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00:00:05,172 --> 00:00:07,006
(tense music playing)
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(police officer speaking)
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(michael ward speaking)
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And he said...
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Then I realized...
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Ward: Being charged
with first degree murder,
it's a crock of bull.
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I was on my own land,
I was defending myself.
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My whole future depends
on the outcome of this trial,
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So this is a case
that I have to win.
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(railway crossing alarm beeping)
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(train horn blaring)
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My name is misty fields
and I am michael ward's
criminal defense attorney.
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He is accused of shooting
sean allen in the back.
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Michael is charged
with first degree murder.
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It doesn't
get much bigger than that.
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The state is going to say
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00:02:06,869 --> 00:02:09,369
That because mr. Ward
shot a man in the back
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And the man died,
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He is technically guilty
of first-degree murder.
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But the big question is,
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Did mr. Ward have
a right to defend himself
in that situation?
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Sean allen was a known felon.
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He had an extensive
criminal record.
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Burglaries, drugs,
carrying firearms.
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He was just a bad dude.
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Mr. Allen had spent months
terrorizing mr. Ward.
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He had perpetually trespassed
on his property,
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Taking his belongings
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And mr. Ward did everything
that he could to prevent this.
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I believe mike ward
was justified
in taking another life.
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I believe the victim
is on trial here.
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The only way to right that
is to win at jury trial.
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(suspenseful music playing)
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(birds chirping)
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Ward: I retired and I decided
to move to spavinaw,
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Where it's peaceful and quiet.
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It's the dream
of every american.
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They want to own their own home.
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Their own little slice
of paradise
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That they can say that they
worked for it and it's theirs.
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It's my own little
piece of heaven.
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I had a good life here,
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Being retired, relaxing,
enjoying myself.
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And then, the neighbor
from hell moves in.
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That's when all my problems
got started.
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One day you're living your life.
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The next day
you're charged with murder.
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It's real devastating.
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You watch these shows on tv,
50
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You think to yourself,
"that'll never happen to me."
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I found out
it can happen to anybody.
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When I go to court for this,
I'll clear my name
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And this nightmare
will finally be over with.
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And that's what I'm looking
forward to in the future.
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(aspirational music playing)
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Fields: Today, michael is coming
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To talk about
the events on that day.
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Mike is in his 60s
and has never been charged
with a crime before.
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He has to understand
what he's charged with,
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And the sentences
that that carries,
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Which are very serious.
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-Mike.
-Yes.
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-You ready?
-Ready.
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Why don't you just tell me
your version of the events
as you remember them.
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Ward: I had decided to go up
on my land that morning
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And sight in my deer rifle
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'cause the deer season
was going to start
the next week.
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Okay.
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00:05:49,074 --> 00:05:50,574
As I got up
a bit close to my barn,
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I noticed sean allen
coming towards me.
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(intense music playing)
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He was trespassing on my land,
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I knew he had warrants
out on him,
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Told him to go ahead and stop,
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And I told him I was making
a citizen's arrest
and calling the law.
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I told him, "get down
on the ground, stop," you know,
and he just kept coming.
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So, he kept coming
and then what?
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Next thing I know,
he'd got too close
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And he grabbed
the barrel of the gun
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And tried to take it away
from me.
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What did you do?
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I fought over the gun.
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I didn't want him
to take my gun.
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What was going through your mind
while you were wrestling
over this gun?
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I said, "he gets this gun,
he's gonna kill me."
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The two of you
were wrestling over the gun.
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Yes.
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And you were thinking, if he
gets your gun away from you,
he was gonna kill you?
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00:06:39,291 --> 00:06:42,526
Correct. Finally, I jerked
the gun away from him.
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He turned to run.
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What did you do?
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I was scared
and I throwed up the gun and...
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...Pulled the trigger.
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I thought he had a gun on him.
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Fields: And after you shot,
what did you do?
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00:07:03,165 --> 00:07:05,165
I said "oh, god, I've hit him,"
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And I grabbed my phone
and called the law.
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I said, "I've had
to shoot sean allen.
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"we got in a fight over the gun
and I need an ambulance.
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"I need it quick."
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-You did that to try and get
help as soon as possible?
-Get help as quick as I could.
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-Okay.
-I'd been having trouble
with him for a year and a half.
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I'd had several incidents
where he'd been trespassing
on my land.
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Cutting trees,
breaking into my barn,
cutting the locks off.
