Law & Order (1990) s21e08 Episode Script
Severance
1
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.
- Thank you, anything else? - Should be okay.
Oh, Alexis? I thought you were taking the rest of the night off.
I was, but I saw that you emailed the updated PowerPoint slides.
Just sending so you'd have them to review in the morning.
I know, but you guys should be done for the night.
Deal closes end of day Friday.
I understand that.
It's 10:00.
Go to bed.
Is something wrong? I'll explain everything tomorrow.
There are some difficult conversations to be had, but for tonight, everyone, just stop what they're doing.
Copy that, boss.
What the hell are you doing here? DOA is Alexis Morphew, 34, owner of the house, lived alone.
Nice neighborhood.
Time of death's somewhere between 10:00 p.
m.
and 2:00 a.
m.
Discoloration and bruising around the neck, and petechiae hemorrhage in the eyes.
Looks like she was strangled.
Any indication of sexual assault? Mm-mm.
Looks like there was a struggle.
We're knocking on doors, but no witnesses so far.
There's blood under her fingernails.
Looks like she scratched the attacker.
She's still wearing her jewelry, and I assume that's her laptop there.
This alarm system, they have cameras for it? No, but according to the log, the system was deactivated from the keypad at 10:03 p.
m.
Immediately after that, the front door was opened.
It was turned off to let somebody in.
- It means she knew the killer.
- Who called the cops? A colleague, got nervous when she didn't show for their 9:00 a.
m.
Zoom.
No escaping the rat race.
Until you do.
Alexis and I had a touch-base every morning at 9:00 on Skype.
I tried calling, emailing I knew something was wrong.
I just can't believe she's dead.
Were you two close? As close as you can be without having ever met in person.
But we're in virtual meetings together 16 hours a day.
Was there anything unusual happening with Alexis Any problems, issues? She was really distracted yesterday, which is unusual for her.
She's usually really focused, and she logged off early around 7:30.
Oh, 7:30.
That's early? Yeah, if we're done before 10:00, that's like a vacation day.
You know, they started letting us turn off our cameras around 9:00, as if that really solves the problem.
- What do you do? - I'm a consultant.
Alexis and I were working together on a project.
- And what did Alexis do? - She's the CFO of QuestArc.
The electric car company? It's like a New York version of Elon Musk.
Cars, rockets, robots, and whatever else Ethan Merritt found sexy and unimaginable at the time.
M.
E.
was able to recover DNA from under Morphew's fingernails, but no match in the system.
Mm.
- Huh.
- What do you got? Vic's phone records Dozens of texts and phone calls, every hour, all hours of the day.
All the work contacts, including Ethan Merritt himself.
Town houses in the West Village aren't gonna pay for themselves.
Check this out, at 8:37 p.
m.
, she texted Merritt, "There is a problem.
We need to talk.
" But Merritt doesn't reply.
No call, no text.
Maybe he responded in person.
Alexis was the total package Smart, kind, brilliant.
Yeah, dedicated to her work too, as far as we can tell.
Absolutely, and she totally got me, you know Got what I wanted this company to be about.
- Changing the world, right? - Yeah, why stop there? Let's terraform Mars, man.
Let's cure cancer.
Let's end world hunger.
Zero emission vehicles are just the beginning.
I'm Batman.
She was my Robin.
I don't know what I'm gonna do without her.
It says here that she sent you a text last night saying that you have a problem.
I know.
I feel terrible.
I was already asleep when she sent it.
I didn't see it till this morning.
You were asleep at 8:30? I start my day at 3:45, work out for 90 minutes, and then I go to the office.
That's quite a regimen.
Positive change starts from within.
I figured whatever the problem was, we could discuss it when she got into the office.
Do you have idea what that problem might have been? Unfortunately, yes.
She was having problems with a former employee.
I promoted Alexis to CFO six months ago.
Her predecessor didn't take well to it.
He's, you know, accused her of sabotaging him.
Did he ever threaten her? I'm not sure they were actual threats, but he did send her a few distasteful emails.
Emails weren't hard to find.
She saved them under a tab labeled "Threats.
" Huh, she's keeping receipts.
Or she's just really organized.
Regardless, this guy, Bellantoni, he goes at her hard, calls her a viper, a backstabbing bitch.
"Make no mistake.
I will destroy you.
" This guy has a legit temper too.
His ex-girlfriend filed for a restraining order three months ago, said that he was stalking her, claimed he got physical on a few occasions.
Just found video of Bellantoni and the victim near her town house, day before the murder.
Let's go find this bastard.
Okay, so I sent a few ill-advised emails when I was drunk.
I would never actually do anything like that, especially to a woman.
Well, your ex-girlfriend may beg to differ.
Please.
She's a psycho.
I saw the video between you and Alexis from three days ago.
If that guy hadn't stepped in between you two Seems like you got a problem with the ladies, Terry.
Yeah, and why direct your anger towards Alexis? Merritt's the one that fired you.
Because she convinced him to.
She made a big deal about the fact that there weren't any women in the C-suite.
C-suite? CEO, CFO, COO.
Started complaining about the optics, made some veiled threats.
Next thing I know, she's decorating my office with her eco-friendly furniture.
Why are you freaking out about this severance deal? It looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself.
That's not the point.
I was employee number six at that company.
I ruined two marriages working nonstop to get it off the ground, and now I'm out because Twitter says being a white man is the moral equivalent of being a serial killer.
Where were you two nights ago around 10:00 p.
m.
? Palo Alto.
I was pitching a new start-up to investors, took the red-eye back this morning.
Okay.
Do you know anybody else who shares your feelings about Alexis Morphew? Lots of people.
She was civil and beautiful, but she had sharp elbows.
You should talk to Kayla, her assistant.
She'll know where the bodies are buried.
Everyone loved Alexis.
She was so bright and confident, a total queen, you know, kicked ass at work, but still treated everyone with respect.
So do you know of any specific problems she was having or anyone who may have want to hurt her? No, sorry.
Was there anything unusual going on in her life? No, except for I don't like to gossip.
We're cops.
It's information, not gossip.
I think she might've been seeing someone.
I'm guessing he was married too, because she kept sneaking off in the middle of the day to these meetings that weren't on her calendar.
It was nosy of me, but one time she said she was going to the doctor.
I called his office.
Receptionist said she was never there.
Could be a lot of explanations for that.
I know, but about a week ago, I overheard her on a phone call saying, "We can't be seen together.
" We went through her phone and text messages.
We never saw anything like that.
Because she was using a second, secret phone.
- Robert Fletcher.
