Defending Jacob

The Barber family discusses Jacob’s popularity on Twitter: “The consensus was that Jacob was a little odd, possibly homicidal, definitely attractive” (260). Laurie notices a car outside the window. At nine, when Andy takes out the garbage, it is still there. He calls Duffy to run the plates, and they learn that the Lincoln Town Car is using stolen plates. Andy decides not to report it to the police.

As Logiudice presents his opening statement, Andy believes he is showing his own arrogance and desire to take down his former mentor (that is, Andy). He paints a picture of Jacob as a bullied young man who “snapped” (269). Andy feels enraged: “In that moment I could have reached out and grabbed that fucking finger and torn it off” (269). Andy notices that there is a “doughnut hole” (275) at the center of the case: “Why did he do it?” (275). 

Jonathan’s statement, by contrast, feels natural and less-rehearsed and concludes with an entreaty to the jury not to enable a second tragedy—a wrong conviction. Logiudice calls two witnesses to establish the facts of the case. He asks Duffy if it was strange that Andy kept the case, and Duffy states that it was not. Andy feels the judge favors them.

This chapter returns to Jacob’s diagnosis from Dr. Vogel, with Andy commenting more directly to the reader. Laurie looks drained and upset, and Andy says, “I could not stop loving her, and I still cannot […] She never stopped protecting him, even in the end” (289). Jonathan tells them that Jacob looks guilty, so they will need to use the diagnosis to their advantage. Dr. Vogel states her diagnosis—narcissistic personality disorder—and emphasizes that Jacob sees others as “less human” (292). She also suggests that a disruption in childhood affected his ability to make healthy attachments. In addition, Jacob has a genetic mutation called MAOA Knockout that is associated with male antisocial behavior, as do Billy and Jacob. Laurie accuses Andy of pretending their family is normal when it never has been.