Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5 (click to see context) from:
->[[spoiler:"The suspect the defense accuses is the witness... [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fluttershy]]!"]]
to:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
->[[spoiler:"The suspect the defense accuses is the witness... [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Fluttershy]]!"]]
-->-- '''Phoenix Wright''', ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm''
-->-- '''Phoenix Wright''', ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* One story arc in AstroCity is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, like demanding evidence that there's anything strange going on, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
to:
* One story arc in AstroCity ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, like demanding evidence that there's anything strange going on, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 68 (click to see context) from:
* This was spoofed on ''TheSimpsons'' when Bart and Lisa accuse, during Sideshow Bob's trial, [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed obvious Rush Limbaugh stand-in]] Birchibald Barlowe of being the true mastermind behind rigging the mayoral election. Bob will not stand for this. He immediately produces every piece of detailed evidence proving that he and only he could have effected such a triumph, including monogrammed leather files entitled "Bob's Fraud Log", volumes I-VI.
to:
* This was spoofed on ''TheSimpsons'' ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' when Bart and Lisa accuse, during Sideshow Bob's trial, [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed obvious Rush Limbaugh stand-in]] Birchibald Barlowe of being the true mastermind behind rigging the mayoral election. Bob will not stand for this. He immediately produces every piece of detailed evidence proving that he and only he could have effected such a triumph, including monogrammed leather files entitled "Bob's Fraud Log", volumes I-VI.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
typos
Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
** Another example is when Jeffrey is defending a young man accused of killing a judge he was in a relationship with. He, seemingly spontaneously, accuses the man's mother, currently testifying, of being the actual murderer. It's later revealed that this was actually the mother's idea to take suspicion of her son.
to:
** Another example is when Jeffrey is defending a young man accused of killing a judge he was in a relationship with. He, seemingly spontaneously, accuses the man's mother, currently testifying, of being the actual murderer. It's later revealed that this was actually the mother's idea to take suspicion of off her son.
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.[[spoiler: And this is enough for the real killer to confess to Nick, knowing he would just lie on the stand if asked. The Nick pulls out a tape recorder.]]
to:
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.[[spoiler: And this is enough for the real killer to confess to Nick, knowing he would just lie on the stand if asked. The Then Nick pulls out a tape recorder.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Removing an example based entirely on hypotheticals and stretching of the trope
Deleted line(s) 32,35 (click to see context) :
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
[[/folder]]
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 64 (click to see context) from:
* In the fifth episode of ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
to:
* In the fifth episode of ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* One of the last episodes of ''TheCloser'' inverts this: Brenda is called as a witness in a rape trial and is certain the defendant is just the legman for the real rapist, his lawyer Phillip Stroh. Stroh gets her to admit that she thinks the wrong man is on trial, and eventually provokes her into confessing that Major Crimes is investigating him, Stroh, for the crime. Naturally, as Stroh was no doubt hoping, the judge immediately declares a mistrial, and because of weak evidence the D.A. doesn't plan on refiling.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
* ''HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
to:
* ''HarryPotter'': ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
[[/folder]]
* ''HarryPotter'': Had Sirius Black been allowed a trial, his defense would be arguably seen as this. The muggle witnesses' statements of having heard Peter Pettigrew accusing Sirius could be considered Peter Pettigrew's (sort of) testimony.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** In one episode, they defended a woman charged with murder. Prosecution claims she ran over her boyfriend. Seven years ago, she was charged with the murder of another love interest by a similar fashion but prosecution wasn't allowed to mention it in the trial because she was never convicted for ''that'' murder. In the time between the closing statements and the verdict (she was found guilty), the defense found out one of the witnesses was the wife of the previous murder victim.
Added DiffLines:
* ''WesternAnimation/LittleLulu'': Annie was accused of breaking Eggy's guitar and Lulu managed to prove Tubby, who was testifying against Annie, was the real culprit.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** Direct accusation is against the rules of practice in some jurisdictions. However, a competent lawyer should be able to pick enough holes in a genuine murderer-witness's story for what really happened to become obvious to all concerned, or at the very least secure an acquittal.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
*** In this particular example, the mother is revealed at the end to have actually committed the murder. She and her son were in an incestuous relationship and as a result she got jealous when the son started having an affair with the judge.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
** A further subversion in an earlier episode of Homicide. Kay Howard and Ed Danvers, while going over trial strategy on the Pony Johnson case, argue over the use of one of the victim's sons (and Pony's friend and drug mule) as a witness. Danvers notes that the son was at the scene, knew the victim and provided the bullets used to kill the victim and would thus make a terrible witness as the defence counsel would simply take all of that information and use it to set up the witness as the perfect alternative murderer, gaining them an acquittal.