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I'd call the law every time.
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They didn't do anything.
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Fields: Okay, mike.
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I think because
you shot him in the back,
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The prosecution
is probably going to say
that there was no threat.
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However, I think you were
absolutely reasonable
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In your belief
that he could have been armed
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And reasonable
in the fear for your own life,
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00:08:02,316 --> 00:08:04,724
So, I think
this is absolutely defensible.
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00:08:04,876 --> 00:08:06,876
Yes.
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00:08:06,970 --> 00:08:12,324
You have one count of murder
in the first-degree,
deliberate intent.
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There are three
possible sentences.
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They are life,
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Life without parole, and death.
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This is very, very serious.
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(dramatic music playing)
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Fields: I think mike
was victimized by this person
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Who had no business
even being on his property.
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Really, there was
no way out for him.
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It was either continue
to be abused by this criminal
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Or fight back.
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The biggest hurdle that we have
is to convince the jury
that this was self-defense.
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00:09:01,767 --> 00:09:04,100
Ward: I'll never plead guilty
to first degree murder,
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00:09:04,193 --> 00:09:05,502
'cause it's not
first-degree murder.
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00:09:07,455 --> 00:09:10,048
My whole future depends
on the outcome of this trial.
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The ultimate punishment
is death,
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So this is a case
that I have to win.
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This is just
a complete injustice
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That can happen
to anybody in america.
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(tense music playing)
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Fields: I'm going to review
the interrogation video
of michael ward
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To evaluate any potential issues
that I may need to prepare
to deal with at trial.
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00:10:33,967 --> 00:10:35,425
I'm gonna back it up
just a minute.
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00:10:44,311 --> 00:10:45,310
Where he says,
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"I ran a little bit
and then shot."
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That may be a huge issue.
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00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:07,332
Officer: Mm-hmm.
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00:11:18,178 --> 00:11:23,348
Fields: I wish he had not
stated that part.
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00:11:23,499 --> 00:11:26,592
It strengthens
the prosecution's case.
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00:11:26,687 --> 00:11:30,504
Their argument is the more
actions that took place
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00:11:30,598 --> 00:11:35,919
Between the struggle
over the gun,
and the actual shooting,
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00:11:35,937 --> 00:11:39,422
The more time there was
to formulate intent.
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00:11:39,441 --> 00:11:43,017
The prosecution
is going to paint that as,
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00:11:43,036 --> 00:11:47,855
"sean allen
was running for his life,
he was no longer a threat,
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00:11:47,874 --> 00:11:50,542
"there was no longer
a need for deadly force,
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00:11:52,787 --> 00:11:56,005
"and mr. Ward ran after him
and shot him down
like an animal."
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00:11:58,385 --> 00:12:03,463
If they can convince
12 jurors of that,
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00:12:03,557 --> 00:12:06,558
Mr. Ward could be convicted
of first-degree murder.
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00:12:13,734 --> 00:12:15,567
(dramatic music playing)
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00:12:24,319 --> 00:12:27,746
Today we are going
to michael ward's property,
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00:12:27,973 --> 00:12:31,082
So I can walk through
the crime scene.
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00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,901
For about 18 months,
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00:12:33,995 --> 00:12:37,756
Sean allen had continually gone
on michael ward's property,
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00:12:37,983 --> 00:12:41,484
And cut expensive
black walnut trees,
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00:12:41,503 --> 00:12:46,598
And broken into buildings
and done a lot of damage
to the property.
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00:12:46,749 --> 00:12:50,343
I have to understand the terror
that mike had lived in,
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00:12:50,495 --> 00:12:55,665
In order to explain
whether or not
he was reasonable in his fear
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00:12:55,758 --> 00:12:59,277
That sean
would kill him that day.
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00:13:03,842 --> 00:13:05,341
-Hi, mike.
-Ward: Hey,
how're you doing, misty?
164
00:13:05,434 --> 00:13:07,285
Ready to check out
the property today?
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00:13:07,512 --> 00:13:09,454
-Yeah.
-Okay, let's head up this way.
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00:13:11,792 --> 00:13:13,625
Fields: We're coming
from your house.
Ward: Uh-huh.
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00:13:13,776 --> 00:13:15,685
And this would have been
the way you walked
that day. Correct?
168
00:13:15,703 --> 00:13:17,036
Ward: Yeah, correct. Uh-huh.
