MovieChat Forums > The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Discussion > Why did Warden have Tommy killed?

Why did Warden have Tommy killed?

posted 8 years ago by BlueMoon666
5 replies | jump to latest

???

[–] TxMike 8 years ago

The warden's lucrative, illegal deceptions would have been exposed if Andy were to get out of prison. Tommy might have been able to get him a new trial.

..*.. TxMike ..*..

[–] creatorof2002 8 years ago

That scene made me hate him so much. I hated that he escaped true justice by killing himself. I would love to have seen him end up in prison. At least the evil guard guy who was his servant got arrested.

[–] PaladinNJ (21784) 6 years ago

I don't think it was so much worry about exposure. As Andy said he himself would be held 100% liable as well. He just couldn't afford to let him go or the whole process would have fallen apart. As long as Tommy was alive there was a chance for the new trail.

PS: Correct me if I'm wrong. In the book they didn't kill Tommy. They transferred him to another prison with a reduced sentence in exchange for keeping his mouth shut.

[–] Mattc164 (619) 3 years ago

Which is ridiculous because a warden has no authority over reducing someone’s sentence.

[–] redban (6793) 4 years ago

Cause Andy had brought up the Warden's financial crimes in a prior scene. Andy tried to use the Warden's finances as a bargaining / blackmail chip to get the Warden to act on Tommy's store.

Warden also, likely, wanted to send a message to Andy. If Andy tried to get cute, he would get killed to.