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
** And again in Boston Legal, even the prosecutor remarks that he saw it on Perry Mason once. In this case Alan Shore sees that his client doesn't look and thus blackmails her into taking a plea bargain offer.
to:
** And again in Boston Legal, even the prosecutor remarks that he saw it on Perry Mason once.in the aforementioned Judd Nelson movie. In this case Alan Shore sees that his client doesn't look and thus blackmails her into taking a plea bargain offer.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* Variant: [[spoiler:Kurt Godel]] in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' claimed ''himself'' to be behind the attack on Negi's village. [[spoiler:But he was lying. It really was apparently the senate.]]
to:
* Variant: [[spoiler:Kurt Godel]] in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' claimed ''himself'' to be behind the attack on Negi's village. [[spoiler:But he was lying. It really was apparently the senate.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* The last witness is the real perpetrator in [[spoiler:four]] of the four cases in ''[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Aya Shameimaru: Touhou Attorney]]'', a fangame based on the ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' games.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 18 (click to see context) from:
* One story arc in AstroCity is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
to:
* One story arc in AstroCity is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, like demanding evidence that there's anything strange going on, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
* This happens in ''FanFic/DevilsAttorney'' as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: [[DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Flonne]]]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]], AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
to:
* This happens in ''FanFic/DevilsAttorney'' as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: [[DisgaeaHourOfDarkness [[VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Flonne]]]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]], AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 55 (click to see context) from:
* In the fifth episode of UminekoNoNakuKoroNi, [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
to:
* In the fifth episode of UminekoNoNakuKoroNi, ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
-->-- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
to:
-->-- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]]]] for the murder in order to buy more time to investigate. [[WhatTheHellHero Neither Twilight]] nor [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Phoenix himself]] are amused.
to:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]]]] for the murder in order to buy more time to investigate. [[WhatTheHellHero Neither Twilight]] nor [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Phoenix himself]] are amused.
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* Done in ''every'' case in ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', though in most cases the witness Phoenix accuses ''is'' the real killer (or an accomplice, or tampered with the crime scene, or is withholding crucial testimony).
to:
* Done in virtually ''every'' case in ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', though ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney''. Overlaps with ThePerryMasonMethod in that in most cases the witness Phoenix [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Phoenix]] or [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney Apollo]] accuses ''is'' the real killer (or an accomplice, or tampered with the crime scene, or is withholding crucial testimony).
Changed line(s) 54 (click to see context) from:
** Used in the last case of ''[[AceAttorneyInvestigations Investigations]]'' (where it's technically a police investigation rather than a court trial but the procedure is identical) by Shi-Long Lang on [[spoiler: Franziska von Karma.]] His reasoning is that [[spoiler: there is no reason. He knows she's innocent and he knows Edgeworth will easily prove her innocent, but in order to prove it Alba would have to let them back into the embassy to investigate--which is where they wanted to be in the first place.]]
to:
** Used in the last case of ''[[AceAttorneyInvestigations ''[[VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations Investigations]]'' (where it's technically a police investigation rather than a court trial but the procedure is identical) by Shi-Long Lang on [[spoiler: Franziska von Karma.]] His reasoning is that [[spoiler: there is no reason. He knows she's innocent and he knows Edgeworth will easily prove her innocent, but in order to prove it Alba would have to let them back into the embassy to investigate--which is where they wanted to be in the first place.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
* This happens in ''Devil's Attorney'' as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
to:
* This happens in ''Devil's Attorney'' ''FanFic/DevilsAttorney'' as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] [[DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Flonne]]]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] herself]], AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.
to:
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.[[spoiler: And this is enough for the real killer to confess to Nick, knowing he would just lie on the stand if asked. The Nick pulls out a tape recorder.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and MyGodWhatHaveIDone on Phoenix's part]].
to:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] Fluttershy]]]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and MyGodWhatHaveIDone on Phoenix's part]].[[WhatTheHellHero Neither Twilight]] nor [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Phoenix himself]] are amused.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone on Phoenix's part.]]
