The Asunta Case (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

1
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
I told Asunta that I think
she's earned spending the summer
in Vilanova with her godmother.
And in town with Mari Cruz.
How about that?
[Alfonso] You agree?
Just for a little bit.
[Asunta] But will you visit?
[Alfonso] Well, of course.
And while you're on vacation,
I'll take care of mommy.
She'll have time to relax,
and I'll give her all the love she needs
to feel better.
Hm?
She's taken such good care of us
all these years. [voice fading]
Now it's her turn.
Right, Mommy?
We're going to be a family again.
Oops! We almost missed the car!
[tense, dramatic music playing]
THE ASUNTA CASE
SEPTEMBER 2013
SEVEN DAYS AFTER ASUNTA'S DEATH
[woman on radio]
The District Attorney is certain
Asunta's parents planned the murder
[reporters clamoring, chattering]
No, no, no, no.
[woman continues talking on radio]
[man] Want a smoke?
You look like you need it.
Smoking's going to kill you, Salgueiro.
Yes, but not as fast as you'd like.
Any comments about the semen
found on the girl's T-shirt?
You think you're so clever
publishing that kind of bullshit,
but it doesn't help
bring the girl's killers to justice.
- I'm disappointed in you.
- Prove it, then.
Gag order, I'm sorry.
So it's true that there's semen,
and not the father's.
Or in other words, Judge Malvar
really fucked up big time on this one.
You're good, Malvar. But you're not God.
I'm giving you a chance
to get ahead of JJ.
I've heard he has additional evidence
to back the theory of the third man.
You know where to find me.
[Salguiero] If that gag gets coughed up
all of a sudden.
[phone beeps, ringtone]
- [cellphone ringing]
- The judge.
I'm here, Your Honor.
- [Malvar] Cristina, are you at the lab?
- No. Just landed in Madrid.
[Malvar] Well, get over there.
I need to know everything forensics has
as soon as possible, you hear me?
Those bastards from the press
are circling overhead.
[Cristina] Okay.
[ends call]
- What's wrong?
- [Cristina] Can't wrap my head around it.
Around what?
If we go through everything,
- there's the camera at La Galuresa
- Yeah.
Rosario's contradictions,
Alfonso's purchases of lorazepam.
Where does this guy fit in the puzzle?
- [brakes screeching, horn beeping]
- Are you blind?!
[Ríos] What are you thinking, man?
There are so many terrible drivers.
I'll pull you over, asshole.
I think you're just tired.
It's my granddaughter.
[Cristina chuckles] You've earned a place
in heaven with that girl.
Right, I'm a saint. You know I'm a saint.
No, I think I'm like that old woman
who went to see
her newborn grandson at the hospital.
When she saw the boy, she yelled:
"It's ours, we have to love it!"
[both chuckle]
Could you imagine?
That's how I feel about her. She's ours.
Well, I mean there have to be some things
you like about her, right?
Of course, it's not all bad.
She can be the sweetest girl,
but look out.
- Yeah.
- [groans]
You'll have all day
to get tired of her when you retire.
- No, I'll be out fishing when I'm done.
- [chuckles]
UNIDENTIFIED SEMEN ON T-SHIR
WHAT IF THE PARENTS DIDN'T DO IT?
[indistinct chatter]
I haven't sold this many newspapers
since the Prestige.
- Right.
- So many people are talking about it.
They'll keep talking. See you.
- Absolutely.
- Bye!
- Have a good one.
ELENA GARRIDO
LAWYER
[doorbell buzzes]
[door buzzes open]
Good morning, Garrido.
Judge Malvar will start begging
for an early retirement.
When you add this to the neighbor
who walked by the crime scene in Montouto
Wait a minute, Juanjo.
We need to prove
that this man's telling the truth first.
Did you say "we"?
Does the use of that plural pronoun
mean you are ready
to take on the defense
of Alfonso Basterra?
Please, you shouldn't
be so cautious, Garrido.
This case will be easy, it's a layup.
Tonight we're going
to the road in Montouto,
and doing the same
visibility test as before,
by our own means.
- Believe your own eyes.
- And the moon?
When the body was found, the amount
of light that night was different.
[chuckles] You're familiar
with the lunar calendar, Garrido?
The change in the moon works in our favor.
If you look, on September 21st,
it was almost a full moon.
Now, it's waning.
If there's visibility tonight,
then on that night, when they walked by,
the neighbor would've surely
found the girl's body, if it was there.
And can you guess where
Alfonso and Rosario were at that time?
[Garrido] Save the riddles
for the press, JJ.
It's difficult to dump someone's body
when you're with the police.
That doesn't rule out
the involvement of an accomplice.
But it rules out the idea that Porto
and Basterra were there that night.
It also makes it easy for us
to prepare an airtight defense at trial.
Think about it. We'll be famous if we win.
What do you say?
What I don't understand is,
why do a joint defense at all?
Oh, well, because it will keep us
from doing any self sabotage.
- It'll be lot better.
- It's better for your client.
For all of us.
