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Law & Order S25 E18- The Evidence That Changed
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00:02In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups.
00:08The police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.
00:12These are their stories.
00:15And now, the moment we've all been waiting for.
00:19Please welcome our final two contestants from Miss New York Metro.
00:26I know how hard it is for these young women to stand up here.
00:30I was in their shoes just a few years ago, and I am honored to be back to judge.
00:35To many of you, this pageant may seem like a zero-sum game, but it's really about connection and sisterhood.
00:44Tonight, however, we do have to pick a winner.
00:48Our first runner-up is Miss Prospect Heights, making our Miss New York Metro 2026 Miss Astoria.
01:09Remember, we're all winners.
01:16We had the Miss New York Metro pageant here last night.
01:20Is she a contestant?
01:21No, a judge.
01:22Janitor found her this morning.
01:24Ooh.
01:30Katie Harrington, age 29.
01:34Looks like she also worked for the local news station.
01:38Must have hit the carotid artery.
01:40Yeah, she bled out fast.
01:42You got a time of death?
01:44MLI said based on temp and rigidity, between 10 and 11 p.m.
01:48All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors dusted for prints.
01:51Any witnesses?
01:52None.
01:53Place is pretty much cleared out by that time.
01:55What about the security camera situation?
01:57As far as we know, no cameras in the dressing room.
02:00I've always heard these beauty pageants were cutthroat, but...
02:08All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors dusted for prints.
02:11All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:17All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:18All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:19All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:20All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:21All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:22All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:22All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:23All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:23All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:24All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:27All right, well, let's make sure we get the scissors.
02:54You turned off all of the cameras.
02:57We had 30 women backstage last night in various states of Undress.
03:00They wanted privacy.
03:02What about security guards?
03:03One guard was posted backstage.
03:04He see anything?
03:06Apparently he was FaceTiming with his girlfriend at the end of the night.
03:09It's usually an uneventful job.
03:11We can barely fill an audience these days.
03:13Why's that?
03:13Too much competition.
03:15YouTube, social media.
03:16So there are fewer pageants these days?
03:20Well, there used to be 10 a year.
03:22Now there were two.
03:23That really puts extra pressure on the contestants.
03:26And on the judges.
03:27For sure.
03:28Beauty pageants are still important to these people.
03:29Well, some of these girls, if they lose, think their life is over.
03:33We're going to need a list of last night's contestants.
03:37I'm surprised these pageants are still a thing.
03:39I mean, I thought we were way past that.
03:40Yeah.
03:41I gave up on those years ago.
03:43Hey.
03:43Video just landed from outside the theater.
03:46Picked up someone running out the exit by the dressing room at 1025.
03:52Can you freeze it there?
03:53Not enough of the face visible for facial rec?
03:56That hat?
03:58What is that stitching?
03:59It's like they got it turned inside out to hide the monogram or something?
04:03Was that XLV?
04:04Yeah, I don't think it's a brand.
04:06Maybe Roman numerals?
04:07Do we have any other video of this person entering?
04:09No.
04:09And it was freezing that day, so half the people entering the theater were wearing beanies.
04:13But I have some good news.
04:15I found this interesting text from a Kehlani Arizaga.
04:20Be careful how you vote.
04:22There are consequences.
04:24Sounds like a threat to me.
04:26That name rings a bell.
04:27Hold on.
04:31Yeah, here.
04:32Kehlani Arizaga, Miss Prospect Heights.
04:35She was the first runner-up.
04:40I've known Katie since I was 15.
04:43She was like an older sister, a mentor.
04:46So you liked her?
04:47Loved her.
04:49Well, why did you send her that threatening text last night?
04:52The one that said there'd be consequences if she didn't vote the right way?
04:56What are you talking about?
04:58This one?
05:00No, you got it wrong.
05:02I wanted her to vote for someone else.
05:04You wanted to lose?
05:05I wanted to not win.
05:07Why'd you do it in the first place?
