1 00:00:09,357 --> 00:00:09,531 . 2 00:00:09,574 --> 00:00:11,315 - In the criminal justice system, 3 00:00:11,359 --> 00:00:12,708 the people are represented 4 00:00:12,751 --> 00:00:15,232 by two separate, yet equally important groups: 5 00:00:15,276 --> 00:00:17,017 the police, who investigate crime, 6 00:00:17,060 --> 00:00:20,020 and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. 7 00:00:20,063 --> 00:00:21,717 These are their stories. 8 00:00:25,895 --> 00:00:28,985 [rock music playing on headphones] 9 00:00:29,029 --> 00:00:36,079 ♪ 10 00:00:50,093 --> 00:00:52,878 [suspenseful music] 11 00:00:52,922 --> 00:00:54,054 - Hey. 12 00:00:54,097 --> 00:00:55,098 [metallic clang] [grunts] 13 00:00:55,142 --> 00:00:57,144 [eagle cries] 14 00:00:57,187 --> 00:01:00,277 [indistinct chatter] 15 00:01:02,149 --> 00:01:04,847 - DOA was James Pell, 25. 16 00:01:04,890 --> 00:01:06,675 He was a law student at Hudson. 17 00:01:06,718 --> 00:01:08,155 - Time of death? 18 00:01:08,198 --> 00:01:10,461 - Based on body temp, I'd give it a two-hour window 19 00:01:10,505 --> 00:01:12,028 between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. 20 00:01:12,072 --> 00:01:13,508 - Cause of death? 21 00:01:13,551 --> 00:01:15,640 - Best guess is, he was struck with a blunt object. 22 00:01:15,684 --> 00:01:17,686 Techs haven't found the murder weapon, but take your pick. 23 00:01:19,992 --> 00:01:21,472 - Get a dive crew down here. 24 00:01:21,516 --> 00:01:23,344 Have them search around the docks. 25 00:01:23,387 --> 00:01:24,823 - Who's got his cell phone? 26 00:01:24,867 --> 00:01:26,869 - He didn't have one on him. 27 00:01:26,912 --> 00:01:29,567 - Well, this had to be connected to something. 28 00:01:29,611 --> 00:01:31,439 It could be that the killer tried to take his phone. 29 00:01:31,482 --> 00:01:34,703 - DOA puts up a fight, ends up a floater. 30 00:01:34,746 --> 00:01:35,965 Who found the guy? 31 00:01:36,008 --> 00:01:38,446 - Maintenance worker. Name's Larry Brand. 32 00:01:40,622 --> 00:01:42,667 - I showed up to do repairs on the dock at 7:30. 33 00:01:42,711 --> 00:01:44,016 Dead guy was floating right next to it. 34 00:01:44,060 --> 00:01:46,149 I called 911 right away. 35 00:01:46,193 --> 00:01:47,803 - You recognize him? - Nope. 36 00:01:47,846 --> 00:01:50,371 All these Hudson kids look the same to me. 37 00:01:50,414 --> 00:01:52,547 - Did you see anything unusual when you got here? 38 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:53,591 - Yeah. 39 00:01:53,635 --> 00:01:54,549 A dead guy. 40 00:01:56,986 --> 00:01:58,553 Nothing else. 41 00:01:58,596 --> 00:02:01,730 - Yeah, well, if you remember anything else, give us a call. 42 00:02:04,515 --> 00:02:06,474 Had a lot going for him-- 43 00:02:06,517 --> 00:02:09,781 handsome, athletic, the best law school in the country. 44 00:02:09,825 --> 00:02:11,174 Who would want to kill a guy like that? 45 00:02:11,218 --> 00:02:12,828 - Today? Pretty much anybody. 46 00:02:15,787 --> 00:02:18,834 [dramatic music] 47 00:02:18,877 --> 00:02:25,841 ♪ 48 00:03:01,616 --> 00:03:03,792 - Well, the boathouse cams were useless. 49 00:03:03,835 --> 00:03:05,272 Paint crew moved them during repairs. 50 00:03:05,315 --> 00:03:07,099 - Dive crew struck out too. 51 00:03:07,143 --> 00:03:09,101 Didn't come up with a phone or a murder weapon. 52 00:03:09,145 --> 00:03:11,278 - Did you reach the parents in Ohio? 53 00:03:11,321 --> 00:03:12,714 - Yeah, I just spoke with them. 54 00:03:12,757 --> 00:03:14,498 Told me how proud they were their son had made it 55 00:03:14,542 --> 00:03:15,760 all the way to Hudson. 56 00:03:15,804 --> 00:03:18,023 It was his ambition since high school. 57 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:20,765 - Did they know if anything unusual had been going on? 58 00:03:20,809 --> 00:03:22,680 - They said they didn't speak with him much. 59 00:03:22,724 --> 00:03:25,248 Said he was super focused, dropped ties with everyone 60 00:03:25,292 --> 00:03:27,337 from his hometown once he started law school. 61 00:03:27,381 --> 00:03:28,643 - Tale as old as time. 62 00:03:28,686 --> 00:03:30,253 - Someone just turned on Pell's phone. 63 00:03:30,297 --> 00:03:31,515 I've got a location. 64 00:03:31,559 --> 00:03:32,864 - I'll get a warrant. 65 00:03:36,781 --> 00:03:37,782 [knocking] 66 00:03:40,089 --> 00:03:42,526 - Hello, ma'am. We're investigating a homicide. 67 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:44,006 We have a warrant to search this apartment 68 00:03:44,049 --> 00:03:45,312 for the victim's cell phone. 69 00:03:47,618 --> 00:03:50,708 - Do I look like I killed someone and took their phone? 70 00:03:50,752 --> 00:03:53,755 - No, ma'am. But we still need to come in. 71 00:03:53,798 --> 00:03:58,803 - Sebastian, you know anything about a missing cell phone? 72 00:03:58,847 --> 00:04:01,763 [tense music] 73 00:04:01,806 --> 00:04:08,683 ♪ 74 00:04:10,293 --> 00:04:11,686 - Police! 75 00:04:16,386 --> 00:04:17,779 Clear. 76 00:04:19,955 --> 00:04:21,826 NYPD! 77 00:04:21,870 --> 00:04:23,437 - Police! 78 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:32,272 Hey, Sebastian. 79 00:04:34,448 --> 00:04:35,710 I know you're in here. 80 00:04:37,494 --> 00:04:39,279 Let's do this the easy way, huh? 81 00:04:39,322 --> 00:04:45,285 ♪ 82 00:04:45,328 --> 00:04:48,288 [rustling, panting] 83 00:04:54,032 --> 00:04:57,253 - [grunts] 84 00:04:57,297 --> 00:04:59,603 - Stay down. Give me your hands. 85 00:04:59,647 --> 00:05:01,823 - I see you chose the easy way. 86 00:05:05,566 --> 00:05:07,916 - Like I keep saying, I didn't do anything wrong. 87 00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:09,265 - Then why'd you run? 88 00:05:09,309 --> 00:05:11,267 - I was scared. - Of what? 89 00:05:11,311 --> 00:05:12,616 - The police. 90 00:05:14,618 --> 00:05:16,359 - You're scared of the police? 91 00:05:18,274 --> 00:05:19,493 - You know what it's like. 92 00:05:23,888 --> 00:05:25,586 - And you don't think it had anything to do 93 00:05:25,629 --> 00:05:27,152 with all those stolen cell phones you had? 94 00:05:27,196 --> 00:05:29,111 - To be honest, we don't care about the phones. 95 00:05:29,154 --> 00:05:30,330 We care about murders. 96 00:05:30,373 --> 00:05:31,461 We're homicide detectives. 97 00:05:31,505 --> 00:05:33,071 - What are you talking about? 98 00:05:33,115 --> 00:05:35,987 - One of the phones we recovered from your backpack 99 00:05:36,031 --> 00:05:38,163 belongs to a guy we found floating in the river 100 00:05:38,207 --> 00:05:39,469 up by Hudson University. 101 00:05:39,513 --> 00:05:41,079 - I got nothing to do with that. 102 00:05:41,123 --> 00:05:42,864 - Where were you this morning between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m.? 103 00:05:43,821 --> 00:05:45,997 - At home sleeping. You can ask my grandma. 104 00:05:46,041 --> 00:05:48,522 - You're gonna have to do a lot better than that, bro. 105 00:05:48,565 --> 00:05:50,175 - I had a girl with me--Denise. 106 00:05:50,219 --> 00:05:51,873 She lives on the sixth floor. 107 00:05:51,916 --> 00:05:54,615 - Okay, well, I'm gonna need Denise's full name, 108 00:05:54,658 --> 00:05:56,486 her phone number, and for your sake, 109 00:05:56,530 --> 00:05:59,010 she better have been there. 110 00:05:59,054 --> 00:06:00,360 Write. 111 00:06:02,187 --> 00:06:04,233 - Where'd you get all those stolen phones? 112 00:06:04,276 --> 00:06:06,496 You steal them? - No. 113 00:06:06,540 --> 00:06:08,846 I buy them off some dude over at Hudson. 114 00:06:08,890 --> 00:06:10,282 Works at the boathouse down the river. 115 00:06:10,326 --> 00:06:13,242 [suspenseful music] 116 00:06:13,285 --> 00:06:15,070 ♪ 117 00:06:15,113 --> 00:06:16,376 - This the guy? 118 00:06:18,116 --> 00:06:19,901 - Yeah. 119 00:06:19,944 --> 00:06:21,250 His name is Larry. 120 00:06:21,293 --> 00:06:24,906 ♪ 121 00:06:28,213 --> 00:06:28,388 . 122 00:06:28,431 --> 00:06:30,694 - Looks like the kid was telling the truth. 