White Tiger’s Tragic End in Daredevil: Born Again

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> In the third episode of “Daredevil: Born Again,” titled “The Hollow of His Hand,” I found myself on the opposite side of the law from Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, as portrayed by Jon Bernthal. He had once said that you don’t hear the bullet that takes you down, but in this episode, it seemed he was right, albeit painfully so. The trial for Hector Ayala (Kamar De Los Reyes) reached its somber end, with me, Matt Murdock, defending him against Officer Powell (Hamish Allan-Headley). Inside and outside of the courtroom, I stood by Hector, fighting charges that accused him of murdering Officer Kel Shanahan (Jefferson Cox), his partner. Eventually, I managed to clear Hector’s name in this case.

To reveal Hector’s hidden identity as the White Tiger in order to clear his client’s name, Matt made witnesses speak up about Hector’s selfless deeds. These included rescuing a couple from a flaming car, shielding a woman from a knife-wielding assailant, and numerous police reports praising the so-called “cop killer” for assisting officers.

In every case, Hector asserted that he willingly faced danger because it was the morally correct action. Despite the verdict in the trial People v. Hector Ayala ruling Hector innocent of manslaughter and murder charges in the first and second degrees, resulting in his freedom, a vigilante armed with guns ambushed him, leading the White Tiger into a trap and fatally shooting Hector in the head. The masked assailant, who had a white skull painted on his chest – a symbol of the Punisher – then vanished into the night.

In a surprising turn of events similar to Hector’s destiny in the comics, the character White Tiger experienced an even more heart-rending conclusion in the 2003 issue #40 of Daredevil, penned by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Terry Dodson. During a three-issue storyline that coincided with Matt Murdock’s legal struggles, Luke Cage and Danny Rand enlisted Murdock to defend White Tiger. This was after he was falsely accused of murdering a police officer while trying to stop a robbery at a pawn shop in the Bronx.

White Tiger: Super Hero Cop Killer?

At first, Matt was hesitant about the sensational news coverage involving the trial of a superhero cop’s alleged killer, Hector. However, after employing his heightened senses to discern that Hector was being truthful during their encounter at Ryker’s Island, where he asserted his innocence, Matt agreed to take on his case.

While Luke Cage and Iron Fist pursued the criminals who murdered police officer Scott Perkins, Matt Murdock and his associate, Foggy Nelson, took on the challenge of defending Hector in a trial often referred to as the “trial of the century.” Prosecutor Paul Delacourt claimed that Hector, disguised as the White Tiger, shot and killed Officer Perkins during a robbery attempt at Uncle’s Pawn Shop over a stolen television set. Despite Hector being found at the crime scene covered in the victim’s blood, Nelson and Murdock argued there was no tangible or scientific evidence to prove that Hector was the one who pulled the trigger of the murder weapon.

Hector wasn’t guilty of the crime he was charged with, something Matt was certain about. However, it fell upon him to establish this fact in court. Delacourt expected the defense team would bring up the White Tiger’s brave actions while wearing a superhero costume, and so portrayed a self-made vigilante who disregarded both life and the law.

Matt asserted before the court that Hector is not only a hero and family man, but also an individual who has never been involved in any criminal activities. Contrary to the prosecutor’s allegations suggesting that this hero would inexplicably kill a police officer over a second-hand TV set, Matt maintained that such claims were purely fictional. Instead, Matt informed the jury, the truth was…

In a different part of town, Hector, taking on the guise of the White Tiger, attempted to prevent a robbery from occurring in his community. His goal was to shield his neighborhood from those who sought to exploit it. Unfortunately, he arrived too late as he soon found out that the robbery had escalated into a murder. The sound of a gunshot which echoed through the pawn shop was the shot that took down Officer Perkins, an incident that transpired prior to Hector’s arrival.

Matt asserted that Hector had been temporarily subdued by a group of juvenile offenders who fled from the crime scene, resulting in the police officers discovering the aftermath. “He was apprehended based on speculation,” Matt declared about his client. “Not on actual events or forensic proof. But on coincidence and assumption. There is no evidence suggesting that Hector used the murder weapon. He did not.” In essence, Matt contended that, similar to Officer Perkins, Hector was also a victim and not guilty of the charges he faced.