05:09My mom.
05:10These pageants mean everything to her.
05:12She says they can open doors, maybe even get me a scholarship for grad school.
05:17Can you tell us where you were last night after the pageant?
05:19Eating pizza for the first time in a year.
05:23Got anybody who can back that up?
05:24Yeah.
05:26A few classmates.
05:27Kind of turned into a party.
05:29I asked Katie if she wanted to join, but she said she couldn't.
05:35We gotta go.
05:37Katie's dad just got in from Alabama.
05:44I still remember the day I helped Katie move in here.
05:51Mom had just passed.
05:54Katie wanted to stay at home, look after me, of course, but I told her she had to follow her
06:00dreams.
06:02I just knew she was meant for great things.
06:05Mr. Harrington, were you and your daughter very close?
06:08Yeah.
06:09We talked every day.
06:11Was she having any problems with anyone?
06:13Friends?
06:14A boyfriend?
06:15She was always too busy with work for much of a social life.
06:21I encouraged her to date.
06:23Didn't want her to be lonely.
06:29You know, there was this one guy.
06:32Kept chasing after her like a damn dog with a bone.
06:35You got her name?
06:36I never made it that far.
06:38Never even went out on a date, but he was persistent.
06:42Kept calling her, sending her flowers.
06:44Got a bit much for Katie, if I'm being honest.
06:46Do you know where he worked?
06:48How they met, any detail will help.
06:51They met at some sort of cancer fundraiser.
06:53He was a hockey player.
06:54That's all I know.
06:57Any luck with the hockey player?
06:59Yeah, I checked out Katie's Instagram.
07:01Looks like the only cancer fundraiser she attended in the last six months was the United Hands Leukemia Gala.
07:07Lots of photos of her and this guy named Alexander Hayes.
07:10Luke Smitten.
07:11Hockey player?
07:12Rookie left winger for New York's favorite hockey team.
07:16Islanders?
07:17Not funny.
07:18No choir boy.
07:19He just finished a five-game suspension for smashing a stick into his opponent's head.
07:23Here's the best part.
07:24He posted a story last night at 9.30 p.m.
07:28Location tag puts him two blocks away from the pageant.
07:38I adored Katie.
07:40I would never hurt her.
07:41Well, you say adored.
07:43We say stalked.
07:44We talked to her doorman.
07:46We know that you were sending her flowers, hanging outside her building.
07:48Yes, it's a showroom that I liked her, that I was serious about dating her.
07:51She had two extra deadbolts installed in her door.
07:55Look, I was just trying to get a date.
07:57It's called being romantic.
07:59If she said yes, it's romantic.
08:00If she said no, it's scary.
08:02So what happened?
08:04You get tired of waiting for her to see how romantic you were?
08:06Maybe you stuck into her dressing room last night?
08:08What?
08:08We know you were near the theater where the pageant was held.
08:11Right around the time of the murder.
08:12Hey, look, you guys are crazy, all right?
08:14I was at a party last night with about 200 other people, and I was there until about
08:17midnight.
08:18Instead of wasting your time talking to me, you should look into the shady people she was
08:23dealing with at work.
08:24What does that mean?
08:25She told me that as a journalist, she had to take big swings to go where her colleagues
08:28were too scared to go.
08:29So if she was adding extra locks to her door, I mean, it's because of that, not because of
08:34me.
08:35You should go talk to her boss.
08:42I wouldn't call her segments dangerous, more like ambitious.
08:45She was a smart woman, had a great gut instinct, knew how to avoid trouble.
08:48Sounds like you knew her well.
08:50Well, I took her under my wing when she first started here.
08:52I got her out from behind the research desk, made her a field reporter.
08:55I was a producer on some of her segments.
08:58Very nice of you.
08:59Well, it's a tough business for women here.
09:01So I thought I could help wherever possible.
09:04If you don't mind, when was the last time you spoke to Katie?
09:08Um, she was in the office until about 5.30 last night and then headed downtown to the
09:13pageant.
