00:26:36,998 --> 00:26:39,000 - But we're talking about pot. 581 00:26:39,042 --> 00:26:41,211 - This sure as hell isn't the pot I grew up with. 582 00:26:41,252 --> 00:26:45,131 Back in the '90s, the THC level in marijuana was below 2%. 583 00:26:45,173 --> 00:26:46,716 Now? 584 00:26:46,758 --> 00:26:50,970 Some dispensaries are selling dabs that are 80% or 90% THC. 585 00:26:51,012 --> 00:26:54,057 Put that in a vape and smoke it? 586 00:26:54,098 --> 00:26:58,061 It can absolutely trigger a psychotic episode. 587 00:26:58,102 --> 00:27:01,439 If I'm being honest, he seemed like a good kid 588 00:27:01,481 --> 00:27:05,652 who smoked some really strong marijuana 589 00:27:05,693 --> 00:27:08,696 and lost his damn mind. 590 00:27:12,408 --> 00:27:16,037 - So you want to concede that he had an altered mental state 591 00:27:16,079 --> 00:27:18,665 and reduce the charges? - It makes sense to me. 592 00:27:18,706 --> 00:27:19,832 - Not to me. 593 00:27:19,874 --> 00:27:22,460 He literally beat Stanton to death. 594 00:27:22,502 --> 00:27:26,339 Each punch required independent thought and movement. 595 00:27:26,381 --> 00:27:29,342 High or not, his acts were still intentional. 596 00:27:29,384 --> 00:27:31,594 - Intentional? Our own doctor believes the defendant 597 00:27:31,636 --> 00:27:33,137 was in a psychotic state. 598 00:27:33,179 --> 00:27:35,974 Not only that, he ingested the pot legally. 599 00:27:36,015 --> 00:27:39,769 - The legal age is 21, not 18, and for good reason. 600 00:27:39,811 --> 00:27:43,022 The teenage brain is more susceptible to THC. 601 00:27:43,064 --> 00:27:44,315 - Well, you're making my point. 602 00:27:44,357 --> 00:27:47,652 - No, Erickson knew he was underage. 603 00:27:47,694 --> 00:27:50,071 That means he assumed the risk. 604 00:27:50,113 --> 00:27:52,365 - Technically, yes, I suppose, but come on, Jack. 605 00:27:52,407 --> 00:27:54,534 No one on the jury views marijuana 606 00:27:54,576 --> 00:27:56,369 as an illicit drug anymore. 607 00:27:56,411 --> 00:27:59,455 Man two is the appropriate charge. 608 00:27:59,497 --> 00:28:01,875 - You saw those autopsy photos, Nolan. 609 00:28:01,916 --> 00:28:03,918 He pummeled that man to death. 610 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:05,920 We can't just give this guy a slap on the wrist. 611 00:28:05,962 --> 00:28:07,282 - We're not suggesting that we do. 612 00:28:07,291 --> 00:28:10,503 I'll recommend a minimum of 10 years. 613 00:28:13,177 --> 00:28:16,890 - We're not pleading him out to man two, not yet anyway. 614 00:28:20,810 --> 00:28:22,729 - OK. 615 00:28:22,770 --> 00:28:27,901 If that's what you want to do, I think Sam should take over. 616 00:28:27,942 --> 00:28:29,152 I'll... I'll sit second chair. 617 00:28:29,194 --> 00:28:33,031 I'll support her as best I can. 618 00:28:33,072 --> 00:28:35,575 I don't see murder two here. 619 00:28:35,617 --> 00:28:36,868 I just don't. 620 00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:38,828 But you do. 621 00:28:45,460 --> 00:28:47,045 - Are you good with that? 622 00:28:47,086 --> 00:28:49,756 - Yes, absolutely. 623 00:29:00,534 --> 00:29:02,134 - Tell the jurors what happened the night 624 00:29:02,143 --> 00:29:05,021 of Mr. Stanton's death. 