Close to Home (2005) s02e06 Episode Script

- Hold up, hold up.
- Get off me! Hold on, hold on Homecoming, huh? Couple of kegs.
Dancing, romancing.
You remember.
I went to John Jay.
We didn't have a football team.
Dead guy's name is Billy Raditzer.
All conference, free safety last season.
What? Not a fan of big time division one college football? Better things to do with my saturday afternoons.
Forensics indicates the altercation took place in the room, continued out here on the patio, and ended by the pool.
Looks like he played some D tonight.
His knuckles are all chewed up.
Witnesses say he went into the room with two other players.
Hour or so later, he's found dead out here.
In between, nobody saw anything.
Those two players have names? Gary Antrim and Tommy Murphy.
Murphy's a star quarterback, Antrim's a team captain.
Get the picture? Starting to understand why Colon got us out of bed in the middle of the night.
College football stars.
Let's go get their autographs.
Most of the team, including coach Bass, is waiting in there.
Let's try to get this done before the rest of the press shows up.
Fat chance.
We got about 15 minutes.
Hey, guys.
Sorry I'm late.
I had to wait for the sitter.
- Who are we looking for? - Gary Antrim and Tommy Murphy.
- Oh.
No wonder Conlon called me.
- You know these guys too? Antrim and Murphy? Yeah.
Hey, where I'm from, girls don't follow football.
Where I'm from, they do.
Roy Bass.
Annabeth Chase.
Prosecuting attorney's office.
This is my colleague Maureen Scofield, investigators Blackwell and Williams.
It's a tragedy, not only for the program, but for the entire community.
Billy Raditzer was an outstanding young man, and I'm here to help in any way I can.
Good.
You can start by producing Gary Antrim and Tommy Murphy.
Well, I was hoping we could do this in a less dramatic fashion.
So were we.
What if they come down to your offices first thing in the morning, voluntarily, give a statement? We're prepared to take their statements now.
We could haul everybody downtown for questioning.
That way the whole team, even the ball boys, will be in the early edition of Sportscenter.
- If that's what you want.
- Are they under arrest? Coach, we need to speak to them about what happened at that party this evening.
Antrim, Murphy front and center.
Where'd you get these? - Practice.
- Hey, come on.
Don't play with me, kid.
I used to box.
I know a fresh strawberry when I see one.
What about you? At the party, you know? Just screwing around.
No big deal.
Billy Raditzer? Traded a few punches.
Nothing serious.
- Let me see your hands.
- What? Show me the back of your hands.
You too, hotshot.
Wouldn't be surprised if the marks on their hands match up pretty good with Billy Rad's dental work.
Probably left some of their DNA on it too.
- Let's go find out, shall we? - Yeah.
- Hands behind your back.
- What are you doing? Coach, they can't do this, can they? Don't worry.
It's gonna be okay.
Just hang in there.
Against you in the court of law.
If you can't afford an attorney Thought you said they weren't under arrest.
You said that.
I didn't.
Coach! Proudly Presents It was just a stupid fight.
Rad started it.
- And you finished it.
- No, man.
All's we did was tangle, mix it up a little.
He was alive when we left him.
Guaranteed.
- What was the fight about? - Nothing.
He just came in and started swinging.
One minute, I'm doing the party thing, the next minute, Rad's in my grille.
- Why? - He was pissed.
He lost his starting job to a red shirt.
Red shirt? I don't even know what that means.
I thought he was all conference.
Twisted his knee first game.
And this other kid, he's fast.
A lot faster than Rad.
Did the 60 in something sick, just blazed.
Rad's been riding the pine and on the rag ever since.
Okay, but what's his beef with you? Don't know.
Anybody see the fight? Any witnesses? No, man.
Not as far as I know.
It was just the three of us up in there, man.
Nobody saw you take it outside? Everybody else was inside having a good time.
It was done in a minute, no big deal.
So you and Gary left Rad by the pool? He was fine.
- You guys really put a beating on him.
- He gave as good as he got.
Obviously.
After the fight? We just walked away.
Had a beer, and he split.
We went back to the dorm.