- Yeah, that's me.
Detective Bernard, Detective Cosgrove, NYPD Homicide.
We'd like to ask you a few questions about Alexis Morphew.
- I don't know who that is.
- Ooh.
You're not a very good liar.
Mr.
Fletcher, we found a burner phone in Alexis Morphew's home that exchanged numerous text messages arranging meetups with a phone number registered in your name.
No comment.
Alexis Morphew was strangled to death two nights ago in her home.
Alexis is dead? Oh, I guess he does know her.
What was the nature of your relationship with Ms.
Morphew? I'd rather not say.
What part of "We're homicide detectives" do you not understand? I don't give a damn whether your wife finds out, or not, or whatever.
Just we need some answers.
My wife? No, I'm gay.
- Oh.
- I'm a journalist.
We were working together on an article, and she was my main source.
What was the article about? About the toxic workplace environment at QuestArc, in particular, the bad behavior of QuestArc's CEO, Ethan Merritt.
She was trying to take down Ethan Merritt? He's like the richest guy in the world.
Seventh, to be exact And yeah, she was.
We were really close to doing it too.
Alexis Morphew was a whistleblower.
She was feeding a journalist documents, recordings, and firsthand accounts for an exposé on Ethan Merritt.
Mr.
Progressive and Enlightened? Yeah, she claimed Merritt cultivated an abusive and misogynistic workplace, said he physically intimidates employees, you know, yells, screams, gets in their faces.
He threw a chair through a glass wall once.
He was just on the cover of "Forbes.
" He was "The New Breed of CEO.
" Spoiler alert: it's a lot like the old breed.
Oh, a hit piece like that could really destroy his brand.
That's what she was counting on.
Use this article to convince the board to give Merritt the boot.
He's a jackass, no doubt, but he is the boss.
Shouldn't he be allowed to get pissed off once in a while? I'm serious.
If it's sexual or physical in nature, I get it, obviously, hashtag, but should a guy get booted from his own company just because he's a dick? It's a little more nuanced than that.
You don't have to like the people you work with.
He sending us a message, Kate? Probably, but luckily, I don't care.
Dig deeper into his alibi.
Let's see if he really is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of guy.
So we have you on tape sneaking out of the service entrance of your apartment building at 9:17 p.
m.
the night of the murder.
- So? - So you lied to us.
Please.
I didn't kill her.
Why would I blow up my life My very good life, I might add Just because Alexis Morphew was bitter and disgruntled? Because if the article gets published, that very good life just disappears.
Like I said, I had no idea she was trying to take me down.
Why'd you lie to us then and say you went to bed at 8:30? Because I have to worry about appearances, about people like Alexis who are looking to destroy my life.
What do you mean? I'm dating an employee.
I was with her that night, didn't want anyone to find out.
Relax.
It was totally consensual.
It's just the word gets out, this day and age? Please.
- This woman have a name? - Shannon Dunshire.
I can give you her contact info.
You think you can give us a sample? Would you consent to a DNA swab? If it'll make this go away quicker, absolutely.
Merritt's DNA is not a match.
Girlfriend verifies his alibi too, says he showed up to her place around 9:45.
As best as I can tell, we're nowhere.
- Not necessarily.
- What do you got? We looked back over the footage from the video canvass.
We found this from a bodega six blocks from Morphew's town house the night of the murder.
Facial recognition ID's this guy as Gus Imelski.
Who's that? He is the founder of a solar company that QuestArc was about to acquire.
When we were collecting Merritt's DNA, he said Morphew abruptly called off the deal the day she was murdered.
This guy, Imelski, was looking at a $3 million payday too.
I don't know what to tell you.
Yes, I went to Alexis' house that night.
How come? She called me earlier in the afternoon freaking out, said that she was gonna terminate the deal, that there had been a mistake, and the company had been overvalued.
I wanted to fix things, see if I could resurrect the transaction, so I begged her to have a drink with me.
I went to her house, knocked, she never answered.
- What time was that? - It was around 10:15 or so.
And you never saw her? She never opened the door? Correct, yeah.
I rang the bell a few times, and then I left.
I just figured that she changed her mind.
Look, I did not kill Alexis, okay? That is ridiculous.
Alexis blew up a deal that was gonna make you a super-rich guy.
Hours later, you show up at her town house, never actually see her.
Yet, at the same time, she ends up strangled to death.
Doesn't sound too ridiculous to me.
I am telling you the truth, okay? Wait, you can ask Colin Baker, the consultant that QuestArc hired.
I bumped into him about a block away from her house.
Yeah, I asked him if he'd heard from Alexis, if he knew what was going on with the deal, but he just sort of blew me off, kept walking.
Look, I already told you everything I know.
We just have a few follow-up questions, Mr.
Baker.
Okay, look, I really don't have a lot of time, okay? Why, where's the fire? I'm putting out several, actually.
I used to work for the State Department before I became a consultant.
I took this job because I thought it'd be less intense than negotiating with hostile nations.
Do any of these fires have to do with the acquisition of Raystrux? No, no.
No, that deal's dead.
Alexis messed up the numbers.
Are you sure the mistake was hers? Yes, I am.
Mr.
Baker, you said you had never met Alexis Morphew in person.
That's right.
We have a witness that says you were a block away from her town house the night of the murder.
I was out taking a walk.
I never went to her house.
- So you weren't there? - No.
Look, that's ridiculous, okay? How dare you accuse me of doing something like Look, I didn't do anything, okay? You need to calm down, Mr.
Baker.
Okay, look, I am sorry.
I have had I have been awake for two days straight, and I have on top of everything else, I have got a migraine, so Do you mind rolling up your sleeve for me, please? Yeah.
How'd you get those scratches on your arms? I'd rather not say.
Then we're gonna have to continue this conversation down at the precinct.
Docket number CR-230448-22, People v.
Colin Baker, charge is Murder in the Second Degree.
How do you plead, Mr.
Baker? Not guilty.
Bail? The defendant stands accused of a brutal murder.
He choked a woman to death with his bare hands.
We found his DNA under the decedent's fingernails.
Mr.
Baker has established ties in multiple foreign countries from his time working in the State Department.
The People believe he's a flight risk, and we're seeking remand.
Ms.
Marcus? My client has strong roots in the community and no criminal history.
As Ms.
Maroun mentioned, he worked for the United States government in a position that required him to pass high-level security clearance.
I'd also point out that Mr.
Baker suffers from a debilitating medical condition that requires constant attention.
What type of condition? He suffers from severe migraines.
I ask that a reasonable bail be set, so he can be cared for at home by his wife who is a physician.
