>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A
HOLE OR SEWER.
YOU'RE LOOKING UP AND CALLING
OUT FOR HELP.
PEOPLE DON'T HEAR YOU.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE NOW HOW
BLESSED THEY ARE TO BE ABLE TO
JUST HUG SOMEBODY THAT THEY LOVE
OR TO WAKE UP IN A HOUSE WITH
PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO
THAT IN 28 YEARS.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU,
DID YOU KILL MARCUS?
>> I DID NOT KILL MARCUS.
HE WAS LIKE A FRIEND TO ME.
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.
I LOVED HIM?
>> MARCUS BOYD WAS SHOT AND
KILLED.
>> SHOT AND KILLED --
>> TWO MASKED MEN SHOT BOYD.
>> WHEN HE PULLED THE TRIGGER, I
SEEN THE FLASH.
-I SWEAR I COULD ALMOST SEE
MUSCLE AND TENDONS BECAUSE THE
FLASH WAS SO BIG.
IT'S LIKE AN X-RAY.
>> COULD YOU SEE THEIR FACES?
COULD YOU IDENTIFY THESE MEN?
>> NO, I COULD IDENTIFY THEM.
>> HE HAD AN ALIBI.
>> I WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY
AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE.
>> HIS GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME
PROVIDED THAT ALIBI.
>> I KNOW FOR A FACT HE DIDN'T
DO IT.
HE WASN'T THERE.
HE WAS NOT INVOLVED.
>> YOU AGREED TO A LINE-UP?
>> AGREED TO A LINE-UP.
>> I COULDN'T IDENTIFY ANYBODY
IN ALL OF IT.
>> GREG VIEWED THE LINE-UP WITH
LAMAR JOHNSON IN IT AT LEAST
THREE TIMES.
THERE'S NO IDENTIFICATION AND
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF
IT.
IT WASN'T.
>> I FELT BULLIED BY THE
DETECTIVES.
>> ONLY AFTER PRESSURE FROM THE
DETECTIVE DID HE ALL OF A SUDDEN
SAY, YEAH, YEAH, THAT GUY DID
IT.
>> JUST KEPT HAVING PRESSURE TO
GO ALONG WITH THIS.
>> HE SAW HIS FRIEND MURDERED.
HE WAS SCARED.
HE WAS EASILY MANIPULATED BY THE
POLICE AND THE PROSECUTOR IN
THIS CASE.
>> I HAD WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A
MURDERER AND AN IDENTIFICATION
WITNESS THAT WAS TRUTHFUL AND
HONEST.
I PRESENTED THE EVIDENCE I HAD
AND A JURY CONVICTED HIM.
>> A TRIAL OF ERRORS FROM START
pTO FINISH.
>> I WAS DEVASTATED.
>> SINCE MY CONVICTION, I'VE
BEEN PETITIONING EVERY JUDGE TO
GIVE ME A HEARING.
NO JUDGE HAS GIVEN ME A CHANCE
TO BE HEARD.
THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T KNOW WHAT
ELSE TO DO.
>> I LOST SO MUCH.
EVERYTHING THAT A LITTLE GIRL
WISHES THAT SHE COULD, YOU KNOW,
EXPERIENCE WITH HER DAD.
>> OUR CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT
FOUND NEW EVIDENCE THAT
EXONERATES MR. LAMAR JOHNSON.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING POWERFUL,
REALLY POWERFUL IN OUR SYSTEM OF
JUSTICE WHEN THE PROSECUTOR SAYS
WE'RE THE ONES THAT MADE THE
MISTAKE.
WE'RE TRYING TO FREE THIS MAN.
>> FREE LAMAR JOHNSON!
>> IT'S DEVASTATING FOR ME THAT
THIS MAN SPENT 28 YEARS IN
PRISON FOR A CRIME HE DIDN'T
COMMIT.
>> THIS IS REALLY KIND OF LAMAR
JOHNSON'S LAST CHANCE, ISN'T IT?
>> YES, THAT IS TRUE.
♪
>>> CONVICTED AT 21.
STILL LOCKED UP AT 49.
LAMAR JOHNSON HAS SPENT MOST OF
HIS LIFE IN PRISON FOR A CRIME
HE INSISTS HE DID NOT COMMIT.
>> HOW DO YOU KEEP UP HOPE?
>> I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
I KNOW THE TRUTH.
I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T KILL
MARKUS.
>> LAMAR JOHNSON WAS CONVICTED
OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN 1995
FOR SHOOTING 25-YEAR-OLD MARKUS
BOYD ON HIS FRONT PORCH.
JOHNSON WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
PAROLE.
WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?
>> TIME.
AND THERE IS A CLOSENESS
BETWEEN, ESPECIALLY WITH A
FATHER AND HIS
SHE WAS JUST AN INFANT THEN.
>> THERE IS STILL AN INNOCENT
MAN IN PRISON.
KIERA'S MOTHER.
>> DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD MARRY
HIM?
>> YES, I DID.
I MEAN, HE WAS MY FIRST LOVE.
>> LAMAR JOHNSON GREW UP IN ST.
LOUIS CONSISTENTLY RANKED AS ONE
OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN
THE COUNTRY.
HIS SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN
1994 WAS BATTERED BY HIGH CRIME
AND HOMICIDE RATES.
JOHNSON HAD STEERED CLEAR OF
SERIOUS TROUBLE.
>> HE WANTED TO BETTER HIMSELF.
HE WANTED TO BE THE MAN THAT HE
NEEDED TO BE FOR HIS CHILDREN.
>> SO JOHNSON, THE 20-YEAR-OLD
FATHER OF TWO, WORKED AT JIFFY
LUBE WHILE ATTENDING COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
BUT HE ALSO HAD A DANGEROUS SIDE
HUSTLE.
SELLING SMALL AMOUNTS OF CRACK
COCAINE FOR EXTRA CASH.
>> YES, I WAS MAKING SOME POOR
CHOICES.
AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THAT.
BUT THAT WASN'T THE SUM OF WHO I
WAS.
>> SELLING DRUGS WASN'T HIS
LIFE.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING TO HELP
HIM MANAGE UNTIL HE COULD DO
BETTER.
>> JOHNSON'S GOOD FRIEND MARKUS
BOYD, FIVE YEARS OLDER, HAD ALSO
STARTED A FAMILY AND WAS HOLDING
DOWN A SOLID JOB AT A PRINTING
COMPANY.
AND HE, TOO, SOLD DRUGS ON THE
SIDE.
>> MARKUS WAS LIKE THE PREPPY
TYPE.
HE WASN'T VERY STREET.
>> HE WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD
GUY.
>> GREG ELKING, THEN 30, HAD
WORKED BRIEFLY WITH BOYD AT THE
PRINTING COMPANY.
ELKING ADMITS HE WAS AN
OCCASIONAL CUSTOMER.
ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 30th,
1994, HE WANTED TO GET HIGH.
BUT BOYD SAID NO.
>> HE WAS LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO WORK TOMORROW.
WE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN ON THE
FRONT PORCH UP ON THE STAIRS.
>> MARKUS BOYD'S STREET,
LOUISIANA AVENUE, WAS EMPTY.
HIS GIRLFRIEND AND THEIR BABY
WERE UPSTAIRS.
>> ALL HE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE
TIME WAS ABOUT HIS BABY AND
ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND.
HE'S MAKING ME LAUGH.
WE'RE KIND OF LAUGHING AT EACH
OTHER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE WENT
SERIOUS.
HE WAS LIKE, OH, NO.
>> FROM THE NARROW PATHWAY NEXT
TO BOYD'S APARTMENT, TWO MEN
CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, BARELY
VISIBLE IN THE DIM LIGHT.
>> THESE GUYS HAD COMPLETELY
DARK CLOTHING AND THEY HAD MASKS
ON.
>> BLACK MASKS LIKE THIS ONE.
AND THEY HAD GUNS.
THE MEN FLEW UP THE PORCH STEPS,
HE SAYS.
ONE ATTACKED MARKUS BOYD.
>> AND HE'S WRESTLING WITH
MARKUS.
>> THE SECOND GUNMAN GRABBED
ELKING.
>> AND HE SAID GET UP.
I REMEMBER LOOKING AT HIM RIGHT
IN THE GUY'S EYES.
THE OTHER GUY, I SEEN HIM PUT
THE GUN RIGHT UP TO MARKUS' NECK
AREA.
WHEN HE PULLED THE TRIGGER, I
SEEN THE FLASH.
BOOM!
THE THIRD SHOT.
I KIND OF SEEN MARKUS' SOUL JUST
G.
AND I KNEW HE WAS DEAD.
>> BOTH MEN CONTINUED TO SHOOT
BOYD.
THEN VANISHED THE SAME WAY THEY
HAD APPEARED, SPRINTING DOWN THE
DARK PATHWAY, SURPRISINGLY, THE
SHOOTERS SPARED THE ONLY
EYEWITNESS.
>> YOU SAY YOU LOOKED INTO ONE
SHOOTER'S EYES.
>> ALL I SEEN WAS THE EYES.
>> COULD YOU TELL WHETHER HE WAS
WHITE OR BLACK?
>> I KNEW HE WAS BLACK.
>> WHEN THE GUNMEN WERE GONE,
GREG ELKING TOOK OFF IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS HE RAN
AWAY, HE SAID HE COULD HEAR
MARKUS BOYD'S GIRLFRIEND
SCREAMING.
>> IT'S STILL HARD TO TALK ABOUT
IT, ISN'T IT?
AND WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THIS
HAPPENED?
>> I WAS ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY.
>> JOHNSON SAYS HE WAS WITH HIS
GIRLFRIEND, ERIKA, AND THEIR
5-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER VISITING
FRIENDS.
ERIKA SAYS THE ENTIRE EVENING
LAMAR JOHNSON WAS OUT OF HER
SIGHT JUST ONCE.
>> SO WE WERE THERE BECAUSE HE
WAS MAKING A TRANSACTION.
SOMEONE WAS COMING.
AND SO HE WAS JUST LIKE, I'LL BE
RIGHT BACK.
>> JOHNSON LEFT THE HOUSE, ERIKA
SAYS, JUST AS SHE BEGAN CHANGING
KIERA'S DIAPER.
>> AND I WENT OUT TO MEET
SOMEBODY THAT I WAS DEALING
WITH.
>> HIS CUSTOMER PICKED HIM UP AT
THE CORNER OF 39th AND
LAFAYETTE, JOHNSON SAYS.
THEY COMPLETED A QUICK
TRANSACTION WHILE DRIVING AROUND
THE BLOCK.
>> BY THE TIME I FINISHED
CHANGING HER DIAPER, AND CLEANED
EVERYTHING UP, HE WAS COMING
BACK UP THE STEPS.
>> AND HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE?
>> THREE TO FIVE MINUTES.
AND HE'S TALKING, YOU KNOW.
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
HE WAS JUST NORMAL.
>> MINUTES LATER, JOHNSON GOT A
CALL THAT MARKUS BOYD HAD BEEN
SHOT.
THE NEXT DAY, HE LEARNED THAT
BOYD HAD DIED.
JOHNSON'S OWN LIFE BEGAN TO
UNRAVEL.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, WHEN
THEY ASKED BOYD'S GIRLFRIEND
WHOM SHE SUSPECTED, ONLY ONE
NAME CAME TO MIND.
LAMAR JOHNSON.
SHE THOUGHT THE LONG-TIME
FRIENDS MIGHT HAVE HAD A
FALLING-OUT.
>> MARKUS AND I NEVER HAD AN
ARGUMENT OR A FIGHT.
I LOVED HIM.
I HAD NO REASON TO WANT TO HURT
HIM.
>> YOU AGREED TO TALK TO THE
COPS WITHOUT A LAWYER.