* This happens in [[FanFic/DevilsAttorney Devil's Attorney]] as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
* This happens in [[FanFic/DevilsAttorney Devil's Attorney]] as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
to:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone on Phoenix's part.]]
part]].
* This happens in[[FanFic/DevilsAttorney Devil's Attorney]] ''Devil's Attorney'' as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
* This happens in
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[folder:RealLife]]
* Rarely, if ever, done as blatantly as in fiction, but there certainly are cases of one suspect testifying against another. The Troy Davis case is an excellent example of this, as one of the key witnesses (and one of only two to maintain his testimony up until Davis' execution), Sylvestor "Red" Coles, was himself a suspect.
[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* In the climactic trial scene of ''New Jack City'', Nino Brown stands up and dramatically accuses one of his lieutenants of being the real head of the gang, Cash Money Brothers. This works and he gets a ludicrously small sentence in exchange for testimony - despite every piece of evidence, including eyewitness testimony from an undercover cop - saying Nino was the boss. Or at least, [[KarmicDeath it worked for a few minutes]]. (As a side note, the real-life drug lord Nino Brown was modeled on tried the exact same stunt and failed)
to:
* In the climactic trial scene of ''New Jack City'', ''NewJackCity'', Nino Brown stands up and dramatically accuses one of his lieutenants of being the real head of the gang, Cash Money Brothers. This works and he gets a ludicrously small sentence in exchange for testimony - despite every piece of evidence, including eyewitness testimony from an undercover cop - saying Nino was the boss. Or at least, [[KarmicDeath it worked for a few minutes]]. (As a side note, the real-life drug lord Nino Brown was modeled on tried the exact same stunt and failed)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, acusses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone from Phoenix's part.]]
to:
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, acusses accuses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone from on Phoenix's part.]]
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
* In ''LegallyBlonde'', the climax of the movie involves Elle Woods' getting [[spoiler:the murder victim's daughter to incriminate herself on the stand, by using a clever line of questioning that seems unrelated,]] thereby proving the innocence of Elle's client (the deceased's ex-wife).
to:
* In ''LegallyBlonde'', the climax of the movie involves Elle Woods' Woods getting [[spoiler:the murder victim's daughter to incriminate herself on the stand, by using a clever line of questioning that seems unrelated,]] thereby proving the innocence of Elle's client (the deceased's ex-wife).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 51 (click to see context) from:
** In the third case of the first game, Phoenix actually ''does'' intentionally accuse a completely innocent party purely to buy another day of investigation.
to:
** In the third case of the first game, Phoenix actually ''does'' intentionally accuse a completely innocent party purely to buy another day of investigation. In the process, she reveals that Global Studios Executives [[spoiler:which includes the real killer]] were at the studios that day, purely to save herself, and this enables Phoenix to get closer to uncovering the truth.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 1,6 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Judge:''' Mr. Wright, are you indicting the witness as the real murderer?
-->'''Phoenix:''' Of course! That is precisely what I am doing!
-->--- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
A CourtroomAntic which involves accusing an unlikely or controversial witness of being the perpetrator of the crime. Particularly the accused's spouse or other close family member. Whether or not this accusation is true is immaterial. The point is to cloud the issue and raise reasonable doubt.
-->'''Phoenix:''' Of course! That is precisely what I am doing!
-->--- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
A CourtroomAntic which involves accusing an unlikely or controversial witness of being the perpetrator of the crime. Particularly the accused's spouse or other close family member. Whether or not this accusation is true is immaterial. The point is to cloud the issue and raise reasonable doubt.
to:
A CourtroomAntic which involves accusing an unlikely or controversial witness of being the perpetrator of the
Deleted line(s) 8,9 (click to see context) :
From ''ThePractice'' where they seem to win every case through Plan B. (Also EdWood's ''PlanNineFromOuterSpace.'')
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
-->'''Judge:''' Mr. Wright, are you indicting the witness as the real murderer?
-->'''Phoenix:''' Of course! That is precisely what I am doing!
