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Archive for the ‘Courtroom Videos’ Category

Courtroom Scene from The Medusa Touch

May 3, 2011 by JasonO No Comments »

“The Medusa Touch” is a British movie released in 1978. The film starred Richard Burton as barrister (British courtroom attorney) John Morlar. The movie was based on a novel of the same name written by Peter Van Greenaway. The film was directed by Jack Gold.

The courtroom scene is essentially a monologue by Richard Burton. Burton’s character, Morlar, delivers an impassioned, powerful, harsh criticism of British society’s preoccupation with war and trophies, exhibits and artifacts of same. The scene involves Morlar’s defense of his client against a charge of bombing a war museum. Morlar’s argument is haunting in the respect that it rings true many years later and resonates today for our society in the United States, as well.

Burton’s character becomes overcome with emotion and zeal in his advocacy that he claims in an extreme and exaggerated manner that he, too, would have committed the bombing if he knew how to do it, based on what he knew of the museum and its purposes in promoting and celebrating war and its trappings. Instead, the barrister argues that there was no bomb and no crime, so, there can be no punishment.

Rather, the true defendant should be the British establishment and not his client. After all, his client just protested and attacked the establishment and the Imperial War Museum’s mission with words. But, the establishment and society are the ones that should be held to defend their actions for bringing a person to trial merely for verbal criticism. To Morlar, his client cannot be held liable or capable of an event (the bombing) that did not happen, as there was no crime and no bomb.

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Monty Python Courtoom Charades

April 30, 2011 by JasonO No Comments »

Monty Python’s Court Charades is a classic courtroom scene taken from the Flying Circus, Season 2, Episode 15, entitled “The Spanish Inquisition.” The nearly-slapstick scene was conceived, written, and performed by British actors Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam.

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The clip takes place in the Central Criminal Court. The courtroom is painstakingly formal. Attorneys, court personnel, and the judge are dressed in wigs, collars, and robes. The podiums are elevated. Formal, heavy, dark paneling lines walls. The language is stilted. It’s British in all elements.

Court Charades is a quintessential Monty Python clip. (To be fair, it is somewhat of an acquired taste that is not suitable to all and not a favorite for everyone.) The scene opens with the jury foreman being asked to deliver the jury’s verdict. Instead of making a verbal recitation, as would be expected, the scene surprises the audience with a fresh, comedic twist. The childish, immature, and silly charades game erupts, with the foreman acting out the jury’s verdict. After several minutes of struggle, the verdict of not guilty is guessed and the resolved case closes.

When the second defendant is called, the prop of a giant ant is a little over the top in cheesy, cheeky humor. The case involves a racier and more lewd theme as well. For a few moments, the exchange between the judge, who is the defendant in this case, and the presiding judge is a humorous challenge of authority. The scene definitely mocks the seriousness and formality of the English court system, while giving the audience several enjoyable laughs.

 

Use of Video in Courtroom Has Strong Emotional Effect on Jurors

April 27, 2011 by JasonO No Comments »

The March 2011 trial of Riccardo McCray in Erie County Court in Buffalo, N.Y., was a painful and emotional experience for jurors, witnesses, and mostly, family members of the murdered victims who attended proceedings. McCray was on trial for murder of four victims at the City Grill after a massive fight erupted, chaos ensued and shots were fired into the crowd.

Prosecutor James Bargnesi was unapologetic about his repeated use of dramatic, emotional video footage and audio during trial. Bargnesi warned jurors in his opening statement that they would hear 911 calls from security guard Craig Gadley about the fight, shooting and victims. The prosecutor said they would see police crime scene footage of bodies draped in sheets on the ground in pools of blood, with their personal effects of sneakers, purses, and jewelry strewn in the near vicinity. During the trial, families of the victims were muffling tears and sobs in the courtroom, as they were forced to endure the footage and relive the horror of their loved ones murders again.

The footage was compelling and wielded a huge impact on those in the courtroom. WIVB?s News 4 reporter, Lorey Schultz provided local coverage of trial in her report, “Sobs in court as jury sees crime scene video.” Schultz explained that the raw footage was emotionally wrenching to all in the courtroom. One witness asked for time to regain his composure before resuming testimony, as a result of viewing the footage. Even the defendant?s eyes were fixed on the tape, as he no doubt heard sobs of the victims’ family members resonate throughout the courtroom.

Sobs in court as jury sees crime scene video: wivb.com

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To Kill a Mockingbird Trial Scene

February 5, 2011 by Admin No Comments »

Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck (who won an Academy Award for his performance), is a principled lawyer who defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. The 1962 movie is based on Harper Lee‘s 1960 book, also titled To Kill a Mockingbird, which won a Pulitzer Prize.

The narrative takes place in a small Alabama town in the 1930s and is told from the point of view of Atticus Finch‘s daughter, Scout.

In this scene from the contentious trial in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch exposes the town‘s racial divide and its deep seated prejudice. Bob Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of beating and raping his daughter, Mayella. When Bob Ewell takes the stand, Atticus Finch instructs him to write down his name. It is revealed that Ewell is left-handed and therefore more likely to leave bruises on the right side of his daughter‘s face. But in the eyes of an all-white jury, Tom Robinson is guilty because he is black.

Although Atticus Finch loses the case, he succeeds in exposing the prejudice of the people who populate the town. The trial also made the book and film central in the discussion of 20th century racial tension in the South.

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