Chuckwei Bothame is a polygamist and the only willing witness against gangster Dennis King for murder. He comes under suspicion when his teenage wife, Nikkiel Bothame (nee Kwambe), was found murdered.
History[]
Chuckwei is a Nigerian refuge who was imprisoned and beaten by local law enforcement when he had concerns about new laws of land ownership. The torture was bad enough Chuckwei's right hand was broken from the brutality. He was married to his cousin Almani at the time as well, and when lawyer Sarah Flint legally negotiated with international relations to emigrate their family into the United States, Bothame married Flint as well by proper legislation. His third wife was a teenage girl named Nikkiel Kwambe, whose sisters were raped and murdered and violent areas and whom Chuckwei rescued by marrying her in Nigeria before emigrating her into the country as well. Almani cared for the family's children at home, Flint was the family's legal counsel, and Nikki strode toward her traditions in growing into a Nigerian woman, as far as getting a female circumcision.
While out in public, Chuckwei witnessed the beating of a teenage boy, Damon Moore, by gangster and drug dealer Dennis King in front of a crowd. Chuckwei was the only person who came forward and agreed to testify. Christine Danielson, the prosecutor on the case, managed his and his family's safety, but not by much since the jurisdiction covering the case didn't have the budget that would be found in, for example, federal protection.
Nikki was later found dead from several blunt force traumas snagged on a water overpass. When Chuckwei was tracked, the team first suspected him because of his broken hand, and he was taken into custody, partly to positively identify Nikki. Flint came and bailed him out of his suspicion, warning the detectives to stay away from him. They later find out his status as a "snitch" against King from a website ironically ousting him and his testimony. At the funeral for Nikki, King arrives to intimidate the family and police, but he's briefly arrested to make a statement and drive him back to a safe distance.
Despite the shock of the SVU realizing the truth about the polygamist family, the families then relocated to a motel for a better protective watch on them. But a harassing note is left on the door and Almani is beaten in their ransacked home, leading to Chuckwei being arrested. When Almani comes to, she drops a major revelation that Flint is the one responsible for attacking her, as well as killing Nikki out of marital jealousy and leaving the note on the door to scare Chuckwei into thinking of his family more than the trial. In jail, Flint and Chuckwei are met in person, and the detectives coax Flint to make a confession right in front of her husband. Chuckwei is released and Flint is arrested for murder, harassment, and assault, Flint screaming the whole time a thug like King should be in prison instead of Chuckwei. Her ex-husband simply scolds her in a look and walks away.
The trial goes as planned and Chuckwei positively identifies King as Moore's killer. King tries to say the cops made him perjure himself on the stand, but Chuckwei emotionally stands and affirms exactly what happened. King then tries to attack him and threatens him and his loved ones, but he's tackled by Detective Stabler and dragged out by court bailiffs. Chuckwei thanks the team and says he's no longer afraid before leaving with Almani to join his remaining family. (SVU: "Snitch")