123 00:06:30,738 --> 00:06:32,870 His girlfriend, Denise, backed his alibi. 124 00:06:32,914 --> 00:06:34,132 - What about Larry Brand? 125 00:06:34,176 --> 00:06:35,482 We check his alibi? 126 00:06:35,525 --> 00:06:38,441 - Yeah, he was on the BX19 bus, got off at 7:30. 127 00:06:38,485 --> 00:06:40,225 Video confirms that. - Okay. 128 00:06:40,269 --> 00:06:41,531 So he's not the killer, but he just 129 00:06:41,575 --> 00:06:44,360 steals stuff from dead guys. 130 00:06:44,404 --> 00:06:47,276 Hey, any luck on getting info off of Pell's phone? 131 00:06:47,319 --> 00:06:48,886 - He really cares about security. 132 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:50,453 There are multiple firewalls. 133 00:06:50,497 --> 00:06:53,238 - Well, that's odd. I mean, for a law student. 134 00:06:53,282 --> 00:06:54,588 - Anything else? - Yeah. 135 00:06:54,631 --> 00:06:56,328 I just got access to the keycard records 136 00:06:56,372 --> 00:06:57,895 at the boathouse. 137 00:06:57,939 --> 00:07:00,376 Pell swiped in at 5:00, but he wasn't the first one there. 138 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:01,595 This is Jordan Tyler. 139 00:07:01,638 --> 00:07:03,379 He swiped in 20 minutes before Pell. 140 00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:05,250 - Looks like a choirboy. 141 00:07:05,294 --> 00:07:07,252 - He is, literally. 142 00:07:09,951 --> 00:07:11,474 - I didn't see James this morning. 143 00:07:11,518 --> 00:07:13,302 I was on the water before he got there, 144 00:07:13,345 --> 00:07:14,825 and I left before he came back. 145 00:07:14,869 --> 00:07:16,479 - You seem pretty sure about that. 146 00:07:16,523 --> 00:07:18,133 - It's not a coincidence. 147 00:07:18,176 --> 00:07:19,917 He rode at the same time every morning, 148 00:07:19,961 --> 00:07:21,963 and I did my best to avoid him. 149 00:07:22,006 --> 00:07:23,181 - Why's that? 150 00:07:23,225 --> 00:07:26,620 - I don't like to speak ill of the dead, 151 00:07:26,663 --> 00:07:29,100 but James wasn't someone I wanted to associate with. 152 00:07:29,144 --> 00:07:30,319 - How come? 153 00:07:30,362 --> 00:07:32,277 - We used to train together, 154 00:07:32,321 --> 00:07:35,106 but there was something off about him. 155 00:07:35,150 --> 00:07:37,282 - Off? Off how? 156 00:07:37,326 --> 00:07:38,545 - The first sign was, 157 00:07:38,588 --> 00:07:40,634 he'd put all his rowing times on social media. 158 00:07:40,677 --> 00:07:43,419 And for some reason, he felt the need to lie 159 00:07:43,463 --> 00:07:45,508 and make them better than they were. 160 00:07:45,552 --> 00:07:49,294 One day he showed me some photos. 161 00:07:49,338 --> 00:07:52,341 They were intimate pictures of a woman 162 00:07:52,384 --> 00:07:53,647 who had broken up with him. 163 00:07:53,690 --> 00:07:55,779 He said he was going to post them online. 164 00:07:55,823 --> 00:07:57,346 - Revenge porn. 165 00:07:57,389 --> 00:07:59,000 - Do you know this woman's name? 166 00:07:59,043 --> 00:08:00,392 - April. 167 00:08:02,046 --> 00:08:05,267 I don't know her last name, but she works at the bar. 168 00:08:08,966 --> 00:08:10,664 - Excuse me. April Parks? 169 00:08:10,707 --> 00:08:12,535 We'd like to talk to you about James Pell. 170 00:08:12,579 --> 00:08:14,494 - I've got nothing to say. - Wait. Hold on a second. 171 00:08:14,537 --> 00:08:16,234 I just want to ask a few questions. 172 00:08:16,278 --> 00:08:18,236 - I told you, I've got nothing to say. 173 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,239 - Which means you got a lot to say. 174 00:08:21,283 --> 00:08:23,067 - You're right. I do. 175 00:08:23,111 --> 00:08:25,156 I hate that son of a bitch. 176 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,246 - Is that why you, uh, you broke into his apartment 177 00:08:28,290 --> 00:08:30,074 the other night? 178 00:08:30,118 --> 00:08:31,380 We read the police report. 179 00:08:31,423 --> 00:08:32,686 - There a problem here? 180 00:08:32,729 --> 00:08:33,600 - Yeah. 181 00:08:33,643 --> 00:08:35,558 You margaritas are too sweet. 182 00:08:36,951 --> 00:08:37,995 - You're right. 183 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:39,736 I tried to break into his apartment. 184 00:08:39,780 --> 00:08:42,304 Like I told the cops who arrested me, 185 00:08:42,347 --> 00:08:45,263 he had naked photos of me on his laptop. 186 00:08:45,307 --> 00:08:47,962 I--I wanted to delete them. 187 00:08:48,005 --> 00:08:49,920 - Can you tell us what you were doing this morning? 188 00:08:49,964 --> 00:08:52,053 - Why? 189 00:08:52,096 --> 00:08:54,229 What's this all about? 190 00:08:54,272 --> 00:08:55,839 - James is dead. 191 00:08:55,883 --> 00:08:57,493 Someone killed him. 192 00:08:58,973 --> 00:09:00,540 - Where were you this morning around 6:00? 193 00:09:01,845 --> 00:09:04,195 - Sleeping. 194 00:09:04,239 --> 00:09:07,198 You can ask my roommates. - Yeah, we will. 195 00:09:07,242 --> 00:09:09,244 How long were you and James together? 196 00:09:09,287 --> 00:09:10,724 - Two months. 197 00:09:10,767 --> 00:09:12,595 - During that time, did you hear about anybody else 198 00:09:12,639 --> 00:09:14,815 who might hate James as much as you did? 199 00:09:17,121 --> 00:09:21,604 - April Park says that you got into a little scuffle 200 00:09:21,648 --> 00:09:24,738 with James Pell a month ago. 201 00:09:24,781 --> 00:09:26,740 - By which you mean I tried to shove his face 202 00:09:26,783 --> 00:09:29,133 through a plate glass window? 203 00:09:29,177 --> 00:09:32,180 Well, now that he's dead, can't press charges, right? 204 00:09:32,223 --> 00:09:33,442 - Wow, that's cold-blooded-- 205 00:09:33,485 --> 00:09:35,009 cracking jokes about a dead guy. 206 00:09:35,052 --> 00:09:36,401 - It's karma, man. 207 00:09:37,881 --> 00:09:40,492 - Why don't you have a seat and tell us why 208 00:09:40,536 --> 00:09:43,495 you tried to shove Pell's head through a window? 209 00:09:43,539 --> 00:09:45,236 - Because he was named editor-in-chief 210 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,498 of the "Law Review." 211 00:09:46,542 --> 00:09:48,457 - And that made you angry? - Yeah. 212 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:50,154 'Cause he didn't deserve it. 213 00:09:50,198 --> 00:09:52,461 - Says who? - Says me. 214 00:09:52,504 --> 00:09:53,767 He stole that vote. 215 00:09:53,810 --> 00:09:55,638 He manipulated the outgoing editors. 216 00:09:55,682 --> 00:09:56,987 Pell was an average student. 217 00:09:57,031 --> 00:09:59,468 I mean, he shouldn't even have been in the mix. 218 00:09:59,511 --> 00:10:03,472 But this professor-- Ezra Nichols. 219 00:10:03,515 --> 00:10:04,908 He's like a legend around here. 220 00:10:06,649 --> 00:10:08,129 He went to bat for him. 221 00:10:08,172 --> 00:10:10,653 He convinced the editors they needed to pick Pell. 222 00:10:10,697 --> 00:10:12,829 - And why do you think Ezra Nichols 223 00:10:12,873 --> 00:10:15,397 would do something like that for someone like Pell? 224 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:16,659 - Well, there's obviously something 225 00:10:16,703 --> 00:10:18,008 going on between them. 226 00:10:18,052 --> 00:10:19,488 - Do you think they were having an affair? 227 00:10:19,531 --> 00:10:21,969 - It seemed that way. 228 00:10:22,012 --> 00:10:24,885 - Do you have any proof other than this editor thing? 229 00:10:24,928 --> 00:10:27,844 - Yeah, I saw them walk into Nichols's office a few times. 230 00:10:27,888 --> 00:10:28,976 - So? 231 00:10:29,019 --> 00:10:30,760 - Nichols shut the door both times 232 00:10:30,804 --> 00:10:32,893 the second they walked inside. 233 00:10:32,936 --> 00:10:35,591 No professor does that these days. 234 00:10:35,635 --> 00:10:39,551 [suspenseful music] 235 00:10:39,595 --> 00:10:42,032 - So Pell is messing around with his professor. 236 00:10:42,076 --> 00:10:43,468 Things go south. 