169
00:13:17,188 --> 00:13:20,540
Sean would come up here,
cut the locks off my barn,
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00:13:20,634 --> 00:13:22,208
Take whatever he wanted,
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00:13:22,302 --> 00:13:25,136
And I'd come back up
and replace more locks on it,
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00:13:25,363 --> 00:13:28,473
And he'd come right back,
do the same thing again
and carry more stuff off.
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00:13:30,869 --> 00:13:35,129
All right, and where
was sean living at the time?
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00:13:35,148 --> 00:13:36,815
He was living in the house
right down there.
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00:13:39,635 --> 00:13:41,152
Whenever I'd come
on my property,
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00:13:41,304 --> 00:13:44,881
He'd come running out
of his house with his trash,
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00:13:44,899 --> 00:13:48,493
And he would go over here
and set fire to it.
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00:13:52,481 --> 00:13:55,333
Fields: Did you ever confront
him about burning trash
on your property?
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00:13:55,484 --> 00:13:57,894
Ward: I knew if I said something
it was going to be a fight,
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00:13:57,912 --> 00:14:01,488
And I tried to avoid
any confrontation with him.
181
00:14:01,583 --> 00:14:03,842
I wanted the cops to handle it
and I showed them, I said,
182
00:14:03,993 --> 00:14:05,677
"you was not doing
anything about it."
183
00:14:08,348 --> 00:14:11,165
Fields: So, are these
the walnut trees, some of them?
184
00:14:11,259 --> 00:14:14,686
I had one right down here
and one over there that he cut.
185
00:14:15,747 --> 00:14:18,172
He got to four of them.
186
00:14:18,266 --> 00:14:21,192
Rumor was that he was selling
them for $3,000 apiece.
187
00:14:23,012 --> 00:14:24,696
This is the first one
that he cut on.
188
00:14:24,923 --> 00:14:26,756
And he had
three of his buddies with him
189
00:14:26,774 --> 00:14:28,591
And they were jacking it up,
190
00:14:28,610 --> 00:14:31,777
Putting it on the trailer
and I come up through here.
191
00:14:31,930 --> 00:14:35,098
I'm by myself and I didn't have
a gun on me or nothing.
192
00:14:35,116 --> 00:14:36,708
I was scared and nervous,
193
00:14:36,935 --> 00:14:38,618
And, you know,
he's laughing about it
194
00:14:38,712 --> 00:14:40,620
And thought it was real funny
and everything,
195
00:14:40,772 --> 00:14:42,505
And he said,
"by god, you better be scared."
196
00:14:50,891 --> 00:14:53,040
I was thinking,
oh, what's going
to happen next, you know?
197
00:14:53,059 --> 00:14:55,876
I said, "he's doing whatever
he wants to on my land."
198
00:14:55,896 --> 00:14:57,353
I said,
"he'll be up my house next."
199
00:14:59,958 --> 00:15:01,882
I sat
and thought about it one day.
200
00:15:01,902 --> 00:15:04,794
If he gets rid of me,
then he could cut
all them trees,
201
00:15:04,887 --> 00:15:06,404
He could do whatever
he wants to,
202
00:15:06,555 --> 00:15:08,573
If I'm out of the way.
203
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,742
I mean, I stayed nervous
all the time.
204
00:15:10,969 --> 00:15:12,318
Fields: And rightly so,
it sounds like.
205
00:15:12,412 --> 00:15:16,730
And I did not
want to be out here
without protection.
206
00:15:16,824 --> 00:15:19,566
And that probably saved my life
'cause I did carry a gun.
207
00:15:19,661 --> 00:15:21,419
(pensive music playing)
208
00:15:23,831 --> 00:15:25,239
I kept calling the cops,
209
00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:27,408
Asking them for help, I said,
210
00:15:27,427 --> 00:15:29,427
"hey, I just want him
to leave me alone."
211
00:15:29,654 --> 00:15:32,764
And, uh, it just fell
on deaf ears.
212
00:15:32,915 --> 00:15:35,916
And then, that day,
once he had grabbed hold
of the gun barrel
213
00:15:35,936 --> 00:15:38,269
And grabbed
hold of me and stuff,
214
00:15:38,496 --> 00:15:41,105
I knew right then
I had to either shoot him
or he's going to kill me.
215
00:15:41,257 --> 00:15:43,757
Fields: Show me how you turned
and squared up.
216
00:15:43,851 --> 00:15:46,260
Okay, when I jerked the gun,
I just stumbled back like this.
