(male announcer) 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.
CARLOS, GET SOME HELP WITH THAT, BUDDY.
ARE YOU IN CHARGE HERE?
AT THE MOMENT.
I LIVE IN THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.
AND, UM, THE JACK-HAMMERING
AT 2:00 A.M, IT HAS TO STOP.
OKAY, I'LL PASS IT ON.
YOU WANNA GIVE HIM A HAND WITH THOSE BAGS, PLEASE?
YEAH, I'M SURE YOU'LL PASS IT ON.
(man) WHAT MORE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
THE GUY YOU TALKED TO SAID HE'D PASS IT ON.
HE ONLY SAID THAT TO GET RID OF ME.
GEE, I WONDER WHY HE'D WANT TO SAY THAT.
EXCUSE ME?
IT WAS A JOKE.
TOTALLY LAME JOKE.
NO, ROB, IT WASN'T. IT WAS--
OH, MY GOD! THE CRANE!
(man) HIS NAME'S CARLOS. CARLOS LAZARO.
WAS HE OPERATING THE CRANE?
NO, NOBODY WAS USING THE CRANE.
HE MUST'VE JUST BEEN WALKING BY.
(Lupo) WHAT ABOUT CARLOS' NEXT OF KIN?
HIS WIFE,
SHE'S SICK IN THE HOSPITAL.
REST OF HIS FAMILY I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
(female reporter) MR. HARDY, WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR HEAD
WHEN YOU GOT THE CALL ABOUT TODAY'S CRANE COLLAPSE?
THIS IS THE GREATEST TRAGEDY EVER
TO HAPPEN TO THE HARDY ORGANIZATION.
EVERYONE AT HARDY IS COMMITTED TO SAFETY.
AND THIS SITE IS NO EXCEPTION.
I'M WAYNE HARDY.
THIS IS MY PROJECT.
I'M DETECTIVE LUPO.
THIS IS DETECTIVE BERNARD.
HOMICIDE WITH THE 2-7.
HOMICIDE?
WHAT DO WE NEED HOMICIDE DETECTIVES FOR?
YOU DON'T, BUT HE DOES.
UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,
SIR, THIS IS A CRIME SCENE.
THIS KIND OF THING NEVER HAPPENS ON A HARDY PROJECT.
I BUILD LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS.
PREMIER MATERIALS.
PREMIER WORKMANSHIP, TOP TO BOTTOM.
RIGHT, I'VE READ YOUR ADS.
WHO WAS RUNNING YOUR SITE THIS MORNING?
YOU MET HIM.
THE JUNIOR FOREMAN GARY TALBOT.
MR. NOLAN, IT SAYS HERE IN YOUR FINAL BID
FOR THIS PROJECT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO USE
A T-65 CRANE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT ONE OUT THERE LOOKS TO BE A T-35.
THAT'S A LOT SMALLER, ISN'T IT?
T-35. HE'S RIGHT.
TURNS OUT THE JOB NEEDED A SMALLER CRANE,
SO THAT'S WHAT WE USED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE BILLED FOR, MR. HARDY.
YOU CAN CHECK THE INVOICES.
I DON'T NEED TO SEE THE INVOICES.
THIS IS MY FIFTH PROJECT
WITH CARL.
HM, THIS IS OUR FIRST.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL TAKE THOSE INVOICES.
I USE T-35s ALL THE TIME,
AND THIS ONE WAS 100% SAFE.
BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
CITY INSPECTOR SAID SO TOO.
23 YEARS I'M INSPECTING SITES IN THIS CITY,
NEVER HAD A SERIOUS INJURY ON MY WATCH
AND NOW THIS.
HOMICIDE DETECTIVES TO BOOT.
JUST STANDARD PROCEDURE, MR. O'CONNOR.
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT CRANE.
I GOT ALL THE PAPERS RIGHT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, TAKE YOUR TIME.
WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
NOW, THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT SAID THEY LOGGED
OVER TWO DOZEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SITE.
YOU FOLLOWED UP ON LESS THAN HALF OF THEM.
WELL, IT WAS ALWAYS THE SAME THING.
NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS
ABOUT SOME NIGHT WORK AT THE SITE.
I ISSUED THREE SEPARATE VIOLATIONS.
YEAH, AND THE COMPLAINTS KEPT COMING.
DOESN'T THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING?
THERE WERE NO SAFETY ISSUES AT THAT SITE, OKAY?
THIS WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT.
THE CRANE WAS ANCHORED TO THE BUILDING
WITH STEEL COLLARS
ON THE 6TH, 9TH, 12TH, AND 15TH FLOORS.
WHEN THE COLLARS FAILED, CRANE CAME DOWN.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHICH ONE FAILED FIRST?
OH, YEAH, THIS ONE.
THE NINTH FLOOR. POINT OF GREATEST STRESS.
ONCE IT WENT, THE REST WENT POP
LIKE BUTTONS ON A SHIRT.
SO WHY DID THIS ONE FAIL?
OH, WELL, THIS MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
T-35 HAS A LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY OF SIX TONS PER LIFT.
THESE WORK LOGS SHOW IT LIFTING 6 1/2, 7, EVEN 8 TONS?
AN AVERAGE OF 7.96 TONS PER LIFT.
DO THAT LONG ENOUGH...
YEAH, SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE.
OVERLOADING THE CRANE.
RUNNING NIGHT SHIFTS.
SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE WAS IN A HURRY
TO FINISH THAT BUILDING.
WELL, TIME IS MONEY, THOUGH.
SO MAYBE IT WAS WORTH A LITTLE MONEY
TO HAVE SOMEBODY LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT IS VERY ANXIOUS TO TALK TO YOU.
GREAT, AFTER A MORNING OF FORENSIC ENGINEERING,
NOTHING BEATS A LITTLE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING.
[Bernard chuckles] HEY, WHAT YOU GOT?
GENTLEMEN, HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT.
THESE PETTY CASH RECEIPTS DON'T ADD UP.
PETTY CASH THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
KEEPS IN A SAFE ON THE SITE.
LAST WEEK IT WAS SHORT $3,660.
WEEK BEFORE THAT SHORT $5,700.
IF SOMEBODY WAS GETTING BRIBED,
MAYBE THAT MONEY WAS COMING FROM HERE.
WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE PETTY CASH?
UH, FOREMAN GARY TALBOT.
YOU CAN'T RECEIPT EVERY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE
ON A $200 MILLION BUILDING.
ANYWAY, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH ACCESS TO THE PETTY CASH.
NIGHT SHIFT HAS ITS OWN FOREMAN.
WE NOTICED YOU GUYS WERE PULLING A LOT OF OVERTIME
ON TOP OF THE NIGHT SHIFTS.
YOU UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE TO FINISH THE JOB?
YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS PRESSURE.
