Law & Order Special Victims Unit s08e22 Episode Script

In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.
These are their stories.
Well, it seems like homicides and murder trials are a dime a dozen here in New York City.
Good morning, everybody.
I'm Nancy Grace.
Thank you for being with us.
We are analyzing the high-profile murder trial of thePeople versus Darius Parker.
Here in the studio with me, former Brooklyn prosecutor Star Jones.
So Star, what, if anything, is different about this case? You have the bodies of Nina Stansfield and her little son found in a vacant lot.
But the jury will never get to hear anything about it.
Star, I've tried a lot of cases with a lot less evidence than that, and I believe you have too.
And we've won them.
But we did not have these issues.
You have a defendant who is related to a detective in the Manhattan Special Victims Unit.
They ran the investigation.
Your stepson, Darius Parker, standing trial for murder.
Do you think he'll be convicted? Have you talked to your ex-wife? Hey, Detective! Detective! In the highly controversial pre-trial ruling, the trial judge in this case suppressed any and all evidence regarding the dead bodies.
But why? Because of the way police conducted the search.
Which leaves the D.
A.
with only a bloody crime scene and a murder weapon.
Any backlash from your colleagues? Are the bosses treating you differently? Care to comment, Detective? Get out of my way.
You just assaulted me and it's all caught on tape.
I assaulted you? Hey, back up.
Back up.
Make a hole.
I'm concerned about the sophistication of the jury.
They want DNA, mitochondrial DNA.
They may be looking for that.
Counselor, they want proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Here's the problem I have.
Ever since the OJ Simpson trial Sorry about this, man.
I heard.
It's done.
I just hope I have a clean shirt.
What's eating him? Turn that off.
They want proof- The hell you doin' here, Ken? It's Mom.
She got served a subpoena.
She's talking about running.
She already knows.
She runs, she goes to jail.
So it's not your problem? What the hell do you want from me? I gotta do my job.
I gotta keep my head down 'cause your brother's on trial for murder, and dodge the press at the same time.
I'm sorry if I don't give a damn if your mother gets locked up.
Excuse me.
What? I'm looking for Detectives Benson, Stabler, and Tutuola.
You got us.
You've been served.
Oh.
We're being subpoenaed by Darius Parker as witnesses for the defense.
My ex could be a pain in the ass.
I've had some experience with that.
I'll give her your love.
Keep her out of jail.
Dean, uh, I really can't talk right now.
So I'll call you back as soon as I can, okay? Subpoena was delivered this morning right after we had to fight our way in.
Detective Stabler.
A reporter from theLedger is filing assault charges against you.
Sounds like fiction to me.
Well, the press isn't going away.
This is a big murder trial.
We're personally involved.
So behav The fourth estate is also camped out at One P.
P.
But I don't have any answers.
Run the case for me, please.
Nina Stansfield, 35, and her baby son Stevie disappeared four years ago.
All we found at the crime scene was seven pints of blood and a murder weapon.
Darius Parker confessed, led us to the bodies, then had everything thrown out because we talked to him illegally.
So I can't use his confession or their bodies as evidence, but I still have the blood and the knife.
And Parker's DNA.
Which the defense will argue he left when he had sex with his ex-girlfriend, the Stansfield babysitter.
Is that enough to convict? Well, the blade on Parker's knife had the victim's vaginal cells.
And the ex-girlfriend ID'd the murder weapon as his.
Sounds like a smoking gun.
Well, it's not gonna be that easy.
The defense will try and discredit this unit, and prove incompetence.
That's why I need your jackets.
So we're on trial this time.
You better believe it.
Their records are clean.
I know that.
But I still have to prove it.
I'll send their files over.
Anything else you need, call my office.
Casey Novak.
I'll be right there.
Something the matter? Darius Parker's trying to get out of coming to court.
Mom.
I asked you to help me and you bring a cop? Get out of here.
I don't want you to go to jail.
I can't testify.
I know you're scared, but running will only make it worse.
Mind your own business.
This is my business if I have to arrest you for contempt.
I can't go into that courtroom.
Darius is your son, Mom, and you owe him.
I owe him nothing.
What are you afraid of, Terry? I c- They are going to ask me about Darius' father.
Novak needs you to testify to put Darius in prison.