I get headaches too, Ms.
Marcus.
Defendant is remanded.
- Mr.
Baker? - I'm sorry.
I'm fine, I'm fine.
I heard Colin Baker put on quite a performance in the courtroom today.
It wasn't the full Harvey Weinstein with the walker routine, but it was close.
I have to admit he was pretty convincing.
He's a consultant, a strategist.
He's setting up his defense.
He wants to appear too frail to commit the violent, physical act of strangulation.
They just filed a motion to suppress.
Suppress what? The DNA sample the police collected from Baker.
Didn't he voluntarily agree to a swabbing? Yeah, signed a consent form too.
We have it all on video tape.
As you can see, the defendant is oriented and aware.
He made a knowing and voluntary waiver of his rights.
My client was experiencing a severe migraine.
He conveniently failed to mention that at the time of the swabbing.
He told the detectives when they first questioned him.
In addition to his migraine, he'd also had been awake for over 36 hours.
Again, he never mentioned that to the detectives.
Yes, he did.
He was suffering from severe emotional exhaustion and sensory overload.
He would've signed over the deed to his co-op if someone had put it in front of him.
In addition, Mr.
Baker is on a heavy dose of sumatriptan for his migraines.
It has a number of side effects, including dizziness.
Your Honor, the defendant never told the detectives Next time you want DNA, get a warrant.
Defendant's motion to suppress is allowed.
The DNA is out.
This case is about a man whose ambition knows no bounds.
The defendant was on the partner track at one of the most prestigious and cutthroat management consulting firms in the world, two months shy of a promotion, a goal he had dedicated years of his life to achieving.
Problem was he has a secret, one that could end his career.
In preparing the valuation analysis for a potential merger, he made a serious mistake in the projected cash flow of the target company.
Long story short, he overvalued the company his client wanted to buy by approximately $100 million.
When his client, Alexis Morphew, found out, she terminated the deal, realized they would be grossly overpaying.
The problem is Alexis knew that he was the one who made the mistake, and if she told the defendant's boss about this reckless error, he'd be out of a job.
So he decided to do something about that.
The evidence will show that on April 6th, approximately 10:00 p.
m.
, Colin Baker entered Ms.
Morphew's home, wrapped his hands around her neck, and squeezed the life out of her.
In doing so, he kept his secret safe and his dream of making partner alive.
Mr.
Imelski, do you know the defendant? Yes, we worked together on a transaction.
He's a consultant at KMG.
He was working with Alexis and QuestArc.
On the evening of April 6th, did you see the defendant near Alexis Morphew's home? Yes, about a block away.
- What time was this? - Around 10:00 p.
m.
Can you describe his demeanor? He was distracted.
I tried to engage him in a conversation, but he just walked away.
- Was that typical? - No.
On our video conferences, he was always very friendly and conversational.
Thank you.
You spoke with Ms.
Morphew earlier that day, correct? Yes.
She told you she was terminating the acquisition of your company, right? Correct.
Cost you about $1/4 billion dollars? Something like that.
It's a hell of a reason to kill someone, don't you think? - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing else.
Mr.
Imelski, did you voluntarily submit your DNA to the police to be tested against the DNA found under Alexis Morphew's fingernails? Yes.
Did the police inform you of the outcome of that test? They said it was not a match.
- Thank you.
- You may step down.
Why are you doing this? - Yeah, I'm talking to you! - Mr.
Baker.
If you have something to say, talk to your lawyer.
- No, he is lying! - Ms.
Marcus.
Control your client! Look, I swear, I didn't do it, I Get off of me! I didn't kill anybody! I didn't kill anybody! I didn't do this! I didn't get off of me! I didn't kill anybody! What the hell was that? We're filing oral notice that we plan to offer an affirmative defense.
My client is pleading not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
'Cause he gets migraines? And why are we just learning this now? Yeah, why the late notice, Ms.
Marcus? After what happened in court yesterday, I had a medical expert examine Mr.
Baker.
He shed new light on a preexisting condition.
What preexisting condition is that? Havana Syndrome is very real, but there's still a lot we don't know about it.
It first manifested about five years ago among U.
S.
government employees who were stationed at our Cuban embassy.
That's how it got its name.
Colin Baker was stationed at the embassy in Havana in 2017.
He was an early participant in my study of Havana Syndrome patients.
Why did he seek medical help? He reported hearing a high-pitched noise.
Shortly after, he had bouts of memory loss, vertigo, and some auditory distortion.
An MRI showed concussion-like trauma to his brain despite the fact that there was no physical impact to his head.
What causes the noise and the symptoms? We really don't know.
The leading theory is that it's pulsed electromagnetic energy, like an infusion of microwaves to the brain.
Who's behind it? I'm a neurologist, not a CIA operative.
Mr.
Baker says his symptoms have increased over the past year Fugue states, lack of impulse control, inability to behave in a rational manner.
Is that possible? I haven't heard of anything that extreme, but I suppose it's possible.
Colin Baker first sought medical attention for his condition back in 2017.
It makes his claim credible.
He reported having a few headaches.
Among other things.
You think Havana Syndrome is a valid excuse for killing someone? I think the condition is real.
I don't dispute that it's real or that Colin Baker has it, but is there a nexus between the syndrome and him strangling Alexis Morphew? I'm not sure.
All I'm saying is his defense is viable, and he, himself, is actually pretty damn sympathetic.
Oh, how so? He was working for the State Department serving our country, trying to do right.
Then one day, he gets blasted with microwaves or some such thing, and suddenly can't think straight.
Has anyone else with this ailment ever committed an act of violence? Not that I could find.
So we're supposed to believe that Colin Baker, who is a brilliant strategist accused of murder, is also the first and only person to kill because of Havana Syndrome? All I'm saying is his defense is viable.
He didn't just lash out or push her.
He held her in his hands, squeezing her neck for minutes.
That's not an uncontrolled outburst.
That's violence.
That's intent.
Defense just subpoenaed the deputy director of the CIA.
Thanks for meeting with me, Jack.
Of course.
I haven't been subpoenaed in 15 years.
It means they're not trying hard enough.
You know, Jack, for a variety of reasons, me testifying at this trial is a really bad idea.
What does the defense hope to elicit? Oh, that the heartless CIA ignored evidence of Havana Syndrome for years, we don't care about employees, and if we'd just done our damn job and pulled Colin Baker from his post when we first learned of this, he never would've been injured in the first place.
And would they be correct? So they want to put the agency on trial, deflect blame away from Colin Baker.