WHAT ABOUT THESE 7-, 8-TON LOADS
ON THAT T-35?
THE CRANE WASN'T MY AREA.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHATEVER WE DID ON THAT SITE,
WE GOT WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE INSPECTOR
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WHERE WOULD WE FIND THOSE APPROVALS?
I GOT 'EM. I GOT COPIES OF EVERYTHING.
BEEN IN CONSTRUCTION LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW
IT'S A PASS THE BUCK KIND OF BUSINESS.
HONEY, CAN YOU COME HELP ME WITH LACEY?
SURE.
MY DAUGHTER.
THAT'S FINE.
GUY'S RIGHT.
FAXES FROM THE CITY INSPECTOR
APPROVING THE NIGHT SHIFTS, THE HEAVIER LOADS.
CHECK THIS OUT.
THE NUMBER THAT THIS WAS FAXED FROM
DOESN'T MATCH THE NUMBER ON THE COVER SHEET.
6-3-1 AREA CODE.
A CITY INSPECTOR FAXING FROM THE HAMPTONS
ON A WEEKDAY AFTERNOON.
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT.
CAN WE HELP YOU WITH THOSE?
OH, NO, IT'S OKAY.
GET BACK IN THE HOUSE WITH YOUR MOTHER.
GO ON.
IT'S A FRIEND OF MY WIFE'S FAMILY
LENT US THE PLACE FOR THE WEEK.
BUT NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW,
TIME TO GET BACK TO THE REAL WORLD.
THAT FRIEND, IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN TO BE
HUDSON RIVER RENTALS, WOULD IT?
'CAUSE THEY--THEY SAID YOUR WIFE
TOOK A THREE-MONTH LEASE AT $15,000 A MONTH.
NICE RIDE.
FANCY BOARDING SCHOOL FOR YOUR DAUGHTER.
MY PARTNER AND I, WE'RE STARTING TO THINK
THAT WE GOT THE WRONG CITY JOB.
COME ON, GUYS.
CAN'T WE DO THIS TOMORROW?
NAH.
TURN AROUND.
I SPENT 20 YEARS WATCHING GUYS TAKE BRIBES
AND GET PROMOTED WHILE DOING IT.
THAT'S NOT ME.
RIGHT, YOU IS THE GUY THAT TOOK BRIBES
BUT NEVER MADE IT TO SUPERVISOR.
EDDIE,
YOU HAVE 200,000 IN EXPENSES
THAT WE CAN TRACE BACK TO YOU.
AND NO LEGITIMATE INCOME TO COVER IT.
AND NOW THERE'S A BODY.
I JUST WANTED--
I--I--I NEVER MEANT--
YEAH, REMORSE IS GOOD, EDDIE.
REMORSE WITH A CONFESSION IS EVEN BETTER.
OR THIS CRANE THING FALLS ON YOU.
NOLAN THE CONTRACTOR,
HE'S THE ONE WHO FIRST APPROACHED ME
ABOUT APPROVING THE SMALLER CRANE
AND THE HEAVIER LOADS.
WHO MADE THE PAYMENTS?
THE FOREMAN.
TALBOT?
NO, THE NIGHT FOREMAN.
TALBOT WASN'T IN THE LOOP.
WHO ELSE WAS?
THE BIG GUY, WAYNE HARDY.
HE OFFERED TO MAKE SURE I GOT ASSIGNED
TO HIS NEXT PROJECT IF THIS ONE CAME IN ON TIME.
[sighs]
[female reporter on TV] WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE CHARGES?
[Hardy on TV] BIGGEST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE!
I PITY HIS CELLMATES.
SOMETHING'S NOT ADDING UP.
THE MISSING MONEY FROM THE PETTY CASH
THAT WE THOUGHT THE NIGHT FOREMAN
WAS USING TO BRIBE O'CONNOR,
THE NIGHT FOREMAN SAID HE USED MONEY
HE GOT STRAIGHT FROM NOLAN.
MAYBE THE PETTY CASH WAS BEING USED
TO PAY OFF SOMEONE ELSE.
WELL, THESE TWO HAVE TO BE ARRAIGNED BY TOMORROW
AND YOU KNOW HOW THE D.A. HATES SURPRISES.
"WHO NEEDS MATH?" I TOLD MY TEACHERS.
I'M GONNA BE A COP.
DON'T FEEL BAD.
I SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT BIOLOGY.
NOW I SPEND HALF MY LIFE LOOKING AT AUTOPSIES.
HERE.
CONTENTS OF THE POCKETS OF THAT CRANE FATALITY.
CARLOS LAZARO.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TRACK DOWN HIS NEXT OF KIN.
LET ME TELL YOU.
DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
IS JUST AS SCREWED UP AS HERE.
WAIT, ISN'T HIS WIFE IN A HOSPITAL IN QUEENS?
YEAH,
BUT SHE'S NONRESPONSIVE.
SOME SORT OF COMA.
I CAN RELATE. MY WIFE'S NONRESPONSIVE TOO.
NIGHT, FELLAS.
IF I EVER START TALKING LIKE THAT, SHOOT ME.
LUPES, IT'S THE HOSPITAL BILL FOR THE CARE
OF MR. LAZARO'S WIFE.
CHECK OUT THE RECORD OF PAYMENTS.
YOU GOT ONE FOR $3,660
AND ANOTHER ONE FOR $5,700.
THE SAME AMOUNTS MISSING FROM THE PETTY CASH.
YEAH, THAT MONEY WAS IN THE SAFE
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OFFICE.
HARD TO BELIEVE A DAY LABORER LIKE CARLOS
COULD GET AWAY WITH THAT.
THAT LEAVES THAT FOREMAN, GARY TALBOT.
YOU BUY HIM AS SOME KIND OF ROBIN HOOD,
STEALING TO HELP CARLOS?
NAW--NO, NO, NO.
NOBODY'S THAT NICE.
NOT EVEN ROBIN HOOD.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE
SINCE THE BROUGHT HER IN FOUR WEEKS AGO.
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS AN OVERDOSE,
BUT HER TOX PANEL CAME BACK CLEAN.
SO HOW DID MRS. LAZARO END UP IN A COMA?
WELL, I FOUND CHLORINE IN HER LUNG TISSUE,
SO MY BEST GUEST IS SHE DROWNED.
ARE YOU SURE?
THE 9-1-1 PRINT-OUT SAID HER HUSBAND
CAME HOME FROM WORK AND FOUND HER
PASSED OUT IN THE LIVING ROOM.
THIS WAS A DRY DROWNING.
IT'S BASICALLY A DELAYED
REACTION DROWNING.
THE PATIENT INHALES WATER.
NOT ENOUGH TO KILL THEM RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
BUT IT STARTS THIS CHAIN REACTION IN THE LUNGS WHICH,
ABSENT MEDICAL INTERVENTION, ULTIMATELY RESULTS IN DEATH.