THAT WAS RISKY, WASN'T IT?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO HIDE.
>>> FOUR DAYS AFTER MARKUS BOYD
WAS SLOT TO DEATH ON HIS FRONT
PORCH, ST. LOUIS POLICE TRACKED
DOWN THE ONLY EYEWITNESS TO THE
MURDER.
GREG ELKING.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT
YOU WENT THROUGH THAT NIGHT?
>> IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFYING
THING I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
>> SHAKEN AND SCARED, HE SAID HE
WAS INITIALLY RELUCTANT TO TALK
UNTIL HE MET LEAD INVESTIGATOR
JOE NICKERSON.
>> I THOUGHT HE WAS THIS AMAZING
DUDE.
I THOUGHT HE WAS LIKE NICK
NOLTE.
IT WAS AWESOME.
IT WAS JUST SOMEONE I
IMMEDIATELY ADMIRED.
>> ELKING SAID EVEN THOUGH THE
SHOOTERS WERE WEARING MASKS, HE
COULD TELL THEY WERE
DARK-SKINNED BLACK MEN.
HE ONLY SAW THE EYES OF ONE OF
THEM.
STILL, NICKERSON INSISTED ON
SHOWING HIM SEVERAL PHOTOS.
ONE, HE SAYS, STOOD OUT.
>> I SAID THESE EYES.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THESE
EYES.
THAT'S ALL I SAID.
>> IT WAS A PHOTO OF LAMAR
JOHNSON.
>> AND IMMEDIATELY, HE SAID
WOULD YOU SIGN THE BACK OF IT?
AND I SAID NO.
I DON'T WANT TO SIGN THE BACK OF
IT.
>> WHY NOT?
>> I DIDN'T WANT NOTHING TO DO
WITH THIS.
I COULDN'T PICK OUT NO MURDERER.
AND I DON'T EVEN THINK, I DIDN'T
SAY HE WAS THE MURDERER.
>> NICKERSON, ELKING SAID,
WARNED HIM HIS LIFE COULD BE AT
RISK, TELLING HIM THAT LAMAR
JOHNSON WAS A DANGEROUS MAN WHO
MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AS
MANY AS SIX MURDERS.
ATTORNEY LINDSAY RUNNELS SAID
NONE OF THAT WAS TRUE.
>> IF THEY HAD ANY EVIDENCE
WHATSOEVER, THEN OR NOW, LAMAR
JOHNSON WOULD BE CHARGED WITH A
CRIME.
>> RUNNELS BEGAN WORKING ON
JOHNSON'S CASE WHEN SHE WAS IN
LAW SCHOOL.
>> DOES HE HAVE A RECORD THE A
ALL FOR VIOLENCE?
>> NO.
HIS RECORD IS AND WAS MINOR.
A POSSESSION CHARGE.
POSSESSION OF COCAINE.
AND THEN A TAMPERING WITH A
LICENSE PLATE.
>> SHE SAID JOHNSON RECEIVED
PROBATION FOR THOSE OFFENSES.
STILL, SHE SAYS, COPS, AWARE OF
HIS CRIMINAL RECORD, KEPT HIM
AND YOUNG MEN LIKE HIM ON THEIR
RADAR.
>> JUST THE USUAL SUSPECTS TYPE
OF ROUND THEM UP AND EVERYBODY
IS GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION.
>> BUT AFTER THE MURDER ON
LOUISIANA AVENUE, POLICE HAD A
NEW REASON TO FOCUS ON LAMAR
JOHNSON.
THE VICTIM'S GIRLFRIEND HAD
GIVEN THEM HIS NAME AND NOW THEY
HAVE WHAT THEY SAID WAS A PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION.
ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 3,
1994, FOUR DAYS AFTER THE
MURDER, THEY ARRESTED JOHNSON
ALONG WITH HIS FRIEND PHILLIP
CAMPBELL.
>> I COULDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND
WHY.
WHY WOULD THEY ARREST YOU?
>> JOHNSON'S GIRLFRIEND AT THE
TIME AND HIS ALIBI FOR THE NIGHT
OF THE MURDER, ERIKA BARROW.
>> I BEGGED HIM TO GET A LAWYER.
AND ALL HE KEPT SAYING IS, I
DON'T WANT MY MOM AND STEPFATHER
PAYING ALL THE MONEY, ALL THIS
MONEY FOR A LAWYER.
I DIDN'T DO IT.
>> I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
HIDE.
SO I BELIEVED IN THE SYSTEM.
I BELIEVED IF I EXPLAINED TO
THEM WHAT I KNEW AND WHERE I
WAS, THAT THAT WOULD SORT ITSELF
OUT.
>> AT THE POLICE STATION,
JOHNSON AGREED TO A LIVE LINEUP.
>> I WANTED TO BE AS COOPERATIVE
AS I COULD.
I WANTED THEM TO INVESTIGATE AND
TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHOSE HOUSE I
WAS AT THAT NIGHT.
I EXPECTED THEY WOULD REACH THE
CONCLUSION THAT I DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS NEVER SPOKE
TO ANYONE WHO HAD BEEN WITH
JOHNSON ON THE NIGHT OF THE
SHOOTING.
NOT EVEN ERIKA BARROW.
THEY PUT HIM IN THAT LINEUP.
HE'S THE THIRD MAN IN THIS
PHOTO.
AND BROUGHT IN ELKING TO VIEW
IT.
>> COULD YOU IDENTIFY ANYONE?
>> NO.
>> ALTOGETHER, HE VIEWED THE
LINEUP THREE TIMES AND NEVER
PICKEDJOHNSON.
ELKING WAS THEN ASKED TO VIEW A
DIFFERENT LIVE LINEUP.
LAMAR JOHNSON WASN'T THERE.
BUT THE MAN ARRESTED WITH HIM,
PHILLIP CAMPBELL, IS NUMBER FOUR
IN THIS PHOTO.
