American Justice Season 1996

Mark Seen

Cop Killers Jan 17, 1996 Chronicling examples of cop murders, what host Bill Kurtis calls “the ultimate criminal act.” In one case, a dashboard-mounted videocam recorded the shooting of a Texas trooper. Included: police re-creations; interviews with prosecutors and defense lawyers.

Mark Seen

Chicago Mob Feb 7, 1996 "The Chicago Mob" profiles Windy City crime bosses, including Al Capone, who became Chicago's gangland kingpin in his 20s; 1960s gangster Sam Giancana; and Anthony Accardo, reportedly the trigger man at the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

Mark Seen

The Sam Sheppard Story Feb 15, 1996 A detailed examination of the case of Dr. Sam Sheppard, the Cleveland surgeon convicted of murdering his wife in 1954. Included: crime scene photos; the investigation and trial; legal appeals resulting in Sheppard's release; his son's effort to exonerate him.

Mark Seen

Murder in the Family Mar 6, 1996 Investigating homicides committed against parents by their children. Included: the case of David and Brian Freeman, who killed their Allentown, Pa., parents in 1995; Jeffrey Howorth, who shot his parents in 1995.

Mark Seen

Vegas and the Mob aka (Secrets Unveiled) Apr 10, 1996 How organized-crime figures built a "Niagara Falls of money" in Las Vegas in the 1930s and '40s, which they enjoyed until "paradise came crashing down." Included: an interview with casino manager Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who inspired the Robert De Niro character in "Casino."

Mark Seen

Long Island Railroad Massacre Apr 24, 1996 An examination of the 1993 "Long Island Rail Road Massacre," in which six commuters were killed and 19 wounded by gunman Colin Ferguson, who was convicted of six counts of murder. Included: talks with eyewitnesses, jurors and police officers.

Mark Seen

Bounty Hunters May 11, 1996 A look at the work of bounty hunters, or "fugitive recovery agents," who track down individuals who jump bail. Included: interviews with bounty hunters and footage from actual arrests. Also: training and licensing.

Mark Seen

Crime of Passion: The Pamela Smart Story May 25, 1996 An examination of the Derry, N.H., murder case, in which a former high-school media director, Pamela Smart, convinced her teenage lover to kill her husband. Included: an interview with Pamela Smart and footage of her trial.

Mark Seen

John Wayne Gacy: Buried Secrets Jun 5, 1996 Profiling serial killer John Wayne Gacy, a building contractor who, in 1980, was convicted of murdering 33 people, more than anyone in American history. Included: an interview with Gacy in prison; comments from prosecutors.

Mark Seen

When Cops Kill Jun 19, 1996 Examining cases in which police actions resulted in the death of a citizen. Included: trial footage; police photos; interviews with police officers. Also: weapons designed to stun, not kill.

Mark Seen

Hot Pursuit Jul 17, 1996 An examination of high-speed chases conducted by law-enforcement agencies via land, air and sea, with an analysis of five pursuits. Also: the policies governing chases and the techniques utilized to ensure safety.

Mark Seen

Dennis Nilsen: The Kindly Killer Aug 18, 1996 The case of Dennis Nilsen, a one-time British police officer who became known as “the kindly killer” after killing as many as 16 young black men in the 1970s. Nilsen was convicted of six murders in 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mark Seen

Mob Hit Men Aug 21, 1996 Recalling Philadelphia's bloody mob wars of the 1980s and early '90s. Interviewed are Mafia hit men who later became witnesses against their former bosses. Included: comments from prosecutors and FBI agents.

Mark Seen

Bamber Family Murder Aug 25, 1996 An investigation into the 1985 Bamber family murders in England, in which Jeremy Bamber killed his adoptive parents, his sister and her twin sons in hopes of inheriting his family's fortune.

Mark Seen

Richard Ramirez: Night Stalker Sep 1, 1996 An examination of the "Night Stalker" murders that haunted Southern California during the summer of 1985, in which Richard Ramirez killed 13 persons. He was subsequently sentenced to death for the crimes.

Mark Seen

Menendez Murders Sep 4, 1996 A report on the 1989 killings of Kitty and Jose Menendez, and the murder trial against their sons, Lyle and Erik. Included: the "abuse excuse" used by the defense; and comments from jurors, who discuss reasons why the brothers' first trial ended in a hung jury.

Mark Seen

Hammersmith Murders Sep 22, 1996 Recalling the case of the unidentified serial killer British police called "Jack the Stripper," who's believed to be responsible for the murders of six prostitutes in London in 1964.

Mark Seen

I Confess Sep 25, 1996 A look at the use---and abuse---of confessions in murder cases. The hour examines unique cases in which confessions played a key role, such as the "Central Park jogger" case. Included: examples of videotaped confessions.

Mark Seen

James Hanratty Sep 29, 1996 Recounting the case of James Hanratty, who was hanged, many believe wrongly, for the shooting deaths of two lovers in London.

Mark Seen

To Catch a Killer: Homicide Detectives Oct 2, 1996 Graphic footage accompanies this look at homicide detectives on the job. Among the cases investigated is a 1994 quadruple murder in Virginia Beach, Va.

Mark Seen

The Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa Oct 6, 1996 The unexplained disappearance of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa (1913-75?). Included: his controversy-filled life and evidence regarding his fate.

Mark Seen

The McKay Kidnapping Oct 20, 1996 Recalling the 1969 kidnapping of Muriel McKay, the wife of a newspaperman. McKay's body was never found, and immigrants Arthur Hosein and his brother, Nizamodeen, were convicted of the crime.

Mark Seen

Free to Kill: The Polly Klaas Murder Oct 23, 1996 Using the slaying of Polly Klaas, the Petaluma, Cal., 12-year-old, to examine law-enforcement methods designed to deal with repeat offenders. Included: aggressive policing techniques and laws around the country.

Mark Seen

The Massacre of the Tsar Nov 17, 1996 The execution of Nicholas II and his family by the Bolsheviks in 1918.

Mark Seen

Death Row Women Nov 20, 1996 A look at the daily routines of women sentenced to death includes interviews with condemned inmates, and families and friends of victims. Also: a visit to death row in an Alabama prison

Mark Seen

Neville Heath: The Lady Killer Nov 24, 1996 The case of Neville Heath, a British Air Force officer executed in 1946 for the murders of two young women.

Mark Seen

The Defenders Dec 4, 1996 Judging the effectiveness of publicly funded defense lawyers for poor and indigent defendants.

Mark Seen

Mafia Story aka the showdown Dec 8, 1996 Chronicling the power struggles between New York's Gambino family and rival clans. Included: the conflicts among top Gambino bosses that culminated in the 1985 murder of Paul Castellano on the order of John Gotti.