Defending Jacob

Neal Loguidice questions Andy Barber before a grand jury. Months earlier, Andy is a respected assistant district attorney in Newton, Massachusetts, who lives a content, suburban life with his wife Laurie and their 14-year old son Jacob. Andy is assigned to prosecute the murder of Ben Rifkin, a classmate of Jacob’s, who is found stabbed to death in the park near their middle school. Andy and Detective Pam Duffy question students at the school, but are unable to discern a motive for the murder.Defending Jacob Season 1 Download

While questioning Jacob privately about Ben, Jacob tells Andy and Laurie that Ben was unlikable and later expresses frustration to Andy over the exaggerated false sympathy from his classmates over Ben’s death. Duffy discovers a possible suspect, Leonard Patz, a convicted sexual predator, but Andy is advised against bringing him in until they find solid evidence. That night, Andy discovers an online message board memorializing Ben and becomes disturbed after reading a series of comments, including one from Jacob’s friend Derek, accusing Jacob of murdering Ben. Andy searches Jacob’s room and finds a knife fitting the description of the murder weapon hidden in a sock in his drawer.

Andy and Laurie confront Jacob about the knife and message board. Jacob insists he never used the knife and that the comments are meaningless. Andy disposes of the knife. The police bring in Leonard Patz for questioning but are unable to implicate him in the murder and he is released. At the DA’s office, Lynn tells Andy that the lone fingerprint they picked up from Ben’s body belongs to Jacob and that Jacob has become the prime suspect in the case. Andy is informed that he has been removed from the case and is upset when he learns that Neal has been assigned to prosecute in his place. The police obtain a search warrant and search their home. On the way home from school, Jacob sees police outside the house and, panicked, runs away.