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The book reads like a formal screenplay, written by Steve Harmon, interspersed with seemingly handwritten fragments from his diary. Steve, during the trial, writes about experiences he has had that directly contradict the thug persona he has been labeled with. There is the truth in relation to the law, but also the truth of a person's character. This idea comes up multiple times throughout the novel. The novel depicts the themes of identity, race, peer pressure, dehumanization, crime, teenaged masculinity, and the relative or subjective nature of the truth. He is still confused as to Miss O'Brien's demeanor at the end of the trial, wondering whether she saw some real Steve or a "monster." Steve has continued his film-making, but his father has moved away, creating a noticeable distance between the two. The end of the novel takes place five months after Steve has been cleared of all charges and released from prison. As Steve moves to hug O'Brien, she turns away, leaving Steve to question why. James King is found guilty, while Steve is found not guilty. Briggs, Miss O'Brien, and Petrocelli finally make their closing statements, before the jury decides on a verdict. George Sawicki, Steve's film club mentor, serves as a character witness, proudly defending Steve's moral character. Although many of the testimonies contradict, even the most incriminating toward Steve claims only that he acted as a lookout in the first stage of the robbery. The defense systematically casts the honesty of Petrocelli's witnesses in doubt. Steve testifies that he does not particularly remember where he was on the day of the robbery, but that he certainly was not a participant. Steve appears to know King and Cruz only as remote acquaintances, and Bobo hardly at all.
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Though Miss O'Brien seems doubtful of Steve's innocence, she wisely has him distance himself from King. Bobo takes the witness stand to say that James King pulled the trigger and vaguely recalls that Steve, whom he hardly knows, was meant to give an all-clear signal.īriggs argues that neither King nor Steve was ever involved in the crime since the only eyewitness to the robbery saw only two men involved, which can be accounted for by Bobo and Cruz alone. Nesbitt, Cruz would slow down any potential pursuers. After King and Bobo robbed the store owner, Mr. Miss O'Brien warns Steve not to write down in his notebook anything that he does not want the prosecutor to see.Īccording to Cruz, the original plan was that Steve would go into the drugstore and signal if the coast was clear. The coroner, the city clerk, and a detective are questioned in a four-way split screen montage. Before returning to the trial, Steve writes in his notes that he cannot psychologically handle writing down the tragic details of the robbery itself. After recounting various news reports covering the robbery and murder, Steve documents his arrest and his mother's panicked reaction. Steve recounts a visit from his father, who wishes Steve would have gone on to attend his alma mater, Morehouse College. Cruz admits to participating in the crime only due to coercion by Bobo. Petrocelli calls as a witness Osvaldo Cruz, who is affiliated with the Diablos, a violent street gang.
#Monster walter dean myers dad trial#
The story of the trial is often broken up by a variety of flashbacks, including ones showing that King is only acquainted with Steve, that King had accused Steve of pulling the trigger during the robbery. Petrocelli labels the four accused men, including Steve, as "monsters." The lawyers call on several witnesses, including Salvatore Zinzi and Wendell Bolden, illicit cigarette traders, who admit to buying cigarettes that came from a drugstore robbery that led to the murder. The trial begins with the opening statements of the prosecutor Sandra Petrocelli, Miss O'Brien, and King's lawyer, Asa Briggs.
#Monster walter dean myers dad movie#
When the trial first begins, Steve flashes back to a movie he saw in his school's film of predictability. At this stage, only two of the four accused – James King and Steve – will be tried, since the other two accused – Richard "Bobo" Evans and Osvaldo Cruz – have entered into a plea bargain. Kathy O'Brien, Steve's lawyer, informs him on what will happen during the trial. Musing on his short time in prison so far, he decides to record this upcoming experience in the form of a movie screenplay. The novel begins with 16-year-old Steve Harmon writing in his book awaiting for his trial for murder.