Don’t miss Celebrity Myxer’s recap of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode 9 “People Vs Richard Wheatley.” Carisi tries Richard Wheatley for the murder of Kathy Stabler. Benson finds herself at odds with a friend when Barba agrees to take the case. Here’s what you missed!
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Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode 9 “People Vs Richard Wheatley”
On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode 8, a rival rap group chasing clout used two women as a honeypot to catch another crew lacking and robbed them. The ordeal got deadly quickly and the robbed crew were murdered. The detectives pressed on one of the women left behind as she got shot in the melee. They grappled with the possibility that she was a victim rather than a predator as initially conceived.
The case went to court and Carisi was in the limelight to try the perpetrator who coerced women to do his dirty deeds. The case went high profile on the media and Carisi was pressured by higher-ups to lean on the cooperating woman. He stood his ground and finally convinced the bureaucrats to have compassion in the law and not pursue victims of coercion and sex crimes…
Warning… Spoilers below!
On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode 9, this is part one of the crossover episodes… read here for part 2!
Olivia Benson joined the Stabler family at Kathleen Stabler’s gravesite to lay flowers and exchange a few words. Afterward, Elliot and Olivia spoke about Richard Wheatley’s upcoming trial.
In the courtroom, ADA Carisi and Bureau Chief Phillip Baptiste tried to nudge the judge to get Isaac Becker (the architect of the bomb that killed Kathleen Stabler) in court but they knew he was probably dead at the hands of Wheatley. But the justice sided with Wheatley that the man wouldn’t be heard from.
In a curveball move, Wheatley fired his lawyer while in court to buy time (changing lawyers for the 4th time thus far.) The criminal interviewed several attorneys and ultimately hired Counselor Rafael Barba.
Stabler and Benson confronted Barba about representing the man. The defense attorney claimed he was taking the case because he felt the authorities were biased, choosing to stick him with the murder charge over the RICO charges. They are claiming the NYPD is framing Wheatley for the contract killing of Kathleen Stabler…
Vigilante & Excessive Force
Capt. Benson took the stand and Barba tried to paint Elliot Stabler as a vigilante as he was allowed to interfere with the investigation.
When Sgt. Bell took the stand, Barba tried to illustrate Stabler’s excessive use of force. He even brought up the irony that her family was suing the NYPD for excessive force used against her nephew. It was objected, however.
Wheatley requested a private chat with Benson and apologized for her car crash, claiming he wasn’t responsible. He warned her to ensure Stabler’s children aren’t in court when his ex-wife, Angela Wheatley, would testify. He also warned that she should be absent too. Benson took those concerns to Stabler and he shut down.
She shifted the conversation to his disappearance when she was injured and spoke of the letter. He still didn’t have answers for her.
Withdrawn Statements
Angela Wheatley took the stand and told of her recovering from being poisoned with a nerve agent. She walked with a cane and had issues with her speech and memory. Carisi preemptively brought up the rumor Richard planted with the woman that Stabler had gunned down her son. But learned Richard acutally killed him. But the jury was instructed to disregard the statement as Richard wasn’t convicted of that crime.
Barba immediately brought up the fact that Elliot and Angela shared a kiss. They turned the tables on her, making her out as the mastermind who ordered the hit on Kathleen. She admitted under oath that she was and still is in love with Elliot Stabler. His children came to court and heard a tough truth.
In private, Richard was pissed at Barba’s tactic making him look weak, but had to accept it. Next to the stand was his imprisoned son, Richie. He was on video conferencing from jail to testify against his father. However, it was clearly visible that someone off camera said something to the man which instantly made him withdraw his statement. He claimed under oath that he lied on his father. It was damaging to the prosecutor’s case!
Death Threats
Time for Stabler to take the stand. Barba knew to press his anger buttons. After being instructed several times to answer only the question he was asked and not inject any other statement he was held in contempt of court for taunting the judge. It was a ruse to get the guard to escort him to the bathroom where Wheatley was, alone. The two men spoke of their women and Stabler managed to ruffle Wheatley’s feathers a bit.