I don't care.
Fin's already boxed in.
By running, you give them more ammunition.
So how much pain are you willing to cause? Get the hell out of my house.
All right, Mr.
Braden, I concede your client is ill.
But how sick is he? The doctor wants to run more tests.
That's convenient.
You should see a specialist.
What, exactly, is the problem? Look at me.
I'm sweating.
I feel nauseous.
I'm feverish.
And I have severe abdominal pain.
You mean a stomachache.
He's prepared to sign a right of appearance waiver, and when he's better, he'll be back in court.
At your convenience? No, I don't think so.
You didn't get sick until you saw my witness list.
And you don't want to hear the medical examiner describe in gory detail exactly what you did to the victim.
Now, how do you propose to do that without the body? This is a psychological tactic, Your Honor.
If the jury can't see the killer, they won't associate him with Nina Stansfield's violent death.
I had no idea this was so personal, Ms.
Novak.
Once you get to know me, you'll find I feel this way about all my cases.
Enough.
You know it's your right to be present during every moment of this trial.
I don't need you to tell me my rights.
I'm entitled to a speedy trial.
I'm entitled to defend myself, so I'm sitting second chair.
If I'm not there, my lawyer will watch my back.
So all you need to do is grant the damn waiver, then the trial can move on and justice can be done.
No one here thinks you're stupid, Mr.
Parker.
Give me the same courtesy.
I don't follow.
I think you do.
You have exploited every strategy to delay these proceedings.
So I'm denying your waiver request.
You wanted your day in court.
You got it.
We found vaginal cells on the 5-inch blade.
How did they get there? By thrusting the knife into the victim's vagina.
And what was the cause of death, Doctor? Exsanguination.
Nina Stansfield lost 7 pints of blood.
No one could have survived.
Did she die from one fatal blow? Blood spattered on the ceiling when the blade was yanked from the victim's flesh says no.
She was chased, repeatedly stabbed, and lost most of her blood volume on the kitchen floor where she fell.
Nothing further.
Are you sure there were multiple stab wounds? Positive.
And was all the blood tested, Doctor? Yes.
None of it belonged to the baby or anyone else.
Objection! Objection.
Strike that remark from the record.
The jury will disregard what the witness just said.
Approach.
Mistrial, Your Honor? They're trying to sandbag me.
There's no way the jury will forget it now.
I specifically told Dr.
Warner not to mention the baby.
And a slip of the tongue won't go on the record.
But you can't un-ring a bell.
Was that the idea? No, Your Honor.
Well, another stunt like that and both of you can share a cell.
Step back.
Now, would you classify one stab wound after another as frenzied? Without the body, I can't say.
You've testified to everything else without the body.
Yes, I'd consider the attack as frenzied.
Isn't it unusual for a killer not to cut himself during a frenzied attack? And yet, you found no traces of anyone else's blood.
How do you account for that? A murderer's skill with his blade.
That's the knife I bought Darius.
It has a deep scratch on the handle.
Nothing further.
How often did you have sex with my client at the Stansfield apartment? I don't remember.
He was my boyfriend.
And how many times a week did you work for Nina Stansfield? Twice.
Sometimes three times a week.
Mm-hmm.
And did you invite my client over for sex each and every time? Yes.
Did you use a condom? Not always.
And who ended the relationship? He did.
Would it be fair to say you were in love with him? Would it be accurate that you were upset when he left and this is a vindictive attempt to get back at my client? Ms.
Bowden, I can only conclude that he's just not that into you.
Objection.
You can twist this however you want.
But I bought that knife from a pawn shop.
Nothing further, Your Honor.
I looked at it every day for weeks, hoping it wouldn't get sold before I made enough money to buy it.
I said I'm done.
That's the knife I bought Darius and you can't twist that.
Your Honor, I'm done.
Call your next witness.
Your Honor, may I request a short recess? Teresa Randall's not here yet.
Half an hour.
She better show by then or she's in contempt.
I don't want to cause any trouble.
I just can't testify.
It's not up to us.
Take a seat.
I plead the Fifth, Your Honor.
Will anything you say reveal criminal activity? Yes.
Well, let me be more specific.
Will any testimony you give implicateyourself in any criminal activity? No.
