You Don't Know Jack Page #13

a murder case.

But that I didn't kill

her husband, you see.

- This is relevant.

- Okay. Okay.

We'll make

a special record

Outside the presence

of the jury.

I will rule on that.

- Okay.

- All right?

- Can I-- okay.

Thank you. - Thank you.

Jack:

Melody, did you tell me

It was your intention

Or tom's intention

- That I kill him?

- Melody:
Oh, no no no no.

That was not our intent.

And when I met you, I felt

it was not your intent.

It was never your intent

or our intent that tom--

Jack:
There it is.

There it is. You see?

--Other than released

from suffering.

So the word "kill," did it ever crop up?

Or "murder"?

No.

No.

Ugly words.

Ugly ugly words.

You're talking

about mercy killing.

And her statements

can't show

Your state of mind.

They only show hers.

Therefore, I cannot allow her

to testify before the jury.

But wait.

I want to say something--

That-- I have

so much I want to say.

I have been waiting for four goddamn

months for this opportunity!

You may call it

mercy killing.

I call

it something else.

I call it

a medical service

For an agonized, incurably

suffering patient.

That's what I call it.

All right?

Why don't-- what difference

does it make what you call it?

When you have these fine

stipulations of law

Standing in the way of a

dedicated physician--

And I am

a dedicated physician.

I mean, my integrity

would be destroyed

If I turned my back

on that patient.

I would rather

be dead.

It-- it's far worse.

You could-- you could take my life.

It would be worse.

This was a service.

This was a service.

It had nothing to do

with "kill" or "murder"

- Or wh-- it was a service.

- ( sobbing )

It was a medical service

that was being done.

I can't be clearer.

I can't be clearer

than that, your honor.

I see the emotion,

I understand it, but

it's not relevant.

Please step down, mrs.

Youk.

Jessica cooper has already ruled that dr.

Kevorkian's side

Can't put into evidence that

there was suffering here

By the victim.

Does that make any sense?

No, 'cause, see, I think

it's an improper ruling

Both in terms of the

nature of this trial

And criminal defenses

in general.

You're entitled to put forward

any plausible defense

To explain

the context of your act,

And she's already limited

him from doing that.

It's like watching

a man hang himself.

I've been watching

the television.

Once you knew they were dropping

the assisted suicide charge,

- What was your plan?

- He doesn't let me help him.

- Hey, what am I supposed to do?

- You're supposed to

Get creative, that's what

you're supposed to do.

Why didn't you argue that

youk's wife and brother

Were eyewitnesses

to the event

That the prosecutor's

calling a murder?

Then judge cooper would've had

to have let them testify.

But that window's

closed now.

- Did you ever pass the f***ing bar exam?

- ( elevator dings )

Dave.

There are those who would say about dr.

Jack kevorkian,

"right message,

wrong messenger."

And who is

the right messenger?

Uh...

Now I'm confused about this, dr.

Kevorkian.

You said you had

another witness.

I'm not allowing

his testimony

On the same grounds I

didn't allow mrs. Youk's.

I'm sorry you flew all this way, mr.

Youk.

Would you like

to take the stand

In your own defense, dr.

Kevorkian?

( whispers )

I'm sorry.

Cooper:
Sir, would you

like to take the stand

- In your own defense?

- Oh, I heard you.

I did.

Um.

You know,

I don't lie

And I-- I--

I don't exaggerate.

And, um, you know,

you never said why.

You accuse me

of these heinous things,

But you never said why.

Did you?

No, just saying.

I'm just saying.

You know,

just so you know.

Cooper:
Sir, let's keep

to the relevance here.

Oh, this is--

oh, it's not relevant?

I guess it's not.

It's not relevant.

Uh.

Cooper:

I will ask you again.

Would you like to take the stand

in your own defense, sir?

It's now or never.

Never.

No.

No.

The defense...

Rests.

Skrzynski:
Not since

ruby killed oswald

Did we see a murder

on television.

Jack kevorkian came like

a hit man in the night

With a bag of poison

to do his job.

What would happen

if he got his way

And made

the state policy

euthanasia?

What could go wrong?

Well, there are 11 million

souls buried in europe...

- Oh! - ...

That can tell you that when you make

Euthanasia

a state policy

Some catastrophic things

can evolve

- From opening up that box.

- How dare you?!

- How dare you...

- Cooper:
Dr. Kevorkian!

- ...Compare euthanasia with the genocide?!

- ( gavel pounding )

- How dare you!

- Melody:
You have crossed the line!

- Where is your decency and respect?

- Cooper:
Order in the court.

Order in this court.

We will take

a brief recess.

( people whispering )

Do you see

a criminal?

Do you see

a murderer?

If you do,

Then you--

you must convict.

And then take the harsh

judgment of history

And the even harsher

judgment of your children

And their children if

they should ever come

To need this choe

in their lives.

I just ask you

to think about that.

Guilty of the lesser charge

of second-degree murder.

- ( murmuring )

- woman:
Yes.

Cooper:
And with

regard to count two,

What is yourerdict?

Woman #2:
Guilty of delivery

of a controlled substance.

Woman:
He's out of time.

Yes.

You invited yourself here

to make a final stand.

You invited yourself

to the wrong forum.

Our nation tolerates

differences of opinions

Because we have a civilized

and non-violent way

Of resolving

our conflicts.

We have the means

and methods

To protest laws with

which we disagree.

You can criticize

the law,

Lecture about the law,

Speak to the media

or petition voters,

But you must always stay

Within the limits

provided by the law.

You may not

break the law

Or take the law into

your own hands.

No one's unmindful

Of the controversy and

emotion that exists

Over end-of-life issues

and pain control.

I assume the debate

will continue

In a calm and reasoned forum

long after this trial

And your activities have faded

from the public memory.

But this trial was not

about that controversy.

This trial was

about you, sir.

You've ignored

and challenged

The legislature and

the supreme court.

Moreover, you've defied your

own medical profession.

This trial was about

lawlessness,

About your disregard

for a society

That exists

and flourishes

Because of the strength

of our legal system.

No one is

above the law.

You had the audacity to go

on national television,

Show the world

what you did,

And dare the legal

system to stop you.

You publicly and repeatedly

announced your intentions

To disregard the

laws of michigan.

Because of this,

I am imposing

The maximum sentence

of 10 to 25 years.

You may now, sir,

Consider yourself stopped.

- ( clapping ) - man: Yeah, doc!

Yeah, doc!

Man #2:
You the man, jack!

You the man!

( men cheering )

Man #3:

Hey, jack!

( silence )

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