Our lawyers are preparing a motion to quash, but there's a good chance we'll lose.
You want me to plead him out? Avoid the possibility entirely? I want you to consider it.
It was a brutal murder, Grant.
I understand.
Like I said, just asking you to consider it.
Okay.
But no promises.
With all due respect, I have no interest in considering a plea for Colin Baker just to cover up the federal government's blunders.
That's not what this is about.
The defense is gonna muddy the waters, shift the blame away from Colin Baker to the United States government, a faceless, unsympathetic enemy that is easy to hate.
It means you could lose.
Colin Baker is lying through his teeth.
There's no credible scientific data that suggests Havana Syndrome causes people to irrationally commit murder.
We have a solid motive, a solid and perfectly rational motive.
We have a witness that puts him near the victim's home.
What I'm saying is the facts, as well as the science, are in our favor.
I don't dispute any of that.
But it's easier to hate the feds than a handsome government worker with a wife and two kids who was unknowingly attacked by a foreign agent.
If this is about the defense's subpoena, you can tell your friend at the CIA You're missing the point, Nolan.
This isn't about politics.
It's about playing the hand you have, not the hand you wish you had.
I get that.
But I'm very comfortable with my cards.
Okay, if you think you can win, go ahead.
Finish the trial.
Dr.
Grady, have you reviewed Mr.
Baker's medical records from his time at the State Department? I have, and I've also conducted my own examination.
And what's your assessment of his condition? Mr.
Baker's symptoms are consistent with Havana Syndrome, and those symptoms, particularly the more recent ones, bear a striking resemblance to CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Like what football players get? Correct.
Even though Mr.
Baker has never played football or any other contact sport.
How is that possible? When Mr.
Baker first sought treatment for his Havana Syndrome, brain scans showed he suffered multiple severe concussions as a direct result of whatever was causing the syndrome.
We know that CTE is caused by that kind of trauma to the brain.
And sufferers of CTE are known to be prone to uncontrollable, violent outbursts.
- Isn't that correct? - Yes.
The damage to the brain affects the patient's ability to control their emotions and impulses.
In your medical opinion, did Mr.
Baker's condition prevent him from understanding the nature and consequences of his actions on April 6th? I believe so, yes.
Thank you.
No further questions.
Dr.
Grady, it's impossible to accurately diagnose CTE in a living person, correct? My diagnosis can be inferred from symptoms and context But currently, the only scientifically accepted way to verify the presence of the disease is by conducting a postmortem dissection.
Correct.
How many people with Havana Syndrome have you studied? About a thousand.
And none of these other people claimed their condition also gave them CTE? Correct.
And none of them blamed their condition for committing acts of violence? Yes, I believe that's right.
None of them strangled the life out of another human being? - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing further.
When we left Havana, we went back to DC so Colin could be treated at Walter Reed.
What type of symptoms was he experiencing at the time? He lost vision in one eye, and he had a lot of dizzy spells.
He had to wear a weighted vest to keep his balance while walking.
Did his symptoms improve? Yes, he was able to function, and he regained his sight.
Did he go back to work? He took the job at KMG, and we moved to New York.
Did his symptoms start back up? Yes, but they were different this time, and to be honest, we didn't even make the connection.
What do you mean? Colin was always really kind and gentle.
But over the past year or so, he started getting angry, having violent outbursts, and the smallest thing would set him off.
He was like a different person.
I even considered I even considered leaving him at one point.
I feel terrible.
I didn't realize it was the Havana Syndrome.
It had been years.
Thank you, Dr.
Baker.
No further questions.
Dr.
Baker.
What kind of medicine do you practice? I'm a pediatrician.
You never suggested your husband seek medical treatment for these alleged symptoms? We talked about it, but he was worried about work, didn't wanna take time off.
His job was obviously very important to him.
Yes.
He wanted to protect his status.
He didn't want anything to interfere with his desire to make partner.
No, that's not what I meant.
Regardless of what you meant, the fact is that since you've been living in New York, your husband never sought medical treatment for these allegedly debilitating symptoms, did he? Correct.
Even though you're a medical doctor? Like I said, I tried.
And you remained living in the home with him with your two children? I didn't realize how bad things had gotten.
Or, maybe, the symptoms weren't that severe at all, weren't significant enough to merit your attention.
Maybe he was just under a lot of pressure.
No, no, he had symptoms.
He became a different person.
Because he was desperate to make partner, because he wanted that brass ring more than anything - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing further.
Mr.
Baker, did you go to Alexis Morphew's house on April 6th because you planned to kill her? No.
I had made a mistake in my financial projections.
So I went there to discuss a new purchase price.
I wanted to try and find a way to salvage the deal.
So you wanted to talk with her? Yes.
And she opened the door and invited you inside? Yes.
And then I guess we got into an argument.
You guess? I don't remember.
I sort of blacked out.
I remember talking to her, and then I remember sitting on the stairs.
I saw scratches on my arms, and then I saw Alexis on the floor dead.
- What did you do? - I panicked.
I ran home.
I didn't understand what was happening to me.
I didn't intend to hurt her.
She was my friend.
I am so sorry.
Thank you, Mr.
Baker.
No further questions.
Mr.
Baker, when you realized that your friend, Ms.
Morphew, was dead, did you call the police, an ambulance? No, not in that moment.
I wish I had.
I wasn't thinking clearly.
In truth, there was no salvaging the deal, was there, Mr.
Baker? Alexis had told the seller she was terminating it, correct? She did, but that didn't mean the deal was dead.
Perhaps, but that's not why you went there that night.
You went there to confront her to stop her from reporting your mistake and getting you fired.
No, no.
I liked Alexis.
We were friends.
I would not have done that if I didn't have this syndrome.
Oh, this syndrome, which you claim caused you, and you alone, to become violent with symptoms no one else has, and which you never sought medical treatment for? Because the government lied to me.
If they had told me how severe it was, if they had just let me know, I would've gotten help for it.
All I ever wanted was to work for the State Department to help my country, and then they screwed me.
They lied to me.
They lied to you, but they didn't force you to lose your temper and strangle an innocent woman to protect your career.
He's right.
They didn't, but it still happened.
And I honestly don't know why.
And I am sorry, but I can't take it back.
I wish I could take it back, but I can't, and I don't know what to do.
I'm sorry! I just I will never forgive myself, and I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Madame Foreperson, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
Accused and counsel, please rise.
Madame Foreperson, how do you find? We find the defendant not guilty by reason of mental disease.
I still think he's lying.
My old boss, he used to say, "Lawyers who need to be right lose more cases than those who don't.
