Directed by Vern Gillum
Written by David Black, Robert Nathan, & Thomas Francis Mc Elroy
Greevey and Logan are investigating the murder of Bobby Holland, who they soon discover was gay. They link Jack Curry to three deaths including Bobby's. Jack claims that all three of the deceased were dying of AIDS and he helped them commit suicide. He says that they wanted their deaths to look like murder so their families could still claim life insurance. Autopsies prove all three of the deceased did have AIDS.
The case quickly becomes political, with gay rights groups supporting Jack. Stone is beaten up by an activist for his role in the prosecution, and Jack announces via his lawyer that he too has AIDS. Given the circumstances, Stone asks Greevey and Logan to re-examine the case for a reason to drop the charges. They do so, but Stone feels he's forced to continue prosecution after another "mercy killing" inspired by Jack.
At trial Jack gains the jury's sympathy with his story of watching many friends die with AIDS. The defence forces Logan to testify that Stone asked him and Greevey to try to find a reason not to proceed with the charges. Subsequently, Jack is found guilty of reckless endangerment but acquitted on all other counts. Jack confronts Stone and says Stone had no right to use him as a moral example against mercy killing. Stone replies that Jack did that himself through helping three people to die.
This episode contains examples of:
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Whether this is true of Bobby and the other two deceased is a key question of the case.
- Mercy Killing: The defense for the murder.
- Offing the Offspring:
- Bobby asked his father to do just this. The father refused.
- Stone gets a phone call about a mother who murdered her retarded son.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Bobby's parents are both still alive at the end of the episode. Their son died before the beginning.
- Tragic AIDS Story: For both Bobby Holland and Jack.