OR AS WITH MRS. LAZARO, A PERSISTENT COMA.
SO DURING THIS CHAIN REACTION,
SHE'S WHAT, WALKING AROUND LIKE NORMAL?
WALKING AROUND, YES. NORMAL, NO.
HER BEHAVIOR WOULD'VE BECOME INCREASINGLY ERRATIC
UNTIL SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS.
CAN YOU PINPOINT EXACTLY WHEN
SHE INHALED THE CHLORINATED WATER?
MY BEST GUESS IS IT HAPPENED
10-12 HOURS BEFORE SHE LANDED IN MY E.R.
DR. GRABER, DR. KELLEN IS LOOKING FOR YOU.
GOOD LUCK.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
SO SAD ABOUT HER HUSBAND.
HE WAS HERE EVERY DAY AFTER WORK.
EVERY DAY.
HE EVER TALK ABOUT HOW SHE MIGHT'VE DROWNED?
NOPE.
SHE EVER HAVE ANY FRIENDS VISIT HER?
UM, HER NEIGHBORS THE FIRST WEEK.
SINCE THEN IT'S JUST BEEN HER HUSBAND.
SOMETIMES THIS GUY GARY.
GARY?
UH, HOW OFTEN DOES HE COME?
EVERY WEEK. THURSDAYS, LATE.
HE SAYS HE'S A FAMILY FRIEND.
SUCH A SHAME. AMELIA'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
THE THURSDAYS ARE WHEN THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE
FOR HER CARE.
ROBIN HOOD OR ROBIN CREEP.
YOU KNOW, IF TALBOT WAS STEALING
TO PAY FOR HER HOSPITAL BILLS,
MAYBE HE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH PUTTING HER HERE.
GUILT MAKES PEOPLE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
ALL DUE RESPECT, LOO,
NICE AS YOU ARE, I JUST DON'T SEE YOU
STEALING FROM THE COMPANY TILL
TO PAY FOR MY WIFE'S HOSPITAL CARE.
UH, ASSUMING I HAD A WIFE.
WHO SAID I WAS NICE?
[laughter]
SO WHAT ARE WE SUSPECTING?
TALBOT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS WOMAN'S NEAR-DROWNING?
WELL, MAYBE THEY HAD A LOT MORE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER.
SO NOW WE HAVE TALBOT AND CARLOS' WIFE
HAVING AN AFFAIR.
THEY'RE KICKING BACK
IN A MOTEL HOT TUB.
MAYBE ONE OF 'EM STARTS MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THINGS GOT UGLY FROM THERE.
AMELIA ENDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL
WITH A LUNG FULL OF WATER
WHILE TALBOT ENDS UP WITH HEART FULL OF REMORSE.
SO THE CRANE FALLING ON CARLOS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
NOT UNLESS TALBOT PULLED THE CRANE DOWN ON TOP OF HIM.
THEN THESE ARE TWO UNRELATED CRIMES.
SO ONE OF THEM WAS JUST A SWIMMING ACCIDENT.
LISTEN, TALBOT IS AN IMPORTANT WITNESS
AGAINST THE CITY INSPECTOR
AND THE D.A. DOESN'T WANT US MESSING WITH THAT CASE.
YOU TELLING US TO BURY THIS?
OPEN A NEW ONE.
FIRST ITEM, SEARCH LAZARO'S HOME.
I NEVER SEE AMELIA WITH ANY MAN
EXCEPT CARLOS.
NO OTHER MAN. SHE LOVE HIM.
SO DID YOU SEE HER THE DAY SHE GOT SICK?
SI, IN THE ELEVATOR.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS DRUNK.
SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHAT FLOOR SHE LIVE IN.
SHE SAY SHE DON'T FEEL SO GOOD,
SO I TELL HER GO TO THE DOCTOR. [pager beeping]
AMELIA EVER GO SWIMMING?
NAH, I THINK AMELIA'S AFRAID OF THE WATER.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT?
WELL, THERE IS THIS POOL
OVER HERE IN THE PARK.
IT'S NOT DEEP. IT'S FOR KIDS.
BUT ONE TIME THE WIND TAKE HER HAT
INTO THE WATER.
SHE WAS AFRAID TO GO IN.
SHE ASKED MY SON TO GET IT.
I HAVE TO GO. [pager beeping]
HEY, LUPES.
YOU GOT TALBOT'S NUMBER ON YOU?
YEAH. IS THAT AMELIA'S PHONE?
YEAH, PREPAID, NO I.D. CELL PHONE
WITH TWO NUMBERS IN THE ADDRESS BOOK.
ONE FOR CARLOS AND...
THE OTHER FOR TALBOT?
HOW COZY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE MISSING MONEY.
PROBABLY WENT IN THAT CITY INSPECTOR'S POCKET.
NO, NO, NO.
SEE, WE KNOW WHERE IT WENT.
IT ALL MATCHES UP.
THE MISSING MONEY AND THE MONEY
THAT YOU PAID TO THE HOSPITAL.
THAT I PAID?
THE NURSES RECOGNIZED YOU, GARY.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK, CARLOS WAS HAVING A HARD TIME.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SHIPPING AMELIA BACK
TO HER OWN COUNTRY--
DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR BREATH.
BECAUSE WE FOUND THIS ADORABLE LITTLE PHONE
IN AMELIA'S PURSE.
IT'S PREPAID, NO I.D., UNTRACEABLE.
PERFECT FOR PEOPLE HAVING EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS.
NO.
I LOVE MY WIFE.
THAT'S IT.
I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU GUYS ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, WITH TWO OF THE INVOLVED PARTIES
EITHER DEAD OR IN A COMA,
DEPENDING ON HOW WELL TALBOT COVERED HIS TRACKS,
IT'S GONNA BE HARD PROVING HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR.
THERE'S ALWAYS TALBOT'S WIFE.
EVERY MORNING'S THE SAME.
GARY WOULD'VE BEEN HELPING ME WITH LACEY.
BUT TUESDAY FOUR WEEKS AGO, HOW WOULD I REMEMBER?
THAT WAS THE DAY THAT THE WIFE
OF ONE OF YOUR HUSBAND'S EMPLOYEES WAS FOUND IN A COMA.
AMELIA LAZARO.
THAT NAME MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?
AMELIA LAZARO? WHY ARE YOU ASKING?
BECAUSE YOUR HUSBAND'S NUMBER WAS FOUND ON HER PHONE.
I--I GAVE HER THAT PHONE
WITH OUR NUMBER PROGRAMMED ON IT.
WHY--WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
BECAUSE SHE WORKED FOR US A FEW DAYS A WEEK
HELPING OUT WITH LACEY.
IS THERE ANY REASON YOUR HUSBAND WOULDN'T
HAVE MENTIONED THAT TO US?
