History Recap / LawAndOrderS13E4TragedyOnRye

* DisproportionateRetribution: Branch wants to pursue the death penalty against Otum, Carton, and Johnson even though Otum is the only one with a previous felony conviction.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Van Buren and our lawyer duo balk at the idea of Branch jumping to the death penalty to [[MakeAnExampleOfThem send a message]] and to try to bail Green out on PoliceBrutality charges. Given Branch is usually the BigGood, it shows even he isn't infallible, and our bunch having these standards helps push them into investigating a bit further to find out the real killer.
* {{Jerkass}}: Maynard plays dirty for a defense attorney, attempting to shame and undermine the victim so his clients come off as clean and fine rather than trying to defend them directly. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome This nearly sends three men, crooks but innocent of the charges, to death row.]]

Branch announces that the state will pursue the death penalty against the defendants. Van Buren, [=McCoy=], and Southerlyn all argue that this is disproportionate. Andrew Maynard, who is Carton and Johnson's attorney, is confident they'll be acquitted when he argues Lucy was selling drugs and a client probably killed her. But all three defendants are found guilty. [=McCoy=] does not want them to be sentenced to execution. He takes a closer look at phone records used as evidence during the trial.

Lucy Dolan, a struggling actress, is robbed and murdered in her apartment above a popular deli. From a video taken outside the deli, Briscoe and Green identify Danny Otum, Harry Johnson, and Matthew Carton carrying Lucy's TV out of her building. The men are arrested. Otum, a drug dealer, claims Lucy worked for him and offered him her TV to repay money she owed him. All three suspects insist they didn't kill her. An investigation ensues into Green's conduct when arresting Otum, but no charges are brought.

Branch announces that the state will pursue the death penalty against the defendants. Van Buren, [=McCoy=], and Southerlyn all argue that this is disproportionate. Andrew Maynard, who is Carton and Johnson's attorney, is confident they'll be acquitted - but all three defendants are found guilty. [=McCoy=] takes a closer look at phone records used as evidence during the trial. He sees that one person used to call Lucy every day, but then suddenly stopped calling on the same day she was murdered, even though her body wasn't found until two or three days later.

The caller, Ernest Borges, is charged with Lucy's murder. The murder weapon is found in his house and his lawyer quickly agrees a deal. Otum, Johnson, and Carton are released and Southerlyn reflects on the close call they had. She wonders if the next person will be so lucky. [=McCoy=] is angry that Maynard was more concerned with making the victim look bad to the jury than examining evidence that could acquit his clients.

Branch announces that the state will pursue the death penalty against the defendants. Van Buren, [=McCoy=], and Southerlyn all argue that this is disproportionate. Andrew Maynard, who is Carton and Johnson's attorney, is confident they'll be acquitted - but all three defendants are found guilty. [=McCoy=] takes a closer look at phone records used as evidence during the trial. He sees that one person, who used to call Lucy every day, suddenly stopped on the same day she was murdered even though her body wasn't found until two or three days later.

Lucy Dolan, a struggling actress, is robbed and murdered in her apartment above a popular deli. From a video taken outside the deli, Briscoe and Green identify Danny Otum, Harry Johnson, and Matthew Carton carrying Lucy's TV out of her building. The men are arrested. Otum, a drug dealer, claims Lucy worked for him and offered him her TV to repay money she owed him. All three suspects insist they didn't kill her. An investigation ensues into Green's conduct when arresting Otum, but no charges ensue.