217
00:15:46,279 --> 00:15:47,837
Fields: Uh-huh.
218
00:15:47,855 --> 00:15:51,616
Then I, you know,
moved forward a bit,
swung around
219
00:15:51,767 --> 00:15:53,284
And I just
shot him instinctively.
220
00:15:58,124 --> 00:16:01,684
Fields: When you hear mike
tell the story, it's clear
that he was scared to death,
221
00:16:01,777 --> 00:16:03,962
He was afraid for his life.
222
00:16:04,189 --> 00:16:08,800
No one should have to beg
the police to help you
and have them just ignore you.
223
00:16:10,712 --> 00:16:11,594
That's ridiculous.
224
00:16:13,456 --> 00:16:14,973
I think the police
just failed him.
225
00:16:23,632 --> 00:16:25,483
(dramatic music playing)
226
00:16:36,888 --> 00:16:37,662
(sighs)
227
00:16:42,227 --> 00:16:43,668
-Michael heath: Hi, mr. Hoskins?
-Hello. Yes.
228
00:16:43,819 --> 00:16:45,336
Michael heath
with diamond security,
how are you, sir?
229
00:16:45,488 --> 00:16:46,671
-I'm fine, thank you.
-Good, good.
230
00:16:52,661 --> 00:16:56,072
Hoskins: Well, just have a seat.
Heath: Okay, all right.
231
00:16:56,165 --> 00:16:59,242
First of all, did you have
any personal interaction
with sean allen?
232
00:16:59,260 --> 00:17:01,410
I just tried to stay away
from him and his bunch.
233
00:17:01,504 --> 00:17:03,337
They're a pretty scary bunch.
234
00:17:03,431 --> 00:17:04,814
He was down there cooking meth.
235
00:17:07,193 --> 00:17:10,653
You could smell it
'cause the fumes from that
would blow this direction.
236
00:17:11,514 --> 00:17:13,105
At that time,
237
00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:16,942
Sean was continuously breaking
into mike's barn down there.
238
00:17:17,037 --> 00:17:20,096
I mean, that type of person
in the drug world,
239
00:17:20,114 --> 00:17:23,041
They'll take anything
they can steal to make a buck.
240
00:17:24,026 --> 00:17:25,434
Sean would just say,
241
00:17:25,453 --> 00:17:27,603
"I'll break in there
any time I want
242
00:17:27,696 --> 00:17:29,438
"and nobody's gonna stop me."
243
00:17:29,532 --> 00:17:31,031
Heath: You heard him say that?
244
00:17:31,051 --> 00:17:33,867
Oh, yeah, myself, the police,
he didn't care who heard.
245
00:17:33,887 --> 00:17:36,445
He feared no one
and he'd stand there
and tell you,
246
00:17:36,464 --> 00:17:39,873
"I'm not afraid of you,
I'm not afraid of the police,
I'm not afraid of anybody,
247
00:17:39,893 --> 00:17:41,184
"and I'm gonna do
what I'm gonna do."
248
00:17:43,879 --> 00:17:46,230
And I went over
and pulled sean aside
249
00:17:46,457 --> 00:17:47,881
To try and work
something out with him,
250
00:17:47,975 --> 00:17:49,642
Like just stop everything.
251
00:17:49,794 --> 00:17:55,131
And sean stood up, right here
face to face with me and said,
252
00:17:55,224 --> 00:17:59,869
"if mike ever gets in my way,
or confronts me,
I will take him out."
253
00:18:01,139 --> 00:18:02,038
Amazing.
254
00:18:08,663 --> 00:18:10,546
(intense music playing)
255
00:18:21,935 --> 00:18:25,603
Fields: Blood was taken
from sean allen's body
at the autopsy.
256
00:18:28,499 --> 00:18:32,092
The blood was tested
for illicit drugs
257
00:18:32,186 --> 00:18:37,340
And he was positive
for methamphetamine
and amphetamine
258
00:18:37,358 --> 00:18:38,616
At the time of his death.
259
00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:50,353
It appears from my research
that death can occur from
methamphetamine levels
260
00:18:50,371 --> 00:18:52,130
As low as 0.05.
261
00:18:54,025 --> 00:18:57,468
Sean allen
was positive for 0.38.
262
00:18:58,529 --> 00:19:01,881
It's substantial. He was high.
263
00:19:02,033 --> 00:19:04,642
So that tells me
that he had used that morning.