Then you can't plead the Fifth.
Proceed.
I'm sorry, but I refuse to answer any questions today or any other day.
Then you leave me no choice.
You are hereby remanded into custody until you comply.
Bailiff, remove Ms.
Randall.
See ya, Mom.
Detective, how are you today? Peachy.
Let's get to it.
How long have you been a police officer? And how many times did you test dirty when you worked undercover? Objection.
Relevance? Job performance and veracity o f a sworn officer, Your Honor.
Answer the question.
Tested dirty twice.
I've never used.
Did you work the Tyrone Hart case? Objection-we ask for an in camera hearing due to the sensitive and confidential nature of undercover narcotics cases.
They can't go on a fishing expedition, Your Honor.
The scope is very specific.
No bait required.
What does Fin's job performance have to do with the present case? We have knowledge of a misconduct.
If he acted improperly then, we have reason to believe there's a pattern.
There's nothing in Detective Tutuola's jacket to support that accusation.
There wouldn't be.
Cops take care of their own.
Watch it.
We may be in chambers.
This is still a formal hearing.
Your Honor, my client is a member of this officer's family.
He's the son of his ex-wife.
And he has firsthand knledge of what went on in that household.
You can prove misconduct? Through the detective's testimony or his son, my half-brother Kenneth Randall.
Yes.
Get on with it.
Now, Detective, did you work on the Tyrone Hart arrest? Yes.
And were drugs and guns recovered from the suspect? You already know I took possession.
And as an undercover narcotics cop, were you assigned a take home vehicle? Yes.
Did you leave Tyrone Hart's drugs and guns inside of your take home car instead of logging them into evidence right away as policy requires? It's not the way you're making it sound.
Yes or no.
Yes.
And how long did it take you to submit the drugs and guns into evidence? A day.
So how can we be sure that you didn't keep any drugs to plant or hold back any weapons to drop on future suspects? And how can we be sure that you didn't tamper with any evidence against Tyrone Hart? I didn't need to.
There were bodies on those guns and so were his prints.
He was a paranoid drug dealer.
He killed people.
You admit it that you can't be trusted to follow NYPD regulations.
So why should we trust you now? Dad, wait, man.
You told Darius about the guns and the drugs, didn't you? Ten years ago.
I mean, I looked in the glove box and found the stash.
As usual, you screamed at me.
I was ten.
There you go again.
Will you change the channel? That- that right there is why I always went to Darius.
Mom was so busy blaming you and you were so busy working, there was no one to hear me.
How could I know he'd use it against you? How could I know he'd have a reason to? I wasn't there for you, okay? You're angry.
I get it.
Get over it, man.
Get a therapist.
Work it out.
I'm not trying to hear this right now.
Detective.
Detective.
Hey.
How come we couldn't talk on the phone? Oh, things are a little dicey around the office.
Yeah, mine too.
A process server was at the federal building looking for me.
Good thing he didn't have access to the upper floors.
Oh, my God, this has gotta be Matt Braden.
The attorney in your murder case? Yeah.
What does he want? You.
On the stand to jam me up over this business with my brother.
Simon was cleared.
It doesn't matter.
When I helped him, he was a suspect who jumped bail.
That's a felony.
You cooperated with the FBI and I cleared you.
And they can still make you testify.
Look, I can keep ducking this guy till the trial's over.
Long as I stay out of his reach, you're fine.
Dean, this is not your problem.
You helped bring Simon in and you made it right.
I'm not gonna leave you hanging.
The problem is, I can't go home.
Bastard process server has my address.
Sorry, but they've got mine too.
Can you believe this? Look what these bastards are doing to him.
What's wrong? Braden knows about my brother.
How? I have no idea.
But Porter's ducking a subpoena and I'm looking over my shoulder.
I'll be so glad when this damn trial's over with.
I can't think.
Can't even focus on my job.
Braden would still be on your ass, whether Fin was related to the defendant or not.
I don't blame Fin.
Sure you do.
Every day since this started.
Back off, man.
The guy's in hell.
Fin didn't take the guy's confession.
You did, and it got thrown out.
The captain was sitting right next to me.
Did you raise your concerns with him? Hey, had I been there, I would have taken his confession without a lawyer present too.
