A Case of Deadly Force

A Case of Deadly Force

95 mins | Drama, Crime, TV Movie | April 9, 1986

Fact-based story about a 1975 cover-up of a shooting by two white members of the Boston Tactical Unit. While on stakeout on a suspected getaway car used in a armed robbery, the two gunned down a black man who entered the car. The two claimed the man had a gun and they shot in self-defense. Police investigation decided it was a rightful shooting. The man's widow knew her husband would not be carrying a weapon and became determined to prove her husband's innocence. She hired a former cop who had become a lawyer to prove her case. Working with his four sons, the lawyer team takes on the police force in what eventually proved to be a landmark legal decision. Written by John Sacksteder

A Case of Deadly Force

95 mins | Drama, Crime, TV Movie | April 9, 1986

A Case of Deadly Force
Fact-based story about a 1975 cover-up of a shooting by two white members of the Boston Tactical Unit. While on stakeout on a suspected getaway car used in a armed robbery, the two gunned down a black man who entered the car. The two claimed the man had a gun and they shot in self-defense. Police investigation decided it was a rightful shooting. The man's widow knew her husband would not be carrying a weapon and became determined to prove her husband's innocence. She hired a former cop who had become a lawyer to prove her case. Working with his four sons, the lawyer team takes on the police force in what eventually proved to be a landmark legal decision. Written by John Sacksteder
IMDb rating 6.3
Producers
Original title A Case of Deadly Force
Directors Michael Miller
Writers Dennis Nemec

Cast

Richard Crenna

as Lawrence O'Donnell Sr.

John Shea

as Michael O'Donnell

Lorraine Toussaint

as Pat Bowden

Tate Donovan

as Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.

Anna Maria Horsford

as Virginia Cates

Anthony Heald

as Dave O'Brian

Dylan Baker

as Kevin O'Donnell

Michael O’Hare

as Joe Miller

Fred J. Scollay

as Judge Skinner

Paul O'Brien

as Ken Mooney

Tom Kemp

as Jack Finnegan

John Prosky

as Phil Cochran

Paul D'Amato

as Mike Fagan

Peter Gerety

as Bobby Doyle