237 00:10:43,512 --> 00:10:44,992 He threatens to go public with the scandal, 238 00:10:45,035 --> 00:10:46,776 and the professor kills him to keep things quiet. 239 00:10:46,820 --> 00:10:50,127 - I mean, it's possible, but-- - But what? 240 00:10:50,171 --> 00:10:52,652 - Ezra is married to a woman 241 00:10:52,695 --> 00:10:54,044 and has an impeccable reputation. 242 00:10:54,088 --> 00:10:55,480 - I got some bad news for you, James. 243 00:10:55,524 --> 00:10:57,569 Sometimes people lie, even law professors 244 00:10:57,613 --> 00:10:59,093 with wives and impeccable reputations. 245 00:10:59,136 --> 00:11:00,834 - Yeah, well, thanks for the life lesson, Frank. 246 00:11:00,877 --> 00:11:02,400 But this is not just some professor. 247 00:11:02,444 --> 00:11:04,533 This is Ezra Nichols. 248 00:11:04,576 --> 00:11:06,187 He's the reason I became a lawyer. 249 00:11:06,230 --> 00:11:08,929 He argued against the voter suppression laws in Arizona, 250 00:11:08,972 --> 00:11:10,800 got all the way to the Supreme Court. 251 00:11:10,844 --> 00:11:13,934 And before that, he's out there fighting for gay rights, 252 00:11:13,977 --> 00:11:16,719 minority rights, the disabled. - I get it. He's a saint. 253 00:11:16,763 --> 00:11:19,156 Doesn't mean he didn't kill James Pell. 254 00:11:21,898 --> 00:11:25,902 - James was truly talented and a good person. 255 00:11:25,946 --> 00:11:29,645 - We've talked to a few other people who feel differently. 256 00:11:29,689 --> 00:11:31,952 - I can't speak to that. 257 00:11:31,995 --> 00:11:35,172 - How well did you two know each other? 258 00:11:35,216 --> 00:11:37,871 - He was in two of my classes. 259 00:11:37,914 --> 00:11:39,655 And he worked as a research assistant 260 00:11:39,699 --> 00:11:41,396 on one of my most recent books, 261 00:11:41,439 --> 00:11:43,311 so we knew each other reasonably well. 262 00:11:43,354 --> 00:11:47,054 - How would you describe the nature of your relationship? 263 00:11:47,097 --> 00:11:49,099 - I'm not sure I know what you mean. 264 00:11:49,143 --> 00:11:50,405 - Were you two cordial? 265 00:11:50,448 --> 00:11:52,842 Were you pleasant with one another? 266 00:11:52,886 --> 00:11:54,496 - I suppose. 267 00:11:54,539 --> 00:11:57,368 - Anything else between you two you'd like to share with us? 268 00:11:57,412 --> 00:11:58,630 - Excuse me? 269 00:12:00,545 --> 00:12:02,330 - Were you two romantically involved? 270 00:12:02,373 --> 00:12:03,766 - No. 271 00:12:03,810 --> 00:12:06,073 Of course not. [stammers] 272 00:12:06,116 --> 00:12:08,162 Why on Earth would you think that? 273 00:12:08,205 --> 00:12:12,035 - We just keep hearing how fond you were of James. 274 00:12:12,079 --> 00:12:13,907 Everybody we spoke to at the "Law Review" board 275 00:12:13,950 --> 00:12:15,560 said that you strongly advocated 276 00:12:15,604 --> 00:12:17,388 for him to be editor-in-chief? - I did. 277 00:12:17,432 --> 00:12:18,650 He was an exceptional student. 278 00:12:18,694 --> 00:12:21,262 - Who was ranked 83 out of 230? 279 00:12:21,305 --> 00:12:23,046 [suspenseful music] 280 00:12:23,090 --> 00:12:25,657 - Numbers don't tell the whole story. 281 00:12:25,701 --> 00:12:29,487 - I agree, but I still find this odd. 282 00:12:32,708 --> 00:12:35,145 Out of all the students you have here, 283 00:12:35,189 --> 00:12:39,497 out of all the gifted, diverse men and women at this school, 284 00:12:39,541 --> 00:12:41,804 you still pushed for a white kid 285 00:12:41,848 --> 00:12:44,981 in the bottom 2/3 of the class. 286 00:12:49,681 --> 00:12:51,031 Make it make sense. 287 00:12:54,991 --> 00:12:56,950 - I think we're done here, fellas. 288 00:12:56,993 --> 00:13:00,475 - Where were you yesterday morning between 5:00 a.m.-- 289 00:13:00,518 --> 00:13:02,042 - I told you we're done here. 290 00:13:02,085 --> 00:13:03,826 I'm no longer willing to answer questions 291 00:13:03,870 --> 00:13:06,220 without a lawyer present. 292 00:13:09,223 --> 00:13:11,225 I can assure you, Detective, I know my rights. 293 00:13:11,268 --> 00:13:14,576 So, please, direct your gaze elsewhere. 294 00:13:14,619 --> 00:13:21,670 ♪ 295 00:13:30,374 --> 00:13:32,333 - I found security footage of Nichols and Pell 296 00:13:32,376 --> 00:13:35,858 walking out of Nichols' office last week around 11:00 p.m. 297 00:13:35,902 --> 00:13:37,512 - So they were having an affair. 298 00:13:37,555 --> 00:13:39,079 - No. I don't think so. 299 00:13:39,122 --> 00:13:40,384 I've gone through Pell's laptop, 300 00:13:40,428 --> 00:13:42,169 looked at every communication between them, 301 00:13:42,212 --> 00:13:43,866 and there's nothing the least bit affectionate. 302 00:13:43,910 --> 00:13:45,259 - I hate to break it to you, Vi, 303 00:13:45,302 --> 00:13:47,348 but not all men are good at intimacy. 304 00:13:47,391 --> 00:13:48,653 - Really? 305 00:13:48,697 --> 00:13:50,003 Never noticed. 306 00:13:50,046 --> 00:13:51,918 But that's not what's going on here. 307 00:13:51,961 --> 00:13:54,616 This wasn't about two closed-off dudes hooking up. 308 00:13:54,659 --> 00:13:55,922 - What do you mean? 309 00:13:55,965 --> 00:13:57,619 - Pell's emails were increasingly aggressive 310 00:13:57,662 --> 00:13:59,099 and demanding. 311 00:13:59,142 --> 00:14:00,752 "I'd hate to see your reputation tarnished." 312 00:14:00,796 --> 00:14:02,363 "I'm done asking. 313 00:14:02,406 --> 00:14:03,451 It's time for you to deliver." 314 00:14:03,494 --> 00:14:05,279 - So Pell was threatening him. 315 00:14:05,322 --> 00:14:08,325 - Which means sex or no sex, he had leverage over him. 316 00:14:08,369 --> 00:14:11,372 - I think I know what it was too. 317 00:14:11,415 --> 00:14:13,722 Pell sent this clip to Nichols ten months ago 318 00:14:13,765 --> 00:14:15,550 when the threats started. 319 00:14:15,593 --> 00:14:16,594 It's from a dinner at the law school 320 00:14:16,638 --> 00:14:18,205 honoring Malcolm Sanders-- 321 00:14:18,248 --> 00:14:19,684 the first gay person to be nominated 322 00:14:19,728 --> 00:14:23,036 to the Supreme Court. 323 00:14:23,079 --> 00:14:24,776 - I guess even I'm not diverse enough to be 324 00:14:24,820 --> 00:14:26,735 on the Supreme Court these days. 325 00:14:29,172 --> 00:14:31,609 Not enough to be Black, gotta be a f-- 326 00:14:33,220 --> 00:14:34,830 - Need I say more? 327 00:14:34,874 --> 00:14:39,008 ♪ 328 00:14:42,577 --> 00:14:42,751 . 329 00:14:42,794 --> 00:14:45,188 - Too. - Shh. 330 00:14:45,232 --> 00:14:47,669 - Turn it off now. 331 00:14:47,712 --> 00:14:49,062 - But I only played 12 seconds. 332 00:14:49,105 --> 00:14:50,150 - I know what I said. 333 00:14:50,193 --> 00:14:52,195 - And we know who heard it-- 334 00:14:52,239 --> 00:14:54,894 James Pell. 335 00:14:54,937 --> 00:14:56,591 He was working there that night. 336 00:14:56,634 --> 00:14:58,375 He was coordinating the event. 337 00:14:58,419 --> 00:15:01,030 - Which explains how he caught your comment on video. 338 00:15:01,074 --> 00:15:03,424 And then he wanted you to know about it, didn't he? 339 00:15:03,467 --> 00:15:06,122 Which is why he sent you the clip ten months ago. 340 00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:09,125 - That's when you started helping him out, right? 341 00:15:10,779 --> 00:15:13,825 Look, Professor, we know plenty of good men 342 00:15:13,869 --> 00:15:15,915 have lost their reputations, their careers, 343 00:15:15,958 --> 00:15:19,483 for saying stupid things-- things they didn't mean, 344 00:15:19,527 --> 00:15:21,311 things they used to say on the playground 345 00:15:21,355 --> 00:15:22,747 when they were ten years old. 346 00:15:22,791 --> 00:15:24,053 - And we understand the type of stress 347 00:15:24,097 --> 00:15:25,968 that something like that can cause. 348 00:15:26,012 --> 00:15:28,057 I mean, you probably woke up every single morning 349 00:15:28,101 --> 00:15:29,929 wondering if today was the day this poor guy 350 00:15:29,972 --> 00:15:32,583 sold you out, leaked it on Twitter, 351 00:15:32,627 --> 00:15:34,194 called "The New York Times." 