-->--- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
A CourtroomAntic which involves accusing an unlikely or controversial witness of being the perpetrator of the crime. Particularly the accused's spouse or other close family member. Whether or not this accusation is true is immaterial. The point is to cloud the issue and raise reasonable doubt.
An unscrupulous cousin to ThePerryMasonMethod.
From ''ThePractice'' where they seem to win every case through Plan B. (Also EdWood's ''PlanNineFromOuterSpace.'')
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Variant: [[spoiler:Kurt Godel]] in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' claimed ''himself'' to be behind the attack on Negi's village. [[spoiler:But he was lying. It really was apparently the senate.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* One story arc in AstroCity is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:FanWorks]]
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, acusses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone from Phoenix's part.]]
* This happens in [[FanFic/DevilsAttorney Devil's Attorney]] as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{Film}}]]
* In the climactic trial scene of ''New Jack City'', Nino Brown stands up and dramatically accuses one of his lieutenants of being the real head of the gang, Cash Money Brothers. This works and he gets a ludicrously small sentence in exchange for testimony - despite every piece of evidence, including eyewitness testimony from an undercover cop - saying Nino was the boss. Or at least, [[KarmicDeath it worked for a few minutes]]. (As a side note, the real-life drug lord Nino Brown was modeled on tried the exact same stunt and failed)
* In ''LegallyBlonde'', the climax of the movie involves Elle Woods' getting [[spoiler:the murder victim's daughter to incriminate herself on the stand, by using a clever line of questioning that seems unrelated,]] thereby proving the innocence of Elle's client (the deceased's ex-wife).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* The prosecuting attorneys on ''LawAndOrder'' have occasionally filed charges against a family member of their real suspect in order to pressure them into a confession, plea bargain or other "short-cut" resolution to the case.
** They'll also occasionally threaten to expose personal information that the defendant would rather go to jail than have made public (which seldom raises any questions as to whether they might be innocent and confessing ''just'' to keep their secret hidden), to achieve the same end. In both instances, the [=DAs=] will lampshade the desperation nature of the ploy, plus the likelihood that if the defendant doesn't bite, the presiding judge may not even let them follow through on their threat.
* Subverted in ''HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': in an antic taken from the book which inspired the series, in a murder for which the body was not found, the defendant's lawyer insists that the whole case is nothing more than a publicity stunt, and that the "victim" is going to walk into the courtroom... Now! He doesn't, but, as the laywer points out, the fact that everyone ''looked'' proves that they have a reasonable doubt. Once the defendants have been convicted, the thunderstruck prosecutor and defense attorney ask a jury member why the antic didn't work: one of the jurors noticed that ''the defendants'' hadn't looked -- they knew darned right well that the victim was dead.
** The first episode of Matlock uses this same scene almost exactly, except his client was innocent (his clients are always innocent), and so, also looks.
** It's also used in the 1987 film ''From the Hip'', with Judd Nelson as the defense attorney and John Hurt as the accused; this time, it's Nelson who notices his client didn't look, and Hurt defends himself by scoffing at it as being too obviously theatrical a stunt to take seriously.
** And again in Boston Legal, even the prosecutor remarks that he saw it on Perry Mason once. In this case Alan Shore sees that his client doesn't look and thus blackmails her into taking a plea bargain offer.
** All of these are likely based on [[http://www.snopes.com/legal/nobody.asp an urban legend]] commonly attached to the 1959 trial of Leonard Ewing Scott (one of the more notable "no body" murder trials).
* ''{{Bones}}'': In "The Verdict in the Story", the defense at Max Brennan's murder trial establishes reasonable doubt by showing that the murder could've been committed by [[spoiler:Temperance, who, working with the defense, is the one who came up with the idea of pulling a Plan B on herself]].
* ''ThePractice'', the TropeNamer, is, of course, known for this trope. One notable example is when in which Lindsay actually accuses the [[spoiler:defendant's wife]] of conspiracy to commit murder out of the blue as the first question in her cross-examination! [[spoiler: Then again, the accusation was true; Lindsay had a EurekaMoment through an action the wife took while being questioned by the prosecutor. The suddenness and accuracy of Lindsay's accusation caused the wife to panic and plead the Fifth, leading to the judge directing a not guilty verdict and saving the defendant.]]
