1 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:27,959 All right, let's chop and load. 2 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,470 It was the third of June 3 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:36,191 Another sleepy, dusty delta day 4 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,629 I was out choppin' cotton 5 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,873 And my brother was balin' hay 6 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,314 And at dinner time we stopped 7 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,872 And walked back to the house to eat 8 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,200 And mama hollered out the back door 9 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:02,839 Y'all, remember to... 10 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,792 Good evening, Officer. 11 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,111 Y'all need my license or anything, huh? 12 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:18,393 No, that's not necessary. 13 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,037 That's a sharp-looking truck you got. 14 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,355 Yes, sir. Thank you. 15 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:26,235 Those rims look like they cost you a pretty penny. 16 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:29,634 Who you been working for? 17 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,032 Oh, no, sir. I don't work for nobody. 18 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,520 Got my own pulping business. 19 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,956 You know, I clear out all these trees around here. 20 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,830 So, you ain't got no boss to check in with, huh? 21 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,519 That must be pretty nice. 22 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:43,256 Free to run up and down the road 23 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:44,920 wherever you want to, whenever you want to 24 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,593 in this fancy truck. 25 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,793 Hey, well, not if my wife got something to say about it. 26 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:54,670 Yeah. 27 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,751 I heard that ain't stopped you before, though. 28 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,199 Ain't that right, Johnny D.? 29 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,672 You want to make a break for it? Hmm? 30 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,056 No, sir, I don't wanna do nothing... 31 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,151 'Cause after what you done... 32 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,709 I'm looking for any excuse to get this over with 33 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,234 right here, right now. 34 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,397 Sir, I ain't did nothing and I think y'all got the wrong person here. 35 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,711 Y'all got me confused with somebody. And I think... 36 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,314 I ain't got you confused with nobody. 37 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,474 I don't have a thing to do with this. 38 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,280 Sir, you got me confused with somebody. I ain't did nothing wrong. 39 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,316 We all know Monroeville as the peaceful town 40 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,790 where Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. 41 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,676 Last year, that peace was shattered by a brutal crime. 42 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,832 On the 1st of November, 18-year-old Ronda Morrison 43 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,310 was found dead at Jackson Cleaners. 44 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,757 Morrison had been strangled and shot by Walter McMillian, 45 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,520 known locally as Johnny D. 46 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,355 McMillian was convicted by a jury who recommended a life sentence. 47 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,196 But today, Judge Robert E. Lee Key overrode their decision 48 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,954 and sentenced McMillian to death. 49 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,839 We promised the community that we would find him, and we did. 50 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,239 You commit a crime like this in my town, 51 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,670 one way or another, you're gonna pay for it. 52 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,919 As McMillian awaits execution at Holman Correctional Facility, 53 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,560 a grieving community can take some solace 54 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,554 in knowing that, today, justice has finally been served. 55 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:50,720 Thank you. 56 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:22,109 You got one hour. 57 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:30,350 Um... 58 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,035 Hi, Mr. Davis. I'm Bryan. 59 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:35,630 Henry. 60 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:37,150 Um... 61 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,680 The Southern Prisoners Defense Committee, 62 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,399 they sent me here to tell you that... 63 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:43,833 That they don't have a lawyer for you yet, 64 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,516 - but they hope to soon. - You're not a lawyer? 65 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,592 No. I'm still in school. 66 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,119 Just interning here for the summer. 67 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,757 So, you can't tell me nothing about my case? 68 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,871 I mean, I was supposed to tell you... 69 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,639 that you're not at risk of execution any time within the next year. 70 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,479 Can you say that again? 71 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,790 That you're not at risk of execution any time within the next year? 72 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,834 That's the best news I've heard in a long time. 73 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,311 I didn't want my wife or kids... 74 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,794 showing up if I had an execution date coming. 75 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,714 Now they can come visit. 76 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:49,236 Thank you. 77 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:51,550 Thank you. 78 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:56,960 Serious. 79 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,351 My mom made me join our church choir when I was, like, four. 80 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,836 I sang lead baritone all through high school. 81 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:04,513 I played piano at my church growing up. 82 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:05,716 AME? 83 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:06,800 God is good... 84 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:07,936 ...all the time. 85 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,076 All the time. 86 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,960 A couple AME Choir boys hanging on death row. 87 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,360 My mom would go trip. 88 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:16,794 Man, that's crazy. 89 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,439 What school are you going to? 90 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,079 I'm at Harvard. 91 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:22,759 Seriously? You're going to Harvard? 92 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:24,755 That's white-boy status, bro. 93 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,040 What the hell are you doing slumming it up in here for? 94 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,756 I'm in law school because I just wanted to help people. 95 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,639 Just haven't figured out the best way to do that yet. 96 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,758 Honestly, this internship has been the best experience so far. 97 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,520 Working on death row has been your best experience? 98 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,796 You need to get out more, bro. 99 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,318 Should've been done two hours ago. 100 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,656 - I'm sorry, I didn't realize. - Supposed to watch the clock. 101 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,514 Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey. Sir! 102 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:53,896 Calm down, he didn't do anything! 103 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:55,354 You need to shut your mouth. 104 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,113 It's okay, Bryan. 105 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,032 Don't worry about me. You just come back. 106 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,357 I'm pressing on 107 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,671 The upward way 108 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:14,392 New heights I'm gaining every day 109 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,110 Still praying as 110 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,431 I'm onward bound 111 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,032 Lord, plant my feet 112 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,432 On higher ground 113 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,438 - Mom still mad at you? - For what? 114 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:47,520 I don't know. 115 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,196 Maybe for rejecting all those job offers so you can be poor in Alabama. 116 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,920 And Howie telling her about that lynching in Mobile didn't help. 117 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,832 - What? - I said it happened seven years ago. 118 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,149 Yeah, that made it better. 119 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,072 You two were supposed to be on my side. 120 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:01,160 Pop, how are we looking up there? 121 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:02,799 Just added three quarts of oil. 122 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,496 But you should check it again when you get there. 123 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:05,670 All right, thanks. 124 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:07,754 Talk to your mom yet? 125 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:15,960 What did those leaves do to you? 126 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:21,478 You're not gonna say bye to your son? 127 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,113 I know you got your law degree now, and you think you're grown, 128 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,475 but you're still my child. 129 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,760 And I'm the one who has to deal with your funeral arrangements 130 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:32,109 if you get killed down there. 131 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,476 - Come on, Ma. - You think this is funny? 132 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,936 'Cause if you can't see the danger in what you're doing, 133 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:39,997 you need to ask Harvard for your money back. 134 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:42,319 You used to be smarter than that. 135 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,996 The first time I visited death row, 136 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,589 I wasn't expecting to meet somebody the same age as me. 137 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,591 Grew up on the same music. From a neighborhood just like ours. 138 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:14,834 Could've been me, Mama. 139 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,434 I don't wanna move far away from you. I love you. 140 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,456 But you always taught me to fight for the people 141 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,073 who need the help the most. 142 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,199 I am very proud of you, son. 143 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:35,672 I know your heart's in the right place. 144 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:38,760 But it's not that simple. 145 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,674 What you're doing is gonna make a lot of people upset. 146 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:46,920 You better be careful. 147 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:50,715 I will. 148 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:54,715 I promise. 149 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:01,191 There she goes. 150 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:27,237 My line, your line 151 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,630 Don't cross them lines 152 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,114 What you like, what I like 153 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,590 Why can't we both be right? 154 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:45,474 Attacking, defending 155 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:50,152 Until there's nothing left worth winning 156 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:52,474 You gotta be kidding me. 157 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:55,280 We had an agreement to rent this space for two years. 158 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:56,520 You said it was a done deal. 159 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,616 That's before I knew what you were doing here. 160 00:11:58,640 --> 00:11:59,856 We are giving poor people 161 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,076 their constitutional right to counsel, Bill. 162 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,856 Do you mind explaining to my son what you think is so wrong with that? 163 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:05,950 Eva, what's up? 164 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:07,599 Oh, Bryan. Thank God. 165 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:11,037 This is the executive director of our organization. 166 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:12,480 He just got here and was expecting 167 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:14,677 to move into the office that you promised us. 168 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:16,918 You said you were the director. 169 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,719 Director of Operations. 170 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,400 And you're making me look very bad in front of my boss right now. 171 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:22,796 She said you were a lawyer, 172 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,395 but nobody told me it was for murderers on death row. 173 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,196 We're providing legal services to people who need help. 174 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,237 And they'll have to do it someplace else. 175 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,277 'Cause I can't have people like that around here. 176 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,152 Not everyone is in there for a good reason, sir. 177 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:38,839 Y'all have a good day now. 178 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:42,075 What a piece of shit. 179 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:46,550 I'm so sorry. This is not how I wanted to welcome you here. 180 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,518 I will find us an office, I promise you I will. 181 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:49,875 I just gotta change my tactics. 182 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,917 It'll be fine. We can work from anywhere. 