Law & Order (1990) s01e19 Episode Script
The Serpent's Tooth
Narrator:.
In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups- the police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
Bomb threats.
what a crock.
How do you figure? I n the middle of the winter? Probably took the first snowbird special down to Miami, like anybody else with a couple of brain-cells to rub together.
I happen to like winter.
You happen to be nuts.
Enjoy it all you want, pal.
I'll go roast these pecans.
Help! Oh my God, help them! My parents, they've been shot! First thought was, it was a diversion.
You know, because of the bomb threats.
The name's Greg Jarmon.
we called his brother.
Stay with him.
write down anything he says.
All right, Max, Mike.
Evelyn Jarmon- two shots from right here.
There's more.
Karl Jarmon- three at close range.
Let me guess.
No signs of burglary.
Alarm's still on.
Kid tripped it when he came in.
No shells, but check out the study.
Italian, Czech, English.
The best money can buy.
This one has been fired.
Run it through the lab.
You never figure you're gonna get it from your own gun.
Detective.
Double-ought buck.
Five missing.
Jarmon and sons, last fall.
The family that kills together I don't know, I just I came home and found them.
Max: Where were you? At the Garden.
A Rangers Game.
By yourself? No, my brother Nick picked me up.
And when I came home, I walked in and I saw Mom.
Man: Greg?! where's Mom? I'm Nick Jarmon.
where's my mother? No she wasn't supposed to be home.
Do you know where she was supposed to be, Nick? A benefit at the Met.
She wasn't supposed to be home.
what did your father do for a living? Printing.
He owns- owned a printing company.
Greg said you guys went to the Rangers game? Dad- the company has season tickets.
Just so I get it straight, Greg picked you up to go the game? No, I went up to the house around 7:00.
we took a cab to the game.
Did you see your parents? I didn't go in.
Oh? You had dinner at the game? Later.
At Chelsea Central.
Then I went home.
we went to Chelsea Central.
I think I left my scarf there.
Don't worry about it.
what time did you get home? I'm not sure.
Uh So, you met Nick at the Garden, right? No, I told you, he came over to the house.
Okay.
Listen did your father have any enemies? Did he ever talk about troubles he might have had? we didn't really pay attention.
Mom- everybody loved her.
One last thing before you go, we'd like you to take a paraffin test.
what's that? Just a test to see whether there's gunpowder residue on your hands.
wait a minute.
You don't think- It's standard procedure.
You might as well know.
There may be powder on my hands.
This afternoon on the island I went skeet-shooting.
Okay.
Do you mind taking the test anyway? Shouldn't he talk to a lawyer? why do you think you need a lawyer? No.
No, I don't.
Of course, I'll take the test.
You talked to the neighbors? Place on the right- people working on their melanomas in Barbados; place on the left- some old gummer with her hearing aid turned off.
Any further away, most people can't tell gunshots from belches.
what about the kids? They're either innocent or well-rehearsed.
So put them through the wringer.
Logan: Don't you think we're jumping to conclusions here? I hated my mother, but I didn't aerate her with double-ought buck.
That case in La-La Land, nine months the Beverly Hills cops jerked around.
It came right back to the kids.
we all know, nine times out of ten, in the house husbands kills wives, wives kill husbands, and kids kill parents.
M.
E.
says they were killed between 7:00 and 9:00.
So they could have left their house just after 7:00.
Game starts at 7:35, cab to the Garden what, 20 minutes? You're saying Nick comes over, they grease Mom and Dad, catch a cab, go cheer the Rangers? Pretty cold.
Ah, yeah.
Just the two tickets? Thanks.
Jarmon's secretary checked the sign-up sheet for last night's game.
The company has six seats.
The Rangers played Quebec.
That's like playing against an empty net.
Maybe that's why the only one who signed up was Greg Jarmon.
I'm telling you, Max, we should keep looking.
we're going to- for season ticket-holders around the Jarmon box.
So were they there for the face-off? I didn't notice.
Did they stay for the whole game? Might have been other kids in the third period.
People move around a lot.
Cheapos to ringside.
The first two kids- how old? 19, 20? Give me a break, will you? what is it with you hockey fans anyway? You got no short-term memory? Hey, ask me how many penalties the Rangers killed.
Or how many shots Leetch made.
That I remember.
I keep my eye on the puck.
The powder in the barrel has similar characteristics to the trace residue found on the victims- smokeless, dense.
The same is found in shells from Jarmon's desk.
Come on, Hurley, this ain't court.
Are we looking at the murder weapon? An attorney opinion- inconclusive.
My opinion- yes.
Prints? we got a couple of good lifts from the shotgun.
I sent them up to Latent and they matched Karl Jarmon's and one of the kids- Gregory.
So Nick watched while Greg did all the shooting? Maybe he wasn't in the hunting party.
Oh, I get it- Greg shot the folks before Nick came over and Nick's covering for him? He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
Even if the kid just offed Mom and Dad? what do you want from me, huh? The alibi is nothing.
Nobody at the game ever saw them leave.
wait a minute, Chelsea Central checked out.
The waitress said they were there till 11:00.
There's still a lot of hours unaccounted for.
Let's talk to the housekeeper.
Have you worked for the family long, Mrs.
Langdon? Ever since Nicholas was born.
Mrs.
Jarmon too busy to bring up her own kids? You're way off target, Detective.
She was devoted to them.
Maybe too much so.
She picked them up every day after school.
Everyone else sent their nannies.
How about Mr.
Jarmon? He wasn't at home as much as he wanted.
He and his partner were always at the plant.
Partner? Nick told us his father owned the company.
He owned most of it.
He made Mr.
Petrovich a partner a couple of years ago.
How about when he was home? He did the best he could as a father.
You got to love it.
College student, young Turk on wall Street, couldn't cast the part much better.
C'mon, Max, I know you don't like trust-fund babies, but we got no evidence on these guys.
Right.
Just Greg's fingerprints on the murder weapon, and powder residue on his hands.
He could have used the gun hunting.
The Gun Club confirms he was out skeet-shooting that afternoon.
Yep.
And according to the housekeeper, they were one happy family- Ozzie and Harriet on East 68th.
which leaves us what for a motive? Papers say Jarmon was worth, what, 10 million? Maybe the kids wanted to hurry up on their inheritance.
Now, look I don't care if he was worth 50 million.
If you love your parents you don't blow them away over money.
Yeah? You ask me, I don't think things were that great between the old man and the kids.
All I keep hearing is what the housekeeper wasn't saying.
what is this? Siskel and Ebert? Do me a favor, come up with a motive for the boy and go talk to what's-his-name, the partner.
Karl and me ran this business together.
we were like you- good cop?bad cop.
which was which? Karl knew how to get a nickel out of a penny.
Drove suppliers crazy, customers too.
It was up to me to make everybody happy again.
what about the employees? He drive them crazy too? Karl wasn't a hand holder.
A man can make enemies that way.
Maybe the kind that'll kill you.
Okay, Karl was a bastard.
So find me a boss who isn't.
He liked to kick a little ass, and yell a lot.
Except when his jaw was broke.
Oh, yeah? when that happen? About a year and a half ago.
Logan: How? I don't know.
He showed up at work with his jaw wired.
Said he slipped in the bath or something.
I'll tell you, Karl never had a grudge.
Everybody here- bonuses at Christmas.
The customer was always satisfied.
You handle his public relations too? I never had a problem with Karl.
He hired me when I was a little kalyaka right off the plane, hardly spoke English.
