He signs a full confession and waives the right to an attorney, even though he will face the rising star deputy district attorney William “Willy” Beachum at trial. Beachum is about to take up a position at the prestigious law firm Wooton Sims and considers the case an open-and-shut matter. He discovers that Crawford’s handgun could not have been used in the shooting because it does not match shell casings at the crime scene and, in fact, has not been fired. Yet, he proceeds with the trial on the strength of the signed confession. At the trial, Crawford informs the court that the arresting officer, Nunally, was having an affair with his wife, assaulted him during his arrest, and was present during his interrogation.