183 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,496 Yeah, we'll just have Kris clean up his toys in the living room. 184 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:55,749 - Right, Kris? - Oh, yeah? 185 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,230 I'll think about it. 186 00:12:58,360 --> 00:12:59,589 I'm sorry for cussing, baby. 187 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:00,680 It's okay. 188 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:02,800 He was a piece of shit, though. 189 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,832 I was a psychology major writing a paper on capital punishment 190 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,719 when I met my first death row inmate, Wayne Ritter. 191 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,354 He and his friend robbed a pawn shop in Mobile. 192 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,120 His friend shot the owner and they both got death. 193 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:19,999 Is he the reason why you got into this? 194 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,794 His attorney was openly in favor of the death penalty. 195 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:26,792 He thought mad dogs ought to die. 196 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,879 A lot of the folks on death row either had shitty representation 197 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,794 or none at all. So, I just started calling every law firm 198 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,520 in the Yellow Pages, just trying to find anybody that could help. 199 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,039 I was averaging 20 rejections a day. 200 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:42,394 She was pretty stressed out. 201 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,832 I was just about to give up 202 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,435 when I got a call from a Harvard lawyer 203 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,989 saying that he had just passed the Alabama Bar 204 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,716 and had federal funding to start a legal center 205 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,359 for inmates on death row. 206 00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:57,797 I was in before you even offered me the job. 207 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,632 And before you knew I couldn't pay you anything. 208 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:02,196 What's that? 209 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:03,515 Oh, yeah, Doug doesn't know 210 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:04,736 about that part yet. 211 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:05,910 - Sorry, honey. - All right. 212 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,196 How's it going, son? You seem tired. 213 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:10,879 Okay. Let's go brush your teeth. 214 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:11,996 Excuse us. 215 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:15,640 I'll make up the couch for you, Bryan. 216 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:18,800 I'm excited about what you're doing. 217 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:22,560 Me, too. 218 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:39,599 I should be in the log. 219 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,399 I'm scheduled to see six clients today. 220 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:45,594 Well, I ain't seen you before. 221 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:48,599 That's because I just moved here. 222 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:52,875 You really a lawyer? 223 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:56,753 Yes. I am. 224 00:15:58,440 --> 00:15:59,874 Well, I'm gonna have to search you. 225 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,436 Just go on in that room there and take everything off. 226 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,590 Attorneys aren't strip-searched for legal visits. 227 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,837 Well, you ain't gonna visit shit unless you get in that room and strip. 228 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:12,995 Let's go. 229 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,075 Pants and underwear. 230 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:02,674 Bend over and spread. 231 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:12,480 You're clear. 232 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:47,074 I fought in Nam. 233 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:50,033 First Cavalry Division. 234 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,112 Saw a lot of friends die. 235 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,030 Doctor said I got PTSD. 236 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,120 I did what they said I did. I... 237 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,120 I put the bomb on her porch. 238 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,951 I know it don't make sense... 239 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,439 but I didn't mean to kill nobody. 240 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:33,877 I think they're gonna set my execution soon. 241 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:38,272 Last lawyer said there ain't nothing left to do. 242 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,392 There's always something that we can do. 243 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,719 Whatever you did, your life is still meaningful. 244 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,834 And I'm gonna do everything possible to keep them from taking it. 245 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,750 Now, tell me everything that happened. 246 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:10,672 I was given a court-appointed lawyer, and he was pretty pitiful. 247 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:14,310 Never really talked to me about setting up a defense. 248 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,153 I probably met the dude three times. 249 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:19,120 Literally. 250 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,190 He told me that it would be in my best interest 251 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:24,511 to plead no contest to all of those charges. 252 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:26,120 I'm gonna plead not guilty. 253 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,795 I said, "I didn't do it. I didn't have nothing to do with that." 254 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:30,997 "You're 20 right now, if you take this plea 255 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,756 and you do the whole time, you'll only be 45 when you get out." 256 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,960 In the middle of my trial, which only lasted 257 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,552 45 minutes to a hour, which is unheard of... 258 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,953 He wouldn't let me take the stand. So, they ended up finding me guilty. 259 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,040 The judge laughed at me and said rehabilitation was a 70-year-old joke. 260 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,150 My lawyer, he was there, but he wasn't there. 261 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:57,313 It was like I was by myself. 262 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,795 Last lawyer I had, sitting where you sit, said... 263 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,241 "Johnny D., don't worry about nothing, everything gonna be all right." 264 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,557 Then they put that death sentence on me. 265 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:30,997 Family run out of money. 266 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:32,719 Money run out, he run out. 267 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,034 What you gonna do different? 268 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:43,496 Well, the first thing we could do is apply for a retrial. 269 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,477 I already did that. They denied it. 270 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,194 It's right there in your files. 271 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,914 Okay, then we can ask for a reconsideration on that. 272 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:57,976 Then a direct appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals 273 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,435 and work our way up to the State Supreme Court. 274 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,876 If we get denied there, we could file a Rule 32. 275 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,360 Then a federal habeas petition. 276 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,216 And if all that fails, Mr. McMillian, we could take your case 277 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:08,336 all the way to the Supreme Court. 278 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:10,397 You don't know what you into down here, do you? 279 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,000 You think all of them fancy words 280 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,037 gonna get you somewhere around here in Alabama? 281 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,871 All they gonna do is eat you alive and spit you out 282 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,158 just like every other black man they do, when they step out of line. 283 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,072 You coming around here with them fancy suits, 284 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,669 talking all white, these people don't give a damn about that. 285 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,480 The only suit they wanna see a nigga in is the suit I got on. 286 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:35,016 Mr. McMillian, I can see how that could be hard... 287 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:36,440 No, you don't! 288 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,633 No, you don't. No, you don't. No, you don't. 289 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,399 You a rich boy from Harvard, you don't know what it is down here. 290 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,516 When you're guilty from the moment you born. 291 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,360 And you can buddy up with these white folks and make them laugh 292 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,397 and try to make them like you, whatever that is, 293 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,696 and you say, "Yes, sir. No, ma'am." But when it's your turn, 294 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,313 they ain't got to have no fingerprints. 295 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:04,835 No evidence. 296 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,391 And the only witness they got made the whole thing up. 297 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,836 Ain't none of that matter, when all y'all think is 298 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:17,274 is I look like a man... 299 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:20,274 who could kill somebody. 300 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,439 But that's not what I think. 301 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,080 Mmm. 302 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,393 You know how many people have been freed from Alabama death row? 303 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:39,796 None. 304 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,790 What make you think you gonna change that? 305 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:54,634 I ain't doing this shit again. 306 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:56,799 - Guard. - Mr. McMillian... 307 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:58,553 We done here. 308 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,199 Mr. McMillian, please. 309 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:03,436 I'm here to help. 310 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,080 - What's up, Johnny D.? - Say hello! 311 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:12,953 How's it going, my brother? 312 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:14,190 How'd it go? 313 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,880 How you treating them needs, motherfucker? 314 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:41,600 Johnny D.? 315 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,039 Johnny D., you there? 316 00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:46,236 'Sup, Herb? 317 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:48,676 Ray there? 318 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:52,430 Ray. 319 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,513 Unavailable at the moment. 320 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:58,477 Where you at? 321 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,352 Buckingham Palace. I'm having tea with the queen. 322 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:03,920 Huh. 323 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,152 She's a very nice lady. I'll let you know when we done. 324 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:12,272 Hey, Johnny D., what you think of the lawyer? 325 00:24:13,120 --> 00:24:14,349 I think he a kid. 326 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:16,634 Don't know what he's talking about. 327 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,075 Making all these promises he ain't gonna be able to keep. 328 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,992 I... I thought he was nice. 329 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:26,274 Nice? 330 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,437 The hell you want a nice lawyer for? 331 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:31,317 Nice ain't gonna get you shit. 332 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:32,595 Look at Johnny D. 333 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,157 Nice as a puppy, yet he in here with us. 334 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,116 Well, I didn't know you thought about me like that, Ray. 335 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,431 I mean, just you nice and everything... 336 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,796 You not as nice as La Toya Jackson, 337 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,395 but for a old man on the row, you a'ight. 338 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,279 Hey, I thought you said I was the old man. 339 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,195 Well, Johnny D. is old, Herb, you more ancient. 340 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,518 Sorry to tell you. 341 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:01,949 Herb, turn that music up. 342 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:04,070 You got it. 343 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,515 All right. Here... 344 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:26,915 Bryan... 345 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:29,794 did you get any sleep? 346 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,194 I, uh... 347 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:34,034 I don't think McMillian did it. 348 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,637 The state based its entire case on the testimony of one man. 349 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,154 Ralph Myers. 350 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,436 Myers spent most of his life in and out of prison. 351 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,274 When he testified, he was on trial for a different murder, 352 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:47,920 which he ended up getting 30 years for. 353 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:49,760 Seems like a pretty good deal. 354 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,674 In his statement, he said that Johnny D. approached him at a car wash 355 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:57,391 and forced him at gunpoint to drive to Jackson Cleaners because his arm hurt. 356 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:58,880 That sounds logical. 357 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:00,976 When they get there, Johnny D. tells him to wait in the truck 358 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,275 while he goes inside. 359 00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:04,556 And while he's waiting for his kidnapper, 360 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:06,597 he doesn't run, he doesn't go to the police. 361 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,639 Instead, he drives to the liquor store for cigarettes 362 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:11,473 and then comes back to the crime scene. 363 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:13,350 Excuse me? 364 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:15,591 Myers hears gunshots, goes inside 365 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,912 and sees the body of Ronda Morrison lying on the ground, face up, 366 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,151 and Johnny D. standing over her with a gun 367 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,358 with some older white guy who he claimed was in charge. 