ELKING STILL COULDN'T IDENTIFY
ANYONE AND SAYS HE FEARED HE HAD
LET DOWN THE DETECTIVE HE
ADMIRED AND TRUSTED.
>> I FELT SO BAD.
I COULD SEE IT IN HIS EYES, LOOK
I HURT THIS GUY.
LIKE THIS WHOLE TIME I'M JUST
WASTING HIS TIME.
>> THEN ACCORDING TO ELKING, HE
ASKED DETECTIVE JOE NICKERSON
HOW HE COULD HELP.
>> ALL THAT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH
WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, JOE, YOU
TELL ME WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE
AND I'LL TELL YOU IF THEY WERE
CORRECT.
>> WHAT DOES HE SAY TO YOU?
>> HE SAYS THREE AND FOUR.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THREE AND FOUR.
>> LAMAR JOHNSON WAS NUMBER
THREE IN THAT FIRST LINEUP.
PHILLIP CAMPBELL WAS THE FOURTH
MAN IN THE OTHER LINEUP.
>> IF JOE NICKERSON IS TELLING
ME THAT THREE AND FOUR IS IT, IT
HAS TO BE LAMAR AND WHOEVER
PHILLIP.
HE WOULDN'T LIE THE ME.
JOE WOULDN'T LIE TO ME.
>> SO YOU PICKED THREE AND FOUR
BECAUSE NICKERSON TOLD YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> WE ASKED JOE NICKERSON FOR AN
INTERVIEW.
HE DECLINED OUR REQUEST BUT SENT
US A TEXT SAYING IN PART, I WENT
WHERE THE FACTS, EVIDENCE, AND
CIRCUMSTANCES TOOK ME.
ELKING CLAIMS HE TOLD NO ONE
THAT NICKERSON HAD ALLEGEDLY
GIVEN HIM THE SUSPECT'S NUMBERS
IN THE LINE YUMS.
INSTEAD, HE TOLD THE OTHER
DETECTIVES HE WAS ABLE TO
IDENTIFY LAMAR JOHNSON BECAUSE
OF HIS DISTINCTIVE EYE.
>> THEY HAD ASKED ME, WHAT DO
YOU MEAN ABOUT THE EYE WHEN YOU
SAY YOU COULD PICK THESE EYES?
AND I SAID I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE A LAZY EYE OR SOMETHING.
IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER.
>> DWIGHT WARREN, THE
PROSECUTOR, THAT HE PRESSED
ELKING ON HIS IDENTIFICATION OF
JOHNSON.
>> I BELIEVED MR. ELKING.
I LOOKED HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE
AND I SAID, I WANT TO KNOW IF HE
DID IT.
TELL ME YOU'RE SURE OF YOUR
IDENTIFICATION.
PLEASE TELL ME THE TRUTH.
I DON'T WANT TO GO CHARGE
SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT GUILTY.
>> WHAT DID GREG ELKING SAY WHEN
YOU SAID THAT?
>> QUOTE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
BUT HE SAID HE WAS TELLING THE
TRUTH.
HE KNEW WHO DID THE SHOOTING AND
IT WAS LAMAR JOHNSON.
AND PHILLIP CAMPBELL.
SO I CHARGED THEM BOTH.
>> IN JULY 1995, LAMAR JOHNSON
WENT ON TRIAL WITH ELKING AS THE
STAR WITNESS.
>> IF HE HAD BACKED OFF THAT, I
WOULD HAVE NEVER ISSUED THE
CASE.
HE WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
>> TO BOLSTER THE CASE, ONE OF
THE WITNESSES THE PROSECUTION
CALLED WAS WILLIAM MOCK.
A JAIL HOUSE INFORMANT WITH A
LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY WHO
CLAIMED HE OVERHEARD JOHNSON AND
CAMPBELL IN A HOLDING CELL
TALKING ABOUT THE MURDER.
BUT ATTORNEY LINDSAY RUNNELS
SAID MOCK WASN'T CREDIBLE.
THAT HIS CELL WASN'T CLOSE
ENOUGH TO HEAR ANYTHING.
>> LAMAR WASN'T EVER IN A CELL
WITH CAMPBELL.
AND CAMPBELL, NOR LAMAR, WERE
EVER IN THE SAME CELL AS WILLIAM
MOCK.
SO HOW COULD YOU HEAR THIS IF IT
HAPPENED AT ALL, WHICH IT
DIDN'T.
>> DON'T YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT JAIL HOUSE SNITCH IS
TELLING THE TRUTH?
>> HOW AM I GOING TO DO THAT?
>> WELL, YOU WOULDN'T PUT
SOMEONE ON THE STAND UNLESS YOU
COULD CHECK OUT THEIR STORY,
RIGHT?
>> I DID CHECK IT OUT.
HE WAS IN TWO JAIL CELLS AWAY.
HE WAS IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE
TO HEAR THAT.
>> JOHNSON DIDN'T TAKE THE STAND
AT HIS TRIAL.
THE DEFENSE RELIED ON HIS
GIRLFRIEND, ERIKA BARROW WHO
TOLD THE JURY HE WAS WITH HER AT
THE TIME OF THE MURDER.
IT TOOK LESS THAN TWO HOURS FOR
THE JURORS TO REACH A VERDICT.
GUILTY.
JOHNSON'S LAYOFF HAD BEEN
CHANGED FOREVER BY GREG ELKING
WHO SAID THAT AS HE WAS POINTING
AT JOHNSON AT TRIAL, HE KNEW HE
HAD IDENTIFIED THE WRONG MAN.
>> THIS ISN'T THE DUTY SEEN AT
ALL.
TO ME, LAMAR IS NOT DARK AND NOT
WHAT I SEEN.
>> YOU HAD DOUBTS RIGHT
AFTERWARDS.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL SOMEBODY?
>> BECAUSE NOBODY TALKS TO ME.
NOBODY.
WHO AM I GOING TO TELL?
I DON'T KNOW WHO I COULD HAVE
TOLD.
