Ep 1. Fatal Compulsion

The New Detectives, season 3 episode 1, titled "Fatal Compulsion," follows the investigative process of solving a peculiar murder case in which the victim's presence wasn't physically required at the crime scene. The episode illustrates the complexity of the case as the detectives try to unravel the murderer's modus operandi and motives.

The episode begins with the discovery of a lifeless body in a remote area. The victim is identified as a middle-aged man, Eric, who was shot in the back of his head. However, the more puzzling aspect of the crime is that the victim's body was found tens of miles from his home. The detectives immediately realize that Eric was not killed at the spot where the body was found. This revelation leads the investigators on a chase to trace Eric's whereabouts in the last few hours of his life.

The detectives discern that Eric was a man with no known enemies, and his lifestyle alone doesn't suggest a plot of revenge. However, as the investigation continues, the detectives discover a long-hidden obsession that could have cost Eric his life. They found out that Eric was emotionally attached to a young woman, Jennifer, from his locality. They realize that his fixation on Jennifer could have led to a fatal compulsion.

The detectives start looking into Jennifer's movements on the day of the murder. They contacted her, and she willingly provided them with her alibi – that she was at work the entire day and couldn't have met Eric. Detectives shared their doubt with Jennifer about Eric's obsession with her and presented some evidence. Jennifer confesses that Eric was indeed persistently trying to establish a romantic relationship with her. She also disclosed that Eric had tried to reach out to her at work that afternoon following which she had blocked his number.

The detectives recheck Jennifer's alibi and found that Jennifer's attendance record at work was falsified. Jennifer's colleagues testify that she was around the office premises, but they couldn't confirm she was working. They also get hold of CCTV footage, which showed Jennifer leaving the office premises. When the detectives confront Jennifer with this new information, she denies any involvement in the murder, and she maintains that she spent that afternoon running errands. Furthermore, when presented in view of evidence connecting Jennifer's vehicle with Eric's whereabouts that day:

It is at this point that the detectives begin to suspect that Jennifer might be lying. They probe further, and with advances in forensic technology, they are able to extract evidence from Eric's vehicle - swab testing from the car's interior yielded Jennifer's DNA and traces of gunshot residue. The physical evidence points at Jennifer's involvement in the murder, which she was reluctant to disclose earlier.

The prosecution seeks to convince the court that Jennifer killed Eric in an act of self -defense following Eric's persistent stalking and aggression. However, Jennifer's defense claimed that Jennifer shot Eric in the heat of the moment, without any provocation from Eric. The court's decision takes into account the defendant's motive and intent, and Jennifer is sentenced accordingly.

In conclusion, "Fatal Compulsion" showed the gritty and systematic process of solving complex murder cases and how obsessive behavior could lead to dire circumstances. The episode highlights advances in forensic technology and what kind of evidence is acceptable in court.