I'd like to call my dad now.
So he can get me a lawyer.
A lawyer.
Please.
They obviously had time to get their stories straight.
Yeah, according to the cops, so did everyone else at the party.
Rad stormed into that room, looking for a fight, and that's all anybody knows.
We'll have to reinterview everyone.
Ed and ray can start with the players.
I'll contact the girls.
- I'll go talk to the coroner.
- What about Antrim and Murphy? As far as I'm concerned, they can cool their heels until their arraignment.
That gives us 72 hours.
Maybe if we can keep them out of circulation for that long, we can get somebody to tell us something new.
Yeah.
Give me the headlines.
Tommy Murphy, Gary Antrim and Billy Raditzer had a fight.
We know that.
Well, this confirms it.
Murphy and Antrim left their DNA all over the hotel and on Billy Raditzer's knuckles.
And he returned the favor.
- No surprises? - Just one.
Traces of someone else's blood in that bedroom.
- Not one of the players? - No.
Fairly fresh, but no way to tell exactly when it was left.
Either before, during or after the party.
Sorry.
Cause of death? No surprises there, either.
He was beaten so severely, his spleen ruptured.
Bled to death internally.
How long did that take? Mm, hard to say, but it wasn't instantaneous.
So, if he would have gotten medical attention You mean if someone had called an ambulance? Yeah, he should have made it.
Why didn't he get help? Could he have been unconscious? Not initially.
No significant head trauma.
His scalp wound was bloody, but superficial.
Maybe he was disoriented.
He'd been drinking, right? No.
No drugs.
No alcohol.
Billy Raditzer was stone cold sober that night.
I was wasted, dude.
I saw Rad go in there with Gary and Tommy.
I was making out in the other room.
I didn't seen anybody come out.
They must have went through the patio doors.
Rad always was a hothead, dude.
Big time anger management issues.
All right, thanks.
Hell with this.
Let's go talk to the head man himself.
You got it.
I told my players' full cooperation.
Anything you guys need.
Appreciate that, coach.
So far, we haven't had much luck.
Well, I can tell you this.
Antrim and Murphy have been officially suspended from the team indefinitely.
They're in custody, coach.
They're not going to play this saturday anyway.
Yeah, I heard they'd be out by midweek.
Heard that too, on sports radio.
It's not gonna happen.
When I took over the program, they hadn't had a winning season for five years.
I rebuilt it from the ground up.
I won't have its reputation tarnished.
I'm taking disciplinary action against any players who broke training rules that night.
So, you're gonna suspend the whole team? Not necessary.
Just a few bad apples.
That's what they always say.
Murphy and Antrim told us Rad started the fight, and they didn't know why, except that he was upset.
Because he lost his starting position.
The story we're getting from everybody is that Rad was a a sore head.
A malcontent.
He had a chip on his shoulder the size of the hoosier dome.
Look, Rad got hurt.
He lost his spot.
He thought it wasn't fair.
I can understand that.
Look, if you can excuse me, guys, I got a practice to run, a game to get ready for, and a conference title to win.
Without Murphy and Antrim.
Well, one thing I don't do, is quit.
We're going to a bowl this year.
I guaranteed that on picture day.
Full access, gentlemen.
You've got my word.
Clearly, there's been a concerted effort by coach Bass, his team and their supporters to spin this story in a certain direction.
Everyone we've talked to, the players, their girlfriends What we need are witnesses who actually saw what happened.
Right now, we have a dead kid and a so-so battery case against a couple of local heroes.
So, the question is, can we prove that this was anything more than just a drunken fistfight between a bunch of jocks? According to the coroner, Billy Raditzer was absolutely sober.
Yeah, this was no ordinary, boys-will-be-idiots dustup.
They beat him up so badly, his spleen ruptured.
There's still going to be a lot of pressure to allow them to plea to a lesser charge.
Battery's just a slap on the wrist.
I don't disagree.
All right, look, we charge Antrim and Murphy with involuntary manslaughter.
Are you sure? Billy Raditzer is dead, Antrim and Murphy killed him, if this was a barroom brawl between a couple of local yahoos, nobody would think twice, right? And one last thing: football program is not on trial here.