>> DID IT OCCUR TO YOU AT THAT
MOMENT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE PUT
AN INNOCENT MAN --
>> YES.
>> BEHIND BARS.
>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.
BECAUSE I LIED ON THE TESTIMONY.
I LIED BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS
DOING THE RIGHT THIN
>>> LAMAR JOHNSON WAS JUST 21
YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS CONVICTED
OF MURDER.
>> AT MY TRIAL, THEY NEVER
EXPLAINED WHY I SUPPOSEDLY DID
THIS.
>> THEN BEFORE HIS SENTENCING,
JOHNSON RECEIVED SURPRISING NEW
INFORMATION THAT HE BELIEVED
WOULD PROVE HIS INNOCENCE.
HANDWRITTEN LETTERS FROM HIS
FRIEND, THE OTHER SUSPECTED
KILLER, PHILLIP CAMPBELL.
ONE SAID, YOU DIDN'T DO A THING.
>> HE SAID I'M SORRY YOU GOT
CONVICTED FOR SOMETHING YOU
DIDN'T DO.
HE SAID HE WANTED TO COME
FORWARD BUT HIS ATTORNEY
WOULDN'T LET HIM BECAUSE HE
THOUGHT HE COULD BEAT HIS CASE.
>> AND PHILLIP CAMPBELL WAS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE SHATTERS.
>> HE WAS.
>> AND HE EVEN NAMED THE OTHER
SHATTER WHO WAS WITH HIM THE
NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
A MAN NAMED JAMES HOWARD.
JOHNSON NOW HAD THE NAMES OF
BOTH SHOOTERS.
HE WROTE THE JUDGE AND ASKED FOR
A HEARING BUT HIS REQUEST WAS
DENIED.
IN SEPTEMBER, 1995, LAMAR
JOHNSON WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN
PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
GIRLFRIEND ERIKA BARROW BLAMES
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> YOU DIDN'T CARE TO CHECK HIS
ALIBI.
YOU WANTED TO BLAME SOMEONE AND
YOU DID EXACTLY THAT.
YOU JUST FLAT-OUT DIDN'T CARE.
YOU DIDN'T CARE.
>> LAMAR JOHNSON DIDN'T GIVE UP.
HE BECAME HIS OWN JAIL HOUSE
LAWYER.
SIFTING THROUGH POLICE REPORTS,
TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS, AND GATHERING
NEW EVIDENCE.
JOHNSON WITH LEGAL HELP FILED A
PETITION, ASKING FOR A NEW TRIAL
IN 1996.
AGAIN, HE WAS DENIED.
TWO YEARS LATER HE WOULD MEET
ANOTHER INMATE WITH A SIMILAR
STORY.
>> WE WERE BOTH ASSIGNED TO THE
CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN MISSOURI.
OUR FRIENDSHIP WAS ALMOST
INSTANT.
>> RICKY KIDD, ALSO SERVING A
LAYOFF SENTENCE FOR MURDER,
REMEMBERS WHEN HE FIRST LEARNED
ABOUT JOHNSON'S CASE.
>> HE SAID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE LAW LIBRARY.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?
AND HE TURNED TO ME AND HE SAID,
I KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS THIS.
BUT I'M INNOCENT.
AND A BIG OLD SMILE APPEARED
ACROSS MY FACE LIKE YOU'RE
SEEING RIGHT NOW.
AND I SAID, WELL, I KNOW
EVERYBODY SAYS THIS, BUT I'M
INNOCENT, TOO.
>> THE TWO MEN MADE A PACT IN
PRISON.
>> HE SAID LET'S MAKE A PROMISE.
WHOEVER MAKES IT OUT WILL COME
BACK FOR THE OTHER.
AND WE SHOOK ON IT.
>> THE MIDWEST CITIZENS PROJECT
HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON
KIDD'S CASE BEFORE HE HIMSELF
WAS EXONERATED, KIDD SAYS HE
CONVINCED LAWYERS THERE TO TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT JOHNSON'S CASE.
WHEN THAT TEAM OF LAWYERS BEGAN
THEIR RESEARCH, THEY DISCOVERED
THAT THE STAR WITNESS, GREG
ELKING, IN PRISON HIMSELF FOR
BANK ROBBERY, HAD WRITTEN A
LETTER TO A CLERGYMAN ADMITTING
HE HAD LIED AT JOHNSON'S TRIAL.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD
HAPPEN?
>> AGAIN, I THOUGHT I WOULD BE
HEARD.
IT MADE ME EVEN MORE HOPEFUL
THAT THE COURT WOULD AT LEAST
LISTEN.
>> ELKING'S LETTER WOULD REVEAL
ANOTHER REASON WHY HE AGREED TO
TESTIFY AGAINST JOHNSON.
AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER,
ELKING HAD BEEN IN SERIOUS
FINANCIAL STRAITS.
DETECTIVE NICKERSON AND THE
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PUT HIM IN A
WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM.
ELKING'S DEBTS WERE PAID AND HIS
OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC WARRANTS
WERE CLEARED.
>> WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO MOVE
YOU?
>> JOE NICKERSON.
THEY PAID MY FIRST MONTH AND
LAST MONTH'S RENT FOR A LOUSE.
>> ALTOGETHER, ELKING HAD
RECEIVED MORE THAN $4,000.
NONE OF THAT WAS DISCLOSED TO
JOHNSON AND HIS LAWYER AT TRIAL.
JOHNSON REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR A
HEARING.
HE WAS DENIED AND HIS CASE
STALLED.
>> WHAT ELSE IS NEEDED?
THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO PRESENT IS DNA.
AND I WISH THERE WAS SOME DNA.
>> THEN IN 2018, ST. LOUIS
CIRCUIT ATTORNEY KIMBERLY
GARDNER AGREED TO LOOK AT HIS
CASE.
SHE HAD CREATED A CONVICTION
INTEGRITY UNIT TO LOOK AT CASES
OF POSSIBLE WRONGFUL CONVICTION.