Is Mr. Basterra all right with his ex-wife
covering his defense bill?
Mm [taps desk] He better be.
If not, he'll try his luck
with a public defender.
His finances aren't good.
[Juanjo sniffles]
- Come on, just give me a number, Garrido.
- [sighs] That's not the issue.
I have a son, JJ.
The last thing I need right now
is this kind of exposure.
That's precisely why
I want you on my team.
Silence and discretion, that's my promise.
Leave the spotlight
and the punching to me.
[cellphone ringing]
Alba.
Dad, someone broke into Rosario's place
and tried to kill Asunta.
Wait, what are you talking about?
[Alba] Two months ago,
someone broke in and tried to kill her.
- [Juanjo] Who?
- I I don't know, Dad.
Hang on, hang on, um. Repeat that please,
Elena Garrido needs to hear
this information as well.
[Alba] I'm with Pilar,
the mother of a friend of Asunta.
She saw the news about the girl's T-shirt.
She came into the office to tell us
that someone broke into Rosario's place
this July and tried to murder Asunta.
I said she did the right thing,
because that can really help her parents.
Well, it's especially good
that she came to us,
and not to another person
I could think of.
Make sure she doesn't leave.
I'll be there as soon I can.
[Alba] Okay. See you soon.
Don't tell me
you still need to think about it.
[tense music playing]
This will be worth your while. Trust me.
[exhales]
- I don't know what to say!
- [Juanjo] I need you to tell me the truth.
I can't rely on getting vital information
because a friend of yours decided
to drop by my office and tell me about it.
What if she went to the police
instead of me?
[Rosario] I didn't know it was important!
It's very important, Charo.
It's a bombshell.
Juanjo, you're a parent.
Tell me what you would do.
No way I'd let Asunta
be traumatized all over.
Not reporting it looks suspicious
and could hurt your case.
This doesn't look good.
[Rosario] But I went to the station!
I can't take it, this is unbearable!
- Juanjo, they're driving me crazy.
- [Juanjo] Okay.
- [Rosario gasping]
- [Juanjo] Breathe.
[exhales] I mean,
this can come across bad,
but it might be good
if you and me play our cards right.
But this really only works one way.
I need all the information
about what happened that night.
All of it.
Rosario, your parole
depends on it, alright?
[dramatic music playing]
[Rosario, shakily] It was summer
Asunta and I were asleep.
LOCK THE DOOR AT NIGH
- [Rosario sighs deeply] I heard a noise.
- [girl screaming]
[Rosario] My daughter was screaming,
"There's a man!"
I ran to her and fought him off.
- He hit me and ran out of the apartment.
- You're okay. I'm here.
- [Asunta crying]
- [Rosario] It's over, sweetie.
You're okay. It's over.
[continues crying]
[Rosario] I think he was trying to rob us.
We kept a safe in our daughter's room.
- [Asunta] He wanted to kill me, Mommy!
- We're okay.
[tense music continues, then fades]
As you can see,
there were 26 cuts made in her shirt,
each cut in a strategic place.
And on each sample, they found semen?
No, no. Two of them on patches
eleven and fifteen around the neck area.
[Cristina] That doesn't seem right.
You don't think it's weird
that it's only in two specific areas?
I just think it's, um
very unlikely, don't you?
We just deal in the facts.
- You guys have to figure out the reasons.
- Yeah.
Exactly. Which is why
I'm not fully convinced here.
What are the chances
there was a contamination of the samples,
- here in the lab?
- [scientist 1] I'll show you.
All the cuts were done
using the same scissors.
If there was contamination here,
there'd also be traces
on cuts 12, 13, and 14.
That would be impossible.
Yeah, yeah, impossible
The samples all belong
to the same person, right?
[scientist] Correct.
- [Cristina] No one else?
- [scientist 1] Correct.
[Cristina] Okay then, thank you.
Thanks for your time.
- Mm-hmm. No problem.
- [Cristina] Let's go.
[Alfonso] I don't have any money, ma'am.
Don't worry about it.
And please don't be so formal.
Why did Rosario choose you?
All right, Alfonso.
We can spend time talking about me,
and why I chose to defend you,
but talking about you
is much more important.
As I was saying before,
Pilar Araujo, Rosario's friend,
informed us of Asunta's attack
on July 4th,
which proves that the two of you
have nothing to do with this.
I definitely don't,
I wasn't even in Montouto.
[Garrido] Why didn't you report
the assault on July 4th, Alfonso?
[Alfonso] Rosario's a lawyer
and didn't want our daughter
to have to go through that process.
It's absolutely essential
that we don't give Malvar another reason
to focus on you two again.
It has to be clear
that we aren't hiding anything.
[Alfonso] I already told him everything.
What does that son of a bitch
want from me?
Remember when they
first searched your apartment?
This was before you were accused.
They took this photo.
[dramatic music playing]
- [Garrido] When they arrested you
- The laptop wasn't there, I know.
I don't think that's a crime.
It's mine to do with what I want.
What would you assume when a suspect
gets rid of something like that?
There's something they're trying to hide.