Let's try to remember that as we proceed.
A few bad apples.
That's the working theory.
And you better put your rain gear on, 'cause things are gonna get nasty when this hits the fan.
Annabeth.
Doug.
What are you doing here? Busman's holiday? I've just come to watch you work.
At an arraignment.
Why don't I believe you? Because you're cynical and suspicious beyond your years.
And? And I'm representing Tommy Murphy.
I see.
So where are your colleagues? What, you don't think I can handle it on my own? No, I think you're more than capable.
But given the high profile and political sensitivity of this case Conlon didn't want to add to the hype and hysteria.
Well, he's a wise man.
And ambitious.
Staying as far away from this one as he can.
I just hope, for your sake, that he isn't underestimating the importance of this case for the people of this city and state.
After you, counselor.
Gary Antrim and Thomas Murphy, you are each charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of William Raditzer.
How do you plead? Mr.
Antrim? Not guilty, Your Honor.
- Mr.
Murphy? - Not guilty, Your Honor.
Ms.
Chase, I assume the people have a position on bail that they'd like to convey.
People ask the defendants be held on bond of $1 million a piece.
A million dollars? The people can't be serious, Your Honor.
These young men are hardly a threat to the community.
We ask that they be released on their own recognizance.
Now the defense is being frivolous.
Further, if the accused are released on bond, we ask that they be placed under house arrest and fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet to assure their appearance at trial.
Mr.
Antrim and Mr.
Murphy are not flight risks, Your Honor.
They have substantial ties to the university, as well as a compelling interest in refuting these charges, repairing their reputations and continuing their education.
Bail is set at $500,000 each, cash or bond.
Defendants will submit to mandatory electronic monitoring.
I'm also, given the intense media attention around this case, issuing a gag order.
None of you are to talk to the press.
Do you understand? - Yes, Your Honor.
- Yes, Your Honor.
Yes, Your Honor.
- I think we're done here.
- Your Honor, if I may.
Under our system, a defendant is presumed innocent.
We would like to ask the Court to issue an injunction to compel central Indiana state university to allow these young men to resume all their activities.
Counsel's asking the defendants be allowed to play football while under indictment for manslaughter? And go to class.
Your Honor, the defendants have been suspended by their team.
It's an internal university matter.
I agree with the people.
It's the university's call.
No, injunction from me, Miss Richter.
Adjourned.
Uh, we might be open to a plea.
Gary and Tommy want to get on with their lives.
It's too bad Billy can't.
Battery, two years suspended.
Community service.
Get back to me when you're serious.
We'll put Tommy and Gary on the stand.
Billy Raditzer started the fight, it was self-defense.
Their word against who? Do you have any witnesses? Nice to see you, Roberta.
Annabeth, really, we should sit down, work out an amenable compromise here.
You and Doug don't come cheap.
I'm just curious, who's picking up your tab? As much as I love Doug Hellman, and respect him, my obligation is to my client.
You're willing to cut a separate deal.
So what makes Gary different from Tommy? Why should I cut a deal with him? The fight was between Tommy and Billy.
Gary was just caught up in it.
Does Doug know what you're up to? Have a great day.
It's worth a conversation, absolutely.
If we can get Antrim to testify against Murphy, - drive a wedge between them - I'll set it up.
Oh, there's no rush.
Let's see what kind of cards they're holding when we sit down at the table, all right? Mr.
Raditzer's here to see you.
I put him in the small conference room.
Thanks, Denise.
This is the third time I've been to Indianapolis.
We came last year for, uh, homecoming, Billy's mother and I, and and once when Billy was recruited, of course.
Your wife didn't come with you this time? No, she stayed home.
Make the arrangements.
We're very, very sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
You know, now we wish we'd come to see more of his games.
His mother and I hoped he'd go someplace closer to home.
But, you know, you go where the scholarship is.
And that coach, he promised Billy that he'd be a starter for central right away.
He was.
Till he got hurt.
So you've met coach Bass.
Oh, yeah, when he recruited Billy.