He gave me a place to sleep and a place to work.
Did this lovefest extend to his kids? Karl and his boys- he was very proud of them.
Had a terrific family.
was he the sole owner of the business? why? It's a normal question.
Must be worth, what, what's gonna happen to it? I have a small piece.
How small? And the rest? I knowwhat you're thinking, that's crazy.
Greg and Nick- they're good sons.
The sons? They inherit.
Yeah! They get the business.
Oh, by the way, if you don't mind, what were you doing Saturday night? I had dinner.
Little Kiev, Brighton Beach.
Blini, herring, Russian food.
Russians, we need reminders of home- of the food, anyway.
Rostov's the owner.
He knows me.
You eat alone? Sasha Osinski.
He's from Kiev too.
You and your husband were with Mr.
Petrovich at Little Kiwv?.
He says, "Yes, we ate with Alex.
" what time did Alex arrive? why don't you tell us? we were there until after 11:00.
That's a long party.
Not for Russians.
My husband says tell you America is great country.
Anybody can get rich.
Except cops.
Thank you.
Max has got these kids tried and convicted already.
Give me another suspect, any other suspect with means, motive, opportunity.
And don't say the mob because they don't whack wives.
Max ain't wrong, Petrovich doesn't benefit.
- he's got an alibi.
There are no loose ends- prints on the gun, powder on the kid's hands, and they inherit 10 mill plus.
You knowwhat I'd like to know.
How Jarmon really broke his jaw.
You got the housekeeper's number? Yeah.
we might as well ask her Jarmon's bedroom secrets while we're at it.
She just might give you the family doctor if you're polite.
I'm sorry, I just can't tell you fellas anything.
It's patient confidentiality.
Your patient is dead.
we can assume he'd want you to cooperate.
It was not a big deal.
Then why was his whole jawwired shut? Come on, Doc, Jarmon's face didn't run into a bathtub, isn't that right? He told me Nick broke it.
I don't know the circumstances.
Dr.
Levinson to CCU, code blue.
I've gone to 23 games this season.
Sometimes we stay till the end, and sometimes we don't.
we didn't stay till the end- This is crap I don't believe this.
Then help us help you, Nick.
Last time I saw my parents, they were both alive.
Okay, let's move on.
How about your dad? Did you get along with him? He had his own point of view, a code he wanted me to live up to.
And when you didn't? Look- maybe I didn't like my father.
Maybe some days I didn't even love him.
Do you love your parents every day of the week? Breaking his jaw?.
Is that your way of showing affection? I went out with some buddies, I came home drunk.
My father didn't want to let me in till I sobered up.
You broke his jaw over that? It was a stupid mistake.
I told you I was drunk.
Haven't you ever hurt anybody you loved? Never put them in the emergency room.
I loved my parents.
My mom - I never, ever would've done anything to hurt her.
He was drunk.
Dad tried to push him out of the house, Nick took a swing.
The next day he wasn't real happy with himself.
It hurt him more than it hurt your dad? we have "stupid" written on our faces or what? Greg, help yourself out a little, all right? Give us some truth here.
You guys seriously think we'd kill our own mother? You don't get anything.
They sure don't sound like they wanted their mother dead.
She was supposed to be out that night, right at some benefit? Maybe they never expected to kill her.
She came home early or she never left.
It was a mistake.
You think they just planned to kill the old man? That wouldn't put any money in their pockets.
what is this? You got anybody who looks better? Petrovich is out.
Ask me - the housekeeper ain't a murderess.
But who knows, we rubber hose her, maybe she confesses.
Mr.
Jarmon was very demanding of the boys when he thought they'd failed him.
what did he do? He had a short fuse.
Mrs.
Jarmon kept reminding him they were only children.
Nick get the worst of it? well, you must understand he was the first child.
Mrs.
Langdon, please, you're not speaking ill of the dead.
we have to know.
Did he beat his kid or not? Almost every day.
He'd use whatever was at hand- a belt, a tennis racket.
One time he used a wooden coat-hanger.
Nobody ever stopped him? Mrs.
Jarmon was terrified of him.
It went on for years.
Finally, when Nick was 16, he hit him back.
Mr.
Jarmon never raised a hand to him after that.
Except when Nick broke his jaw?.
No, that was because of Gregory.
Greg punched his father? No Mr.
Jarmon was beating Gregory with a cane.
Nick had to put a stop to it.
And so he hit him.
Max: Anybody home? Excuse me.
Greg Jarmon around? He went out about an hour ago.
who's idea is this? His.
I think they're putting the place up for sale.
Max: Excuse me.
The brothers Jarmon are real sentimental about their old homestead.
Bad memories.
Or bad consciences.
I guess Jarmon shot more than birds, huh? I bet no one ever accused him of being a "Friend of the Earth.
" what's the story these days with dead people's mail? If it's useful, it's admissible.
Or maybe it's not.
Jarmon's Rolls- leased, $2300 a month.
That's twice my rent.
Roomier too.
A bill from Bergdorfs- $1200 for three pairs of shoes.
Spend it or lose it.
This seem weird to you? "Dean of Communication Arts, personal progress report on Gregory Jarmon.
" "Greg has shown significant improvement.
I'm confident he will soon be working up to his potential.
" Since when do college deans write parents about their kids' grades? No, we don't routinely send personal evaluations to parents.
Except- Mr.
Jarmon is an involved alumnus, a significant contributor to the university.
That rates a plaque and a tax deduction, not surveillance reports.
In plain English? You're the communications whiz.
He was out of control.
He dragged Greg in here last November, ranting at the top of his lungs about his grades.
He even slapped him in front of me.
How did Greg take it? He took it.
He was too terrified not to.
I thought the evaluations would calm Jarmon down, get him to ease off.
Poor kid.
He was humiliated.
Nobody cares if Karl Jarmon is a saint or Simon Legree.
You've spoken to so many people that tomorrow the papers will say the kids are suspects.
You're asking us to give the public an arrest because they want one? I'm asking if they're guilty.
In my book, top of the hit parade.
Let me tell you something, if you gave me a shotgun when my mother slammed me against the wall I'd have blown her head off.
But my dad? Not even if he caught me killing the old lady.
Except we have their fingerprints on the gun.
The paraffin test- Their buddy corroborated they were out skeet-shooting.
That's not exculpatory.
They only have each other as alibis.
Motive? Physical abuse, the broken jaw, emotional manipulation, not to mention $10 million.
Means? They're both experienced hunters.
One's prints are on the gun.
I'm convinced.
He's convinced.
Go get them.
If your parents were getting fitted for a casket, would you unwind by playing a little squash? Gregory Jarmon, Nicholas Jarmon- you're under arrest for the murder of Evelyn and Karl Jarmon.
You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions.
Do you understand? Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law.
Do you understand? You have the right to consult an attorney and to have one present And the paraffin test on the younger kid? No conclusive match on the powder that killed them.
Lab says it can't be done.
So we put our shoulder into the motive.
They hated the father.
we called your secretary.
She said you'd be here.
Mike's running me around the block on this one.
In which direction? All right, the old man, he's a bastard.
But the mother, there's nothing there.
Greg lettin' loose on her while she's coming down the stairs? Come on.
I just don't see that.
Is this about evidence or instinct? with what we have now, Is there something personal here? Yeah, I personally don't like to see two innocent kids getting 20-to-life.
You agree? Play it for him.
It's a copy of Greg's call to 911.
Greg's voice: Oh, God, they're dead.
They're dead! Operator:.