AMELIA DOESN'T HAVE ANY PAPERS.
WE WERE PAYING HER UNDER THE TABLE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR HUSBAND
WAS VISITING HER IN THE HOSPITAL?
WELL, WHY WOULDN'T HE?
SHE WORKED FOR US.
WELL, WE THINK YOUR HUSBAND WAS PAYING
FOR HER MEDICAL BILLS WITH MONEY
HE WAS STEALING FROM HIS WORK.
YOU SEE, IN OUR EXPERIENCE,
THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT SOMEONE WOULD DO
FOR THEIR EMPLOYEE UNLESS THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE
GOING ON BETWEEN THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
SHE JUST HELPED US OUT WITH OUR DAUGHTER.
THAT'S ALL.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE TO TAKE LACEY
TO THE DOCTOR.
OH, THESE ARE WATER WINGS, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, THEY'RE CUTE.
YOU--YOU TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER SWIMMING?
IT'S WATER THERAPY.
WATER THERAPY.
THAT MEANS TALBOT HAS ACCESS TO A POOL
WHICH MAY BE WHERE THE CHLORINATED WATER
IN AMELIA'S LUNGS CAME FROM.
EXCEPT TALBOT ALIBIS FOR THE 12 HOURS
BEFORE AMELIA DROPPED INTO A COMA.
HE WAS PULLING DOUBLE SHIFTS
AT WAYNE HARDY'S LUXURY SALT MINE.
WELL, THAT LEAVES MRS. TALBOT.
SHE MAY'VE GOTTEN INTO IT WITH AMELIA
IF SHE SUSPECTED HER HUSBAND WAS CHEATING ON HER.
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME.
A DIVORCE PETITION
GARY TALBOT FILED LAST YEAR.
IT WAS WITHDRAWN A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER.
SOUNDS LIKE THIS GUY WAS JUST ITCHING
TO GET OUT OF HIS MARRIAGE.
MM-HMM, AND SANDRA KNEW DAMN WELL WHY.
WELL, THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE PUT SANDRA
WITH AMELIA ON THE DAY SHE WENT INTO A COMA?
I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
9:26 A.M., SANDRA CHARGED TWO METRO CARDS
AT THE 86TH AND LEX STATION NEAR THEIR APARTMENT.
TWO METRO CARDS.
ONE FOR HER AND LACEY, THE OTHER FOR AMELIA.
THERE YOU GO.
HALF AN HOUR LATER, THERE'S A PURCHASE AT A DELI
ON UNION SQUARE AND 90 MINUTES AFTER THAT
A CHARGE AT A DRUG STORE AT 18TH AND PARK.
AN HOUR AND A HALF IN A THREE-BLOCK RADIUS.
IS THERE A SWIMMING POOL THERE?
RIGHT.
THE MICHAEL PHELPS WANNABES CLEAR OUT BY 10:00.
MRS. TALBOT HAD PERMISSION TO BRING HER DAUGHTER IN
BETWEEN 10:00 AND 11:00 WHEN THERE WAS NOBODY HERE
TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE KID SCREECHING.
WHAT ABOUT THIS WOMAN?
HAVE YOU SEEN HER WITH THEM?
SURE, YEAH, THE MAID, THE HELPER, WHATEVER.
SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE WATER
SO SHE'D STAND ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL,
HAND MRS. TALBOT TOWELS,
HELP THE LITTLE GIRL IN AND OUT OF THE WHEELCHAIR.
THINGS LIKE THAT.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THAT THEY WERE HERE?
MAYBE ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO?
SURE, YEAH, THE HELPER FELL IN THE POOL.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
I DIDN'T SEE.
I WAS HERE, I HEARD SOME ARGUING,
AND THEN A BIG SPLASH.
WHAT WAS THE ARGUMENT ABOUT?
I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM IN HERE.
WAY TOO MUCH ECHO BOUNCING OFF THE TILES.
THAT BIG SPLASH,
COULD IT HAVE BEEN THE LITTLE GIRL OR MRS. TALBOT?
I GUESS IT COULD'VE BEEN,
BUT WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE POOL,
THE WERE BONE DRY AND THE HELPER
WAS STANDING THERE SOAKED AND CRYING.
SO YOU TELL ME.
NOBODY SAW SANDRA TALBOT PUSH HER IN THE POOL.
BUT THERE'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
THERE WAS A BIG SPLASH.
AMELIA WAS SOAKING WET.
YEAH, AND EVERYBODY KNEW SHE WAS AFRAID OF WATER.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE SHE JUST DOVE IN.
EVEN IF MRS. TALBOT PUSHED HER IN,
SHE GOT OUT AND WALKED AWAY.
YEAH, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IF SHE HADN'T BEEN PUSHED IN THE POOL IN THE FIRST PLACE,
SHE WOULDN'T BE IN A COMA RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ATTEMPTED MURDER.
MRS. TALBOT, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST
FOR THE MURDER OF AMELIA LAZARO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
HEY! (Sandra) GARY!
IT'S OKAY, BABY. I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS.
LACEY, MOMMY WILL BE RIGHT BACK.
STAND BACK. NO!
MR. TALBOT.
SHE'S DONE NOTHING!
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, OKAY, HONEY!
I'LL TAKE CARE OF HER, BABY. IT'S OKAY.
DON'T WORRY.
OKAY, SWEETIE.
DOCKET NUMBER 4-2-6-4-1.
PEOPLE V. SANDRA TALBOT.
ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
WE PLEAD NOT GUILTY AND REQUEST R.O.R.
FOR A CLASS A-1 FELONY?
THIS WAS A SLIP AND FALL.
WELL, MR. GOODWIN CAN ARGUE THAT TO A JURY.
(Goodwin) YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT'S NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
HAS STATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY.
SHE CAN'T MOVE, EAT, OR GO TO THE BATHROOM
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
MY CLIENT'S HUSBAND HAS TO WORK
TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.
THERE IS NO OTHER HELP.
MY CLIENT NEEDS TO BE HOME.
SHE PUT HER CARETAKER IN A COMA
AND NOW SHE BEGS MERCY BECAUSE SHE HAS NO CARETAKER.
YOU BOTH OVERSHOT THE MARK, COUNSELORS.
BAIL IS SET AT 200,000.
[bangs gavel]
NEXT UP.
YOU KNOW 200 GRAND'S OUT OF THEIR REACH.
YEAH? THEN LOWER YOUR RETAINER.
YOU HAVE NO EYEBALL WITNESS,
A MOTIVE YOU CAN'T PROVE,
AND A LINK BETWEEN THE ALLEGED ACT
AND THE VICTIM'S COMA THAT'S MORE SCIENCE FICTION
THAN MEDICAL FACT.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
ASSAULT TWO, SUSPENDED SENTENCE.