What are we gonna fight about next, huh? Is everything okay? I need to talk to you.
Okay.
The kids all right? They're fine.
But you're not.
You said you wanted to work things out.
You said that you were ready to come home.
Look, Kathy, I'm sorr- I don't care.
Not about my pride or my ego or anything else.
I need you to come home now, Elliot.
Not for the kids.
For me.
What's changed? I'm pregnant.
Have you seen her in court? Well, the defense strategy seems to be working here because her performance is lukewarm.
This A.
D.
A.
proved her case.
The victim died from multiple stab wounds from a knife belonging to the defendant.
What more do you want? Listen, if you take a look at the evidence, it seems as if somebody along the chain screwed up the forensics.
And speaking of forensics, we are now joined by renowned serologist and blood spatter expert- What'd I say about that? Hey.
What, are you bringing me my last meal? No, you're gonna get through this.
I want you to know that you have friends around here.
Thanks.
Especially for making sure my ex didn't become a fugitive.
Terry's still refusing to testify? Like a rock.
Same as always.
Won't talk to me.
She was raped.
She told you that? She didn't have to.
How many victims have we seen who act just like her? Let me show you to your desk.
What are you doing here? Detective Lake is transferring in from Brooklyn SVU.
He's gonna pick up our slack during the trial.
He's gonna stay here after.
So make him feel welcome.
Should Fin be concerned? There's more than enough work for everybody, John.
Why don't you do some? Aren't you two due in court? Yeah, we're leaving right now.
Hiding out? A drug dealing hump's conviction just got overturned and I look like a dirty doped-up cop.
Narco cops fail drug tests all the time.
I tested dirty 'cause I sat in cramped rooms with drug dealers who sampled their own product.
When I got buzzed, it went into my red book.
Tyrone Hart's not walking 'cause you got a contact high, Fin.
I'd been up 36 hours when I pinched that bastard with heavyeight.
I took his guns, his personal stash.
Then I got a call to meet a mark that we'd been dangling for a while.
Why didn't your handler send someone else? Buyers already knew me.
New face would have blown the deal.
So I made the meet, then I went home and I crashed out.
With the guns and the stash still in your car.
Next thing I know, my kid's got the glove box open, a gun in his hand.
Ken told Darius and he screwed me on the stand.
Darius doesn't have police file access.
How does he know allof the details? Braden's an ex-cop.
Who now works for the defense.
Somebody's feeding him.
It's gotta be a cop.
Elliot.
Yeah.
You checked the time two minutes ago.
What's goin' on? Kathy's pregnant.
I didn't know you went back home.
I haven't.
I'm pathetic.
Fumbling around like a kid.
So what are you gonna do? What do you mean by that? We're in recess.
I won't be calling you today, Ms.
Benson.
Stabler, you're on after lunch.
Can't wait.
Hold on, you won't be calling me today, or you're not calling me at all? As long as we haven't rested, you're still on the hook.
Well, then, you know where to find me.
Ah, you know, this is what I miss the most.
Camaraderie.
Brothers in blue.
Even when you clip on the gold shield to your off-the-rack polyester blends.
Family.
That's what this trial's all about.
This trial is about your lowlife client who murdered a mother and her 14-month-old baby.
My client never had a chance, no one to call, no family to believe in him.
Or to give him support or money when he was in trouble.
How do you think that makes him feel, Detective? Not half as bad as the victim when he stabbed her death, or her son, who he buried alive.
Too bad they're not here to tell you about it.
Simon.
What are you doing here? This isn't a good time.
I know it's not.
You're in trouble.
You know, you could have called me and told me yourself.
You've been talking to Dean Porter.
There's no way in hell I'm gonna let you take the fall for helping me out of a very tight spot.
There's nothing you can do except go be with your family, okay? Youaremy family.
That's why I told your captain I forced you to give me the money when I jumped bail.
You did what? That I threatened to reveal our relationship.
He already knows our relationship.
I also said you had no idea I'd jumped bail at the time and you just wanted me out of your life.
Then you lied to my superior officer.
So did you.
Oh.
You put your job and your freedom on the line for me.
You think I'm gonna stand by and do nothing? That means a lot.
Just stick to the story and we'll be fine.
I gotta go.