352 00:15:34,237 --> 00:15:36,936 - And that kind of pressure can cause really smart people 353 00:15:36,979 --> 00:15:39,416 to make really stupid choices. 354 00:15:39,460 --> 00:15:41,027 [suspenseful music] 355 00:15:41,070 --> 00:15:43,855 - I appreciate your concern, Detective, 356 00:15:43,899 --> 00:15:46,206 but I'll cut to the chase. 357 00:15:46,249 --> 00:15:48,730 I didn't kill James Pell. 358 00:15:48,773 --> 00:15:50,775 - But if you did, we'd understand. 359 00:15:50,819 --> 00:15:53,256 - Gentlemen, I presume Professor Nichols 360 00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:55,998 is not under arrest? 361 00:15:56,042 --> 00:15:57,347 - Correct. 362 00:15:57,391 --> 00:16:01,569 - Then please, get the hell out of my office. 363 00:16:01,612 --> 00:16:08,750 ♪ 364 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:20,022 - I gotta be honest. 365 00:16:20,066 --> 00:16:21,589 This is a little surreal for me. 366 00:16:21,632 --> 00:16:22,982 - Why's that? 367 00:16:23,025 --> 00:16:24,374 - Ezra Nichols-- 368 00:16:24,418 --> 00:16:25,854 always a big inspiration for me. 369 00:16:25,897 --> 00:16:28,248 I just--he's the guy that made me want to be 370 00:16:28,291 --> 00:16:29,597 a lawyer in the first place. 371 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:30,946 I just can't believe he's mixed up in all this. 372 00:16:30,990 --> 00:16:32,078 - Right now, he's just a guy 373 00:16:32,121 --> 00:16:33,644 who used a word he wasn't supposed to. 374 00:16:33,688 --> 00:16:35,559 - Which is depressing enough. 375 00:16:35,603 --> 00:16:37,605 - Yeah, a bad word, no doubt, but-- 376 00:16:37,648 --> 00:16:39,476 - But what? 377 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,957 - Nobody's above having a bad day. 378 00:16:42,001 --> 00:16:44,742 The only difference between you and him and anybody else is, 379 00:16:44,786 --> 00:16:46,657 he got caught on camera. 380 00:16:46,701 --> 00:16:49,443 - We found something in the doormat. 381 00:16:49,486 --> 00:16:50,748 - What? Dirt? 382 00:16:50,792 --> 00:16:53,882 - Dried mud, and there's cattail fluff in it. 383 00:16:53,925 --> 00:16:55,753 Those grow by the riverbank. 384 00:16:55,797 --> 00:16:57,364 - That would put him by the boathouse. 385 00:16:57,407 --> 00:16:59,235 - He came in through the back entrance, which means 386 00:16:59,279 --> 00:17:00,367 he didn't want to be seen. 387 00:17:00,410 --> 00:17:02,064 - Maybe he had blood on his clothes. 388 00:17:02,108 --> 00:17:03,848 Do we know where the laundry room is? 389 00:17:03,892 --> 00:17:06,416 - Already checked it. Nada. 390 00:17:06,460 --> 00:17:07,461 - So if he didn't wash his clothes, 391 00:17:07,504 --> 00:17:08,853 maybe he threw them away. 392 00:17:08,897 --> 00:17:11,117 So where does he keep the trash bags? 393 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:12,640 - Over here. 394 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:17,993 - Check it for blood. 395 00:17:23,085 --> 00:17:23,868 - Nothing. 396 00:17:23,912 --> 00:17:25,696 - Check the inside flap. 397 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,531 - Bingo. We've got some blood here. 398 00:17:34,575 --> 00:17:36,055 - Get that to the lab. 399 00:17:38,274 --> 00:17:41,060 - Hey, the lab says the blood is Pell's. 400 00:17:41,103 --> 00:17:43,192 And the mud on the doormat matches the riverbank 401 00:17:43,236 --> 00:17:45,194 at the boathouse. - Hell of a start. 402 00:17:45,238 --> 00:17:46,935 - But we still can't place him near the crime scene 403 00:17:46,978 --> 00:17:48,371 or even prove that he left his house that morning. 404 00:17:48,415 --> 00:17:49,720 - He's right. 405 00:17:49,764 --> 00:17:50,895 I've scrubbed all the video I could find. 406 00:17:50,939 --> 00:17:52,723 - But we still got the dead guy's blood 407 00:17:52,767 --> 00:17:54,377 at the Nichols' house. 408 00:17:54,421 --> 00:17:55,900 They can't walk that back. 409 00:17:55,944 --> 00:17:57,641 - It's not impossible. 410 00:17:57,685 --> 00:17:58,947 Let's keep digging. 411 00:18:03,517 --> 00:18:05,127 They got kids, right? - Mm-hmm. 412 00:18:05,171 --> 00:18:07,042 - A 14-year-old and a 5-year-old? 413 00:18:07,086 --> 00:18:08,739 - Yeah. - And both parents work? 414 00:18:08,783 --> 00:18:10,132 - Yeah. - That means-- 415 00:18:10,176 --> 00:18:11,742 - They have a nanny. - Yeah. 416 00:18:11,786 --> 00:18:13,527 Let's track her down. 417 00:18:13,570 --> 00:18:14,963 Find out what she knows. 418 00:18:16,878 --> 00:18:18,575 - I can't get involved. 419 00:18:18,619 --> 00:18:19,924 I'm applying for a visa right now, 420 00:18:19,968 --> 00:18:22,231 but I'm a little behind on the paperwork. 421 00:18:22,275 --> 00:18:25,104 - We're not ICE, Magda. We're not gonna report you. 422 00:18:25,147 --> 00:18:26,670 - We just need to know if you were working 423 00:18:26,714 --> 00:18:28,759 at the Nichols' house that morning. 424 00:18:28,803 --> 00:18:31,545 - Yes. I got there at 5:30. 425 00:18:31,588 --> 00:18:33,112 Michelle called me. 426 00:18:33,155 --> 00:18:35,114 Said she needed me to watch their youngest. 427 00:18:35,157 --> 00:18:38,029 - And when you got there, was Ezra home? 428 00:18:38,073 --> 00:18:40,684 - Yes. He was asleep upstairs. 429 00:18:40,728 --> 00:18:42,251 - You sure? 430 00:18:42,295 --> 00:18:43,426 - Yeah. 431 00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:45,428 He came down around 7:00. 432 00:18:45,472 --> 00:18:46,995 I made him breakfast. 433 00:18:47,038 --> 00:18:49,302 - And Ezra didn't leave the house before that? 434 00:18:49,345 --> 00:18:52,392 - No. Like I said, he was sleeping. 435 00:18:55,830 --> 00:18:57,832 - Where was Michelle? 436 00:19:00,226 --> 00:19:03,272 - If I say anything that gets the Nichols in trouble, 437 00:19:03,316 --> 00:19:04,752 I could lose my job. 438 00:19:04,795 --> 00:19:09,539 - Magda, this is a murder investigation. 439 00:19:09,583 --> 00:19:10,714 Understand? 440 00:19:12,977 --> 00:19:15,197 We need to know what you know. 441 00:19:15,241 --> 00:19:22,248 ♪ 442 00:19:22,291 --> 00:19:25,164 [indistinct chatter] 443 00:19:26,382 --> 00:19:28,645 - Michelle Nichols. - What is this? 444 00:19:28,689 --> 00:19:31,170 - You're under arrest for the murder of James Pell. 445 00:19:31,213 --> 00:19:32,258 - What? Babe-- 446 00:19:32,301 --> 00:19:33,346 - Going to take care of this, baby. 447 00:19:33,389 --> 00:19:35,174 You'll be home in no time. 448 00:19:35,217 --> 00:19:36,610 Promise you. 449 00:19:36,653 --> 00:19:39,221 Don't say a word. Understand me? 450 00:19:39,265 --> 00:19:41,658 Tell them you want a lawyer. Now! Say it out loud! 451 00:19:41,702 --> 00:19:42,790 - I want a lawyer. 452 00:19:42,833 --> 00:19:44,487 - Watch your head, ma'am. 453 00:19:44,531 --> 00:19:51,451 ♪ 454 00:19:55,977 --> 00:19:56,195 . 455 00:19:56,238 --> 00:19:57,892 - Calling docket ending in 8733, 456 00:19:57,935 --> 00:19:59,285 People v. Michelle Nichols, 457 00:19:59,328 --> 00:20:01,548 charging murder in the second degree. 458 00:20:03,637 --> 00:20:05,160 - How does the defendant plead? 459 00:20:05,204 --> 00:20:06,509 - Not guilty, Your Honor. 460 00:20:06,553 --> 00:20:08,859 - People on bail? - People request remand. 461 00:20:08,903 --> 00:20:12,211 We have evidence that proves the defendant was aware 462 00:20:12,254 --> 00:20:14,822 the victim, James Pell, was blackmailing her husband 463 00:20:14,865 --> 00:20:16,867 and that she murdered him to stop it. 464 00:20:16,911 --> 00:20:20,044 - Your Honor, Mrs. Nichols is anything but a flight risk. 465 00:20:20,088 --> 00:20:23,091 She serves on the boards of the Children's Defense Fund, 466 00:20:23,134 --> 00:20:26,225 America Reads, and the Riverdale Country School. 467 00:20:26,268 --> 00:20:28,314 She's never had so much as a speeding ticket. 