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“ | That's right, man. Taradash never told me. | „ |
~ Muñoz |
Salvatore "Sal" Muñoz is the main antagonist of the Law & Order episode "Remand". Muñoz is a convicted serial rapist seeing a chance at retrial, which results in his acquittal.
He was portrayed by Edouard DeSoto.
Biography[]
Muñoz had a lengthy history of sexual violence against women. His earliest known crimes were his repeated rapes of his ex-girlfriend Olivia Valerio, whom he threatened with sexual mutilation if she refused or fought him. Muñoz was finally prosecuted in 1965, when he raped and stabbed Cookie Costello, an Italian-American bookie, her unborn child dying from the violent assault. Muñoz was arrested shortly thereafter, detectives having taken him to a location known as the "West End Grill", a dockside where suspects were beaten and drowned in the ocean to force confessions. As much as credibility was reduced, Muñoz confessed to raping and attempting to murder Cookie, as well as raping two other women. His lawyer, Nick Taradash, who defended people from the projects or law-rate criminal networks, pleaded insanity on Muñoz's behalf, arguing that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Muñoz was convicted of rape and attempted murder and served decades in prison for the crime.
It was all rehashed when murderer and arsonist for hire Danny Trumbello wanted a deal, lying that Bobby Farina, a bookie's enforcer Costello had an affair with, was the real rapist. NYPD Homicide Detectives Lennie Briscoe and Rey Curtis reopened the investigation, but they concluded Muñoz was still guilty. However, Teri Marks, the lawyer who inherited Taradash's entire business, appealed Muñoz's case on grounds of ineffective counsel, as Taradish also had Costello as one of clients. Muñoz was granted a retrial.
Marks tore the evidence and witnesses apart, challenging the police without overtly saying they beat Muñoz, casting reasonable doubt and suspicion on Farina, and berating Costello on the stand to reduce her credibility so severely she was driven to tears. Even when Olivia came forward to testify, her testimony was barred. Muñoz's conviction was successfully overturned; he gloated by blowing a kiss at Costello.
Trivia[]
- Muñoz is inspired by Matias Reyes, a.k.a. "The East Side Slasher", and Winston Moseley. Moseley is best known for the murder of Kitty Genovese, and Reyes would later be identified as the rapist in the Central Park jogger case.
- Muñoz's retrial is inspired by the Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court case involving rape defendant Ernesto Miranda, although Miranda was convicted at his retrial whereas Muñoz is acquitted.
External links[]
- Sal Muñoz on the Law & Order Wiki