Who's dead, sir? My mom's been shot.
My father too.
There's blood.
Help me.
Okay, i can you give me your address? Just send somebody.
You ask me- nobody's that good an actor.
Great.
So according to you two, we now have no suspects.
Oh brother.
I've heard of playing both sides of the fence, but this is ridiculous.
They were sure enough a week ago to make an arrest.
They were probably right then and probably wrong now.
But But if I convince a jury and we're wrong- Cui bono? who benefits? Look at the rank of hand.
He's killed.
Number one is the wife, she's dead.
Go to two, the kids.
Number three, the business partner.
The kids inherit everything but 10%.
Even this what's his name? Petrovich.
Petrovich, yeah.
Even if he's clean, you knowwhat Dwight Anderson's going to do.
Yeah, confuse the jury.
Hands them another suspect and they acquit on reasonable doubt.
Don't get outflanked.
Clear Petrovich so they can't use him against you.
we know Petrovich has two alibi witnesses.
He was in Brighton Beach at 7:00.
Driving in rush hour, had to take him at least an hour.
You checked out everybody at the table that night? we don't clear everybody.
we didn't clear the housekeeper or Nick's girlfriend, either.
what are you saying, that there's a conspiracy here? with alibis, it's not unheard of.
with who? The discount store owner, Osinski? what, he smuggles blinis and caviar on the side? Robinette: The way Jarmon's corporation is set up, Petrovich takes nothing, just keeps his 10%.
But there are the inheritance laws.
Right, if the kids are convicted, they can't profit from their crime.
which means Petrovich ends up with control of the company.
Jarmon's 90% goes into a non-voting trust.
Subpoena Petrovich's financial records.
Jarmon's, too.
People's Bank of Brooklyn, Brighton Beach.
Petrovich wrote a check reimbursing the company.
Travel allowance.
He lives on upper Madison Avenue, but he has a checking account in Brooklyn.
I grew up in Harlem, but my checking account's across the street.
what's he doing banking out there? Bar Association dinner, I sat with the Brooklyn DAs.
what's their biggest problem? Russian immigrant gangsters.
Young assistant there, Epstein Jim Jerry Jack.
Jack Epstein.
Go talk to him.
Here we are.
with Russians.
Credit card fraud, protection rackets, You put anybody inside? These guys, they make the mafia's omerta look like an open phone line.
I guess when you've been in prison in Leningrad, New York cops look like Mickey Mouse.
The name Petrovich ring a bell? immigrants here.
I got Petrovichs, Petrovskys- I had a Petrovarich who took the banks for half a million on fake credit cards.
How do they clean their money? They're gangsters.
They take over legitimate businesses.
You got it.
Come on, let me show you something.
See that? Second floor on the comer? People's Bank of Brighton Beach.
That check you found? Comes from that bank, right? Yeah.
Four rooms.
Six guards with a combined IQ of 38.
Like the immigrants that came before them - Chinese, Italian.
They set up banks to wash their money.
Checking accounts are not a large part of their business? If you don't have other business with them? No.
Killing their parents.
How do you explain it? I was Karl's bookkeeper before he could afford a shoeshine.
God Bless America.
You knowwhat he started with? Business cards.
He had these two old machines the blew powder into the ink.
Cheap raised lettering.
was Jarmon Printing in debt? who isn't? Right.
Tell me about it.
Karl was always expanding but the the last couple of months he borrowed a lot of cash, dropped it into CDs.
why? He never told me anything but the figures.
Company's debt was six million and change.
Now, Karl wanted to consolidate it.
who holds the paper? Try this.
The past six years, Jarmon borrowed six million bucks from First Mercantile.
I thought that went under.
It did, three months ago.
Federal bank regulators sold off their loans.
Guess who bought Jarmon's? The Russians.
People's Bank of Brighton Beach.
A classic squeeze.
They call in his debt, he can't pay, they take the company.
And he knew.
That's why he was out borrowing, trying to pay them off.
what did Petrovich say to the cops? "He gave me a place to sleep, a place to work.
And he wanted the bed all to himself.
" You think Jarmon knew- that it was Petrovich? He had to know something.
And either way Petrovich loses.
If Jarmon find out, he gets rid of him.
If Jarmon stops the Russians, they're not going to be too pleased with Petrovich, either.
A prosecution based on debt re-financing.
That's going to get you real far with the jury.
I'll lay it out for them.
I'll draw them a Monopoly board.
Yeah, I'd like to see them get from "Park Place" to "Go.
" Juries aren't stupid.
I show them Petrovich was angry, he was jealous.
He bridled at Jarmon's abuse.
He kills the parents, implicates the kids, takes over Jarmon Printing when the kids are convicted.
So Petrovich inherits the company? Better.
The company accountant tells me that Petrovich takes control.
Jarmon's share goes into a non-voting trust.
The company is sold.
The cash is distributed among various family members.
But there wouldn't be any cash for the family.
Exactly.
It all goes to pay off notes held by the Russians' bank.
That's a great theory, but you cannot prove that he hated Jarmon.
And you cannot prove he tried to steal the company.
Are you sure the kids didn't do this? Sure enough to drop the charges.
And the Russian mafia? You think you're going to win when the Brooklyn DA has been losing for the past five years? I'm going to tell you this- if Petrovich did kill them, you'll never get him.
He'll walk.
Take my word for it.
we've tried 10, Yeah? I'd like to turn this one till he's dizzy.
we don't break Petrovich's alibi, shaky's not the word for it.
Try instant acquittal.
There were five people at that table that night.
what if one of them didn't come in on clean papers? lllegal alien? Plane ticket back to Moscow.
I got a guy at Immigration.
Dead end.
Everybody there had at least a green card.
Another way into his life? Not through the front door.
His wife died two years ago.
No girlfriends.
what about the secretary? Stone: Worth a shot.
And the Jarmon boys? After being arrested you think they want to help us? If Petrovich killed their parents, they'll help no matter how they feel about us.
You knowwhat it's like? People stare on the street.
Far as a lot of people are concerned, we'll always be guilty.
The system makes mistakes.
Is this some kind of end play? I want your assurance right now- they don't say word one until you tell me you're not going to re-indict.
we are not going to re-indict.
We're up against a wall.
From what we've discovered, we believe that Petrovich killed your parents.
But we can't prove it.
we thought you could help us.
Dad treated him like dirt, but he treated everybody that way.
Stone: How does this sound? You leave the house, Petrovich shows up, your father lets him in.
Maybe he knows your mother's home, maybe not.
He goes into the study, apparently to get a drink.
Alex would've poured two scotches, he always did.
He gets the gun from the rack, he goes for the ammunition in the desk- No.
The basement.
In a locked cabinet.
Dad never kept ammo near the guns.
National? He didn't use them anymore.
Nick: He won a trap-shoot last spring with Remingtons.
He didn't use anything else after that.
But like a month before the match Dad dragged Alex out to watch.
He would've thought Dad used Nationals.
Call Greevey and Logan.
Tracing ammunition, simple and not so simple.
Not simple with 100 gun shops in the five boroughs.
But simple, because you need a gun permit to buy ammunition.
If Petrovich bought the shells, he had to sign for them.
Not simple - he doesn't own a gun.
No permit.
we're talking the whole state of New York, it's like a twig in a haystack.
Let's call National.
Maybe we get a trace on the lot number from the shells.
I got another million to one shot.
Go.
Petrovich drove to Brooklyn, right? Robinette: Right.
