MovieChat Forums > Sleepers (1996) Discussion > The priest had the worst excuse ever for...

The priest had the worst excuse ever for keeping the tickets

posted 12 years ago by thesicario
6 replies | jump to latest

I cant be the only one who thought it was totally suspect that he kept the tickets just because "you never know when your word isint going to be enough." Yeah, like someones gonna ask about the game, and not believe him in his every day life so he feels the need to prove it.
In court his answer basically sounded like "I kept them so I could bring them to court here and prove these boys didn't kill anyone", which is totally suspicious.

He should have just said he collects them for a hobby or something.

[–] savaslikesmovies 12 years ago

You did not get it... It was in a snide way.. Also specifically when you hold onto tickets of something like a concert or sports game you hold it why? So that you can prove you were there!

In essence, the tickets are proof for when someone doesn't believe you, in extreme cases; in a court of law.. though it's really the same as someone being seen on the security cameras.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] redban (6164) 8 years ago

Father Bobby's story wasn't very credible. As you said, his reason for keeping the stubs is suspect, but there's also the issue about how Tommy and John never mentioned this alibi at any point; you'd think they would tell the police and their defense attorney from day 1, no?

The suggestion is that Father Bobby's story got them off because Father Bobby was a priest who appeared extremely honorable. The jury just couldn't accept that he, of all people, would lie to get the boys off murder.

[–] MaximRecoil (4598) 4 years ago

but there's also the issue about how Tommy and John never mentioned this alibi at any point; you'd think they would tell the police and their defense attorney from day 1, no?"

That's not an issue at all. Only idiots talk to the police when suspected of a crime. You have the right to remain silent and only a fool chooses not to exercise that right. Also, exercising that right can't be used against you in court. Only things you say can (and probably will) be used against you in court, not things you didn't say.

And how would anyone know what they did or didn't say to their defense attorney from day one? That falls under attorney-client privilege. The alibi was introduced at the trial at the earliest possible time, i.e., when the defense called its first witness. It couldn't be introduced any earlier than that because the defense hadn't called any witnesses yet, and in this context the attorney can't give testimony, and even if he could (he can't), the attorney saying that Father Bobby told him that the defendants were with him at a basketball game during the time of the murder would be hearsay anyway, i.e., inadmissible. In order for it not to be hearsay, Father Bobby has to take the stand and say it.

[–] redban (6164) 4 years ago

The defense attorney doesn't need to wait until trial to start using the alibi. If there is an alibi, the defense attorney can bring that info to the DA, and they can drop charges before the trial begins.

[–] MaximRecoil (4598) 4 years ago

So? Since it did in fact go to trial, the jury can only assume that if there were any attempts to get the charges dropped beforehand, they were unsuccessful. Just because someone claims to have an alibi doesn't mean the DA will automatically drop the case. In reality, a DA is well aware that it's entirely possible for anyone to lie about anything, including alibis (especially ones that are only testimony with no hard evidence evidence to support it, i.e., not even remotely "airtight"), and if they think their case is strong enough to win, they will prosecute it.