| "Snitch" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 9.10 | → |
| Production number: 9008 First aired: 4 December 2007 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Mark Goffman Directed By Jonathan Kaplan | ||
Summary[]
A 15-year-old African immigrant is murdered, and the evidence points to a neighborhood thug who intimidates murder witnesses. However, the case is complicated by the discovery that the victim was married to a 35-year-old polygamist.
Plot[]
Almani tells the Detectives that she heard Nikki and Sarah argue before she heard toppling down the stairs. She also revealed that Sarah threatened her to keep quiet.
At Rikers, Chuckwei and Sarah are met in person, and the detective coax Flint to make a confession right in front of her husband. Sarah soon reveals her jealously of Chuckwei falling for Nikki and how she wanted him back. Disgusted, Chuckwei calls for the guard to take him back to his cell while Sarah pleads to him before she is arrested for murder, screaming the whole time a thug like King should be in prison instead of Chuckwei. Chuckwei only scolds her in a look and walks away.
The trial goes as planned and Chuckwei positively identifies King as Moore's killer. An infuriated King tries to say the cops are making Chuckwei perjure himself on the stand, but a bold Chuckwei emotionally stands and affirms exactly what happened by stating King murdered that boy. 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.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch
- Diane Neal as A.D.A. Casey Novak (credit only)
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Adam Beach as Detective Chester Lake
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang (credit only)
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast[]
- Gloria Reuben as Bureau Chief Christine Danielson
- Julie White as Dr. Anne Morella
- Mike Doyle as C.S.U. Detective Ryan O'Halloran
- Liza Lapira as C.S.U. Detective Lu
- Steven Weber as Defense Attorney Matthew Braden
Guest cast[]
- Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Chuckwei Bothame
- Tracy Middendorf as Sarah Flint
- Method Man as Dennis King
- Muna Otaru as Almani Bothame
- Justin McCarthy as Adam Clayton Powell
- Deborah Offner as Judge
- Aixa Kendrick as Mira Otame
- Frank Pando as Jesse Bleyer
- Yasha Jackson as Courtney Williams
- Gary V. Smith as Obie Bothame
- Karen Walsh as Cynthia
- Tim J. Ellis as Andrew
- Don Puglisi as Ben
- Stacey Sargeant as Saleswoman
- Marie Barrientos as Housekeeper
- Jermel Howard as Entourage #1
- Milton González as Young Man
- Gerald Bunsen as Uniform Officer
- Isis A. Mullen-Hansen as Ebbe
- Shannon Mitchell as Chuckwei's Daughter
- Ada Eze as Choir Member #1
- Chibuzor Iwugwu as Choir Member #2
- Sandra Vaughn-Cooke as Choir Member #3
- Lady Gold Nnooram as Choir Member #6
- Victoria Bassey as Choir Member #8
- Temi Kehinde as Choir Member #9
- Tanisha Jones as Choir Member #11
- Ebbe Bassey as Choir Member #12
- Adesuwa Addy Iyare as Choir Member #13
References[]
- Nikkiel Bothame (victim)
- Damon Moore
- Kathy Stabler
- Elliot Stabler, Jr.
- Reggie Thompson
- Toby Torres
- France
- Lao
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Quotes[]
- Sarah: Shouldn't it be my choice to decide what kind of marriage I want?
- Stabler: So, if you want to marry a cat?
- Elliot Stabler: All for a trial that's already cost him his wife. I mean, what guy in his right mind would ever become a witness in this system?
- Danielson: Please tell the jury what happened.
- Chuckwei: I was walking home from work on 168th Street when I saw a man beat a boy with a metal pipe.
- Danielson: [shows a photo of the victim] This is the victim, Damon Moore. Is he the boy you saw?
- Chuckwei: Yes.
- Danielson: And the man who beat him to death, is he in this courtroom?
- [in a moment of silence, Chuckwei stares at King, who stares back; afterwards, Chuckwei points at him]
- Chuckwei: That is the man. There.
- King: He's a liar. The cops are makin' him lie!
- Brayden: Dennis, shut up!
- Chuckwei: No! NO! [jumps out of his seat] You murdered that boy in front of a crowd of people! And in front of GOD!!
- King: [storms out of his seat, topples the table, and charges at Chuckwei] You're a dead man! You're a dead man! Ya hear me?!
- [Stabler grabs King and pins him to the ground]
- Judge: Order! ORDER! Get the jury out of here! Court officers!
- [the court officers grab King]
- King: Get 'em off! Get off me! [to Chuckwei] You're dead! Your family's dead! Everything you love is dead! You're dead!
- Judge: Take the defendant to lockup!
- [Benson and Stabler walk up to Chuckwei]
- Benson: Are you okay?
- Chuckwei: Yes. I'm no longer afraid.
Background information and notes[]
- Female circumcision is also featured in the Law & Order episode "Ritual" and its Law & Order: UK adaptation "Customs".
- Stabler tells a flirty Courtney Williams that he got back together with his wife, Kathy Stabler, which happened in the episode "Screwed".
- Fin calls Adam Clayton Powell the nickname "Wax Man". His actor, Justin McCarthy, had played Raymond Nesbitt, a criminal with an excessive earwax issue, in the episode "Loophole".
- The fictional website from this episode is based on the real website known for posting profiles and pictures of informants in criminal trials, WhosARat.com.
- This is the second time that Matthew Braden has defended a character played by a rapper. He previous defended Darius Parker who was played by rapper Ludacris in "Screwed".
Episode scene cards[]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nigerian Crafts |
Residence of |
Residence of |
Savior Christian Cemetery |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Trial Part 18 |
Trial Part 18 |
Saint Bernadette's |
Trial Part 53 |
| Previous episode: "Paternity" |
"Snitch" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 |
Next episode: "Streetwise" |