An aggressive publicity campaign mounted by ABC in the fall of 1996 left no doubt that the first season of the networks new courtroom drama Murder One would break standard weekly series precedent by focusing on a single, solitary murder case throughout the entire season. Led by ruthless criminal attorney Theodore Hoffman (Daniel Benzali), a crack team of lawyers builds a persuasive defense on behalf of arrogant movie star Neil Avedon (Jason Gedrick), who is the prime suspect in the murder of his drug-abusing girlfriend Jessica. Even as Hoffman and his associates Chris Docknovich (Michael Hayden), Arnold Spivak (J.C. MacKenzie), Justine Appleton (Mary McCormick), and Lisa Gillespie (Grace Phillips) move heaven and earth to get Neil off, the equally diligent prosecution team, headed by DA Roger Garfield (Gregory Itzin) and ADA Miriam Grasso (Barbara Bosson), are dedicated to establishing Neils guilt. Complicating matters is the presence of another suspect: Richard Cross (Stanley Tucci), multimillionaire businessman and owner of the building where Jessica died. Even so, Avedon is tried and convicted -- but theres a breathtaking twist at the very end of season one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide