In the criminal justice system,
the people are represented
by two separate yet equally important groups:
The police, who investigate crime
and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
I want the slides first.
Then we show them the stills.
And the miniatures are the knockout punch.
Damn.
We're already late. And the traffic...
I better call.
Peter, pull the car around
and meet me
at the gate.
Damn.
Four quarters, please.
I'm not supposed to...
Look, I'm in a rush.
Yeah, it's Moskowitz.
Tell him 15 minutes.
I know.
15 minutes guaranteed.
( tires screeching )
You okay?
Yeah.
( screams )
Miss Moskowitz?
I'm okay.
Take your time.
Uh... I'd just hung up on the phone
and I didn't see the car.
I told Peter and Craig to bring it around,
so I went looking...
There was this van--
nearly clipped me on the way out.
What color was the van?
Uh, gray, or maybe silver.
Big.
How about the driver?
Did you get a look at him?
Barely.
A white guy.
I don't know.
Then I found them.
You said there was a woman-- a brunette?
Uh-huh.
I don't know where she went.
Dude was doing at least 35.
He busted through the gate.
Mr. Rozakis got a partial on the plates.
The APB's already out.
Would you recognize him?
I never saw him.
A machine gives the ticket, he's supposed to pay on the way out.
He's probably halfway to Canada by now.
Sure.
The plates were Canadian.
I told him that.
"Je me souviens."
"I remember"--
the motto on the Quebec plates.
There's a lot of Greeks in Canada.
I got uncles, cousins in Montreal, Toronto.
Oh, on the van, the bumper...
There's a, uh, a sticker that says Tilford Rentals.
They're like the Hertz of Canada.
That's it?
Yeah.
Listen, you remember anything else, give us a buzz.
Sure.
So, Sammy, tell us.
It's two shots each, to the heart.
What did they take?
Nothing.
One's got on a $1,000 Piaget on his wrist.
No powder burns, no defensive wounds.
They got it from ten... 15 feet, at least.
Four shots,
probably silenced, right through the heart.
A marksman.
A pro.
Captioning sponsored by NBC/Universal
You're telling me a pro rents a van in Montreal,
drives 500 miles
and in the open, guns down two ad men?
Disgruntled client maybe.
Witnesses?
Nothing we can use.
We got a hit on the APB.
Traffic towed a gray van,
Canadian plates, corner of 33rd and Eighth.
That's the post office.
What's he going to do-- mail himself to Canada?
He'd be more comfortable on the train.
The station.
No backup.
If he smells a uniform, he's gone.
The 11:30 train leaving for Trenton, New Jersey
on track three.
Hey. Montreal train-- what track?
Track eight.
Departs in 15.
( train whistle blowing )
( bell ringing )
CERRETA: Six down, two to go.
There you go.
Thank you.
Going to Montreal?
Are you going to Montreal?
Yes.
Can I see your ticket?
Vacation?
Don't you guys have anything better...
Look, just tell her I already mailed the check.
My friend.
Hey.
Forget something?
Thanks. I had a little too much coffee today.
It will keep.
Mind if we look in here?
Can I stop you?
We could get a warrant.
Then you wouldn't want to miss your train.
Put your hands right on top of your head.
You're under arrest; anything you say
can and will be used against you in a court of law.
How many times we going to go through this?
Mr. Kemp,
what do you say we call your lawyer?
No reason to.
I didn't do anything.
You had a semiautomatic with a fully loaded clip.
So I had a piece.
So I was a naughty boy.
I'll pay the two bucks.
I'm thinking it was a murder weapon.
I'm happy for you.
Okay if I smoke?
Mike.
Want some coffee?
Let's have some coffee.
Yeah.
Cream, no sugar.
We're doing all the talking.
A little leverage wouldn't hurt.
We hit on ballistics, it's over.
Did you check his yellows?
Yeah. Six arrests--
from gun possession to attempt.
No convictions.
A van rented in your name was spotted at the scene.
It was found three blocks from where we found you.
The van was stolen.
I stopped at some diner on 46th and Lex.
It was not there when I came out.
You reported it?
To who?
The police? The rental company?
All of the above.
What's the big deal?
This the first car stolen in the city?
Mr. Kemp, you live in Plattsburgh, upstate New York.
What's that?
An hour outside Montreal?
45 minutes.