09:13You speak to her after that?
09:15No.
09:15I stayed working for a few more hours and then I went home.
09:18And you were there all night?
09:21Sorry, just standard procedure.
09:23You know, the more people we can eliminate from her life, the better.
09:26Right.
09:26Of course I want to be helpful.
09:27Yes, I was home all night.
09:30Here is her work schedule.
09:34I hope it's helpful.
09:35Yeah, we will take a look.
09:36Do you know, did she have a work phone of any sort?
09:39Yes, she had several.
09:42Good reporters always use burners to protect their sources.
09:47Katie was a terrific reporter.
09:50She was going to do great things.
09:56Hey, warrant for the burner phones came through.
09:59And?
10:00And we got a pretty interesting text.
10:03This is not okay, make this right or things are going to get ugly.
10:07Any luck IDing the sender?
10:09Phone's registered to a Jasmine Hernandez.
10:11She's affiliated with the Cobra 10 gang, got a pretty healthy rap sheet too.
10:14Drugs, assault, weapons charges.
10:17Let's go talk to her.
10:22Yeah, that's me.
10:24I meant it too.
10:27Could you be more specific?
10:29Katie came up here a few months ago with that other news lady, Anne Merrick.
10:34They convinced me to help them do a segment showing gangs recruiting young girls.
10:39So you were a source?
10:42I connected her to the right people.
10:44It doesn't explain the angry text though.
10:47When the segment came out a few weeks ago, there was a mistake.
10:50A guy that lives here, he was in some of the video they shot.
10:54They claimed he was a gang member.
10:56He was pissed.
10:57And now people are coming after me about it.
11:01All right, well, can you tell us where you were last night around 10?
11:05Work in the register at a bodega.
11:08166 and Webster.
11:10They got cameras everywhere if you want to check.
11:19So am I good?
11:20For now.
11:23Where did you get that hot?
11:26Anne Merrick gave it to me.
11:33All right.
11:34Yep.
11:36Turns out, Anne Merrick had those beanies made for the station's anniversary.
11:41Okay.
11:42Anne told us that she went home after work and never left, right?
11:45Yeah, and her doorman confirmed it.
11:47I don't think her doorman saw that.
11:49Surveillance video from her garage, rear side of her building, shows her leaving at 9.24 p.m.
11:55Wearing an XLV beanie and an outfit that matches the video we have of the killer fleeing the scene.
12:02NYPD.
12:03Stop.
12:03We're about to go live.
12:04No, you're not.
12:05Hey, hey, you can't be here.
12:06Warren says we can.
12:07Stop the side.
12:08What's going on?
12:08Anne Merrick, you're under arrest.
12:10For what?
12:10The murder of Katie Harrington.
12:13What the hell are you talking about?
12:14Katie was my friend.
12:14She was like my little sister.
12:20Earlier today, veteran TV news anchor Anne Merrick was arrested on suspicion of murder.
12:24She was arresting a news anchor as big news.
12:27How's the evidence?
12:29Strong.
12:30Detectives found a beanie in her apartment, identical to the one seen at the crime scene.
12:35Plus, her DNA was on the murder weapon.
12:37A pair of scissors found in her neck.
12:39Motive?
12:41Still not adding up.
12:43So, this woman suddenly bolts from her apartment, walks three miles to this beauty contest, and stabs her colleague in
12:51a dressing room.
12:52Something must have triggered her.
12:54Question is what?
12:55Yeah, well, since Nolan's out for a few weeks, this is your case.
13:04Oh.
13:06Okay.
13:09Great.
13:13And thank you.
13:23How can I help?
13:25You had a six-minute call with Anne Merrick the night of the murder just before she left her apartment
13:29to go kill Katie Harrington.
13:30We want to know what that call's about.
13:34I can put you in touch with New York 32's lawyers.
13:38Or we can subpoena you.
13:41Just tell us what you know now.
13:46Anne had been hounding me.