>> I STARTED SEEING SOME RED
FLAGS.
AND I CONSULTED MY TEAM AND I
SAID, I THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM
HERE.
>> ONE OF THE MANY FLAGS FOR
GARDNER WAS THE TIME LINE FOR
THE MURDER.
COULD JOHNSON HAVE HAD TIME TO
KILL HIS FRIEND MARKUS BOYD?
ERIKA BARR CLOSE THE SAID HE HAD
ONLY LEFT FOR ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES.
>> YOU CANNOT DRIVE THAT
DISTANCE.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPEED THERE
AND SPEED ALL THE WAY BACK.
THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN DO THAT.
>> BUT THE PROSECUTOR SAID ERIKA
COULD HAVE LOST TRACK OF TIME.
THAT JOHNSON COULD HAVE BEEN
GONE AS LONG AS 15 MINUTES.
>> SHE DIDN'T HAVE A STOP WATCH.
LAMAR GOT INTO A CAR AND TOOK
OFF.
>> AT JOHNSON'S TRIAL, DETECTIVE
JOE NICKERSON TESTIFIED THAT IT
ONLY TOOK HIM FIVE MINUTES TO GO
FROM THE ALIBI LOCATION TO THE
CRIME SCENE.
WE ASKED CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
ROBERT OGILVIE TO TAKE US ON
THAT SAME DRIVE.
>> ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY, IT
JUST TAKES FIVE MINUTES TO GET
THERE.
YOU'RE LAUGHING.
WE TIMED THE DRIVE USING A CELL
PHONE.
YEP.
12:55.
15 MINUTES.
13 MINUTES ONE WAY.
THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE THE TIME
DETECTIVE NICKERSON SAID IT
TOOK.
IN 2019, CIRCUIT ATTORNEY
KIMBERLY GARNETT EVERY GARDNER'S
TEAM RELEASED A DETAIL'S REPORT
LISTING NUMEROUS ERRORS THAT
UNDERMINED JOHNSON'S CONVICTION.
AS A PROSECUTOR, YOU PUT PEOPLE
IN PRISON.
YOU DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT.
>> AS A PROSECUTOR, NO
PROSECUTOR, I BELIEVE, WANTS TO
SECURE A CONVICTION WRONGFULLY.
USING WRONG TACTICS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
>> JURORS NEVER LEARNED THAT
JAIL HOUSE INFORMANT WILLIAM
MOCK WAS A RACIST WHO HAD A
HATRED FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
NOR DID THEY HEAR THE MAJORITY
OF HIS CRIMINAL RECORD.
AND THEY WERE NEVER TOLD GREG
ELKING HAD BEEN PAID THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.
GARDNER WAS CONVINCED HE WAS
INNOCENT.
WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET THE
CONVICTION OVERTURNED, COURT
AFTER COURT INCLUDING THE
REPLIES MS. SUPREME COURT SAID
SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER.
>> WHEN YOU TRY TO ABIDE BY YOUR
OATH AND YOU'RE STOPPED EVERY
WAY, IT WEIGHS ON YOU.
>> IN 2021, THE REPLIES MS.
LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW THAT
GAVE GARDNER AND OTHER
PROSECUTORS THE POWER TO BRING
CASES OF INNOCENCE TO COURT.
A YEAR LATER, JOHNSON GOT THE
NEWS HE HAD BEEN PRAYING FOR.
AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES IN
PRISON, HE WOULD FINALLY GET A
HEARING TO PRESENT NEW EVIDENCE
IN HIS
>>> ON DECEMBER 12th, 2022,
LAMAR JOHNSON AND HIS LEGAL TEAM
GATHERED IN A ST. LOUIS
COURTROOM FOR A WEEK-LONG
HEARING.
HIS DAUGHTERS, BRITTNEY AND
KIERA, WERE IN THE COURTROOM
NEARLY EVERY DAY.
>> I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO
BE HOPEFUL THAT MY DAD GETS
JUSTICE.
>> ONE MAN, JUDGE DAVID MASON,
WILL DECIDE JOHNSON'S FUTURE.
HE HAS THREE OPTIONS.
OVERTURN THE CONVICION AND
GRANT A NEW TRIAL.
OVERTURN THE CONVICTION AND
DECLARE JOHNSON INNOCENT.
OR HE COULD UPHOLD THE JURY'S
VERDICT.
>> WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE WITH
THIS JUDGE'S DECISION?
>> JUSTICE AND THE INTEGRITY OF
THE WHOLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
>> THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY SAT BY
JOHNSON INSTEAD OF HER USUAL
SEAT AT THE PROSECUTION TABLE.
GARDNER APPOINTED TWO LAWYERS TO
HANDLE JOHNSON'S CASE.
CHARLIE WEISS AND JONATHAN
POTTS.
>> I TOOK THIS CASE BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THAT LAMAR JOHNSON IS
INNOCENT.
I DIDN'T TAKE IT BECAUSE I THINK
HE MIGHT BE INNOCENT.
>> THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE AT ALL CONNECTING LAMAR
JOHNSON WITH THE MURDER OF
MARKUS BOYD, PERIOD.
>> YOUR HONOR, MAY IT PLEASE THE
COURT.
THIS IS A RATHER HISTORIC MOMENT
IN THIS COURT.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE
COURT IS HEARING AN ACTUAL
INNOCENCE CLAIM FILED BY A
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
>> THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE SENT A TEAM OF
THEIR OWN TO ARGUE THAT
JOHNSON'S CONVICTION SHOULD
STAND.
IN RESPONSE TO OUR REQUEST FOR
AN INTERVIEW, THEY PROVIDED US
WITH THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT
READ IN PART, THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS FOUGHT TO
KEEP A CONVICTED MURDERER IN
PRISON.
