who was the defence lawyer for steve in monster

What is Steve's defense attorney's name in the beginning of the novel?

In the opening scene of the novel, Kathy O'Brien, Steve's defense attorney, informs him that he is charged with felony murder and that the prosecution is pushing for the death penalty. Steve is charged with the murder of Alguinaldo Nesbitt, a Harlem drugstore owner.

Was Steve really involved in the crime?

Whether Steve was actually involved in the crime or not remains ambiguous to the reader. There is no surveillance footage or concrete proof of his involvement. Thus, Steve's culpability is subject to audience interpretation. Throughout the story, Steve faces numerous emotional challenges.

How does Steve feel about himself in Monster?

Steve’s probable guilt is reinforced by the fact that the state prosecutor labels him a “ monster ” in her opening remarks, and this becomes the way that Steve sees himself throughout the novel, dehumanizing himself.

What does Steve think about when he's in jail?

"Everyone [in jail] either talks about sex or hurting somebody or what they're in for" (13.12). Sure, Steve thinks about why he's there, but sex and violence? He's only looking for ways to escape them. He's a good kid. His fave teacher, Mr. Sawicki, calls him "talented, bright, and compassionate" (18.176).

Who accused Steve in monster?

In this story, Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old boy, on trial with his neighborhood acquaintance, James King, for the accusation of the robbery and murder of Alguinaldo Nesbitt.

Who was Petrocelli defending in monster?

Answers 2. On pg. 22 of the text, Petrocelli that the two men who participated in the robbery were Richard "Bobo" Evans and James King. Steve Harmon was an accomplice.

Who is Osvaldo Cruz in monster?

Osvaldo is a 14-year-old kid from Harlem and an admitted accomplice in the robbery that resulted in Mr. Nesbitt's felony murder.

Why did O'Brien turn away from Steve at the end?

Betty Trevino I believe the reason O'Brien looks away from him is because she is recognizing the difference between "innocence" and being found "not guilty." The former is about lacking culpability and the other is about the justice system not having enough evidence to convict.

Who interrogates Steve at the precinct?

Brenham Eng III Monster ReviewQuestionAnswerWhich describes Jose Delgado?found the body of Mr. NesbittWhich describes Asa Briggs?lawyer for James KingWhich describes Detective Karyl?interrogates Steve at the precinctWhich describes Detective Williams?arrests Steve at his home42 more rows

Why did O'Brien not hug Steve?

O'Brien's doubt about Steve's actual innocence is confirmed when, after they win the case and Steve is found not guilty, she stiffly refuses his attempt to hug her in gratitude and happiness, suggesting that even though she defended his innocence and genuinely did her best to understand him, she does not regard him ...

Who is Karyl in monster?

Jonny Coyne: Detective Karyl.

Who is James King lawyer in monster?

Asa Briggs is James King's defense lawyer, a tired and cynical older man who clearly knows that his client is guilty and does not particularly care.

Who is Mr Zinzi in monster?

Zinzi is a current convict who testifies in Steve and King's trial. Zinzi wants to get out of prison because he is afraid of being gang-raped, so he steals his cell-mate Bolden's information about Mr.

WHy does Steve lie in court?

During Steve's trial, witnesses testify in exchange for reduced sentencing for their own crimes or to present a narrative beneficial to themselves. They are often caught in lies on the stand, suggesting that the personal motivation that each witness has for testifying presses them to lie rather than tell the truth.

What happens with a juror that upsets Steve?

For King, the jury determined him guilty and for Steve, the jury determined him not guilty. King is sentenced by the judge to serve 25 years to life in prison.

WHy does Steve see King in a different way?

WHy does Steve see King in a different way now? He is able top see King's true colors. Compare how Osvaldo acts on the streets vs. in court.

What is Steve's probable guilt?

Steve’s probable guilt is reinforced by the fact that the state prosecutor labels him a “ monster ” in her opening remarks , and this becomes the way that Steve sees himself throughout the novel, dehumanizing himself.

Who is Steve Harmon?