264
00:19:07,388 --> 00:19:09,814
Methamphetamine is a stimulant.
265
00:19:09,965 --> 00:19:13,209
It absolutely increases
violent tendencies.
266
00:19:13,227 --> 00:19:15,653
It makes you think that you're
ten feet tall and bulletproof,
267
00:19:16,322 --> 00:19:18,823
When you're not.
268
00:19:19,050 --> 00:19:23,494
So, I believe that the meth
definitely affected his decision
to charge mike
269
00:19:23,721 --> 00:19:24,954
And try to take
that gun away from him.
270
00:19:26,891 --> 00:19:31,076
It's absolutely a must
that the jury understand
271
00:19:31,229 --> 00:19:35,080
That this man was very high
at the time of the shooting.
272
00:19:35,175 --> 00:19:38,250
I think if that is not put
in front of the jury,
273
00:19:38,403 --> 00:19:41,137
Mr. Ward could be sent to prison
for the rest of his life.
274
00:19:46,077 --> 00:19:47,852
(pensive music playing)
275
00:19:50,690 --> 00:19:51,981
Starting to cook.
276
00:19:53,751 --> 00:19:56,360
Today we're having
a neighborhood cookout.
277
00:19:56,512 --> 00:19:59,822
I've invited some
of my neighbors over,
just a little get-together.
278
00:20:07,356 --> 00:20:09,165
(motorbike engine roaring)
279
00:20:11,602 --> 00:20:13,694
Ward: Anybody wants to go ahead
start eating, go ahead,
280
00:20:13,788 --> 00:20:16,172
We've got most of it ready
and the rest of it's cooking.
281
00:20:18,276 --> 00:20:20,276
Ron langford:
Mike's a great guy.
282
00:20:20,294 --> 00:20:22,220
I don't think
I've met anybody more honest.
283
00:20:23,872 --> 00:20:26,515
What happened to him
is a travesty.
284
00:20:29,303 --> 00:20:32,121
Just like any red-blooded
american, you know,
285
00:20:32,139 --> 00:20:35,474
What they want to do
is live in peace.
286
00:20:35,568 --> 00:20:39,570
But sean moved in and then
all the trouble started.
287
00:20:46,471 --> 00:20:49,989
Geoff: I don't care
if the guy's on drugs,
but I care if he's on crank.
288
00:20:50,141 --> 00:20:52,232
Whole different universe,
you know.
289
00:20:52,326 --> 00:20:54,643
Hoskins: They're out
of their mind,
they got superhuman strength.
290
00:20:54,737 --> 00:20:56,254
Geoff: Yep. And they're violent.
291
00:20:56,405 --> 00:20:58,998
And... Yeah,
and you can't stop them.
292
00:20:59,092 --> 00:21:01,425
Once he got on that stuff,
he got his mind set,
293
00:21:01,577 --> 00:21:04,987
There was no stopping him
from what he was going to do,
it didn't matter.
294
00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,657
If somebody come up on me
and tried to take my weapon
away from me,
295
00:21:08,751 --> 00:21:09,767
I'm going to defend myself.
296
00:21:13,088 --> 00:21:16,999
Mike's going to remain
my good friend regardless,
one way or the other,
297
00:21:17,092 --> 00:21:20,686
And I support him
in everything he does.
298
00:21:20,838 --> 00:21:22,238
I can only hope for the best.
299
00:21:24,675 --> 00:21:26,600
Ward: My friends mean
the world to me.
300
00:21:26,694 --> 00:21:27,785
They treat me just like family.
301
00:21:29,013 --> 00:21:29,912
You know, that means a lot.
302
00:21:31,682 --> 00:21:33,624
Without them, I'd be kinda lost.
303
00:21:36,537 --> 00:21:41,023
Everyone around here in spavinaw
believes in the right
to defend yourself.
304
00:21:41,042 --> 00:21:42,783
Protect your property.
305
00:21:42,877 --> 00:21:43,968
That's all I was doing.
306
00:21:53,796 --> 00:21:55,704
Gps: The destination
is on your left.
307
00:21:55,798 --> 00:21:57,723
-Oh, that's it there.
-Gps: Arrived.
308
00:21:57,875 --> 00:21:59,542
This should be interesting.
309
00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,444
(intense music playing)
310
00:22:06,993 --> 00:22:09,401
My name is michael heath
and I'm a private investigator.