When I found out Rosario was cheating,
and we separated,
I completely lost control.
I'm not proud of it.
I wrote some emails at the time.
I used strong words.
I thought those could help put me away.
That's all.
Good. Good.
[breathes deeply]
But the problem is, people think of you
as the parents that, um
will do anything.
That's what's been sold to the public.
Changing that starts
with these kinds of details.
We have nothing to hide.
Time to prove it.
If I ask for another search,
do you think they'll find your computer?
Thank you so much
for accepting our request.
We hope this confirms Mr. Basterra's
intentions and willingness to cooperate.
Yeah, let's see.
Cut the crap, let's get to work.
What did I say, Pedrito?
This performance deserves an Oscar.
Well, let's just do our job
and get this over with.
[camera shutter clicking]
- Your Honor.
- [chuckles]
After the five loaves and two fish,
here's the miracle of the appearance
of Mr. Alfonso Basterra's laptop.
Un-fucking-real.
What is this, counselor? Seriously?
It's a laptop.
It's missing from the first search,
and now it turns up.
[scoffs] They must think we're idiots.
This is all very convenient, isn't it?
You're trying to sell the story of the
poor parents who are unfairly imprisoned.
You prove the defendant is honest.
He has nothing to hide.
- Hmm?
- We don't sell stories, Your Honor.
Our job is about proof and evidence.
As I assume is everyone else's.
You know what? I think, maybe,
your confidence is going to bite you.
- This is in adherence to the law.
- [cellphone ringing]
- Excuse me.
- Mr. Basterra
Excuse me. Yeah?
[Cristina]We have bad news, Your Honor.
They analyzed the biological traces,
they belong to a man named Carlos Murillo.
Twenty one-years old,
born in Guatemala, residing in Madrid.
He has a record.
What? He's been to jail?
[Ríos] Yeah, for a month,
this summer, Your Honor.
[Cristina] For an alleged sexual assault.
On July 14th,
they had a party at his apartment.
The girl accused the guy,
he denies everything.
Same old story.
Okay, well, um
take his statement and call me back.
[Cristina] Okay.
Fuck me.
[door opens]
I'm sure you think you deleted everything
on the hard drive, but shit leaves stains.
It's simple to track it.
Let's see what's on that hard drive.
[tense music builds]
[music fades]
[Malvar] You didn't like the omelet?
Come on, Dad.
You know I only leave you with Ángela
when I have no other choice.
If it was up to me
If you don't want to do it, don't do it.
It's that simple.
It's that simple, right.
[Eloy] What did I teach you, son?
What did I teach you?
You want my short list?
Answer a question
with a question. For example.
When you're a judge, it's easy.
What happens in the end isn't important.
What's important is your conduct.
I can't have any doubts about it.
I have to know I'm not wrong.
It'll keep me up at night. Huh?
Doing the work means sleepless nights.
It happens to everyone.
Do you think I slept well
when I came back from the Sole Bank
without the catch I needed?
Huh?
Sleep well.
[Eloy] I'm staying here from now on.
Your sister's cooking is unbearable.
That garbage is so bad,
I miss the Dominican woman's cooking.
[Malvar] Her name is Romina.
- But she's Dominican, right?
- Mm-hmm.
I was right.
You should get to bed, pop.
- Okay, start walking, please.
- I get it, okay?
I already did this with the police.
Try to walk at the same pace
as you walked with your wife that night.
- I'm walking at the same pace.
- Well, I'm grateful.
And would you please
keep the flashlight facing the road?
[Miranda] My wife and I
walk the same route every night.
I know it so well,
I could do it with my eyes closed.
Hey, my wife was telling me about
how there's a new suspect now.
I think that makes a lot of sense.
There are all kinds of scum that
wander around here after a certain time.
Mr. Miranda, please, stay focused.
I was chatting with my wife that night,
so I should be able to chat with you.
You see?
There it is.
I really don't know how else to say it.
There's no way
that girl was there that night.
She wasn't there, I promise.
Thank you, one moment, please, sir.
- Okay, he's obviously biased.
- Well, yeah, I mean
When you take into account
he's taken the test before.
He walks this way every night.
I hear you and, honestly, I think
we'll have a difficult time proving this,
and defending it during the trial.
Not as difficult
as what they'll have to prove.
There are so many factors.
It's the neighbor's statement,
the semen stain on the T-shirt,
the attack of Asunta on July 4th.
- How about we request a set bail?
- Well, not so fast.
You have to walk to go far.
If you run, you could fall.
This particular case is a battle
that has many fronts.
The most important one doesn't
necessarily take place in the courtroom.
If I'm right, I think your father
has something else in mind.
[exhales]
My sweetheart.
A good lawyer knows the law.
A great lawyer also knows the judges.
Uh, could you send me the number for
that one journalist, Tiago Salgueiro.
[Alba] Tiago Salgueiro.
Okay.
[dramatic music playing]
[Ríos] We'll see if he's here.
- Yeah. Thank you.
- Sure.
[doorbell rings]
Yes?
