Is that realistic in US? How did he only serve 3 years and then get a Parole for killing a man? Seems like a very mild punishment...for christ sake he killed a man in front of the police. If that was real life he would get 25 to life
PS: Anyone know where you can watch the "workprint" version?
He killed some violent thugs who tried to steal his car and they also had guns. It's not like he murdered some innocent person. I don't think what he did was right by the way but I think that's why he got that punishment.
shareDanny was the only witness. When he was first writing his paper Danny stated that if he had testified Derek would have gotten life. I can see a lawyer saying that after Derek shot the man he fell forward and cracked his teeth and skull on the curb. Not saying how believable it is, but all a lawyer has to do is create doubt in the jury. There is a good possibility that a temporary insanity defense was used as well. Derek probably said he opened the door and then the look out turned and pulled his gun, then rage took over. Let us also not forget that the criminal justice system in the US is overloaded, and how much time would really be given to a couple of gang members who got themselves killed breaking into the wrong car. The movie does a great job in only developing the white characters and not the black characters. You understand why Derek and Danny went down the path that they did, but you have no idea why the gang members made the choices they did and because of it there is very little sympathy for them.
The movie was made in 1998 and not 2017. In 2017 the media would have been all over this to try and race bait people into going on to their website. More clicks means more ad revenue. In the end the only color that is important is green.
he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter not murder & the police arrived after the killings
shareI just watched the opening. There were no other witnesses, including police officers.
shareIt's funny how the guy from the laundry room was doing more time then Derek and all he did was drop (or throw) a tv at a police officer
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Because that is typical for a black male to be sentenced much harsher for minor crimes. That was an important part of the plot, Derek learning that.
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When Danny was writing the paper, he wrote clearly that Derek would have gotten life if he (ie Danny) had testified.
That implied that the prosecutors lacked serious evidence in the case. They didn’t have enough to bring him on murder. They may have even offered Derek a deal of 3 years jail because they didn’t know if they could win at trial.
Look at the killings again. The only person who really saw everything was Danny in truth. Without him, how could they get the conviction?
And then all the potential arguments regarding self-defense, trespassing, protecting one’s property, etc. A defense lawyer can have a field day
That is how he got just 3 years
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