Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Perverted Justice (2015)

Andre Braugher: Bayard Ellis

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Quotes 

• Bayard Ellis : It's hard enough to prove that someone is innocent of a crime, it's harder, still, to prove that that crime itself never occurred

• Bayard Ellis : [to Olivia]  Reverend Scott asked me to look into a case involving a congregant, Michelle Thompson. Her father, Derek, was convicted of raping her.

  Olivia Benson : Convicted of raping his own daughter? That's a tough case for Project Innocence to get behind.

  Bayard Ellis : It is, but this case was primarily made on Michelle's testimony. Now, she's saying that she was pressured by her mother to lie. She wants to recant.

  Olivia Benson : Seventeen years after the fact.

  Bayard Ellis : Oh, she tried once before as a teen. The original ADA and detective argued against reopening. Michelle went off the deep end after that, drugs, alcohol. She's recently found sobriety.

  Olivia Benson : Hold on, so her recant is part of a 12-step program? That's not the most reliable indicator of the truth.

  Bayard Ellis : Believe me. I've seen that pink cloud "I forgive everyone" effect too. That's why I need you to investigate.

  Olivia Benson : Any DNA, forensics, any corroboration?

  Bayard Ellis : No, only only her testimony and some inconclusive medical symptoms. Her mother, who has her own substance abuse history, made the initial 911 call.

  Olivia Benson : Did you talk to the father?

  Bayard Ellis : Oh, sure, up at Green Haven. He's a model prisoner. I found him credible. He's maintained his innocence for 17 years. It's hard enough to prove that someone is innocent of a crime. It's harder, still, to prove that that crime itself never occurred.

  Olivia Benson : So you thought of me.

  Bayard Ellis : Indeed, I did.

• Bayard Ellis : Thank you, Olivia. We did the right thing.

  Olivia Benson : Did we?

• Olivia Benson : [about Derek Thompson]  When a man refuses to plead guilty to get out of jail, that should tell you something.

  A.D.A. Kenneth O'Dwyer : It tells me he's a pathological narcissist. If he really cared about his children, his daughter, he wouldn't put her through this. He's not worried about her. He's worried about his name, his ego.

  Bayard Ellis : Ego. It's funny you should mention that.

  Olivia Benson : Bayard...

  A.D.A. Kenneth O'Dwyer : No, no, no. Let Mr. Ellis speak his mind. It's his favorite activity.