13:48She wanted to know why she hadn't gotten the paperwork for her contract renewal.
13:51So, I finally called.
13:53Told her we wouldn't be renewing her.
13:56Must have made her upset.
13:58Yeah, she was livid.
14:00She wanted to know how I could possibly justify firing her after all she's done for the station.
14:05And?
14:05I told her HR would discuss the matter with her.
14:08I've learned to keep these calls brief.
14:10You guys discuss anything else on this call?
14:13She asked who was replacing her.
14:15And you said Katie Harrington?
14:18Yes.
14:20I regret it.
14:22Yeah.
14:24Okay, well, thank you for your help, Mr. Williams.
14:30Where's your motive, Sam?
14:32Vengeance.
14:36Sam.
14:37Sam!
14:41Abby!
14:42Hi.
14:42Hi, how are you?
14:44Good, busier than ever.
14:45Oh, we're overdue for dinner.
14:46Well, don't worry, you're going to be seeing plenty of me in the next month or so.
14:50What are you?
14:51I am.
14:52Well, Anne-Marie has good taste in lawyers.
14:55We'll see.
14:57I gotta go.
14:58I'll see you in there.
14:59Okay.
15:06Your Honor, we've got DNA evidence that links the defendant to the murder weapon.
15:10And video showing her leaving the crime scene and clear motive.
15:15Your Honor, the people request for remand.
15:16Your Honor, we plead not guilty and request reasonable bail.
15:20My client has no criminal record, strong community ties, and a face recognizable in most of the tri-state area.
15:28Good for her, but I'm denying bail anyways.
15:32Defendant is hereby remanded.
15:34All right, this way, ma'am.
15:39You open for a plea discussion?
15:41You're asking for a plea?
15:43That might be your record.
15:45Oh, we don't want to waste anyone's time.
15:47Meaning what?
15:48Meaning she doesn't intend to dispute the fact she killed Katie Harrington.
15:52But you just pled not guilty.
15:54To murder, too.
15:57But manslaughter, that's different.
15:59We're willing to plead guilty to that.
16:03No, I'm not open to discussing that.
16:06You're going to have a really hard time hearing our defense.
16:12I'll see you in court, Abby.
16:17Yes, Nolan, for the fifth time, I've double-checked the affidavits, the addresses, and everything else in the damn file
16:24so you can relax.
16:25Okay, just focus on getting better.
16:28Who needs an appendix, anyway?
16:35Okay, I'll do my best.
16:36I promise.
16:38Okay.
16:39Defense lawyer is claiming EED?
16:42Yeah, she's saying the defendant and Katie Harrington had an intimate mentor-mentee relationship,
16:47and that the idea of Katie taking her job triggered such extreme emotional disturbance that it drove the defendant to
16:55kill her.
16:55Nice try, but that's not how EED works.
16:58It's not meant to cover workplace issues.
17:00Exactly.
17:00It's a big stretch.
17:02I'm not surprised.
17:04Abigail Donahue is, uh...
17:06She's aggressive.
17:07I worked with her in the Brooklyn DA's office.
17:10Yeah, well, unless there's evidence I don't know about, this is murder, too, all day long.
17:14No, you're not missing anything.
17:16Yeah, I think, uh, Abigail is hoping that the jury is going to buy into the old trope that all
17:21women are prone to hysteria.
17:23Right.
17:28At the crime scene, we discovered a pair of scissors were jammed into her neck.
17:32In your experience, does that type of injury create a substantial risk of death?
17:38Yes.
17:38When the carotid is severed, the victim dies within minutes.
17:42Is it fair to say that these are the type of injuries you see from someone intending to kill?
17:47Yes.
17:48Can you please describe what you see in this video?
17:54That is the defendant exiting the back door of her apartment building.
17:58And what's relevant about her clothing?
18:01The clothing matches video we have of the killer fleeing the scene.
18:05One last question.
18:06Can you read the timestamp on the video?
