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August
2, 2004 Transcript Alexis: You do realize this is a waste of everybody's time. Ric: That confession is a lie, and I am going to prove it, and then I'm going to charge Sonny with obstruction of justice. I don't want to charge you, too. Alexis: Is that a threat? Ric: No. As a matter of fact, I happen to respect you. I think you're crazy, but I do respect you, Alexis. But I think you've suffered enough for Sonny's sake, don't you? Now, do yourself a favor -- go back in there, resign from Sam's case before it's too late, or else you're going to go down with him. Alexis: And as much as I wish I didn't, I respect you as a jurist. Ric: Thank you. Alexis: Which is why I'm advising you to accept the fact that this case is over. Sam has been vindicated. Let it go. Ric: Look, a death-row inmate comes forward a week before he's about to be executed and he confesses out of nowhere? Come on. Alexis: The man was a drifter. He committed murder in two different states. Why is it so hard to believe that he committed another one? Ric: Alexis, doesn't it seem awfully convenient that all of a sudden he came forward? Sam, Sonny's pregnant mistress, is about to be sent off to prison, and lo and behold, this man comes forward and confesses? Come on, he is lying. You have got to see that. Sonny probably offered to provide for his family in exchange for the man's testimony. Alexis: You have no proof. If you go into that courtroom with these unfounded accusations, you're not only going to lose this case, you're going to lose your credibility as district attorney. Ric: Right. Alexis: For once in your life, choose your own well-being instead of this vendetta against your brother. Alexis: Mr. Barron's confession to the murder of Evelyn Mest has been investigated by the Texas Department of Corrections and the South Carolina Attorney General's office. And in light of these new discoveries, I am petitioning the court to vacate Ms. McCall's conviction and release her immediately. Ric: The State of New York objects to counsel's motion. David Barron's confession is a complete fabrication, a blatant lie, which was bought and purchased by the father of Sam McCall's unborn child in order to avoid Ms. McCall from serving out her justly imposed prison sentence. Judge: Those are serious charges, Mr. Lansing. Ric: Well, I'm prepared to back them up, your honor. Judge: Then call your first witness. Ric: Thank you. The state calls Michael Corinthos Jr. to the stand. Ric: Your honor, I'd like to let the record show that Mr. Corinthos and I are half brothers and that we are estranged. Judge: So noted. Proceed. Ric: Thank you. Mr. Corinthos, is it true that you are the father of Sam McCall's unborn child? Sonny: Yeah. Ric: So it's safe to say that you have a vested interest in the outcome of today's hearing. You don't want to see your daughter born in prison, right? Sonny: That's true. Ric: Also safe to say that you would do anything to make sure that Sam McCall is exonerated today? Sonny: Well, that's not up to me. Ric: You're familiar with the practice of commissioning confessions from death-row inmates in exchange for lifetime support for the families that they leave behind, Mr. Corinthos? Alexis: Objection. Leading, your honor. Judge: Confine your questions to the particulars of Ms. McCall's case, Mr. Lansing. Ric: Does the name David Barron mean anything to you? Sonny: No. Ric: No. Well, it should. He is the inmate who confessed to setting the fire that killed Evelyn Mest. It provided a convenient alibi for the mother of your child. Did you hire somebody to commission that confession? Sonny: No. Ric: Do you know that David Barron had a wife, Erica, and two small children? Let me ask you this. How much is it going to cost you to send both of those kids through college and then provide for Erica for the rest of her life? Sonny: Oh -- Alexis: Your honor, I'm objecting again to this line of questioning. Judge: The witness has answered the question, Mr. Lansing. If you don't have any evidence to substantiate your claim, I'm going to excuse Mr. Corinthos from the stand. Ric: Mr. Corinthos, are you aware that perjury is a felony and may result in a prison sentence? Sonny: Yeah, I am. Ric: I'll ask you again. Did you buy David Barron's confession in order to exonerate Samantha McCall? Sonny: No, I did not. Ric: No further questions. Alexis: Mr. Corinthos, the D.A. has stated for the record that you and he are estranged half brothers. Could you elaborate, please? Sonny: Ric and I have the same mother. Alexis: Were you raised together? Sonny: No. Alexis: Did you spend any time together? Sonny: No. Alexis: Were you even aware of each other? Sonny: I wasn't aware of Ric until he showed up on my door in 2002. Alexis: At which time he introduced himself as your brother? Sonny: No. Actually he applied for a job. He said he wanted to be my attorney. Alexis: So, Mr. Lansing, your brother, initially lied to you? Sonny: Yes. Alexis: Has he lied to you about anything else? Ric: Objection, your honor. This is irrelevant. Alexis: Your Honor, the district attorney is the one who opened up this line of questioning. I'm merely trying to demonstrate his motive for the allegations regarding Mr. Corinthos. Judge: Objection overruled. Answer the question, Mr. Corinthos. Sonny: Ric has lied to me on several occasions. Alexis: Tell me, Mr. Corinthos, why do you think your brother hates you so much? Sonny: Ric's angry because my mother chose to raise me alone instead of giving me up for adoption so she could live with him and his father. Alexis: So your brother is punishing you for something that happened when you were 6 years old? Sonny: Yeah. Ric: Objection, your honor. This is -- this testimony is completely irrelevant. It's malicious. It's ridic-- Judge: Overruled! Continue, Ms. Davis. Alexis: Thank you. Do you believe D.A. Lansing's allegations that you purchased the confession that exonerated Ms. McCall stems from his personal dislike of you? Sonny: Yes. Alexis: In fact, do you think that Mr. Lansing is jealous of you? Sonny: Yes. Alexis: Because your mother liked you best? Sonny: There doesn't seem to be any other reason. Alexis: Thank you. I have no further questions. Judge: I'm calling a brief recess. Alexis: I tried to warn you. Ric: Congratulations, counselor. That was the most brilliant display of suborning perjury I've ever seen. Alexis: Sam is innocent, and Sonny told the truth. Ric: Sonny obstructed justice and he lied about it under oath. He is going to burn for it, and so are you. Just know that you brought it on yourself. Judge: The confession of David Barron, regarding the act of arson which led to the death of Evelyn Mest, has been investigated and verified by the Texas Department of Corrections and the State Attorney General's office of South Carolina. Said confession, having been accepted as true and authentic, the verdict against Samantha McCall is hereby vacated. Ms. McCall, you are free to go. This court is adjourned. [Judge pounds gavel] Lucky: So what now? Ric: I want you to shadow Samantha McCall. Lucky: Why? Ric: Well, because her verdict has been vacated. But she can be retried if there's sufficient evidence. Follow her, get me some. Sam: Thank you. Alexis: You're innocent, Sam, and I'm glad the judge recognized that. Carly: It bother you that you just perjured yourself? Sonny: I -- no, because I didn't. Look, you know, Jason got all the details. I didn't talk to anybody. I didn't pay a dime. Carly: Well, thank God you didn't, because Ric was out for blood. Sonny: I mean, Alexis is the one that sealed the deal. You know, she hates my guts. But for whatever reason, she wanted to believe me, and all I had to do is tell her what she wanted to hear. Alexis appears from around the corner -- she heard the whole thing! Alexis: You were right. Sonny lied. He bought the inmate's confession, he perjured himself, he manipulated the system, and he manipulated me. It's not the first time, but it's going to be the last. Ric: What are you saying? Alexis: I want to help you take Sonny down for good.
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