Friday 31st July 10.00pm
Continuing this week is the sixth season of the ‘Law & Order’ spin-off following New York’s Major Case Squad. The detectives are called to the brutal murder of a Pakistani-American student. They soon uncover smouldering hostility between the girl’s family and her boyfriend’s Italian-American relatives. But who is responsible for her death?
Logan and Wheeler are called to the murder of 19- year-old student film-maker Meena Hasni. “Whoever it was smashed the hell out of her face,” says Logan. The detectives retrieve Meena’s video camera and watch footage of two Jewish men threatening her with a chainsaw. However, the pair quickly discover the timeline for this scenario does not fit with the murder –Meena died 15 hours after the footage was shot. It appears Meena got caught up in the crossfire between Jewish and Mexican gangs but managed to escape.
At the morgue, the coroner confirms Meena died from a haematoma when her head was hit with such force that her brain rebounded from her skull. “Sounds like a lot of rage,” says Wheeler. The coroner also informs them that Meena was seven weeks pregnant. When Wheeler and Logan interview Meena’s Italian-American boyfriend, Rudy Ventano, he tells them that he was pleased about the pregnancy. “I wanted Meena to have the baby,” he insists.
Logan and Wheeler visit Meena’s parents, Safia and Kazi, and older brother, Dani. They are horrified to learn she was pregnant. “Meena was promised to Tariq!” Kazi exclaims, explaining that his daughter was supposed to have an arranged marriage. “So we’ve got one girl, two fiancées,” remarks Logan as they leave. In search of clues, the duo visit Meena’s documentary partner, Emily. “Was Meena going to go along with the arranged marriage?” Wheeler asks. “No, she was in love with Rudy,” Emily replies. However, she also tells them that Meena had decided to have an abortion. “I was going to go with her next week,” she says.
Wheeler and Logan revisit Rudy. He denies killing Meena, but admits that they had a fight about the baby. “I did the worst thing I’ve ever done in my life. I left her in the park on her own,” he sobs. The detectives also speak to Rudy’s mother, Patti, and uncle, Joseph, who claims Rudy returned from the park and watched the Knicks game with him. Patti is full of resentment towards Meena’s family. “They’re like animals,” she spits. She also tells the detectives that Rudy has gone to visit the Hasnis to try and persuade them he did not hurt Meena…
Logan and Wheeler race to the Hasni family’s shop, but they are too late – Kazi pulled a gun on Rudy during an altercation and shot him dead. Outside, Meena’s brother, Dani, tries to start a fight with the crowd gathering outside. “If you try to incite a riot, I’m going to throw your ass in jail!” Logan shouts. The detectives arrest Kazi for Rudy’s murder. “We still don’t know who killed Meena but now we have two families locked in a tribal war,” sighs Wheeler.
Joseph and Patti arrive at the precinct to identify Rudy’s body, and Logan again asks Joseph about Rudy’s whereabouts on the night of the murder. He ultimately admits that he took Rudy to a brothel to try and cheer him up. Logan and Wheeler interview the prostitute who spent the night with Rudy, and she confirms his alibi. “He just cried about his girlfriend the whole time,” she says. “If Rudy didn’t do it, we’re back to Tariq, the spurned suitor,” states Wheeler.
The detectives interview Tariq, who tells them that he was supposed to marry Meena – but when he found out she was not pure he told her family she was a whore. However, he also has an alibi for the night of the murder and gives Logan a receipt. “This is a for strip club, Mr Amir –was it a pure one?” Logan asks. With both Rudy and Tariq eliminated as suspects, suspicion falls on Meena’s own family. Could they have been so shamed by her actions they resorted to murder?
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