625 00:29:05,063 --> 00:29:08,107 - My friend, Kyle, he has a cannabis card. 626 00:29:08,149 --> 00:29:11,319 So it means he can legally buy marijuana. 627 00:29:11,361 --> 00:29:13,738 So we went to a dispensary down on the Lower East Side. 628 00:29:13,780 --> 00:29:15,615 - Did your friend buy marijuana? 629 00:29:15,657 --> 00:29:16,783 - Yes. 630 00:29:16,824 --> 00:29:18,618 - Did you partake? 631 00:29:18,660 --> 00:29:20,078 - Yes. 632 00:29:20,119 --> 00:29:22,622 - And did you ever smoke or eat pot before that night? 633 00:29:22,664 --> 00:29:24,040 - Yes. 634 00:29:24,082 --> 00:29:25,750 But it wasn't anything like this. 635 00:29:25,792 --> 00:29:27,961 - Can you describe your experience? 636 00:29:28,002 --> 00:29:29,837 - So I started seeing things 637 00:29:29,879 --> 00:29:31,756 that, like, weren't actually there. 638 00:29:31,798 --> 00:29:34,551 And I just felt like everybody was threatening me. 639 00:29:34,592 --> 00:29:36,636 - Is that why you started throwing rocks? 640 00:29:36,678 --> 00:29:38,054 - Yes. 641 00:29:38,096 --> 00:29:40,139 - Do you remember meeting Mr. Stanton? 642 00:29:40,181 --> 00:29:42,850 - Yes, I threw a rock at his store. 643 00:29:42,892 --> 00:29:44,853 It's a pizza place. 644 00:29:44,894 --> 00:29:46,813 And it shattered the glass. 645 00:29:46,855 --> 00:29:48,022 - What did Mr. Stanton do? 646 00:29:48,064 --> 00:29:50,608 - He came out, trying to talk to me. 647 00:29:50,650 --> 00:29:54,654 But I walked away, and, uh, he ran after me. 648 00:29:54,696 --> 00:29:56,114 - You felt threatened? 649 00:29:56,155 --> 00:29:57,532 - Objection, leading. 650 00:29:57,574 --> 00:29:59,325 - Sustained. 651 00:29:59,367 --> 00:30:01,494 - Tell the jurors how you felt. 652 00:30:01,536 --> 00:30:03,079 - OK. 653 00:30:03,121 --> 00:30:06,207 I thought Mr. Stanton was... Was going to kill me. 654 00:30:06,249 --> 00:30:09,836 And now I know that that's not true, 655 00:30:09,878 --> 00:30:11,318 but at the time, like, in the moment, 656 00:30:11,327 --> 00:30:14,549 it felt super real, like very real. 657 00:30:14,591 --> 00:30:17,051 So I hit him. 658 00:30:21,723 --> 00:30:23,016 - Thank you. 659 00:30:23,057 --> 00:30:25,143 Nothing further. 660 00:30:41,784 --> 00:30:44,662 - You didn't just hit him. 661 00:30:44,704 --> 00:30:47,332 You beat him to death. 662 00:30:47,373 --> 00:30:50,084 - I feel awful, all right? 663 00:30:50,126 --> 00:30:52,128 I'm so sorry for everything I've done. 664 00:30:52,170 --> 00:30:55,089 I'm so sorry for the pain that I've caused my family 665 00:30:55,131 --> 00:30:56,799 and Mr. Stanton's family. 666 00:30:56,841 --> 00:30:58,635 - And up until this very moment, 667 00:30:58,676 --> 00:31:01,095 you've never expressed a shred of remorse 668 00:31:01,137 --> 00:31:03,389 for what you've done. 669 00:31:03,431 --> 00:31:06,392 - That's 'cause my lawyer and my dad told me not to. 670 00:31:06,434 --> 00:31:09,979 - Oh, so you're blaming this on your father and... 671 00:31:10,021 --> 00:31:11,439 - No. No. - Lawyer? 672 00:31:11,481 --> 00:31:12,801 - See, that's not what I'm saying. 673 00:31:12,810 --> 00:31:15,193 I'm saying I'm a... I'm not a bad person. 674 00:31:15,235 --> 00:31:17,445 Not a bad person? 