311
00:22:09,554 --> 00:22:12,388
I'm working with mike ward's
defense team.
312
00:22:12,481 --> 00:22:14,665
Can you tell me
how you know sean allen?
313
00:22:14,817 --> 00:22:18,002
I live in that house,
he lived in that house.
314
00:22:21,065 --> 00:22:24,825
Can you tell me what
the experience was like
living next door to sean allen?
315
00:22:24,844 --> 00:22:26,677
Sean was a very dangerous man.
He had guns.
316
00:22:28,255 --> 00:22:29,347
They brought the drugs in.
317
00:22:31,576 --> 00:22:34,668
Heath: You ever know them
to use drugs, cook drugs?
318
00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:36,579
How do you know
they were cooking drugs?
319
00:22:36,672 --> 00:22:37,746
Could you smell it
or you see it?
320
00:22:37,765 --> 00:22:39,598
Burch: Smell it.
321
00:22:39,692 --> 00:22:41,692
They did all kinds
of horrible things over there.
322
00:22:45,272 --> 00:22:46,364
Heath: Were you afraid of sean?
323
00:22:46,515 --> 00:22:48,257
Yeah, terrified.
324
00:22:48,275 --> 00:22:49,775
-I couldn't hardly sleep
at night.
-Damn.
325
00:22:49,927 --> 00:22:53,186
Is there a specific incident
that occurred
326
00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,932
To where you could say,
"this is why I was
afraid of him"?
327
00:22:56,951 --> 00:23:00,452
-I was right there
and he had his torch.
-Right.
328
00:23:00,605 --> 00:23:02,955
And he said he was
gonna catch my house
on fire and stuff.
329
00:23:03,107 --> 00:23:05,216
-He told you that?
-Mm-hmm.
330
00:23:05,367 --> 00:23:08,777
I don't know if you can see it,
but there's burn marks
on my gate there.
331
00:23:08,871 --> 00:23:10,221
Heath: Where's the burn marks?
332
00:23:12,116 --> 00:23:13,224
-He burned them apart.
-Wow.
333
00:23:14,969 --> 00:23:17,228
Did you ever personally
see him on mike's land?
334
00:23:17,379 --> 00:23:19,455
-Oh, yeah. Uh-huh.
-All the time?
335
00:23:19,548 --> 00:23:20,789
Heath: Did you ever see them--
336
00:23:20,808 --> 00:23:23,216
And I know mike
gave him a lot of warnings,
337
00:23:23,236 --> 00:23:25,069
A lot of warnings,
saying this is...
338
00:23:25,220 --> 00:23:27,146
You shouldn't be on this land
and stuff like that.
339
00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,388
Uh-huh.
340
00:23:28,482 --> 00:23:29,698
It was a horrible time.
341
00:23:30,985 --> 00:23:33,744
(intense music playing)
342
00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:39,917
(photocopier whirring)
343
00:23:41,254 --> 00:23:43,587
(dramatic music playing)
344
00:23:50,838 --> 00:23:54,432
Fields: I have just received
some radio call logs
345
00:23:54,583 --> 00:23:56,508
From September 27th.
346
00:23:56,661 --> 00:23:59,103
It's the day
before the shooting.
347
00:24:13,027 --> 00:24:16,269
At 8:18 in the evening,
348
00:24:16,289 --> 00:24:18,456
The police attempted
to make an arrest.
349
00:24:19,517 --> 00:24:23,018
Sean allen ran on foot.
350
00:24:23,037 --> 00:24:24,795
(suspenseful music playing)
351
00:24:31,620 --> 00:24:34,363
Sean allen
was a fugitive from justice,
352
00:24:34,381 --> 00:24:37,216
He ran into the woods,
spent the night in the woods,
353
00:24:37,368 --> 00:24:41,645
And then the following morning
saw mike ward
354
00:24:41,797 --> 00:24:46,484
And chose to just charge
and try to take this gun
away from him.
355
00:24:48,154 --> 00:24:50,488
That's insane.
356
00:24:50,639 --> 00:24:55,217
But given the amount of meth
that we know that he had
in his system,
357
00:24:55,236 --> 00:24:57,978
It's pretty clear
what happened here.
358
00:24:57,997 --> 00:25:01,240
If sean had been apprehended
that night by police,
359
00:25:01,392 --> 00:25:03,334
None of this would
have happened.