"
These are their stories.
- Thank you, anything else? - Should be okay.
Oh, Alexis? I thought you were taking the rest of the night off.
I was, but I saw that you emailed the updated PowerPoint slides.
Just sending so you'd have them to review in the morning.
I know, but you guys should be done for the night.
Deal closes end of day Friday.
I understand that.
It's 10:00.
Go to bed.
Is something wrong? I'll explain everything tomorrow.
There are some difficult conversations to be had, but for tonight, everyone, just stop what they're doing.
Copy that, boss.
What the hell are you doing here? DOA is Alexis Morphew, 34, owner of the house, lived alone.
Nice neighborhood.
Time of death's somewhere between 10:00 p.
m.
and 2:00 a.
m.
Discoloration and bruising around the neck, and petechiae hemorrhage in the eyes.
Looks like she was strangled.
Any indication of sexual assault? Mm-mm.
Looks like there was a struggle.
We're knocking on doors, but no witnesses so far.
There's blood under her fingernails.
Looks like she scratched the attacker.
She's still wearing her jewelry, and I assume that's her laptop there.
This alarm system, they have cameras for it? No, but according to the log, the system was deactivated from the keypad at 10:03 p.
m.
Immediately after that, the front door was opened.
It was turned off to let somebody in.
- It means she knew the killer.
- Who called the cops? A colleague, got nervous when she didn't show for their 9:00 a.
m.
Zoom.
No escaping the rat race.
Until you do.
Alexis and I had a touch-base every morning at 9:00 on Skype.
I tried calling, emailing I knew something was wrong.
I just can't believe she's dead.
Were you two close? As close as you can be without having ever met in person.
But we're in virtual meetings together 16 hours a day.
Was there anything unusual happening with Alexis Any problems, issues? She was really distracted yesterday, which is unusual for her.
She's usually really focused, and she logged off early around 7:30.
Oh, 7:30.
That's early? Yeah, if we're done before 10:00, that's like a vacation day.
You know, they started letting us turn off our cameras around 9:00, as if that really solves the problem.
- What do you do? - I'm a consultant.
Alexis and I were working together on a project.
- And what did Alexis do? - She's the CFO of QuestArc.
The electric car company? It's like a New York version of Elon Musk.
Cars, rockets, robots, and whatever else Ethan Merritt found sexy and unimaginable at the time.
M.
E.
was able to recover DNA from under Morphew's fingernails, but no match in the system.
Mm.
- Huh.
- What do you got? Vic's phone records Dozens of texts and phone calls, every hour, all hours of the day.
All the work contacts, including Ethan Merritt himself.
Town houses in the West Village aren't gonna pay for themselves.
Check this out, at 8:37 p.
m.
, she texted Merritt, "There is a problem.
We need to talk.
" But Merritt doesn't reply.
No call, no text.
Maybe he responded in person.
Alexis was the total package Smart, kind, brilliant.
Yeah, dedicated to her work too, as far as we can tell.
Absolutely, and she totally got me, you know Got what I wanted this company to be about.
- Changing the world, right? - Yeah, why stop there? Let's terraform Mars, man.
Let's cure cancer.
Let's end world hunger.
Zero emission vehicles are just the beginning.
I'm Batman.
She was my Robin.
I don't know what I'm gonna do without her.
It says here that she sent you a text last night saying that you have a problem.
I know.
I feel terrible.
I was already asleep when she sent it.
I didn't see it till this morning.
You were asleep at 8:30? I start my day at 3:45, work out for 90 minutes, and then I go to the office.
That's quite a regimen.
Positive change starts from within.
I figured whatever the problem was, we could discuss it when she got into the office.
Do you have idea what that problem might have been? Unfortunately, yes.
She was having problems with a former employee.
I promoted Alexis to CFO six months ago.
Her predecessor didn't take well to it.
He's, you know, accused her of sabotaging him.
Did he ever threaten her? I'm not sure they were actual threats, but he did send her a few distasteful emails.
Emails weren't hard to find.
She saved them under a tab labeled "Threats.
" Huh, she's keeping receipts.
Or she's just really organized.
Regardless, this guy, Bellantoni, he goes at her hard, calls her a viper, a backstabbing bitch.
"Make no mistake.
I will destroy you.
" This guy has a legit temper too.
His ex-girlfriend filed for a restraining order three months ago, said that he was stalking her, claimed he got physical on a few occasions.
Just found video of Bellantoni and the victim near her town house, day before the murder.
Let's go find this bastard.
Okay, so I sent a few ill-advised emails when I was drunk.
I would never actually do anything like that, especially to a woman.
Well, your ex-girlfriend may beg to differ.
Please.
She's a psycho.
I saw the video between you and Alexis from three days ago.
If that guy hadn't stepped in between you two Seems like you got a problem with the ladies, Terry.
Yeah, and why direct your anger towards Alexis? Merritt's the one that fired you.
Because she convinced him to.
She made a big deal about the fact that there weren't any women in the C-suite.
C-suite? CEO, CFO, COO.
Started complaining about the optics, made some veiled threats.
Next thing I know, she's decorating my office with her eco-friendly furniture.
Why are you freaking out about this severance deal? It looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself.
That's not the point.
I was employee number six at that company.
I ruined two marriages working nonstop to get it off the ground, and now I'm out because Twitter says being a white man is the moral equivalent of being a serial killer.
Where were you two nights ago around 10:00 p.
m.
? Palo Alto.
I was pitching a new start-up to investors, took the red-eye back this morning.
Okay.
Do you know anybody else who shares your feelings about Alexis Morphew? Lots of people.
She was civil and beautiful, but she had sharp elbows.
You should talk to Kayla, her assistant.
She'll know where the bodies are buried.
Everyone loved Alexis.
She was so bright and confident, a total queen, you know, kicked ass at work, but still treated everyone with respect.
So do you know of any specific problems she was having or anyone who may have want to hurt her? No, sorry.
Was there anything unusual going on in her life? No, except for I don't like to gossip.
We're cops.
It's information, not gossip.
I think she might've been seeing someone.
I'm guessing he was married too, because she kept sneaking off in the middle of the day to these meetings that weren't on her calendar.
It was nosy of me, but one time she said she was going to the doctor.
I called his office.
Receptionist said she was never there.
Could be a lot of explanations for that.
I know, but about a week ago, I overheard her on a phone call saying, "We can't be seen together.
" We went through her phone and text messages.
We never saw anything like that.
Because she was using a second, secret phone.
- Robert Fletcher.
- Yeah, that's me.
