Hannah Welch is a vigilante murderer instructed to confront Carl Mullaly, the family friend responsible for raping her, by reality show director Ellie Harper to find new content to publicize on Harper's network.
Background[]
Welch was repeatedly sexually assaulted by Mullaly, a colleague of Welch's father, when she, her family, and Mullaly would all go on camping trips, starting when Welch was eight. She was irreparably scarred for life, but came across an ad for Harper's newest development for a show, Confront and Heal, which involved sex crime victims confronting the criminals responsible. She lived in an apartment with five other people, where the rent was covered by the money from Harper's other show, an Internet predator-ousting special titled Hard Focus. They were all counseled, acted out their scenarios, kept diaries, and were taught martial arts. However, 24/7 Network, which publicized the show, found Confront and Heal "too soft" and cancelled the idea, which kicked all six residents out of the apartment. Harper devised another plan for ratings, with Welch in mind to be utilized. Harper had Welch call Mullaly several times to harass him with phone calls, as a buildup for a direct confrontation Welch was staging.
Public Service Homicide[]
After Mullaly was ousted on Hard Focus in a setup, Welch was given a knife and a video camera by Harper, then motivated by Harper's pep talk. Welch knocked on the door, being let in by a surprised Mullaly. Welch demanded Mullaly admit in video to raping her, but Mullaly refused. When she kept goading, Mullaly cracked, but only to say Welch "seduced" him. Welch was enraged enough to pull out the knife, which was meant for "self-defense", and stab Mullaly to death. Harper met up again with Welch and made her keep silent, before taking the evidence.
Having a panic attack after she returned to work office, Welch locked herself in the bathroom. The receptionist directed detectives to the room, where Nina Cassady convinced Welch to come out and talk. Welch lied that she as Mullaly "were dating" and led detectives to the daycare center where Mullaly was fired before being exposed on Hard Focus out of the very reason of being a child sex offender. Not only was Welch's alibi weak, but Mullaly's neighbor Abigail Fleming, saw Welch run out of the building, recognizing her as the woman who warned her father Dr. Evan Fleming is a pedophile, which got Mullaly fired.
Abigail successfully picked Welch out in a lineup. Welch screamed Mullaly deserved to die as she was being arrested and read her rights. Her lawyer tries to grandstand at arraignment with other hypothetical suspects, but the judge just says to save it for the cameras assembled outside by the lawyer. Welch and the lawyer bicker with McCoy when failing on a self-defense plea and even a probation deal, Welch's complaints for the prosecution to be on her side falling on despondent ears. Knowing Welch lived in Pittsburgh earlier led to the Upper West Side flat, and a roommate named Kyle Risko who revealed the arrangements.
Obviously seeing the revenge scheme, Welch then reveals being raped and Harper's involvement in the murder. When Harper and her lawyer deflect, the network executive lets the agents take all the show records they need. Welch is recorded on video saying she wanted to kill Mullaly. With Welch's testimony and a psychologist warning Harper she wasn't fit for the show, Harper is charged with murder facilitation.
Welch is brought on to testify on the stand suffering rape from Mullaly, then relays the prep and events of Mullaly's murder and Harper's involvement in the coverup. Harper's lawyer tries to downplay Harper's instructions and waivers, placing more emphasis on Welch hiding the knife and taking a leniency plea for testimony. The lawyer insinuates an opinion of Welch blaming Harper for her own actions, then withdraws the statement when McCoy objects.
Harper is still found guilty and imprisoned, with Welch's plea bargain reducing her own prison time. (L&O: "Public Service Homicide")