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Tampa Uncuffed

Lawyer didn't get to select his actor

By COLLEEN JENKINS and ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published March 30, 2007

After losing his wife and daughter in a fiery crash, Bruce Murakami spent years pursuing criminal charges against the young man who killed them. Then he forgave the man and asked a judge not to send him to prison.

Several national news and talk shows have already pounced on the made-for-TV plot. Now viewers will get the Hallmark Hall of Fame perspective.

Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness, a movie inspired by Murakami's story, is scheduled to air April 22 on CBS. Murakami will be portrayed by Dean Cain, the handsome actor who played Superman/Clark Kent on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

So who plays Rick Terrana, the Tampa defense attorney who convinced the Hillsborough state attorney that the young man who killed Murakami's loved ones had been street racing?

A woman.

Terrana was good-naturedly stunned Wednesday by the news.

"I'm absolutely, utterly offended," he said.

The actress is Peri Gilpin, who played radio producer Roz Doyle on Frasier. Terrana hasn't heard of her. He prefers hunting and wrestling shows.

He remembers signing a release to allow Hallmark producers to portray him in the movie. But he hadn't heard from them in a long time, so he had no idea they decided to give his character a new name and gender.

"I have said from day one, I should be playing the part," Terrana said. "But to go and change the sexes, that's just unspeakable, in my opinion."

- - -

Nick Cox, who used to prosecute death penalty cases for the State Attorney's Office, turned up in a new role this week. If history holds true, Cox will likely be the guy on the hot seat this time around.

He is the Department of Children and Families' new regional director for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Manatee counties. The role will have him overseeing the privatized network of organizations that provide child welfare services.

Cox said DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth lured him back to public service. He worked as an attorney for Butterworth when he was state attorney general.

"I can't say no to him," Cox said. "I adore Butterworth."

An affable guy, he poked fun at his former life when Butterworth said Cox would offer a "few words" to sheriff's officials gathered Monday to meet the new director.

"I'm a trial lawyer, so I'll have very few words, I'm sure," Cox told the crowd. He paused. "Get comfortable."

Got a tip? For cops news, contact Abbie VanSickle at vansickle@sptimes.com or 813 226-3373. For courts news, contact Colleen Jenkins at cjenkins@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3337.

[Last modified March 30, 2007, 05:34:55]