You went that far to rent a van?
I'm not rolling in the bucks, like you guys.
Exchange rate, no per mile.
I save a bundle.
Why did you need a van?
My mother.
She owns this great old clock--
a Seth Thomas.
Some dealer
on the west side offered me five grand for it.
Dealer's name?
In the van.
With the clock.
You always take a semiautomatic
and an eight-inch blade on a trip?
What do you want?
It's New York.
Yeah.
Mike, labs you ordered.
And?
Negative.
Gun in his bag didn't kill our guys.
The bastard knew it all along.
Different story on the knife.
Minute traces of human blood of recent origin.
I thought these guys were shot.
They were.
Well, great.
That's great.
So we got two stiffs with no murder weapon
and a bloody knife with no victim. Great.
Standard pop and hop--
effective, but impacts the resale value.
So Kemp makes like someone took his van.
He knows how to throw curves.
He's a consummate pro.
This is the address of an antique dealer.
He's good. Covers all bases. Establishes an alibi.
Why not ditch the knife?
You can't match a knife like a bullet.
Waste not, want not.
Everyone gets hit by the recession.
You got recent gunpowder residue.
I'll bring it to the lab.
At least we know we got the right van.
That doesn't put Kemp in the driver's seat.
You feel like a doughnut?
Yeah.
150 bagels a day, all with cream cheese
and this turnip wants peanut butter.
Was that yesterday?
Sits there doing the puzzle for an hour.
I live on tips-- little he cares.
What goes around comes around.
What do you mean?
He leaves, comes running back looking for a phone.
Someone stole his car.
Serves him right.
You ever work a counter?
No.
Michelle Pfeiffer could be sitting there.
You wouldn't know.
They don't look at faces.
A waitress here probably serves 100 breakfasts a day.
She remembered him.
Because he wanted her to.
How come our two guys rate a pro?
Were they involved in something?
That's what we're trying
to find out, Miss Moskowitz.
Can you tell us about their lives
outside the office?
Craig Hovis was like a plow horse.
He was here all the time.
What about the family?
From Phoenix.
No family in town.
And Coyle?
Peter was a different story.
Freelanced until I convinced him to come aboard.
To Peter, corporate America was up there with root canal.
But you turned him around?
Well, money can't buy love, but it helps.
Coyle-- was he all work as well?
Peter was an artist.
He breathed life into every frame.
I'd finally convinced him to show his portraits.
I have a friend who has a gallery in Soho.
So I take it that you talked to Peter
about things other than work?
We just started seeing each other...
dating.
Was he the one?
Looks like Coyle had a more interesting life
than the plow horse.
Nobody had a piece of this guy.
63 G's in a money market.
Another 50 and change in a retirement fund.
Hardly worth killing for.
Esquire, Hockey News.
Tax deductibles:
Greenpeace, United Way, Jerry's Kids.
Ah, card from Moskowitz.
These guys look like Boy Scouts.
Yeah, with shadow lives.
Somebody paid good money to get them dead.
Dig deep enough,
something pops out of the shadows.
None of the usuals play-- mob, drugs.
Who else hires a hitter?
Jealous husband.
Both of them?
Maybe Mr. Plow Horse was dunking his doughnut
in somebody else's coffee.
Husband gets a whiff.
Doesn't like the smell.
And Coyle?
Wrong place, wrong time.
Innocent bystander slash witness.
Hold it.
What if they both had bad timing?
Phil, I was kidding.
Hear me out.
The guy in the lot and Moskowitz
said there was another woman.
She got there
before Hovis and Coyle.
The brunette.
She went in, but no one saw her go out.
Kemp has a bloody knife.
So Kemp's doing the brunette with the knife.
Coyle and Hovis see him in flagrante.
It's bang, bang.
She went to the lot.
Why? To get her car.
It's still got to be there.
My boss says nobody stays long-term.
But you're a nice guy.
Live and let live.
I can use the extra cash-- new VCR.
This is Mr. Simmons-- a lawyer.
Friday, he says, "I'll be gone about six days."
"Anyone wants to take it, let them-- it's insured."
Next.
This one's been here a few days-- after 48 hours,
I'm supposed to have them towed, but she's a nice lady.
She say she would be out of town?
Not to me.
She have a name?
Not that I know of.
She's in here all the time though.
Mike, look.
