MovieChat Forums > Dirty Harry (1971) Discussion > A plot element that bothered me

A plot element that bothered me

posted 2 years ago by ccr1633 (1524)
4 replies | jump to latest

After Callahan caught up with Scorpio at the football stadium, he presumably extracted out of him the location of the missing girl. Yet, when the DA and the scholar from Berkeley are lecturing Harry about why Scorpio's rifle was inadmissible as evidence, they completely ignore the fact that Scorpio was the lone person in the city who knew her location! Surely that piece of evidence alone would be sufficient for a jury to convict him, even if he was subject to police torture. His "confession" wasn't merely an admission to the crime, but also included a pertinent piece of information that only her abductor could possibly have known.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 2 years ago

True, but said information was gathered illegally so inadmissible against Scorpio in a court of law.. Otherwise all suspects would be tortured.

[–] TheMan18 (13052) a year ago

Even if it WAS gathered illegally and whatnot, does it really HAVE to be inadmissible and therefore a cause to have Scorpio released and whatnot?

[–] TheMan18 (13052) a year ago

"Otherwise all suspects would be tortured."
Sometimes it DOES happen and they are still detained and arrested and whatnot. And even IF its not necessarily illegal in all cases, it is at the very least NOT ENCOURAGABLE.

[–] BillySlater (4241) a year ago

Not only that but Callahan witnessed Scorpio shoot Gonzalez. Even if the gun were inadmissible, you have Callahan witnessing Scorpio attempting to kill another cop. And warrants aren't always necessary if there is probable cause.