468 00:20:28,357 --> 00:20:30,794 - Given her significant financial resources 469 00:20:30,838 --> 00:20:33,536 and extensive international connections, 470 00:20:33,580 --> 00:20:35,669 she may be accumulating funds in order to flee the country. 471 00:20:35,712 --> 00:20:36,887 - Okay. Enough. 472 00:20:36,931 --> 00:20:39,325 Bail is set at $500,000, and Mrs. Nichols 473 00:20:39,368 --> 00:20:41,109 is to surrender her passport. 474 00:20:43,329 --> 00:20:45,244 - Motion to exclude. 475 00:20:51,337 --> 00:20:53,077 - The video clip of my client's husband 476 00:20:53,121 --> 00:20:55,036 expressing his displeasure to her 477 00:20:55,079 --> 00:20:56,733 is protected by marital privilege. 478 00:20:56,777 --> 00:20:58,735 The jury shouldn't be allowed to see it. 479 00:20:58,779 --> 00:21:00,476 - Privilege doesn't apply in this situation. 480 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,349 Professor and Mrs. Nichols were in a public setting, 481 00:21:03,392 --> 00:21:04,698 which means there was no reasonable expectation 482 00:21:04,741 --> 00:21:06,090 of confidentiality. 483 00:21:06,134 --> 00:21:07,744 Ezra Nichols was sitting in front 484 00:21:07,788 --> 00:21:09,311 of a microphone, for God's sake. 485 00:21:09,355 --> 00:21:11,574 - The comment was made after the speeches were finished. 486 00:21:11,618 --> 00:21:14,751 The microphone was disconnected from the public address system. 487 00:21:14,795 --> 00:21:17,363 He was completely unaware he was being recorded. 488 00:21:17,406 --> 00:21:19,800 - Michelle Nichols literally shushed him. 489 00:21:19,843 --> 00:21:21,845 That proves that-- - That proves nothing. 490 00:21:21,889 --> 00:21:24,283 My husband shushes me in my living room, 491 00:21:24,326 --> 00:21:26,110 the doctor's office. 492 00:21:26,154 --> 00:21:28,417 Based on the facts, it's clear that 493 00:21:28,461 --> 00:21:32,421 this was meant to be a personal and private conversation. 494 00:21:32,465 --> 00:21:33,770 Motion granted. 495 00:21:36,164 --> 00:21:39,646 - We need some sort of evidence to establish motive, 496 00:21:39,689 --> 00:21:41,561 something to make the jury understand 497 00:21:41,604 --> 00:21:45,086 why Pell was blackmailing Nichols in the first place. 498 00:21:45,129 --> 00:21:46,957 - Yeah, that's what I've been working on. 499 00:21:47,001 --> 00:21:49,395 I think I might have found something too. 500 00:21:51,875 --> 00:21:54,051 - See Ezra Nichols' wine glass? - Yes. 501 00:21:54,095 --> 00:21:55,401 - When Ezra moves the glass, 502 00:21:55,444 --> 00:21:57,577 he's motioning to a waiter for a refill. 503 00:21:57,620 --> 00:21:59,709 - Play it one more time. 504 00:21:59,753 --> 00:22:01,407 - If the waiter was close enough to pour, 505 00:22:01,450 --> 00:22:03,452 they would have been close enough to hear 506 00:22:03,496 --> 00:22:04,845 what Nichols said to his wife. 507 00:22:10,285 --> 00:22:12,069 - Can you tell us where you last saw 508 00:22:12,113 --> 00:22:14,071 Ezra and Michelle Nichols? 509 00:22:14,115 --> 00:22:17,161 - I was a server at their table at a law school dinner. 510 00:22:17,205 --> 00:22:19,338 - And can you please repeat the comment 511 00:22:19,381 --> 00:22:23,167 that you heard Ezra Nichols make to his wife 512 00:22:23,211 --> 00:22:25,344 about Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Sanders? 513 00:22:25,387 --> 00:22:26,997 - Objection--hearsay. 514 00:22:27,041 --> 00:22:28,390 - It's not being offered for the truth 515 00:22:28,434 --> 00:22:30,827 of the matter asserted. - Overruled. 516 00:22:30,871 --> 00:22:32,568 - Then it's protected by marital privilege. 517 00:22:32,612 --> 00:22:35,223 - Privilege doesn't apply when there's a third party present. 518 00:22:35,266 --> 00:22:36,311 - I agree. 519 00:22:36,355 --> 00:22:38,531 - Mr. Price, ask your question again. 520 00:22:38,574 --> 00:22:40,576 - Ms. Zinkow, what did you hear 521 00:22:40,620 --> 00:22:42,970 Ezra Nichols say to his wife? 522 00:22:43,013 --> 00:22:45,625 - He was talking about Justice Sanders, 523 00:22:45,668 --> 00:22:48,715 and he used an offensive word. 524 00:22:48,758 --> 00:22:50,369 - What word? 525 00:22:50,412 --> 00:22:54,938 - It starts with F, and it refers to gay people. 526 00:22:54,982 --> 00:22:56,679 Do I have to say it? 527 00:22:56,723 --> 00:23:00,030 - No. No. I think we get the idea. 528 00:23:00,074 --> 00:23:02,946 Did you tell anybody what you heard? 529 00:23:02,990 --> 00:23:05,514 - Yes, I told one of the student coordinators, 530 00:23:05,558 --> 00:23:06,863 James Pell. 531 00:23:06,907 --> 00:23:08,822 - How did Mr. Pell respond? 532 00:23:08,865 --> 00:23:11,085 - He thanked me for telling him this. 533 00:23:11,128 --> 00:23:13,435 Then he took the video card out of the camera 534 00:23:13,479 --> 00:23:16,438 that was recording the speakers' table. 535 00:23:16,482 --> 00:23:19,441 - Thank you. I have nothing further. 536 00:23:19,485 --> 00:23:22,836 - Are you familiar with who Ezra Nichols is-- 537 00:23:22,879 --> 00:23:26,187 of all he's done for the LGBTQ community? 538 00:23:26,230 --> 00:23:27,884 - Not really. - Ah. 539 00:23:27,928 --> 00:23:30,191 Then let me educate you. 540 00:23:30,234 --> 00:23:32,411 He is one of the most-- - Objection. 541 00:23:32,454 --> 00:23:35,631 Professor Nichols' résumé in this regard is irrelevant. 542 00:23:35,675 --> 00:23:38,112 - Sustained. Move on, Mr. Seaver. 543 00:23:40,593 --> 00:23:42,769 - The room was filled with people, correct? 544 00:23:42,812 --> 00:23:45,206 - Yes, there were about 80 people there. 545 00:23:45,249 --> 00:23:46,555 - So there was lots of noise. 546 00:23:46,599 --> 00:23:48,688 People were eating, drinking. 547 00:23:48,731 --> 00:23:50,080 - Yes. 548 00:23:50,124 --> 00:23:53,040 - So it was obviously hard to hear. 549 00:23:53,083 --> 00:23:54,389 - I suppose. 550 00:23:54,433 --> 00:23:57,740 - So you can't be sure what Mr. Nichols 551 00:23:57,784 --> 00:23:59,873 said or didn't say, correct? 552 00:23:59,916 --> 00:24:01,483 - No. That's not true. 553 00:24:01,527 --> 00:24:03,703 [chuckles] I heard him use that word. 554 00:24:03,746 --> 00:24:05,139 I'm positive. 555 00:24:08,795 --> 00:24:10,840 - Nothing further. 556 00:24:10,884 --> 00:24:12,102 - Mr. Price? 557 00:24:12,146 --> 00:24:13,147 - Nothing further, Your Honor. 558 00:24:13,190 --> 00:24:15,149 - Witness is excused. 559 00:24:18,021 --> 00:24:20,415 - The people call Magda Chezlak. 560 00:24:24,158 --> 00:24:26,769 - Is Ms. Chezlak here? 561 00:24:26,813 --> 00:24:29,729 [suspenseful music] 562 00:24:29,772 --> 00:24:31,992 ♪ 563 00:24:32,035 --> 00:24:33,907 - What's going on? - I don't know. 564 00:24:33,950 --> 00:24:35,561 We talked to her last night. 565 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,044 - The Nichols' nanny skipped town? 566 00:24:41,088 --> 00:24:43,133 - Her roomie thinks she flew back to Poland. 567 00:24:43,177 --> 00:24:45,266 - Can you confirm that? - No. 568 00:24:45,309 --> 00:24:46,485 We checked all the flight logs. 569 00:24:46,528 --> 00:24:48,008 There's no record of her on any of them, 570 00:24:48,051 --> 00:24:50,010 and she's not answering calls or texts, either. 571 00:24:50,053 --> 00:24:52,534 - So she's in the wind? - Sure looks that way. 572 00:24:52,578 --> 00:24:54,057 - Well, the woman was terrified and thought 573 00:24:54,101 --> 00:24:55,537 ICE was gonna grab her up. 574 00:24:55,581 --> 00:24:58,279 - Or Seaver convinced her that was the case 575 00:24:58,322 --> 00:25:00,455 and arranged for her to get out of town. 576 00:25:00,499 --> 00:25:03,023 - Which is obviously witness tampering. 577 00:25:03,066 --> 00:25:06,069 - It sure is, but good luck finding a paper trail. 578 00:25:06,113 --> 00:25:07,375 - So now what? 579 00:25:07,418 --> 00:25:09,420 And the nanny was the only witness 580 00:25:09,464 --> 00:25:11,205 who could establish Michelle was at home 581 00:25:11,248 --> 00:25:12,380 the morning of the murder. 582 00:25:12,423 --> 00:25:13,773 - No. 583 00:25:13,816 --> 00:25:16,384 That's not true. We have another witness. 