18:099.24 p.m., about an hour before the murder.
18:13Nothing further.
18:16The back exit of my client's building, the southern exit, to be exact, isn't that closest to where she was
18:22headed?
18:23Downtown?
18:24Yes.
18:25So the suggestion that she was headed out the back door to evade detection, it doesn't really make any sense,
18:30does it?
18:31It still makes sense to me.
18:35Lieutenant Brady, did you determine where the scissors in question came from?
18:39The scissors came from a hairstyling kit belonging to the victim.
18:42They were present in the victim's dressing room?
18:44Yes.
18:45Which means my client brought no weapon of any kind that night?
18:50Not that we know of.
18:51Hmm.
18:53So she went there to kill Katie, but she didn't bring a weapon.
18:59That doesn't make any sense either, does it?
19:01Maybe she didn't decide to kill Katie until she got into the dressing room.
19:05Ah, so Ann Merrick acted in the heat of the moment.
19:08I don't want to parse legal terms with you, but the intent to kill can happen fast, instantaneously.
19:16So it doesn't mean she acted in the heat of the moment.
19:18But you're the one who said that she was triggered in the dressing room.
19:21Rejection.
19:21She's badgering the witness.
19:22Sustained.
19:25Nothing further.
19:33Mr. Williams, as chief executive of the New York 32 television station, you had cause
19:40to speak with the defendant on the telephone approximately two hours before the murder?
19:45Yes.
19:45Would you tell the court why?
19:47Well, I had to inform Ms. Merrick that the network would not be renewing her contract.
19:52How did you react?
19:53Well, after 22 years of annual renewals, not well.
19:58She became extremely upset, and she accused me of sexism and ageism.
20:04Is that true?
20:05Did you fire the defendant because, uh, because you don't like women or because she's too old?
20:13No, it was performance-related, and I told her as much.
20:17Her response?
20:19Well, she demanded to know more about the performance issue, but I told her I wasn't
20:24at liberty to say more.
20:26Then what?
20:27Well, she asked me who was going to replace her, and I told her Katie Harrington.
20:31And then she got even more angry.
20:33Thank you, Mr. Williams.
20:34Nothing further.
20:39What was the performance issue you fired my client over?
20:43Anne had misidentified someone as a gang member in the segment.
20:49That was a mistake that exposed the network to significant legal liability.
20:53How did you know it was Anne who made that mistake?
20:57Katie Harrington told me.
20:59Your Honor, we move to admit, as Exhibit B, an email sent by Ms. Harrington from her New
21:06York 32 account to the misidentified individual in the gang segment.
21:11Objection.
21:12Your Honor, we had no notice of this.
21:14Your Honor, we just got our hands on this email, and it's important that we present it
21:18now because it undermines everything that this witness just testified to.
21:23Chambers, now.
21:29This was unfair surprise, Your Honor.
21:32Agreed.
21:32That's not how we do things in this office, Ms. Donahue.
21:35Your Honor, we just got verification of this email earlier today.
21:38You had access to Katie Harrington's work accounts for weeks.
21:40An abundance of correspondence.
21:42The council is perfectly capable of reviewing discovery in a timely fashion, Your Honor.
21:46I request exclusion of this evidence at this point in time, since the people have been
21:50deprived of any meaningful opportunity to investigate.
21:53You will see the email comes from a New York 32 account.
21:56That's the news station that Ms. Maroon's witness has been testifying about.
22:02If that's the case, I will allow this exhibit.
22:05But if this happens again, Ms. Donahue, there will be sanctions.
22:08Of course.
22:13That was not okay, Abby.
22:15I'm just trying to win a trial here.
22:17By hiding evidence from me.
22:19It's the oldest trick in the book.
22:21Well, you never taught me that one.
22:23Oh, can't give away all my secrets.
22:33Mr. Williams, will you please read the highlighted portion of the email sent by Ms. Harrington
22:38from her New York 32 account to the misidentified individual in the gang segment?