ASSAULT ONE, SHE DOES FIVE YEARS.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF A PLEA
IS TO KEEP MRS. TALBOT WITH HER DAUGHTER.
OUR IDEA IS TO GIVE AMELIA LAZARO JUSTICE.
YOUR CLIENT KNEW ABOUT THE AFFAIR
AND SHE TRIED TO DROWN THE OTHER WOMAN.
NOW SHE HAS TO ANSWER FOR THAT.
OUR FIRST PRETRIAL DISCOVERY REQUEST.
APPLICATION FOR ALL EVIDENCE THE POLICE SEIZE FROM THE POOL.
SEE YA.
FROM A CRANE COLLAPSE TO A JEALOUS WIFE.
COPS JUST FOLLOWED THE FACTS.
THIS IS WHERE THEY LED US.
TO A CRIME WITH NO WITNESSES
AND NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE.
NOT QUITE.
THE DEFENSE ASKED US TO PRODUCE A FLOAT POLE
FROM THE POOL.
I HAD THE POLICE CHECK IT
AND THEY FOUND SANDRA'S PRINTS ON ONE END OF THE POLE
AND AMELIA'S PARTIALS ON THE OTHER.
THE LAWYER'S GONNA ARGUE
SANDRA USED THE POLE TO FISH AMELIA
OUT OF THE WATER AFTER PUSHING HER IN.
IT'S MITIGATION.
IT'S WORSE THAN THAT.
THEY'LL ARGUE RENUNCIATION.
SANDRA TALBOT HAD A CHANGE OF HEART
AFTER TRYING TO DROWN AMELIA.
SHE COULD GET AWAY SCOTT FREE.
RENUNCIATION'S NO DEFENSE
IF IT'S MOTIVATED BY A FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT.
AMELIA DIDN'T DROWN RIGHT AWAY.
SANDRA WAS WORRIED SOMEBODY WOULD WALK IN,
SO SHE FISHED HER OUT.
GOOD LUCK PROVING THAT.
GARY TALBOT IS A KEY WITNESS IN OUR CRANE CASE.
TRY NOT TO MUDDY THAT UP.
WE NEED TO RETRACE SANDRA AND AMELIA'S STEPS
AFTER THEY LEFT THE REC CENTER.
FIND ANYONE THEY TALKED TO.
I ALREADY TOLD THE POLICE WHAT I KNOW.
WE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAW AMELIA THAT DAY.
A SUBWAY EMPLOYEE FROM THE 96TH STREET STATION
SAID THAT SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.
LIKE I TOLD THE POLICE, SHE WAS SICK.
THE POLICE ALSO SAID YOU TOLD HER
TO GO SEE A DOCTOR.
YES, THAT'S WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE.
THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, MISS ESCOBEDO.
WHY DIDN'T SHE?
I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS...CONFUSED.
SO YOU NOTICED THAT SHE WAS IN TROUBLE AND OF COURSE
OFFERED TO CALL 9-1-1 FOR HER, DIDN'T YOU?
SHE DIDN'T WANT NO HELP.
YOU SAID SHE WAS CONFUSED.
WHY WOULD YOU LISTEN TO HER?
SHE SAY HER BOSS TELL HER DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR.
SHE SAY HER BOSS TELL HER LA MIGRA, LA MIGRA.
SO I LISTEN TO HER.
MAYBE I WAS WRONG.
SANDRA PULLED HER OUT OF THE POOL.
THAT'S RENUNCIATION.
PENAL CODE SECTION 40-10.
RENUNCIATION MUST BE COMPLETE.
SIMPLY PUT, MRS. TALBOT,
YOUR LAWYER CAN'T ARGUE RENUNCIATION
IF YOU TALKED AMELIA OUT OF SEEING A DOCTOR.
I'M HEARTBROKEN ABOUT AMELIA.
IF I REALLY THOUGHT THAT SHE NEEDED A DOCTOR,
I WOULD'VE--
LOOK, SANDRA CAN'T GO TO PRISON.
PLEASE.
WHAT IF, UM,
WHAT IF MY CLIENT WAS COVERING FOR SOMEONE?
I'M LISTENING.
THEIR DAUGHTER'S ON ANTI-SPASM PILLS.
BUT SHE DIDN'T GET HER MEDS THAT MORNING.
SHE SPASMED
AND KICKED AMELIA INTO THE POOL.
(Cutter) AN ACCIDENT?
THEN WHY HIDE IT?
THE TALBOTS RECEIVE THOUSANDS IN CITY AID
FOR LACEY'S CARE.
IF THEY'RE NEGLIGENT, THAT AID COULD BE REVOKED.
THEY'D HAVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE--
STOP IT RIGHT NOW.
LACEY'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.
I WON'T VICTIMIZE HER TO HELP MYSELF.
I CAN'T.
THE TRUTH RIGHT NOW
OR SHE TAKES HER CHANCES WITH A JURY.
AMELIA AND I ARGUED.
ABOUT GARY.
I GOT ANGRY.
I PUSHED HER, BUT I SWEAR I WASN'T TRYING TO KILL HER.
I JUST--
IF I COULD TAKE IT ALL BACK, I WOULD.
MY DAUGHTER'S A SICK LITTLE GIRL
WHO NEEDS HER MOTHER.
DON'T TAKE ME AWAY FROM HER, PLEASE.
I'M BEGGING YOU.
ASSAULT TWO, SUSPENDED SENTENCE.
PROVIDED A PORTION OF GARY'S SALARY GOES
TO AMELIA'S LONG TERM CARE.
AND MRS. TALBOT WILL ALLOCUTE.
I THINK WE CAN, UM,
ALL LIVE WITH THAT.
SUSPENDED SENTENCE.
PUSHOVER.
(Sandra) I CONFRONTED AMELIA ABOUT GARY.
WE BEGAN TO ARGUE.
AMELIA ADMITTED THAT SHE AND GARY HAD BEEN TOGETHER.
I LOST MY TEMPER.
I PUSHED HER INTO THE POOL.
KNOWING SHE COULDN'T SWIM? YES.
SHE WAS STRUGGLING IN THE WATER.
I GOT SCARED. I HELPED HER OUT.
(Bradley) AND WHAT DID YOU DO?
I TOLD HER TO LEAVE MY FAMILY,
MY HUSBAND ALONE.
ALL RIGHT.
MR. CUTTER, ARE THE PEOPLE SATISFIED?
MR. CUTTER?
JUDGE, PERMISSION TO ENQUIRE.
MRS. TALBOT, HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE AFFAIR?
AMELIA--
AMELIA WAS GIVING LACEY A BATH.
SHE LEFT HER PHONE IN THE KITCHEN.
IT STARTED TO RING.
I SAW IT WAS GARY.