Steve Harmon is the narrator and protagonist of the story . Steve is a 16-year-old black kid from Harlem charged with felony murder for his involvement in a botched robbery that ended in Mr. Nesbitt ’s death. Contrasting with the other three people implicated in the robbery, Steve has no criminal history and is a decent and sensitive kid. He describes his court case—in which his co-defendant is a man he knows from his neighborhood, James King —through personal notes and a screenplay he writes in his journal as the events happen. Although Steve’s actual guilt or innocence is never explicitly revealed, his inner narrative and framing of events suggests that he did participate in the robbery in a minimal way, simply walking into the drugstore and back out of it to check for cops, and leaving before King and Bobo Evans went in to commit the actual robbery. Steve’s probable guilt is reinforced by the fact that the state prosecutor labels him a “ monster ” in her opening remarks, and this becomes the way that Steve sees himself throughout the novel, dehumanizing himself. In spite of his potential guilt, Steve’s youth and minimal involvement (he was passively roped into it by King) suggest that a felony murder charge is legally sanctioned but entirely unjust. If anything, Steve seems a victim of Harlem’s violent environment and the story demonstrates the manner in which that endemic violence drags down well-meaning young men like himself, and then turns them into actually violent people through the horrible environment in prison. Despite the prosecutor Petrocelli ’s aggressive prosecution and active dehumanization of Steve, through the efforts of Steve’s defense attorney Kathy O’Brien, the jury finds Steve not guilty. However, when he tries to hug O’Brien, she turns stiffly away, suggesting that she does not truly believe in his innocence and leaving Steve feeling like a monster.

Who is writing the word "monster" over and over again?

But there are also monsters in our communities—people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others. [Steve] is writing the word Monster over and over again. A white hand (O’BRIEN’s) takes the pencil from his hand and crosses out all the Monsters.

Does Steve have a criminal record?

Contrasting with the other three people implicated in the robbery, Steve has no criminal history and is a decent and sensitive kid. He describes his court case—in which his co-defendant is a man he knows from his neighborhood, James King —through personal notes and a screenplay he writes in his journal as the events happen.

Who is Steve's lawyer in Monster?

In the book Monster, Steve's lawyer, Kathy O'Brien, wanted the jury to see that Zinzi (Sal Zinzi) is not a credible witness. O'Brien brings many facts regarding his checkered past and the relevancy of his testimony.

Why does O'Brien get Zinzi to admit he is testifying?

2. O'Brien gets Zinzi to admit that the only reason he is testifying is so that he can get out of jail early.

Who is Steve's defense attorney?

Particularly, Steve is bothered by his relationship with his defense attorney, Kathy O'Brien, who seems not to believe him. Steve struggles to reconcile his external versus internal lives. The conflict between exterior versus interior is a significant theme throughout the novel.

Who is the prosecutor in Steve's case?

Sandra Petrocelli. Sandra Petrocelli is the prosecutor during Steve's case. Throughout the trial, she contends that Steve was the lookout during the botched burglary, and thus culpable in the murder of Alguinaldo Nesbitt. She is the one who brands Steve—and all of the other men involved in the crime—as monsters.

Why was Bobo arrested?

He has been arrested for breaking and entering, grand theft auto, and "one time taking a radio and fighting a guy that died.". Currently serving time for selling drugs, Bobo makes a deal with the prosecution to testify against James King and Steve Harmon in order to get a lighter sentence for his involvement.

What does O'Brien advise Steve Harmon to do?

She advises Steve Harmon to present himself in an approachable manner to the jury, and she even enlists a character witness to prove her defendant's innocence. Although she is cordial to Steve, O'Brien seems ambivalent about Steve's character.

How old is Steve Harmon?

Steve Harmon is the novel's main character. He is sixteen years old, lives in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, and he is a student at Stuyvesant High School in downtown Manhattan. In the opening pages, we learn that Steve is currently in prison awaiting trial for murder. As a means of coping with jail life, Steve draws upon his interests in film and storytelling and writes down his experiences in the format of a movie script. Whether Steve was actually involved in the crime or not remains ambiguous to the reader. There is no surveillance footage or concrete proof of his involvement. Thus, Steve's culpability is subject to audience interpretation. Throughout the story, Steve faces numerous emotional challenges. He is confronted with his parent's disappointment, and he also fears that authorities view him as a "monster." Particularly, Steve is bothered by his relationship with his defense attorney, Kathy O'Brien, who seems not to believe him. Steve struggles to reconcile his external versus internal lives. The conflict between exterior versus interior is a significant theme throughout the novel.

What does Briggs say about the prosecution?

Although he is a minor character in the novel, Briggs asserts that the prosecution has failed to find any concrete evidence that ties King to the murder. Briggs points out that Bobo and Osvaldo's testimonies are clouded by their own desires to lessen their respective sentences.

Where did Nesbitt open his drugstore?