Means he probably drove to Jarmon's house.
He wouldn't want the car to be seen.
He'd go to a garage.
within walking distance.
Two mighty-big ifs, gentlemen.
Simple.
Petrovich parked two blocks away.
In, 6:35.
Out, 7:08.
Very impressive.
That's the good news.
Yeah, those shells.
They were shipped to 49 different gun shops.
If it wasn't Petrovich, we don't even knowwho we're looking for.
You know gun dealers.
They're not going to remember every guy in a duck-bill hat that buys double-ought 12-gauge shot.
where's Hicks Street? Brooklyn Heights.
Avenue J? Flatbush.
Flatbush.
Coney Island Avenue? Brighton Beach.
Let's go.
Not much deer hunting out here, huh? Out here? Plenty of shooting, but not at animals.
we do a good business j in carry weapons.
You sell any National double-ought Talk about inventory.
I got a case of it.
I sold one box.
There.
You want to get your log? Some Russian.
Myself, I'm Polish.
we don't like the Russians.
They kept invading.
A Russian well-dressed? In Odessa, maybe.
He must've rolled some bum to get that suit.
Let's see there.
Two months ago.
Osinski, Sasha.
He runs a discount store six blocks away.
what's Russian for, "You're under arrest"? The charge is murder in the second degree.
How does the defendant plead? Not guilty, Your Honor.
Your Honor, as you know, charges in this case were previously filed and dismissed.
Now, because of the public attention, perhaps the People are a little overzealous.
Mr.
Schwab, I don't need a map to see where you're going.
But based on the prosecutor's information, there is a case here.
why don't we hear from the People on bail? Your Honor, as our information states, aside from the risk of flight, we feel there's a question of the defendant's safety.
we request he be held without bail.
Your Honor, the defendant is not concerned for his own safety, and he runs a complex business.
Judge: I have to tell you, Counselor, that aside from the seriousness of the charge, I'm concerned that the defendant be alive at trial.
The defendant will be held without bail.
You think they're that trigger-happy? would they get rid of Petrovich? Maybe not.
The store owner, Osinski, no question.
who'd you draw for trial? Robinette: Callahan.
Callahan.
He doesn't like locking up witnesses.
Anybody in that neighborhood finds out we have one interviewwith Osinski, he's dead meat.
All right, Robinette.
I want you to see Callahan and I want you to take Epstein with you.
Let's just hope and pray that it works.
You don't break Osinski, forget about a conviction.
we've still got the garage ticket.
That's circumstantial.
Guy gets to Brooklyn 7:20 instead of 7:00, that makes him guilty of murder? Prove the motive.
You want me to incarcerate a material witness without bail? Your Honor, these gentlemen, they like their secrets kept.
Mr.
Epstein here can vouch for their predilections.
Immigrant Russian gangsters.
I thought they opened dry cleaners.
Judge, from our experience these guys don't bother asking questions, they just shoot.
All right, I'll sign a material witness order with no bail.
Thank you, sir.
Mr.
Stone, I hope this plays out in court.
Yes, sir.
Mr.
Osinski has a wife and three children.
Offer him my congratulations.
He says he was with Mr.
Petrovich.
Your client bought the ammunition.
Accessory before the fact.
If he lies, accessory after.
If he thinks he had a hard time in Russia, make the KGB look good.
I shoot rabbits with shotgun.
Shut up.
You louse this up, I'm going to break your teeth! Mr.
Osinski, when you get out of prison, if you survive, odds are you'll be deported.
we have a law about naturalized citizens committing felonies.
If you put him on the stand, he will testify he was with Petrovich.
Your lawyer is not giving you good advice.
The People will prove that the defendant conspired to take over Karl Jarmon's business and when that plan went awry, he turned to a violent solution- murder in cold blood.
Thank you.
what a wonderful theory Mr.
Stone offers you.
One problem- it's a theory.
what Mr.
Stone did not tell you is there's a difference between theory and proof.
The defense will show that Alex Petrovich had nothing to gain from Karl Jarmon's death, which might make you wonder, who did? Do you recall the time of day Greg Jarmon came to you and asked for the company's tickets? It was just after lunch, around 2:00.
Do you recall when the defendant came to you and asked you to make a reservation for him at Little Kiwv?.
It was about five minutes later.
what time did he ask you to make the reservations for? as the hockey game.
Had you previously made reservations for him at that restaurant? Yes.
were they ever for dinner at 7:00? It was Mr.
Petrovich's habit to eat late- around 9: 00.
Stone: Thank you.
Your witness.
Did Mr.
Petrovich often eat at Little Kiwv?.
Yes.
Did he always make reservations in advance? Yes, but- Because the place was always booked.
Isn't that correct? Yes, that's right.
Fine.
How long have you worked for Mr.
Petrovich? And during that time, Mr.
Petrovich and Mr.
Jarmon worked closely together as friends, isn't that correct? As friends? Didn't they work closely together? Yes, they did.
Thank you.
No further questions.
The People call Alexander Osinski.
Conference, Your Honor, we have a problem here.
They threatened my client.
No, sir, we read him the law.
He said he would get him deported.
I said he had good odds of being deported.
Judge, with this prosecutorial abuse, I think you should question the credibility of the witness.
would you now.
Mr.
Osinski tells the police he was with the defendant.
why can't he say that on the stand? Counselor, I'm going to remind you of something you should already know.
In this country, you tell a client to lie, it's subornation of perjury.
If Mr.
Stone happens to prove that, you're in a hell of a lot of trouble.
You still want him not to testify? Stone! Stone.
Make me a deal.
So your client will tell the truth? He has to tell the truth anyway.
No deal? I suspect you won't get the testimony you want.
Okay, any crime arising from this case, New York County won't prosecute.
Very good.
Full immunity on anything he testifies to.
In New York County.
Deal.
Osinski: Alex- Mr.
Petrovich, he comes to restaurant, 9:00.
Did he tell you to lie to the police, to say he arrived earlier? Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, exception.
Covering flight from a crime.
People v.
Deitch.
Overruled.
The witness will answer.
Alex tells me to lie.
He says police come, I say he there 7:00.
Do you have deposits in the People's Bank of Brighton Beach? Objection.
Relevance.
Your Honor, relevance will soon become apparent.
Overruled.
Some of my money in bank, yeah.
Some? The bank records show that there was, last month, $6,011,301.
26 If you say so.
And the month before that $9,615.
Sounds right.
A $6 million difference.
Good month at the discount store, sir? Didn't you receive that money from members of a criminal organization composed of Russian immigrants? Da.
Yes.
Weren't you ordered to instruct the bank to use that money to buy up the debts of Jarmon Printing? Objection! Mr.
Schwab, we've been there and back.
I'm allowing this testimony.
Judge: The witness will continue.
Osinski: Yeah, I tell bank we take printing company.
Alex say we put Mr.
Jarmon in gutter.
Did Mr.
Petrovich tell you he was worried about Karl Jarmon discovering the plan? I worried.
He tell me no problem, he take care of Mr.
Jarmon for good.
Man: Oh wait, there they are.
Alexander Osinski, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder and enterprise corruption.
what the hell? There's a deal in place.
No prosecution in New York City.
In New York County.
That's Manhattan.
I never gave your client immunity in Brooklyn.
That's King's County.
He gave you Petrovich! And you gave me Mr.
Osinski.
Next time, get yourself a better lawyer, sir.
On the sole count of the indictment, murder in the second degree, how does the jury find? we find the defendant guilty.
This makes up for arresting them.