Paint's scratched to the bare metal.
Someone wanted to get in there real bad.
It looks like someone else wanted it that way.
There's a toothpick or matchstick stuck in there.
Okay.
Janet Torrens.
Sixth Street, Brooklyn, New York.
27 years old.
Does that say Miss or Mrs.?
I was just thinking, maybe next time,
I'd take her to see the Knicks or something.
I wouldn't hold my breath.
Janet was out of work.
I told her, why waste money?
Your old room's empty.
Last month, she started looking
for her own apartment.
When did you see her last?
What was it?
Tuesday morning before she left for the city.
You haven't seen her for two days?
Janet's a grown woman.
She lived here, but we don't keep tabs on her.
She was under a lot of stress.
Mr. Torrens, does Janet drive a red BMW?
Yeah.
She bought it used
when she started working in Manhattan.
We found her car in a parking lot.
It's been there for 48 hours.
Oh, God.
It doesn't necessarily mean...
I told her
you keep your mouth shut.
Jack, they told us not to.
Excuse me?
The FBI...
Jack!
What the hell
does it matter now?
They're investigating that bum she used to work for--
Charles Martine.
Illegal contracts or something.
And Janet was helping them?
Yeah.
CERRETA: Who's the agent?
Blanchard.
We called him last night.
He said not to worry.
She's left before for a couple of days
without telling us.
Why would she leave her car in the city
if she went to the island?
All off the record, right?
Charles Martine-- as in The United States v.
Any bells going off?
Military contractor.
Built Martine Aeronautics from the ground up.
Sells the Air Force on a sophisticated guidance system,
million bucks a plane.
Scam?
Underbids everybody, delivers substandard goods.
U.S. Attorney calls it fraud.
Maybe some flyboy's widow calls it murder.
Mr. Martine is currently awaiting trial
in the no-bail suite at MCC.
Indictment's got more counts than Nixon had plumbers.
What about Janet Torrens?
Miss Torrens was Martine's bookkeeper for five years.
The past seven months
confidential government informant.
You have something on her?
She came to us.
Young lady has guts.
The kind you don't see much anymore.
I really hope you guys are wrong about this.
I liked this one.
You'll let me know, huh?
I never heard of Janet Torrens.
The blood on your knife was type O--
same as Janet Torrens.
Same as me.
Does the name Charles Martine
mean anything to you?
I never heard of him.
What's the deal, are you going
to walk me through the whole phone book?
Janet Torrens was working mornings as a temp
two blocks from where the car was found.
She'd been there three weeks.
She was about to blow the whistle on Martine.
He hires Kemp.
Hovis and Coyle got in the way.
Without the girl's body, it's a stretch.
The bottom line is she's been missing since Tuesday,
her car was ten feet
from where Hovis and Coyle took a bath
and Kemp's van was at the scene.
The real bottom line is, we can't put them
in the same place at the same time.
You need physical evidence to connect it all.
A team is searching his place in Plattsburgh.
Give us a couple of days.
Kemp's lawyer is screaming
about the delay.
Buy us a couple.
We will make the connection.
Martine's in a federal pen.
It will take a day to get to see him.
I ought to be able to get
some mileage out of the gun.
Possession three, he'll walk before lunch.
Ben broke his wrist this morning playing tennis.
Maybe I can use that to postpone the arraignment.
He what?
He dove for a lob.
He finally beat you, huh?
He was up, five-four.
MARTINE: deals me a faulty board.
I pass it on to the Air Force.
Is that my fault?
Mr. Martine's dealings with the federal government
were strictly legitimate.
It will come out in the trial.
What about Janet Torrens?
She was my bookkeeper.
Was?
Feds start investigating
people nose around, production stops.
No books to keep.
Your bookkeeper goes bye-bye
and two guys are found dead next to her car the same day.
Makes you wonder.
Are you accusing Mr. Martine of murder?
In case you haven't noticed
I've been indisposed for seven months.
Your pal Frank Kemp tells a different story.
I never heard of him.
If we find out you did
you'll be more than indisposed for the next 25 years.
I promise you that.
if you'd like. Check his visitors list
It's public record.
If you want, I'll even open his phone logs to you.
Martine swears he never heard of Frank Kemp.
I know I believe him.
As far as visitors go, nothing in the last seven months
except his attorney, Teasdale, and his wife.