[Cristina] Good morning, Civil Guard.
Are you Carlos Murillo?
Can you come with us,
we need you to answer some questions.
Uh, right now?
[Cristina] Yeah, If you can go get your ID
and come with us.
- [Ríos] We can come in, right?
- Please.
- [Cristina] Thank you.
- [Murillo] It's a little messy.
- You live here alone?
- Uh, with my sister Isabel.
She's at the bank, working.
Excuse me, but, what's this all about?
If it's about what happened this summer,
I don't have anything
to add to my statement.
They took samples of everything.
We were drunk and dancing at a party.
It was all consensual, I swear to God.
I wish I didn't have to do this again,
I'm getting married.
Congratulations, but now
you need to come with us.
I have to call the bakery
to let them know.
I can't lose this job.
And I have to let my sister know too.
Well, do you have a lawyer?
If you don't,
we can provide a public defender.
You'll need that, it's raining.
[Pedro] Mr. Murillo, can you hear me?
- [Murillo] Yes.
- [Pedro] Great.
Um how do you explain the fact
that we found biological traces of you
on the T-shirt of a little girl
that was found murdered in Teo, A Coruña?
[Murillo] I don't know.
I don't even know where Teo is.
And, and, I've never been in Galicia.
You said that already.
[Murillo] I swear. This is a mistake.
It has to be a mistake.
[Pedro] Is what happened
in your apartment this summer a mistake?
[Murillo] Um as I've said,
that was a misunderstanding.
So when it suits you,
it's a misunderstanding,
and when it doesn't, it's a mistake?
No, listen. I was drinking,
and we had sex, but I didn't force her.
It happened in my apartment,
where my sister lives.
Who could do something like that?
[Murillo] I'm getting married soon.
I'm in love with my fiancée.
Even if you find that hard to believe.
She forgave me for that.
Please, I don't, I don't
No, I don't want
to put her through this again.
Listen. Do you believe in,
excuse me, in paranormal phenomena?
- [Murillo] No, sir.
- Neither do I.
I believe everything can be explained.
I became a judge to pursue the truth, huh?
[Murillo] Please, I swear.
I've done a lot of things wrong.
But I'm not a killer, you know?
- [Malvar] Calm down.
- I didn't murder anybody.
Okay, take it easy.
The reason we need information
is to see what can't be proven,
and what can be proven, right?
How about we start with September 21st?
Can you recall where you were,
and with whom, what you did?
- [Murillo] I don't remember. I swear
- You don't remember.
- I remember
- It was a Saturday. Does that help?
[Murillo] Oh, um Oh, Saturday.
My fiancé and I were together.
We went shopping all day at the mall,
I know for sure that I never left Madrid.
I swear, it's true.
It wouldn't even be possible.
On 1st and 15th,
I report to the court of Navalcarnero.
They're holding my passport there.
When I'm not working at the bakery,
I really don't go out.
I will either stay at my fiancé's place
or at home with my sister.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Murillo.
Any questions from the defense attorneys
for Ms. Porto or Mr. Basterra?
[Juanjo] Yes. Uh, we still
have one question, Mr. Murillo.
Tell me how it's possible
that you were in Madrid on 21st September,
if we have confirmed
that there are traces of your sperm
on Asunta Basterra's T-shirt
that day in Galicia.
Explain that to us!
Like I've said, please ask the officers
that searched my apartment.
They looked in my trash.
I know they found a used condom,
but I can't tell you
what they did with it.
Yeah, I hear you, Mr. Murillo.
But understand that in this moment,
the evidence is irrefutable.
- [Juanjo] Where were you on July 4th?
- God.
[Malvar] How is that relevant?
[exhales]
[tense music playing]
[Malvar] What if it wasn't him?
He's a young Latino man with a rap sheet.
You know how people are.
They'll eat the poor bastard alive
before we can prove
he wasn't in Galicia that night.
If we can't rule out Murillo,
it's going to be very difficult
to make a strong case
against Rosario and Alfonso.
- This really fucked us, Luis.
- Yeah, I understand.
[presses elevator button]
- [line ringing]
- [Cristina] Yes, Your Honor?
Cristina, that boy's shitting himself.
Any luck with his fiancé or sister?
[Cristina] Yeah,
we're with his sister now.
[woman] On that Saturday,
I took some pics with my phone.
I uploaded them to Facebook.
[Ríos] Do you mind
if we hold onto your phone?
We'll get it back,
we need to confirm
the pictures were from that day.
[woman] It's the truth.
I know for sure, because I was with him.
I remember where we went.
We went together
to pick up the suit for his wedding.
[Ríos] The suit for his wedding?
[woman] Yes, at a nearby mall.
And then we went to a restaurant
and and had dinner.
It's our job
to ask questions, Ms. Murillo. It's, um
Look. I don't know if it's important
but, um but I got the dinner
with my credit card.
It was fifty-three euros.
I verified it at the bank this morning.
Yes, that is important. Thanks, Isabel.
[Isabel crying]
Was he here? Have you seen him before?
I think so, but I can't be sure, sorry.
