Jagged Edge (1985) Plot Summary Explained

Teddy Barnes refuses because she previously worked under District Attorney Thomas Krasny, who forced her out of criminal law. Krasny had suppressed evidence that proved prisoner Henry Styles was innocent, and Barnes could not tolerate working for an office that hid exculpatory information. Taking Forrester's case means defending a man she may have to oppose morally if she discovers his guilt.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Krasny mentions Henry Styles' suicide to emotionally manipulate Barnes into taking the case.

• Teddy Barnes
• Jack Forrester
• Thomas Krasny
• criminal defense
• case refusal

Henry Styles was a prisoner who hanged himself in custody. His death matters because District Attorney Krasny had suppressed evidence proving Styles was innocent. This wrongful conviction and subsequent suicide represents the corruption in Krasny's office that caused Barnes to quit. Styles' death becomes central to Barnes's public reason for leaving the DA's office after the trial.

Foreshadowing: Krasny strategically reveals Styles' suicide to draw Barnes back into his orbit and control her involvement in the Forrester case.

• Henry Styles
• prisoner suicide
• suppressed evidence
• wrongful conviction
• Krasny

The 1942 Corona typewriter is the machine used to type the anonymous letters arriving at Barnes's office. Forensic analysis matches the letters to this specific model. When Barnes discovers an identical typewriter in Jack Forrester's closet after his acquittal, she realizes he wrote the letters himself, possibly to influence the case or create doubt about his guilt.

Foreshadowing: The anonymous letters begin arriving early in the case, hinting that someone close to the trial has insider knowledge.

• 1942 Corona typewriter
• anonymous letters
• forensic evidence
• Jack Forrester

Julie Jensen was attacked in Santa Cruz on January 21, 1984, in nearly identical fashion to Page Forrester, bound to a bed, shirt ripped open, but the attacker stopped before killing her. The anonymous note directing Barnes to Jensen suggests the same person committed both attacks. The similarity supports the theory that someone other than Jack Forrester committed the murder.

Foreshadowing: The note arrives with specific details only someone involved in the case would know, suggesting the writer has inside information.

• Julie Jensen
• Santa Cruz attack
• Page Forrester murder
• identical attacks
• January 1984

Judge Hawthorn forbids Krasny from presenting his theory to the jury because it is speculative and unsupported by admissible evidence. More significantly, Krasny's office had investigated the Julie Jensen attack and failed to disclose this in discovery, a violation of legal obligations. The judge threatens to have Krasny disbarred for this misconduct, making the theory inadmissible.

Foreshadowing: Barnes previously confronted Krasny about his history of not meeting discovery obligations in pre-trial meetings.

• Judge Hawthorn
• Krasny theory
• anonymous letters
• discovery violation
• court ruling

Bobby Slade testifies that he had an affair with Page Forrester and describes how Jack Forrester manipulates women using horses, he gives them expensive horses to gain their affection and loyalty. Barnes recognizes this pattern from her own relationship with Forrester, realizing he may be using the same manipulative tactics on her, which briefly makes her believe in his guilt.

Foreshadowing: This testimony echoes earlier scenes where Barnes notices Forrester's expensive gifts and attention.

• Bobby Slade
• testimony
• Jack Forrester
• horses
• manipulation
• affair

Despite her suspicion after Slade's testimony, Barnes continues because physical evidence contradicts guilt, specifically the attack on Julie Jensen, which suggests someone else committed the murders. Additionally, she has already invested significantly in the case and believes in the principle of defending anyone until proven guilty. Her emotional involvement with Forrester also clouds her judgment.

Foreshadowing: The pattern of anonymous notes suggesting Forrester's innocence creates enough doubt to keep Barnes defending him.

• Teddy Barnes
• Jack Forrester
• doubt
• defense
• evidence
• emotional involvement

The anonymous note states 'He is innocent. Santa Cruz. January 21, 1984. Ask Julie Jensen.' It directs Barnes to investigate an attack on Julie Jensen in Santa Cruz on that specific date, claiming the real killer attacked Jensen. This note is pivotal because it introduces the Jensen connection that ultimately undermines Krasny's case against Forrester.

Foreshadowing: The note contains information only someone with inside knowledge of the case would have, raising questions about who is sending them.

• anonymous note
• Santa Cruz
• Julie Jensen
• January 21 1984
• case revelation

After Forrester's acquittal, Barnes holds a press conference and announces she left the DA's office because Krasny suppressed evidence proving Henry Styles was innocent. This is her public justification for abandoning her former boss, exposing his corruption and clearing her own name, while simultaneously damaging Krasny's career.

Foreshadowing: The Styles case was the original reason Barnes left criminal law under Krasny, and she uses it to distance herself from him publicly.

• Barnes
• Krasny
• suppressed evidence
• press conference
• Henry Styles

Barnes suspects Forrester after finding the typewriter in his closet and realizes she is in danger. When he calls saying he is coming over, she calls Ransom but hangs up before telling him everything. She then hides a handgun under her bed covers. When the masked intruder attacks, she shoots him multiple times, defending herself until Ransom arrives.

Foreshadowing: Her discovery of the typewriter and her phone call to Ransom establish that Barnes knows Forrester is dangerous.

• Teddy Barnes
• gun
• self-defense
• Jack Forrester attack
• typewriter discovery

Forrester attacks Barnes because she discovered the 1942 Corona typewriter in his closet, the same typewriter used for the anonymous letters. This evidence could prove he wrote the letters to manipulate the case and could lead to a new investigation. Rather than let her expose him, he attempts to kill her to keep his freedom.

Foreshadowing: Barnes realizes the typewriter links to the letters while at his house, a discovery that threatens his acquittal.

• Jack Forrester
• attack
• acquittal
• typewriter
• murder attempt
• evidence

Forensic analysis of the anonymous letters revealed they were typed on a 1942 Corona typewriter. When Barnes finds an identical typewriter in Forrester's closet, the match confirms he wrote the letters himself. The letters were likely an attempt to influence the trial, create reasonable doubt, or manipulate Barnes into believing in his innocence.

Foreshadowing: The letters arrived throughout the trial with details only someone close to the case would know, suggesting an inside source.

• anonymous letters
• typewriter
• forensic match
• Jack Forrester
• evidence connection

Krasny argues in chambers that Jack Forrester planned Page's murder 18 months in advance. He claims Forrester attacked Julie Jensen to create a false alibi and cast suspicion elsewhere, then wrote the anonymous letters to reinforce the theory that someone else committed the crime. Krasny insists Forrester is guilty and is the author of the letters, but the judge forbids this theory from reaching the jury.

Foreshadowing: The anonymous notes began arriving after Forrester hired Barnes, suggesting he was orchestrating his own defense.

• Krasny theory
• murder planning
• 18 months
• alibi
• Julie Jensen
• anonymous letters