Sat at our dinner table, and he told us he'd take care of our son.
And we believed him.
We felt good about sending Billy here.
His teammates are all saying the same thing.
The fight started because Billy was upset about being benched.
Maybe he was, but I don't see him lashing out over it.
He'd he'd have just worked harder to get his job back.
Did he ever mention having any problems with Gary Antrim or Tommy Murphy? The boys that killed him? No.
Never.
Billy, he got along with everyone.
That's not what we're hearing, sir.
Uh did Billy have any friends who weren't on the team? His roommate.
Um, nice kid.
Uh, Sam something, uh, Malloy.
Billy was a stand-up individual.
Kind of straitlaced, though.
Old-fashioned.
Didn't fight, didn't drink, didn't like the way the players treated the girls.
Once a girl's good to go, she's sort of passed around like a party favor.
How do the girls feel about it? Some of them seem cool with it.
Some of them just go along, get caught up in it.
But it must wear on them after awhile.
Why did Rad care? Why didn't he just ignore it? Rad had a crush on one of them.
- What was her name? - Cindy Robinson.
All Rad did was complain about the whole party scene.
Just bothered him.
I told him to keep his mouth shut.
The coaches pegged you as a troublemaker, you find yourself on the bench, which is exactly what happened.
Don't rock the boat, no matter what.
Go along to get along.
Is that what the fight was about, then? Jealousy over Cindy? I wasn't there.
Players only.
But best guess, knowing Rad, maybe Cindy was doing her crimson girl thing, and Rad took exception.
- Her crimson girl thing? - Cindy was a crimson girl.
- And what's that, a cheerleader? - Without the pom-poms.
They're there to service the players, in every sense of the word.
- So the fight was over a girl.
- Possibly.
Well, that's a motive I can understand.
Now, the, uh, crimson girls.
We confirmed Malloy's story.
They show recruits around campus.
Ah, persuade them to sign with central.
Plus, they're a little perk for the varsity players.
You know, anything they can do to help the team.
The behavior was shocking enough, but the blasy attitude I know, it's a complete moral vacuum.
They don't see anything wrong with it.
Oh, uh, you were right, by the way.
About Antrim and Murphy.
Someone is picking up the tab for their attorney and their bail bonds.
The football booster club.
It's amazing how much support there is for these guys in the community.
And how little there is for the victim.
That's why we do what we do, so the victim is not forgotten.
You know, it's none of my business, but you're killing yourself with those french fries.
You should talk.
You smoke cigars.
But I'm a triathlete.
It counteracts the effects of the cigar.
Jim, Annabeth.
This is Oliver Kent, the president of central Indiana state university.
This is our new chief deputy prosecutor, James Conlon.
- It's a pleasure.
- Mr.
Kent.
And I believe you already know Annabeth.
Oh, yes, we've met.
Mr.
Conlon, it's good to see you, considering the circumstances.
Well, we hope to resolve this in an equitable manner for all involved.
Spoken like a fair-minded public servant.
I expected no less.
The university has always had excellent relations with the legal establishment in Indianapolis.
As a matter of fact, your predecessor was a season ticket holder.
Big Snappers fan.
He really knew how to throw a mean tailgate party.
I don't suppose they tailgate in New York.
Well, you know, Doug, this may come as a surprise to you, but we play football in New York tailgate too.
When all this is over, Mr.
Conlon, I hope you'll be my guest at a home game.
You too, Miss Chase.
Well, we'll let you get back to your lunch.
- Come on.
- Bye.
Gentlemen.
Was that a bribe? If it was,they'll have to do a hell of a lot better than a couple of seats on the 50 yard line.
What was I talking about? Oh, uh, Cindy Robinson.
Maureen's talking to her today.
Soon as we know what she has, we'll sit down with Antrim and his attorney.
Will do.
What are you gonna do? Well, I'm going to return some nasty phone calls from the news media, fend off demands for my resignation and answer some hate mail.
That's why you make the big bucks.
I understand you're a crimson girl.
So? - What exactly is that? - We just do things for the team.
You know, whatever they need, show recruits around campus, and tutor.