I wish it could make up for being orphans.
In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups- the police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
Bomb threats.
what a crock.
How do you figure? I n the middle of the winter? Probably took the first snowbird special down to Miami, like anybody else with a couple of brain-cells to rub together.
I happen to like winter.
You happen to be nuts.
Enjoy it all you want, pal.
I'll go roast these pecans.
Help! Oh my God, help them! My parents, they've been shot! First thought was, it was a diversion.
You know, because of the bomb threats.
The name's Greg Jarmon.
we called his brother.
Stay with him.
write down anything he says.
All right, Max, Mike.
Evelyn Jarmon- two shots from right here.
There's more.
Karl Jarmon- three at close range.
Let me guess.
No signs of burglary.
Alarm's still on.
Kid tripped it when he came in.
No shells, but check out the study.
Italian, Czech, English.
The best money can buy.
This one has been fired.
Run it through the lab.
You never figure you're gonna get it from your own gun.
Detective.
Double-ought buck.
Five missing.
Jarmon and sons, last fall.
The family that kills together I don't know, I just I came home and found them.
Max: Where were you? At the Garden.
A Rangers Game.
By yourself? No, my brother Nick picked me up.
And when I came home, I walked in and I saw Mom.
Man: Greg?! where's Mom? I'm Nick Jarmon.
where's my mother? No she wasn't supposed to be home.
Do you know where she was supposed to be, Nick? A benefit at the Met.
She wasn't supposed to be home.
what did your father do for a living? Printing.
He owns- owned a printing company.
Greg said you guys went to the Rangers game? Dad- the company has season tickets.
Just so I get it straight, Greg picked you up to go the game? No, I went up to the house around 7:00.
we took a cab to the game.
Did you see your parents? I didn't go in.
Oh? You had dinner at the game? Later.
At Chelsea Central.
Then I went home.
we went to Chelsea Central.
I think I left my scarf there.
Don't worry about it.
what time did you get home? I'm not sure.
Uh So, you met Nick at the Garden, right? No, I told you, he came over to the house.
Okay.
Listen did your father have any enemies? Did he ever talk about troubles he might have had? we didn't really pay attention.
Mom- everybody loved her.
One last thing before you go, we'd like you to take a paraffin test.
what's that? Just a test to see whether there's gunpowder residue on your hands.
wait a minute.
You don't think- It's standard procedure.
You might as well know.
There may be powder on my hands.
This afternoon on the island I went skeet-shooting.
Okay.
Do you mind taking the test anyway? Shouldn't he talk to a lawyer? why do you think you need a lawyer? No.
No, I don't.
Of course, I'll take the test.
You talked to the neighbors? Place on the right- people working on their melanomas in Barbados; place on the left- some old gummer with her hearing aid turned off.
Any further away, most people can't tell gunshots from belches.
what about the kids? They're either innocent or well-rehearsed.
So put them through the wringer.
Logan: Don't you think we're jumping to conclusions here? I hated my mother, but I didn't aerate her with double-ought buck.
That case in La-La Land, nine months the Beverly Hills cops jerked around.
It came right back to the kids.
we all know, nine times out of ten, in the house husbands kills wives, wives kill husbands, and kids kill parents.
M.
E.
says they were killed between 7:00 and 9:00.
So they could have left their house just after 7:00.
Game starts at 7:35, cab to the Garden what, 20 minutes? You're saying Nick comes over, they grease Mom and Dad, catch a cab, go cheer the Rangers? Pretty cold.
Ah, yeah.
Just the two tickets? Thanks.
Jarmon's secretary checked the sign-up sheet for last night's game.
The company has six seats.
The Rangers played Quebec.
That's like playing against an empty net.
Maybe that's why the only one who signed up was Greg Jarmon.
I'm telling you, Max, we should keep looking.
we're going to- for season ticket-holders around the Jarmon box.
So were they there for the face-off? I didn't notice.
Did they stay for the whole game? Might have been other kids in the third period.
People move around a lot.
Cheapos to ringside.
The first two kids- how old? 19, 20? Give me a break, will you? what is it with you hockey fans anyway? You got no short-term memory? Hey, ask me how many penalties the Rangers killed.
Or how many shots Leetch made.
That I remember.
I keep my eye on the puck.
The powder in the barrel has similar characteristics to the trace residue found on the victims- smokeless, dense.
The same is found in shells from Jarmon's desk.
Come on, Hurley, this ain't court.
Are we looking at the murder weapon? An attorney opinion- inconclusive.
My opinion- yes.
Prints? we got a couple of good lifts from the shotgun.
I sent them up to Latent and they matched Karl Jarmon's and one of the kids- Gregory.
So Nick watched while Greg did all the shooting? Maybe he wasn't in the hunting party.
Oh, I get it- Greg shot the folks before Nick came over and Nick's covering for him? He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
Even if the kid just offed Mom and Dad? what do you want from me, huh? The alibi is nothing.
Nobody at the game ever saw them leave.
wait a minute, Chelsea Central checked out.
The waitress said they were there till 11:00.
There's still a lot of hours unaccounted for.
Let's talk to the housekeeper.
Have you worked for the family long, Mrs.
Langdon? Ever since Nicholas was born.
Mrs.
Jarmon too busy to bring up her own kids? You're way off target, Detective.
She was devoted to them.
Maybe too much so.
She picked them up every day after school.
Everyone else sent their nannies.
How about Mr.
Jarmon? He wasn't at home as much as he wanted.
He and his partner were always at the plant.
Partner? Nick told us his father owned the company.
He owned most of it.
He made Mr.
Petrovich a partner a couple of years ago.
How about when he was home? He did the best he could as a father.
You got to love it.
College student, young Turk on wall Street, couldn't cast the part much better.
C'mon, Max, I know you don't like trust-fund babies, but we got no evidence on these guys.
Right.
Just Greg's fingerprints on the murder weapon, and powder residue on his hands.
He could have used the gun hunting.
The Gun Club confirms he was out skeet-shooting that afternoon.
Yep.
And according to the housekeeper, they were one happy family- Ozzie and Harriet on East 68th.
which leaves us what for a motive? Papers say Jarmon was worth, what, 10 million? Maybe the kids wanted to hurry up on their inheritance.
Now, look I don't care if he was worth 50 million.
If you love your parents you don't blow them away over money.
Yeah? You ask me, I don't think things were that great between the old man and the kids.
All I keep hearing is what the housekeeper wasn't saying.
what is this? Siskel and Ebert? Do me a favor, come up with a motive for the boy and go talk to what's-his-name, the partner.
Karl and me ran this business together.
we were like you- good cop?bad cop.
which was which? Karl knew how to get a nickel out of a penny.
Drove suppliers crazy, customers too.
It was up to me to make everybody happy again.
what about the employees? He drive them crazy too? Karl wasn't a hand holder.
A man can make enemies that way.
Maybe the kind that'll kill you.
Okay, Karl was a bastard.
So find me a boss who isn't.
He liked to kick a little ass, and yell a lot.
Except when his jaw was broke.
Oh, yeah? when that happen? About a year and a half ago.
Logan: How? I don't know.
He showed up at work with his jaw wired.
Said he slipped in the bath or something.
I'll tell you, Karl never had a grudge.
Everybody here- bonuses at Christmas.
The customer was always satisfied.
You handle his public relations too? I never had a problem with Karl.
He hired me when I was a little kalyaka right off the plane, hardly spoke English.
He gave me a place to sleep and a place to work.
Did this lovefest extend to his kids? Karl and his boys- he was very proud of them.
Had a terrific family.
was he the sole owner of the business? why? It's a normal question.
Must be worth, what, what's gonna happen to it? I have a small piece.
How small? And the rest? I knowwhat you're thinking, that's crazy.
Greg and Nick- they're good sons.
The sons? They inherit.
Yeah! They get the business.
Oh, by the way, if you don't mind, what were you doing Saturday night? I had dinner.
Little Kiev, Brighton Beach.
Blini, herring, Russian food.
Russians, we need reminders of home- of the food, anyway.
Rostov's the owner.
He knows me.
You eat alone? Sasha Osinski.
He's from Kiev too.
You and your husband were with Mr.
Petrovich at Little Kiwv?.
He says, "Yes, we ate with Alex.
" what time did Alex arrive? why don't you tell us? we were there until after 11:00.
That's a long party.
Not for Russians.
My husband says tell you America is great country.
Anybody can get rich.
Except cops.
Thank you.
Max has got these kids tried and convicted already.
Give me another suspect, any other suspect with means, motive, opportunity.
And don't say the mob because they don't whack wives.
Max ain't wrong, Petrovich doesn't benefit.
- he's got an alibi.
There are no loose ends- prints on the gun, powder on the kid's hands, and they inherit 10 mill plus.
You knowwhat I'd like to know.
How Jarmon really broke his jaw.
You got the housekeeper's number? Yeah.
we might as well ask her Jarmon's bedroom secrets while we're at it.
She just might give you the family doctor if you're polite.
I'm sorry, I just can't tell you fellas anything.
It's patient confidentiality.
Your patient is dead.
we can assume he'd want you to cooperate.
It was not a big deal.
Then why was his whole jawwired shut? Come on, Doc, Jarmon's face didn't run into a bathtub, isn't that right? He told me Nick broke it.
I don't know the circumstances.
Dr.
Levinson to CCU, code blue.
I've gone to 23 games this season.
Sometimes we stay till the end, and sometimes we don't.
we didn't stay till the end- This is crap I don't believe this.
Then help us help you, Nick.
Last time I saw my parents, they were both alive.
Okay, let's move on.
How about your dad? Did you get along with him? He had his own point of view, a code he wanted me to live up to.
And when you didn't? Look- maybe I didn't like my father.
Maybe some days I didn't even love him.
Do you love your parents every day of the week? Breaking his jaw?.
Is that your way of showing affection? I went out with some buddies, I came home drunk.
My father didn't want to let me in till I sobered up.
You broke his jaw over that? It was a stupid mistake.
I told you I was drunk.
Haven't you ever hurt anybody you loved? Never put them in the emergency room.
I loved my parents.
My mom - I never, ever would've done anything to hurt her.
He was drunk.
Dad tried to push him out of the house, Nick took a swing.
The next day he wasn't real happy with himself.
It hurt him more than it hurt your dad? we have "stupid" written on our faces or what? Greg, help yourself out a little, all right? Give us some truth here.
You guys seriously think we'd kill our own mother? You don't get anything.
They sure don't sound like they wanted their mother dead.
She was supposed to be out that night, right at some benefit? Maybe they never expected to kill her.
She came home early or she never left.
It was a mistake.
You think they just planned to kill the old man? That wouldn't put any money in their pockets.
what is this? You got anybody who looks better? Petrovich is out.
Ask me - the housekeeper ain't a murderess.
But who knows, we rubber hose her, maybe she confesses.
Mr.
Jarmon was very demanding of the boys when he thought they'd failed him.
what did he do? He had a short fuse.
Mrs.
Jarmon kept reminding him they were only children.
Nick get the worst of it? well, you must understand he was the first child.
Mrs.
Langdon, please, you're not speaking ill of the dead.
we have to know.
Did he beat his kid or not? Almost every day.
He'd use whatever was at hand- a belt, a tennis racket.
One time he used a wooden coat-hanger.
Nobody ever stopped him? Mrs.
Jarmon was terrified of him.
It went on for years.
Finally, when Nick was 16, he hit him back.
Mr.
Jarmon never raised a hand to him after that.
Except when Nick broke his jaw?.
No, that was because of Gregory.
Greg punched his father? No Mr.
Jarmon was beating Gregory with a cane.
Nick had to put a stop to it.
And so he hit him.
Max: Anybody home? Excuse me.
Greg Jarmon around? He went out about an hour ago.
who's idea is this? His.
I think they're putting the place up for sale.
Max: Excuse me.
The brothers Jarmon are real sentimental about their old homestead.
Bad memories.
Or bad consciences.
I guess Jarmon shot more than birds, huh? I bet no one ever accused him of being a "Friend of the Earth.
" what's the story these days with dead people's mail? If it's useful, it's admissible.
Or maybe it's not.
Jarmon's Rolls- leased, $2300 a month.
That's twice my rent.
Roomier too.
A bill from Bergdorfs- $1200 for three pairs of shoes.
Spend it or lose it.
This seem weird to you? "Dean of Communication Arts, personal progress report on Gregory Jarmon.
" "Greg has shown significant improvement.
I'm confident he will soon be working up to his potential.
" Since when do college deans write parents about their kids' grades? No, we don't routinely send personal evaluations to parents.
Except- Mr.
Jarmon is an involved alumnus, a significant contributor to the university.
That rates a plaque and a tax deduction, not surveillance reports.
In plain English? You're the communications whiz.
He was out of control.
He dragged Greg in here last November, ranting at the top of his lungs about his grades.
He even slapped him in front of me.
How did Greg take it? He took it.
He was too terrified not to.
I thought the evaluations would calm Jarmon down, get him to ease off.
Poor kid.
He was humiliated.
Nobody cares if Karl Jarmon is a saint or Simon Legree.
You've spoken to so many people that tomorrow the papers will say the kids are suspects.
You're asking us to give the public an arrest because they want one? I'm asking if they're guilty.
In my book, top of the hit parade.
Let me tell you something, if you gave me a shotgun when my mother slammed me against the wall I'd have blown her head off.
But my dad? Not even if he caught me killing the old lady.
Except we have their fingerprints on the gun.
The paraffin test- Their buddy corroborated they were out skeet-shooting.
That's not exculpatory.
They only have each other as alibis.
Motive? Physical abuse, the broken jaw, emotional manipulation, not to mention $10 million.
Means? They're both experienced hunters.
One's prints are on the gun.
I'm convinced.
He's convinced.
Go get them.
If your parents were getting fitted for a casket, would you unwind by playing a little squash? Gregory Jarmon, Nicholas Jarmon- you're under arrest for the murder of Evelyn and Karl Jarmon.
You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions.
Do you understand? Anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law.
Do you understand? You have the right to consult an attorney and to have one present And the paraffin test on the younger kid? No conclusive match on the powder that killed them.
Lab says it can't be done.
So we put our shoulder into the motive.
They hated the father.
we called your secretary.
She said you'd be here.
Mike's running me around the block on this one.
In which direction? All right, the old man, he's a bastard.
But the mother, there's nothing there.
Greg lettin' loose on her while she's coming down the stairs? Come on.
I just don't see that.
Is this about evidence or instinct? with what we have now, Is there something personal here? Yeah, I personally don't like to see two innocent kids getting 20-to-life.
You agree? Play it for him.
It's a copy of Greg's call to 911.
Greg's voice: Oh, God, they're dead.
They're dead! Operator:.
Who's dead, sir? My mom's been shot.