368 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,672 - Anyone trying to look for him? - Exactly. 369 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,432 Oh, wait. They have one other witness to back his testimony. 370 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,432 A young black man named Bill Hooks. 371 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,318 Says he saw Johnny D.'s low-rider truck 372 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,790 leaving the cleaners around the time of the murder. 373 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:38,880 And that's it. 374 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:40,640 That's all they have. 375 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:42,960 Hmm. 376 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,596 So, an 18-year-old white girl is murdered in broad daylight 377 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,680 and the sheriff can't solve the crime for how long? 378 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,154 Almost a year. 379 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,358 And then some other guy who's charged with a different murder 380 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,160 says that he can tell them who did it if he gets a lower sentence. 381 00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,320 And the guy that he says did it 382 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,676 happens to be a black man from a poor community 383 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,240 that no one would think twice about. 384 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:09,273 There's gotta be more evidence than this. 385 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:12,678 I want to set a meeting with the DA. 386 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,314 Tommy Chapman just took over for Pearson a few months ago. 387 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:18,474 He used to be a public defender. 388 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,112 Maybe he's not in line with the rest of 'em. 389 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,112 You visit the Mockingbird Museum yet? 390 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:41,560 Uh, no, ma'am. 391 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,360 It's the old courthouse Harper Lee's daddy used to work in. 392 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,675 You can stand right where Atticus Finch once stood. 393 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,514 - Mr. Stevenson? I'm Tommy Chapman. - Hey. 394 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:55,795 - You find us okay? - I did. 395 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:57,434 - Good. Follow me. - Yeah. 396 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:58,749 Thank you, Tracy. 397 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,839 A lot of people are very keen to meet you, Mr. Stevenson. 398 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:03,718 - Oh, really? - Well, you're a Harvard lawyer 399 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,519 who's moved to Alabama. 400 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,956 You know, you start taking on all these capital cases, 401 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:10,999 people just wanna know what your intentions are, I guess. 402 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:13,536 We're just trying to give legal assistance 403 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:14,835 to people who can't afford it. 404 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:16,479 Well, legal assistance is one thing, 405 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,760 but trying to put convicted murderers back on the street 406 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,200 is something else entirely. 407 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:23,416 Anyway, you didn't come all the way down here 408 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:24,715 to talk about that. 409 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:26,200 What can I do for you today, Bryan? 410 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,240 I wanted to speak to you about Johnny D. McMillian. 411 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,312 You know I wasn't part of his prosecution, right? 412 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:32,800 That was way before my time. 413 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,111 And that's exactly why I wanted to meet you. 414 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,336 You see, I've read through the record quite a few times now 415 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,319 and I have some serious doubts about the reliability of his conviction. 416 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:44,960 If you could take a look at the sections I've highlighted here, 417 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,870 you'll see some problems with Ralph Myers' testimony. 418 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,558 Man, this is one of the most outrageous crimes 419 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:54,879 in Monroe County history. 420 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,072 Your client made a lot of people very angry. 421 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:02,712 I understand that, but there are some serious problems with this case. 422 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,553 And I was hoping that I can get your support 423 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:06,279 to figure out what really happened. 424 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:08,880 I already know what happened. 425 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,109 Johnny D. McMillian was convicted by a jury 426 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:18,113 of brutally murdering a teenage girl in my community. 427 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,830 And it is my job to defend the integrity of that conviction. 428 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,400 Even if that conviction is based on false testimony? 429 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:28,711 You're the only one I know who thinks that. 430 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:30,712 Then I must be the only one who read that record 431 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,598 because it's pretty obvious. 432 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,199 That man caused a lot of pain. 433 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:42,079 A lot of pain for folks around here. 434 00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:45,797 And if you go digging in those wounds... 435 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,356 you're gonna be making a lot of people very unhappy. 436 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:53,351 Well, it isn't my job to make people happy. 437 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,432 It's to achieve justice for my client. 438 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:01,356 Well... 439 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:07,280 Ralph Myers' two confessions and a statement from Bill Hooks. 440 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:12,434 I asked for copies of all the police and witness statements. 441 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:13,749 That's what you're holding. 442 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:15,593 This is a joke. Where's the rest of it? 443 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,876 That's what's relevant to the McMillian case. 444 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,794 If you want more, you'll have to file a discovery motion with the court 445 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:22,280 just like anybody else. 446 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:25,830 Thanks for coming by today, Mr. Stevenson. 447 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:28,869 Expect that motion soon. 448 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:30,440 I'll look forward to it, Counselor. 449 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,435 You oughta check out the Mockingbird Museum 450 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:35,670 on your way out of town. 451 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,835 It's one of the great civil rights landmarks of the South. 452 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:42,394 Hmm. 453 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:55,715 Keep in line. 454 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:03,877 Helping a black man convicted of killing a white girl 455 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,917 is political suicide in that county. 456 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,879 I'm sure he's being reminded of that by whoever got him his job. 457 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,475 The way he was talking, I don't even think he read the record. 458 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:12,994 That doesn't surprise me. 459 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:16,994 Hey, Kris, Bobby, come on in and get your snack. 460 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,120 Okay. 461 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:20,920 I'm gonna stop by Jackson Cleaners on my way to meet his family. 462 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:22,759 Okay. If I don't hear from you by morning, 463 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:24,160 I'll send a rescue party. 464 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:25,720 I hope that's a joke. 465 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:27,075 Me, too. 466 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:29,398 But just be careful, okay? 467 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:50,510 That's him. 468 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,871 - You the lawyer? - Yes, ma'am. 469 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:55,553 My name is Bryan Stevenson. 470 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:56,994 I'm Johnny D.'s wife, Minnie. 471 00:33:57,880 --> 00:33:58,950 Pleasure to meet you. 472 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:06,714 Thank you so much for driving all the way out here. 473 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,679 - Most lawyers barely make time to call. - Hmm. 474 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:14,191 This is our younger son, John. Our baby girl, Jackie. 475 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:16,710 I hope you don't mind, 476 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,634 a few of our neighbors stopped by to hear what you got to say. 477 00:34:19,720 --> 00:34:22,758 Oh, just a few? 478 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:24,633 - Come on. You'll be all right. - Okay. 479 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,639 Hey, now, we ain't gonna get nowhere 480 00:34:34,760 --> 00:34:36,911 with everybody quacking at the same time. 481 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,673 Now, let Mr. Stevenson talk. 482 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:46,160 Um... It's a pleasure to meet all of you. 483 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:49,275 Thank you. Um... 484 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:52,951 Now, I know you all have a lot of questions, 485 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:55,271 but I really would love to hear from you guys first, 486 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,876 just to get a better understanding of your perspective on things. 487 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,874 Our perspective is ain't no way Johnny D. did this crime. 488 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,437 The morning that girl was killed, 489 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:10,594 we was all having a fish fry here to raise money for the church. 490 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:13,639 - Johnny D. was here. Morning till night. - Mmm-hmm. 491 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:15,194 Working on his truck with John. 492 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:18,794 You were with your dad that day? 493 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,313 Yeah, we was up at 6:00 in the morning to put the truck on the rack. 494 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:23,720 Jimmy was there, too. 495 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,359 Yep. We had that tranny 496 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:28,160 - cleaned out by 9:30. - Mmm-hmm. 497 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:31,470 Now, how he supposed to kidnap 498 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:35,031 some crazy white man all the way in Evergreen, 499 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:39,558 then drive back to Jackson Cleaners to kill that girl at 10:15 500 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,075 - if his truck ain't got no transmission? - Hello. 501 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,511 How many of you all were with Walter that morning? 502 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,994 My husband could have never done this, no kind of way. 503 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:01,675 Whether we was with him or not, he is just not like that. 504 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,120 Well, everybody know they went after him 'cause of that woman. 505 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:09,960 Sorry, Minnie. 506 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:12,480 It's okay. 507 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,355 It ain't no secret. 508 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,016 A few months before the murder, 509 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,635 Johnny D. got caught messing around with a white woman in town. 510 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:26,230 When her husband find out about it, he made sure everybody knew. 511 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:30,030 People started talking, and the stories kept growing. 512 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:32,954 He went from being a cheat, to a drug dealer, 513 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:34,952 to head of the Dixie Mafia. 514 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,918 So, by the time somebody call him a murderer, 515 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,071 ain't nobody thought twice about it. 516 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:40,833 They can call it what they want, 517 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,196 this is just another way to lynch a black man. 518 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:44,560 Amen. 519 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,000 Amen. 520 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:47,400 There ain't no excuse 521 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:49,392 for what my husband did to me and this family. 522 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:51,714 Damn fool hurt me bad. 523 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:57,079 But he still the daddy of my kids. 524 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:00,616 And I really don't know what I'm supposed to tell them 525 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:03,678 about staying out of trouble when you can be in your own house 526 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:06,798 minding your own business, surrounded by your entire family 527 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:08,872 and they still going to put some murder on you. 528 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:11,710 That's right. 529 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:12,880 It's not just Dad. 530 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,271 We feel like they put us all on death row, too. 531 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:19,390 Baby... 532 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,389 I can only imagine the pain that you're going through. 533 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:25,720 But I'm gonna do everything I can. 534 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,031 The last lawyer was talking just as big as you. 535 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,176 John... 536 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:31,351 Then they took all our money and split. 537 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:33,315 Why you different? 538 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:39,359 Well, our organization will cover all legal fees, 539 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,433 so none of you will ever have to pay a penny. 