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 WHILE NOT HIS FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE, CONNOR MADE
HIS FIRST NATION-WIDE IMPRESSION IN THIS EPISODE. HE PLAYED "ZACHARY CONNOR," A SWEET-FACED SIXTH GRADER WITH STRAIGHT
A's AND NO HISTORY OF DISCIPINARY PROBLEMS WHO IS INVOLVED WITH AN OLDER BOY IN THE BRUTAL MURDER-RAPE OF A WOMAN.
DNA CLEARLY SHOWS ZACHARY TO BE THE RAPIST, BUT HE ALLEGES HIS BIGGER, EMOTIONALLY TROUBLED COMPANION FORCED HIM TO DO THIS,
AND WAS THE INSTIGATOR OF THE APARTMENT BREAK-IN.
BECAUSE HE IS ONLY 12, HE RECEIVES A LENIENT SENTENCE IN JUVENILE COURT. HOWEVER, HE
IS THEN SUBPOENED TO TESTIFY IN THE TRIAL IN ADULT COURT OF HIS ACCOMPLICE. BY APPEALING TO HIS VANITY, THE ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRICKS HIM INTO ADMITTING ON THE STAND, AND EVEN BRAGGING, THAT HE WAS THE PERPETRATOR OF BOTH THE RAPE AND THE MURDER AND THAT THE BURGLARY
WAS HIS IDEA. THIS REMAINS ONE OF CONNOR'S MOST EFFECTIVE SCENES AND HIS PORTRAIT OF A REMORSELESS DEMON-CHILD WAS CHILLING.
IT SEEMS EVIDENT THIS APPEARANCE PLAYED A PART IN HIS CASTING IN BOTH MYSTIC RIVER AND ALEXANDER.
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR ACTUAL SIZE
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