Ditto with the phone.
The only calls were to Teasdale and the wife.
He never called Frank Kemp.
How 'bout we take it from the other end.
I'm sure our friends at New York Telephone
would be happy to supply us with Mr. Kemp's usage details.
No, thank you.
Frank likes Chinese food.
674 Prefix-- is that the East Village?
Yeah.
Frankie's got a friend there.
Five calls last week, same number.
What did people do before they had answering machines?
Cute voice.
Maybe the girlfriend.
Even hitters have a life.
Reverse directory.
I'll get the address.
Yes.
Is he in?
No. It's personal.
No message.
The day before the shootings
Frank Kemp chats with a lawyer.
27 minutes.
The lawyer's name-- Larry Teasdale.
As in Martine's mouthpiece.
TEASDALE: So he called here.
Doesn't mean I talked to him.
Maybe he's seeing my secretary.
Does your secretary live in the Village?
Rockaways.
Mr. Kemp calls here
the day before the key witness against your client disappears.
The world's getting smaller every day, Mr. Teasdale.
I'm really backed up today.
Maybe we could continue this some other time.
You're also a suspect.
Accessory to murder, three counts.
Fine.
Then if you want to speak to me again
hit my lawyer with a subpoena.
Law degree, it's a license to lie.
Even if we get a subpoena,
he's gonna hide behind privilege.
Not if Kemp told him beforehand
he was going to commit a crime.
I'll call Robinette.
Let's stop in the Village first.
Could be Kemp's honey doesn't have a law degree.
I don't know Frank Kemp.
He called you five times last week.
That doesn't mean I talked to him.
Miss McManus, Frank Kemp is suspected
in the murder of three people.
I told you I don't know him.
I'm in a hurry.
Get this right.
You're not going anywhere till you talk to us.
I went out with the guy a couple of times, okay?
Now the jerk won't leave me alone.
LOGAN: What's the matter?
You don't like to pick up your messages?
CERRETA: We don't mind.
Go ahead.
Here, let me help you out.
It's Larry Teasdale.
If you're listening, pick up.
Call me as soon as possible.
I'll be at the office, and don't talk to anyone.
Larry Teasdale
everybody's favorite middleman.
Teasdale called. What did he want?
How should I know?
Frankie must have given my number.
That's who he's looking for.
The dial went off the meter an hour ago.
Kemp is in jail.
Teasdale knows it.
He was looking for you.
I don't know anything about it.
I want to get out of here.
You're not under arrest.
You can leave anytime you want.
Next time Teasdale calls
ask him how much he charges to draw up a will.
Hope she brought a change of underwear.
Scared is good.
Give it a minute.
She doesn't look like a player.
But she knows everybody involved.
I just met him.
Teasdale?
Kemp.
A couple of months ago... at a club... downtown.
The guy wore a suit.
We got lit in the ladies room.
He was rolling in it.
Cocaine?
Ever ask him
where he got the money?
All right, look, let me be straight with you, okay?
There's a woman named Janet Torrens.
She's missing.
She's probably dead.
You see where I'm going here?
You want to join her, be my guest.
Okay.
I thought he was dealing, but that's all.
I had no idea he killed people.
Did he say he killed Janet Torrens?
I never heard of Janet Torrens until today.
What about Charles Martine?
All I know is I get a call from some lawyer calls.
Teasdale.
He says Frankie's knee-deep.
He says 25 grand is mine if I cover for him--
say we were together
and that I dropped him at the station.
And you said?
I said sure,
but then I thought, "I don't know these guys
why should I step in it for them?"
Martine ordered the hit.
Teasdale gave the contract to Kemp.
Conspiracy to commit murder, three counts.
Good. Get it on tape.
And you...
stay off those courts.
Right.
Frankie's okay?
Fine.
Getting better with your help.
He really messed up, didn't he?
All you need to know
is that you will be helping Frank out of a jam.
If Frankie's done something wrong...
I don't know.
I don't really like this.
This should help ease the pain.
25 G's-- that's a hell of an aspirin.
This guy ought to reread the ethics code.
After the criminal code.
You and Kemp spent the day together
you had a drink
you hopped in the sack, you took care of business
and then you went with him to the train station.
I'm not very good at this.
For 25 thou, you'd better be.
Shall we?
Be my guest.
Is English a second language?