He was with someone, I think.
You recall selling the suit, right?
Right here. It's on the receipt,
dated 21st September.
- Was it beige? Of course!
- Yes.
When I started here, there were two.
That one and the other is still available.
- I'll show you, It's a
- No, no, no.
Don't trouble yourself, no.
An ugly suit is always bad. [chuckles]
In this case, I suppose
it's a good one. It could save him.
- Um I appreciate your time.
- You're welcome.
[cellphone ringing]
- Malvar.
- [Pedro] Are you watching?
Watching what?
[Pedro] Luis, turn on your TV.
Hang on, I just got home. One sec.
[groans]
[Salguiero through TV] Out of the 70
biological samples
collected since the case started,
there's one that's driving police crazy.
The semen traces
found on the girl's T-shirt.
While the autopsy
ruled out sexual assault,
those biological traces
are irrefutable scientific evidence.
Those traces don't belong to the father,
who's still in prison.
Whose are they? What are they hiding?
[Juanjo] Those are the questions
we, as the defendants' lawyers,
keep asking ourselves.
If the fluids don't belong to the father,
who do they belong to?
Call you back.
[Juanjo] My clients should be home,
mourning the death of their child,
not in prison.
It's horrible. And something else
We have the testimony
of a close friend of Rosario Porto,
who told us about an attack
that Asunta suffered in July,
that occurred in Rosario's home,
by an unknown person.
This came as quite a shock.
I wouldn't be surprised
if the semen belonged to the same person.
You could logically deduce
that this is the person who killed Asunta.
This investigation was headed
in the wrong direction from the start.
It seems obvious.
The important question is, actually:
For what reason
would someone make this personal?
An obsession, that's more like it,
against Rosario and Alfonso.
Let me remind you
that it wouldn't be the first time
an innocent person is blamed
and is imprisoned for years, unjustly.
Look at the case
of Rocío Wanninkhof, for example.
But, in the end,
the truth will always rear its ugly face.
The police should release Asunta's parents
from prison, immediately.
[TV reporter 1] Semen was found
on the T-shirt Asunta was wearing
on the night she died
- [changes channel]
- [reporter 2] Civil Guard found it
after analyzing the child's clothes
in the lab.
- An examination that tested positive
- [switches TV off]
[drops TV remote control]
That fucking bastard!
[cellphone ringing]
[Ríos] It's the judge.
- [accepts call]
- Yeah?
[Malvar] Anything from Murillo's sister?
Yeah, we've met with her and are trying
to corroborate her story, Your Honor,
but I think it's the truth.
[Ríos] It appears
they went to a shopping mall
and picked up a suit for his wedding.
All right, good work.
By the way, there's an interview
with that buffoon attorney. You see it?
He represents Rosario.
[Ríos] No.
He came on television and told the world
that someone tried to kill Asunta
in her apartment a few months ago.
I'm sorry?
[Malvar] That someone tried to kill Asunta
in her apartment in July.
A man broke in and attacked her.
That was the reason
why the attorney was asking Murillo
about his whereabouts
on the evening of July 4th.
Understand?
Your Honor, I'm sorry, are you implying
that the guy who did this was Murillo?
In July, he went to Asunta's house
and tried murdering her
he didn't succeed.
But two months later,
he leaves Madrid again
- to finish the job once and for all?
- It doesn't make sense.
I agree, it doesn't, but the story
is out there. It's that attorney.
He's trying to link those stories,
and if he manages to succeed,
Murillo will be in prison
before we know it. All right?
[Ríos] Mm-hmm.
[Cristina] Okay, Your Honor,
we'll put someone on it.
Okay, let's get to work.
[serene music playing]
[music turns tense]
If they put that fucking greaser in here,
we're going to reform him
by beating his head in!
For you, man.
[woman] Cheer up, Charo.
You're getting out of here.
Thank you, dear.
[pulsating, tense music playing]
Excuse me, but
are all these receipts
from September 21st?
Yes, all the ones that were saved.
The others were tossed
or the customer kept it.
Thank you.
[tense music continues]
They definitely were here.
[ringtone]
[cellphone ringing]
What is it?
[Cristina] They have an alibi, Your Honor.
[Ríos] Yeah, the sister paid with a card,
we've confirmed it with the bank.
Yeah, Luis, that's great, but
It only proves she was at the restaurant.
[Ríos] Yeah, that's what
we initially thought as well.
We checked the drinks they ordered
with the picture on the cell phone,
the drinks exactly match the photo,
and the receipt matches the money
charged to the card on September 21st.
- [Cristina] He's never been to Galicia.
- [Ríos] In his life.
Game over.
Next round is on me!
Wait, there was something else.
On your way back, stop by the lab first
and tell the genius who screwed up
I have a couple questions.
If you had plans to see Lion King,
better get a refund. [snarls]
[Cristina] Thank you, Your Honor.
[exhales]
[laptop whirring, bleeping]
[tense music playing]
[scientist 2] Allow me to explain.
[clears throat] First, we clean
the work surface with bleach
and wait for at least five minutes.
