History Recap / LawAndOrderS9E18Juvenile

However, Nicole was only 15 years old at the time of the murder. Under the laws in effect at that time, her case would have to be dealt with by a Family Court. The case is referred, and then dismissed. [=McCoy=] and Carmichael convince Franchetta to co-operate rather than risk being charged with statutory rape. He produces love letters Nicole wrote to him - evidence that she killed her mother out of jealousy. Andrew was 18 when his mother died, and he can be charged as an accessory to murder. He accepts a plea and confesses that he lied to protect Nicole, then shot Fox at her request. Nicole is charged with attempted murder of Fox but acquitted at trial.

Investigative journalist Gerald Fox is shot in what appears to be a planned hit. The prime suspect is Johnny Franchetta, a mobster convicted of killing his then-girlfriend, the famous actress Rebecca Hampton. He served a 20-year sentence for her murder, but likely would have been acquitted if not for Fox, whose coverage of the case influenced the jury. Briscoe and Curtis learn that Fox has a history of publishing fabricated stories, and furthermore, he lied about a source placing Franchetta at the scene of the murder. Fox awakes in hospital and can finally talk to the police. He says the shooter isn't Franchetta, but an unknown person who lured him outside. Franchetta threatened to expose Fox's lies, so Fox has been working to clear Franchetta's name. It now appears that the real murderer tried to kill Fox to keep him quiet.

Carmichael becomes suspicious of Hampton's children, Andrew and Nicole, who do not seem to want any further investigation into their mother's murder. When Nicole's ex-boyfriend reveals his gun was stolen, Carmichael and [=McCoy=] suspect Andrew shot Fox. Andrew doesn't have an alibi, and Fox's driver identifies him as the shooter, so he is arrested. A closer look at the evidence from the Hampton case shows that Nicole's whereabouts at the time of the murder were never accounted for. She and Andrew told the police they came home from school together, but only Andrew signed in with door security at their apartment complex. Nicole's ex says she told him Franchetta had raped her, which gives her a motive to kill her mother. She is charged with Rebecca Hampton's murder, and Andrew with the attempted murder of Fox.

However, Nicole was only 15 years old at the time of the murder. Under the laws in effect at that time, her case would have to be dealt with by a Family Court. The case is referred, and then dismissed. Franchetta now wants to sue for wrongful conviction, but [=McCoy=] and Carmichael convince him to co-operate rather than risk being charged with statutory rape. He produces love letters Nicole wrote to him - evidence that she killed her mother out of jealousy. [=McCoy=] decides that if Nicole doesn't plead guilty as an accomplice to the shooting, the [=DA=]'s office will charge Andrew as an accomplice to his mother's murder; he was already 18 when she died. Upon finding out about the letters, Andrew admits to lying to protect his sister for murder and then shooting Fox at her request. He accepts a plea deal for manslaughter instead. Nicole is charged with shooting Fox but, just as Carmichael predicted, she is acquitted at trial.

Carmichael becomes suspicious of Hampton's children, Andrew and Nicole, who do not seem to want any further investigation into their mother's murder. When Nicole's ex-boyfriend reveals his gun was stolen, Carmichael and [=McCoy=] suspect Andrew shot Fox. Andrew doesn't have an alibi, and Fox's driver identifies him as the shooter, so he is arrested. A closer look at the evidence from the Hampton case shows that Nicole's whereabouts at the time of the murder were never accounted for. She and Andrew told the police they came home from school together, but only Andrew signed in with security. Nicole's ex says she told him Franchetta had raped her, which gives her a motive to kill her mother. She is charged with Rebecca Hampton's murder, and Andrew with the attempted murder of Fox.

Carmichael becomes suspicious of Hampton's children, Andrew and Nicole, who do not seem to want any further investigation into their mother's murder. When Nicole's ex-boyfriend reveals his gun was stolen, Carmichael and [=McCoy=] suspect Andrew shot Fox. Andrew doesn't have an alibi, and Fox's driver identifies him as the shooter, so he is arrested.A closer look at the evidence from the Hampton case shows that Nicole's whereabouts at the time of the murder were never accounted for. She and Andrew told the police they came home from school together, but only Andrew signed in with security. Nicole's ex says she told him Franchetta had raped her, which gives her a motive to kill her mother. She is charged with Rebecca Hampton's murder, and Andrew with the attempted murder of Fox.

* AssholeVictim: Hampton was a neglectful mother and allowed her violent boyfriend to molest her daughter.

Investigative journalist Gerald Fox is shot in what appears to be a planned hit. The prime suspect is Johnny Franchetta, a mobster convicted of killing his then-girlfriend, the famous actress Rebecca Hampton. He served a 20-year sentence for her murder, but likely would have been acquitted if not for Fox, whose coverage of the case influenced the jury. Briscoe and Curtis learn that Fox has a history of publishing fabricated stories, and furthermore, he lied about a source placing Franchetta at the scene of the murder. Fox awakes in hospital and can finally talk to the police. He says the shooter isn't Franchetta, but an unknown person who lured him outside. Franchetta threatened to expose Fox's lies, so Fox has been working to clear Franchetta's name. It now appears that the real murderer killed Fox to keep him quiet.