66 pages 2 hours read

Scott Turow

Presumed Innocent

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Part 2, Chapter 31-Epilogue

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2: “Summer” - Part 3: “Fall”

Part 2, Chapter 31 Summary

Sandy, Rusty, and Jamie work all weekend. Sandy reminds Rusty that they need to come up with a way to cast doubt on Kumagai. Rusty brings up Kumagai’s personnel file, which would contain complaints filed against him, and Sandy thinks that may be enough, considering that juries don’t tend to like Kumagai anyway. When Sandy brings up the MUDs from Rusty’s home phone, however, Rusty tells him not to bother with them. Jamie doesn’t understand why, as they’ve discussed the possibility that they are doctored, and finally understands that Rusty is keeping some secrets.

On Monday morning, Lip takes the stand. Because he knows that Lip is a hostile witness, loyal to Rusty, Nico keeps it quick. He also makes sure to show the jury that Lip is biased toward Rusty, and because of that, Lip’s testimony is more damaging to Rusty’s case than any other witness so far. In the cross-examination, Sandy brings up Lip’s work with Rusty on the B file. Judge Lyttle berates him for bringing it up, and Rusty doesn’t understand why Sandy has chosen to look bad in front of the jury. Sandy also points out that some of the evidence and subpoenas that Nico and Tommy are using to accuse Rusty were collected by Rusty during his investigation.

Related Titles

By Scott Turow