584 00:25:16,427 --> 00:25:17,559 - Good. 585 00:25:17,603 --> 00:25:19,518 Just make sure that this one shows up. 586 00:25:24,305 --> 00:25:26,612 - Detective Cosgrove, in the course of your investigation, 587 00:25:26,655 --> 00:25:29,310 did you meet Magda Chezlak, 588 00:25:29,353 --> 00:25:31,355 the Nichols' nanny? - Yes. 589 00:25:31,399 --> 00:25:33,793 - Did Ms. Chezlak tell you that Michelle Nichols 590 00:25:33,836 --> 00:25:36,665 left the house the morning of James Pell's murder? 591 00:25:36,709 --> 00:25:38,101 - Objection, hearsay. 592 00:25:38,145 --> 00:25:40,016 - Ms. Chezlak's statement falls under an exception 593 00:25:40,060 --> 00:25:41,409 to the hearsay rule. 594 00:25:41,452 --> 00:25:43,542 It's a declaration against pecuniary interest. 595 00:25:43,585 --> 00:25:46,849 - What exactly is Ms. Chezlak's pecuniary interest? 596 00:25:46,893 --> 00:25:48,198 - Her job. 597 00:25:48,242 --> 00:25:49,635 She told Detective Cosgrove she was afraid 598 00:25:49,678 --> 00:25:51,201 she'd be fired if she said anything that 599 00:25:51,245 --> 00:25:52,551 got the Nichols in trouble. 600 00:25:52,594 --> 00:25:55,728 - Objection overruled. 601 00:25:55,771 --> 00:25:58,034 - Yes, Magda Chezlak told me 602 00:25:58,078 --> 00:26:00,384 that she saw the defendant 603 00:26:00,428 --> 00:26:02,952 leave the house at 5:30 that morning. 604 00:26:02,996 --> 00:26:05,215 - And what time was James Pell killed? 605 00:26:05,259 --> 00:26:07,609 - The medical examiner determined that 606 00:26:07,653 --> 00:26:09,785 it was between 5:00 and 7:00 in the morning. 607 00:26:09,829 --> 00:26:11,613 - Did Ms. Chezlak say anything else 608 00:26:11,657 --> 00:26:14,616 about the defendant leaving home so early that day? 609 00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:16,575 - Yes, she said that was highly unusual. 610 00:26:16,618 --> 00:26:18,968 She seemed in a hurry and extremely upset. 611 00:26:19,012 --> 00:26:19,926 - Thank you, Detective Cosgrove. 612 00:26:19,969 --> 00:26:21,405 I have no further questions. 613 00:26:23,451 --> 00:26:25,453 - How many years have you been 614 00:26:25,496 --> 00:26:27,977 with the New York City Police Department, Detective? 615 00:26:28,021 --> 00:26:29,239 - 23. 616 00:26:29,283 --> 00:26:30,719 - And in those years, how many times 617 00:26:30,763 --> 00:26:32,982 have you been called as a witness in a criminal case? 618 00:26:33,026 --> 00:26:34,549 - I--I wouldn't know the exact number. 619 00:26:34,593 --> 00:26:36,725 - Public records show that you were called 620 00:26:36,769 --> 00:26:39,946 to testify in 208 cases. 621 00:26:39,989 --> 00:26:41,251 - Really? That many? 622 00:26:41,295 --> 00:26:43,732 - In how many of those cases was the defendant 623 00:26:43,776 --> 00:26:45,255 African American? 624 00:26:45,299 --> 00:26:47,431 - Objection, relevance. - It goes to bias. 625 00:26:47,475 --> 00:26:50,260 - Overruled, but be careful, Mr. Seaver. 626 00:26:50,304 --> 00:26:51,740 [suspenseful music] 627 00:26:51,784 --> 00:26:53,046 - I don't keep track. 628 00:26:53,089 --> 00:26:54,569 - Maybe you should-- 629 00:26:54,613 --> 00:26:56,266 over half, 630 00:26:56,310 --> 00:27:00,967 and 85% of those cases resulted in convictions. 631 00:27:01,010 --> 00:27:04,100 That is well above the statistical average. 632 00:27:04,144 --> 00:27:05,493 Did you know that? 633 00:27:05,536 --> 00:27:08,104 - Like I said, I don't know the exact numbers. 634 00:27:08,148 --> 00:27:10,367 - You should. It's in the public record. 635 00:27:10,411 --> 00:27:12,848 It seems whenever a person of color is on trial, 636 00:27:12,892 --> 00:27:15,721 you always seem to bring in some extra evidence 637 00:27:15,764 --> 00:27:17,026 to the equation. 638 00:27:17,070 --> 00:27:19,072 - Are you trying to say I make things up? 639 00:27:19,115 --> 00:27:20,551 Because that's not how it works. 640 00:27:20,595 --> 00:27:23,293 - Quite the contrary-- it's simple math. 641 00:27:23,337 --> 00:27:24,947 And it adds up to you having 642 00:27:24,991 --> 00:27:27,036 a racially-motivated axe to grind. 643 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,908 There's no other way to explain it. 644 00:27:28,951 --> 00:27:32,781 - I'm pretty sure there is, but I'm not a sociologist. 645 00:27:32,825 --> 00:27:34,348 I'm a homicide detective. 646 00:27:34,391 --> 00:27:36,959 I follow the evidence, and I arrest bad guys 647 00:27:37,003 --> 00:27:38,787 regardless of their race. 648 00:27:38,831 --> 00:27:40,528 That's what I do. 649 00:27:40,571 --> 00:27:43,183 And in this case, the evidence points at Michelle Nichols. 650 00:27:43,226 --> 00:27:44,793 - A Black woman. 651 00:27:44,837 --> 00:27:47,361 - No. A murderer. 652 00:27:47,404 --> 00:27:50,190 - Says the man who only arrests Black people. 653 00:27:50,233 --> 00:27:51,713 - Objection. The defense is out of line. 654 00:27:51,757 --> 00:27:52,671 - Sustained. 655 00:27:54,847 --> 00:27:56,675 - No further questions. 656 00:27:56,718 --> 00:27:58,502 - Witness is excused. 657 00:27:58,546 --> 00:28:04,987 ♪ 658 00:28:05,031 --> 00:28:07,511 - Mr. Price? 659 00:28:07,555 --> 00:28:09,992 - The People rest, Your Honor. 660 00:28:10,036 --> 00:28:12,081 - Mr. Seaver, call your first witness. 661 00:28:12,125 --> 00:28:14,518 - Defense calls Ezra Nichols. 662 00:28:19,045 --> 00:28:22,178 - Where were you on the morning of James Pell's murder? 663 00:28:22,222 --> 00:28:24,485 - I got up early and went to the Hudson boathouse. 664 00:28:24,528 --> 00:28:26,356 - Why did you go to the boathouse? 665 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,141 - Because I knew James would be there. 666 00:28:28,184 --> 00:28:30,404 - And what did you do when you found him there? 667 00:28:32,319 --> 00:28:35,409 - I killed him. 668 00:28:35,452 --> 00:28:37,019 - Request to meet in chambers, Your Honor. 669 00:28:37,063 --> 00:28:43,765 ♪ 670 00:28:47,116 --> 00:28:47,334 . 671 00:28:47,377 --> 00:28:49,858 - We've already established that Ezra Nicholas 672 00:28:49,902 --> 00:28:51,207 was at home asleep when James Pell was killed. 673 00:28:51,251 --> 00:28:53,035 The defense is clearly using his testimony 674 00:28:53,079 --> 00:28:54,297 to create a false narrative. 675 00:28:54,341 --> 00:28:56,560 - The People have no legal basis 676 00:28:56,604 --> 00:28:58,040 to exclude his testimony. 677 00:28:58,084 --> 00:29:00,216 - Ezra Nichols' so-called confession is an act 678 00:29:00,260 --> 00:29:03,567 of perjury designed to create confusion 679 00:29:03,611 --> 00:29:05,178 in the minds of the jurors. 680 00:29:05,221 --> 00:29:07,920 - Creating confusion is what defense lawyers do, Mr. Price. 681 00:29:07,963 --> 00:29:10,574 That's not a basis to exclude a witness. 682 00:29:10,618 --> 00:29:12,402 - No, but creating a mockery 683 00:29:12,446 --> 00:29:14,056 of the criminal justice system is, 684 00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:16,406 or at least it used to be. 685 00:29:16,450 --> 00:29:19,235 - Watch yourself, sir. 686 00:29:21,977 --> 00:29:24,414 Ezra Nichols is free to testify. 687 00:29:24,458 --> 00:29:27,591 And you, Mr. Price, are free to accept his confession 688 00:29:27,635 --> 00:29:29,855 if you so choose. 689 00:29:31,552 --> 00:29:33,510 Court is adjourned for today. 690 00:29:36,775 --> 00:29:39,038 - Is there a chance Ezra Nichols 691 00:29:39,081 --> 00:29:40,953 actually committed the murder? 692 00:29:40,996 --> 00:29:43,172 - Sure. It's possible. 693 00:29:43,216 --> 00:29:44,870 Just like it's possible someone 694 00:29:44,913 --> 00:29:47,829 not named Lee Harvey Oswald killed Kennedy. 695 00:29:47,873 --> 00:29:49,526 - What does the evidence say? 696 00:29:49,570 --> 00:29:52,834 - That Mr. Nichols was at home sleeping 697 00:29:52,878 --> 00:29:54,618 when the murder was committed. 698 00:29:54,662 --> 00:29:56,882 I don't--maybe we should just accept his confession, 699 00:29:56,925 --> 00:29:58,274 charge him with murder. 