22:44I'm horrified I did this.
22:47I'll remove all footage of you from our files and correct the name immediately.
22:52No, Katie told me that Ann provided all the footage and oversaw the identifications in
23:00that segment.
23:01Exactly.
23:03Katie Harrington, who the prosecution has portrayed as a hardworking beauty pageant winner turned
23:11TV reporter, actually threw her mentor under the bus to save her own skin.
23:20She had Ann Merrick, who had done nothing but tirelessly champion her work since the day she
23:28started at your network, fired.
23:32Who wouldn't feel betrayed?
23:36Who wouldn't feel devastated?
23:40Out of their mind.
23:56So they're sullying the victim.
23:58It's the right move.
23:59You think the jury's buying it?
24:01I'm not certain.
24:03Definitely makes Katie look less than saintly, that's for sure.
24:06What do you think?
24:07I mentor a few women, right?
24:09I help them out, I pull them up whenever it's possible, and if one of them betrayed me like
24:14that, yes, I'd be emotional too.
24:16Fair.
24:18But I'm guessing you wouldn't slam a pair of scissors into someone's neck.
24:21Probably not.
24:22Neither would 99.9% of other people, which is why this is murder and not manslaughter.
24:27So who's their first witness?
24:29An expert in female workplace trauma.
24:32Well, I didn't know that was a field of study.
24:34Neither did I.
24:36Use that to your advantage.
24:42And how would you describe the nature of the workplace relationship between female mentors
24:49and their protégés?
24:51Quite intimate.
24:52In what way?
24:54Powerful bonds form in stressful environments, in spaces where women are outnumbered, and
24:58the relationship provides emotional support, often helping both women thrive in challenging
25:02situations.
25:03And what happens if the bond is threatened or ruptured?
25:08It's psychologically destabilizing.
25:10Given the intimacy of the relationship, a betrayal would cause a shock to your core sense of safety,
25:16akin to your spouse cheating on you.
25:18Would you say emotions dominate?
25:21Absolutely.
25:22And based on your evaluation, how did the termination psychologically affect Ms. Merrick?
25:27It was a highly traumatic event for her.
25:30That the one person in the work environment with whom she had formed a strong emotional bond,
25:36whose career she championed...
25:39Objection.
25:40Counsel is testifying.
25:41I'll rephrase.
25:43Based on your examination, how did the specifics of the dismissal shape her reaction?
25:49I believe it was a perfect storm that triggered an extreme emotional disturbance.
25:53She lost her capacity to reason when she realized what Katie Harrington had done to her.
26:00Nothing further.
26:03Dr. Fitzgerald, are you aware that the defendant has reported on police brutality, city hall corruption,
26:10human trafficking, and terrorist cells?
26:12I am.
26:14Yet it is your opinion that when she was faced with what essentially is a workplace conflict,
26:21she became so emotional that she lost all self-control and killed someone?
26:27Yes.
26:30As a preeminent expert in the field of workplace trauma, have you ever been called to testify in a murder
26:37trial?
26:38No.
26:40Well, do you know of any instance in which a perceived betrayal of a senior female employee by a junior
26:48employee resulted in murder?
26:50As I said, this would have been a perfect storm.
26:52Yes or no, doctor?
26:55No.
26:56So, if an emotional reaction like that has never happened before, it's impossible to call it reasonable, isn't it?
27:07I suppose so.
27:09But I have nothing further.
27:19Ms. Maroon?
27:22Ms. Maroon?
27:24Mr. Harrington.
27:25Hi.
27:27How are you, um, how are you feeling?
27:30You know it's not easy sitting in there.
27:33I want to know what all this means.
27:34I mean, that doctor, there's stuff about how Anne Merica's some sort of mental issue.
27:41Well, they're saying that the defendant was so overcome with emotions that she didn't have legal intent to murder.
27:50And if the jury agrees, then they can't put her away from Rana?
27:55Correct.
27:57I don't know what happens.