I thought I made it clear, we have nothing to discuss.
No discussion-- we talk, you listen.
Larry Teasdale, you're under arrest
for bribery, tampering with a witness and murder.
I think the counselor knows his rights.
Case #26747, People against Franklin Kemp
Larry Teasdale and Charles Martine.
Charges are murder in the second degree
three counts.
Conspiracy to commit murder
in the second degree, bribery
witness tampering.
Have we got any pleas?
Not guilty.
So far so good-- Mr. Gold knows how I don't like surprises.
Keep me happy, Paul.
Jail status continued on Mr. Martine.
$500,000 bail on Mr. Teasdale and Mr. Kemp.
So ordered.
Wait, your honor...
I'd love to chat, Mr. Gold,
but I have a very full plate.
Have a nice day.
Keep them coming.
BAILIFF: Case #26748...
We're in for a long trip.
At the arraignment, Martine was represented by Arthur Gold.
He's almost legendary.
He'll bury us in paper.
He's all fizz and no gin.
Sometimes fizz works.
If you're referring to the Jacobs case,
that was six years ago.
We were understaffed.
Arthur Gold's laundry list
of frivolous motions was abusive.
It was enough to get the murder weapon suppressed.
Enough to beat you.
He wore out the judge.
His last article for the Journal was called "The Rule of M's"--
Mountains of Motions Multiply Mistakes.
He said no prosecutor could survive.
We don't give him a chance.
You cock enough triggers, one pistol has to go off.
Between Kemp and Teasdale, one of them will roll
and they'll all go away for a very long time.
Maybe not.
Teasdale and Kemp are represented by Gold's shadows--
Styger and Werner.
So?
Schedule Werner at 2:00 and Styger at 4:00.
The case against your client is stronger than it appears.
The van, the knife and the tape should paint a clear picture
for a jury.
What is this-- a courtesy update?
I want the man who hired your client.
You give me Charles Martine...
And you'll give me a medal?
No. Man one, one count.
15 minimum?
I'd rather roll the dice.
That's fine, but they'll come up murder two, three counts.
25 to life on each.
Teasdale's tape
has nothing to do with Mr. Kemp.
The van was reported stolen
the blood on the knife matches that of what?
Four million people in New York.
Including Janet Torrens.
And you can't produce a body.
You rest your case.
I move to dismiss.
My client would have surrendered.
The humiliation of a public arrest was hardly called for.
I missed the Emily Post chapter on the etiquette of arrest.
Ben, I thought we were friends.
Once a year, we co-chair a bar association committee.
Friends? I don't think so.
You're serious about this?
About the bribery, yes, I am.
Alleged bribery.
And the murder of Janet Torrens, Craig Hovis and Peter Coyle.
You're going away for a long time, Larry.
Don't be stupid twice.
Don't go down alone.
Give me Charles Martine.
We'll work something out.
Dealing's a two-way street.
There's nothing you can give me.
You'll never make a case against my client.
It's all on tape, Miss Styger.
I've got witnesses.
You've got Hamad problems.
Miss McManus was acting as an agent of the police
when she spoke with my client.
So?
The last time he spoke with your men in blue--
Cerreta and Logan--
he told them in the future
they should speak with his lawyer.
I assure you, I got no calls.
Your precious tape doesn't get near a jury
and without it, you've got diddly.
She's got a point.
Under the Hamad decision
if Teasdale asked for an attorney
it wouldn't make any difference
if he confessed to shooting 22 people in a Houston automat.
The tape is worthless.
Gold's orchestrating their joint defense--
nobody talks, everybody walks.
We still got McManus, she can testify without the tape.
Is she credible?
It can go either way.
Then I wouldn't bet heavy.
A cross by Arthur Gold...
Arthur gold doesn't leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Nine of ten cases are won without an eyewitness
and Martine, Kemp, and Teasdale in the courtroom--
the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.
That will get you to the door.
It's a toss-up if it will get you inside.
Have you tried dealing with all three?
Charles Martine started the ball rolling.
There's no way I'd deal with that man.
If you made it worth his while-- one count, man one
with the sentence to run concurrently
with his federal time, he'll have to talk.
It's worth it if you get Kemp and Teasdale.
Without Janet Torrens's body
Martine might not do federal time
and he's the most culpable.
It's not our duty to determine relative culpability.
