Defense case for In Cold Blood
Representative for the Clutter’s
Members of the jury, I am here today representing the Clutter family who on November 15, 1959 were brutally murdered by the two men standing before you, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. This poor innocent family had never hurt a fly. They lived their ordinary, simple lives on their farm in Holcomb, Kanas. They were a very valued member of the society and this death has had a great impact on everyone in Holcomb. I can see no reason why such a kind and humble family had the right to be murdered. It was not just a husband and wife, but also their daughter and son, who were only 15 and 16 years old. Did they deserve to die? I’m asking you today to take a moment and think about what these two men have done to this poor family. They were no threat to anyone. They never meant any harm. What was their motive? There was no cash in the house and before the day of the murder, the Clutters and Mr. Hickcock and Mr. Smith had never met or even interacted with each other. There are no connections between them, no reason for why they were killed, and without your help, there will be no justice for this family. I am asking you to think of the Clutter’s. How much more each of them had to live. How they had never committed a single crime or said a single bad thing about anyone. They were innocent. Whoever had the decency to kill this sweet, loving family is clearly a very sick person and does not deserve to live. This was an immortal crime. For the members of Holcomb, and the sake of humanity, don’t let these men get away with such a horrid crime. Thank you. I plead my case.
Members of the jury, I am here today representing the Clutter family who on November 15, 1959 were brutally murdered by the two men standing before you, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. This poor innocent family had never hurt a fly. They lived their ordinary, simple lives on their farm in Holcomb, Kanas. They were a very valued member of the society and this death has had a great impact on everyone in Holcomb. I can see no reason why such a kind and humble family had the right to be murdered. It was not just a husband and wife, but also their daughter and son, who were only 15 and 16 years old. Did they deserve to die? I’m asking you today to take a moment and think about what these two men have done to this poor family. They were no threat to anyone. They never meant any harm. What was their motive? There was no cash in the house and before the day of the murder, the Clutters and Mr. Hickcock and Mr. Smith had never met or even interacted with each other. There are no connections between them, no reason for why they were killed, and without your help, there will be no justice for this family. I am asking you to think of the Clutter’s. How much more each of them had to live. How they had never committed a single crime or said a single bad thing about anyone. They were innocent. Whoever had the decency to kill this sweet, loving family is clearly a very sick person and does not deserve to live. This was an immortal crime. For the members of Holcomb, and the sake of humanity, don’t let these men get away with such a horrid crime. Thank you. I plead my case.