Detective Bernard, Detective Cosgrove, NYPD Homicide.
We'd like to ask you a few questions about Alexis Morphew.
- I don't know who that is.
- Ooh.
You're not a very good liar.
Mr.
Fletcher, we found a burner phone in Alexis Morphew's home that exchanged numerous text messages arranging meetups with a phone number registered in your name.
No comment.
Alexis Morphew was strangled to death two nights ago in her home.
Alexis is dead? Oh, I guess he does know her.
What was the nature of your relationship with Ms.
Morphew? I'd rather not say.
What part of "We're homicide detectives" do you not understand? I don't give a damn whether your wife finds out, or not, or whatever.
Just we need some answers.
My wife? No, I'm gay.
- Oh.
- I'm a journalist.
We were working together on an article, and she was my main source.
What was the article about? About the toxic workplace environment at QuestArc, in particular, the bad behavior of QuestArc's CEO, Ethan Merritt.
She was trying to take down Ethan Merritt? He's like the richest guy in the world.
Seventh, to be exact And yeah, she was.
We were really close to doing it too.
Alexis Morphew was a whistleblower.
She was feeding a journalist documents, recordings, and firsthand accounts for an exposé on Ethan Merritt.
Mr.
Progressive and Enlightened? Yeah, she claimed Merritt cultivated an abusive and misogynistic workplace, said he physically intimidates employees, you know, yells, screams, gets in their faces.
He threw a chair through a glass wall once.
He was just on the cover of "Forbes.
" He was "The New Breed of CEO.
" Spoiler alert: it's a lot like the old breed.
Oh, a hit piece like that could really destroy his brand.
That's what she was counting on.
Use this article to convince the board to give Merritt the boot.
He's a jackass, no doubt, but he is the boss.
Shouldn't he be allowed to get pissed off once in a while? I'm serious.
If it's sexual or physical in nature, I get it, obviously, hashtag, but should a guy get booted from his own company just because he's a dick? It's a little more nuanced than that.
You don't have to like the people you work with.
He sending us a message, Kate? Probably, but luckily, I don't care.
Dig deeper into his alibi.
Let's see if he really is an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of guy.
So we have you on tape sneaking out of the service entrance of your apartment building at 9:17 p.
m.
the night of the murder.
- So? - So you lied to us.
Please.
I didn't kill her.
Why would I blow up my life My very good life, I might add Just because Alexis Morphew was bitter and disgruntled? Because if the article gets published, that very good life just disappears.
Like I said, I had no idea she was trying to take me down.
Why'd you lie to us then and say you went to bed at 8:30? Because I have to worry about appearances, about people like Alexis who are looking to destroy my life.
What do you mean? I'm dating an employee.
I was with her that night, didn't want anyone to find out.
Relax.
It was totally consensual.
It's just the word gets out, this day and age? Please.
- This woman have a name? - Shannon Dunshire.
I can give you her contact info.
You think you can give us a sample? Would you consent to a DNA swab? If it'll make this go away quicker, absolutely.
Merritt's DNA is not a match.
Girlfriend verifies his alibi too, says he showed up to her place around 9:45.
As best as I can tell, we're nowhere.
- Not necessarily.
- What do you got? We looked back over the footage from the video canvass.
We found this from a bodega six blocks from Morphew's town house the night of the murder.
Facial recognition ID's this guy as Gus Imelski.
Who's that? He is the founder of a solar company that QuestArc was about to acquire.
When we were collecting Merritt's DNA, he said Morphew abruptly called off the deal the day she was murdered.
This guy, Imelski, was looking at a $3 million payday too.
I don't know what to tell you.
Yes, I went to Alexis' house that night.
How come? She called me earlier in the afternoon freaking out, said that she was gonna terminate the deal, that there had been a mistake, and the company had been overvalued.
I wanted to fix things, see if I could resurrect the transaction, so I begged her to have a drink with me.
I went to her house, knocked, she never answered.
- What time was that? - It was around 10:15 or so.
And you never saw her? She never opened the door? Correct, yeah.
I rang the bell a few times, and then I left.
I just figured that she changed her mind.
Look, I did not kill Alexis, okay? That is ridiculous.
Alexis blew up a deal that was gonna make you a super-rich guy.
Hours later, you show up at her town house, never actually see her.
Yet, at the same time, she ends up strangled to death.
Doesn't sound too ridiculous to me.
I am telling you the truth, okay? Wait, you can ask Colin Baker, the consultant that QuestArc hired.
I bumped into him about a block away from her house.
Yeah, I asked him if he'd heard from Alexis, if he knew what was going on with the deal, but he just sort of blew me off, kept walking.
Look, I already told you everything I know.
We just have a few follow-up questions, Mr.
Baker.
Okay, look, I really don't have a lot of time, okay? Why, where's the fire? I'm putting out several, actually.
I used to work for the State Department before I became a consultant.
I took this job because I thought it'd be less intense than negotiating with hostile nations.
Do any of these fires have to do with the acquisition of Raystrux? No, no.
No, that deal's dead.
Alexis messed up the numbers.
Are you sure the mistake was hers? Yes, I am.
Mr.
Baker, you said you had never met Alexis Morphew in person.
That's right.
We have a witness that says you were a block away from her town house the night of the murder.
I was out taking a walk.
I never went to her house.
- So you weren't there? - No.
Look, that's ridiculous, okay? How dare you accuse me of doing something like Look, I didn't do anything, okay? You need to calm down, Mr.
Baker.
Okay, look, I am sorry.
I have had I have been awake for two days straight, and I have on top of everything else, I have got a migraine, so Do you mind rolling up your sleeve for me, please? Yeah.
How'd you get those scratches on your arms? I'd rather not say.
Then we're gonna have to continue this conversation down at the precinct.
Docket number CR-230448-22, People v.
Colin Baker, charge is Murder in the Second Degree.
How do you plead, Mr.
Baker? Not guilty.
Bail? The defendant stands accused of a brutal murder.
He choked a woman to death with his bare hands.
We found his DNA under the decedent's fingernails.
Mr.
Baker has established ties in multiple foreign countries from his time working in the State Department.
The People believe he's a flight risk, and we're seeking remand.
Ms.
Marcus? My client has strong roots in the community and no criminal history.
As Ms.
Maroun mentioned, he worked for the United States government in a position that required him to pass high-level security clearance.
I'd also point out that Mr.
Baker suffers from a debilitating medical condition that requires constant attention.
What type of condition? He suffers from severe migraines.
I ask that a reasonable bail be set, so he can be cared for at home by his wife who is a physician.