An immigrant to the United States, Nesbitt opens a drugstore in Harlem. Various testimonies explain that he was a hardworking man respected by his neighborhood community. When the men rob Nesbitt's drugstore, he pulls out a gun in self-defense. However, the gun is then turned on Nesbitt himself, and he is murdered.

What does Steve think about Jerry?

Once again, Steve expresses his suicidal ideations. Before falling asleep, Steve thinks about how much he misses his younger brother, Jerry. The trial continues on the following day. Briggs calls James King’s cousin to the stand to testify as a character witness.

What is Asa Briggs' role in the King's defense case?

During King’s defense case, Asa Briggs calls King’s cousin to the stand. This testimony is an example of the role of character witnesses in the court case. Briggs uses King’s cousin’s point of view to try and vouch for his defendant’s character. However, it is clear that his cousin does not know much about James and his habits, values, or beliefs.

What does Briggs say about Bobo?

During his cross-examination, Briggs confronts Bobo about his involvement in the crime and Bobo’s drug-dealing past. Briggs asserts that Bobo, as the “experienced” criminal, coerced James into the crime. Briggs also argues that Bobo is inherently selfish and merely testifying in order to shorten his own sentence.

What does Bobo tell O'Brien about Osvaldo?

Bobo tells O’Brien that he does not know Osvaldo well, and that he never threatened Osvaldo nor pressured him to be an accomplice. Bobo confirms that both he and King were waiting for Steve to give them the “all-clear” before entering the drugstore.

Why is Bobo in prison?

Bobo is currently serving time in prison for selling drugs, and he tells the jury that he’s been previously arrested for breaking ...

When Bobo explains that King did not intend to commit murder, the reader is prompted to consider the importance of?

When Bobo explains that King did not intend to commit murder, the reader is prompted to consider the importance of intention when analyzing a crime. Does James King’s intention really matter when deciding his sentence? Similarly, Steve’s alleged involvement in the crime is as a conspirator, not as a perpetrator. However, Petrocelli argues that all four men involved are equally culpable in the murder. Once again, the reader is prompted to analyze intention and involvement and form an opinion about whether these issues are valid in a court of law.

Why is Bobo's prison suit damaging to James King?

In this way, Bobo’s prison suit is damaging to James King, as King is the suspect most closely connected to Bobo.

Who is the defense attorney in Steve's movie?

In Steve's screenplay, Kathy is "the defense attorney with doubts" (2.16). She's "all business as she talks to Steve" (2.32), and sees no need to believe her clients, or even to believe in them—her job is only to prove their innocence to a jury.

What does Sandra call Steve?

Steve isn't a person to Sandra. He is what she calls him: a monster. In her words, monsters are "people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others" (2.80). This makes Steve, Bobo, and King all monsters who deserve to get slapped with guilty verdicts and locked away for life… which is exactly what she tells the jury in her opening and closing statements. In Petrocelli's words, lookout or not, Steve "is as guilty as everybody else, no matter how many moral hairs he can split" (18.238). She accuses him of toilet-level morals, because no matter how much he may believe in his own innocence, he is, in fact, complicit in the murder.

How long is Steve in prison?

And like Shakespeare's Hamlet, the answer means life or death. If Steve is found guilty of felony murder, he's looking at twenty-five years to life in prison. Not cool for a kid in the middle of high school.

What happens after the trial in Steve?

After the trial, filmmaking becomes Steve's way of examining his conscience. He starts

What is Steve's greatest conflict?

Steve as Monster. Steve's greatest conflict is not really the trial itself, though it's certainly stressful and difficult. He fights his worst battles in his head, as he tries to figure out if he's truly a monster. That's what Prosecutor Petrocelli calls him, and he can't help but dwell on it.

What is Steve's hobby?

Filmmaking begins as a hobby for Steve—he admires his film teacher, he's good at it, and he enjoys "depicting his neighborhood and environment in a positive manner" (18.176).

What does Steve see himself as in the book?

Steve, then, continually battles others people's perceptions of himself with his own belief in his goodness. He sees himself as a good, moral kid.

Who were the guys Steve hung out with?

Steve hung out with some shady dudes. His neighborhood was an honest-to-goodness thug-a-thon. James King, Osvaldo Cruz, and Freddy Alou made up a few of the tough guys Steve swapped dialogue with on occasion. King even invited him to play a part in the drugstore "payday" (14.2).

Does Steve want to believe in his bunny rabbit core?

The only violence he considers is toward himself—suicide if he's convicted. Steve wants to believe in his bunny rabbit core, but he also cares a lot about what others think.