Plot hole: They found seminal fluid left in Caroline Polhemus. Why didn't they subject it to DNA testing, which would have been a powerful indicator of Sabich's guilt? Fertility (or otherwise) has nothing to do with it - as well as non-motile sperm (which contain DNA anyway) the seminal fluid would contain discarded skin and blood calls in abundance. DNA testing was first used in a criminal case in 1985 and was in fairly common use by 1988.
Presumed Innocent (1990)
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Bonnie Bedelia, Greta Scacchi, Raul Julia
Other mistake: Rusty's attorney challenges Dr Kumagai by pointing out that Caroline Polhemus' had had a tubal ligation, but the spermicide nonoxynol-9 was found in her body. Kumagai is caught off balance, totally flustered. In fact as an experienced medical examiner Kumagai would know that at that time nonoxynol-9 was thought to offer protection from HIV and was widely used by people at no risk of an unwanted pregnancy. He would have thrown this right back in the attorney's face.
Continuity mistake: When the reporters surround Harrison Ford, there are no tapes in the tape recorders.
Barbara Sabich: You're still in love with her.
Rusty Sabich: It was never love.
Barbara Sabich: Then what was it?
Rusty Sabich: It was never love.
Rusty Sabich: Next time you talk to him, tell him to call me so I can find out what's going on in my own fucking investigation. Painless, you tell Molto, and you tell Nico, too, that this is cheap, cheap politics. Cheap Police Department bullshit. God better help them and help you, too, if I can't make a case for tampering.
Rusty Sabich: The jury is going to remember Caroline tortured to death. They'll want someone to pay for the crime.
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