Despite what the other reviewer says, figuring out the footprints was vitally important to solving this crime. The footprints, once sorted out, showed the "dance" of what happened during and after the stabbing, pointing ultimately to the young woman as the more-than-likely killer. As for fingerprints on the murder weapon being more pertinent: the weapon was a pair of scissors, scissors have small surfaces that at best would hold only part of any finger's print, and probably no useful print once the blood covered most of it (as can be seen on the show). It's possible that DNA may have been left by the killer...of could have been left by the second person stabbed; DNA on the scissors wouldn't have been decisive as to the killer vs one of the victims.
As for a gender bias at play with the decision to not go for homicide: watchers of the show should have heard about the young woman's history of mental health problems. Since the weapon was found opportunistically in the house, premeditated murder was unlikely to be found by a jury; given her history of mental health issues and situation of passion involved, a jury was very likely to have a hard time going for more than a low level of manslaughter (whatever levels Calif has). Getting a confession was optimal to solving the case, and negotiating a deal for placement in a state hospital until the young woman was deemed no longer harmful was the safest bet. Given her mental health history, she's likely to be hospitalized a long time; given her age and onset of her irrational behavior, the chances of something like schizophrenia is likely, which can be treated in some but not successfully for many others, so the young women would likely be incarcerated in a hosp for a long time. Good choice for police and DA to resolve the crime, get the girl off the street and into protective treatment. Our justice system would work a lot better if nuances in mental health and in how cases get resolved were handled more like this show did.
As for a gender bias at play with the decision to not go for homicide: watchers of the show should have heard about the young woman's history of mental health problems. Since the weapon was found opportunistically in the house, premeditated murder was unlikely to be found by a jury; given her history of mental health issues and situation of passion involved, a jury was very likely to have a hard time going for more than a low level of manslaughter (whatever levels Calif has). Getting a confession was optimal to solving the case, and negotiating a deal for placement in a state hospital until the young woman was deemed no longer harmful was the safest bet. Given her mental health history, she's likely to be hospitalized a long time; given her age and onset of her irrational behavior, the chances of something like schizophrenia is likely, which can be treated in some but not successfully for many others, so the young women would likely be incarcerated in a hosp for a long time. Good choice for police and DA to resolve the crime, get the girl off the street and into protective treatment. Our justice system would work a lot better if nuances in mental health and in how cases get resolved were handled more like this show did.