THE ATTORNEY TOLD THE JUDGE NOT
TO TRUST THE WITNESSES WHO WERE
ABOUT TO VOUCH FOR JOHNSON'S
INNOCENCE.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO
BELIEVE CONVICTED MURDERERS AND
GANG MEMBERS.
THEIR EVIDENCE IS NOT CREDIBLE.
>> JOHNSON'S TEAM CALLS THEIR
FIRST WITNESS.
JAMES HOWARD TAKES THE STAND AND
ADMITS THAT HE'S ONE OF THE MEN
WHO MURDERED MARKUS BOYD.
>> HOW DID MARKUS DIE?
>> PHILLIP CAMPBELL KILLED HIM
ON HIS FRONT PORCH.
>> REMEMBER HE HAD WRITTEN LAMAR
JOHNSON SAYING HE AND HOWARD
WERE THE REAL SHOOTERS.
CAMPBELL WHO WAS LATER CONVICTED
OF THE MURDER TOOK A DEAL AND
SERVED ONLY FIVE YEARS.
HE HAS SINCE DIED.
HOWARD WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH
BOYD'S DEATH.
HE'S CURRENTLY IN PRISON FOR
LAYOFF FOR UNRELATED CRIMES,
INCLUDING MURDERING ANOTHER MAN.
>> I FIRED TWO SHOTS IN THE BACK
OF HIS HEAD.
>> BUT THE ATTORNEYS CAN'T RELY
ON HOWARD'S WORD ALONE.
THEY MUST NOW TEAR APART THE
ORIGINAL CASE AGAINST LAMAR
JOHNSON.
THEY CALL GREG ELKING, THE
STATE'S FORMER STAR WITNESS.
>> LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS WANTING
ME TO HELP.
AND I TRUSTED THEM.
I WANTED TO HELP.
>> Reporter: HE TOLD THE COURT
HE FELT PRESSURED BY DETECTIVE
JOE NICKERSON TO IDENTIFY
JOHNSON IN THE LINEUP.
>> HE GOES, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHO
IT IS AND YOU'RE JUST NOT
SAYING.
AND THERE IS THE PART I HATE THE
MOST.
I JUST REMEMBER SAYING TO HIM,
YOU TELL ME THE NUMBERS AND I'LL
TELL YOU YOU'RE RIGHT.
AND HE DID.
AND I WAS LIKE, THAT WAS IT.
THAT WAS THE NUMBERS.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH IT 25,
28 YEARS.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, I JUST WISH
I COULD CHANGE TIME.
>> ON DAY THREE, JUDGE MASON
QUESTIONED THE ORIGINAL
PROSECUTOR IN THE CASE, DWIGHT
WARREN, ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF
GREG ELKING'S IDENTIFICATION OF
LAMAR JOHNSON.
>> HE TOLD YOU AND OFFICERS THAT
IT WAS BASED UPON HIM LOOKING AT
THE EYES BECAUSE THAT WAS ALL HE
COULD SEE.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT?
>> I BELIEVE SO.
>> DID HE OR DID HE NOT TELL YOU
THAT ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITHIN
SECONDS.
>> YES.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DECIDED
WAS SUFFICIENTLY RELIABLE TO
SEEK A MURDER CONVICTION.
TO TAKE TO IT A JURY.
>> YES, SIR.
>> WARREN ADMITTED TO JOHNSON'S
LAWYERS THAT WITHOUT AN
EYEWITNESS, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE
FILED CHARGES IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE.
>> YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR --
>> ON DAY FOUR, LAMAR JOHNSON
FINALLY GOT THE CHANCE TO DEFEND
HIMSELF IN HIS OWN WORDS.
ATTORNEY MIRANDA LOESCH ASKED
HIM ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
DETECTIVE NICKERSON A FEW DAYS
AFTER THE MURDER.
>> HE'S MY FRIEND.
I DIDN'T SHOOT HIM.
OKAY.
I WILL VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE
IN THE LINEUP.
>> YOU DIDN'T THINK SO?
>> I DIDN'T COMMIT THE HOMICIDE.
WHY WOULD I BE CONCERNED THAT I
HAD EVERYTHING TO LOSE?
>> AS THE HEARING WEEK NEARED
THE END, DETECTIVE NICKERSON
TAKES THE STAND.
THE MAN ELKING CLAIMS PRESSURED
HIM INTO FALSELY IDENTIFYING
JOHNSON.
>> HE GOES, HEY, I KNOW WHO IT
IS.
NUMBER THREE IN THE FIRST LINE
UP AND NUMBER FOUR IN THE SECOND
LINEUP.
>> DID YOU TELL HIM TO SAY THAT?
>> I DIDN'T TELL HIM TO SAY
ANYTHING.
>> BUT THE JUDGE HAD QUESTIONS
OF HIS OWN FOR NICKERSON.
>> ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR
WITNESS COULD ONLY RECOGNIZE
SOME ASPECT OF THE EYES?
>> I'M AWARE OF THAT.
>> STAND UP, MR. JOHNSON.
I'M CURIOUS.
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS DISTINCTIVE
ABOUT THIS MAN'S EYES?
>> YOU CAN TELL HIS EYES ARE
DIFFERENT.
>> TELL ME.
>> I CAN TELL THAT HIS RIGHT EYE
IS DIFFERENT FROM HIS LEFT.
ONE IS LOWER OR HIGHER THAN THE
OTHER.
>> OKAY.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE
INVOLVEMENT OF JUDGE MASON IN
THIS CASE?
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
UNIQUE THINGS I'VE SEEN IN ANY
TRIAL I'VE EVER COVERED.
>> THE COLUMNIST COVERED THE
CASE FOR THE ST. LOUIS POST
DISPATCH.
>> HE DIDN'T JUST ASK QUESTIONS.
HE TOOK OVER THE QUESTIONING AT
TIMES.
AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHEN HE
WAS BELIEVING SOMETHING AND WHEN
HE WASN'T.
>> AFTER FIVE DAYS OF WITNESSES,
COURT ADJOURNED.