540 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,200 Now, it's clear to me that this trial was constructed with lies... 541 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:51,836 and based off everything that I've seen, 542 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:54,640 I think we could build a case strong enough to bring Johnny D. home. 543 00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:58,749 And I'm not gonna stop until I've done that. 544 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:05,752 Well, you seem like good people to me. 545 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:09,917 But Johnny D.'s the one you gonna have to convince. 546 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,356 I don't know about the rest of y'all, 547 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:19,473 but I was sold on, "Y'all won't pay a penny." 548 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:21,796 Amen. 549 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:29,834 Mr. Stevenson? 550 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:30,990 Call me Bryan. 551 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:33,150 Okay. 552 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,354 This is my friend, Darnell. 553 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:39,520 He has something he wants to talk to you about. 554 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:43,320 Go on. 555 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,753 I think I can prove he's innocent. 556 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:51,640 You heard of Bill Hooks, right? 557 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:53,840 Yeah. 558 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:55,560 He testified that he saw Johnny D.'s truck 559 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:56,800 at the cleaners that morning. 560 00:38:57,480 --> 00:38:58,596 Bill didn't see shit. 561 00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:00,915 He made the whole thing up. 562 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:04,320 How do you know that? 563 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,279 'Cause I was with him. We was working at the shop together. 564 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,192 - The morning of the murder? - Yes, sir. 565 00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:13,351 We was fixing the head gasket on the Camaro 566 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:16,911 from 8:00 in the morning till right after we closed for lunch. 567 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:20,036 He was right next to me when them sirens was going off. 568 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:23,360 Why would he lie? 569 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:25,478 'Cause the snitch cut a deal with the cops. 570 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:27,776 They had him locked up for burglary, 571 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:29,996 and the day he give his statement, he walk out free. 572 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:31,275 All charges dropped. 573 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,760 We told one of the other lawyers, and they ain't do nothing about it. 574 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:36,315 Hmm. 575 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,640 Would you be willing to sign a statement we could use in court? 576 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:46,319 Police will see my name? 577 00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:50,515 It'd be on the record. 578 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:57,240 Darnell, exposing yourself like this is not easy. 579 00:39:58,600 --> 00:39:59,875 But with your testimony, 580 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,560 we can file a motion to reopen Johnny D.'s case. 581 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:06,149 Darnell... 582 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:08,880 we need you. 583 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:15,280 Okay, yeah. 584 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:16,953 Okay. 585 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:18,395 Yeah, that'll do it. 586 00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:20,556 All right. 587 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:38,760 Good morning. 588 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:40,636 Good morning. 589 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:42,994 Thanks for seeing me again. 590 00:40:43,080 --> 00:40:44,150 Mmm-hmm. 591 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:49,357 I know the last time we met, things didn't go quite the way I was... 592 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,511 I can't believe you met my family. 593 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,832 Drove down that dirt road, crammed up in that little house, 594 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,992 talked to all my people, say you gonna try to fight for me. 595 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:06,549 That mean a lot. 596 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:10,759 It meant a lot to me, too. 597 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:14,274 Oh, uh... 598 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:17,876 Minnie wanted me to give this to you. 599 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,234 And if you don't mind, I have something I wanna show you. 600 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:29,120 It's a statement from Darnell Houston... 601 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:31,673 saying that he was with Bill Hooks 602 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,871 three miles away at the time of the murder. 603 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:36,236 So, there's no way he could have seen your truck there. 604 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:38,240 That's good, right? 605 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:39,595 That's very good. 606 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,835 I'm gonna submit this with a motion for a new trial. 607 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:54,670 I know you talked to Minnie. She told you what I did to her. 608 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:58,536 I ain't got no excuse for cheating on a woman good as that one, 609 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:00,040 good as she been to me. 610 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:03,793 I don't know why she's standing by me. 611 00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:07,719 She's standing by you because she knows you shouldn't be in here. 612 00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:10,234 And so do I. 613 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:14,192 I know you didn't kill Ronda Morrison. 614 00:42:14,880 --> 00:42:17,440 And I can help you prove that in court if you'll let me. 615 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:28,951 You know, you done met my whole family. You know everything about 'em. 616 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:32,073 I don't know nothing about you, though. 617 00:42:32,960 --> 00:42:34,936 - What would you like to know? - I wanna know it all. 618 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:37,759 Like why you... Why you doing this? 619 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:40,354 - Why am I a lawyer? - No, no, no. 620 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:42,193 Why is you a lawyer down here in Alabama 621 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,920 taking these cases that ain't nobody gonna pay you for? 622 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:55,397 I grew up down a road just like yours. 623 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:01,673 I played soccer in a dirt field with the pigs and chickens. 624 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,193 Used to pump sewage from my yard. 625 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:14,198 When I was a teenager, my grandfather was murdered over a black-and-white TV. 626 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:19,435 We kept waiting for someone to show up to help. 627 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:23,320 They never did. 628 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:30,157 And that's when I realized that, outside my community, nobody cared. 629 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:35,392 'Cause to them, he's just another black man killed in the projects. 630 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:41,919 I know what it's like to be in the shadows. 631 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:46,480 That's why I'm doing this. 632 00:43:50,720 --> 00:43:52,200 That's a pretty good reason. 633 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:03,035 Okay. 634 00:44:05,720 --> 00:44:06,870 Okay... 635 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:10,715 Let's get to work. 636 00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:15,310 Okay. 637 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:34,556 - Hey, yo, Johnny D.? - Mmm-hmm. 638 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:37,037 You signing up with that lawyer? 639 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:38,918 I'm gonna give him a try. 640 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:41,390 Seem like everybody on the row working with him now. 641 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:43,914 I'm starting to feel left out. 642 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:46,953 Is he really that good? 643 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:50,110 I hope so. 644 00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:52,359 What you think, Herbert? 645 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:54,716 Should I just dump my guy and make the switch over? 646 00:44:58,440 --> 00:44:59,669 Herb, you hear me? 647 00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:01,870 You there? 648 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,036 I'm here. 649 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:08,150 Herb, you okay? 650 00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:15,876 They set my date. 651 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:25,856 Look here, Herb, don't you worry about nothing now. 652 00:45:25,880 --> 00:45:27,951 Everything gonna be a'ight. Okay? 653 00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:31,793 Ain't nothing over yet. You got Bryan working for you now. 654 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:36,199 I ain't like you guys. 655 00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:38,911 I deserve what's coming. 656 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:40,957 All right, now, see, Herb... 657 00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:43,559 there you go talking out your ass. 658 00:45:45,240 --> 00:45:47,038 Now, you fought for this country. 659 00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:50,351 And they threw you in the bag like the trash. 660 00:45:52,160 --> 00:45:54,516 That war made you sick in your head, man. 661 00:45:55,520 --> 00:45:57,239 You supposed to be in the hospital. 662 00:45:58,120 --> 00:45:59,156 Not here. 663 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:05,950 When I told the cops that stopped me I was innocent, 664 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:08,479 do you know what they said? 665 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:12,314 "One of you niggers did it... 666 00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:17,395 and if it wasn't you, then you taking one for your homie." 667 00:46:20,360 --> 00:46:24,115 Johnny D. prosecutor say he know he killed the girl 668 00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:26,476 because of the way he looked in his mug shot. 669 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:31,119 You don't deserve this shit more than any of us, Herb. 670 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:37,149 A girl is dead because of me. 671 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:43,916 That don't give nobody the right to kill you back. 672 00:46:48,040 --> 00:46:50,555 Herbert was 18 when he went to Vietnam. 673 00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:54,031 He was the only survivor in an ambush that killed his whole platoon. 674 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:57,991 After that, he had a mental breakdown, attempted suicide, 675 00:46:58,080 --> 00:46:59,958 and was sent home on an honorable discharge. 676 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:04,833 Back at home, he continued to suffer from nightmares, crying fits... 677 00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:07,913 running out of his house, screaming "incoming" to his neighbors. 678 00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:10,800 His lawyer didn't even mention military service 679 00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:12,593 or mental trauma to the jury. 680 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:15,912 A few months after the trial, he was disbarred for misconduct. 681 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:17,116 'Course he was. 682 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:21,194 Okay, what can we do? 683 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:25,236 Well, since he's already been through the appeals process, 684 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:28,671 the statute of limitations is gonna make it hard for a judge to listen. 685 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:33,600 We're gonna have to try and make him. 686 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:35,753 I'll get started on the motion tonight. 687 00:47:35,840 --> 00:47:37,240 - Hello? - Okay. 688 00:47:38,720 --> 00:47:40,234 It's for you, Mom. 689 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:42,880 Oh, thank you, sweetie. Hello? 690 00:47:43,480 --> 00:47:45,920 You the bitch working for that nigger lawyer? 691 00:47:46,880 --> 00:47:48,200 Who the hell is this? 692 00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:49,953 The guy who put the bomb under your house 693 00:47:50,040 --> 00:47:51,554 gonna blow your family all to hell 694 00:47:51,680 --> 00:47:54,195 if you don't stop working for that nigger Johnny D. 695 00:47:55,680 --> 00:47:57,080 Everybody, out of the house. 696 00:47:57,160 --> 00:47:58,913 - What's going on? - I'll tell you outside. 697 00:48:17,360 --> 00:48:18,714 They didn't find anything. 698 00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:21,190 And they're sure? 699 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:23,673 They said they're sure. 700 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:25,376 They checked the basement, too, like you said? 701 00:48:25,400 --> 00:48:27,520 - Said they checked the basement. - Okay. 702 00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:31,280 All right, we're gonna move on now. 703 00:48:34,920 --> 00:48:36,877 Okay, baby, let's get you to bed. 704 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:38,876 Yo, come on. 705 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:50,270 When you asked me to do this thing with you... 706 00:48:52,640 --> 00:48:55,439 I knew that I'd lose some friends. 707 00:48:57,680 --> 00:49:01,515 Have people talk shit behind my back, or to my face. 708 00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:05,720 I don't need people to like me, 709 00:49:05,800 --> 00:49:07,598 as long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. 710 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:13,953 But threatening my family... 711 00:49:18,720 --> 00:49:22,999 Eva, you know I'd never blame you if you needed to stop. 712 00:49:27,120 --> 00:49:28,839 I don't want my son growing up knowing 713 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:31,560 that his mom stopped doing what was right 714 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:34,235 just because she was scared of some crazy bigot. 715 00:49:40,560 --> 00:49:41,710 Okay? 716 00:49:42,480 --> 00:49:44,233 What are we gonna do about McMillian? 717 00:49:49,160 --> 00:49:50,958 We start the investigation from scratch. 718 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:54,757 Find anyone in town who's willing to talk. 719 00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:01,480 Maybe people will stop trying to kill us once they realize how charming we are. 720 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:12,997 I just wanted to ask you a couple questions 721 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:14,753 about the Ronda Morrison murder. 722 00:50:15,320 --> 00:50:16,993 Uh, it's just... 723 00:50:17,760 --> 00:50:18,896 You were on the witness list 724 00:50:18,920 --> 00:50:20,416 for the Ronda Morrison trial a few years back. 725 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:22,636 Sorry. Can't help you with that. 726 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:26,776 Is there anything, anything at all that you feel comfortable talking... 727 00:50:26,800 --> 00:50:27,800 You know, look, 728 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,196 if you are not working for that poor girl's family 729 00:50:30,280 --> 00:50:31,736 then I ain't got nothing to say to you. 730 00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:33,114 Sorry, sweetie. 731 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:36,236 Officer Ikner? 732 00:50:37,720 --> 00:50:39,200 I ain't no officer no more. 733 00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:42,551 I'm a lawyer representing Johnny D. McMillian. 