Edition 65

An American comedy crime / court room drama based on the real life case –“The United States v. Anthony Accetturo et al” which was recognized as the longest criminal mafia trial in the history of America. The investigation lasted 10 years and cost the government millions.

The movie was based on the true life incidents of The Lucchese crime family who along with 20 men who looked after mob crimes in New Jersey. Due to the large number of people involved, they were all considered as one mob family in course of the trial. 

The “fast & furious” Vin Diesel plays Jackie DiNorscio a low level mobster, who has already been sentenced to jail for 30 years. A junkie cousin Tony Campagna shoots Jackie. Fearing backlash from Jacks extended mob family, Tony agrees to the governments’ offer to become a government witness and testify in mafia related crimes as it is keen on bringing all organized crime families to the book. Even Jackie is approached to turn approver and testify against his family. Jackie, already upset with his lawyer for poorly handling his case and being handed a 30 year sentence, decides to defend his own self despite having no legal knowledge or credibility. The case(s) stretch into months and years. The jury, initially repulsed by Jackie’s crass ways eventually finds the charismatic mobster and his extended mob family not guilty of several crimes. However, for choosing jail over his family, Jackie becomes a revered figure and hero as he returns to jail to complete his 30 years. Though the film did not commercially fare as expected, Vin Diesel was appreciated for his dramatic performance, far away from his action star image.  

Macmillan published this psychological crime thriller by debutant author Alex Michaelides. The story revolves around a seemingly perfect life of Alicia Berenson, a painter and her husband fashion photographer Gabriel. The illusion of perfection is abruptly destroyed when Alicia is accused of shooting her husband dead at point blank range. During trial the defence pleads diminished responsibility – a defense taken in criminal cases where the defendants argue that although they broke the law, they should not be held fully criminally liable for doing so, as their mental functions were “diminished” or impaired. As a result, Alicia is sent to a secure forensic unit far away from the spot light. She becomes the “silent patient” not having spoken a word since the murder.

Criminal Psychotherapist Theo Faber enters the scene, wanting to unravel the real incidents behind Alicia’s silence. Slowly, after reaching out to her family and understanding her past, Theo gets Alicia to open up but through her diary entries. The diary becomes Alicia’s voice of truth. An unexpected twist to the story that consumes the patient and the therapist alike. Absolute must read.

An American legal sitcom that revolves around NYC lawyer Josh Segal. Along with his eccentric, inept and hilarious team of associates, Josh represents cases of a citizens of fictional town of South Carolina. From a poet professor who murders his wife and claims guilt, to a murder investigator found in comatose condition, Josh fights all his cases in earnestness.