This episode features a Bond girl and a Bond villain: Carey Lowell (Jamie Ross) played Pam Bouvier in Licence to Kill (1989), while Yaphet Kotto (Al Giardello) played Dr. Kananga (Mr. Big) in Live and Let Die (1973).
The police's investigation and the DA's case are jeopardized by the details of the girl's death (specifically her being raped) being leaked to the media and then published by them. Such a practice is one of the main reasons for the creation of the Rape Shield Law, which makes it illegal for the media to publish the name or photo of a rape victim. It also prevents a rape victim's prior sexual history being introduced at trial (except in a few specific circumstances) because such information is irrelevant to the victim's getting raped. For example, the defense might try to suggest that the victim "was easy" because she had had multiple sexual partners or that she "was asking for it" because she had led the perpetrator on by dressing or acting provocatively. (Even if a girl walks down the street naked that doesn't give anyone the right to touch her body. However, some people feel that it would make the victim partly liable.) This defense tactic often worked because juries might often forget that the law states a person has the right to say no to stop a sexual encounter at any point, even if sexual intercourse has begun and, for example, if the man has already penetrated inside the girl. A woman has the right to change her mind and stop the encounter: if the man doesn't comply and immediately withdraw, the act may be considered rape. By making it extremely difficult for the defense to introduce evidence on the victim's previous sexual partners or about his/her sexual preferences, the rape shield law helps to ensure that juries stay on point and a verdict doesn't get nullified by the defense making the victim look "like a slut" who got what was coming to him/her. It also helped rape victims come forward and report the crime: victims didn't have to be afraid of knowledge about their being raped or the details of the crime being released to the public and causing embarrassment for the victim and their family.
Tom Tammi has played four different characters over the course of the series:
- Episode 2.10 Heaven (1991) - James Collins.
- Episode 6.1 Bitter Fruit (1995) - Mr. Gaines.
- Episode 8.6 Baby, It's You (1997) - Dr. Steven Janaway.
- Episode 12.4 Soldier of Fortune (2001) - FBI Agent Frank Gilliam.
This episode takes place in October 1997.