Next, we clean the tools,
also with bleach.
After that, we use paper towels
to wipe the work surface
before placing the evidence on the table.
Using these protocols
[Malvar] Oh, great!
[clapping hands] Very good masterclass!
But if the shirt was on
such a sterilized area,
how did the semen end up there?
[scientist 2] As I told the officers,
there are only traces on cuts 11 and 15.
It's important to make that clear.
The officers also asked
about the possibility of contamination,
which seems very likely.
[Malvar] Considering that the biological
traces of Mr. Murillo were analyzed
following these protocols, correct?
[scientist 2] Right now,
we have two hypotheses.
One: the semen sample contamination
originated here in our lab,
but it only affected two cuts.
And they were all done
with the same scissors.
The other one?
The semen sample was placed on the T-shirt
before it arrived at the lab.
If the scissors were contaminated,
it would have affected the other cuts.
- [Malvar] Thank you.
- Welcome.
So they screwed up.
They'll never own up to it because it
could jeopardize their certification.
[Pedro] Great. At least
they admitted there was a contamination.
But I can't show a jury
proof that it happened in the lab.
[Malvar] We could care less
about the latter.
The important thing is that
the only suspects are Basterra and Porto.
[Pedro] How do I explain this in court?
You really think JJ and Garrido
are going let this go?
I'm fucked, Luis.
This pokes holes in my argument.
- No!
- Yes, it does
- You know it.
- This won't affect anything!
You have a guy that was never in Galicia.
You have contaminated evidence
and two suspects who keep
contradicting their story with no alibi.
- Agh.
- [water splashing]
[cellphone ringing]
- Cristina.
- Your Honor.
Turrientes discovered some pornography
in a hidden file on Alfonso's laptop.
Specifically Asian.
So the guy didn't have his fill
taking photos of his daughter.
He was watching Asian pornography as well.
[Cristina] They're just temporary files.
Did you tell anybody?
- [Cristina] No, not yet, Your Honor.
- Keep it that way.
I'll ask for another interrogation
of Basterra and Porto.
What about the attack on July 4th?
[Cristina] Yeah. Uh, Molina's on it.
[Malvar] Nice work.
[scoffs]
I can't wait to see Four-eyes' face
when I ask him to explain this to me.
- Feeling better?
- [Pilar] Yes, thank you.
Tell me what happened.
My daughter and I picked up Asunta
for a trip to the beach.
[Molina] Yes, but, how did you find out
someone attacked her on July 4th?
The girls were arguing in the car
on the way there,
so I asked if there was a problem.
Asunta got really quiet.
So my daughter insisted
she tell me about it.
She told me the story. The night before,
she was in her room sleeping,
and a man tried to suffocate her.
But her mom rushed in to help
and the man who broke in escaped.
I didn't believe her.
But she showed me some bruises
she had on her neck right here.
I was so scared.
Did the girl say specifically
the attacker was a man?
Mm, the girl said it was a man,
because her mother said it was a man.
She couldn't see them, it was dark.
What did you do next?
Pulled the car over and called Rosario.
It might not be anything.
I don't even know how to say it, but
Your daughter has bruises
around her throat.
[shutter clicks]
[Pilar] She told me this story
about last night, and I, uh
- Charo? Are you there?
- Yes, yes, yes. I'm here.
Someone broke into our house.
We think it was a thief
trying to steal our safe.
Really?
[Rosario] We keep a safe in Asunta's room.
We must have forgotten to lock the door.
LOCK THE DOOR AT NIGH
It's scary, but both of us are fine
and that's what's important
[Pilar] Wait, what do you mean,
how could she be fine?
I'm turning around, okay.
[Rosario] I swear, it's fine. Don't worry.
Asunta loves the beach, it'll be good
to take her mind off all this
But did you report this?
Do the police know?
[Rosario] The truth is, Pilar,
I didn't report it.
I didn't want
to make the girl more nervous.
[Pilar] What?
What do you mean?
You need to go to the station right now!
- Please tell me you'll file a report!
- [Rosario] Yes, yes, you're right.
Just do me a favor and don't talk
to her about it anymore, please.
[suspenseful music playing]
Rosario Porto never filed a report.
[suspenseful music builds, then fades]
Are you pulling my leg?
Tell me something.
If I take a photo,
and I change the date
in my phone's settings to 19th or 12th,
now on that photo,
the creation date will be the date I set.
Am I right or not?
- [IT expert] Right. A novice could do it.
- This comes from an IT expert, not me.
Okay, but the restaurant receipt
can't be altered.
It's from 21st September.
I've already addressed that.
It shows the sister
was there, not Murillo.
- Did you examine that photo?
- Yeah, I've seen it.
There's nothing out of the ordinary,
except it's a bad photo.
Well, the image quality isn't good.
[Juanjo] Therefore, it could've
been tampered with.
I really doubt it.
The shadows, the reflections
everything looks right.
This comes from an IT expert, not me.
Yeah, right.
They can alter anything nowadays!
That photo was edited, I guarantee it.