I get headaches too, Ms.
Marcus.
Defendant is remanded.
- Mr.
Baker? - I'm sorry.
I'm fine, I'm fine.
I heard Colin Baker put on quite a performance in the courtroom today.
It wasn't the full Harvey Weinstein with the walker routine, but it was close.
I have to admit he was pretty convincing.
He's a consultant, a strategist.
He's setting up his defense.
He wants to appear too frail to commit the violent, physical act of strangulation.
They just filed a motion to suppress.
Suppress what? The DNA sample the police collected from Baker.
Didn't he voluntarily agree to a swabbing? Yeah, signed a consent form too.
We have it all on video tape.
As you can see, the defendant is oriented and aware.
He made a knowing and voluntary waiver of his rights.
My client was experiencing a severe migraine.
He conveniently failed to mention that at the time of the swabbing.
He told the detectives when they first questioned him.
In addition to his migraine, he'd also had been awake for over 36 hours.
Again, he never mentioned that to the detectives.
Yes, he did.
He was suffering from severe emotional exhaustion and sensory overload.
He would've signed over the deed to his co-op if someone had put it in front of him.
In addition, Mr.
Baker is on a heavy dose of sumatriptan for his migraines.
It has a number of side effects, including dizziness.
Your Honor, the defendant never told the detectives Next time you want DNA, get a warrant.
Defendant's motion to suppress is allowed.
The DNA is out.
This case is about a man whose ambition knows no bounds.
The defendant was on the partner track at one of the most prestigious and cutthroat management consulting firms in the world, two months shy of a promotion, a goal he had dedicated years of his life to achieving.
Problem was he has a secret, one that could end his career.
In preparing the valuation analysis for a potential merger, he made a serious mistake in the projected cash flow of the target company.
Long story short, he overvalued the company his client wanted to buy by approximately $100 million.
When his client, Alexis Morphew, found out, she terminated the deal, realized they would be grossly overpaying.
The problem is Alexis knew that he was the one who made the mistake, and if she told the defendant's boss about this reckless error, he'd be out of a job.
So he decided to do something about that.
The evidence will show that on April 6th, approximately 10:00 p.
m.
, Colin Baker entered Ms.
Morphew's home, wrapped his hands around her neck, and squeezed the life out of her.
In doing so, he kept his secret safe and his dream of making partner alive.
Mr.
Imelski, do you know the defendant? Yes, we worked together on a transaction.
He's a consultant at KMG.
He was working with Alexis and QuestArc.
On the evening of April 6th, did you see the defendant near Alexis Morphew's home? Yes, about a block away.
- What time was this? - Around 10:00 p.
m.
Can you describe his demeanor? He was distracted.
I tried to engage him in a conversation, but he just walked away.
- Was that typical? - No.
On our video conferences, he was always very friendly and conversational.
Thank you.
You spoke with Ms.
Morphew earlier that day, correct? Yes.
She told you she was terminating the acquisition of your company, right? Correct.
Cost you about $1/4 billion dollars? Something like that.
It's a hell of a reason to kill someone, don't you think? - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing else.
Mr.
Imelski, did you voluntarily submit your DNA to the police to be tested against the DNA found under Alexis Morphew's fingernails? Yes.
Did the police inform you of the outcome of that test? They said it was not a match.
- Thank you.
- You may step down.
Why are you doing this? - Yeah, I'm talking to you! - Mr.
Baker.
If you have something to say, talk to your lawyer.
- No, he is lying! - Ms.
Marcus.
Control your client! Look, I swear, I didn't do it, I Get off of me! I didn't kill anybody! I didn't kill anybody! I didn't do this! I didn't get off of me! I didn't kill anybody! What the hell was that? We're filing oral notice that we plan to offer an affirmative defense.
My client is pleading not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
'Cause he gets migraines? And why are we just learning this now? Yeah, why the late notice, Ms.
Marcus? After what happened in court yesterday, I had a medical expert examine Mr.
Baker.
He shed new light on a preexisting condition.
What preexisting condition is that? Havana Syndrome is very real, but there's still a lot we don't know about it.
It first manifested about five years ago among U.
S.
government employees who were stationed at our Cuban embassy.
That's how it got its name.
Colin Baker was stationed at the embassy in Havana in 2017.
He was an early participant in my study of Havana Syndrome patients.
Why did he seek medical help? He reported hearing a high-pitched noise.
Shortly after, he had bouts of memory loss, vertigo, and some auditory distortion.
An MRI showed concussion-like trauma to his brain despite the fact that there was no physical impact to his head.
What causes the noise and the symptoms? We really don't know.
The leading theory is that it's pulsed electromagnetic energy, like an infusion of microwaves to the brain.
Who's behind it? I'm a neurologist, not a CIA operative.
Mr.
Baker says his symptoms have increased over the past year Fugue states, lack of impulse control, inability to behave in a rational manner.
Is that possible? I haven't heard of anything that extreme, but I suppose it's possible.
Colin Baker first sought medical attention for his condition back in 2017.
It makes his claim credible.
He reported having a few headaches.
Among other things.
You think Havana Syndrome is a valid excuse for killing someone? I think the condition is real.
I don't dispute that it's real or that Colin Baker has it, but is there a nexus between the syndrome and him strangling Alexis Morphew? I'm not sure.
All I'm saying is his defense is viable, and he, himself, is actually pretty damn sympathetic.
Oh, how so? He was working for the State Department serving our country, trying to do right.
Then one day, he gets blasted with microwaves or some such thing, and suddenly can't think straight.
Has anyone else with this ailment ever committed an act of violence? Not that I could find.
So we're supposed to believe that Colin Baker, who is a brilliant strategist accused of murder, is also the first and only person to kill because of Havana Syndrome? All I'm saying is his defense is viable.
He didn't just lash out or push her.
He held her in his hands, squeezing her neck for minutes.
That's not an uncontrolled outburst.
That's violence.
That's intent.
Defense just subpoenaed the deputy director of the CIA.
Thanks for meeting with me, Jack.
Of course.
I haven't been subpoenaed in 15 years.
It means they're not trying hard enough.
You know, Jack, for a variety of reasons, me testifying at this trial is a really bad idea.
What does the defense hope to elicit? Oh, that the heartless CIA ignored evidence of Havana Syndrome for years, we don't care about employees, and if we'd just done our damn job and pulled Colin Baker from his post when we first learned of this, he never would've been injured in the first place.
And would they be correct? So they want to put the agency on trial, deflect blame away from Colin Baker.
Our lawyers are preparing a motion to quash, but there's a good chance we'll lose.