675 00:31:23,493 --> 00:31:25,495 - Yeah. 676 00:31:25,537 --> 00:31:28,081 Yeah, I wish I could take it back. 677 00:31:28,122 --> 00:31:30,041 I'd do anything to have that night back. 678 00:31:30,083 --> 00:31:32,168 - But you can't. 679 00:31:32,210 --> 00:31:34,963 That's not how the world works. 680 00:31:35,004 --> 00:31:37,340 You did what you did. 681 00:31:37,382 --> 00:31:41,719 And now a good man, an innocent man is dead and buried, 682 00:31:41,761 --> 00:31:44,097 and his family is grieving. - Objection. 683 00:31:44,138 --> 00:31:47,600 - Sustained. Watch it, Ms. Maroun. 684 00:31:58,194 --> 00:32:00,738 - And after you brutally murdered Mr. Stanton, 685 00:32:00,780 --> 00:32:03,449 you went to great lengths to cover your tracks, didn't you? 686 00:32:03,491 --> 00:32:04,851 - Look, I don't know what you mean. 687 00:32:04,860 --> 00:32:06,744 - Yeah, you went to a hospital to get treatment. 688 00:32:06,786 --> 00:32:08,955 You paid out of pocket so it wouldn't be reflected 689 00:32:08,997 --> 00:32:10,290 in your insurance claim. 690 00:32:10,331 --> 00:32:11,771 - See, that was my family's decision. 691 00:32:11,780 --> 00:32:13,543 - Yes, I know. It's all their fault. 692 00:32:13,585 --> 00:32:14,961 - Please. 693 00:32:15,003 --> 00:32:19,632 I'm so sorry for what I did. 694 00:32:19,674 --> 00:32:22,176 I'm so sorry. 695 00:32:22,218 --> 00:32:25,722 I'm so sorry. 696 00:32:25,763 --> 00:32:28,433 I'm so sorry. 697 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,233 - That's all I have for this witness. 698 00:32:51,372 --> 00:32:52,832 Went too far, didn't I? 699 00:32:52,874 --> 00:32:54,542 - No, not necessarily. 700 00:32:54,584 --> 00:32:58,630 I think we still have a few jurors in our corner. 701 00:33:06,578 --> 00:33:07,578 - You're doing great. 702 00:33:08,246 --> 00:33:09,623 - Be honest. 703 00:33:09,664 --> 00:33:10,957 - I am. 704 00:33:10,999 --> 00:33:13,001 You are doing great. 705 00:33:13,043 --> 00:33:15,712 But the facts are the facts. 706 00:33:15,754 --> 00:33:17,756 No matter how well you present the case, 707 00:33:17,797 --> 00:33:19,799 the jury is going to want to know why 708 00:33:19,841 --> 00:33:22,344 the defendant had such a violent outburst 709 00:33:22,385 --> 00:33:24,804 and killed another human being. 710 00:33:24,846 --> 00:33:30,393 And, well, unless we can give them an understandable motive, 711 00:33:30,435 --> 00:33:33,563 I don't see us getting a conviction on murder two. 712 00:33:33,605 --> 00:33:35,649 - Last time I tell you to be honest. 713 00:33:35,690 --> 00:33:38,109 Does that mean you agree? 714 00:33:38,151 --> 00:33:41,529 - That we need to offer up additional information 715 00:33:41,571 --> 00:33:44,115 or find some sort of reason for Erickson's violence? 716 00:33:44,157 --> 00:33:45,784 Yes, absolutely. 717 00:33:45,825 --> 00:33:47,869 And I've been looking for one, but... 718 00:33:47,911 --> 00:33:51,539 - You know, it occurred to me when Erickson was on the stand 719 00:33:51,581 --> 00:33:55,460 that neither he nor his lawyer have talked about college. 720 00:33:55,502 --> 00:33:57,546 - What do you mean? - He's a high school senior. 721 00:33:57,587 --> 00:33:59,714 He's a great student, talented athlete 722 00:33:59,756 --> 00:34:03,134 from a wealthy, educated family. 723 00:34:03,176 --> 00:34:06,054 For a kid like Jesse Erickson not to be on his way 724 00:34:06,096 --> 00:34:09,349 to some sort of elite college, it doesn't make sense. 