734 00:50:43,320 --> 00:50:45,596 I understand you were the first officer on the scene. 735 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:52,760 I was right. 736 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:55,480 The fish fry was on Saturday, November 1st. 737 00:50:55,560 --> 00:50:56,994 The same day as the murder. 738 00:50:57,080 --> 00:50:58,434 They put these up all over town. 739 00:51:00,520 --> 00:51:02,796 I could kiss you, Deb. 740 00:51:08,400 --> 00:51:09,936 We're planning to grow this into something 741 00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:11,917 the whole country will be talking about. 742 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:14,799 And you can say that it all started in your building. 743 00:51:15,880 --> 00:51:18,520 What exactly kind of work do you do? 744 00:51:20,120 --> 00:51:21,520 We're just helping people. 745 00:51:27,920 --> 00:51:29,576 - It looks good. - It's perfect. 746 00:51:29,600 --> 00:51:32,176 My client, Herbert Richardson, was recommended for a Medal of Valor 747 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:33,793 for disarming a bomb in Vietnam. 748 00:51:33,880 --> 00:51:36,793 We got a tip that a few of your employees could back his alibi. 749 00:51:36,880 --> 00:51:38,473 Vivian Clark was one of the teenagers 750 00:51:38,560 --> 00:51:40,472 who were sexually abused at your facility. 751 00:51:40,560 --> 00:51:41,560 No, I'm not an attorney, 752 00:51:41,640 --> 00:51:44,439 but I promise you, your son is in very good hands. 753 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:48,110 We'll let you know. 754 00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:50,556 - Yeah, very soon. - Good talking to you. 755 00:51:53,040 --> 00:51:54,952 Equal Justice Initiative. This is Brenda. 756 00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:59,277 Yeah. Okay. Yes. Uh-huh. Just one moment. 757 00:51:59,840 --> 00:52:01,115 Darnell Houston. 758 00:52:04,080 --> 00:52:05,434 Hello, Darnell? 759 00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:10,273 Whoa. Whoa, whoa. Slow down, slow down, slow down. 760 00:52:11,440 --> 00:52:12,556 Where are you? 761 00:52:15,240 --> 00:52:17,914 - Are you okay? - No, sir, I'm not. 762 00:52:19,480 --> 00:52:22,393 Okay, Darnell, let's go talk in the car. Okay? 763 00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:29,235 How in the hell they locking me up for perjury 764 00:52:29,320 --> 00:52:31,357 if alls I did was say the truth? Hmm? 765 00:52:32,600 --> 00:52:34,956 I knew I shouldn't have signed that paper, man. 766 00:52:35,040 --> 00:52:36,256 Shouldn't have listened to you. 767 00:52:36,280 --> 00:52:38,476 No. What they did to you was completely illegal. 768 00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:41,216 Okay? Now, I'm gonna talk to the DA and get all these charges dismissed. 769 00:52:41,240 --> 00:52:42,799 This will never happen again. 770 00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:44,314 Well, how the hell do you know? 771 00:52:45,240 --> 00:52:46,799 You can't control these guys. 772 00:52:47,680 --> 00:52:50,036 They arrested me in the middle of my shift, 773 00:52:50,120 --> 00:52:52,032 in front of my boss. 774 00:52:52,120 --> 00:52:54,430 I don't even know if I got a job tomorrow. 775 00:53:00,040 --> 00:53:02,635 I feel bad, what they doing to Johnny D... 776 00:53:05,480 --> 00:53:07,233 but I'm just trying to survive. 777 00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:11,233 I can't fight these guys, man. 778 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:15,032 Go on and find somebody else. 779 00:53:15,120 --> 00:53:18,033 Listen, Darnell. Think about Johnny D., okay? 780 00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:20,559 Think about his family. They need you. 781 00:53:21,400 --> 00:53:22,959 Give me some time to work on this. 782 00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:32,554 That's my ride. 783 00:53:34,160 --> 00:53:35,833 Tell Johnny D. I'm sorry. 784 00:54:10,480 --> 00:54:11,914 I need to speak with you. 785 00:54:13,600 --> 00:54:15,637 Oh, hey, Bryan. 786 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:18,400 Have you met Sheriff Tate? 787 00:54:21,600 --> 00:54:23,353 Who ordered the arrest of my witness? 788 00:54:24,080 --> 00:54:26,993 When people make false statements concerning this case, 789 00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:28,673 they're gonna be held accountable. 790 00:54:28,760 --> 00:54:30,016 You can't arrest someone for perjury 791 00:54:30,040 --> 00:54:32,350 without evidence that a false statement has been made. 792 00:54:32,440 --> 00:54:35,160 Hang on. Are you representing Mr. Houston now, too? 793 00:54:35,240 --> 00:54:36,310 Yes, I am. 794 00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:38,960 His statement contradicts Bill Hooks' entire testimony. 795 00:54:39,040 --> 00:54:41,430 Hooks ain't the state's main witness. Ralph Myers is. 796 00:54:41,520 --> 00:54:43,796 Alabama Code 12-21-222 797 00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:46,475 requires corroboration of accomplice testimony. 798 00:54:46,560 --> 00:54:49,075 So, without Hooks, the conviction wouldn't be valid. 799 00:54:52,120 --> 00:54:55,397 You know, I went down to see Ronda Morrison's momma yesterday. 800 00:54:56,520 --> 00:54:57,840 And she's in tears. 801 00:54:57,920 --> 00:55:01,231 She kept asking me why some lawyer from up north 802 00:55:01,360 --> 00:55:04,478 would come down here and make them relive all this hell again. 803 00:55:05,960 --> 00:55:08,839 Well, you can tell her it's because Johnny D. didn't kill her daughter. 804 00:55:08,920 --> 00:55:11,196 And whoever did is still out there somewhere. 805 00:55:11,280 --> 00:55:12,430 Hmm. 806 00:55:13,560 --> 00:55:17,349 I know how desperate you must be 807 00:55:17,440 --> 00:55:20,274 to fulfill your fantasy of who we are down here. 808 00:55:21,400 --> 00:55:24,996 Just a bunch of corrupt Southern racists framing niggers for murder. 809 00:55:26,040 --> 00:55:27,633 And you here to save the day. 810 00:55:28,840 --> 00:55:30,957 Well, hell, you can believe that if you want to, 811 00:55:31,880 --> 00:55:33,951 but I know that Johnny D. killed that girl, 812 00:55:34,040 --> 00:55:35,315 and he's gonna answer for it. 813 00:55:35,840 --> 00:55:38,799 And how do you know that? You have no hard evidence. 814 00:55:39,720 --> 00:55:42,110 You based your entire case on the word of an indicted felon 815 00:55:42,200 --> 00:55:44,376 who had every incentive to tell you what you wanted to hear. 816 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:46,596 Ralph Myers testified on his own accord. 817 00:55:46,680 --> 00:55:47,875 And it made no sense. 818 00:55:47,960 --> 00:55:50,395 He couldn't finish a sentence without contradicting himself. 819 00:55:52,160 --> 00:55:54,516 Now, the charges against Darnell Houston are baseless. 820 00:55:54,600 --> 00:55:55,880 They'll never stand up in court. 821 00:55:56,800 --> 00:55:58,519 They should be dropped immediately. 822 00:56:03,280 --> 00:56:04,475 Okay. 823 00:56:06,720 --> 00:56:08,040 Is that okay with you, Tommy? 824 00:56:08,600 --> 00:56:09,636 Sure. 825 00:56:10,440 --> 00:56:12,033 Well, it doesn't really matter 826 00:56:12,120 --> 00:56:14,271 now the court denied your motion to reopen the case. 827 00:56:16,040 --> 00:56:17,110 Wait, what was that? 828 00:56:17,920 --> 00:56:19,877 Oh, you didn't get the order? 829 00:56:20,840 --> 00:56:22,479 Well, the judge is down in Mobile now, 830 00:56:22,560 --> 00:56:24,677 so, you know, sometimes they have mail issues. 831 00:56:25,960 --> 00:56:27,553 Listen, you can tell Mr. Houston 832 00:56:27,640 --> 00:56:29,096 the charges against him are being dropped. 833 00:56:29,120 --> 00:56:30,216 I can do that much for y'all 834 00:56:30,240 --> 00:56:32,550 but anything else will have to be raised on appeal. 835 00:56:39,840 --> 00:56:41,559 Thanks for stopping by, Counselor. 836 00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:54,756 I want to see my mother 837 00:56:54,840 --> 00:56:57,071 All I want 838 00:56:57,160 --> 00:56:59,391 Whoa 839 00:56:59,520 --> 00:57:02,035 To see my mother 840 00:57:02,160 --> 00:57:04,231 Child, I want 841 00:57:06,800 --> 00:57:09,634 To see my mother 842 00:57:09,720 --> 00:57:14,078 I'm going home to live... 843 00:57:23,840 --> 00:57:25,240 Something wrong, Officer? 844 00:57:25,320 --> 00:57:26,595 Step out of the vehicle. 845 00:57:27,640 --> 00:57:30,075 I don't understand. I wasn't speeding. 846 00:57:30,680 --> 00:57:32,114 I said step out of the vehicle. 847 00:57:33,440 --> 00:57:34,590 I'll get out of the car, 848 00:57:34,720 --> 00:57:36,712 but first can you tell me why you stopped me? 849 00:57:38,240 --> 00:57:39,536 - Get out of the goddamn car! - Whoa! 850 00:57:39,560 --> 00:57:41,597 Whoa, whoa. Okay, okay. Hold on. 851 00:57:41,680 --> 00:57:43,000 - Come on! - Okay. 852 00:57:43,080 --> 00:57:44,673 Okay. I'm taking off my seat belt. 853 00:57:44,760 --> 00:57:46,911 - Get it! Come on! - Okay. I'm opening up the door. 854 00:57:47,000 --> 00:57:48,096 - I'm stepping out. - Faster! Come on! 855 00:57:48,120 --> 00:57:50,112 - Okay. I have nothing in my hands. - Turn around! 856 00:57:50,200 --> 00:57:52,078 - Yes. Okay. Okay. - Hands on the car! 857 00:57:59,480 --> 00:58:01,711 You don't have to have the gun pointed at me. 858 00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:05,555 - I'm not a threat. - Shut your damn mouth, boy. 859 00:58:05,640 --> 00:58:06,720 Hey, brother... 860 00:58:07,760 --> 00:58:10,878 you ought to be careful with your words when you got a gun at your head. 861 00:58:15,400 --> 00:58:16,470 Let's go, John. 862 00:58:25,800 --> 00:58:27,120 Why did you stop me? 863 00:58:27,200 --> 00:58:28,475 We're letting you go. 864 00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:31,435 You should be happy. 865 00:58:59,160 --> 00:59:01,595 Even if they drop them charges, 866 00:59:01,680 --> 00:59:04,673 Darnell ain't gonna testify after what they done done to him. 867 00:59:06,840 --> 00:59:09,309 I know we took a big hit. We did. 868 00:59:09,440 --> 00:59:11,176 But we just need to gather more evidence for another motion. 869 00:59:11,200 --> 00:59:13,016 No, no. They gonna block it. They gonna block it. 870 00:59:13,040 --> 00:59:16,431 If they can put me on the row for a year without no trial, 871 00:59:16,520 --> 00:59:17,954 they can do whatever they wanna do. 872 00:59:19,280 --> 00:59:21,351 They put you on death row before your trial? 873 00:59:21,440 --> 00:59:22,840 Yeah. 874 00:59:22,920 --> 00:59:24,513 Sheriff drove me himself. 875 00:59:24,600 --> 00:59:28,276 Said, "I'm gonna give you a little taste of what it's like unless you confess." 876 00:59:29,840 --> 00:59:31,296 Why are you just now telling me this? 877 00:59:31,320 --> 00:59:32,754 This is how it is down here. 878 00:59:34,880 --> 00:59:36,792 Been like this long as I can remember. 879 00:59:45,000 --> 00:59:46,798 They messing with you, ain't they? 880 00:59:50,560 --> 00:59:53,792 Yeah, they are. They're not making it easy on me. 881 00:59:57,120 --> 00:59:58,600 I got a plan for you, though. 882 00:59:59,880 --> 01:00:00,916 I'm all ears. 883 01:00:02,600 --> 01:00:03,696 This what I think we should do. 884 01:00:03,720 --> 01:00:06,872 I think you should train up another lawyer 885 01:00:06,960 --> 01:00:09,600 'cause I'm gonna need somebody just in case they take you out. 886 01:00:11,320 --> 01:00:14,154 Oh, it's like that? 887 01:00:14,240 --> 01:00:17,278 Like that. It's like that. 888 01:00:17,360 --> 01:00:18,919 Thought I had a friend. 889 01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:20,116 Ain't no friends in here. 890 01:00:20,200 --> 01:00:21,600 - Cold world. - Yeah. 891 01:00:25,360 --> 01:00:26,874 So, we ain't got Darnell. 892 01:00:29,000 --> 01:00:30,070 What's the next move? 893 01:00:34,640 --> 01:00:36,518 I think we should talk to Ralph Myers. 894 01:00:40,880 --> 01:00:41,880 - Walter... - No. 895 01:00:41,881 --> 01:00:43,281 Just listen to me for a second. 896 01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:46,878 I know it's risky, 897 01:00:46,960 --> 01:00:48,880 but the only way to find out what he really knows 898 01:00:48,960 --> 01:00:50,474 is for me to get him talking. 899 01:00:51,760 --> 01:00:53,080 I know what he know. 900 01:00:55,880 --> 01:00:57,519 You know what that man did to me? 901 01:00:59,640 --> 01:01:01,040 Took my life away from me... 902 01:01:02,880 --> 01:01:04,109 to save his own ass. 903 01:01:05,920 --> 01:01:07,798 All he gonna give you is lies. 904 01:01:09,840 --> 01:01:11,638 I promise I'm gonna be careful. 905 01:01:20,680 --> 01:01:22,000 Get in line. 906 01:01:40,520 --> 01:01:42,000 Mr. Myers. 907 01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:44,429 You Bobby? 908 01:01:45,600 --> 01:01:46,829 I'm Bryan. 909 01:01:48,240 --> 01:01:49,356 Maybe later. 910 01:01:50,640 --> 01:01:52,597 Okay. Do you wanna sit down? 911 01:01:54,240 --> 01:01:55,993 You gonna buy me a Coke first? 912 01:01:56,440 --> 01:01:59,194 Or you gonna make me stare at them vending machines all day? 913 01:02:00,920 --> 01:02:02,479 Sure. What do you want? 914 01:02:03,400 --> 01:02:04,754 Sunkist orange. 915 01:02:05,280 --> 01:02:06,509 Okay. 916 01:02:06,600 --> 01:02:08,398 And some Jujyfruits, if they got 'em. 917 01:02:12,560 --> 01:02:14,756 I just want to say thanks for meeting me, Mr. Myers. 918 01:02:25,480 --> 01:02:28,393 Can we start by talking about your testimony against Johnny D.? 919 01:02:29,480 --> 01:02:30,675 No. 920 01:02:31,960 --> 01:02:33,440 I ain't talking about him. 921 01:02:34,680 --> 01:02:36,592 That's the only reason why I'm here. 922 01:02:36,680 --> 01:02:38,239 You don't like it, leave. 923 01:02:40,800 --> 01:02:43,360 Aw, don't look so sad. We can talk about other things. 924 01:02:43,440 --> 01:02:44,590 I love to talk. 925 01:02:45,280 --> 01:02:47,670 My wife says if I got paid for every word I said, 926 01:02:47,760 --> 01:02:49,717 we'd be a couple of billionaires by now. 927 01:02:52,760 --> 01:02:53,910 Oh, yeah? 928 01:02:54,600 --> 01:02:56,193 How long you been married? 929 01:02:56,280 --> 01:03:00,433 Long enough to pop out a couple of kids and watch her turn 'em all against me. 930 01:03:00,520 --> 01:03:01,749 You got kids? 931 01:03:01,880 --> 01:03:03,155 Me? No. 932 01:03:04,160 --> 01:03:05,480 But Johnny D. does. 933 01:03:07,480 --> 01:03:08,480 Yeah. 934 01:03:08,560 --> 01:03:11,678 The thing about kids is they ain't nothing like having a dog. 935 01:03:12,160 --> 01:03:13,389 It's a totally different deal. 936 01:03:13,480 --> 01:03:15,711 I wish somebody had told me that in the first place. 937 01:03:16,920 --> 01:03:19,674 And my kids, they think they got it so bad. 938 01:03:20,400 --> 01:03:22,119 They ain't seen nothing like I seen. 939 01:03:22,920 --> 01:03:25,640 Try making it as a foster kid your whole life. 940 01:03:25,720 --> 01:03:27,440 As soon as you figure out one shitty parent, 941 01:03:27,520 --> 01:03:29,000 they moving you to a new one. 942 01:03:32,360 --> 01:03:33,555 Uh... 943 01:03:33,960 --> 01:03:35,280 I'm sorry. 944 01:03:35,920 --> 01:03:37,434 I'm sure that wasn't easy. 945 01:03:43,280 --> 01:03:44,680 How many kids he got? 946 01:03:46,760 --> 01:03:48,274 Johnny D. has three. 947 01:03:52,480 --> 01:03:54,400 Mr. Myers, I know you made a deal with the state. 948 01:03:55,040 --> 01:03:58,033 But I don't think they told you Johnny D. was gonna die because of it. 949 01:03:59,640 --> 01:04:01,632 That must not be an easy thing to carry. 950 01:04:02,840 --> 01:04:05,799 And I'm hoping there's a part of you that wants to make things right. 951 01:04:10,560 --> 01:04:12,631 Can we please talk about your testimony? 952 01:04:18,720 --> 01:04:20,120 Hey. Hey! 953 01:04:29,080 --> 01:04:31,720 From the day they moved my ass into Escambia... 954 01:04:32,080 --> 01:04:34,914 for something I'm telling you I ain't had nothing to do with, 955 01:04:35,760 --> 01:04:38,832 all them police wanted to talk about was Ronda Morrison. 956 01:04:38,920 --> 01:04:40,991 It was Morrison this, Morrison that. 957 01:04:41,080 --> 01:04:43,754 Sometimes four or five of 'em in the room at the same time. 958 01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:48,159 They were questioning you about her the day you were arrested? 959 01:04:50,880 --> 01:04:52,360 Alls I'm saying is... 960 01:04:53,240 --> 01:04:57,075 ain't nobody cared about a damn thing besides who killed that girl. 961 01:04:57,160 --> 01:04:59,038 And when people care about a thing that much, 962 01:04:59,120 --> 01:05:01,112 they'll do anything to get what they want. 963 01:05:03,280 --> 01:05:05,880 You know they'll kill you if you get to the bottom of this, right? 964 01:05:07,240 --> 01:05:08,879 Wait. Where are you going? 965 01:05:08,960 --> 01:05:10,679 We done here, Bobby. 966 01:05:10,800 --> 01:05:12,359 Thanks for the Jujys. 967 01:05:13,760 --> 01:05:15,035 Ready, boss. 968 01:05:18,920 --> 01:05:20,856 Myers said he was questioned about Ronda Morrison 969 01:05:20,880 --> 01:05:22,758 the day he was arrested, on June 3rd. 970 01:05:22,840 --> 01:05:24,496 But the only statement they presented in court 971 01:05:24,520 --> 01:05:26,989 was recorded almost two months later. 972 01:05:27,080 --> 01:05:29,390 Do you think they're hiding his first statement somewhere? 973 01:05:30,600 --> 01:05:32,600 If they are, it might be at the Escambia courthouse 974 01:05:32,640 --> 01:05:34,120 with the files from his other case. 975 01:05:34,240 --> 01:05:35,674 You know anyone over there? 976 01:05:36,560 --> 01:05:37,789 I do. 977 01:05:42,200 --> 01:05:44,157 That's everything we got on Myers. 978 01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:45,480 You can make copies over there. 979 01:05:45,760 --> 01:05:47,592 - Thank you, ma'am. - Sure, baby. 980 01:05:50,120 --> 01:05:52,077 He's cute. Married? 981 01:05:52,160 --> 01:05:54,311 Married to his work. 982 01:05:54,400 --> 01:05:55,720 How's Uncle Mickey doing? 