Martine rolls, all three go to jail.
But not for murder.
Is it you don't want to deal with Martine
or is it Gold?
Gold's got nothing to do with it.
Then you'll talk to him.
Is that an order?
Man one?
Don't insult me, Ben.
All right.
If Charles Martine gives us Kemp and Teasdale
one count, man two.
The sentence runs concurrently
with his federal time.
Janet Torrens is nowhere to be found.
I doubt there's going to be a federal sentence.
You're showing your hand, Ben,
and a four flush doesn't beat a pair of treys.
A woman agrees to testify against your client
in a federal fraud case and ends up dead.
You got a death certificate?
I don't need one, I have motive,
and Teasdale's bribe is corroboration in my book.
You're on the wrong page, Ben.
Hell, you're in the wrong volume.
Teasdale called Kemp.
Maybe Teasdale is the one with motive.
Maybe Janet Torrens was about to sing his song.
Martine had nothing to do with any murders.
That's a crock and you know it.
It's also reasonable doubt.
I'll take my chance with a jury.
If you've got the stamina to get that far.
Now, a clean slate for Martine.
And maybe then he'll talk.
Don't be ridiculous.
You're still swimming upstream, Ben.
Open those baby blues.
You can't beat me.
A jury sees a knife, hears that tape...
You don't think I'm going to let that happen, do you?
I'll see you in court, Ben.
Hot off the presses.
Gold's suppression motion.
The tape?
And the knife.
Claims they were both obtained illegally.
And?
The knife's no problem.
The Supreme Court said that consensual searches
do not invoke fourth amendment protection.
You talked to Cerreta?
He'll testify tomorrow.
Kemp agreed to let them search his duffel bag.
The tape's another story.
Cerreta confirms Styger's claim.
Teasdale told them to talk to him through his lawyer.
The police cannot do through an agent
what they couldn't do themselves.
Judge Janklow is a practical man.
He likes to do the right thing.
Maybe he'll overlook the letter of the law.
If I weren't bound by oath to give every litigant
their day in court
I'd enter sanctions against each of you.
Mr. Gold, I suggest you read the opinions
of the Supreme Court on consensual searches
beginning with the latest sermon from the mount
Florida v. Bostwick.
If the police can randomly search bus passengers
no stretch of logic can mandate the inadmissibility
of a consensual search of a train.
Your Honor, the case law in this circuit...
Highlights the frivolity of your motion
and, Mr. Stone,
unless the Hamad case and it's progeny have been overruled
while I was napping
the tape is as dirty as last week's laundry.
All right
the knife is in.
The tape is out.
Can we set this down for trial?
My law professor said for enough money
he could keep any defendant out of jail for three years.
Martine's got the bucks.
In a perfect world, we wouldn't have discovery.
Just go to trial and let the chips fall where they may.
In a perfect world, people wouldn't get shot.
Round two from Gold.
This one's for change of venue.
Excessive publicity in this county.
I assume the return date is Monday.
Yeah.
You've really outdone yourself.
Adverse publicity. Really?
The New York papers have already convicted my client.
I'd be doing myself a favor by transferring this.
Your Honor...
I know you're opposed, Ben.
Look, Arthur, if you insist on going through with this
and I waste a whole weekend reading your papers
I promise you
I'll make the rest of your trip very difficult.
In light of your predisposition...
Can the histrionics, Arthur. We're off the record.
I will agree to withdraw the motion.
However, some new information has come to my attention
which could bear on the outcome of this trial.
Now, since we're all here
I move that Mr. Stone be disqualified.
What?
For the last two years
Mr. Stone and Larry Teasdale
have co-chaired a bar association committee.
There is no relevance...
Any favoritism that Mr. Stone might show Mr. Teasdale
because of said personal relationship could prejudice
my client.
Three hours, once a year.
I never so much as had a cup of coffee with the man.
How can I be sure of that?
The defendants
are being tried together.
They should certainly be
on a level playing ground.
I'm sure the district attorney's office
can spare another assistant to prosecute this case.
He's got a valid point, Ben.
I move to sever.
Paul Robinette
will try Mr. Teasdale.
I'll continue with Kemp and Martine.
You sure, Ben?
Yes, Your Honor, I am.
Anybody here opposed?
No, Judge.
As a matter of fact, I would consider it an honor
to have the opportunity to clash swords
with Mr. Stone.