28:00Well, then she'd be convicted with, uh, men one.
28:03She's a class B violent felony.
28:07The sentence is five to twenty-five years.
28:10Five years.
28:14They're stabbing my daughter in the neck.
28:19Katie was twenty-nine years old.
28:21That woman stole her life.
28:25No.
28:27Five years is not okay.
28:32Twenty years ago, there were only a handful of women doing on-air reporting.
28:37Everyone doubted that we could handle real stories.
28:40My bosses handed me baking contests, nanny scandals, but I wanted to report real news.
28:47So I found my own features.
28:49Woke up at five a.m., worked till ten p.m.
28:52You made sacrifices?
28:53I didn't have time for relationships, marriage, children.
28:56But, um, it was worth it.
28:59I loved my job.
29:01And you excelled at it.
29:02You won several local Emmys.
29:05Three.
29:06Quite a feat.
29:08So when you got the phone call from Mr. Williams at New York 32 that your contract was not going
29:14to be renewed, how did that feel?
29:17Totally blindsided.
29:19I'd thought that I was on the path to national anchor.
29:21And suddenly a lifetime of work and sacrifices, gone.
29:29You know, it was terrifying.
29:31Why blame Katie Harrington?
29:34I had taken Katie under my wing.
29:37I wanted to make it easier for her than it had been for me.
29:42So what did you do to support her?
29:44I did what I had always done for all the young women that I had mentored throughout my career.
29:48And there have been dozens.
29:50I advocated for them and nurtured their professional development.
29:54Ms. Merrick, I want to show you some documents that were admitted to evidence.
30:03Would you please tell the jury what this is?
30:06Um, this is a letter of recommendation that I wrote for Katie's Hudson Fellowship application.
30:12And would you mind reading just the highlighted portion, please?
30:16Katie Harrington is a brilliant reporter with a great future ahead.
30:20Her work in our office has been nothing short of dazzling.
30:23I recommend her without hesitation and would do anything to help advance her application.
30:28Would it be fair to say that you were devoted to Katie Harrington?
30:33Absolutely.
30:34So what did you think when Mr. Williams let you know that he was replacing you with her?
30:43I was, uh, I was confused.
30:46He said that I was getting fired because I'd made a big mistake.
30:50And I had no idea what he was talking about.
30:53And then I remembered that Katie had misidentified someone in the gang segment.
30:56And she had told me that she was terrified that it was going to get her fired.
31:00So when he told me that she was replacing me, I thought that she had laid the blame on me.
31:09What did you do next?
31:10I went to find Katie to ask her how the network got the idea that I had made that major
31:15error.
31:15What did she say?
31:17She said she panicked.
31:21And told them that...
31:24That it was my mistake.
31:26Then what?
31:32Before I knew it, Katie was dead.
31:37It was a blur.
31:43Katie did not deserve that.
31:48I know that now.
31:52But on that night, in that moment, I just...
31:58I-I-I didn't think.
32:01I didn't think.
32:02I just-I just reacted.
32:04I just...
32:06Like I said, it was just...
32:08It was such a blur.
32:30Donoghue is trying to turn their work relationship into something much more deep and personal.
32:35Kind of like a husband and wife.
32:37Makes sense.
32:37That's where most of these EED cases live.
32:40Spouses catching their partners in bed with someone else.
32:43Hell of a lot different than losing your job to a protege.
32:46What I don't get, though.
32:48What?
32:49They're trying to paint Ann Merrick as the world's most amazing mentor.
32:53Right?
32:53A selfless, devoted woman who lived to help everyone around her.
32:57Yet they haven't called any of those so-called mentees to testify to any of this.
33:03It's strange, right?
33:05So talk to some of these women the defendant allegedly mentored.
33:08See what they have to say.
33:12I owe a lot to Ann Merrick.
33:14I was a total novice when I started at the station.
33:18And she was really helpful.
33:21And kind.
33:23Until I got hired by MSN.
33:26Then what?