983 01:06:04,280 --> 01:06:05,280 Miss Miller. 984 01:06:06,440 --> 01:06:07,669 Can I take a copy of these? 985 01:06:08,760 --> 01:06:10,672 They ain't paying me enough to stop you. 986 01:06:24,280 --> 01:06:27,034 Did you find the transcript from Myers' first statement? 987 01:06:28,240 --> 01:06:30,277 - Yeah. - Thank you. 988 01:06:37,120 --> 01:06:38,120 What? 989 01:06:46,720 --> 01:06:48,016 I understand that, Sheriff. 990 01:06:48,040 --> 01:06:49,156 That's Myers. 991 01:06:49,240 --> 01:06:50,800 And that's what I'm trying to tell you. 992 01:06:50,880 --> 01:06:54,794 Because, I'm gonna be honest with ya, I don't know a damn thing. 993 01:06:56,000 --> 01:06:57,016 Is that right? 994 01:06:57,040 --> 01:06:58,235 And that's Tate. 995 01:06:58,320 --> 01:07:00,960 Yes, sir. It's righter than anything I've ever said. 996 01:07:02,120 --> 01:07:04,080 And you would take a polygraph test 997 01:07:04,120 --> 01:07:06,954 to the fact that you do not know who killed Ronda Morrison? 998 01:07:07,040 --> 01:07:08,474 That's right, sir. I will. 999 01:07:09,760 --> 01:07:10,976 Would you face the person 1000 01:07:11,000 --> 01:07:12,296 who came in here and testified that you... 1001 01:07:12,320 --> 01:07:15,313 I will face any damn body in this world on that 1002 01:07:15,400 --> 01:07:17,392 because it's a stone lie. 1003 01:07:17,480 --> 01:07:20,917 And if you asking me to frame an innocent man for murder, 1004 01:07:21,000 --> 01:07:23,071 well, thatjust ain't something I'm willing to do. 1005 01:07:27,120 --> 01:07:28,190 Holy shit. 1006 01:07:58,400 --> 01:07:59,800 Herb, you all right over there? 1007 01:08:03,000 --> 01:08:04,000 - Hmm? - No. 1008 01:08:06,280 --> 01:08:08,875 Now, listen here, you gonna have to get your mind off tomorrow. 1009 01:08:09,400 --> 01:08:11,995 Bryan is working on that as we speak. 1010 01:08:13,760 --> 01:08:15,353 Now, you know how these courts here is. 1011 01:08:15,440 --> 01:08:18,672 They wait till the last minute, but you gonna get that stay. 1012 01:08:18,760 --> 01:08:22,037 Why did I make that bomb? 1013 01:08:22,600 --> 01:08:24,273 Herb, don't go there now. 1014 01:08:24,360 --> 01:08:25,680 Why'd I do that? 1015 01:08:25,760 --> 01:08:28,878 I wasn't trying to hurt nobody. 1016 01:08:29,000 --> 01:08:30,195 Herb, I know. 1017 01:08:30,720 --> 01:08:34,475 Why am I so stupid? 1018 01:08:34,680 --> 01:08:36,478 No, no, you ain't stupid. 1019 01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:39,635 That war got you sick, and you still sick. 1020 01:08:40,200 --> 01:08:42,476 Girl wasn't supposed to come by and pick it up. 1021 01:08:42,560 --> 01:08:45,871 Listen, Herb. I want you to... 1022 01:08:45,960 --> 01:08:47,872 She wasn't supposed to come by and pick it up. 1023 01:08:47,960 --> 01:08:50,873 This what we gonna do, Herb. We gonna slow your mind down. 1024 01:08:50,960 --> 01:08:53,714 Remember what we practiced now. What we do? 1025 01:08:55,640 --> 01:08:57,871 - Deep breaths. - Yeah. Yeah. 1026 01:08:57,960 --> 01:08:59,120 Come on, do that with me now. 1027 01:08:59,800 --> 01:09:01,837 Deep breaths. 1028 01:09:04,720 --> 01:09:05,949 In and out. 1029 01:09:10,640 --> 01:09:11,835 Now in. 1030 01:09:14,200 --> 01:09:15,634 Now close your eyes. 1031 01:09:17,200 --> 01:09:18,714 Get away from all this. 1032 01:09:20,800 --> 01:09:22,154 No more walls. 1033 01:09:23,080 --> 01:09:24,400 No more guards. 1034 01:09:26,280 --> 01:09:27,919 No more wars to fight. 1035 01:09:30,680 --> 01:09:32,160 Just you, out in the open. 1036 01:09:33,720 --> 01:09:35,393 Fresh air on your face. 1037 01:09:42,240 --> 01:09:43,959 Look at them pine trees. 1038 01:09:46,520 --> 01:09:48,751 They've been growing since 'fore we was born. 1039 01:09:51,760 --> 01:09:54,673 And they gonna keep growing even after we gone. 1040 01:09:57,800 --> 01:10:00,918 And they done been through the same shit we done been through. 1041 01:10:04,440 --> 01:10:06,830 But they still dancing in the breeze. 1042 01:10:16,600 --> 01:10:17,875 Can you see 'em? 1043 01:10:20,560 --> 01:10:21,755 Yeah. 1044 01:10:22,560 --> 01:10:23,676 Good. 1045 01:10:25,720 --> 01:10:27,712 Now I want you to think about nothing else. 1046 01:10:28,200 --> 01:10:29,714 Just keep your mind on that. 1047 01:10:30,960 --> 01:10:32,758 And everything gonna be a'ight. 1048 01:10:50,480 --> 01:10:52,199 I need Strickland v. Washington, 1049 01:10:52,280 --> 01:10:54,033 and the affidavit from Herbert's sergeant. 1050 01:11:10,080 --> 01:11:11,309 Let's send it. 1051 01:11:18,600 --> 01:11:19,920 Now what? 1052 01:11:22,840 --> 01:11:24,115 We wait. 1053 01:11:44,920 --> 01:11:46,752 EJI. This is Bryan Stevenson. 1054 01:11:46,840 --> 01:11:48,160 Mr. Stevenson, 1055 01:11:48,280 --> 01:11:52,832 the court has just entered an order in case number 895395. 1056 01:11:52,920 --> 01:11:54,718 The motion for a stay of execution 1057 01:11:54,800 --> 01:11:57,679 and petition for writ of certiorari have been denied. 1058 01:11:58,120 --> 01:12:00,954 We'll fax copies of the order over to your office shortly. 1059 01:12:03,200 --> 01:12:05,192 - Thank you. - Thank you. 1060 01:12:21,000 --> 01:12:22,480 He asked me to be there. 1061 01:12:25,520 --> 01:12:26,670 Okay. 1062 01:12:27,760 --> 01:12:29,035 I'll drive you, then. 1063 01:12:42,120 --> 01:12:44,715 Come on, Herbert. We gotta go. 1064 01:13:07,240 --> 01:13:10,074 Can I say bye to my friends? 1065 01:13:26,320 --> 01:13:28,312 When it get too much for you... 1066 01:13:30,160 --> 01:13:32,152 you take them deep breaths. 1067 01:13:33,440 --> 01:13:35,079 Let your mind go. 1068 01:13:38,680 --> 01:13:41,798 Wish I didn't have to do this alone. 1069 01:13:44,280 --> 01:13:46,033 You ain't by yourself, Herbert. 1070 01:13:47,920 --> 01:13:49,354 We all with you. 1071 01:13:51,720 --> 01:13:53,279 Ain't that right, Ray? 1072 01:13:55,240 --> 01:13:58,517 That's right, Herb. You ain't rid of us yet. 1073 01:14:04,240 --> 01:14:06,197 You've been a good friend. 1074 01:14:50,560 --> 01:14:52,120 First time in the chamber, huh? 1075 01:14:54,000 --> 01:14:55,036 Yeah. 1076 01:14:55,120 --> 01:14:57,919 Don't think too much. You'll lose your shit. 1077 01:15:10,040 --> 01:15:12,077 Need anything, Mr. Richardson? 1078 01:15:14,160 --> 01:15:16,152 You still gonna play my song? 1079 01:15:16,680 --> 01:15:18,239 Got it cued up and ready. 1080 01:15:20,480 --> 01:15:21,709 Thank you. 1081 01:15:34,840 --> 01:15:36,832 It's been a strange day. 1082 01:15:39,760 --> 01:15:43,117 More people asked how they can help me today 1083 01:15:43,200 --> 01:15:45,431 than ever asked in my whole life. 1084 01:15:52,640 --> 01:15:54,313 Do I look funny? 1085 01:15:56,640 --> 01:16:01,192 I ain't know they were gonna shave off everything. 1086 01:16:03,600 --> 01:16:05,000 You look fine. 1087 01:16:17,560 --> 01:16:22,476 Well, most people don't get to sit and think all day... 1088 01:16:23,000 --> 01:16:25,071 about it being their last day alive. 1089 01:16:27,760 --> 01:16:29,558 It's different than Nam. 1090 01:16:31,280 --> 01:16:33,078 Least I had a chance there. 1091 01:16:40,240 --> 01:16:41,640 I'm sorry. 1092 01:16:46,680 --> 01:16:50,720 You the only one cared enough to fight for me. 1093 01:16:55,960 --> 01:16:59,032 Since I don't have family, 1094 01:16:59,120 --> 01:17:02,397 I told the army to send my flag to you, if that's okay. 1095 01:17:08,040 --> 01:17:09,554 I'd be honored. 1096 01:17:18,760 --> 01:17:21,036 Can you pray with me? 1097 01:17:24,640 --> 01:17:25,994 Of course. 1098 01:17:36,520 --> 01:17:37,636 They're ready. 1099 01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:49,955 On a hill far away 1100 01:17:50,640 --> 01:17:55,237 Stood an old rugged cross 1101 01:17:56,160 --> 01:17:59,915 The emblem of suffering and shame 1102 01:18:02,160 --> 01:18:05,915 And I love that old cross 1103 01:18:06,000 --> 01:18:09,471 Where the dearest and best 1104 01:18:10,160 --> 01:18:15,952 For a world of lost sinners was slain 1105 01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:21,791 And I'll cherish 1106 01:18:21,880 --> 01:18:25,954 The old rugged cross 1107 01:18:27,840 --> 01:18:29,877 Till my trophies at last I lay down 1108 01:18:29,960 --> 01:18:31,758 You, Herbert Lee Richardson, 1109 01:18:32,280 --> 01:18:35,717 shall be put to death by electrocution in the state of Alabama, 1110 01:18:35,800 --> 01:18:38,679 as ordered and decreed by Judge Jerry M. White, 1111 01:18:38,760 --> 01:18:43,118 for the murder of Rena Mae Collins on August the 16th, 1977. 1112 01:18:44,440 --> 01:18:45,590 So ordered. 1113 01:18:46,680 --> 01:18:47,909 Mr. Richardson... 1114 01:18:48,640 --> 01:18:50,916 do you have any final words you'd like to say? 1115 01:18:55,840 --> 01:18:59,595 Oh, that old rugged cross 1116 01:18:59,680 --> 01:19:02,593 So despised by the world 1117 01:19:02,680 --> 01:19:06,230 I have no ill feeling. 1118 01:19:07,800 --> 01:19:10,793 And I hold nothing against anyone. 1119 01:19:11,840 --> 01:19:17,438 So I'll cherish the old rugged cross 1120 01:19:18,840 --> 01:19:20,320 The old rugged cross 1121 01:19:20,440 --> 01:19:25,117 Till my trophies at last I lay down 1122 01:19:25,200 --> 01:19:28,113 I lay down 1123 01:19:28,240 --> 01:19:34,794 I will cling to the old rugged cross 1124 01:19:36,440 --> 01:19:43,358 And exchange it someday for a crown 1125 01:19:46,120 --> 01:19:49,477 To the old rugged cross 1126 01:19:49,960 --> 01:19:53,636 I will ever be true 1127 01:19:54,240 --> 01:19:59,952 Its shame and reproach gladly bear 1128 01:20:01,040 --> 01:20:06,195 Then he'll call me someday 1129 01:20:06,520 --> 01:20:11,390 To my home far away 1130 01:20:11,480 --> 01:20:14,632 Where his glory 1131 01:20:14,720 --> 01:20:20,512 Forever I'll share 1132 01:20:23,040 --> 01:20:24,440 So I'll cherish... 1133 01:20:24,520 --> 01:20:27,479 We with you, Herbert! We all with you! 1134 01:20:27,560 --> 01:20:29,040 We love you, Herb! 1135 01:20:29,120 --> 01:20:30,474 We all with you, Herb. 1136 01:20:30,560 --> 01:20:32,040 I'm walking with you, Big Herb! 1137 01:20:32,120 --> 01:20:33,554 Believe in your heart, Herb. 1138 01:20:33,680 --> 01:20:35,034 We're with you, buddy! 1139 01:20:35,120 --> 01:20:36,156 Be strong, Herb! 1140 01:20:40,120 --> 01:20:46,720 I will cling to the old rugged cross 1141 01:20:48,280 --> 01:20:52,638 And exchange it someday 1142 01:20:53,200 --> 01:20:56,159 For a crown 1143 01:20:56,240 --> 01:20:57,833 We love you, Herb! 1144 01:21:50,880 --> 01:21:51,880 Hey. 1145 01:22:08,400 --> 01:22:09,436 I... 1146 01:23:12,200 --> 01:23:15,079 Well, I hope this important news of yours comes with some food. 1147 01:23:15,160 --> 01:23:16,560 'Cause I'm starving. 1148 01:23:17,760 --> 01:23:19,160 Sit down, Mr. Myers. 1149 01:23:22,520 --> 01:23:24,751 You was a lot nicer the last time. 1150 01:23:29,560 --> 01:23:32,792 I heard the recording of the first statement you gave on June 3rd. 1151 01:23:34,120 --> 01:23:36,077 The one they didn't present in court. 1152 01:23:38,400 --> 01:23:40,596 You told the sheriff you didn't know anything 1153 01:23:40,680 --> 01:23:42,637 about Johnny D. or the murder. 1154 01:23:43,800 --> 01:23:46,031 You told him you didn't want to frame an innocent man. 1155 01:23:46,360 --> 01:23:47,840 Do you remember saying that? 1156 01:23:49,720 --> 01:23:50,915 Now, what I'm wondering is, 1157 01:23:51,000 --> 01:23:54,277 how do you go from knowing nothing about a murder on June 3rd 1158 01:23:54,360 --> 01:23:57,273 to becoming the state's key witness three months later? 1159 01:23:57,760 --> 01:23:59,319 What changed your mind? 1160 01:24:12,280 --> 01:24:13,555 What's that? 1161 01:24:14,480 --> 01:24:16,631 Intake log from Holman prison. 1162 01:24:18,560 --> 01:24:20,517 On August 1st, 1987, 1163 01:24:20,600 --> 01:24:23,035 Sheriff Tate transferred two inmates 1164 01:24:23,560 --> 01:24:26,553 from county jail to death row. 1165 01:24:27,840 --> 01:24:29,320 Johnny D... 1166 01:24:33,160 --> 01:24:34,389 ...and you. 1167 01:24:41,720 --> 01:24:42,920 Did they move you to death row 1168 01:24:43,000 --> 01:24:44,957 because you wouldn't testify against him? 1169 01:24:50,520 --> 01:24:54,309 They executed Wayne Ritter a few weeks after you got there, isn't that right? 1170 01:24:57,680 --> 01:24:58,909 I was in the witness room 1171 01:24:59,000 --> 01:25:01,560 when they killed Herbert Richardson Thursday night. 1172 01:25:03,200 --> 01:25:07,956 And it was the most horrific thing I've ever experienced. 1173 01:25:11,680 --> 01:25:14,957 I'm sure Ritter's execution wasn't easy for you either. 1174 01:25:32,720 --> 01:25:35,997 They put me in the cell closest to the kill room. 1175 01:25:39,240 --> 01:25:41,800 Middle of the night, everybody started screaming, 1176 01:25:42,040 --> 01:25:43,520 banging on the bars. 1177 01:25:45,280 --> 01:25:46,430 And then... 1178 01:25:50,920 --> 01:25:53,992 Then came the smell of his skin burning. 1179 01:26:00,680 --> 01:26:02,319 I know that smell. 1180 01:26:06,520 --> 01:26:08,273 May I ask you what happened? 1181 01:26:13,040 --> 01:26:14,554 Seven years old. 1182 01:26:15,920 --> 01:26:20,790 I was sleeping in my foster mom's basement when her heater blowed up. 1183 01:26:21,560 --> 01:26:23,472 Catched my pj's on fire. 1184 01:26:25,040 --> 01:26:27,874 I was screaming for two minutes straight before they found me. 1185 01:26:32,320 --> 01:26:36,951 Everybody knowed that I got a fear of being burned. 1186 01:26:37,680 --> 01:26:42,436 They knowed what it would do to my head to be in a place like that. 1187 01:26:44,880 --> 01:26:48,032 I couldn't stop shaking all night. 1188 01:26:49,400 --> 01:26:51,357 Curled up on the floor like a baby. 1189 01:26:52,840 --> 01:26:55,400 Trying to breathe, but every breath you take just... 1190 01:26:57,320 --> 01:27:00,119 You get another taste of the man they killed. 1191 01:27:03,840 --> 01:27:06,275 You can't go through something like that... 1192 01:27:06,760 --> 01:27:08,319 and come out the same. 1193 01:27:13,720 --> 01:27:14,836 I know. 1194 01:27:20,560 --> 01:27:22,153 I called that sheriff the next morning. 1195 01:27:22,240 --> 01:27:23,356 I told him... 1196 01:27:24,040 --> 01:27:27,636 I would say whatever he wanted to get me out. 1197 01:27:29,040 --> 01:27:30,633 And he took my statement... 1198 01:27:31,600 --> 01:27:33,717 moved me to county the next day. 1199 01:27:38,640 --> 01:27:40,836 Mr. Myers, we're going to court very soon 1200 01:27:40,920 --> 01:27:43,674 to try to get Johnny D. the retrial he deserves. 1201 01:27:44,240 --> 01:27:46,118 And I'd like you to take the stand. 1202 01:27:49,280 --> 01:27:50,396 No. 1203 01:27:51,520 --> 01:27:53,352 No, sir. No, sir. 1204 01:27:53,480 --> 01:27:54,960 They are using you. 1205 01:27:55,920 --> 01:27:57,559 They're using you to condemn a man 1206 01:27:57,640 --> 01:27:59,836 that you have much more in common with than you think. 1207 01:28:01,080 --> 01:28:03,496 And if there's any part of you that wants to make things right, 1208 01:28:03,520 --> 01:28:05,830 this is the last chance you're gonna get. 1209 01:28:15,240 --> 01:28:19,314 The tension is high this morning here at the Baldwin County Courthouse, 1210 01:28:19,480 --> 01:28:22,279 where a hearing is being held to see if the man convicted 1211 01:28:22,400 --> 01:28:25,711 of killing Ronda Morrison deserves a new trial. 1212 01:28:25,800 --> 01:28:28,474 Miss Morrison was only 18 years old 1213 01:28:28,560 --> 01:28:32,395 when she was murdered at Jackson Cleaners in Monroeville, Alabama. 1214 01:28:32,480 --> 01:28:37,760 Many have taken the two-hour drive here from Monroeville to show their support. 1215 01:28:37,880 --> 01:28:40,315 Extra security precautions were implemented 1216 01:28:40,400 --> 01:28:43,154 due to the highly emotional nature of this case. 1217 01:28:46,880 --> 01:28:49,554 Ronda Morrison's parents said they have no doubt 1218 01:28:49,640 --> 01:28:53,634 Mr. McMillian is the man responsible for the murder of their daughter, 1219 01:28:53,720 --> 01:28:57,430 but members of McMillian's family claim they have the wrong man. 1220 01:28:57,560 --> 01:29:01,440 Much of today's hearing is hinging on the testimony of Ralph Myers, 1221 01:29:01,520 --> 01:29:03,830 a convicted felon who was the key witness 1222 01:29:03,920 --> 01:29:06,276 against McMillian in the original trial. 1223 01:29:35,480 --> 01:29:39,679 What we'll be talking about today is obviously an emotional issue. 1224 01:29:40,320 --> 01:29:42,960 And if any of y'all don't think you can maintain 1225 01:29:43,040 --> 01:29:45,271 a reasonable degree of decorum... 1226 01:29:45,880 --> 01:29:47,951 then I would ask you to leave now. 1227 01:29:52,720 --> 01:29:56,236 All right, if we're ready, then, we will proceed. 1228 01:29:58,080 --> 01:29:59,480 Mr. Stevenson. 1229 01:30:00,320 --> 01:30:01,720 Thank you, Your Honor. 1230 01:30:13,000 --> 01:30:14,832 The state's case against Walter McMillian 1231 01:30:14,920 --> 01:30:17,230 turned entirely on the testimony of Ralph Myers. 1232 01:30:17,760 --> 01:30:20,559 There was no other evidence to establish Mr. McMillian's guilt. 1233 01:30:20,840 --> 01:30:23,309 No physical evidence linking him to the crime. 1234 01:30:23,400 --> 01:30:25,357 No motive. No witnesses. 1235 01:30:25,480 --> 01:30:27,039 Only the word of one man. 1236 01:30:29,520 --> 01:30:31,637 We call Ralph Myers to the stand. 1237 01:30:56,960 --> 01:30:59,600 Sir, please stand and place your right hand on the Bible. 1238 01:31:02,720 --> 01:31:04,256 You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, 1239 01:31:04,280 --> 01:31:06,351 and nothing but the truth, so help you God? 1240 01:31:08,480 --> 01:31:09,550 Mr. Myers? 1241 01:31:10,280 --> 01:31:12,556 Oh, yes. Sorry. 1242 01:31:13,120 --> 01:31:16,397 The guards got me up about 2:00 in the morning to get me out here. 1243 01:31:29,200 --> 01:31:31,476 Mr. Myers, did you testify against Walter McMillian 1244 01:31:31,560 --> 01:31:33,040 in August of 1988? 1245 01:31:34,200 --> 01:31:35,520 Is that when it was? 1246 01:31:37,240 --> 01:31:38,959 According to the record, yes. 1247 01:31:40,360 --> 01:31:42,636 Okay, then, sure. If you say so. 1248 01:31:46,440 --> 01:31:48,955 And what did you say to the jury when you testified? 1249 01:31:53,600 --> 01:31:57,310 I don't think I can fully remember, sir, 1250 01:31:57,400 --> 01:31:59,915 to be honest with you. Sorry. 1251 01:32:01,520 --> 01:32:02,795 No, that's quite all right. 1252 01:32:02,880 --> 01:32:04,951 I have a transcript of your testimony right here. 1253 01:32:17,960 --> 01:32:19,952 At the trial, do you remember testifying 1254 01:32:20,040 --> 01:32:22,430 that you were unwillingly made part of a capital murder 1255 01:32:22,520 --> 01:32:25,035 and robbery on November 1st, 1986 1256 01:32:25,120 --> 01:32:27,396 when Walter McMillian saw you at a car wash 1257 01:32:27,520 --> 01:32:29,751 and asked you to drive his truck because his arm hurt? 1258 01:32:31,560 --> 01:32:32,994 Yes, sir, I guess so. 1259 01:32:33,800 --> 01:32:37,760 Do you remember saying that you drove Mr. McMillian to Jackson Cleaners, 1260 01:32:37,840 --> 01:32:39,797 subsequently went into the building 1261 01:32:39,880 --> 01:32:41,872 and saw Mr. McMillian with a gun, 1262 01:32:41,960 --> 01:32:44,236 standing over the body of Ronda Morrison? 1263 01:32:46,480 --> 01:32:47,596 Yes, sir. 1264 01:32:49,400 --> 01:32:51,756 Mr. Myers, was the testimony that you gave 1265 01:32:51,840 --> 01:32:53,797 at Walter McMillian's trial true? 1266 01:33:04,280 --> 01:33:05,396 I don't know. 1267 01:33:08,800 --> 01:33:10,075 You don't know? 1268 01:33:13,680 --> 01:33:15,399 I don't think I remember. 1269 01:33:37,880 --> 01:33:42,079 Mr. Myers, do you know who Walter McMillian is? 1270 01:33:44,440 --> 01:33:45,635 Yes, sir. 1271 01:33:47,200 --> 01:33:48,680 Is he in this room? 1272 01:33:50,000 --> 01:33:51,195 Yes, sir. 1273 01:33:55,560 --> 01:33:57,233 Could you point him out for us? 1274 01:34:21,080 --> 01:34:23,470 I'd like to ask you that question one more time. 1275 01:34:24,600 --> 01:34:28,958 Was the testimony that you gave at Walter McMillian's trial true? 1276 01:34:38,520 --> 01:34:40,716 No, sir. Not at all. 1277 01:34:41,880 --> 01:34:44,076 Order, please. 1278 01:34:44,240 --> 01:34:47,153 Did you see Mr. McMillian on the day Ronda Morrison was murdered? 1279 01:34:47,560 --> 01:34:48,630 No, sir. 1280 01:34:48,720 --> 01:34:51,315 Did you drive his truck to Monroeville that day? 1281 01:34:51,400 --> 01:34:52,959 No. Never did. 1282 01:34:53,080 --> 01:34:54,639 Did you go into Jackson Cleaners 1283 01:34:54,720 --> 01:34:58,111 and see Mr. McMillian standing over the body of Ronda Morrison? 1284 01:34:59,040 --> 01:35:00,554 Absolutely not. 1285 01:35:05,040 --> 01:35:06,190 Thank you. 1286 01:35:07,760 --> 01:35:09,353 No further questions, Your Honor. 1287 01:35:15,080 --> 01:35:16,275 Mr. Myers... 1288 01:35:17,280 --> 01:35:21,160 how do we know you ain't upset with the deal you got 1289 01:35:21,240 --> 01:35:22,959 and you feel like somehow by... 1290 01:35:23,920 --> 01:35:27,675 changing your story, might help to get you out? 1291 01:35:29,640 --> 01:35:32,200 Because that just don't make no sense, sir. 1292 01:35:33,440 --> 01:35:36,512 Who do you think is deciding what happens to me? 1293 01:35:37,120 --> 01:35:38,395 If I live or die? 1294 01:35:39,360 --> 01:35:41,920 It ain't me. It ain't Johnny D. 1295 01:35:42,000 --> 01:35:44,515 It's all y'all that's deciding that, so... 1296 01:35:44,600 --> 01:35:48,037 how's my saying what I'm saying gonna help to get me out? 1297 01:35:48,120 --> 01:35:50,555 If anything, it's gonna help get me to death row. 1298 01:35:52,760 --> 01:35:53,876 But I don't care. 1299 01:35:54,440 --> 01:35:56,432 Y'all can do what you want with me. 1300 01:35:57,360 --> 01:35:58,555 'Cause me... 1301 01:35:59,360 --> 01:36:01,556 I can look in your face 1302 01:36:01,640 --> 01:36:04,997 or anybody else's face, dead eye to eyeball 1303 01:36:05,080 --> 01:36:08,357 and say that anything I told about Mr. McMillian... 1304 01:36:10,200 --> 01:36:11,554 was a lie. 1305 01:36:13,120 --> 01:36:14,679 He's here 'cause of me. 1306 01:36:18,360 --> 01:36:20,477 And I sure would appreciate you sending him home 1307 01:36:20,560 --> 01:36:22,472 to his kids where he belongs. 1308 01:36:28,720 --> 01:36:30,160 We submit a copy of the official log 1309 01:36:30,200 --> 01:36:32,280 from the police officer that stopped by the fish fry, 1310 01:36:32,320 --> 01:36:34,630 confirming Walter McMillian was there with his family. 1311 01:36:35,440 --> 01:36:38,956 Mr. Myers said that the body was faceup near the front counter. 1312 01:36:39,800 --> 01:36:43,316 But I found her facedown in the back, by the bathroom. 1313 01:36:44,440 --> 01:36:46,955 Submitting exculpatory records from Ralph Myers' stay 1314 01:36:47,040 --> 01:36:48,952 at the Taylor Hardin psychiatric hospital. 1315 01:36:49,040 --> 01:36:51,919 Which the state did not disclose to defense counsel. 1316 01:36:53,320 --> 01:36:55,312 Mr. Myers was my patient at the time, 1317 01:36:55,400 --> 01:36:58,040 and he claimed on numerous occasions 1318 01:36:58,120 --> 01:37:00,430 that he was being threatened with the electric chair 1319 01:37:00,560 --> 01:37:03,394 if he didn't say what the authorities wanted to hear. 1320 01:37:03,880 --> 01:37:06,395 The prosecutor asked me to testify 1321 01:37:06,480 --> 01:37:09,234 that she had been drugged from the front to the back. 1322 01:37:09,560 --> 01:37:11,916 And I told him, "I ain't gonna lie in court." 1323 01:37:13,200 --> 01:37:17,194 And then, well, a few weeks later, I got fired from the department. 1324 01:37:19,760 --> 01:37:21,672 All of the evidence presented today 1325 01:37:21,760 --> 01:37:23,877 would have been critical to the outcome of this case. 1326 01:37:24,600 --> 01:37:27,798 And its exclusion is a clear violation of Brady v. Maryland 1327 01:37:27,880 --> 01:37:30,031 and Mr. McMillian's constitutional rights. 1328 01:37:30,960 --> 01:37:33,191 The truth has not been told in this case. 1329 01:37:33,640 --> 01:37:35,916 And I understand a lot of time has gone by... 1330 01:37:37,080 --> 01:37:39,720 but I personally believe that it's never too late for justice. 1331 01:37:41,200 --> 01:37:44,671 We ask the court to grant our motion and order a new trial for Mr. McMillian. 1332 01:37:46,920 --> 01:37:48,274 Thank you, Your Honor. 1333 01:37:51,000 --> 01:37:52,440 Thank you, Counselors. 1334 01:37:53,000 --> 01:37:54,354 We'll reconvene at a later date 1335 01:37:54,440 --> 01:37:56,557 once I've had time to look through everything. 1336 01:37:57,920 --> 01:37:59,240 All rise. 1337 01:38:05,120 --> 01:38:07,696 Tell you the truth, I didn't think he was gonna go through with it. 1338 01:38:07,720 --> 01:38:10,792 Honestly, for a second there, I didn't think so either. 1339 01:38:16,080 --> 01:38:18,549 I can't even tell you how I feel right now. 1340 01:38:21,520 --> 01:38:22,590 Thank you. 1341 01:38:32,960 --> 01:38:35,156 We got a few minutes if y'all wanna say hi. 1342 01:38:44,200 --> 01:38:45,759 We leave in five minutes. 1343 01:38:46,240 --> 01:38:47,435 What's up, old man? 1344 01:38:48,240 --> 01:38:50,152 - You did great. - Thank you. 1345 01:38:50,240 --> 01:38:52,596 Mmm-hmm. Chapman ought to call you tonight 1346 01:38:52,680 --> 01:38:54,376 and tell you that he's dropping all them charges. 1347 01:38:54,400 --> 01:38:55,880 Yeah, I wouldn't hold my breath. 1348 01:39:05,960 --> 01:39:08,191 Upon the reading of my decision, 1349 01:39:08,280 --> 01:39:11,956 I expect the rules of decorum in this courtroom to be upheld. 1350 01:39:16,400 --> 01:39:19,154 Ralph Myers took the stand before this court, 1351 01:39:19,240 --> 01:39:20,879 swore to tell the truth, 1352 01:39:21,200 --> 01:39:22,998 and proceeded to recant most, 1353 01:39:23,080 --> 01:39:27,279 if not all of the relevant portions of his testimony at trial. 1354 01:39:28,200 --> 01:39:31,238 Clearly, he has either perjured himself at trial, 1355 01:39:31,360 --> 01:39:33,079 or in front of this court. 1356 01:39:34,520 --> 01:39:36,159 After careful review, 1357 01:39:36,280 --> 01:39:37,634 it is this court's opinion 1358 01:39:37,720 --> 01:39:40,952 that conclusive evidence has not been provided 1359 01:39:41,040 --> 01:39:44,238 that Ralph Myers perjured himself at the original trial 1360 01:39:44,760 --> 01:39:48,595 and that pressure put on him since his trial testimony 1361 01:39:48,680 --> 01:39:51,400 could tend to discredit his recantation. 1362 01:39:52,600 --> 01:39:56,116 Therefore, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed 1363 01:39:56,200 --> 01:39:58,510 that the trial testimony of Ralph Myers 1364 01:39:58,600 --> 01:40:01,434 is not found to have been perjured testimony, 1365 01:40:02,000 --> 01:40:03,639 and no new trial shall be granted... 1366 01:40:03,720 --> 01:40:05,080 - It's not over. - ...at this time. 1367 01:40:05,960 --> 01:40:09,237 Walter McMillian shall be returned to Holman Correctional Facility, 1368 01:40:09,320 --> 01:40:11,994 where he is to face death by electrocution. 1369 01:40:27,360 --> 01:40:29,556 You can't do this to us again, Judge. 1370 01:40:29,640 --> 01:40:30,756 Sit down, young man. 1371 01:40:30,840 --> 01:40:32,216 - John... - This is my dad, sir. 1372 01:40:32,240 --> 01:40:33,959 John. I want you to sit down now. 1373 01:40:34,040 --> 01:40:35,474 He ain't do nothing wrong. 1374 01:40:35,560 --> 01:40:37,233 Listen to your father. Not here. 1375 01:40:37,320 --> 01:40:38,549 He ain't do nothing wrong. 1376 01:40:38,640 --> 01:40:39,994 Sit down right now 1377 01:40:40,080 --> 01:40:41,992 or you'll be arrested for contempt of court. 1378 01:40:42,080 --> 01:40:44,296 Judge, just give me one second. Please, Judge. Hold on one second. 1379 01:40:44,320 --> 01:40:45,320 Sit down, John. 1380 01:40:45,400 --> 01:40:47,278 I won't say it again. Sit down! 1381 01:40:47,360 --> 01:40:49,636 Not if you gonna kill my dad for no reason. 1382 01:40:50,040 --> 01:40:52,839 Not if you gonna kill my dad for no reason! 1383 01:40:52,920 --> 01:40:54,176 He ain't do nothing wrong! 1384 01:40:54,200 --> 01:40:55,536 Not in here. Not like this. 1385 01:40:55,560 --> 01:40:57,279 You killing my family, sir. 1386 01:40:58,040 --> 01:41:00,396 You killing my family, sir. You! 1387 01:41:06,280 --> 01:41:07,280 John! 1388 01:41:08,040 --> 01:41:09,856 Judge! Judge! He's not resisting. 1389 01:41:09,880 --> 01:41:11,456 - John! - He ain't do nothing. 1390 01:41:11,480 --> 01:41:12,596 Stop resisting. 1391 01:41:32,640 --> 01:41:35,030 You hear me? Don't you let them get you. 1392 01:41:38,760 --> 01:41:40,513 It's gonna be all right. 1393 01:41:41,040 --> 01:41:42,474 Come on. Let's get you home. 1394 01:42:02,840 --> 01:42:04,752 Come on, man, don't make this hard. 1395 01:42:11,320 --> 01:42:12,800 Come on. 1396 01:42:12,880 --> 01:42:15,600 No. Don't do this, McMillian. Come on. Go in. 1397 01:42:16,840 --> 01:42:18,399 Johnny D., no! No! 1398 01:42:22,520 --> 01:42:23,840 Johnny D., no! 1399 01:42:26,960 --> 01:42:27,996 Johnny... 1400 01:42:30,640 --> 01:42:32,791 Relax. Relax. Relax. 1401 01:42:34,120 --> 01:42:35,576 Give me your arm. Give me... 1402 01:42:35,600 --> 01:42:37,200 Get him cuffed! Get him cuffed. 1403 01:42:38,040 --> 01:42:39,190 Relax. 1404 01:42:48,320 --> 01:42:49,320 Good job. 1405 01:43:59,280 --> 01:44:00,430 No more 1406 01:44:01,160 --> 01:44:04,517 Auction 1407 01:44:05,240 --> 01:44:11,680 Block for me 1408 01:44:14,600 --> 01:44:17,798 No more 1409 01:44:18,640 --> 01:44:25,640 No more 1410 01:44:28,040 --> 01:44:31,272 No more 1411 01:44:31,800 --> 01:44:36,397 Auction 1412 01:44:36,960 --> 01:44:43,116 Block for me 1413 01:44:54,640 --> 01:44:55,915 Nobody wants to remember 1414 01:44:56,000 --> 01:44:58,993 that this is where thousands of enslaved people 1415 01:44:59,080 --> 01:45:02,676 were shipped in and paraded up the street to be sold. 1416 01:45:05,920 --> 01:45:06,920 Just ten miles from here, 1417 01:45:06,960 --> 01:45:09,080 black people were pulled from their homes and lynched. 1418 01:45:10,760 --> 01:45:12,274 Nobody talks about it. 1419 01:45:16,760 --> 01:45:20,197 And now this black boy from Delaware walks into their courtrooms 1420 01:45:20,280 --> 01:45:24,194 and expects them to admit they convicted an innocent black man. 1421 01:45:27,720 --> 01:45:30,952 I promised that whole community I was gonna bring him home. 1422 01:45:35,360 --> 01:45:37,192 Then I just made things worse. 1423 01:45:46,560 --> 01:45:48,472 I've heard a lot of lawyers say 1424 01:45:48,560 --> 01:45:51,155 it's not a good idea to get close to your clients. 1425 01:45:52,560 --> 01:45:54,153 Distance is healthy. 1426 01:45:57,840 --> 01:46:00,912 But working with you showed me that that's bullshit. 1427 01:46:03,280 --> 01:46:06,193 You choose to get close to every one of them. 1428 01:46:07,320 --> 01:46:09,915 And you love them like they are your family. 1429 01:46:11,600 --> 01:46:14,274 And when your family is hurting, you're hurting. 1430 01:46:20,400 --> 01:46:22,869 There is no way that I could fully understand 1431 01:46:22,960 --> 01:46:24,758 what it is that you're going through. 1432 01:46:28,760 --> 01:46:30,433 But I am pretty sure that... 1433 01:46:30,800 --> 01:46:33,156 you mean a lot more to this community than you think. 1434 01:47:39,120 --> 01:47:40,873 Walter, I'm so sorry. 1435 01:47:48,120 --> 01:47:51,033 Day I got arrested, I thought I was gonna be okay. 1436 01:47:52,960 --> 01:47:54,633 'Cause I got the truth. 1437 01:47:59,240 --> 01:48:01,277 Soon as they talk to everybody that was with me, 1438 01:48:01,360 --> 01:48:02,953 they gonna have to let me go. 1439 01:48:08,560 --> 01:48:11,280 Then the police keep calling you a killer. 1440 01:48:14,040 --> 01:48:18,034 Some white dude say he saw you do it. 1441 01:48:21,560 --> 01:48:23,677 News people saying you did it. 1442 01:48:25,720 --> 01:48:29,111 Judge and jury saying you did it. 1443 01:48:32,520 --> 01:48:34,000 Now you on the row... 1444 01:48:38,320 --> 01:48:40,312 two, three, four years. 1445 01:48:41,000 --> 01:48:44,311 Your friends and your kids ain't calling you like they used to. 1446 01:48:46,960 --> 01:48:50,920 After a while, you start wondering what they think about you. 1447 01:48:52,600 --> 01:48:55,195 You start wondering what you think about you. 1448 01:49:01,720 --> 01:49:03,757 The truth ain't so clear no more. 1449 01:49:09,200 --> 01:49:11,192 But these last few days... 1450 01:49:11,960 --> 01:49:14,600 I can't stop thinking about Myers up there. 1451 01:49:15,200 --> 01:49:17,192 Telling everybody how it went down. 1452 01:49:21,960 --> 01:49:25,351 That's the first time I feel like myself since I've been locked up. 1453 01:49:28,360 --> 01:49:30,556 The first time I remember who I is. 1454 01:49:39,960 --> 01:49:42,156 These fools gonna do what they gonna do. 1455 01:49:46,040 --> 01:49:48,635 But if they take me to that chair tonight... 1456 01:49:51,720 --> 01:49:53,473 I'm going out smiling. 1457 01:49:56,840 --> 01:49:58,718 'Cause I got my truth back. 1458 01:50:03,720 --> 01:50:05,393 You gave that to me. 1459 01:50:08,520 --> 01:50:10,159 To me and my family. 1460 01:50:13,400 --> 01:50:15,710 And ain't nobody gonna take that from us. 1461 01:50:25,600 --> 01:50:27,398 You ain't quitting, is you? 1462 01:50:31,680 --> 01:50:33,000 No, sir. 1463 01:50:40,120 --> 01:50:42,999 Then there ain't no reason for you to say you're sorry. 1464 01:50:50,440 --> 01:50:53,399 I know how disappointing the last hearing was... 1465 01:50:54,160 --> 01:50:56,720 but that's not where this is gonna end. 1466 01:50:57,800 --> 01:50:59,640 We're preparing a motion to submit our evidence 1467 01:50:59,720 --> 01:51:01,712 to the state supreme court in Montgomery. 1468 01:51:02,440 --> 01:51:04,557 They have the power to reverse the last decision 1469 01:51:04,640 --> 01:51:06,791 and force the circuit court to give us a new trial. 1470 01:51:08,280 --> 01:51:09,634 You think they'll do that? 1471 01:51:10,160 --> 01:51:11,355 Nothing's guaranteed. 1472 01:51:12,400 --> 01:51:15,916 But I can't see how an outside court can ignore the evidence that we have. 1473 01:51:17,840 --> 01:51:19,035 And then what? 1474 01:51:20,400 --> 01:51:21,436 Even if he do get out, 1475 01:51:21,520 --> 01:51:23,796 everybody but us still gonna think he guilty. 1476 01:51:24,720 --> 01:51:27,235 If they can't kill him in there, they can still do it out here. 1477 01:51:28,800 --> 01:51:30,359 We've been worried about that, too. 1478 01:51:31,120 --> 01:51:33,430 And we're working on something to help get the truth out. 1479 01:51:40,360 --> 01:51:42,800 We're rolling. Whenever you're ready, Mr. Bradley. 1480 01:51:43,600 --> 01:51:45,557 Okay, Bryan, you ready? 1481 01:51:46,400 --> 01:51:47,550 I am. 1482 01:51:51,800 --> 01:51:56,033 His name is Walter McMillian, known to his friends as Johnny D., 1483 01:51:56,120 --> 01:51:58,680 and he's been on death row in Alabama's Holman prison 1484 01:51:58,760 --> 01:52:00,479 for almost six years. 1485 01:52:00,880 --> 01:52:03,679 A jury was convinced they got the right man. 1486 01:52:03,760 --> 01:52:06,480 But you may not be after you watch this story. 1487 01:52:07,320 --> 01:52:08,595 The clerk who was murdered... 1488 01:52:08,680 --> 01:52:10,558 Hey, hey, turn that up! I can't hear it. 1489 01:52:11,120 --> 01:52:14,431 Johnny D. says they want to execute the wrong man. 1490 01:52:14,720 --> 01:52:16,837 - You didn't kill Ronda Morrison? - No, sir. 1491 01:52:16,920 --> 01:52:18,680 I never seen Ronda Morrison a day in my life. 1492 01:52:18,760 --> 01:52:19,910 God knows I ain't. 1493 01:52:20,000 --> 01:52:22,310 Did you ever go into Monroeville 1494 01:52:22,400 --> 01:52:24,312 - on the day of the murder? - No, sir. 1495 01:52:24,400 --> 01:52:27,120 - You never went in... - Never went to Monroeville, period. 