You tutor players? If they need help, you know, with, like, tests and stuff.
It's a little bit more than that, isn't it, Cindy? What you do for the players.
- That's up to the girl.
- Don't the players expect it? The extra service.
No pressure.
We do what we want to do.
What about Gary Antrim and Tommy Murphy? Did they ever ask you for anything extra? You mean, like, did I ever hook up with them? Sure, Gary and Tommy.
Not Rad.
He wasn't really my type.
You dated Gary and Tommy.
- We don't really date on this campus.
- You don't? I'm a senior.
I haven't had a date in, like, four years.
We just, hook up, you know, keep it "cas", no strings.
Who were you hooked up with at the party? - Nobody.
I just danced.
- Did you see Tommy and Gary? - Once or twice.
It was pretty crowded.
- What about Rad? Same thing.
Just to say hey.
- You didn't see the fight? - No.
Nobody did.
Do you know what the fight was about? Everyone said Rad was mad about being benched.
Did you know that the fight might have been about you? No.
Uh, I didn't.
I don't, I don't see how it could've been.
Look, I'm sorry, I'm really late for class.
I got to go.
I feel terrible.
This is not me.
This is not who I am.
If you knew he was seriously injured and you walked away and let him die without calling for help - We thought he was okay, I swear - We will up the charges.
Okay.
I thought we were here to down the charges to something more reasonable, Annabeth, like battery for instance.
Involuntary manslaughter is as low as we're willing to go.
That's what he's charged with now.
Uh, why are we here? Sentencing recommendation is still in play.
Tommy Murphy is the principally responsible party here.
Well, you have to convince us of that.
- And if we do? - The maximum.
Eight years? No.
Annabeth He serves four, the rest suspended in exchange for his testimony against his codefendant and a true account of what happened that night.
No more smoke screen, no more spin.
Okay, Gary.
Tell them your story.
It was over a girl.
Cindy Robinson.
Yeah.
Rad had a thing for her, but she wouldn't give him a tumble.
So he walked into that room looking for you and Murphy? - Not us.
Cindy.
- I'm sorry, Cindy was in the room? - Yup.
- Did she see the fight? She saw it start, but we took it outside before it really got going.
Let me get this straight.
Billy Raditzer stormed into that room because you and Murphy were in there with Cindy? Not us, the guy we hooked her up with that night.
The coroner said there was someone else in the room.
Freddy Wade.
He's a booster.
So Billy confronted Mr.
Wade? Busted his nose.
Dude bled all over.
What was Wade doing there? I thought the party was players only.
We always got a couple boosters hanging around.
Freddy wanted us to hook him up with a crimson girl.
- Nice.
- Freddy went in the room with her, Cindy just started freaking out.
Said she didn't sign up for that.
But Tommy talked her down.
How'd he do that? Freddy promised her a car.
So everything was cool.
A car? That's prostitution, not cool.
- We didn't think of it that way.
- Obviously.
Go on.
They were about to get it on and Rad busted in.
We traded some punches, no big deal.
Rad said something to Tommy.
Tommy just went ape.
- What'd he say? - I don't know.
I didn't hear.
Cindy and big Freddy just started freaking out, so we took it outside.
Tommy got Rad down on the ground and just started wailing on him.
- I pulled Tommy off.
- How did you leave Billy Raditzer? He seemed okay.
He was on his feet.
He had a couple cuts and bruises, but I had no idea he was busted up inside.
Tommy must've done that when he got him down.
So, in light of his candor and his ancillary culpability, in exchange for his testimony against Mr.
Murphy, do we have a deal? We'll have to see if his story checks out.
Does Doug Hellman know you're here? Ah actually, Doug prefers complete vindication at trial for his client.
Apparently, Mr.
Murphy still harbors a notion that he's gonna play in the nfl.
Good day, ladies.
I feel like we're finally getting to the bottom of this.
And if Doug Hellman went to trial, it'd get on judge Barnez's calendar.
Who's going to talk to the used car salesman? Big Freddy.
Got it.
Yeah, I was hoping to talk to the crimson girl.
No crimson girls for you.