My father too.
There's blood.
Help me.
Okay, i can you give me your address? Just send somebody.
You ask me- nobody's that good an actor.
Great.
So according to you two, we now have no suspects.
Oh brother.
I've heard of playing both sides of the fence, but this is ridiculous.
They were sure enough a week ago to make an arrest.
They were probably right then and probably wrong now.
But But if I convince a jury and we're wrong- Cui bono? who benefits? Look at the rank of hand.
He's killed.
Number one is the wife, she's dead.
Go to two, the kids.
Number three, the business partner.
The kids inherit everything but 10%.
Even this what's his name? Petrovich.
Petrovich, yeah.
Even if he's clean, you knowwhat Dwight Anderson's going to do.
Yeah, confuse the jury.
Hands them another suspect and they acquit on reasonable doubt.
Don't get outflanked.
Clear Petrovich so they can't use him against you.
we know Petrovich has two alibi witnesses.
He was in Brighton Beach at 7:00.
Driving in rush hour, had to take him at least an hour.
You checked out everybody at the table that night? we don't clear everybody.
we didn't clear the housekeeper or Nick's girlfriend, either.
what are you saying, that there's a conspiracy here? with alibis, it's not unheard of.
with who? The discount store owner, Osinski? what, he smuggles blinis and caviar on the side? Robinette: The way Jarmon's corporation is set up, Petrovich takes nothing, just keeps his 10%.
But there are the inheritance laws.
Right, if the kids are convicted, they can't profit from their crime.
which means Petrovich ends up with control of the company.
Jarmon's 90% goes into a non-voting trust.
Subpoena Petrovich's financial records.
Jarmon's, too.
People's Bank of Brooklyn, Brighton Beach.
Petrovich wrote a check reimbursing the company.
Travel allowance.
He lives on upper Madison Avenue, but he has a checking account in Brooklyn.
I grew up in Harlem, but my checking account's across the street.
what's he doing banking out there? Bar Association dinner, I sat with the Brooklyn DAs.
what's their biggest problem? Russian immigrant gangsters.
Young assistant there, Epstein Jim Jerry Jack.
Jack Epstein.
Go talk to him.
Here we are.
with Russians.
Credit card fraud, protection rackets, You put anybody inside? These guys, they make the mafia's omerta look like an open phone line.
I guess when you've been in prison in Leningrad, New York cops look like Mickey Mouse.
The name Petrovich ring a bell? immigrants here.
I got Petrovichs, Petrovskys- I had a Petrovarich who took the banks for half a million on fake credit cards.
How do they clean their money? They're gangsters.
They take over legitimate businesses.
You got it.
Come on, let me show you something.
See that? Second floor on the comer? People's Bank of Brighton Beach.
That check you found? Comes from that bank, right? Yeah.
Four rooms.
Six guards with a combined IQ of 38.
Like the immigrants that came before them - Chinese, Italian.
They set up banks to wash their money.
Checking accounts are not a large part of their business? If you don't have other business with them? No.
Killing their parents.
How do you explain it? I was Karl's bookkeeper before he could afford a shoeshine.
God Bless America.
You knowwhat he started with? Business cards.
He had these two old machines the blew powder into the ink.
Cheap raised lettering.
was Jarmon Printing in debt? who isn't? Right.
Tell me about it.
Karl was always expanding but the the last couple of months he borrowed a lot of cash, dropped it into CDs.
why? He never told me anything but the figures.
Company's debt was six million and change.
Now, Karl wanted to consolidate it.
who holds the paper? Try this.
The past six years, Jarmon borrowed six million bucks from First Mercantile.
I thought that went under.
It did, three months ago.
Federal bank regulators sold off their loans.
Guess who bought Jarmon's? The Russians.
People's Bank of Brighton Beach.
A classic squeeze.
They call in his debt, he can't pay, they take the company.
And he knew.
That's why he was out borrowing, trying to pay them off.
what did Petrovich say to the cops? "He gave me a place to sleep, a place to work.
And he wanted the bed all to himself.
" You think Jarmon knew- that it was Petrovich? He had to know something.
And either way Petrovich loses.
If Jarmon find out, he gets rid of him.
If Jarmon stops the Russians, they're not going to be too pleased with Petrovich, either.
A prosecution based on debt re-financing.
That's going to get you real far with the jury.
I'll lay it out for them.
I'll draw them a Monopoly board.
Yeah, I'd like to see them get from "Park Place" to "Go.
" Juries aren't stupid.
I show them Petrovich was angry, he was jealous.
He bridled at Jarmon's abuse.
He kills the parents, implicates the kids, takes over Jarmon Printing when the kids are convicted.
So Petrovich inherits the company? Better.
The company accountant tells me that Petrovich takes control.
Jarmon's share goes into a non-voting trust.
The company is sold.
The cash is distributed among various family members.
But there wouldn't be any cash for the family.
Exactly.
It all goes to pay off notes held by the Russians' bank.
That's a great theory, but you cannot prove that he hated Jarmon.
And you cannot prove he tried to steal the company.
Are you sure the kids didn't do this? Sure enough to drop the charges.
And the Russian mafia? You think you're going to win when the Brooklyn DA has been losing for the past five years? I'm going to tell you this- if Petrovich did kill them, you'll never get him.
He'll walk.
Take my word for it.
we've tried 10, Yeah? I'd like to turn this one till he's dizzy.
we don't break Petrovich's alibi, shaky's not the word for it.
Try instant acquittal.
There were five people at that table that night.
what if one of them didn't come in on clean papers? lllegal alien? Plane ticket back to Moscow.
I got a guy at Immigration.
Dead end.
Everybody there had at least a green card.
Another way into his life? Not through the front door.
His wife died two years ago.
No girlfriends.
what about the secretary? Stone: Worth a shot.
And the Jarmon boys? After being arrested you think they want to help us? If Petrovich killed their parents, they'll help no matter how they feel about us.
You knowwhat it's like? People stare on the street.
Far as a lot of people are concerned, we'll always be guilty.
The system makes mistakes.
Is this some kind of end play? I want your assurance right now- they don't say word one until you tell me you're not going to re-indict.
we are not going to re-indict.
We're up against a wall.
From what we've discovered, we believe that Petrovich killed your parents.
But we can't prove it.
we thought you could help us.
Dad treated him like dirt, but he treated everybody that way.
Stone: How does this sound? You leave the house, Petrovich shows up, your father lets him in.
Maybe he knows your mother's home, maybe not.
He goes into the study, apparently to get a drink.
Alex would've poured two scotches, he always did.
He gets the gun from the rack, he goes for the ammunition in the desk- No.
The basement.
In a locked cabinet.
Dad never kept ammo near the guns.
National? He didn't use them anymore.
Nick: He won a trap-shoot last spring with Remingtons.
He didn't use anything else after that.
But like a month before the match Dad dragged Alex out to watch.
He would've thought Dad used Nationals.
Call Greevey and Logan.
Tracing ammunition, simple and not so simple.
Not simple with 100 gun shops in the five boroughs.
But simple, because you need a gun permit to buy ammunition.
If Petrovich bought the shells, he had to sign for them.
Not simple - he doesn't own a gun.
No permit.
we're talking the whole state of New York, it's like a twig in a haystack.
Let's call National.
Maybe we get a trace on the lot number from the shells.
I got another million to one shot.
Go.
Petrovich drove to Brooklyn, right? Robinette: Right.
Means he probably drove to Jarmon's house.
He wouldn't want the car to be seen.