33:29She-she wasn't happy about me getting that job.
33:34Was upset that I didn't tell her that I'd interviewed for it.
33:38That I didn't get her opinion.
33:42Then I found out the real reason she was so upset.
33:45She applied for the same spot.
33:48And when you say she wasn't happy, can you be more specific?
33:54She-she literally grabbed me by my collar.
33:57And said if I ever double-crossed her again, she'd kill me.
34:04She had this look in her eye.
34:07I think she really meant it.
34:31Abby.
34:32Hi.
34:34Come in.
34:38I got the email about Sarah Chase.
34:41Are you kidding me?
34:46Well, it's relevant information, Abby.
34:49Your client doesn't like it when her mentees succeed.
34:54Yeah, of course she didn't kill Sarah Chase, but she sure as hell threatened her.
34:58Ann Merrick is a woman of a certain generation.
35:02She had to put on armor in order to survive a male-dominated profession.
35:06She threatened vengeance when she thought other women crossed her.
35:09That's one way to put it.
35:11That's one way to put it.
35:11The other.
35:11She acted like a man.
35:13She used male language.
35:15She flexed verbal muscle, telling people not to mess with her.
35:19If a man said, I'm going to kill you in this context, we wouldn't even blink, let alone use it
35:26as evidence to prove intent.
35:32Look, Abby, you put on a solid defense.
35:38Solid defense?
35:41You know what I mean?
35:45I want to plead this one out, Sam.
35:49Man one is the right result here.
35:52Like I said before, I don't think this is EED.
35:55Because of existing sexist case law.
36:00That's why men have successfully been using EED for crimes of anger and rage.
36:06But women, we can only use it if we're traumatized.
36:10Because the law doesn't allow us to be angry.
36:13This is a chance to move the case law forward.
36:16I can't tell Katie Harrington's father that the person who killed his daughter is going to be out in five
36:21years.
36:23You owe me this.
36:25I what?
36:27I got you this damn job.
36:31Yes.
36:32You definitely helped.
36:36And I'm grateful for that.
36:38I did you a favor.
36:41And now I'm asking you for one.
36:48Please.
36:53I haven't had a good result in a while.
36:59I need this, Sam.
37:16Any luck finding other rebuttal witnesses?
37:20Working on it.
37:23Everything okay?
37:29Did you ever have a mentor?
37:32Yeah, a few.
37:34Did any of them ever ask you to repay the debt?
37:38No.
37:40And no mentor worth her soul would ever ask that of you.
37:57Please call your next witness, Miss Maroon.
38:05Miss Maroon.
38:07Your next witness.
38:12Your Honor, the people call Sarah Chase.
38:32Miss Chase.
38:35Miss Maroon.
38:35Was the defendant your supervisor and mentor at New York 32?
38:41She was.
38:42And is it true that you left five years ago for a better position in cable news?
38:47Yes.
38:48Sarah, can you please tell the court what Ann Merrick said to you when you told her about your new
38:53job?
38:56She grabbed hold of my collar and said if I ever double-crossed her again, she'd kill me.
39:17Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?
39:20We have, your Honor.
39:23On the count of murder in the second degree, we find the defendant guilty.
39:40Members of the jury, thank you for your service.
39:43Yes.
39:44We are adjourned.
39:46Thank you, Miss Maroon.
39:48You're welcome.
39:57Abby.
39:59Come on, Abby.
40:01Come on.
40:03Come on.
40:04Come on.
40:17Good work, Sam.
40:22You did a great job.
40:37She's famous, right?
40:39Lots of family drama.
40:41The father is super weird.
40:42You're hiding something.
40:43Are you suggesting I had anything to do with it?
40:46Are you trying to help the man who killed your daughter?
40:49Law & Order, new next Thursday on NBC and Peacock.
40:55The victim was a fighter.
40:57Something went sideways.
41:00You ever seen anything like this?
41:02This is a first.
41:04SVU, new next on NBC and Peacock.
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