I'll talk to Cindy, since we have such rapport.
I'll come with you.
In a minute, we're gonna take you downtown, get your DNA.
DNA's gonna match up to the crime scene, put you right in that room.
- The kid hit me! - Not to mention the scandal.
Prominent member of the business community forcing himself on coeds.
That'll sell a lot of cars.
Come down to Wade auto, where you can buy a used car and get raped.
I'm sure your wife will be pleased too.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on.
Wait, now What are you saying? I never had to force myself on a woman.
Antrim and Murphy, they said it was cool.
In fact, they said she wanted to.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You believe that? Look in the mirror, pal.
I didn't have anything to do with that Raditzer kid dying.
I was out of there long before that even happened.
You-you you ask coach Bass.
Coach Bass was at the party? I called him.
He came and got me.
Funny.
He neglected to mention that.
Coach was only there to help me.
I didn't want anyone else to know about it.
If the press finds out that he was at that party, it could ruin the program.
You lied to us about being in the room that night.
You can't dodge this any longer, Cindy.
The chickens are all coming home to roost.
Antrim told us that Rad said something to Tommy Murphy that night, that made him very angry.
Did you hear what it was? He said he was going to tell the coach.
Tell the coach about you and Mr.
Wade? Why would coach care about that? No, he'd think it was so great we were "taking care" of his friend.
No, he meant about Murphy and Dede.
What are you talking about? Who's Dede? Mrs.
Bass.
Rad said he saw Murphy with coach Bass' wife.
Tommy Murphy and Mrs.
Bass were having an affair? Rad said he saw them one night getting into an elevator at the dunlop.
He said they were all over each other.
Cell phone records confirm frequent contact between Tommy Murphy and Dede Bass.
Murphy even called her the night of the fight.
Do we know why? We matched her license plate to the garage security video.
She was there to pick him up.
And we got a positive I.
D.
from the bellman at the dunlop.
Mrs.
Bass and Tommy Murphy were frequent flyers.
Coach's wife and his star quarterback.
Who said things were dull in Indianapolis.
- Not I.
- Puts the big apple to shame.
You've been away too long.
That's the thing about the midwest; it only looks normal.
What about coach Bass? He never told us or the police he went to the party that night to pick up big Freddy.
Big Freddy told him about the fight then.
If coach Bass knew about the fight, then tried to cover it up by telling his players what to say, - that's obstruction of justice.
- It's hard to prove.
On the other hand, if he tells his story under oath, - it's perjury.
- So who do we talk to first, - the coach or his wife? - Neither, tired of waltzing around with lying, prevaricating witnesses.
So what do you have in mind? We put them both on the stand under oath, treat them as hostile witnesses in Tommy Murphy's manslaughter trial.
That could work.
We got a dead player, two others charged with manslaughter.
A prominent booster involved in a possible rape.
We got coach Bass, who came to his rescue.
Coeds and boosters involved in what amounts to a prostitution ring.
We've got a hell of a scandal shaping up here.
Big enough to bring down the program.
That worry you? Let the chips fall where they may.
How long have you been having an affair with the defendant? A little more than a year.
Was your husband aware of the affair? I doubt it.
He's too busy.
He wouldn't have noticed your frequent overnight stays at the dunlop hotel with the defendant? A lot of nights Roy doesn't even come home.
He stays all night in his office watching game film.
The night Billy Raditzer died, where were you? At home.
You know, couldn't go to the party with Tommy, obviously.
I was at home all night.
- You never left? - No.
Did you see the defendant that night? No.
Did you talk to him on the phone that night? No.
What about your husband? Where was he? At his office, I assume.
Did you see him at all that night? Well, not until the next morning, after Gary and Tommy had been arrested.
Did he say anything about what occurred that evening? Objection, Your Honor.
Spousal privilege.
The court cannot require Mrs.
Bass to testify as to confidential communications between her and her husband.
According to Indiana statutes, she can answer voluntarily.
Ms.
Bass, you may answer the question, if you so choose.
He just said that there'd been a fight.
That Tommy and Gary had killed Billy and it was all a big mess.