HE LEFT HER A MESSAGE.
I'D GIVEN HER THE PHONE.
I PROGRAMMED IT, SO I KNEW THE CODE FOR THE VOICEMAILS.
SO I...
I FOUND THE MESSAGE.
HE WAS MEETING HER AFTER WORK.
SO YOU CONFRONTED HER THAT DAY.
NO.
THEN THE NEXT DAY.
YOU CONFRONTED AMELIA THE NEXT DAY.
YES.
WHEN YOU TOOK LACEY TO THE POOL.
YES.
(Goodwin) YOUR HONOR, IS THERE A POINT TO THIS EXAMINATION?
YOUR HONOR, AT THIS POINT
THE PEOPLE ARE WITHDRAWING THEIR PLEA OFFER
AND STAND READY FOR TRIAL.
BUT WE HAVE A DEAL.
HAD A DEAL, MR. GOODWIN.
IT IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S PREROGATIVE.
GIVE IT A DATE, FREDDIE.
[bangs gavel]
PUSHOVER, MY ASS.
PULLING THE PLUG IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ALLOCUTION,
I HOPE YOU DIDN'T SNATCH DEFEAT
FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY.
WE CHECKED AMELIA'S CELL PHONE RECORDS.
THERE WAS NO CALL FROM GARY TALBOT
THAT DAY OR ANY OTHER DAY.
BUT THE NIGHT BEFORE AMELIA DROWNED,
SHE MADE A CALL TO A DR. LUCAS ZIERING.
HE'S AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST.
IT WAS A ONE-MINUTE CALL.
IT WAS AFTER HOURS.
SHE LEFT A MESSAGE. AND?
AND THE NEXT MORNING,
SANDRA TALBOT GOT A CALL FROM DR. ZIERING.
SHE WAS ON THE PHONE FOR 20 MINUTES.
AN HOUR LATER,
SHE SHOVED AMELIA INTO THE POOL.
AND YOU THINK SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CALL UPSET SANDRA.
I JUST DON'T THINK SHE TRIED TO KILL HER OVER AN AFFAIR.
[knocking]
I TURNED UP A POLICE REPORT
FILED BY DR. ZIERING ABOUT ANONYMOUS THREATS
LEFT ON HIS OFFICE VOICEMAIL.
IT'S DATED AT TWO WEEKS
BEFORE AMELIA WAS PUSHED INTO THE POOL.
MAYBE THAT'S WHAT AMELIA'S CALL TO ZIERING WAS ABOUT.
SHE WAS LEAVING ANOTHER THREAT.
THREAT ABOUT WHAT?
BIRD IN THE HAND, MIKE.
NEXT TIME A DEFENDANT WANTS TO PLEAD GUILTY,
LET 'EM.
[Amelia on speaker] THIS IS FOR DR. ZIERING.
WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO LACEY TALBOT
IS AGAINST GOD'S PLAN.
YOU CANNOT CHANGE HER NATURE.
IT'S EVIL AND YOU WILL BURN IN HELL IF YOU DO THIS.
LACEY'S MOM RECOGNIZED THEIR CARETAKER'S VOICE.
I--I TOLD SANDRA THAT IF THESE CALLS PERSISTED,
I COULD NO LONGER TREAT THEIR DAUGHTER.
AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD SPEAK TO THE CARETAKER.
WHAT DOES SHE MEAN, "CHANGING LACEY'S NATURE"?
HOW WERE YOU TREATING HER?
THE TALBOTS APPROACHED ME ABOUT RESTRICTING
THEIR DAUGHTER'S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
MEANING WHAT?
ESTROGEN THERAPY.
TO PERMANENTLY STUNT THE CHILD'S GROWTH.
AND THE REMOVAL OF HER BREAST BUDS,
WOMB, AND OVARIES SO THAT HER SEXUAL ORGANS NEVER MATURE.
SURGERY AND DRUGS
TO KEEP HER A CHILD?
IS THIS TREATMENT APPROVED?
IT'S VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
IN FACT, I'M NOT THE FIRST DOCTOR
THAT THE TALBOTS CAME TO.
THEY'RE DESPERATELY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER'S WELFARE.
I TOLD THEM
THAT THEY HAVE TO BE DISCREET
OR WE'RE GONNA GET THESE-- THESE KOOKS BUTTING IN.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER YOU GOT ANOTHER CALL?
I TOLD MRS. TALBOT THAT I COULD NO LONGER
PROVIDE LACEY'S TREATMENT.
HOW DID SHE REACT?
SHE BEGGED ME TO RECONSIDER.
BUT I--I COULDN'T.
I JUST COULDN'T RISK THE PUBLICITY.
SHE BECAME FURIOUS, STARTED SCREAMING AT ME,
AND I HAD TO HANG UP ON HER.
IT--IT--
I'D HOPED THAT SHE WOULD UNDERSTAND.
DON'T WORRY, DOCTOR.
I THINK SHE FOUND SOMEONE ELSE
TO VENT HER ANGER ON.
I GOT NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU.
WELL, RIGHT NOW WE NEED YOU TO LISTEN.
WE TOLD YOU--
THERE WAS NO AFFAIR.
IT WAS ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER.
AMELIA INTERFERED.
SHE THREATENED YOUR DOCTOR.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
WELL, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TALK TO US
IF YOUR WIFE EXPECTS ANY LENIENCY.
WHY, SO YOU CAN SCARE OFF THE NEXT DOCTOR
WHO'D EVEN CONSIDER HELPING US?
MY LITTLE GIRL WILL NEVER WALK.
OR TALK.
AND IF SHE GROWS UP IN THIS CONDITION...
I KNOW SHE'S AN ANGEL.
RIGHT?
SHE'S OUR LITTLE ANGEL.
WE CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE.
THE STRAIN IT MUST PUT ON YOUR MARRIAGE.
WE ALSO KNOW YOU FILED FOR DIVORCE LAST YEAR.
(Gary) YEAH.
I LOOKED DOWN THAT ROAD AND IT WAS ALL BLACK.
EVERYTHING WOULD GET WORSE, THE OLDER SHE GOT.
AND I COULDN'T HANDLE IT.
WE WORKED THROUGH IT.
IS THAT WHEN YOU CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
FOR THIS TREATMENT?
TO KEEP HER A CHILD?
I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOW.
MR. TALBOT, I WILL--
WE DO NOT NEED YOUR CONDEMNATION
OR ANYBODY ELSE'S.
THIS IS OUR PRIVATE BUSINESS,
SO YOU JUST BUTT OUT.
WE TRACED THE PAYMENT THE TALBOTS MADE
RIGHT BEFORE SANDRA WAS ARRESTED
TO A DR. CONNOR DUNNING AT EMMANUEL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
I THINK SHE LINED UP ANOTHER DOCTOR
TO DO THIS OPERATION ON HER DAUGHTER.