He'd go to a garage.
within walking distance.
Two mighty-big ifs, gentlemen.
Simple.
Petrovich parked two blocks away.
In, 6:35.
Out, 7:08.
Very impressive.
That's the good news.
Yeah, those shells.
They were shipped to 49 different gun shops.
If it wasn't Petrovich, we don't even knowwho we're looking for.
You know gun dealers.
They're not going to remember every guy in a duck-bill hat that buys double-ought 12-gauge shot.
where's Hicks Street? Brooklyn Heights.
Avenue J? Flatbush.
Flatbush.
Coney Island Avenue? Brighton Beach.
Let's go.
Not much deer hunting out here, huh? Out here? Plenty of shooting, but not at animals.
we do a good business j in carry weapons.
You sell any National double-ought Talk about inventory.
I got a case of it.
I sold one box.
There.
You want to get your log? Some Russian.
Myself, I'm Polish.
we don't like the Russians.
They kept invading.
A Russian well-dressed? In Odessa, maybe.
He must've rolled some bum to get that suit.
Let's see there.
Two months ago.
Osinski, Sasha.
He runs a discount store six blocks away.
what's Russian for, "You're under arrest"? The charge is murder in the second degree.
How does the defendant plead? Not guilty, Your Honor.
Your Honor, as you know, charges in this case were previously filed and dismissed.
Now, because of the public attention, perhaps the People are a little overzealous.
Mr.
Schwab, I don't need a map to see where you're going.
But based on the prosecutor's information, there is a case here.
why don't we hear from the People on bail? Your Honor, as our information states, aside from the risk of flight, we feel there's a question of the defendant's safety.
we request he be held without bail.
Your Honor, the defendant is not concerned for his own safety, and he runs a complex business.
Judge: I have to tell you, Counselor, that aside from the seriousness of the charge, I'm concerned that the defendant be alive at trial.
The defendant will be held without bail.
You think they're that trigger-happy? would they get rid of Petrovich? Maybe not.
The store owner, Osinski, no question.
who'd you draw for trial? Robinette: Callahan.
Callahan.
He doesn't like locking up witnesses.
Anybody in that neighborhood finds out we have one interviewwith Osinski, he's dead meat.
All right, Robinette.
I want you to see Callahan and I want you to take Epstein with you.
Let's just hope and pray that it works.
You don't break Osinski, forget about a conviction.
we've still got the garage ticket.
That's circumstantial.
Guy gets to Brooklyn 7:20 instead of 7:00, that makes him guilty of murder? Prove the motive.
You want me to incarcerate a material witness without bail? Your Honor, these gentlemen, they like their secrets kept.
Mr.
Epstein here can vouch for their predilections.
Immigrant Russian gangsters.
I thought they opened dry cleaners.
Judge, from our experience these guys don't bother asking questions, they just shoot.
All right, I'll sign a material witness order with no bail.
Thank you, sir.
Mr.
Stone, I hope this plays out in court.
Yes, sir.
Mr.
Osinski has a wife and three children.
Offer him my congratulations.
He says he was with Mr.
Petrovich.
Your client bought the ammunition.
Accessory before the fact.
If he lies, accessory after.
If he thinks he had a hard time in Russia, make the KGB look good.
I shoot rabbits with shotgun.
Shut up.
You louse this up, I'm going to break your teeth! Mr.
Osinski, when you get out of prison, if you survive, odds are you'll be deported.
we have a law about naturalized citizens committing felonies.
If you put him on the stand, he will testify he was with Petrovich.
Your lawyer is not giving you good advice.
The People will prove that the defendant conspired to take over Karl Jarmon's business and when that plan went awry, he turned to a violent solution- murder in cold blood.
Thank you.
what a wonderful theory Mr.
Stone offers you.
One problem- it's a theory.
what Mr.
Stone did not tell you is there's a difference between theory and proof.
The defense will show that Alex Petrovich had nothing to gain from Karl Jarmon's death, which might make you wonder, who did? Do you recall the time of day Greg Jarmon came to you and asked for the company's tickets? It was just after lunch, around 2:00.
Do you recall when the defendant came to you and asked you to make a reservation for him at Little Kiwv?.
It was about five minutes later.
what time did he ask you to make the reservations for? as the hockey game.
Had you previously made reservations for him at that restaurant? Yes.
were they ever for dinner at 7:00? It was Mr.
Petrovich's habit to eat late- around 9: 00.
Stone: Thank you.
Your witness.
Did Mr.
Petrovich often eat at Little Kiwv?.
Yes.
Did he always make reservations in advance? Yes, but- Because the place was always booked.
Isn't that correct? Yes, that's right.
Fine.
How long have you worked for Mr.
Petrovich? And during that time, Mr.
Petrovich and Mr.
Jarmon worked closely together as friends, isn't that correct? As friends? Didn't they work closely together? Yes, they did.
Thank you.
No further questions.
The People call Alexander Osinski.
Conference, Your Honor, we have a problem here.
They threatened my client.
No, sir, we read him the law.
He said he would get him deported.
I said he had good odds of being deported.
Judge, with this prosecutorial abuse, I think you should question the credibility of the witness.
would you now.
Mr.
Osinski tells the police he was with the defendant.
why can't he say that on the stand? Counselor, I'm going to remind you of something you should already know.
In this country, you tell a client to lie, it's subornation of perjury.
If Mr.
Stone happens to prove that, you're in a hell of a lot of trouble.
You still want him not to testify? Stone! Stone.
Make me a deal.
So your client will tell the truth? He has to tell the truth anyway.
No deal? I suspect you won't get the testimony you want.
Okay, any crime arising from this case, New York County won't prosecute.
Very good.
Full immunity on anything he testifies to.
In New York County.
Deal.
Osinski: Alex- Mr.
Petrovich, he comes to restaurant, 9:00.
Did he tell you to lie to the police, to say he arrived earlier? Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, exception.
Covering flight from a crime.
People v.
Deitch.
Overruled.
The witness will answer.
Alex tells me to lie.
He says police come, I say he there 7:00.
Do you have deposits in the People's Bank of Brighton Beach? Objection.
Relevance.
Your Honor, relevance will soon become apparent.
Overruled.
Some of my money in bank, yeah.
Some? The bank records show that there was, last month, $6,011,301.
26 If you say so.
And the month before that $9,615.
Sounds right.
A $6 million difference.
Good month at the discount store, sir? Didn't you receive that money from members of a criminal organization composed of Russian immigrants? Da.
Yes.
Weren't you ordered to instruct the bank to use that money to buy up the debts of Jarmon Printing? Objection! Mr.
Schwab, we've been there and back.
I'm allowing this testimony.
Judge: The witness will continue.
Osinski: Yeah, I tell bank we take printing company.
Alex say we put Mr.
Jarmon in gutter.
Did Mr.
Petrovich tell you he was worried about Karl Jarmon discovering the plan? I worried.
He tell me no problem, he take care of Mr.
Jarmon for good.
Man: Oh wait, there they are.
Alexander Osinski, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder and enterprise corruption.
what the hell? There's a deal in place.
No prosecution in New York City.
In New York County.
That's Manhattan.
I never gave your client immunity in Brooklyn.
That's King's County.
He gave you Petrovich! And you gave me Mr.
Osinski.
Next time, get yourself a better lawyer, sir.
On the sole count of the indictment, murder in the second degree, how does the jury find? we find the defendant guilty.
This makes up for arresting them.
I wish it could make up for being orphans.