Carl Lee Hailey

"Yes, they deserved to die, and I hope they burn in Hell!"

- Carl Lee Hailey's famous quote.

Carl Lee Hailey is the protagonist turned antagonist of A Time to kill.

He was potrayed by Samuel L. Jackson.

He working when his boss come to him and tell him he have a phone call, when Carl Lee return to his home he find out his only daughter was raped, he take her to the hospital for cure her. After what happen to his daughter he go see Jake Brigance and talk to him about the four white men who was released after raping a black girl, scare that happen again he decide to take the law on his own hands. He was hide in a closet when he see the two men he show up with a caliber, and killed the two rapist of his daughter and run away to his home.

After that he was arrested and put to jail, Brigance came to see him Carl Lee got fired after what he did and wanted Jake help, after the visit Jake was accepting to be his attorney for the trial for take his defense. Later he was on the accused bench and Buckley provoke him by asking him if the two  rapist of his daughter deserved to die, he admit yes they deserved to die and  hope they  to burned in hell, that made the white crowd angry.

When Brigance told him he can convice Buckley to let him have a sentence to life in jail, Carl Lee refuse and tell him if he was a jury member what argument will make him change his mind for save his life, at the trial he see Buckley try to convince the jury he was dangerous and put him on the death row. When Brigance told the jury members to close their eyes and tell them a story, Carl see it work and he was free of all charge and can return to his family he was greatful to Jake, when he's out of the courtroom  he hugged his daughter who was finally out of the hospital. At the end of the movie when he was giving a B.B.Q for celebrate his liberation, Jake and his family show up and Carl smile after Jake said their daughter can finally play togheter.