During questioning, Officer Robert Snipes declared under oath that he did not observe Hector Ayala firing at Officer Perkins or aggressively approaching him to cause harm. It was officially noted that only Officer Perkins’ fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, and while fibers from the White Tiger costume were absent from the victim’s body, blood samples taken from the blood-stained costume matched perfectly with Officer Perkins’ own blood. No gunshot residue was detected on Hector Ayala’s White Tiger gloves or any other pieces of evidence indicating he had ever discharged a firearm. A professional testified that a footprint resembling Hector Ayala’s was discovered in a pool of blood, but the defense posited that this was a result of Hector’s physical confrontation with the alleged perpetrators.

During the trial, Nelson and Murdock challenged the prosecution’s case by pointing out the absence of forensic evidence. Meanwhile, Matt urged Hector to stay composed as he faced questioning from the prosecutor. The defense then brought forward several witnesses who testified in favor of Hector: Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four, investigator Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Danny Rand from Heroes for Hire, Robert Diamond from the Sons of the Tiger, and Doctor Stephen Strange, an expert on the mystical amulet that bestows its wearer with superhuman powers similar to those of the White Tiger.

In a courtroom setting in the Bronx, Nelson and Murdock called Hector to testify about the events of that night. Emotions ran high as he asserted his innocence, eventually breaking down when faced with accusations from the prosecutor that Hector had committed the crime due to financial struggles and marital issues with his soon-to-be ex-wife. Delacourt questioned Hector about his personal life, implying that the former “aspiring superhero” suffered from an inflated sense of self-importance, leading him to take whatever he desired, be it items from a pawn shop or an officer’s life.

In Daredevil issue #40, Delacourt’s closing statements portrayed Hector Ayala as a cold-blooded murderer and police officer killer who let down his family and failed in his role as a costumed crusader. The financial hardships that forced him to steal and kill were used against him by Delacourt, who argued that the prosecution had provided both motive and cause. However, the bias against vigilantes was evident in his speech.

The People of New York v. Hector Ayala: The Verdict

In a compelling defense for Hector Ayala, Matt emphasized that Hector was not on trial for being a vigilante, but rather for the murder of Officer Perkins. He stated, “This court case centers around one issue: one man’s assertion of his innocence against the grave charges he has been accused of.” Matt continued by stating unequivocally that Hector did not kill Officer Perkins, and that no gun was ever found in his possession because the alleged incident never occurred.

It was argued that Hector was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time, and in a heartfelt appeal to the jury, Matt asked them to put themselves in Hector’s shoes. “Imagine being arrested and imprisoned for a crime you did not commit,” he said. “Picture a prosecutor standing before you, shouting and scrutinizing your personal life, attempting to construct an image of guilt that doesn’t exist because there is no evidence.”

Matt went on to express his hope that the jury would understand Hector’s plight, stating, “Think about a man who has been punished these past few months for nothing. Let this innocent man return to his life, to the productive life he led before this ordeal. Allow him to rebuild what we have taken away from him. And let our heroes, despite their human flaws, continue to walk among us.

After discussing the case for a significantly abridged period compared to expectations, the verdict was swiftly reached, finding Hector Ayala, as charged, to be guilty.

Prior to being returned to jail for sentencing, Hector assaulted a court officer, seized his firearm, and bolted from the courtroom. He made his escape onto the courthouse steps where Hector was fatally shot by the police. The trial of the White Tiger – much like Hector’s life – concluded in tragedy.

At the end of issue #40 of Daredevil, Matt Murdock donned his Daredevil costume to track down Officer Perkins’ killer’s accomplice. This young culprit had fatally overdosed on drugs, but before passing away, he admitted to being an accessory in the crime. Despite this confession, there was no justice served for Hector Ayala.

New episodes of Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again air Tuesdays on Disney+.

2025-03-12 04:40

White Tiger: Super Hero Cop Killer?

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