1496 01:52:27,240 --> 01:52:29,709 I told them I had seen a young girl 1497 01:52:29,800 --> 01:52:31,951 laying on the floor with her mouth open, 1498 01:52:32,040 --> 01:52:33,679 Johnny D. standing over her. 1499 01:52:34,040 --> 01:52:35,394 Was it true? 1500 01:52:35,840 --> 01:52:38,674 No, sir. Not at all. Nowhere near true. 1501 01:52:39,520 --> 01:52:43,196 If an execution date is set for McMillian, and that day comes 1502 01:52:43,280 --> 01:52:46,591 and it's time for him to go to the electric chair, 1503 01:52:46,680 --> 01:52:48,034 will you be comfortable? 1504 01:52:48,120 --> 01:52:49,395 Yes. 1505 01:52:50,400 --> 01:52:51,720 I'd be comfortable with it. 1506 01:52:52,560 --> 01:52:55,200 Do you think it's fair, just? He had his... 1507 01:52:55,280 --> 01:52:56,714 He had his day in court. 1508 01:52:57,120 --> 01:52:59,077 He was tried by a jury. 1509 01:52:59,160 --> 01:53:01,038 They heard his testimony and they believed it. 1510 01:53:01,840 --> 01:53:05,277 Chapman says he's going to indict Myers for perjury. 1511 01:53:05,520 --> 01:53:09,355 Not for what he said at the trial, but for what he's saying now. 1512 01:53:09,880 --> 01:53:11,680 Next, we'll be presenting our evidence 1513 01:53:11,760 --> 01:53:13,319 to the Alabama Supreme Court, 1514 01:53:13,400 --> 01:53:15,869 hoping they'll see what we think is very clear... 1515 01:53:16,160 --> 01:53:18,038 that Walter McMillian is innocent. 1516 01:53:18,400 --> 01:53:20,119 McMillian's fate is now 1517 01:53:20,200 --> 01:53:22,431 in the hands of the Alabama Supreme Court, 1518 01:53:22,520 --> 01:53:26,719 which is expected to decide soon if he's entitled to a new trial. 1519 01:53:32,400 --> 01:53:33,880 EJI, this is Brenda. 1520 01:53:37,880 --> 01:53:39,837 Okay. I'll let him know. Thank you. 1521 01:53:43,600 --> 01:53:45,592 The supreme court ruling in the McMillian case 1522 01:53:45,680 --> 01:53:46,909 is ready to be picked up. 1523 01:53:52,200 --> 01:53:53,520 I'll be back. 1524 01:53:59,920 --> 01:54:01,070 You're welcome. 1525 01:54:15,160 --> 01:54:17,496 A wave of shock rolled through Monroe County today 1526 01:54:17,520 --> 01:54:18,954 when the Alabama Supreme Court 1527 01:54:19,080 --> 01:54:21,356 overturned the circuit court's previous decision 1528 01:54:21,440 --> 01:54:25,400 and granted a new trial to convicted killer Walter "Johnny D." McMillian. 1529 01:54:25,800 --> 01:54:27,871 This was the first time a court outside the county 1530 01:54:27,960 --> 01:54:31,271 was shown the overwhelming evidence proving Mr. McMillian's innocence. 1531 01:54:31,360 --> 01:54:33,272 Though the court granted him a new trial, 1532 01:54:33,360 --> 01:54:35,397 we believe he deserves to be released immediately. 1533 01:54:35,480 --> 01:54:37,880 And that's exactly what we'll be arguing at the next hearing. 1534 01:54:37,960 --> 01:54:39,536 Mr. Chapman, how do you feel about today's decision? 1535 01:54:39,560 --> 01:54:41,677 I have no comment at this time. Thank you. 1536 01:54:49,480 --> 01:54:51,392 I'm looking for Attorney Bryan Stevenson. 1537 01:54:53,400 --> 01:54:55,392 - Mr. Stevenson? - How can I help you? 1538 01:54:55,480 --> 01:54:57,870 Yes, sir, I've been ordered to serve you this pleading. 1539 01:54:58,960 --> 01:55:00,280 Thank you. 1540 01:55:15,880 --> 01:55:18,236 Tommy Chapman is asking the court to stay the proceedings 1541 01:55:18,320 --> 01:55:20,471 so he can open up a new investigation. 1542 01:55:21,560 --> 01:55:23,950 He's trying to buy time to rebuild his case. 1543 01:55:24,600 --> 01:55:27,240 That son of a bitch. 1544 01:55:33,960 --> 01:55:35,296 - Bryan? - You're asking the court 1545 01:55:35,320 --> 01:55:37,915 to keep a man on death row you know is innocent. 1546 01:55:40,120 --> 01:55:42,680 Excuse me, Counselor? I don't know what you mean. 1547 01:55:42,760 --> 01:55:45,036 The supreme court supports all the evidence we presented. 1548 01:55:45,120 --> 01:55:47,954 Every one of your witnesses recanted. You got nothing left. 1549 01:55:48,040 --> 01:55:50,040 Well, hang on, my investigation's still in process. 1550 01:55:50,080 --> 01:55:51,960 And we both know you're not gonna find anything. 1551 01:55:55,440 --> 01:55:57,318 Do you have any idea the bullshit... 1552 01:55:58,080 --> 01:56:01,039 that I've had to put up with since your 60 Minutes story aired? 1553 01:56:01,880 --> 01:56:05,715 I got the governor on my ass, got the NAACP calling me a racist. 1554 01:56:06,200 --> 01:56:08,510 I got Ronda's family checking in every five minutes. 1555 01:56:08,600 --> 01:56:10,200 You can't keep an innocent man in prison 1556 01:56:10,280 --> 01:56:11,919 while you try to salvage your reputation. 1557 01:56:12,000 --> 01:56:14,071 This ain't got nothing to do with my reputation. 1558 01:56:15,600 --> 01:56:19,435 This is about the people of this county who have hired me to keep 'em safe. 1559 01:56:20,680 --> 01:56:22,876 And what people are you talking about right now? 1560 01:56:23,480 --> 01:56:25,039 The ones from this neighborhood? 1561 01:56:25,200 --> 01:56:28,159 Or the ones from the black community you took Johnny D. from? 1562 01:56:28,240 --> 01:56:30,038 You think they feel safe? 1563 01:56:33,720 --> 01:56:36,235 Your job isn't to defend a conviction, Tommy. 1564 01:56:36,320 --> 01:56:38,073 It's to achieve justice. 1565 01:56:38,800 --> 01:56:41,759 And as long as you keep fighting this, someone from your county 1566 01:56:41,840 --> 01:56:44,071 has literally gotten away with murder. 1567 01:56:45,320 --> 01:56:47,136 You wanna come all the way to my house at dinner time 1568 01:56:47,160 --> 01:56:48,799 just to tell me how to do my job? 1569 01:56:49,120 --> 01:56:50,713 No. No, I'm here 1570 01:56:50,800 --> 01:56:53,599 because I think you know the difference between right and wrong. 1571 01:56:54,160 --> 01:56:56,629 And you know Johnny D. didn't kill that girl. 1572 01:56:58,480 --> 01:57:00,870 I'm filing a motion to dismiss all charges. 1573 01:57:01,080 --> 01:57:02,912 And I think that you should join it. 1574 01:57:14,840 --> 01:57:16,911 Next time you wanna stop by my house... 1575 01:57:19,280 --> 01:57:20,999 appreciate you calling me first. 1576 01:57:21,280 --> 01:57:23,397 Now, you get the hell off my property, Bryan. 1577 01:57:43,920 --> 01:57:45,320 There's Bryan. 1578 01:57:46,040 --> 01:57:47,936 - What's going on? - They won't let us in. 1579 01:57:47,960 --> 01:57:50,839 That boy is making us wait out here for over an hour. 1580 01:57:51,680 --> 01:57:53,000 Excuse me. 1581 01:57:53,080 --> 01:57:54,355 What are you doing? 1582 01:57:54,440 --> 01:57:55,874 Just following orders. 1583 01:57:56,320 --> 01:57:59,552 This is a public hearing. These people need to be let in now. 1584 01:58:02,000 --> 01:58:03,000 Um... 1585 01:58:06,360 --> 01:58:07,874 Y'all can go in now. 1586 01:58:08,160 --> 01:58:09,799 Now that there's no seats left. 1587 01:58:09,880 --> 01:58:11,109 It's okay. 1588 01:58:11,720 --> 01:58:13,074 We'll find room. 1589 01:58:13,480 --> 01:58:14,576 - Go on in. - Y'all come on. 1590 01:58:14,600 --> 01:58:16,080 - Excuse us. - Yeah. 1591 01:58:16,160 --> 01:58:17,355 Come on, y'all. 1592 01:58:18,120 --> 01:58:19,554 Right this way. Come on. 1593 01:58:20,360 --> 01:58:21,589 Okay. 1594 01:58:25,240 --> 01:58:26,416 Good to see you, sugar. 1595 01:58:26,440 --> 01:58:28,113 Okay. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. 1596 01:58:30,040 --> 01:58:31,440 All rise. 1597 01:58:34,120 --> 01:58:37,591 The 28th Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama is now in session. 1598 01:58:37,680 --> 01:58:40,275 The Honorable Judge Pamela Baschab presiding. 1599 01:58:40,640 --> 01:58:41,835 Please be seated. 1600 01:58:45,280 --> 01:58:49,593 We've got a full house, so let's try to move through this in a timely manner. 1601 01:58:49,960 --> 01:58:53,158 We're here because Mr. Stevenson has filed a motion 1602 01:58:53,240 --> 01:58:55,197 to dismiss all charges 1603 01:58:55,280 --> 01:58:57,670 against Mr. McMillian in this case. 1604 01:58:58,000 --> 01:58:59,753 Now, Mr. Stevenson, since it's your motion, 1605 01:58:59,840 --> 01:59:01,638 I'd like for you to speak to it first 1606 01:59:01,720 --> 01:59:03,279 and then we'll hear from the state. 1607 01:59:16,280 --> 01:59:19,830 It's easy to see this case as one man trying to prove his innocence. 1608 01:59:21,400 --> 01:59:23,790 But when you take a black man and you put him on death row 1609 01:59:23,880 --> 01:59:25,394 a year before his trial... 1610 01:59:26,400 --> 01:59:29,199 and exclude black people from serving on his jury... 1611 01:59:30,720 --> 01:59:31,880 When you base your conviction 1612 01:59:31,960 --> 01:59:34,156 on a coerced testimony of a white felon... 1613 01:59:34,960 --> 01:59:38,920 and ignore the testimony of two dozen law-abiding black witnesses... 1614 01:59:40,560 --> 01:59:43,075 When any evidence proving his innocence is suppressed 1615 01:59:43,160 --> 01:59:46,278 and anyone who tries to tell the truth is threatened... 1616 01:59:47,040 --> 01:59:50,317 this case becomes more than the trial of just a single defendant. 1617 01:59:51,280 --> 01:59:52,873 It becomes a test 1618 01:59:52,960 --> 01:59:56,271 of whether we're going to be governed by fear and by anger 1619 01:59:56,640 --> 01:59:58,120 or by the rule of law. 1620 02:00:05,160 --> 02:00:07,200 If the people standing in the back of this courtroom 1621 02:00:07,240 --> 02:00:09,516 are all presumed guilty when accused... 1622 02:00:12,080 --> 02:00:14,276 If they have to leave here and live in fear 1623 02:00:14,360 --> 02:00:16,829 of when this very thing will happen to them... 1624 02:00:19,080 --> 02:00:20,833 If we're just gonna accept the system 1625 02:00:20,920 --> 02:00:23,560 that treats you better if you're rich and guilty 1626 02:00:23,640 --> 02:00:25,791 than if you're poor and innocent, 1627 02:00:25,880 --> 02:00:27,473 then we can't claim to be just. 1628 02:00:29,200 --> 02:00:32,318 If we say we're committed to equal justice under law, 1629 02:00:32,400 --> 02:00:34,437 to protecting the rights of every citizen, 1630 02:00:34,520 --> 02:00:37,877 regardless of wealth, race, or status, 1631 02:00:38,400 --> 02:00:41,677 then we have to end this nightmare for Walter McMillian and his family. 1632 02:00:42,680 --> 02:00:45,479 The charges against him have been proven to be a false construction 1633 02:00:45,560 --> 02:00:49,031 of desperate people fueled by bigotry and bias... 1634 02:00:49,800 --> 02:00:52,554 who ignored the truth in exchange for easy solutions, 1635 02:00:52,680 --> 02:00:54,273 and that's not the law. 1636 02:00:56,120 --> 02:00:57,679 That's not justice. 1637 02:01:01,080 --> 02:01:02,275 That's not right. 1638 02:01:05,560 --> 02:01:08,678 I ask that this case be dismissed immediately, Your Honor. 1639 02:01:11,960 --> 02:01:13,360 Thank you. 1640 02:01:26,240 --> 02:01:29,438 Mr. Chapman, what is the state's position on this motion? 1641 02:01:36,600 --> 02:01:39,672 Your Honor, may I approach the bench? 1642 02:01:39,760 --> 02:01:40,876 Yes. 1643 02:01:45,640 --> 02:01:46,915 Your Honor, um... 1644 02:01:47,480 --> 02:01:48,709 I'm troubled. 1645 02:01:50,400 --> 02:01:51,993 - You're troubled? - Troubled. 1646 02:01:56,920 --> 02:01:59,037 'Cause I know that the people in this community 1647 02:01:59,120 --> 02:02:00,600 want to go to sleep at night 1648 02:02:00,680 --> 02:02:03,479 knowing that if someone has committed a terrible crime, 1649 02:02:03,560 --> 02:02:05,677 then that someone is gonna be punished. 1650 02:02:10,760 --> 02:02:11,955 But, um... 1651 02:02:12,840 --> 02:02:14,069 in this case... 1652 02:02:16,720 --> 02:02:20,077 Your Honor, I have taken another look at the evidence... 1653 02:02:20,960 --> 02:02:22,110 and, uh... 1654 02:02:26,960 --> 02:02:28,633 Mr. Chapman, please? 1655 02:02:28,720 --> 02:02:31,189 And the state does not object to the motion, Your Honor. 1656 02:02:33,400 --> 02:02:34,550 What? 1657 02:02:37,120 --> 02:02:39,191 To be clear, Mr. Chapman, 1658 02:02:39,280 --> 02:02:43,240 are you joining the motion to dismiss all charges today? 1659 02:02:44,800 --> 02:02:46,120 Yes, Your Honor, I am. 1660 02:02:48,240 --> 02:02:49,276 Order. 1661 02:02:49,360 --> 02:02:51,636 Please. Order. 1662 02:02:55,000 --> 02:02:58,198 Well, y'all have made my job easy today. 1663 02:02:59,200 --> 02:03:02,796 In the case of The People v. McMillian, 1664 02:03:02,880 --> 02:03:06,191 the court hereby grants the defendant's motion. 1665 02:03:07,000 --> 02:03:10,311 All charges against you are dismissed, Mr. McMillian. 1666 02:03:10,400 --> 02:03:12,596 What does that mean? 1667 02:03:12,680 --> 02:03:13,909 That means you're free. 1668 02:03:14,000 --> 02:03:15,957 That means you're free and you get to go home. 1669 02:03:31,160 --> 02:03:32,196 Hey. 1670 02:03:36,200 --> 02:03:37,360 Your family's coming. 1671 02:04:00,600 --> 02:04:02,512 I have my family back. 1672 02:04:51,040 --> 02:04:52,759 We're all with you, brother. 1673 02:05:14,160 --> 02:05:15,753 Yo, Johnny D.! 1674 02:05:45,080 --> 02:05:47,914 I came out of law school with grand ideas in my mind 1675 02:05:48,000 --> 02:05:49,719 about how to change the world. 1676 02:05:53,320 --> 02:05:55,880 But Mr. McMillian made me realize we can't change the world 1677 02:05:55,960 --> 02:05:57,679 with only ideas in our minds. 1678 02:05:59,400 --> 02:06:01,153 We need conviction in our hearts. 1679 02:06:03,360 --> 02:06:05,238 This man taught me how to stay hopeful. 1680 02:06:05,880 --> 02:06:08,190 Because I now know that hopelessness 1681 02:06:08,280 --> 02:06:09,873 is the enemy ofjustice. 1682 02:06:12,360 --> 02:06:14,113 Hope allows us to push forward, 1683 02:06:14,200 --> 02:06:17,238 even when the truth is distorted by the people in power. 1684 02:06:20,080 --> 02:06:21,799 It allows us to stand up 1685 02:06:22,160 --> 02:06:23,833 when they tell us to sit down. 1686 02:06:24,240 --> 02:06:26,914 And to speak when they say, "Be quiet." 1687 02:06:32,120 --> 02:06:34,430 Through this work, I've learned that each of us 1688 02:06:34,520 --> 02:06:36,637 is more than the worst thing that we've ever done. 1689 02:06:38,600 --> 02:06:40,831 That the opposite of poverty isn't wealth. 1690 02:06:42,160 --> 02:06:44,914 The opposite of poverty is justice. 1691 02:06:46,920 --> 02:06:49,355 That the character of our nation isn't reflected 1692 02:06:49,440 --> 02:06:51,830 in how we treat the rich and the privileged... 1693 02:06:53,080 --> 02:06:57,359 but how we treat the poor, the disfavored and condemned. 1694 02:07:02,120 --> 02:07:05,591 Our system has taken more away from this innocent man 1695 02:07:05,720 --> 02:07:07,473 than it has the power to give back. 1696 02:07:10,840 --> 02:07:13,639 But I believe if each of us can follow his lead... 1697 02:07:14,680 --> 02:07:17,070 we can change this world for the better. 1698 02:07:21,080 --> 02:07:23,197 If we can look at ourselves closely... 1699 02:07:23,960 --> 02:07:25,280 and honestly... 1700 02:07:25,880 --> 02:07:28,918 I believe we will see that we all need justice. 1701 02:07:30,840 --> 02:07:32,752 We all need mercy. 1702 02:07:33,600 --> 02:07:34,795 And perhaps... 1703 02:07:35,200 --> 02:07:38,238 we all need some measure of unmerited grace. 1704 02:07:41,720 --> 02:07:43,040 Thank you. 1705 02:07:46,360 --> 02:07:48,079 I taught you all that? 1706 02:07:51,440 --> 02:07:53,159 Yeah, you taught me some of that. 1707 02:07:54,360 --> 02:07:56,875 I'm pretty good, ain't I? 1708 02:07:57,360 --> 02:07:58,430 Yeah. 1709 02:07:58,520 --> 02:07:59,954 Great job. 1710 02:09:50,560 --> 02:09:52,119 Hi! 1711 02:09:52,760 --> 02:09:56,037 Oh, Lord, thank you, Jesus. 1712 02:09:56,240 --> 02:09:58,550 Thank you, Lord. 1713 02:09:59,400 --> 02:10:02,632 Oh, thank you, Jesus. 1714 02:10:18,000 --> 02:10:19,878 I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1715 02:10:19,960 --> 02:10:23,431 I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1716 02:10:23,520 --> 02:10:30,074 I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1717 02:10:30,160 --> 02:10:33,995 Yes, I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1718 02:10:34,080 --> 02:10:37,391 I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1719 02:10:37,480 --> 02:10:42,555 I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1720 02:10:42,640 --> 02:10:46,680 Oh, when them gamblers get together 1721 02:10:46,760 --> 02:10:49,912 How they can gamble like one another 1722 02:10:50,000 --> 02:10:55,359 But I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1723 02:10:55,440 --> 02:10:59,275 Oh, when them drunkards get together 1724 02:10:59,360 --> 02:11:02,398 How they can drink like one another 1725 02:11:02,480 --> 02:11:06,997 But I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1726 02:11:07,080 --> 02:11:10,312 Yes, I'ma gonna lay down my life 1727 02:11:10,400 --> 02:11:14,076 Oh, yes, I'm gonna lay down my 1728 02:11:14,160 --> 02:11:18,677 Lord, I'm gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1729 02:11:18,760 --> 02:11:22,117 And John said to lay down my life 1730 02:11:22,200 --> 02:11:25,591 Yes, he said, "Lay down, lay down" 1731 02:11:25,680 --> 02:11:30,038 John said to lay down my life for my Lord 1732 02:11:30,120 --> 02:11:33,079 Luke said to lay down, lay down 1733 02:11:33,160 --> 02:11:36,517 Oh, Luke said to lay down, lay down 1734 02:11:36,600 --> 02:11:41,436 Yeah, Luke said to lay down my life for my Lord 1735 02:11:41,520 --> 02:11:45,036 Oh, when them dicers get together 1736 02:11:45,120 --> 02:11:47,954 How they economize one another 1737 02:11:48,040 --> 02:11:52,478 But I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1738 02:11:52,560 --> 02:11:56,236 Oh, when them dicers get together 1739 02:11:56,320 --> 02:11:59,074 How they economize one another 1740 02:11:59,200 --> 02:12:03,672 But I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1741 02:12:03,760 --> 02:12:07,276 Oh, when them liars get together 1742 02:12:07,360 --> 02:12:10,114 How they can lie like one another 1743 02:12:10,200 --> 02:12:14,797 But I'ma gonna lay down my life for my Lord 1744 02:12:14,880 --> 02:12:17,952 Yes, I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1745 02:12:18,040 --> 02:12:21,192 I'ma gonna lay down, lay down 1746 02:12:21,280 --> 02:12:28,153 I know I'm gonna lay down my life for my Lord