You sure Braden's eating lunch here today? Relax.
I got it from the law firm's receptionist.
She said that he's meeting with his old boss.
Heads up.
I see him.
Check the car.
It's gotta be department.
Unmarked.
He's got a driver.
That means he's the boss.
You know him? No.
I sure would like to.
That's Allan James.
Who's that? He's a lieutenant.
Chief of Detective's Executive Officer.
How long has he been meeting with Braden? There's no way to find out without tipping him off.
The X.
O.
's an administrator.
What's a paper pusher want with me? Leave it alone.
Captain, this is my life.
The subject is closed, Detective.
Detective Stabler, what's the penalty for driving under the influence? Objection.
Relevance? Your Honor, Counsel's objections are getting tedious.
Is Detective Stabler truthful? Does he enforce the law equally? Overruled.
Answer the question.
Well, I'm not a traffic cop, so I'd have to check for you.
Well, the standard charge for blood alcohol concentration of at least.
08 is a suspended license, a discretionary fine, and/or six months in jail.
Didn't you know that? Nope.
Was your daughter Kathleen arrested on a DUl charge in May, 2005? Yes.
Did you ask the arresting officers to lose your daughter's blood samples and paperwork? No.
In fact, didn't they deliver her to you and then bury the evidence? Didn't you, a police officer sworn to uphold the law, circumvent it for personal gain? Objection.
Badgering.
You can phra The answer's still no.
Given this line of questioning and my personal knowledge concerning this matter, I must recuse myself.
Detective Stabler was getting dangerously close to perjury.
I had no choice but to recuse myself.
You knew about the DUl? I did.
Your Honor, I did not lie.
I didn't ask the cops to do anything for me.
You didn't have to.
Cops take care of each other.
No one's talking to you, ki- Here is proof the NYPD is corrupt.
It should go on the record.
I'm in no mood to oblige you, Mr.
Parker.
But as a bonus, I'm gonna resurrect Kathleen Stabler's paperwork and charge her with a DUl.
Get your daughter a good lawyer, Detective.
And hope like hell for a suspended license, a fine, and probation.
What are the odds Darius walks? Perception is everything, so could go either way.
'Cause I look like a cop who tampers with evidence.
Braden's making us all look bad.
Has he made any accusations that weren't true? Braden's got the jury looking at his client like a victim.
Now, that's his job.
Mine is to put the bastard behind bars.
I need Terry Randall on the stand.
What can she give you? She can give me motive.
I already told the jury how Nina was killed.
They need to hear why.
Good luck.
I was married to the woman and didn't know Darius was her son.
I think that she was raped by somebody that she knew and that she trusted.
Somebody that was supposed to protect her and preyed on her instead.
You think it was a family member.
Cragen.
Terry only has a younger sister.
But there was a paternal uncle.
He bullied everybody in the family.
Right.
Olivia, you go talk to Terry.
See what you can do.
That was IAB.
They wanna sit you down by close of business today.
I know what you want and I can't help you.
Well, just how long do you intend to hide something that happened over 25 years ago? You were attacked and forced to have your rapist's baby, Terry.
It's not your fault.
So I should just get over it, right? No.
I'm still not over it.
You were raped? I'm the product of a rape.
Did your mother hate you too? No.
My mother didn't know her rapist, but you did.
Who did this to you? My family is wrecked.
And you want me to get on that stand and finish him off.
No.
I'm just asking you to tell the truth.
I did.
They wouldn't even listen to me.
Couldn't tell my mother.
It would have killed her.
So you suffered this all alone.
I show up pregnant and my mother wouldn't let me get an abortion, so I had Darius.
And now Darius is facing murder charges and may even get away with it if you don't speak up.
Don't you at least owe it to Nina and that baby? I- I lived across the street from the victim, Nina Stansfield.
Did the defendant visit your home? Against my wishes.
He and my son Ken are very close.
I didn't want Darius around.
He was bad news.
Was he ever hostile or violent? Did he ever threaten you? He was always drinking.
Drugging and getting in trouble with the cops.
He has a record as long as my arm.
Isn't that enough? Objection.
Prior bad acts, Your Honor.
Sustained.
Strike that last comment.
Answer the question and nothing more.
I'm sorry.
