History Film / Suspect

* DownerBeginning: A Supreme Court Justice commits suicide, Elizabeth Rose Quinn is found dead in a river and Kathleen gets robbed of her Christmas gifts and mother's necklace on her way to work.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: There are subtle indications [[spoiler: Judge Matthew Helms]] is the murderer. He maneuvered with a colleague to get Carl's case, so it could be steered toward a guilty verdict. Then, after Kathleen finds another possible homeless suspect in the murder, he lets a detective talk about where homeless people live in Washington D.C. so he can find and kill him.

** Michael, who calls Kathleen's black process server a "black devil" while mentioning him to her after he assaulted him with a straight razor.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Michael, who calls Kathleen's black process server a "black devil" while mentioning him to her after he assaulted him with a straight razor. [[spoiler: Also Matthew Helms to a lesser degree, as he appears to be a conservative Republican in favor of capital punishment (ironically, given that he's a murderer himself).]]

* WouldHitAGirl: According to the autopsy, Quinn's killer beat her before cutting her throat. Then there's Carl, who attacks Kathleen during their first meeting.

* AssholeVictim: Michael, a violent, knife-wielding, homeless racist. He certainly ''appears'' to be a good suspect in Elizabeth Quinn's murder, but is himself killed by the actual murderer to stop him from revealing anything about it.

* EyeScream: Kathleen's process server gets slashed in the face and eyes with a knife by Michael, a murder suspect, when she serves him with a subpoena for testimony.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Michael, who calls Kathleen's black process server a "black devil" while mentioning him to her after he assaulted him with a knife. [[spoiler: Also Matthew Helms to a lesser degree, as he appears to be a conservative Republican in favor of capital punishment (ironically, given that he's a murderer himself).]]

A 1987 film directed by Peter Yates and starring Music/{{Cher}}, Creator/DennisQuaid, Creator/LiamNeeson, Creator/JohnMahoney, and Creator/JoeMantegna, ''Suspect'' is a mix of a {{courtroom drama}} and mystery thriller.

In UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC a week before Christmas, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a typist with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself after she leaves. Shortly after his death, Quinn's own corpse is found in the Potomac River. A vagrant (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge.

In UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC a week before Christmas, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a typist with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself after she leaves. Shortly after his death, Quinn's own corpse is found in the Potomac River. A vagrant (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. Overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge.

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/suspect_1987_film_poster.jpg]]

A 1987 film directed by Peter Yates and starring Music/{{Cher}}, Creator/DennisQuaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, ''Suspect'' is a mix of a {{courtroom drama}} and murder mystery.

In UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC on Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly after his death, Quinn's own corpse is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge.

* AssholeVictim: Michael, a violent, knife-wielding homeless racist. He certainly ''appears'' to be a good suspect in Elizabeth Quinn's murder, but is himself killed by the actual murderer to stop him revealing anything about it.

* TheButlerDidIt: Or in this case, [[spoiler: the judge did it]].

* IfItBleedsItLeads: [[spoiler: As the judge angrily bangs his gavel during Riley's accusation, his right wrist begins to bleed from where Riley slashed him the night before, confirming his identity as the killer.]]

* EyeScream: Kathleen's process server gets slashed in the face and eyes with a knife by one of murder suspects Michael.

* DownerBeginning: A Supreme Court Justice commits suicide, Elizabeth Quinn is found dead in a river and Kathleen gets robbed of her Christmas gifts and mother's necklace on her way to work.

On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly after his death, Quinn's own corpse is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge.

A 1987 film starring Music/{{Cher}}, Creator/DennisQuaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, ''Suspect'' is a mix of a {{courtroom drama}} and murder mystery.

On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly after his death, Quinn is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which soon proves to be much more than an ordinary murder...

On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which soon proves to be much more than ordinary murder...

* StartsWithASuicide: The Supreme Court Justice kills himself with a shotgun at the end of the very first scene, setting the plot in motion after he a file clerk mysterious messages to deliver.

A 1987 film starring Music/{{Cher}}, Dennis Quaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, ''Suspect'' is a mix of a {{courtroom drama}} and murder mystery.

!!This series provides examples of:

* HollywoodLaw: Unfortunately, the plot hinges on this (despite being accurate otherwise). The 1968 case which Elizabeth Quinn found had ended in a dismissal by the judge in return for an appointment to the court of appeals. However, an order of dismissal probably would just go in the judge's and lawyers' case files, rather than be a part of the trial transcript (''especially'' if it was fixed) so Quinn shouldn't have been able to discover it.