700 00:29:58,318 --> 00:29:59,275 At least somebody will go to prison for this. 701 00:29:59,319 --> 00:30:01,887 - I assume you're just venting. 702 00:30:01,930 --> 00:30:04,933 - [scoffs] I am. - Then let's move on. 703 00:30:04,977 --> 00:30:07,936 Let's view this confession for what it is, 704 00:30:07,980 --> 00:30:10,896 a stunt designed to distract the jury 705 00:30:10,939 --> 00:30:14,073 and create reasonable doubt, nothing more. 706 00:30:14,116 --> 00:30:17,293 So let Nichols spin his tale... 707 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,822 Then bury him on the cross and expose his lies. 708 00:30:29,436 --> 00:30:32,221 - Pell started out by asking me for a few thousand dollars. 709 00:30:32,265 --> 00:30:34,310 Then he wanted me to make sure he was named 710 00:30:34,354 --> 00:30:36,095 editor-in-chief of the "Law Review." 711 00:30:36,138 --> 00:30:38,837 - He was using your reputation and influence 712 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:40,795 to bolster his own résumé. 713 00:30:40,839 --> 00:30:42,231 - Yes. 714 00:30:42,275 --> 00:30:44,059 And I succumbed to his demands. 715 00:30:44,103 --> 00:30:45,582 - Why is that? 716 00:30:45,626 --> 00:30:48,672 - Because I'm ashamed of what I said, deeply. 717 00:30:48,716 --> 00:30:50,849 It's not who I am. 718 00:30:50,892 --> 00:30:52,198 If I'd heard another man say that, 719 00:30:52,241 --> 00:30:54,678 I'd be the first person to speak up, 720 00:30:54,722 --> 00:30:57,464 denounce his homophobia. 721 00:30:57,507 --> 00:31:00,162 So I was terrified. 722 00:31:00,206 --> 00:31:01,903 I knew the significance of the tape 723 00:31:01,947 --> 00:31:05,211 and the greed and ambition of the man in possession of it. 724 00:31:05,254 --> 00:31:07,909 - Can you elaborate on that? 725 00:31:07,953 --> 00:31:10,390 Tell us why you were so terrified? 726 00:31:10,433 --> 00:31:12,348 - Because we live in a society where people-- 727 00:31:12,392 --> 00:31:16,048 the press--want to crucify public figures 728 00:31:16,091 --> 00:31:18,702 for making a mistake. 729 00:31:18,746 --> 00:31:21,227 There are no second chances. 730 00:31:21,270 --> 00:31:24,534 One bad moment, one wrong word, and your career is over, 731 00:31:24,578 --> 00:31:26,754 no matter who you are or what you've accomplished. 732 00:31:26,797 --> 00:31:30,801 It's become a sport, a game. 733 00:31:30,845 --> 00:31:32,760 Who can we cancel next? 734 00:31:32,803 --> 00:31:35,894 So I gave James Pell everything he asked for 735 00:31:35,937 --> 00:31:37,939 to protect myself and my family. 736 00:31:37,983 --> 00:31:40,550 - Were there any other demands? 737 00:31:40,594 --> 00:31:42,988 - Yes. 738 00:31:43,031 --> 00:31:45,642 He wanted to clerk for the Supreme Court. 739 00:31:45,686 --> 00:31:46,992 That's where I drew the line. 740 00:31:47,035 --> 00:31:48,254 - How come? 741 00:31:48,297 --> 00:31:51,170 - Those clerks go on to be professors, 742 00:31:51,213 --> 00:31:53,563 judges, politicians. 743 00:31:53,607 --> 00:31:55,522 They become thought leaders for the next generation. 744 00:31:55,565 --> 00:31:57,916 I wasn't giving James Pell that kind of access. 745 00:31:57,959 --> 00:32:03,182 - And how did Mr. Pell react when you told him that? 746 00:32:03,225 --> 00:32:04,966 - He said he'd release the video. 747 00:32:05,010 --> 00:32:06,402 - And what did you do? 748 00:32:06,446 --> 00:32:10,406 - I told Pell we needed to talk in person. 749 00:32:10,450 --> 00:32:13,409 So I met him down at the boathouse that morning. 750 00:32:13,453 --> 00:32:15,411 I told him he needed to stop what he was doing, 751 00:32:15,455 --> 00:32:18,284 that I was done with his demands, his threats. 752 00:32:18,327 --> 00:32:19,981 - And how did he react? 753 00:32:20,025 --> 00:32:23,724 - He laughed in my face, said he owned me. 754 00:32:25,334 --> 00:32:29,251 That's when I lost my composure. 755 00:32:29,295 --> 00:32:31,645 I picked up a pipe, and I swung it at his head. 756 00:32:33,473 --> 00:32:36,302 - Where was your wife at this time? 757 00:32:36,345 --> 00:32:38,869 - She was home with our children. 758 00:32:38,913 --> 00:32:41,742 She had nothing to do with this. 759 00:32:41,785 --> 00:32:44,658 - Thank you, Professor Nichols. 760 00:32:44,701 --> 00:32:45,964 No further questions. 761 00:32:46,007 --> 00:32:48,923 [tense music] 762 00:32:48,967 --> 00:32:54,146 ♪ 763 00:32:54,189 --> 00:32:55,625 - Mr. Nichols... 764 00:32:58,063 --> 00:33:03,938 When you allegedly killed James Pell, 765 00:33:03,982 --> 00:33:05,374 where did you strike him? 766 00:33:05,418 --> 00:33:09,639 - On the side of his head above his right ear. 767 00:33:09,683 --> 00:33:11,946 - Do you recall what Mr. Pell was wearing that morning? 768 00:33:11,990 --> 00:33:15,254 - A light blue athletic shirt with dark blue markings 769 00:33:15,297 --> 00:33:16,820 on the sleeves. 770 00:33:16,864 --> 00:33:23,305 ♪ 771 00:33:23,349 --> 00:33:25,090 - Side of head, above right ear, 772 00:33:25,133 --> 00:33:27,092 light blue athletic shirt, 773 00:33:27,135 --> 00:33:28,789 dark blue markings on the sleeves. 774 00:33:28,832 --> 00:33:31,052 Professor Nichols, have you read the crime scene report 775 00:33:31,096 --> 00:33:32,488 for James Pell's murder? 776 00:33:32,532 --> 00:33:33,489 - No. I have not. 777 00:33:33,533 --> 00:33:35,491 - Yet, your so-called memories 778 00:33:35,535 --> 00:33:38,059 are word for word identical to what is written here. 779 00:33:38,103 --> 00:33:40,366 - Objection. - Sustained. 780 00:33:43,717 --> 00:33:45,458 - Professor Nichols, do you love your wife? 781 00:33:45,501 --> 00:33:46,807 - Of course. 782 00:33:46,850 --> 00:33:49,027 - And you would do almost anything to protect her, 783 00:33:49,070 --> 00:33:51,072 including lying about a murder 784 00:33:51,116 --> 00:33:52,378 to stop her from going to prison. 785 00:33:52,421 --> 00:33:54,206 - Objection! - Sustained. 786 00:33:54,249 --> 00:33:56,860 - You now claim you killed James Pell, 787 00:33:56,904 --> 00:34:00,038 even though you were at home the morning of the murder. 788 00:34:00,081 --> 00:34:01,300 - That's not true. 789 00:34:01,343 --> 00:34:02,431 - But no one else can verify 790 00:34:02,475 --> 00:34:04,042 your account of events, correct? 791 00:34:04,085 --> 00:34:05,521 - That'snot true. 792 00:34:05,565 --> 00:34:07,349 My wife and two children were home having breakfast 793 00:34:07,393 --> 00:34:09,699 when I returned from the boathouse. 794 00:34:09,743 --> 00:34:12,093 - They saw you return home that morning? 795 00:34:12,137 --> 00:34:13,660 - Yes. 796 00:34:13,703 --> 00:34:14,791 - And what time was this? 797 00:34:14,835 --> 00:34:18,534 - Approximately 6:45 a.m. 798 00:34:18,578 --> 00:34:20,232 - They saw you-- 799 00:34:20,275 --> 00:34:27,456 ♪ 800 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:28,675 Thank you. 801 00:34:28,718 --> 00:34:30,329 No further questions at this time. 802 00:34:32,331 --> 00:34:35,203 - You're excused. 803 00:34:35,247 --> 00:34:36,987 - Subpoena the son. 804 00:34:37,031 --> 00:34:40,817 The kid already told the police he left home at 6:45 a.m. 805 00:34:40,861 --> 00:34:42,645 He said he didn't see his parents that morning, 806 00:34:42,689 --> 00:34:44,952 didn't even know if they were home. 807 00:34:44,995 --> 00:34:48,390 - Which means one of them is lying. 808 00:34:48,434 --> 00:34:50,914 - I know which one my money is on. 809 00:34:50,958 --> 00:34:55,832 ♪ 810 00:34:59,271 --> 00:34:59,445 . 811 00:34:59,488 --> 00:35:02,143 - Your Honor, given that this witness 812 00:35:02,187 --> 00:35:03,927 is the defendant's son, I'd ask that you declare him hostile, 813 00:35:03,971 --> 00:35:05,320 allow me to ask leading questions. 814 00:35:05,364 --> 00:35:06,278 - Granted. 815 00:35:07,888 --> 00:35:10,717 - Where were you the morning of James Pell's murder? 