Body of Evidence

Rebecca was acquitted because her emotional testimony convinced the jury that she never intended for Marsh's death to occur. The prosecution failed to prove deliberate intent, and the jury believed her claim that his death was an accident during consensual sexual activity. Additionally, the testimony of Marsh's secretary Joanne Braslow introduced reasonable doubt by revealing her own intimate relationship with Marsh, suggesting his death could have had other causes.

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that prevents someone from being tried twice for the same crime. Once Rebecca was acquitted of murdering Marsh, she could not be retried even if new evidence emerged. Additionally, attorney-client privilege prevented Frank from disclosing confidential information about his client's crimes. This left Frank trapped - he knew Rebecca was guilty but legally could not reveal it.

Dr. Alan Payley, Marsh's personal physician who had helped Rebecca orchestrate Marsh's death, killed Rebecca. After Frank confronted them about their conspiracy, Payley became enraged when Rebecca mocked him and warned he could be accused of perjury. He shot her twice, causing her to fall from the window into the water below.

Garrett's chilling reply reveals he intentionally lost the murder case knowing Rebecca would eventually face consequences. By letting an apparently guilty Rebecca walk free, he ensured she would be killed by her co-conspirators, achieving justice through murder rather than the legal system. His statement suggests a cynical view that the outcome mattered more than following proper legal procedure.

Earlier scenes establish Garrett's intense determination to convict Rebecca, making his 'loss' seem intentional.

Rebecca and Dr. Alan Payley conspired to kill Andrew Marsh for his $8 million inheritance. Payley, as Marsh's physician, provided medical knowledge that made the death appear as accidental erotic asphyxiation rather than murder. Their plan involved Rebecca engaging Marsh in the sexual activity that led to his death, with Payley's medical expertise ensuring the cause of death would be misattributed.

Joanne Braslow was Andrew Marsh's private secretary who testified during the trial. Her testimony revealed she had an intimate relationship with Marsh as well, suggesting his death could have resulted from activities with her rather than Rebecca. This introduced reasonable doubt about the prosecution's case and helped establish that Rebecca might not have been the cause of Marsh's death.

Frank was drawn into an intense sadomasochistic relationship with Rebecca despite his suspicions because she manipulated him psychologically while he defended her case. The intimacy developed during their late-night work sessions, and Rebecca's apparent vulnerability during trial preparations created emotional dependency. Frank's own desires conflicted with his professional judgment, leading him into an affair that clouded his ability to see her true nature.

The candle wax scene demonstrated the escalating sadomasochistic nature of Rebecca and Frank's secret affair. It symbolized Rebecca's control in the relationship and her propensity for dangerous sexual behavior. The scene also foreshadowed her violent nature and ability to dominate men, which later connects to how she manipulated both Marsh and Payley.

Frank's wife noticed physical marks on his body from his encounters with Rebecca, specifically the injuries from their sadomasochistic activities. This visual evidence led her to piece together that her husband was having an affair, though the full truth of Rebecca's involvement came later.

Andrew Marsh died from complications of erotic asphyxiation, a sexual practice involving oxygen restriction. While officially ruled accidental, the movie reveals this was actually a deliberate murder plot orchestrated by Rebecca and Dr. Payley. The sexual encounter with Rebecca was designed to appear as an unfortunate accident while being a calculated killing.