"Now let me get this straight Rocco, the police come screeching up to your house and see a naked man, dead in the street, an open window, though which you threw this naked man. They then talk to your wife who is calling you a murderer, who describes how you assaulted the man, telling them you threw him out in front of the truck and you wonder why they put you in handcuffs. Surely you aren't that stupid."
"But boss, I walked in on him fucking my wife. What was I supposed to do, help him get dressed and cordially escort him to my door?"
"Did you lay hands on him?"
"Of course," Rocco answered, mimicking the hold he had on the man.
"Was he frightened?"
"Hell, I'm lucky he didn't piss all over me he was so scared."
"He feared for his life?"
"I should hope so," Rocco said proudly.
"That assault, and did you hit him or anything?"
"No, I just threw him out the window."
"From what I hear from the police, you supposedly hit him."
"Who told them that?"
"Who do you think?"
"Callie?"
Rocco's boss nodded. "So here's a naked man, beaten to a pulp by perhaps just the truck or by you before he got hit by the truck..."
"But I didn't hit him."
"The police didn't know that then, hell, they still aren't sure. So they have you for assault and battery..."
"But..."
"No buts man, by all appearances you committed a crime, a serious crime. Sure, if all things go well you have a good chance of getting off, given the circumstances, but still you'd have to be a complete moron if you thought you wouldn't get handcuffed and taken in. Hell you're lucky they haven't charged you with murder."
"Murder? It was an accident, I didn't know he would run in front of the truck."
"You just don't get it... this is California and they have something called the felony murder rule law. If someone is killed in the commission of a felony, the person committing the felony can be charged with murder. Hell there's some poor kid in prison for life because he and a friend went in and robbed a store. The kid didn't even know his friend had a weapon until he pulled it and shot the store clerk. Both got arrested, both got charged with murder. The kid, the one who only committed the robbery is now serving life for murder. He never touched the gun, never even knew a gun was involved until the woman was shot."
"But..."
"But nothing man. Look, you better get things straight with your wife too. She's selling you out right now - big time. I think you have a chance here, but not unless she corrects her statement. Right now she claims you beat the guy up before throwing him out the window and then chased him into the street. A good lawyer might twist out the inconsistencies in her story, but it will sure be easier if she just told the truth to start with."