** In one episode, Eugene and Bobby try this in a murder trial, and Bobby gets chewed out over it by ''{{Ally McBeal}}'' herself, who asks him whether he really believes that the witness did it (Bobby doesn't). It takes a very strange turn when the guy they accuse [[spoiler: commits suicide]]. Then it turns out that [[spoiler: Bobby's theory was entirely correct]].
** One plot involved the firm being sued on charges of slander over one particular instance of them trying this. In his closing argument, Jimmy says that there was honour in them doing this, ''not'' because the guy they accused probably did it, but because he probably didn't; it was a soul-destroying thing to accuse him, but they did it anyway, because it was their duty to give their client the best possible defence.
* Alan Shore of ''BostonLegal'' is defending a woman whose much older husband died in mysterious cirmcumstances, leaving his entire fortune to her. Their housekeeper is on the stand, and giving a fairly damning account of the defendant's behaviour. While she does this, Alan is stretching his arms and limbering up. He thanks her, then spins around and points at her in the most dramatic way possible:
-->'''Alan''': Didn't ''you'' kill him?
** Another example is when Jeffrey is defending a young man accused of killing a judge he was in a relationship with. He, seemingly spontaneously, accuses the man's mother, currently testifying, of being the actual murderer. It's later revealed that this was actually the mother's idea to take suspicion of her son.
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:VideoGames]]
* Done in ''every'' case in ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', though in most cases the witness Phoenix accuses ''is'' the real killer (or an accomplice, or tampered with the crime scene, or is withholding crucial testimony).
** In the third case of the first game, Phoenix actually ''does'' intentionally accuse a completely innocent party purely to buy another day of investigation.
*** Given that the innocent party in that case was [[spoiler:Windy...er, Wendy Oldbag]], that example was kind of funny. A distinctly [[DudeNotFunny less amusing]] instance comes in the fourth case of the second game, where you are [[ButThouMust forced]] to accuse [[spoiler:Adrian Andrews]], who by this point is [[TheWoobie woobie-tastic]], just to buy time.
*** It gets pretty confusing by case 5 of game 3, where Phoenix doesn't even know who to accuse, and in the end [[spoiler: isn't even sure what crime has been committed (homicide or justifiable homicide). For fully three days, he doesn't accuse ''anyone''.]]
** Used in the last case of ''[[AceAttorneyInvestigations Investigations]]'' (where it's technically a police investigation rather than a court trial but the procedure is identical) by Shi-Long Lang on [[spoiler: Franziska von Karma.]] His reasoning is that [[spoiler: there is no reason. He knows she's innocent and he knows Edgeworth will easily prove her innocent, but in order to prove it Alba would have to let them back into the embassy to investigate--which is where they wanted to be in the first place.]]
* In the fifth episode of UminekoNoNakuKoroNi, [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/?db=comics&id=210#comic This]] ''SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'' cartoon.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* This was spoofed on ''TheSimpsons'' when Bart and Lisa accuse, during Sideshow Bob's trial, [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed obvious Rush Limbaugh stand-in]] Birchibald Barlowe of being the true mastermind behind rigging the mayoral election. Bob will not stand for this. He immediately produces every piece of detailed evidence proving that he and only he could have effected such a triumph, including monogrammed leather files entitled "Bob's Fraud Log", volumes I-VI.
[[/folder]]
----
-->'''Phoenix:''' Of course! That is precisely what I am doing!
-->--- ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'', Case 1
A CourtroomAntic which involves accusing an unlikely or controversial witness of being the perpetrator of the crime. Particularly the accused's spouse or other close family member. Whether or not this accusation is true is immaterial. The point is to cloud the issue and raise reasonable doubt.
An unscrupulous cousin to ThePerryMasonMethod.
From ''ThePractice'' where they seem to win every case through Plan B. (Also EdWood's ''PlanNineFromOuterSpace.'')
