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Recap / Law & Order S11 E4 "Standoff"

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Directed by Jace Alexander

Written by PK Todd

A fight breaks out at Rikers Island and an inmate named Alejo is found stabbed to death. He was killed away from the security cameras and the murder was evidently staged. The investigation leads to inmate Jud Larson, who was present at the time; and a prison officer named Peter Bennett. McCoy and Abbie discover that Bennett likely set up the murder because his girlfriend Angela Donahue, another prison officer, was previously raped by Alejo. Larson agrees to testify against Bennett in exchange for having his son (who's incarcerated at a juvenile facility and is in danger) transferred. But Larson, a serial killer, won't look credible to a jury and the case is still circumstantial.

The prison authorities close ranks and refuse to co-operate with the investigation. Larson testifies that, in exchange for a transfer for Larson's son, Bennett arranged the murder and started the fight as a distraction. In court, McCoy highlights Bennett's history of violence against inmates, and men who had tried to hit on Donahue. He also lures Bennett into admitting that the rape had put his relationship with Donahue under strain and jeopardized their plans to get married. Despite McCoy asking the jury to focus on the actions of Bennett rather than Alejo, they find the defendant not guilty. The DAs are concerned that this sets legal precedent for dangerous abuse of the prison system.

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