816 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:12,371 - I was home. 817 00:35:12,414 --> 00:35:15,461 I left home for water polo practice at 6:45 a.m. 818 00:35:15,504 --> 00:35:19,029 - And did you see your mother or father? 819 00:35:19,073 --> 00:35:20,074 - I saw my mother. 820 00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:22,424 She made me breakfast. 821 00:35:22,468 --> 00:35:26,080 And I saw my father, too, briefly. 822 00:35:26,124 --> 00:35:28,517 He came home at 6:30, right before I left home 823 00:35:28,561 --> 00:35:30,215 for water polo practice. 824 00:35:30,258 --> 00:35:32,913 - Really? You saw him come home? 825 00:35:32,956 --> 00:35:34,958 - That's correct. 826 00:35:35,002 --> 00:35:37,831 - But you originally told the police 827 00:35:37,874 --> 00:35:40,877 that you didn't see either of them that day, correct? 828 00:35:40,921 --> 00:35:43,967 - Yes. I--I was confused. 829 00:35:44,011 --> 00:35:45,534 - But you're not confused now? 830 00:35:45,578 --> 00:35:47,406 - Correct. 831 00:35:47,449 --> 00:35:53,455 - So your father wasn't in his bedroom sleeping that morning? 832 00:35:53,499 --> 00:35:54,761 - That's right. 833 00:35:54,804 --> 00:35:56,937 [suspenseful music] 834 00:35:56,980 --> 00:36:00,114 - Well, that morning when you saw your mother, when she-- 835 00:36:00,158 --> 00:36:01,507 she made breakfast for you? 836 00:36:01,550 --> 00:36:02,421 How did she appear? 837 00:36:02,464 --> 00:36:05,815 Was she rattled, disoriented? 838 00:36:05,859 --> 00:36:08,862 Was she acting in a way that seemed abnormal? 839 00:36:08,905 --> 00:36:10,864 - Um... 840 00:36:10,907 --> 00:36:15,912 no, she seemed very normal. 841 00:36:15,956 --> 00:36:19,133 - What about your nanny, Magda? See her at home that morning? 842 00:36:19,177 --> 00:36:22,441 - I--I don't recall. 843 00:36:22,484 --> 00:36:25,618 - Your father told you what to say today, didn't he? 844 00:36:25,661 --> 00:36:26,880 - No. 845 00:36:26,923 --> 00:36:29,099 - He told you to lie about seeing him at home 846 00:36:29,143 --> 00:36:31,276 that morning in order to perpetuate 847 00:36:31,319 --> 00:36:34,104 the lie that he killed Pell. - Objection! 848 00:36:34,148 --> 00:36:35,410 - Sustained. 849 00:36:35,454 --> 00:36:37,369 - Nothing further at this time. 850 00:36:40,459 --> 00:36:43,244 We need to poke holes in this kid's testimony. 851 00:36:43,288 --> 00:36:45,725 Check with the coach. Pull phone, internet data. 852 00:36:45,768 --> 00:36:47,814 If we can prove he was telling the truth then-- 853 00:36:47,857 --> 00:36:50,425 - We can prove he's lying now. 854 00:36:52,210 --> 00:36:53,950 - I dug up everything I could on Cyrus Nichols. 855 00:36:53,994 --> 00:36:55,517 He seems like a really good kid-- 856 00:36:55,561 --> 00:36:58,607 straight-A student, debate team, varsity water polo, 857 00:36:58,651 --> 00:37:01,480 literally feeds the homeless on Sundays. 858 00:37:01,523 --> 00:37:03,395 - Does his story track the day of the murder? 859 00:37:03,438 --> 00:37:05,092 - I talked to his water polo coach. 860 00:37:05,135 --> 00:37:07,790 Confirms Cyrus was at practice at 7:15 a.m. 861 00:37:07,834 --> 00:37:10,663 And I found video of him a block from the school at 7:12. 862 00:37:10,706 --> 00:37:12,273 Doesn't really prove that he saw or didn't see 863 00:37:12,317 --> 00:37:13,579 his father that morning, 864 00:37:13,622 --> 00:37:15,233 just means he went to water polo practice. 865 00:37:15,276 --> 00:37:16,669 - [sighs] I know. 866 00:37:16,712 --> 00:37:19,280 We're looking for a needle in a haystack. 867 00:37:19,324 --> 00:37:20,847 - I might have one. 868 00:37:20,890 --> 00:37:22,675 - What do you mean? 869 00:37:22,718 --> 00:37:25,025 - Cyrus used his cell phone to call his parents' landline 870 00:37:25,068 --> 00:37:27,332 that morning at 5:49 a.m. 871 00:37:27,375 --> 00:37:29,551 - What? Why would he-- 872 00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:33,686 Get a ping order right away. 873 00:37:33,729 --> 00:37:34,643 - On it. 874 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:41,911 - What the hell's going on? What was so important? 875 00:37:41,955 --> 00:37:45,698 - We looked into your son's version of events. 876 00:37:45,741 --> 00:37:50,442 And we learned that he called your landline 877 00:37:50,485 --> 00:37:54,315 the morning of the murder at 5:49 a.m. 878 00:37:54,359 --> 00:37:57,405 So we pinged his cell. 879 00:37:57,449 --> 00:38:01,279 - And we eventually discovered this. 880 00:38:03,106 --> 00:38:07,720 This is Cyrus at 5:09 a.m. on the morning of the murder 881 00:38:07,763 --> 00:38:11,854 walking down 122nd Street, two blocks from the boathouse 882 00:38:11,898 --> 00:38:14,335 where Pell was killed. 883 00:38:16,946 --> 00:38:20,167 And this is Cyrus at 5:44 a.m., 884 00:38:20,210 --> 00:38:23,301 throwing away the pipe used to kill James Pell. 885 00:38:23,344 --> 00:38:30,438 ♪ 886 00:38:32,788 --> 00:38:39,229 - If you tell us everything that happened... 887 00:38:39,273 --> 00:38:41,971 we will do the best we can for your son. 888 00:38:42,015 --> 00:38:43,712 - Whatever they say, 889 00:38:43,756 --> 00:38:45,758 it can't be used against the child. 890 00:38:45,801 --> 00:38:46,802 - Agreed. 891 00:38:50,937 --> 00:38:52,634 - [sighs] 892 00:38:55,202 --> 00:38:57,683 Cyrus knew the pressure I was under-- 893 00:38:57,726 --> 00:39:00,033 that we were under. 894 00:39:00,076 --> 00:39:05,778 He overheard us arguing the night before about James Pell 895 00:39:05,821 --> 00:39:09,956 and how he was threatening to destroy our lives. 896 00:39:09,999 --> 00:39:13,351 - He knew the agony that this was causing. 897 00:39:15,265 --> 00:39:18,399 And Cyrus is a sensitive boy. 898 00:39:18,443 --> 00:39:20,967 He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. 899 00:39:21,010 --> 00:39:23,361 He always has. 900 00:39:23,404 --> 00:39:26,189 - I told him we would take care of everything, 901 00:39:26,233 --> 00:39:28,278 that this was not his problem. 902 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:31,847 But he-- 903 00:39:31,891 --> 00:39:35,068 - He killed James Pell. 904 00:39:35,111 --> 00:39:37,810 - It wasn't his fault. 905 00:39:37,853 --> 00:39:39,464 He was afraid. 906 00:39:39,507 --> 00:39:41,683 He was just trying to help. 907 00:39:41,727 --> 00:39:48,647 ♪ 908 00:39:51,389 --> 00:39:52,955 - Your Honor, the People have agreed 909 00:39:52,999 --> 00:39:55,741 to drop the murder charges against Michelle Nichols. 910 00:39:55,784 --> 00:39:57,917 We have also agreed not to charge 911 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,485 Ezra Nichols with perjury. 912 00:40:00,528 --> 00:40:01,790 - The Nichols family understands 913 00:40:01,834 --> 00:40:03,618 that it is in the best interests of the child 914 00:40:03,662 --> 00:40:06,360 to plead guilty in family court, 915 00:40:06,404 --> 00:40:09,145 and the record will be sealed. 916 00:40:09,189 --> 00:40:10,364 - Cyrus... 917 00:40:14,499 --> 00:40:16,805 Do you understand what this means? 918 00:40:19,068 --> 00:40:23,508 A judge in family court will be sentencing you for murder. 919 00:40:25,074 --> 00:40:26,772 - Yes, ma'am. 920 00:40:26,815 --> 00:40:28,687 I understand. 921 00:40:28,730 --> 00:40:31,951 - The case against Michelle Nichols is dismissed. 922 00:40:31,994 --> 00:40:36,042 Court Officer, please take Cyrus Nichols into custody. 923 00:40:36,085 --> 00:40:37,391 - He's just a boy. 924 00:40:37,435 --> 00:40:40,873 For God's sake, he's barely 14. 925 00:40:44,093 --> 00:40:46,748 [sobbing] 926 00:40:49,490 --> 00:40:50,970 - You okay? 927 00:40:51,013 --> 00:40:54,669 - A man is dead and a family's been destroyed, 928 00:40:54,713 --> 00:40:58,978 all because a good man blurted out a stupid, hateful word. 929 00:40:59,021 --> 00:41:05,941 ♪ 930 00:41:09,423 --> 00:41:12,339 [dramatic music] 931 00:41:12,382 --> 00:41:19,477 ♪ 932 00:41:39,322 --> 00:41:42,500 [wolf howling]