'Law & Order: SVU' Season 16 News: Episode 8 "Spousal Privilege" Recap, Episode 9 Plot
Last Wednesday's episode of "Law & Order: SVU" titled "Spousal Privilege" sees a domestic violence dispute involving a sportscaster and his girlfriend revealed by a security camera footage from a parking garage, but the girlfriend is undecided about seeking help since she wants to keep her family from breaking apart.
In the episode, Tutuola finds a video on a celebrity gossip website of famous sportscaster A.J. Martin fighting with his girlfriend Paula in a stairwell of a parking garage. The footage cuts out, then they see A.J. dragging Paula to his car, and Paula appears to be unconscious. Olivia announces that she is going to investigate and see if charges were pressed by the victim.
Rollins and Nick head to the precinct and they learn that Paula refused medical attention and that no charges were filed.
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Olivia heads to A.J. Martin's house to talk to him and to Paula. A.J. said that he was drunk and that he was not thinking clearly. Paula then explains that she was drunk and acting out and A.J. had to stop her so he knocked her out. Olivia is pushing for A.J. to be imprisoned, but his lawyer argues that it would be overkill and will dispute the matter in court.
In court, A.J. pleads not guilty to the assault charges and the judge sets bail at $20,000. Olivia talks to Paula in the court's bathroom and Paula says that she is ruining their lives.
Paula and A.J. speak to the press and Paula takes full responsibility for provoking A.J.. They do another interview and they announce that they are now engaged.
The next day, the District Attorney says that A.J.'s punch could have killed Paula. A.J.'s attorney counters that Paula is fine. Olivia then says that Paula is a typical victim of domestic abuse and that she is defending him because either she's scared of him or dependent on him financially. In the end, the jury finds A.J. guilty of reckless endangerment and sentences him to two years in jail.
Meanwhile, here's the synopsis for episode 9 titled "Pattern Seventeen."
"Rollins will be contacting her old superior when the squad investigates a serial rapist whose pattern is similar to several cases she worked back in Atlanta. Rollins is going to get back in touch with Patton to ask permission to find and test the rape kits from her prior cases, in order to confirm the suspect. However, while Patton cooperates, he will also try to make sure that Rollins doesn't get the credit," the summary reads.
"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" will airs its 9th episode on Wednesday Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
