Clifford Banks
Encyclopedia
Clifford Banks is a fictional character introduced during the second season of the television program Murder One. Banks was portrayed by character actor Pruitt Taylor Vince
.
Banks viewed himself more as an executioner than a murderer; All of his victims were criminals who he felt the justice system had not properly punished. Usually, Banks would dispense his form of justice shortly after his victim had been released from prison. For this, he was dubbed "The Street Sweeper."
Banks claimed that he began killing after his mentally retarded
brother, Tommy, was killed during a robbery of the Banks home. When the man charged with the murder avoided a long prison sentence by entering into a plea bargain
with the district attorney
, Banks snapped and began his killing spree.
Banks' killing spree came to an end when he was arrested during a routine traffic stop; the police officer who stopped him claimed to see a leg protruding from a duffel bag in the back of Banks' van. Banks ultimately hired Jimmy Wyler (played by Anthony LaPaglia
) to represent him in his trial. Ironically, it was Wyler, a former assistant district attorney, who had prosecuted Tommy's killer (who was played by Robert LaSardo
). Just as Banks' trial is set to begin, he, through Wyler, sought permission from the court to marry a woman with whom he has been corresponding. The request was granted by the court, and Banks was married on the eve of trial. Banks would later discover that his wife was merely using the marriage as a means to derive fortune from his notoriety.
Banks' criminal trial spanned several episodes of the second season of Murder One. In fact, it was in the series finale of the program in which the Banks plotline ultimately resolved itself.
Banks' relationship with his attorneys was often fractious, as he wanted to use the trial to publicly condemn the American criminal justice system. Banks, however, regained some level of respect for his attorneys when Wyler discovered that the officer who initially detained Banks during the traffic stop could not have seen a leg protruding from the duffel bag. After finding a paramedic who testified that the bag was fully zipped at the time of the traffic stop, Wyler moved to have all of the evidence against Banks excluded
as the result of an illegal search of the vehicle. This evidence included materials discovered at Banks' home. Ultimately, the trial court judge reluctantly granted this motion and dismissed all charges against Banks.
In the aftermath of the ruling, Wyler worried that Banks would kill again. Shortly thereafter, Wyler learned that Banks himself killed Tommy, and the resulting trauma
prompted his vigilantism. When Wyler confronted Banks with this knowledge, Banks went into a rage and confronted him at his office with a gun. Banks told Wyler that he could decide if he is going to kill Wyler or himself. Finally, Banks was overcome with guilt and dropped the weapon. The series ended with Banks pleading guilty to the murder of his brother and requesting the maximum allowable sentence under the law.
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Pruitt Taylor Vince is an American award-winning character actor who has made many appearances in film and television.-Personal life:Vince was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
.
Banks viewed himself more as an executioner than a murderer; All of his victims were criminals who he felt the justice system had not properly punished. Usually, Banks would dispense his form of justice shortly after his victim had been released from prison. For this, he was dubbed "The Street Sweeper."
Banks claimed that he began killing after his mentally retarded
Mental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
brother, Tommy, was killed during a robbery of the Banks home. When the man charged with the murder avoided a long prison sentence by entering into a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
with the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, Banks snapped and began his killing spree.
Banks' killing spree came to an end when he was arrested during a routine traffic stop; the police officer who stopped him claimed to see a leg protruding from a duffel bag in the back of Banks' van. Banks ultimately hired Jimmy Wyler (played by Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
) to represent him in his trial. Ironically, it was Wyler, a former assistant district attorney, who had prosecuted Tommy's killer (who was played by Robert LaSardo
Robert LaSardo
Robert LaSardo is an American actor.LaSardo began his career studying at the famed High School of Performing Arts in New York City, before going on to the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Robert also spent four years in the U.S...
). Just as Banks' trial is set to begin, he, through Wyler, sought permission from the court to marry a woman with whom he has been corresponding. The request was granted by the court, and Banks was married on the eve of trial. Banks would later discover that his wife was merely using the marriage as a means to derive fortune from his notoriety.
Banks' criminal trial spanned several episodes of the second season of Murder One. In fact, it was in the series finale of the program in which the Banks plotline ultimately resolved itself.
Banks' relationship with his attorneys was often fractious, as he wanted to use the trial to publicly condemn the American criminal justice system. Banks, however, regained some level of respect for his attorneys when Wyler discovered that the officer who initially detained Banks during the traffic stop could not have seen a leg protruding from the duffel bag. After finding a paramedic who testified that the bag was fully zipped at the time of the traffic stop, Wyler moved to have all of the evidence against Banks excluded
Exclusionary rule
The exclusionary rule is a legal principle in the United States, under constitutional law, which holds that evidence collected or analyzed in violation of the defendant's constitutional rights is sometimes inadmissible for a criminal prosecution in a court of law...
as the result of an illegal search of the vehicle. This evidence included materials discovered at Banks' home. Ultimately, the trial court judge reluctantly granted this motion and dismissed all charges against Banks.
In the aftermath of the ruling, Wyler worried that Banks would kill again. Shortly thereafter, Wyler learned that Banks himself killed Tommy, and the resulting trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
prompted his vigilantism. When Wyler confronted Banks with this knowledge, Banks went into a rage and confronted him at his office with a gun. Banks told Wyler that he could decide if he is going to kill Wyler or himself. Finally, Banks was overcome with guilt and dropped the weapon. The series ended with Banks pleading guilty to the murder of his brother and requesting the maximum allowable sentence under the law.