725 00:34:09,391 --> 00:34:11,601 Has to be a reason. 726 00:34:16,856 --> 00:34:18,400 - He was accepted early at Brown, 727 00:34:18,441 --> 00:34:20,318 but decided to take a gap year. 728 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:21,861 - To do what? 729 00:34:21,903 --> 00:34:23,655 - He's enlisted in a youth volunteer group 730 00:34:23,697 --> 00:34:25,323 to build a school in Kenya. 731 00:34:25,365 --> 00:34:26,575 Kenya? 732 00:34:26,616 --> 00:34:29,661 - That's the plan... Or it was the plan. 733 00:34:29,703 --> 00:34:32,497 - So he's never been in trouble? 734 00:34:32,539 --> 00:34:34,332 Suspended, discipline? 735 00:34:34,374 --> 00:34:36,042 - Not to my knowledge. 736 00:34:36,084 --> 00:34:38,253 - Ever shown signs of violence? 737 00:34:38,295 --> 00:34:40,922 - Not that I'm aware of. 738 00:34:40,964 --> 00:34:43,550 - Has he ever expressed racist thoughts 739 00:34:43,592 --> 00:34:46,219 and shown bias against people of color? 740 00:34:46,261 --> 00:34:47,721 - No. 741 00:34:47,762 --> 00:34:50,473 I'm telling you, he's a good kid. 742 00:34:50,515 --> 00:34:52,350 I've been his advisor since freshman year. 743 00:34:52,392 --> 00:34:54,895 - So he's perfect? That's what you're saying? 744 00:34:54,936 --> 00:34:57,814 He just runs around, getting straight As, 745 00:34:57,856 --> 00:35:00,609 playing football, winning citizenship awards, 746 00:35:00,650 --> 00:35:04,279 and then one night, out of the blue, he beats a man to death? 747 00:35:04,321 --> 00:35:06,323 - It was the cannabis. 748 00:35:06,364 --> 00:35:10,243 That's the only thing that makes sense. 749 00:35:10,285 --> 00:35:13,580 I don't understand all your anger. 750 00:35:13,622 --> 00:35:17,959 Why are you hell bent on ruining Jesse's life? 751 00:35:25,759 --> 00:35:27,469 - You should have heard this guy. 752 00:35:27,510 --> 00:35:31,139 He... he made Erickson out to be a saint. 753 00:35:31,181 --> 00:35:34,100 He turned it around, started pointing fingers at me 754 00:35:34,142 --> 00:35:36,269 like I have some personal vendetta 755 00:35:36,311 --> 00:35:38,480 against Erickson. 756 00:35:45,820 --> 00:35:48,490 What? What are you... 757 00:35:50,909 --> 00:35:53,119 - OK. 758 00:35:53,161 --> 00:35:56,331 I have wondered the same thing. 759 00:35:58,917 --> 00:36:01,044 From the second we charged this kid, 760 00:36:01,086 --> 00:36:04,047 you've been convinced that he's a monster 761 00:36:04,089 --> 00:36:05,298 in spite of the evidence. 762 00:36:05,340 --> 00:36:06,967 - The evidence? 763 00:36:07,008 --> 00:36:10,053 He bludgeoned a man to death with his fists. 764 00:36:10,095 --> 00:36:11,805 I mean, those were the most 765 00:36:11,846 --> 00:36:14,224 horrific crime scene photos I have ever seen. 766 00:36:14,266 --> 00:36:19,020 - I agree, which is why we brought the murder two charge. 767 00:36:19,062 --> 00:36:21,815 But... 768 00:36:21,856 --> 00:36:25,110 the evidence no longer backs our original theory, 769 00:36:25,151 --> 00:36:27,988 and we're losing the jury. 770 00:36:28,029 --> 00:36:30,198 Manslaughter is still a serious charge. 771 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:32,701 Like I said before, we can recommend 10 years. 