Continuity mistake: During the Oldsmobile dealership scene two robed citizens are shown to be looking at small scale model cars on the rear wall (blue car) and side wall (red car) in the showroom. When Huxley and Spartan bust through the floor in the elevator the two citizens are missing. (01:30:50)
Continuity mistake: Simon Phoenix's eyes change. Sometimes the blue is in the left eye, sometimes in the right.
Other mistake: The Verbal Morality Code seems to be applied in an almost haphazard fashion. Several times throughout the movie, both Spartan and Phoenix swear, and do so near an area where they should be vocally reminded of breaking the code, in fact have been previously reminded, and in spite of them not moving from that location are not warned again in the face of repeated swearing.
Answer: Spartan didn't have authorization to go in and apprehend Phoenix to begin with. Depending on the time and manner of deaths of the hostages, it may have been impossible for the authorities to determine that they were already dead before Spartan went in guns blazing, so it would be determined that he was criminally negligent in their deaths. Whatever Phoenix had to say on the matter probably didn't even factor into Spartan's trial.
Phaneron ★