On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which is soon transpires to be far more than just an ordinary murder...

* HollywoodLaw: Unfortunately, the plot twist hinges on this (despite being accurate otherwise). The 1968 that was fixed which Elizabeth Quinn found had ended in a dismissal by the judge in return for an appointment to the court of appeals. However, an order of dismissal probably would just go in the judge's and lawyer's case files, rather than be a part of the trial transcript (and ''especially'' if it was fixed) so Quinn shouldn't have been able to discover it.

A 1987 film starring Music/Cher, Dennis Quaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, Suspect is a mix of a {{courtroom drama}} and murder mystery. On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which is soon transpires to be far more than just an ordinary murder...

* InsistentTerminology: Eddie is a "Congressional consultant", ''not'' a lobbyist, and compares this with calling a lawyer a mouthpiece.

* HollywoodLaw: Unfortunately, the plot twist hinges on this (despite being accurate otherwise). The 1968 that was fixed which Elizabeth Quinn found had ended in a dismissal by the judge in return for an appointment to the court of appeals. However, an order of dismissal probably would just go in the judge's and lawyer's case files, rather than be a part of the trial transcript (''especially'' if it was fixed) so Quinn shouldn't have been able to discover it.

* HollywoodLaw: Unfortunately, the plot hinges on this (despite being accurate otherwise). The 1968 that was fixed which Elizabeth Quinn found had ended in a dismissal by the judge in return for an appointment to the court of appeals. However, an order of dismissal probably would just go in the judge's and lawyer's case files, rather than be a part of the trial transcript (''especially'' if it was fixed) so Quinn shouldn't have been able to discover it.

* DeusExMachina: Creator/RogerEbert criticized the film's ending for being this, feeling it hadn't been well established.

A 1987 film starring Music/Cher, Dennis Quaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, Suspect is a mix of a courtroom drama and murder mystery. On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, messages to deliver to some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which is soon transpires to be far more than just an ordinary murder...

A 1987 film starring Music/Cher, Dennis Quaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, Suspect is a mix of a courtroom drama and murder mystery. On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, letters to deliver for some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man (Neeson) living nearby is arrested for her murder after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger (Quaid) is chosen for the jury despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which is soon transpires to be far more than just an ordinary murder...

* JuryAndWitnessTampering: Judge Helms correctly suspects Kathleen and Eddie are illegally in contact, but can't prove it. They avoid being caught by him in the law library, but he sequesters the jury to prevent anything further, which forces Eddie to sneak out of the hotel. If this came out, they could be charged, and Kathleen might be disbarred or sanctioned. [[spoiler: However, as Judge Helms is the murderer, no one's likely to really believe him or care, and there's no hard proof anyway.]]
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Michael, who calls Kathleen's black process server a "black devil" while mentioning him to her after he assaulted him with a knife.

* StartsWithASuicide: The Supreme Court Justice kills himself with a shotgun at the end of the very first scene, setting the plot in motion.

A 1987 film starring Music/Cher, Dennis Quaid, Creator/LiamNeeson and John Mahoney, Suspect is a mix of a courtroom drama and murder mystery. On Christmas Day, a Supreme Court Justice gives Elizabeth Quinn, a file clerk with the Justice Department, letters to deliver for some unnamed people and then kills himself. Shortly afterward, his secretary is found in the Potomac River. A homeless man living nearby is arrested in the case after police follow the trail back to his abode. He is found to have slept in her car the night she was murdered, with her wallet on his person. The overworked public defender Kathleen Riley (Cher) is assigned to represent him on the murder charge. The homeless man, it turns out, is named Carl Anderson, who is deaf and mute along with being a Vietnam veteran. Carl writes that he was simply sleeping in her car that night to get warm, and denies killing Quinn. Kathleen finds it hard to communicate with Carl, not only because of his disability but due to a hard personality built up over years of life on the streets. Over time, however, he begins to open up and tries to help her mount a defense. As the case opens, agribusiness lobbyist Eddie Sanger is chosen as a juror in the case despite his best efforts. He notices discrepancies in the prosecution's case, and illegally contacts Riley with his observations. Despite her reservations, she begins to investigate the case along with him, which is soon transpires to be far more than just an ordinary murder...

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