How many of Columbo's arrests wouldn't have held up in court if the killers had just

[TMC]

...shut up and lawyered up?

Most episodes of Columbo end with the titular Lieutenant "catching" the killer in a major contradiction of some sort, and then the killer breaks down and confesses to everything as the police take him away. But often I got the feeling that there was still reasonable doubt, or that a good lawyer (which most of the killers could afford since almost all of them were upper-class) could get some evidence thrown out due to Columbo's extremely questionable methods and his lax handling of evidence with no paper trail. Like the Steven Spielberg-directed episode where Columbo finds an idea for a short story in the victim's office that is exactly how Columbo believes the murder was played out; that's not actually evidence of anything, but the killer confessed on the spot anyway.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by TMC

...shut up and lawyered up?

Most episodes of Columbo end with the titular Lieutenant "catching" the killer in a major contradiction of some sort, and then the killer breaks down and confesses to everything as the police take him away. But often I got the feeling that there was still reasonable doubt, or that a good lawyer (which most of the killers could afford since almost all of them were upper-class) could get some evidence thrown out due to Columbo's extremely questionable methods and his lax handling of evidence with no paper trail. Like the Steven Spielberg-directed episode where Columbo finds an idea for a short story in the victim's office that is exactly how Columbo believes the murder was played out; that's not actually evidence of anything, but the killer confessed on the spot anyway.

I think the point with Murder By The Book was that Jim Ferris wrote the plot down, even though it was supposed to be Ken Franklin's idea, and Columbo came into possession of the notes. True it was all circumstantial but given that the shooting occurred whilst Ken was on the phone and he was the beneficiary of the insurance policy, plus there was a record of the $15000 withdrawal as hush money for Lily I think a jury would have convicted.

[Duster76]

Interesting topic. Over the years one episode that stuck out in my mind was the episode where Dick Van Dyke murders his wife. The character he plays is a photographer/photo journalist, who ties up his wife in a cabin, takes a photo of her, shoots her, and concocts a phony kidnap and ransom story as a cover-up. The cat and mouse game goes on between Columbo and Paul Galesko (Van Dyke) until the point where Columbo has an associate bring Galesko in for questioning at police headquarters. Prior to beginning the questioning, Columbo has tampered with some evidence and he succeeds in getting Galesko to incriminate himself.

First, Galesko wasn't mirandized before any of this charade started, you couldn't hope to get the results of any of this activity into a courtroom as evidence. Second, Columbo tampered with evidence, he himself could have been charged with a crime.

I don't think there was enough evidence for an arrest let alone a conviction, a good lawyer would have gotten this case thrown out before the trial even started.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Interesting topic. Over the years one episode that stuck out in my mind was the episode where Dick Van Dyke murders his wife. The character he plays is a photographer/photo journalist, who ties up his wife in a cabin, takes a photo of her, shoots her, and concocts a phony kidnap and ransom story as a cover-up. The cat and mouse game goes on between Columbo and Paul Galesko (Van Dyke) until the point where Columbo has an associate bring Galesko in for questioning at police headquarters. Prior to beginning the questioning, Columbo has tampered with some evidence and he succeeds in getting Galesko to incriminate himself.

First, Galesko wasn't mirandized before any of this charade started, you couldn't hope to get the results of any of this activity into a courtroom as evidence. Second, Columbo tampered with evidence, he himself could have been charged with a crime.

I don't think there was enough evidence for an arrest let alone a conviction, a good lawyer would have gotten this case thrown out before the trial even started.

I thought the pieces of circumstantial evidence did fit together but sometimes with Columbo the ending is slightly unsatisfactory. The film remains a classic.

[MarshaMarshaMarsha]

They could have made it more realistic if the suspect wouldn't confess at the end, but then it would be like Columbo didn't really nail the crook down, so I get it...