I'm sorry, Garrido,
but if they think that a bad photo
and a receipt are enough
to take the heat off Murillo
You know that image wasn't tampered with.
I don't know for sure.
What should we do?
Let them dismiss the fact that Murillo's
semen was found on Asunta's T-shirt?
- I never said that
- Then what are you saying?
We'll find a way
Go tell your defendant
a crappy photo is the reason
they aren't going to free him,
and tell me how he responds.
- [cellphone ringing]
- Yes?
What?
Okay, thanks.
Son of a bitch.
Malvar wants another interrogation
of Rosario and Alfonso.
[cellphone ringing]
What's up, honey?
- [Antonio] Hey. Uh, can you talk?
- [Cristina] I'm almost there. Two minutes.
Is it important? What's up?
Don't mind me, I'm sound asleep.
I won't hear anything.
Is something going on?
[Antonio] Uh, I guess it could wait,
it's just, the clinic just called, and
And?
Tell me.
Two of the fertilized eggs made it.
We have two embryos! [chuckles]
They said they can transfer them
any time we want.
[Cristina] Honey, if it was good news,
why did you drag it out so damn long?
You Galicians love to embellish a story.
But he was trying to tell you,
you kept cutting him off. [chuckles]
Honey, see you in a second.
I'm pulling up now.
Hey, congratulations.
- [Antonio chuckles] I love you.
- [laughs]
That's classic. I mean, wow.
- Please forgive the TMI, okay?
- Don't apologize! I'm so happy for you.
- [thud]
- [Cristina] Ugh.
- Sorry, I just
- I knew it. No, no. No rush.
Just roll into first gear.
No wonder you weren't eating
or drinking anything.
- I couldn't. I didn't know how to
- I saw it from a mile away.
Amazing, how wonderful.
It is.
And thanks.
Go, don't keep him waiting.
I'll take the car.
Take it easy on the guy. I know you, okay?
- Congratulations.
- Thanks a lot, partner.
- Go ahead.
- Get some rest.
- [door closes, car leaves]
- [both chuckle]
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
[clock ticking]
[Juanjo] Why a new subpoena now?
Don't ask me, I don't have a clue.
We complied with
everything they requested.
And, even then, with the proof
that clearly implicated this Mr. Murillo,
Rosario and Alfonso are still
having to defend their innocence,
while incarcerated.
[reporter 1] Does Rosario know
about this new suspect?
How are her and Alfonso?
[Juanjo] Just imagine
This is all so disgusting.
I ask, what is it based on?
On a terrible photograph
that anyone could have manipulated
in the settings of their phone.
Not to mention that a woman as old as
Rosario Porto doesn't have enough strength
to drag a body like that out of a car.
And to think that she does is absurd.
Or that there isn't a single image
that can show Alfonso Basterra
outside of his house.
It's very strange, and suspicious too.
They throw it all aside,
the proof and all the evidence,
for the theories of Judge Malvar.
[reporter 2] Your Honor,
why isn't Murillo here?
Listen, the only thing
I can say at this moment
is that we're very close
to obtaining justice for that poor girl.
[reporter 3] After elevating the criminal
charges from homicide to murder,
- what are your expectations?
- Nothing else, for now. All right.
Listen, the only proven scientific,
objective, concrete evidence there is,
is the semen found on Asunta's T-shirt,
and it's Carlos Murillo's.
- Thank you. No comment, nothing else.
- [reporters clamoring]
[reporters shouting questions]
[Juanjo]We're going to defend them
until the very end.
Your Honor. Your Honor, I don't want
to bother you, but I want to talk to you.
I'm Virginia Cabaleiro,
Rosario Porto's neighbor, and
I have two dogs [voice trailing]
CIVIL GUARD
[vehicle door sliding open]
- [vehicle door sliding closed]
- [footsteps]
CIVIL GUARD
Okay.
[Malvar] Listen, uh, Ms. Porto,
why didn't you report the break-in
that happened at the beginning of July?
Like I said before,
what was important to me
was that Asunta not go through all that.
I didn't want her to be petrified
at night sleeping in our house.
Someone almost killed your daughter,
and your main concern, um,
is keeping her calm about it? [laughs]
I don't think the burglar
tried to kill her.
You know how kids are.
I just think he tried robbing us.
The man hit me too that night,
I ended up with a black eye.
Ms. Porto, when this happened
did you hear any dogs barking downstairs?
This was right before
the guy broke into your house?
I'm sorry, I don't follow.
[Pedro] I'll repeat the question.
Do you remember hearing any dogs barking?
Mm Not that I recall, no.
[Pedro] Not that you recall.
Well, we have this statement
from a Mrs. Virginia Cabaleiro.
She's your neighbor. Do you know her?
[Rosario] Yes, she lives downstairs.
Your neighbor says that she's a dog lover,
she has two very loud dogs.
The kind where you put your key
in the lock to open the door
[imitates dog barking]
The entire building hears it.
[Malvar] Do you see
where I'm going with this?
- Mmm no.
- [Malvar] No. They didn't bark.