You want me to plead him out? Avoid the possibility entirely? I want you to consider it.
It was a brutal murder, Grant.
I understand.
Like I said, just asking you to consider it.
Okay.
But no promises.
With all due respect, I have no interest in considering a plea for Colin Baker just to cover up the federal government's blunders.
That's not what this is about.
The defense is gonna muddy the waters, shift the blame away from Colin Baker to the United States government, a faceless, unsympathetic enemy that is easy to hate.
It means you could lose.
Colin Baker is lying through his teeth.
There's no credible scientific data that suggests Havana Syndrome causes people to irrationally commit murder.
We have a solid motive, a solid and perfectly rational motive.
We have a witness that puts him near the victim's home.
What I'm saying is the facts, as well as the science, are in our favor.
I don't dispute any of that.
But it's easier to hate the feds than a handsome government worker with a wife and two kids who was unknowingly attacked by a foreign agent.
If this is about the defense's subpoena, you can tell your friend at the CIA You're missing the point, Nolan.
This isn't about politics.
It's about playing the hand you have, not the hand you wish you had.
I get that.
But I'm very comfortable with my cards.
Okay, if you think you can win, go ahead.
Finish the trial.
Dr.
Grady, have you reviewed Mr.
Baker's medical records from his time at the State Department? I have, and I've also conducted my own examination.
And what's your assessment of his condition? Mr.
Baker's symptoms are consistent with Havana Syndrome, and those symptoms, particularly the more recent ones, bear a striking resemblance to CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Like what football players get? Correct.
Even though Mr.
Baker has never played football or any other contact sport.
How is that possible? When Mr.
Baker first sought treatment for his Havana Syndrome, brain scans showed he suffered multiple severe concussions as a direct result of whatever was causing the syndrome.
We know that CTE is caused by that kind of trauma to the brain.
And sufferers of CTE are known to be prone to uncontrollable, violent outbursts.
- Isn't that correct? - Yes.
The damage to the brain affects the patient's ability to control their emotions and impulses.
In your medical opinion, did Mr.
Baker's condition prevent him from understanding the nature and consequences of his actions on April 6th? I believe so, yes.
Thank you.
No further questions.
Dr.
Grady, it's impossible to accurately diagnose CTE in a living person, correct? My diagnosis can be inferred from symptoms and context But currently, the only scientifically accepted way to verify the presence of the disease is by conducting a postmortem dissection.
Correct.
How many people with Havana Syndrome have you studied? About a thousand.
And none of these other people claimed their condition also gave them CTE? Correct.
And none of them blamed their condition for committing acts of violence? Yes, I believe that's right.
None of them strangled the life out of another human being? - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing further.
When we left Havana, we went back to DC so Colin could be treated at Walter Reed.
What type of symptoms was he experiencing at the time? He lost vision in one eye, and he had a lot of dizzy spells.
He had to wear a weighted vest to keep his balance while walking.
Did his symptoms improve? Yes, he was able to function, and he regained his sight.
Did he go back to work? He took the job at KMG, and we moved to New York.
Did his symptoms start back up? Yes, but they were different this time, and to be honest, we didn't even make the connection.
What do you mean? Colin was always really kind and gentle.
But over the past year or so, he started getting angry, having violent outbursts, and the smallest thing would set him off.
He was like a different person.
I even considered I even considered leaving him at one point.
I feel terrible.
I didn't realize it was the Havana Syndrome.
It had been years.
Thank you, Dr.
Baker.
No further questions.
Dr.
Baker.
What kind of medicine do you practice? I'm a pediatrician.
You never suggested your husband seek medical treatment for these alleged symptoms? We talked about it, but he was worried about work, didn't wanna take time off.
His job was obviously very important to him.
Yes.
He wanted to protect his status.
He didn't want anything to interfere with his desire to make partner.
No, that's not what I meant.
Regardless of what you meant, the fact is that since you've been living in New York, your husband never sought medical treatment for these allegedly debilitating symptoms, did he? Correct.
Even though you're a medical doctor? Like I said, I tried.
And you remained living in the home with him with your two children? I didn't realize how bad things had gotten.
Or, maybe, the symptoms weren't that severe at all, weren't significant enough to merit your attention.
Maybe he was just under a lot of pressure.
No, no, he had symptoms.
He became a different person.
Because he was desperate to make partner, because he wanted that brass ring more than anything - Objection.
- Sustained.
Nothing further.
Mr.
Baker, did you go to Alexis Morphew's house on April 6th because you planned to kill her? No.
I had made a mistake in my financial projections.
So I went there to discuss a new purchase price.
I wanted to try and find a way to salvage the deal.
So you wanted to talk with her? Yes.
And she opened the door and invited you inside? Yes.
And then I guess we got into an argument.
You guess? I don't remember.
I sort of blacked out.
I remember talking to her, and then I remember sitting on the stairs.
I saw scratches on my arms, and then I saw Alexis on the floor dead.
- What did you do? - I panicked.
I ran home.
I didn't understand what was happening to me.
I didn't intend to hurt her.
She was my friend.
I am so sorry.
Thank you, Mr.
Baker.
No further questions.
Mr.
Baker, when you realized that your friend, Ms.
Morphew, was dead, did you call the police, an ambulance? No, not in that moment.
I wish I had.
I wasn't thinking clearly.
In truth, there was no salvaging the deal, was there, Mr.
Baker? Alexis had told the seller she was terminating it, correct? She did, but that didn't mean the deal was dead.
Perhaps, but that's not why you went there that night.
You went there to confront her to stop her from reporting your mistake and getting you fired.
No, no.
I liked Alexis.
We were friends.
I would not have done that if I didn't have this syndrome.
Oh, this syndrome, which you claim caused you, and you alone, to become violent with symptoms no one else has, and which you never sought medical treatment for? Because the government lied to me.
If they had told me how severe it was, if they had just let me know, I would've gotten help for it.
All I ever wanted was to work for the State Department to help my country, and then they screwed me.
They lied to me.
They lied to you, but they didn't force you to lose your temper and strangle an innocent woman to protect your career.
He's right.
They didn't, but it still happened.
And I honestly don't know why.
And I am sorry, but I can't take it back.
I wish I could take it back, but I can't, and I don't know what to do.
I'm sorry! I just I will never forgive myself, and I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Madame Foreperson, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
Accused and counsel, please rise.
Madame Foreperson, how do you find? We find the defendant not guilty by reason of mental disease.
I still think he's lying.
My old boss, he used to say, "Lawyers who need to be right lose more cases than those who don't.
"