The severance hurts the case.
Remove Teasdale
and the jury sees no connection whatsoever
between Martine and Kemp.
They could all walk, Ben.
Teasdale is the weak link.
Now that he's on his own, he'll roll.
Why should he?
Without the tape
he's got no incentive.
If gold had made the motion, what would you have done?
You would have hit the ceiling.
He wanted the severance.
He knew you'd oppose
so he conned you into making the motion for him
by asking to have you removed.
Gold knew you wanted another shot at him in court.
He led you to water, and you dove in head first.
No excuses-- you screwed up.
I thought...
Brains were not involved here.
You tried to outflex him and it backfired.
A personal agenda should be kept on the street
not dragged into a courtroom where real people get hurt.
You insisted I deal with the man.
You want me to back away from severance?
Where do we stand?
We don't.
What do you suggest?
Find a way to make the tape magically admissible?
The tape is inadmissible against Teasdale.
Paul is trying him separately.
You think the judge would let it in
against Martine and Kemp?
I think you ought to get them thinking about it.
I don't really like this. McMANUS:
This should help ease the pain. TEASDALE:
the day together. You and Kemp spent
You cooked a meal.
You had a drink.
You hopped in the sack.
You took care of business
to the train station. and then you went with him
I'm not very good at this. McMANUS:
For 25 thou, you better be. TEASDALE:
So what?
It wasn't admissible then, it's not admissible now.
The tape was inadmissible against Mr. Teasdale.
The cases have been severed.
Teasdale's being tried separately.
So as to Mr. Kemp here, it's a whole new ball game.
I have already submitted motion papers
for a rehearing.
Now if you still want to roll the dice, Mr. Kemp
be my guest
but the rest of your life is a very long time.
WERNER: What are you putting
in your coffee, Stone?
You're high if you think...
I think this offer is open for another ten seconds.
Next stop, Mr. Martine.
I doubt if he's willing to take the chance to let that tape
into evidence.
Man-two, one count.
He serves five.
Murder two, 25.
Man-one, five to 15, and you got a deal.
And you serve the max.
I told him the parking lot would be a bust.
Martine?
I never talked to him.
My contact was Teasdale.
I should know better than to listen to a lawyer.
He wanted me
to do her with a knife like a mugging.
ROBINETTE: But Hovis and Coyle
crashed the party?
Everybody knows this city's nuts-to-butts.
If it hadn't been the suits
it would have been somebody else.
You should have seen their faces.
And Janet Torrens?
What? I'm going to leave her there
with the dead guys?
I want to know exactly where she is.
CERRETA: The rats got to her.
Another week, there would be nothing left but bones.
So much for "sleeps with the fishes."
The East River--
we'd be lucky to have the bones.
Six inches, right across the neck.
I'll call her parents.
I hope they all rot in hell.
One more stop and they will.
It's man-two or nothing.
Mr. Teasdale is directly responsible for three deaths.
Which you have no way of proving.
You had nothing when he was in charge.
Things don't change that quickly.
Yes, they do, Miss Styger.
Frank Kemp agreed to testify against your client.
Man-one, one count, you serve 15.
It's the same as we gave Kemp.
We're better off going the distance.
The distance is three terms, 25 to life on each.
Think about it.
Ben...
there's nothing you can do?
We'll take the 15.
GOLD: that my client has withdrawn
his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty
and thereby saved this court the time and expense
of what surely would have been a lengthy trial
I respectfully request that Your Honor show leniency
and sentence Mr. Martine
to the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 to life.
May I remind the court
that Mr. Martine has a wife and children.
He should have thought of them before he ordered a murder.
Do you have anything to say before I pronounce sentence?
No, Your Honor.
Charles Martine,
having pled guilty to the murder of Janet Torrens
Greg Hovis and Peter Coyle
I sentence you to three terms each
of 25 years to life to be served consecutively
in the state correctional facility in Ossinging
and just be thankful that is the most severe sentence
the law allows.
( gavel bangs )
GOLD: Silver platters.
I handed it to you, Ben.
You would never have thought
to sever those cases
had I not moved to have you disqualified.
I was going to use that tape, Arthur.
Severance was the only way.
You're not that smart.
You never were.
Call me for lunch.
You'd actually eat lunch with him?
Only if he orders crow.
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