MovieChat Forums > Law & Order (1990) Discussion > Episode; judge made bad decision

Episode; judge made bad decision

posted 8 years ago by movieliker1
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On the episode where the rich lady hit a homeless man, parked in her private garage, and let him die. It was discovered later by her independent autopsy that the homeless man was beaten before she hit him with her vehicle.

The judge let her go with failure to report an accident --- three years probation and community service.

The driver didn't know he was beaten before she hit him. And she let him die stuck in her windshield. She had the obligation to call the police and an ambulance. If she had, all his injuries could have been treated and he could have survived.

At the very least, it is negligent homicide. Not to mention, who disposed of the body?

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[–] scrabbler1 8 years ago

I think the judge made the right decision. As the defense lawyer pointed out in the hearing, the victim had already received the fatal blow in the fight with the other homeless man way before he was hit by the woman's car. His injuries were not made worse by getting hit by her car.

New York State had no Good Samaritan law in 2004 when this episode first aired. A law like that would have obligated the woman to do as you suggested - call 911, for example - or else face criminal penalties.

As for the dead body being disposed of improperly, she was never charged with that. He was found in the bushes in the opening scene, but it's not clear how close that was to where she hit him with her car. He probably staggered over there after she struck him with her car.

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[–] movieliker1 8 years ago

I think the judge made the right decision. As the defense lawyer pointed out in the hearing, the victim had already received the fatal blow in the fight with the other homeless man way before he was hit by the woman's car. His injuries were not made worse by getting hit by her car.

New York State had no Good Samaritan law in 2004 when this episode first aired. A law like that would have obligated the woman to do as you suggested - call 911, for example - or else face criminal penalties.

Okay, she lucked out.

As for the dead body being disposed of improperly, she was never charged with that. He was found in the bushes in the opening scene, but it's not clear how close that was to where she hit him with her car. He probably staggered over there after she struck him with her car.

No, he died in her car's windshield. She said that. She hit him. She drove home and into her garage. And went inside until he died. She never said how he got to the park. The cops never asked. Somebody helped her dispose of the body.

REPLY #1 (SEE BELOW FOR REPLY #2)

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[–] movieliker1 8 years ago

REPLY #2 (SEE ABOVE FOR REPLY #1)

Just a point of interest. This episode was based on a true case from 2001, Fort Worth, Texas. Where the offending lady was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. But in that case it was determined that she caused all the injuries. And that the dead man would have survived if she had called for medical attention.

Her two accomplices who helped her dispose of the body were convicted of tampering with evidence. And she was discovered because she was laughing about it at a party.

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[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

I think that's why punishment is a necessity! When someone gets away with something heinous, they feel empowered to do just about anything; practice makes perfect as they say! ;-/

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[–] movieliker1 8 years ago

I agree. Many people won't just do the right thing. They have to be "inspired" to do right by fear of punishment.

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[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

On another MB concerning OJ and the resulting riots that occurred! People thought the OJ trial was a no-win situation due to previous cases like the Rodney King and Latasha Harlin verdicts! Cops and a Korean grocer get off "scott-free" or with probation; would it make sense to make OJ guilty and punish him to the hilt? Hard to believe California in the middle of so much injustice! ;-/

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[–] movieliker1 8 years ago

What are you saying fiero? Two wrongs make a right. It was wrong for those officers to beat Rodney King and be acquitted. It was wrong of that store clerk to kill Latasha Harlin and only get probation.

But does that mean O.J. has the right to kill his wife and friend and be acquitted?

So, eye for an eye?
Revenge is just and civil?

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[–] fiero-49251 8 years ago

Not at all! I know I can detach myself and do the right thing, but most people aren't that magnanimous! They bring their own prejudices and life experiences to the fore that makes them do things not "in the norm!" How many cops actually get punished for misdeeds? Few! Black people have a different view of the criminal court system and it's hard to blame them for taking it out in rioting and of course the OJ case, allowing a murderer to go free! Happens all the time the other way around! ;-/

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[–] movieliker1 8 years ago

I agree. Especially ignorant people. You would have to admit, ignorant black people have more problems with police than intelligent black people. Most of the Black Lives Matter people are ignorant blacks. The rest is made up of opportunists like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. And bleeding heart liberals who can't see logic through their impassioned desire to support those they see as unable.

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[–] bookratt 8 years ago

No, I don't have to accept your premise. I don't have to admit that ignorant people (of any race), have more problems with the police than do intelligent ones. Sometimes all it takes is to be the "wrong" color according to the police, or be drnk or I'll and unable to defend yourself, to have them make the stupid choice to violate your rights, make an illegal stop or search, get rough or nasty with you for no reason, detain you illegally, threaten you, hurt you or trump up and lie about the facts of what led to the stop or arrest, even scream at you to stop resisting when you're just standing there with your hands up doing nothing because you're scared to death. They can, recent events have proven, even kill you and then lie about what transpired, afterward. And all will generally be well for them, as long as no other op there speaks up, or no one has a body, dash or cell phone camera to contradict their version if events.

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