THAT EXPLAINS WHY MRS. TALBOT
WON'T SPEAK THE TRUTH IN OPEN COURT.
THEIR FIRST DOCTOR GOT SKITTISH.
SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SCARE OFF THIS ONE.
I MOVING TO STOP THE PROCEDURE.
ON WHAT BASIS?
IT'S AN ASSAULT ON A HANDICAPPED CHILD.
(Rubirosa) I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD GO THAT FAR.
(Cutter) WHAT WOULD YOU CALL DISFIGURING THIS POOR KID?
TEARING OUT HER UTERUS.
FORCING HORMONES INTO HER VEINS TO STUNT HER GROWTH.
I MEAN, LOOK, I'VE READ UP ON THIS.
I'VE TALKED TO DOCTORS.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ARE.
ASSUMING LACEY EVEN LIVES TO FIND OUT
BECAUSE THE HORMONES MIGHT CAUSE A BLOOD CLOT THAT KILLS HER.
THE PROCEDURE'S NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.
IT'S ALL FOR THE PARENTS' CONVENIENCE
TO SAVE THEIR MARRIAGE.
WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO
WITH OUR PROSECUTION OF SANDRA TALBOT?
ONE ASSAULT TO COVER ANOTHER,
THIS ONE ON A CHILD.
IT'S ALL PART OF THE SAME CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE.
IT'S A STRETCH.
SHE WAS READY TO PLEAD.
(Cutter) ON FALSE GROUNDS.
YOU'RE SPLITTING HAIRS.
WHAT--SO WE DON'T HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO PURSUE THE TRUTH?
LACEY TALBOT'S TREATMENT ISN'T OUR CONCERN.
WE HAVE A VICTIM. AMELIA LAZARO.
IF MRS. TALBOT DOESN'T WANT TO COME CLEAN,
EMPANEL A JURY.
BUT THIS OFFICE FOCUSES ON ESTABLISHED CRIMES.
WE'RE AMENDING THE COMPLAINT TO ADD A CHARGE
OF CONSPIRACY TO ASSAULT LACEY TALBOT.
UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR GARY TALBOT.
OVERT ACT: PAYMENT FOR THE SURGERY--
MIKE, WERE YOU NOT HERE WHEN JACK SAID
FOCUS ON ESTABLISHED CRIMES?
BUT IF THE JUDGE BUYS MY ARGUMENT
THAT THE OPERATION IS A CRIME,
THEN JACK WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, WILL HE?
YOU JUST WANT TO STOP THEM FROM DOING THIS PROCEDURE
ON THEIR DAUGHTER.
I DON'T HAVE KIDS AND I AM NOT IN THE TALBOTS' SHOES,
BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED.
STICK AROUND.
MR. CUTTER TANKED A PLEA
AND NOW HE REALIZES HIS CASE IS A LOSER,
SO HE TRUMPS UP A CHARGE THAT MRS. TALBOT
IS TRYING TO ASSAULT HER CHILD.
IT'S A LEGITIMATE CHARGE
BASED ON NEWLY DISCOVERED FACTS.
(Goodwin) THESE FACTS DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE
TO ESTABLISHING AN ASSAULT.
THEY ESTABLISH THAT THERE'S A PLAN
TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO A CHILD.
MR. CUTTER, I AGREE THE PROCEDURE
IS ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S A CRIME.
BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO CHANGE MY MIND.
(Peller) THE PROCEDURE IS UNTESTED.
ITS BENEFITS ARE HIGHLY SPECULATIVE.
THE SURGERY WILL BE PAINFUL FOR LACEY
AND THE RECOVERY LONG.
AND COMPLICATIONS FROM THE ESTROGEN THERAPY
CAN'T BE DISCOUNTED.
DR. PELLER, ARE THERE OTHER REASONS WHY
YOUR HOSPITAL'S ETHICS COMMITTEE REFUSED
TO SANCTION THIS PROCEDURE?
IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
KEEPING LACEY SMALL MIGHT MAKE HER EASIER
TO CARE FOR, BUT THEN WHY NOT AMPUTATE HER LEGS
TO MAKE HER MORE PORTABLE?
REMOVE HER LARYNX TO STOP HER FROM CRYING.
SO YOU'RE SAYING
THAT THEY CONVENIENCE OF THE PARENTS
SHOULDN'T BE A RELEVANT FACTOR.
IN MY OPINION,
IT IS CLEARLY OUTWEIGHED BY THE DIGNITY ANYONE,
ESPECIALLY A DISABLED CHILD, MUST BE ACCORDED.
SHE NEEDS LOVE, NOT SURGERY.
BEFORE I AGREED TO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE,
I SPENT HOURS WITH THE TALBOTS
WATCHING THEM INTERACT WITH LACEY.
THEIR COMMITMENT TO HER QUALITY OF LIFE
AND THEIR LOVE FOR HER IS OBVIOUS.
BUT REMOVAL OF HER BREASTS, UTERUS, AND OVARIES
SEEMS UNWARRANTED, DOESN'T IT?
ACTUALLY, NO.
LACEY'S NEVER GOING TO GIVE BIRTH,
BREAST FEED, OR HAVE SEX.
SO THOSE ORGANS ARE UNNECESSARY.
AND REMOVING THEM ELIMINATES THE POTENTIAL
FOR CANCER OR EMOTIONAL CONFUSION.
DR. DUNNING, WOULD YOU SAY
THAT MEDICINE'S ROLE IS TO CURE SICKNESS?
WELL, THAT'S ONE FORMULATION.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS PROCEDURE DOES, RIGHT?
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH LACEY TALBOT'S SEX ORGANS
REQUIRING THEIR REMOVAL.
NOTHING INHERENTLY DANGEROUS
ABOUT HER GROWING INTO AN ADULT.
THE PROCEDURE DOESN'T ADDRESS SICKNESS
BY THAT NARROW DEFINITION, NO.
BUT-- THANK YOU.
(Sandra) MONEY'S TIGHT.
PART-TIME HELP FOR LACEY IS ALL WE CAN AFFORD.
SINCE WE CAN'T PAY THE GOING RATES,
THE PEOPLE WE USE AREN'T PROPERLY TRAINED.
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR DAUGHTER'S CARE AND TREATMENT
COST YOU A MONTH?
NEARLY $6,000.
THE CITY CHIPS IN ABOUT 2,000 A YEAR.
WE'RE OUT OF POCKET ON THE REST.
BECAUSE MEDICAID WON'T PAY UNLESS
WE PUT HER IN AN INSTITUTION.
(Goodwin) IS AT AN OPTION YOU'VE CONSIDERED?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE'RE A FAMILY AND FAMILIES
STAY TOGETHER NO MATTER WHAT.