Do you admit that Darius Parker is your son, and not your nephew, as everyone thought, including the defendant? Yes.
Tell me, why did you hide the relationship? When I was 16, I was raped.
And my, um, family forced me to have him.
But they couldn't force me to raise him.
Did you ever tell the defendant that he was your son? No.
Well, who did? My mother.
She told him on her deathbed.
Did you see the defendant after your mother died? Yes.
He was drunk at the hospital, at the funeral, and at the gravesite.
And no one could control him.
Was he angry? He was livid.
Especially at me.
When was this, exactly? Two days before Nina Stansfield was murdered.
Objection.
Withdrawn.
Nothing further.
What the hell you think you're doing? Detectives Benson, Stabler, and Tutuola have nobody to blame but themselves.
And now the brass have you to thank for that.
This is about losing your command.
You made sure I lost my rank because you couldn't resist making me look bad in front of the bosses.
Now it's my turn.
That was 15 years ago.
Some people would call you obsessed.
I saw the opportunity and I took it.
You weren't command material, Allan.
You rose above your abilities.
Even a turd can float.
If the state loses this trial over the perception of police misconduct, they'll ask for your resignation.
Which they won't get.
Then they'll transfer you to Outer Mongolia.
Where you'll break.
You see, I've thought this through.
And what will the bosses say when they find out you've been feeding information to the defense? I've already put my papers in, Don.
I'm retiring.
And when I'm done, even your rabbi, the Chief of Detectives, won't be able to bail you out.
You say I was drunk and out of control.
Did it ever occur to you that I was just grieving the one person who actually loved me? Did murdering that woman make you feel better? Objection.
Sustained.
Strike it.
I'm not gonna warn you again.
You claimed you were raped.
Did you go to the police? Did you have a rape kit done? Were charges filed? Answer the question, Ms.
Randall.
Or go back to a cell.
No.
I couldn't face it alone.
Well, did you tell anyone of this alleged rape? Yes, but they didn't believe me.
Have you ever threatened me with bodily harm? Did you say your cop husband would beat me if I didn't stay away from your son? Yes.
And how old was I at the time? I don't remember.
I was 12.
What have I ever done to you, Ms.
Randall? You were born.
So in fact, your hatred goes so deep that you would do anything, say anything, to get rid of me.
Isn't that true? No.
I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, but I wouldn't lie.
From your own testimony, that's all you've done.
It's all you know how to do.
One last question.
If you were raped, then who did it? I wot answer that question.
Oh, you don't have a choice.
You see, I have a right to know.
We all do.
Did you know your rapist? You leave it alone, Darius.
Trust me, you don't want to know.
My father raped me.
That's a lie! My father raped me.
That is a lie! And I couldn't look at you and not be sick.
No matter how much I hated you, Darius, I hated myself more.
I know it's unfair.
And I know it's not right.
But it is the truth.
Which part? That I'm your nephew or your son? That you feel guilty or that you want me dead? I submit you've told so many lies, not even you know what's true anymore.
I'm done with this witness.
Are you sure you want to do this? It's the right thing to do.
I need to reevaluate my commitment to the job.
And if it comes from you, the bosses will take it under consideration.
I gave money to a fugitive.
I made a mistake.
And if I don't take responsibility, then Braden will hold this over me for my entire career.
I can't live like that.
If you lose your badge, you won't have a career to worry about.
And that's a chance that I have to take.
Give 'em your statement, Dean.
I'm gonna wait right here.
Has the jury reached a verdict? We have.
On the charge of murder in the second degree, how do you find? Not guilty.
On the charge of assault in the first degree? Not guilty.
You got something to say to me? Sooner or later, you'll be back here or dead.
Sounds like wishful thinking to me.
Get in line.
And what about you? I don't know what to feel.
Do what I do.
Feel nothin'.
I don't believe that, Darius.
Man, Mom said- Mom said what, man? The bitch lied.
Come on, man.
You're too old to be this gullible, Ken.
I stuck by you.
What do you want, a medal? I can't do it anymore.
Yeah, well, me either.
I don't want to know any of you.
You didn't get a free pass today.
Always the cop.
So what you gonna do? You gonna follow me for the rest of my life? I don't need to do that, Darius.
I'll never think about you again.
And that's all you will do.