The defense wanted to rest the case but Wheatley wanted to take the stand. Suddenly, Benson returned to the courtroom with Angela. Richard spoke of how Stabler was fixated on his demise, falsely blaming him for his wife’s murder. He claimed that he and Angela had nothing to do with the murder and pinned it on Isaac Becker, offering that the man has possibly fled the country.
Carisi pressured the powerful drug lord about hits he ordered. Wheatley lost his composure and told Carisi, “If I wanted somebody dead they would be dead, including you Mr. Carisi!” He threatened a prosecutor in open court and the jury was set to deliberate thereafter…
Missed Trial
While the jury was delivering a verdict, Stabler had an emergency as Eli had slipped out. The jury was deadlocked and the defensive requested a mistrial. The judge granted the mistrial and remanded Wheatley for a retrial later.
Stabler had to take off and find Eli. When he got home he searched for Eli and called him repeatedly… continue this story here!
What did you think of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode 9? Let’s talk about Law & Order: SVU in the comments below! Missed any of the episodes? Catch up with our recaps!
Air Date: December 9, 2021
When Will Law & Order SVU Return?
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will return on Thursday, January 6, 2022!
Law & Order: SVU Cast
- Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
- Kelli Giddish as Detective 2nd Grade Amanda Rollins
- Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
- Peter Scanavino as ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.
- Jamie Gray Hyder as Detective 3rd Grade Katriona “Kat” Tamin
- Demore Barnes as Deputy Chief Christian Garland
- Terry Serpico as Chief McGrath
- Tamara Tunie as Chief M.E. Melinda Warner
- Octavio Pisano as Detective Joe Velasco
Guest Cast
- Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley
- Raúl Esparza as Counselor Rafael Barba
- Teagle F. Bougere as Bureau Chief Phillip Baptiste
- Tamara Taylor as Angela Wheatley
- Nicky Torchia as Eli Stabler
- Jeffrey Scaperrotta as Dickie Stabler
- Allison Siko as Kathleen Stabler
Catch a new episode each week on NBC, check out the listings dates below. Stay right here, stay mixed in because Law & Order: SVU Season 23 Episode 10, is sure to excite! Drop your email to get insights into your inbox…
Will There Be A Law & Order SVU Season 24?
Yes! Law & Order SVU Season 24 has been renewed. See when it will return...
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Episode Guide
Season | Episode | Title | Air Date |
23 | 22 | “A Final Call at Forlini's Bar” Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Finale | May 19, 2022 |
23 | 21 | “Confess Your Sins to Be Free” | May 12, 2022 |
23 | 20 | “Did You Believe In Miracles?” | May 5, 2022 |
23 | 19 | “Tangled Strands of Justice” | April 28, 2022 |
23 | 18 | “Eighteen Wheels a Predator” | April 14, 2022 |
23 | 17 | “Once Upon a Time in El Barrio” | April 7, 2022 |
23 | 16 | “Got Weird for You” | March 17, 2022 |
23 | 15 | “Promising Young Gentlemen” | March 10, 2022 |
23 | 14 | “Video Killed the Radio Star” | March 3, 2022 |
23 | 13 | “If I Knew Then What I Know Now” | February 24, 2022 |
23 | 12 | “Tommy Baker's Hardest Fight” | January 20, 2022 |
23 | 11 | “Burning with Rage Forever” | January 13, 2022 |
23 | 10 | “Silent Night, Hateful Night” | January 6, 2022 |
23 | 9 | “People Vs Richard Wheatley” Crossover Episode | December 9, 2021 |
23 | 8 | “Nightmares in Drill City” | November 11, 2021 |
23 | 7 | “They'd Already Disappeared” | November 4, 2021 |
23 | 6 | “500” | October 21, 2021 |
23 | 5 | “Fast Times @TheWheelHouse” | October 14, 2021 |
23 | 4 | “One More Tale of Two Victims” | October 7, 2021 |
23 | 3 | “I Thought You Were On My Side” | September 30, 2021 |
23 | 2 | “Never Turn Your Back on Them” | September 23, 2021 |
23 | 1 | “And the Empire Strikes Back” Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 23 Premiere | September 23, 2021 |
Photo credit: NBC
I have been watching SVU from its beginning… I resent being dragged into the L & O ( with Stabler) that comes after-I DONT like it and hate being dragged into the crossover episodes!!!
We’re sorry you feel that way 🙁