No barking the entire night in question.
They go crazy when they hear anything.
The mailman, anybody they don't know.
If a neighbor from the building comes in,
not a sound.
[Juanjo] Um, Your Honor,
looking at the report,
I'm afraid I don't see any mention
of this witness's statement.
And, in any case, I must object.
I'm surprised you're even mentioning it.
To put forth an animal's behavior
as a way to determine
if the attacker was someone
they knew or not is ridiculous.
It's an important detail I wanted to share
with Ms. Porto and everybody here.
- [Juanjo] Ah.
- It's suspicious. That's for sure.
[Malvar] I wanted to ask, Ms. Porto,
whose idea was it to not report it?
Yours? Your ex-husband's? Whose?
I'd say the decision was mutual.
Do you always do everything he says?
Your ex-husband asks you to do something,
you do it. Just like that?
I really don't know what to say to that.
When it came to our daughter's well-being,
of course I did.
He wanted what's best for her.
He wanted what's best for her.
Actually, Ms. Porto, you might
just change your mind about that.
Tell me, are you aware
that they found DNA traces of Mr. Basterra
in your adopted daughter's underwear?
[groans, coughs]
[Malvar] After a certain age,
for a father to continue
touching his daughter's underwear
- Your Honor, please ask your question.
- I'm about to move on. Very strange.
- Just saying, very strange.
- [Rosario] Asunta didn't care about that.
I mean, she didn't
have a problem with [gasps]
Oh, gosh! Your Honor,
the press took my picture.
They're outside the window.
[breathing shakily]
[indistinct chatter]
[tuts]
Unbelievable.
[Malvar] No, I'll get it.
They're taking pictures of me
[inhales deeply]
- [tense music playing]
- [indistinct chatter on street]
- All right, show's over.
- [Rosario sobbing]
I'm truly sorry, Ms. Porto.
I don't know what happened.
All right, uh, let's take a recess.
[Rosario continues sobbing]
[crying, sniffling]
[no audible dialogue]
[Garrido] My client has decided
to refrain from making any statements.
[Malvar] Okay, no problem.
You should know
your ex-wife gave a statement.
She came in and was much more cooperative.
That said, let me think, um.
I'll state the facts and you can
tell your side of things at any time.
It's your choice to answer or not,
Mr. Basterra. Great. [clears throat]
When your wife was away,
were you aware of what she was up to?
[keyboard clacking]
For example, the day before
your daughter was murdered,
she spent the day with Mr. Vicente Dozón.
My guess
She was looking for what she couldn't find
in your dead marriage. Hm?
Your Honor, could you stick to the facts
and stop with your assumptions?
- You want facts?
- I'd appreciate it.
- Here's a fact.
- Okay.
You know what that famous laptop
of your client's had on it?
The one that you claimed
stayed in the house?
There are files
containing pornography on it.
More importantly, they were mainly photos
and videos of young Asian women.
Watching pornography online isn't a crime
unless there are minors involved.
If that's not the case, I don't understand
why my client's preferences are relevant.
I mean, uh,
you have to admit it's quite peculiar,
especially when you consider
who he chose to adopt.
But, okay, you're right.
Let's continue sticking to the facts.
- Okay.
- Right, um
In respect to, uh, the traces of your DNA,
um, they found on her underwear,
anything to say to that?
[Garrido] What kind of DNA
are you referring to?
[Malvar] Epidermic DNA.
[Garrido] Seriously, Your Honor?
Come on, any person
that touches the girl's clothes,
even before putting them in her dresser
- [Malvar] Attorney, the situation's clear.
- [Garrido] Oh, is it?
[Malvar] The two of you
drugged your daughter.
You attempted to kill her
that night in July.
Then made good on it later.
- We have proof of, um Evidence.
- [Garrido] No, you have theories.
- Not proof.
- [Malvar] The evidence being:
the dates the drugs were bought
match the dates when she felt dizzy.
We have traces of lorazepam
on the dress Ms. Porto wore.
The teachers' statements.
The camera footage
when we see the girl for the last time.
Uh, the matching twine
from the house in Montouto.
The traces of vomit in the back seat
of the car, the missing rear floor mats.
- Evidence.
- [Garrido] Those are theories.
The truth is,
in the 18 years I've been working,
I've never seen a clearer case.
- Really?
- That's right.
- [Alfonso] You're a disgusting pig.
- What's that?
- [Garrido] Alfonso.
- I wish you were rotting in a cell.
- My God. Calm down.
- [Alfonso] Accusing me of poisoning
- Alfonso.
- Saying I abused her
- Calm down. Take him away to his cell.
- You're playing into his hands
I'll tear your head off, you little bitch!
I'll tear your head off!
Don't talk about my daughter ever again!
[dramatic music playing]
[door closes]
- [clicks tongue] This is unbelievable.
- [Garrido] It is unbelievable, I agree.
Well, I'm done.
This investigation is closed.
I have all the proof I need
to take them to court.
[music fades]
Based on a true story.
Parts are fictionalized
for privacy and narrative pace.
[serene music playing]