He said that? He put the blame on Gary Antrim and Tommy Murphy? Yes.
I said he had to stand by them.
He said that the boosters would get them good lawyers and that there was nothing he could do.
He said the program had to come first.
With Roy, the program always comes first.
Yes, I was at the party.
Briefly.
I went there to help out a friend.
Big Freddy Wade who found himself in a compromising position with a coed.
Well, I wouldn't quite characterize it that way.
You were covering for big Freddy Wade.
Again, I wouldn't quite Some people might say you were pimping for him.
Your Honor, that was unnecessary.
Indeed, Ms.
Chase, moderate your rhetoric, please.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I apologize, Your Honor.
But it's true, isn't it? You knew all about the connection between the boosters and the crimson girls.
I didn't know anything about any of that.
Freddy called me, said he was in trouble, needed a ride, I went and got him.
Ended the story.
You didn't tell the police or prosecutor's office you were at the party.
They never asked.
You didn't think it was your duty to volunteer that information? I didn't think it was relevant.
None of your players mentioned you were at the party, either.
I didn't see or speak to any of my players.
Freddy met me out at the street.
I didn't go into the hotel.
Did you speak to your players back at the athletic center? I did.
Did you instruct them on what to tell the police and prosecutors about what happened that night? I did.
Coercing your players to lie about what happened is obstruction of justice.
- Objection.
- Rephrase, counselor.
What did you tell them to say, coach? I told them to be consistent.
- To stick to a simple story.
- And what story was that? That no one knew exactly what happened that night between those three players and that is the truth.
What else? That Billy Raditzer was upset about losing his starting position.
Did you tell them to say Billy started the fight? As far as anyone knew, he did.
I didn't tell my players to lie to you or the police about anything.
So then why instruct them on what to say? For the good of the program.
To try to minimize the fallout from this - tragic event.
- According to your wife, you characterized it somewhat differently when you came home.
Well, she misunderstood.
And other than Mr.
Wade, you didn't talk to anyone else at that party? No.
I got in and out as quick as I could.
Why don't you tell us exactly what happened that night, Tommy.
Rad was in love with Cindy.
He couldn't get it in his head that she wanted to be with other guys.
Go on.
I hooked Cindy up with big Freddy.
Somehow Rad found out about it.
He came in swinging yelling the minute he hit big Freddy, I knew we had a problem.
- Well, you could've walked away.
- I wish I had.
He kept running his mouth about big Freddy and Cindy.
All I could think about was, "he's going to ruin everything".
Then he said that he knew about me and the coach's wife.
Next thing I knew, we were outside rolling around on the ground.
And then what happened? Antrim pulled me off, told me we had to get out of there.
Well, why didn't you try to get medical assistance for Rad or call for help? He seemed fine.
I am sorry for what I did.
I'm sorry Rad's dead.
I wish I could turn back the clock.
Start over.
Nothing further.
If that's true, Mr.
Murphy, why have you remained silent for so long? I thought, somehow, it might still all work out.
If you kept your mouth shut, you might evade criminal prosecution and resume your athletic career? Yes.
Earlier, we heard Gary Antrim's testimony.
You beat Billy Raditzer savagely, without mercy, within an inch of his life.
I didn't, I swear.
We left him alive.
After the fight, you and Gary went back to the dorm.
And then what did you do? Just hung around.
I didn't really think anything about it until coach called us all together.
You didn't return to the hotel? Mrs.
Bass said, earlier, she hadn't been to the hotel and hadn't seen or talked to you that night.
Your Honor, people's exhibit 22 and 23: hotel garage security video, which records the entrance of a vehicle registered to Dede Bass about the same time as Billy Raditzer's death and cell phone records of calls that night between the defendant and Mrs.
Bass.
The last call, ten minutes before Mrs.
Bass's car arrived at the garage.
Would you care to revise your statement? I was worried.
I went back to the hotel to see if Rad was okay.
And did you find him? Yes.
I could see him with someone by the pool.
Who? Tommy, it's time to stop protecting someone you know has lied to protect himself.
- Not you.
- Your Honor, counsel is either testifying or giving her closing statement.