AND I KNOW WITHOUT THE ROUND THE CLOCK CARE WE GIVE HER,
SHE CAN'T SURVIVE.
WOULD YOU EVER INTENTIONALLY HARM LACEY?
NO.
I'D DIE FOR MY DAUGHTER.
IF YOU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS
TO PAY FOR CARETAKERS,
WOULD YOU STILL CONSIDER THIS PROCEDURE FOR LACEY?
YES, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE HER LIFE.
AND YOURS TOO, RIGHT?
IT'LL REDUCE YOUR WORKLOAD.
MAKE HER EASIER TO LIFT, TO FEED.
IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OUR ANGEL WHERE SHE BELONGS,
AT HOME AND IN THE ARMS OF THE FAMILY THAT LOVES HER.
BY KEEPING HER SMALL.
BUT IF SHE MATURES INTO A GROWN WOMAN,
THEN YOU'LL HAVE OTHER INCONVENIENT THINGS
TO WORRY ABOUT.
HER MENSTRUATION,
HER SEXUALITY.
NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
SHE WON'T BE SO CUTE
AND CUDDLY ANYMORE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CARE FOR HER AT HOME.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO BRING HER WITH US.
TO INCLUDE HER--
YOU'D NEED MORE CARETAKERS.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.
A BIGGER HOME.
YES.
IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE.
YES, WE COULDN'T DO IT.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT LACEY
TO GROW UP EVEN IF YOU HAD
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
YOU'D STILL PUT HER THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
YOU WOULDN'T FEEL
THE SAME WAY ABOUT HER
IF SHE GREW UP, WOULD YOU?
IT'S EASIER TO LOVE HER NOW...
WHEN SHE'S SMALL, LIKE A DOLL.
ISN'T IT?
I...
I LOVE HER.
I DO LOVE HER.
MY ANGEL.
(judge) ALL RIGHT, MRS. TALBOT,
YOU'RE EXCUSED.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THE TALBOTS ARE MOTIVATED
BY LOVE AND CONCERN FOR LACEY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MR. CUTTER HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT THIS INQUIRY CANNOT BEGIN AND END
WITH THE PARENTS' INTENTIONS.
ON BALANCE, THE COURT IS NOT SATISFIED
THE ELEMENTS OF ASSAULT ON THE CHILD HAVE BEEN MADE OUT.
THE MOTION TO AMEND THE COMPLAINT IS DENIED.
I HOPE THAT NOW THE PARTIES
CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT ON A PLEA SETTLEMENT.
GOODWIN'S AGREED TO A MEETING.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, MIKE,
I THINK THE JUDGE MADE THE RIGHT CALL.
EVER SINCE SHE PUSHED AMELIA INTO THAT POOL,
SANDRA TALBOT'S DONE NOTHING BUT LIE AND OBFUSCATE.
AND NOW HER REWARD'S A GREEN LIGHT
TO MAIM HER CHILD.
IT'S NOT OUR BUSINESS ANYMORE.
BESIDES, THERE ARE NO CLEAN HANDS HERE.
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE JUSTICE IS,
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY AND SAVE WHO YOU CAN SAVE.
ASSAULT TWO, SUSPENDED SENTENCE, FIVE YEARS' PROBATION.
SAME TERMS FOR AMELIA LAZARO'S CARE.
AND THERE'S MORE.
I WANT HER AGREEMENT THAT SHE WON'T CONSENT
TO THE PROCEDURE WITH HER DAUGHTER.
LIKE HELL WE WILL.
HE CAN'T DO THAT, CAN HE?
NO, HE CAN'T.
MR. CUTTER, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT,
MRS. TALBOT, OR WE GO TO TRIAL
AND YOU GO TO PRISON.
HONEY...
I CAN'T BE AWAY FROM HER.
YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT THIS IS?
I'M GUESSING YOU ALREADY KNOW.
NO OPERATION, NO HORMONE THERAPY.
YOU'VE ATTACHED AN ILLEGAL STIPULATION TO A PLEA.
YOU'VE VIOLATED MRS. TALBOT'S RIGHTS.
THE JUDGE WILL REPUDIATE THIS DOCUMENT.
I CAN SELL HIM ON IT.
I'M REPUDIATING IT!
YOU'VE GONE COMPLETELY OFF THE RESERVATION HERE!
JUST IMITATING THE MASTER.
PEOPLE V. WILLICH.
THE MUNCHAUSEN-BY-PROXY CASE.
DID YOU FORGET YOU MADE ENFORCED STERILIZATION
A CONDITION OF A PLEA
FOR A WOMAN WHO KILLED HER BABIES?
I REMEMBER!
I ALSO REMEMBER THE JUDGE REAMING ME OUT FOR IT.
HE WAS RIGHT!
YOU FOLLOWED YOUR INSTINCTS. I'M FOLLOWING MINE.
IT'S WHAT WE BOTH GET PAID FOR.
YOU GET PAID TO FOLLOW ORDERS.
THE COURT DIDN'T BUY THE ARGUMENT
THE TALBOTS ARE ASSAULTING THEIR DAUGHTER.
IT'S TIME TO TURN THE PAGE, MIKE.
I HAVE AN EXECUTED PLEA AGREEMENT.
I'M MOVING FORWARD.
YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CASE AWAY,
THAT'S YOUR CALL.
I HAVE REAL RESERVATIONS
ABOUT THIS STIPULATION, MR. CUTTER.
PARENTS' CONTROL AND CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN
IS A RIGHT PROTECTED UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT.
THAT RIGHT ISN'T ABSOLUTE.
IT GIVES WAY TO A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST.
LIKE PROTECTING A MINOR.
I BELIEVE I HAVE ALREADY RULED ON THAT, MR. CUTTER.
YOU RULED THAT THE OPERATION ISN'T A CRIME.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE STATE STILL CAN'T
TAKE AN INTEREST IN STOPPING IT.
MR. MCCOY.
PERMISSION TO APPROACH.
I'VE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE SUBSTANCE
OF THE PLEA AGREEMENT IN THIS MATTER.
THEN YOU KNOW IT ATTEMPTS
TO IMPOSE A QUESTIONABLE STIPULATION.
MY OFFICE DOESN'T SANCTION THAT STIPULATION
AND WILL REMOVE IT.
I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO THE COURT
AND MRS. TALBOT FOR THIS ERROR IN JUDGMENT.
(Bradley) WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE STIPULATION,
THE COURT HAS NO OBJECTION TO THIS PLEA AGREEMENT.
WE MAY PROCEED WITH THE ALLOCUTION.
PEOPLE V. WILLICH, I OVERSTEPPED BACK THEN.
ONE DAY YOU'LL THANK ME FOR YANKING YOUR LEASH, MIKE.
SOMETIMES I WISH SOMEONE HAD BEEN THERE TO YANK MINE.
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