----
!!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Variant: [[spoiler:Kurt Godel]] in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' claimed ''himself'' to be behind the attack on Negi's village. [[spoiler:But he was lying. It really was apparently the senate.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* One story arc in AstroCity is about a lawyer who defends an obviously-guilty murderer by invoking superhero tropes. He suggests that his client was being mind-controlled, that the murderer was a shapeshifter or an evil twin from another dimension, even [[DeathIsCheap that the victim was still alive before the coroner cut her open.]] Because these things do really happen in Astro City, it works. In the epilogue it's established that if anyone tried that today the prosecution could tear them to pieces any number of ways, but he got a pass because he was the first to do it. Also, the jury was terrified of convicting an innocent person because the state had recently executed an innocent superhero who was framed in exactly the sort of super-sciencey way the defense attorney was suggesting.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:FanWorks]]
* In ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'', [[AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]], as a last ditch effort to save [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] from a sure guilty veridict, acusses [[spoiler:[[ShrinkingViolet Fluttershy]] for the murder in question in order to buy more time to investigate. Cue WhatTheHellHero from Twilight Sparkle and the audience and MyGodWhatHaveIDone from Phoenix's part.]]
* This happens in [[FanFic/DevilsAttorney Devil's Attorney]] as well, although it isn't as heavy on the TearJerker part. Mostly because [[spoiler: Flonne]] is capable of looking after [[spoiler: herself]] AND the new laws in the Netherworld force him to do this or let Laharl be convicted.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:{{Film}}]]
* In the climactic trial scene of ''New Jack City'', Nino Brown stands up and dramatically accuses one of his lieutenants of being the real head of the gang, Cash Money Brothers. This works and he gets a ludicrously small sentence in exchange for testimony - despite every piece of evidence, including eyewitness testimony from an undercover cop - saying Nino was the boss. Or at least, [[KarmicDeath it worked for a few minutes]]. (As a side note, the real-life drug lord Nino Brown was modeled on tried the exact same stunt and failed)
* In ''LegallyBlonde'', the climax of the movie involves Elle Woods' getting [[spoiler:the murder victim's daughter to incriminate herself on the stand, by using a clever line of questioning that seems unrelated,]] thereby proving the innocence of Elle's client (the deceased's ex-wife).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:LiveActionTV]]
* The prosecuting attorneys on ''LawAndOrder'' have occasionally filed charges against a family member of their real suspect in order to pressure them into a confession, plea bargain or other "short-cut" resolution to the case.
** They'll also occasionally threaten to expose personal information that the defendant would rather go to jail than have made public (which seldom raises any questions as to whether they might be innocent and confessing ''just'' to keep their secret hidden), to achieve the same end. In both instances, the [=DAs=] will lampshade the desperation nature of the ploy, plus the likelihood that if the defendant doesn't bite, the presiding judge may not even let them follow through on their threat.
* Subverted in ''HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'': in an antic taken from the book which inspired the series, in a murder for which the body was not found, the defendant's lawyer insists that the whole case is nothing more than a publicity stunt, and that the "victim" is going to walk into the courtroom... Now! He doesn't, but, as the laywer points out, the fact that everyone ''looked'' proves that they have a reasonable doubt. Once the defendants have been convicted, the thunderstruck prosecutor and defense attorney ask a jury member why the antic didn't work: one of the jurors noticed that ''the defendants'' hadn't looked -- they knew darned right well that the victim was dead.
** The first episode of Matlock uses this same scene almost exactly, except his client was innocent (his clients are always innocent), and so, also looks.
** It's also used in the 1987 film ''From the Hip'', with Judd Nelson as the defense attorney and John Hurt as the accused; this time, it's Nelson who notices his client didn't look, and Hurt defends himself by scoffing at it as being too obviously theatrical a stunt to take seriously.
** And again in Boston Legal, even the prosecutor remarks that he saw it on Perry Mason once. In this case Alan Shore sees that his client doesn't look and thus blackmails her into taking a plea bargain offer.
** All of these are likely based on [[http://www.snopes.com/legal/nobody.asp an urban legend]] commonly attached to the 1959 trial of Leonard Ewing Scott (one of the more notable "no body" murder trials).
* ''{{Bones}}'': In "The Verdict in the Story", the defense at Max Brennan's murder trial establishes reasonable doubt by showing that the murder could've been committed by [[spoiler:Temperance, who, working with the defense, is the one who came up with the idea of pulling a Plan B on herself]].