I can't tell which.
Ask a question, Ms.
Chase.
Tommy, who did you see with Billy Raditzer? Coach Bass.
The Court will come to order or the bailiffs will clear the room.
What exactly did you see? They were talking.
Arguing.
I could hear their voices.
They were kind of raised.
I I thought Billy was telling coach about the fight.
Me and Antrim were in big trouble.
Billy was sitting in a chair.
Coach was standing over him, looking into his eyes.
With his hands on his shoulders.
- Holding him down? - Yes.
- And then what? - Billy tried to get up out of his chair.
Coach wouldn't let him.
He just kept holding him down.
Billy kept trying to get up out of his chair.
He kept saying, "please, help me, I'm dying.
Please, I need a doctor".
Coach just kept holding him down.
It was terrible.
And then Billy just closed his eyes and kind of slumped over.
Coach let him go and he just toppled over onto the ground.
- What did you do? - I got the hell out of there.
I called Dede and asked her if she could come pick me up.
Tommy, why didn't you call for help? I could tell he was dead.
And did you see the coach at all, after that? Back at the athletic center.
He said Billy had died in the fight.
He said no one knew the circumstances.
He took me aside.
He said, "keep your mouth shut".
"You'll still go to the nfl".
Your Honor, the defense asks for a brief recess.
Granted.
Now, I'm thinking we should, uh, withdraw our not guilty plea.
Same deal as Antrim? He does more time.
- Four years.
- All eight.
Results of the search warrant.
Billy Raditzer's blood in your car.
That might've been left by big Freddy Wade.
And on items of clothing found on your premises.
It all corroborates Tommy Murphy's story.
The university's already cooperating with the NCAA.
Over 60 police reports ranging from assault to rape allegations.
Reports actively suppressed by you and your staff with the cooperation of the entire athletic department and the campus police.
Handgun possession, sexual misconduct, dui, battery.
Not to mention the crimson girls, whom the boosters actively pay to provide sexual favors to athletes and boosters, which, in most jurisdictions, is prostitution.
Your football program's going to get the so-called death penalty, it's too bad we couldn't do the same for you.
What are you offering? In exchange for a full confession he pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
- Jail time? - Maximum: 20 years.
Murphy's got eight, Antrim four.
He's more culpable than they are.
He knew Billy Raditzer needed help.
The good samaritan law doesn't oblige anyone to aid an injured person.
He forcibly prevented Billy Raditzer from getting medical assistance.
He wanted him to die and he made sure that he did.
Make your statement.
He threatened to go public.
Tell everybody.
Not just about the affair but about the crimson girls and big Freddy and anything else he could think about.
I mean, here is this 18-year-old kid shooting off his mouth without any sense of what it would do to the program, a program I built from nothing.
- Coach.
- Shut up! I gave this kid a scholarship.
This ungrateful son of a bitch, and now he wants to drag me and my program through the coals? Make a a laughingstock out of us.
Boy, you got what you wanted to, didn't you? Yeah, the program will be dismantled.
My legacy, all of it gone.
Your legacy? You left Billy Raditzer to die because you cared more about the program than your players.
- That's your legacy.
- Yeah.
Coach.
If he hadn't tried to cover it up Antrim and Murphy would've taken the blame.
And coach Bass would still be sitting in the catbird seat.
You know, it's usually the cover-up and not the original crime that trips up the high and mighty in these kind of cases.
And now, you're going to be known as the guy who killed football at central Indiana.
Nah, they'll be off probation in a few years and back in a bowl game before you know it.
Still, you didn't have to take the lead on this.
We could've been the public face of the prosecutor's office.
Well, then I'd be as bad as coach Bass letting my players take the heat.
Which reminds me, Gene Raditzer called to say thank you.
Well, the least we could do putting coach Bass in prison hardly compensates for the loss of his son, though.
No, but he was ecstatic about the scholarship.
Scholarship? I didn't tell you? My new friend, president Kent, I persuaded him to establish one in Billy's memory.
The Raditzer scholarship.
For true student athletes or good moral character.
Persuaded? Oh, I can twist an arm when I need to.