772 00:36:32,742 --> 00:36:36,705 - That's not enough, not for what he did. 773 00:36:42,377 --> 00:36:45,338 - I'm not a psychiatrist, but... 774 00:36:45,380 --> 00:36:47,215 is there a chance this has something 775 00:36:47,257 --> 00:36:49,217 to do with your sister? 776 00:36:50,844 --> 00:36:53,013 - You know, OK, I'm... I'm sorry to even... 777 00:36:53,054 --> 00:36:55,849 - You... you think I'm trying to blame Jesse Erickson 778 00:36:55,891 --> 00:36:57,767 for what happened to my sister? 779 00:36:57,809 --> 00:37:01,229 - No, not consciously, but there is a resemblance, 780 00:37:01,271 --> 00:37:04,190 on paper anyway, between him and... 781 00:37:04,232 --> 00:37:07,152 And the young man who... 782 00:37:10,947 --> 00:37:14,993 OK, I'm wrong. 783 00:37:15,035 --> 00:37:17,913 I'm sorry for even bringing it up. 784 00:37:23,418 --> 00:37:26,087 I'm just trying to help, Sam. 785 00:37:28,965 --> 00:37:31,468 - I know. 786 00:37:46,441 --> 00:37:49,236 - Breakfast on a work day? 787 00:37:49,277 --> 00:37:51,696 - Oh. 788 00:37:51,738 --> 00:37:53,657 It's been a while. 789 00:37:53,698 --> 00:37:56,701 Just thought I'd come by, say hello. 790 00:37:56,743 --> 00:37:58,912 - I'm thrilled. 791 00:37:58,954 --> 00:38:01,748 And thanks for bringing the fresh croissants. 792 00:38:15,262 --> 00:38:20,100 - I thought it'd get easier. 793 00:38:20,141 --> 00:38:22,561 - It doesn't. 794 00:38:22,602 --> 00:38:26,147 It's an ache that will never go away. 795 00:38:26,189 --> 00:38:29,901 But I tell myself that the pain is a good thing. 796 00:38:29,943 --> 00:38:33,071 Lets me know that I'm still alive, 797 00:38:33,113 --> 00:38:35,865 that I'm still capable of feeling. 798 00:38:45,500 --> 00:38:48,169 - It doesn't help that 799 00:38:48,211 --> 00:38:52,841 the police never arrested the son of a bitch. 800 00:38:52,883 --> 00:38:56,011 Just knowing that smug bastard is still out there 801 00:38:56,052 --> 00:39:00,307 walking around free as a bird... 802 00:39:00,348 --> 00:39:03,476 If I think about it too much, I'm going to go crazy. 803 00:39:03,518 --> 00:39:06,605 - So don't. 804 00:39:06,646 --> 00:39:08,773 - Don't what? 805 00:39:08,815 --> 00:39:11,234 Think about it. 806 00:39:11,276 --> 00:39:13,820 Focus instead on Christina, 807 00:39:13,862 --> 00:39:18,575 her smile, her laughter, her kindness. 808 00:39:18,617 --> 00:39:23,663 Just forget about all this stuff... 809 00:39:23,705 --> 00:39:28,752 The hatred, the frustration. 810 00:39:28,793 --> 00:39:30,503 - I don't think it's possible. 811 00:39:30,545 --> 00:39:32,339 - It is. 812 00:39:32,380 --> 00:39:35,050 I promise. 813 00:39:41,431 --> 00:39:44,684 I'm so glad you came by. 814 00:39:46,603 --> 00:39:49,522 - It's been too long, hm? 815 00:40:01,451 --> 00:40:05,247 - What's going on? 816 00:40:05,288 --> 00:40:07,666 - I pled him out to man two. 817 00:40:07,707 --> 00:40:11,378 - Really? Man two. 818 00:40:11,419 --> 00:40:13,421 - You were right. 819 00:40:13,463 --> 00:40:15,048 Without a credible motive, 820 00:40:15,090 --> 00:40:18,051 the jury wasn't going to convict Erickson of murder, 821 00:40:18,093 --> 00:40:21,888 but he's still going to do a lot of time. 822 00:40:21,930 --> 00:40:24,849 If this law thing doesn't work out, 823 00:40:24,891 --> 00:40:28,103 you should think about becoming a psychiatrist.