* ''ThePractice'', the TropeNamer, is, of course, known for this trope. One notable example is when in which Lindsay actually accuses the [[spoiler:defendant's wife]] of conspiracy to commit murder out of the blue as the first question in her cross-examination! [[spoiler: Then again, the accusation was true; Lindsay had a EurekaMoment through an action the wife took while being questioned by the prosecutor. The suddenness and accuracy of Lindsay's accusation caused the wife to panic and plead the Fifth, leading to the judge directing a not guilty verdict and saving the defendant.]]
** In one episode, Eugene and Bobby try this in a murder trial, and Bobby gets chewed out over it by ''{{Ally McBeal}}'' herself, who asks him whether he really believes that the witness did it (Bobby doesn't). It takes a very strange turn when the guy they accuse [[spoiler: commits suicide]]. Then it turns out that [[spoiler: Bobby's theory was entirely correct]].
** One plot involved the firm being sued on charges of slander over one particular instance of them trying this. In his closing argument, Jimmy says that there was honour in them doing this, ''not'' because the guy they accused probably did it, but because he probably didn't; it was a soul-destroying thing to accuse him, but they did it anyway, because it was their duty to give their client the best possible defence.
* Alan Shore of ''BostonLegal'' is defending a woman whose much older husband died in mysterious cirmcumstances, leaving his entire fortune to her. Their housekeeper is on the stand, and giving a fairly damning account of the defendant's behaviour. While she does this, Alan is stretching his arms and limbering up. He thanks her, then spins around and points at her in the most dramatic way possible:
-->'''Alan''': Didn't ''you'' kill him?
** Another example is when Jeffrey is defending a young man accused of killing a judge he was in a relationship with. He, seemingly spontaneously, accuses the man's mother, currently testifying, of being the actual murderer. It's later revealed that this was actually the mother's idea to take suspicion of her son.
* Sort of referenced in ''TheDefenders'', where Nick knows that his client's alibi witness is the real killer, but can't tell anyone. He says that the jury never buys "the other guy did it", even when the other guy ''did'' do it.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:VideoGames]]
* Done in ''every'' case in ''PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', though in most cases the witness Phoenix accuses ''is'' the real killer (or an accomplice, or tampered with the crime scene, or is withholding crucial testimony).
** In the third case of the first game, Phoenix actually ''does'' intentionally accuse a completely innocent party purely to buy another day of investigation.
*** Given that the innocent party in that case was [[spoiler:Windy...er, Wendy Oldbag]], that example was kind of funny. A distinctly [[DudeNotFunny less amusing]] instance comes in the fourth case of the second game, where you are [[ButThouMust forced]] to accuse [[spoiler:Adrian Andrews]], who by this point is [[TheWoobie woobie-tastic]], just to buy time.
*** It gets pretty confusing by case 5 of game 3, where Phoenix doesn't even know who to accuse, and in the end [[spoiler: isn't even sure what crime has been committed (homicide or justifiable homicide). For fully three days, he doesn't accuse ''anyone''.]]
** Used in the last case of ''[[AceAttorneyInvestigations Investigations]]'' (where it's technically a police investigation rather than a court trial but the procedure is identical) by Shi-Long Lang on [[spoiler: Franziska von Karma.]] His reasoning is that [[spoiler: there is no reason. He knows she's innocent and he knows Edgeworth will easily prove her innocent, but in order to prove it Alba would have to let them back into the embassy to investigate--which is where they wanted to be in the first place.]]
* In the fifth episode of UminekoNoNakuKoroNi, [[spoiler: Battler accuses ''himself'' of the crimes to prove that Natsuhi needn't necessarily be the culprit. Of course, everyone know's he's lying, but Erika has to accept the possibility because [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her own rules have eliminated all the evidence exonerating him.]]]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/?db=comics&id=210#comic This]] ''SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'' cartoon.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* This was spoofed on ''TheSimpsons'' when Bart and Lisa accuse, during Sideshow Bob's trial, [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed obvious Rush Limbaugh stand-in]] Birchibald Barlowe of being the true mastermind behind rigging the mayoral election. Bob will not stand for this. He immediately produces every piece of detailed evidence proving that he and only he could have effected such a triumph, including monogrammed leather files entitled "Bob's Fraud Log", volumes I-VI.
[[/folder]]
----