WITH HIS FREEDOM ON THE LINE,
JOHNSON WAS TAKEN TO A ST. LOUIS
JAIL TO WAIT FOR JUDGE MASON'S
DECISION.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO NOT FIGHT
FOR MY INNOCENCE.
TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WAS WRONGFULLY
TAKEN FROM ME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE JUDGE
SHOULD DO IN THIS CA
>>> IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.
WE HEARD EVERYTHING IN COURT.
>> LAMAR JOHNSON'S DAUGHTER,
KIERA BARROW HAS FINALLY HEARD
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER FATHER SO
MANY YEARS AGO.
>> THE MISCONDUCT AND THE
NEGLIGENCE THAT OCCURRED.
THE HARDEST THING WAS JUST THAT
GREG LIED KNOWING THAT HIS
TESTIMONY DID PUT HIM IN JAIL.
>> BRITNEY JOHNSON BELIEVES HIS
LIES ROBBED HER OF TIME WITH HER
DAD.
>> I'M VERY ANGRY.
>> THIS IS HARD.
>> IT'S VERY HARD.
I HATE THAT I'M CRYING RIGHT
NOW.
THERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ROLE.
>> BUT THEIR WAIT ISN'T OVER.
TWO MONTHS PASS WITH NO DECISION
FROM THE JUDGE.
KIERA IS HOPING IT HAPPENS SOON.
>> WE'VE BEEN ROBBED OF SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES AND MILESTONES.
I'M GETTING MARRIED IN APRIL OF
THIS YEAR.
IT WOULD JUST MEAN SO MUCH TO
ME, AND I KNOW MY FATHER, TO
HAVE HIM THERE WITH ME.
FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ME
AWAY.
>> FINALLY, ON A TUESDAY
AFTERNOON IN FEBRUARY, JOHNSON'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS RETURNED TO
THE COURTROOM.
LAWYERS WITH THE REPLIES MS.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
FIGHTING JOHNSON'S RELEASE ARE
AT ONE TABLE.
AT THE OTHER, THE TEAM TRYING TO
WIN JOHNSON'S FREEDOM.
SEATED NEXT TO JOHNSON, HIS
ATTORNEY, LINDSAY RUNEL.
>> WHAT SHOULD JUDGE MASON DO IN
THIS CASE?
>> JUDGE MASON SHOULD VACATE
THESE CONVICTIONS AND LAMAR
JOHNSON SHOULD WALK OUT OF THE
COURTROOM TODAY.
>> ALL RISE!
>> AFTER BOTH LEGAL TEAMS WERE
GIVEN COPIES OF HIS FINAL
OPINION, JUDGE MASON ANNOUNCED
HIS DECISION ON FEBRUARY 14th,
2023.
>> AFTER REVIEWING BOTH THE
UNDERLYING TRIAL, AS WELL AS THE
ENTIRETY OF THE HEARING, FOR THE
REASONS STATED ABOVE, I HERE BY
ORDER THE MOTION OF THE CIRCUIT
ATTORNEY FILED HERE IN FOR THE
BENEFIT OF LAMAR JOHNSON IS
GRANTED.
THE CONVICTION OF LAMAR JOHNSON
JOHNSON -- IS HERE BY SET ASIDE
AND HELD FOR NAUGHT.
>> HIS MURDER CONVICTION WAS
OVERTURNED.
TELL JUDGE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE
WAS CLEAR AND CONVINCING
EVIDENCE OF JOHNSON'S INNOCENCE.
AFTER MORE THAN 28 YEARS BEHIND
BARS, HE WAS MORE THAN A FREE
MAN.
49-YEAR-OLD LAMAR JOHNSON HAD
FINALLY BEEN EXONERATED.
>> BAILIFF?
THIS HEARING IS ADJOURNED.
>> THIS TIME HE WOULD LEAVE THE
COURTHOUSE NOT IN A PRISON VAN
BUT IN A BLACK SEDAN.
>> WHEN I FIRST MET YOU, I ASKED
YOU TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF.
>> MY NAME IS LAMAR JOHNSON.
I'VE BEEN IN PRISON 26 YEARS
NOW.
>> IF I ASKED YOU TO IDENTIFY
LAMAR JOHNSON RIGHT NOW, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY?
>> I AM A FREE MAN.
AN EXONERATED MAN.
AND A BLESSED MAN.
>> HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE
GREG ELKING TAKE THE STAND AND
TELL THE JUDGE WHAT HE HAD DONE
AT TRIAL?
>> THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
HE INTENTIONALLY, YOU KNOW,
FALSELY IDENTIFIED ME.
BUT KNOWING THAT HE ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT HE MADE A MISTAKE, HE TOOK
STEPS TO TRY TO CORRECT IT.
AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO
HIM FOR THAT.
>> AND DURING THAT TIME HE SPENT
IN PRISON, HE SAYS HE NEVER
FORGOT ABOUT HIS FRIEND MARKUS
BOYD WHO DIED THAT NIGHT.
>> I DIDN'T WANT MARKUS'S FAMILY
THINKING THAT I DID THIS TO HIM.
I GENUINELY CARED ABOUT MARKUS.
MARKUS WAS A GOOD GUY.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, JOHNSON IS
STARTING OVER.
HIS FRIEND RICKY KIDD KNOWS IT
WON'T BE EASY.
>> IT WILL BE TOUGH.
BUT LAMAR HAS THE ABILITY TO
ADAPT AND ADJUST AND SEE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WORKED 30 YEARS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR
PENNIES.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
I HOPE SOMEBODY IS WILLING TO
GIVE ME A SHOT.
I WANT TO WORK.
>> YOU HAVE A DATE COMING UP.
AN IMPORTANT DATE.
>> MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS
GETTING MARRIED.
AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF I COULD
DO SOMETHING SPECIALLY NICE FOR
THEM.
BUT PRESENCE MATTERS MORE THAN
PRESENTS.
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THE BEST
OF THE LIFE I HAVE.