Ep 17. Sisters of Mercy

In Law & Order season 2 episode 17, titled Sisters of Mercy, the episode starts off with a brutal murder of a nun, Sister Mary Margaret. The killing takes place in her bedroom in the convent that she resided in with other nuns. The NYPD's homicide detectives, Detective Lennie Briscoe and Detective Mike Logan, are assigned the case.

They begin their investigation by questioning the other nuns who lived with Sister Mary Margaret. They find out that Sister Mary Margaret was involved in charitable work and had connections to a prison ministry program. Through their questioning, the detectives learn that Sister Mary Margaret had a strained relationship with Sister Margaret Mary, another nun in the convent. Sister Margaret Mary's behavior towards Sister Mary Margaret had become increasingly hostile over the last few months.

The detectives meet with Sister Margaret Mary, but she is uncooperative and denies any wrongdoing. The detectives learn that Sister Margaret Mary has a history of mental illness, and they begin to believe that she may be the killer. However, they soon discover that Sister Margaret Mary has an alibi for the time of the murder.

As the detectives investigate further, they uncover a scandal involving the prison ministry program that Sister Mary Margaret was involved in. They learn that a former prisoner, Danny Quinn, had been released from prison with the help of Sister Mary Margaret and had been given a job as a maintenance worker at the convent. Danny had been fired from his job and had threatened to harm Sister Mary Margaret.

The detectives find Danny and bring him in for questioning. Danny admits to killing Sister Mary Margaret, but he claims that it was an accident. He says that he had gone to the convent to speak with Sister Mary Margaret about his job and was angry when she fired him. He says that they got into a physical altercation, and he accidentally killed her.

The detectives discover that Danny had a history of violence and had been arrested numerous times before. They believe that he intended to kill Sister Mary Margaret and that the altercation was not an accident. With this new information, the detectives charge Danny with murder.

In the courtroom, the defense attorney attempts to paint Danny as a victim of circumstance and argues that Sister Mary Margaret had provoked him. However, the prosecution presents evidence that proves that Danny had planned the murder and had a history of violent behavior. The jury ultimately finds him guilty, and he is sentenced to life in prison.

As the episode concludes, the detectives reflect on the case and the tragedy of Sister Mary Margaret's murder. They marvel at her selflessness and dedication to helping others, and lament the loss of such a compassionate soul. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in the world, even in seemingly peaceful and safe places like a convent.