Anatomy of a Murder Page #7

You've won my heart completely.

Mr. Dancer, you asked for the recess.

What's your problem?

There was a little suggestion

I wanted to make.

By all means.

Since the defence plea is insanity,

the prosecution has retained a psychiatrist.

By statute, we have the right to request

a mental examination by our own doctor.

Are you familiar with that statute,

Mr. Biegler?

Moderately.

It would only delay things

to file a formal petition...

...so why don't we informally agree...

...to ask for an adjournment?

Only a day or so...

...and our doctor can see the defendant.

It would save a great deal of time.

- Yes, I'm sure it will.

- Good.

But, suppose you just go ahead

and file that formal petition anyway?

You're a little late,

but maybe His Honour will overlook that.

I'd sort of like the jury to see that

you think our insanity plea has some merit.

There's no need for our doctor

to examine your client.

- I was only following the usual procedure.

- I'm all for it.

Do you wish to file the petition?

- Yes...

- It won't be necessary.

It won't be necessary.

Skirmish over.

Shall we join now on the field of battle?

The body of Quill had sustained

five gunshot wounds.

One of the bullets

had passed through the heart.

Death, in my opinion,

was almost instantaneous...

...and was directly caused by this wound.

Dr. Raschid,

may I have your detailed report?

Certainly.

I ask that this report be marked

"People's Exhibit 1" for identification.

So received and marked.

The People hand the defence

a copy of the report.

Counsel may cross-examine.

Dr. Raschid, your primary purpose was

to ascertain the cause of death, was it not?

Yes.

Yet I read in your report...

...you checked to determine

if spermatogenesis was occurring...

...in the body at the time of death.

Objection, Your Honour!

The People call this witness

only to show the cause of death.

Your Honour,

the entire report was offered as evidence...

...and it contains this information

about spermatogenesis.

Overruled, Mr. Lodwick.

The witness may answer.

Yes, I made that examination

on the deceased.

Would you tell the court your findings?

Spermatogenesis was occurring

at the time of death.

In other words, the deceased,

in life, was not sterile.

- He could produce children.

- Correct.

If a woman says she has had intercourse

with a certain man...

...who is proven fertile, though no evidence

is found in the woman's body...

...could a lawyer, a prosecuting attorney...

...could he use this as evidence

that the woman is lying?

Your Honour...

...I object to this line of questioning.

We are not concerned here with relations

between a man and a woman.

As long as an examination

for spermatogenesis had been made...

...at least we're entitled to know why.

Overruled. You may answer.

Yes, prosecution could use that...

...though it certainly would not be

conclusive that she was lying.

Why not?

There could be several reasons

why the test on her was negative.

The use of a contraceptive...

...or possibly, there was no completion

on the part of the man.

In this post-mortem,

were you asked to determine...

...if the deceased

had reached sexual climax...

...shortly before death?

- No, sir.

- Could you have determined it?

- Yes.

So, you were only asked

to make such examinations...

...that might be useful to the prosecution,

but not the defence?

I object, Your Honour.

The question is argumentative.

The defence is trying to impugn the intent

of the representatives of the People.

Mr. Biegler, you must be aware

that the question is improper.

I withdraw the question and apologise.

The question and answer will be stricken...

...and the jury will disregard

both the question and the answer.

That's all.

No redirect.

The People now call Lloyd Burke.

Will the witness step forward, please?

How can a jury disregard

what it has already heard?

They can't, Lieutenant.

They can't.

...the whole truth and nothing

but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Will you state your profession, please?

I'm a commercial photographer.

Were you called upon by the police...

...to take photographs of the body

of the deceased, Bernard Quill...

...before and after he was removed

from the scene of death?

Yes, sir.

Were these photographs of the deceased

made by you?

They were.

The recorder will mark these photographs:

"People's Exhibit 2A to 2D"

for identification.

Photographs are tendered to the defence

for examination...

...and we move their admission

as evidence. Your witness.

No questions, no objections.

- He took pictures of me that night, too.

- Just a minute, Mr. Burke.

Mr. Burke, these photographs

offered as evidence:

Are they the only photographs

you took that night?

No.

The others didn't turn out?

All my pictures turn out.

Of course. I beg your pardon.

Did you give the other pictures

to the police?

Yes, sir, I did.

What were they?

Were they side shots

or a shot of the moon, perhaps?

Or a black bear scavenging

in the Thunder Bay dump?

I object. I can't see how other photographs

are relevant.

The photographs

were introduced to show...

...that the deceased

met with a violent death.

Your Honour, any photograph

pertaining to the case would be relevant.

The point is good, Mr. Biegler. Continue.

What were these other photographs of,

Mr. Burke?

Lt. Manion's wife.

These photographs showed how she looked

after Barney Quill was killed?

- Yes.

- Your Honour, how she looked is irrelevant.

No evidence has been introduced

to connect her appearance to the murder.

- Sustained.

- I'm sorry, Your Honour.

I wanted to be sure the prosecution

wasn't withholding evidence.

Now, look here!

I protest to the defence attorney's

persistent attacks...

...on the motives of the prosecution.

The jury will disregard the remark made

by the attorney for the defence.

There is no reason to believe

the prosecution hasn't acted in good faith.

My apologies to the prosecution

and the court.

But, Your Honour...

...as long as protests are being made,

I'd like to make a protest myself.

I'm perfectly willing to take on

these two legal giants any time, any place.

But, in all fairness,

it ought to be one at a time.

I don't want these two pitching

knuckle balls at me at the same time.

It seems to me

you're batting close to 1000...

...but your point is well-taken.

Whichever attorney opens

with the witness...

...he, alone, shall continue

with that witness until they are excused.

Thank you, Your Honour.

No more questions.

No questions.

We're doing well, aren't we?

- Where is Parnell?

- Why? Isn't he here?

No, nor in his rooming house.

He hasn't been there all night.

You saw him last. Where is he?

I promised not to tell, so don't ask me.

He hasn't fallen off the wagon?

No. He was sober.

Has he gone somewhere?

He did borrow my car for something.

Your car? That was smart.

He hasn't driven a car in 20 years.

He'll kill himself. Where's he gone?

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