360
00:25:03,485 --> 00:25:05,744
Sean allen would be alive,
361
00:25:05,896 --> 00:25:08,731
His mother would not be mourning
for a lost son
362
00:25:08,824 --> 00:25:11,324
And mike wouldn't be
on murder charges.
363
00:25:11,418 --> 00:25:14,661
(breathing heavily)
364
00:25:14,755 --> 00:25:15,346
(keyboard clacking)
365
00:25:23,856 --> 00:25:25,773
(tense music playing)
366
00:25:31,697 --> 00:25:32,530
(bell on door jingles)
367
00:25:34,516 --> 00:25:40,429
Today, mike is going to watch
the video of his interrogation.
368
00:25:40,522 --> 00:25:46,118
He seemed to have no emotion
on the video, which is very bad.
369
00:25:46,270 --> 00:25:48,879
We will start to go over
that with kirby.
370
00:25:51,292 --> 00:25:54,218
-Okay, mike, let's step
into the conference room.
-Okay. Okay.
371
00:25:57,131 --> 00:25:58,806
(ward speaking)
372
00:26:03,563 --> 00:26:06,880
What were the actions
surrounding that statement?
373
00:26:06,974 --> 00:26:08,882
Ward: He was just shaking
his head and he said, "no way."
374
00:26:08,901 --> 00:26:11,293
Okay, but then, at some point,
375
00:26:11,386 --> 00:26:13,320
You are both in contact
with each other.
376
00:26:14,389 --> 00:26:15,464
How'd that happen?
377
00:26:15,482 --> 00:26:18,150
He just, uh,
kept coming towards me.
378
00:26:18,244 --> 00:26:21,078
I thought he was going to stop
you know, but he never stopped,
he just kept coming.
379
00:26:21,305 --> 00:26:25,416
Kirby: So, "he's running
towards me yelling, 'no way.'"
or, "he said, 'no way.'"?
380
00:26:25,567 --> 00:26:26,975
He's coming towards me
saying, "no way."
381
00:26:27,069 --> 00:26:28,419
Kirby: Better storytelling,
thank you.
382
00:26:28,646 --> 00:26:30,087
Fields: Your ability
to tell the story
383
00:26:30,238 --> 00:26:31,589
Is the crux
of this whole defense.
384
00:26:31,740 --> 00:26:33,591
-Yes.
-You have to be
a good storyteller.
385
00:26:35,502 --> 00:26:36,927
Kirby: Moving forward? Okay.
Fields: Mm-hmm.
386
00:26:37,671 --> 00:26:39,680
(ward speaking)
387
00:26:41,508 --> 00:26:43,583
Fields: Stop it.
388
00:26:43,677 --> 00:26:46,186
That's the biggest problem
that we have in this whole case.
389
00:26:48,332 --> 00:26:52,017
Because you said
you chased him a little ways.
390
00:26:52,111 --> 00:26:53,760
-I never chased after him
or anything.
-Kirby: Okay.
391
00:26:53,779 --> 00:26:56,113
Well, that's how
they're gonna go after you.
392
00:26:56,264 --> 00:26:58,023
They're gonna paint you
as a cold-blooded killer
393
00:26:58,117 --> 00:27:00,117
Who chased a man down
and killed him like an animal.
394
00:27:01,528 --> 00:27:03,195
Ward: That's not
what happened, though.
395
00:27:03,289 --> 00:27:07,516
Fields: Well, the prosecutor
will be relentless with that.
396
00:27:07,609 --> 00:27:11,128
It's two things
that are happening, mike.
It's the actual event,
397
00:27:12,447 --> 00:27:14,948
And it's your words
about the event.
398
00:27:15,042 --> 00:27:17,951
We can't really do anything
about the actual event.
399
00:27:17,970 --> 00:27:22,473
But at this point,
you have an opportunity
to have another say.
400
00:27:22,624 --> 00:27:25,367
-Your mouth can get you in,
it can get you out of it.
-Fields: Mm-hmm.
401
00:27:25,460 --> 00:27:28,053
Explain it
in a different fashion,
402
00:27:28,147 --> 00:27:30,314
The same story,
but it's a whole
different fashion.
403
00:27:30,541 --> 00:27:32,391
Ward: I need to tell my story
with some feeling.
404
00:27:32,543 --> 00:27:35,560
That is the way out.
405
00:27:35,655 --> 00:27:37,396
Fields: You have to realize
that, right now,
406
00:27:37,548 --> 00:27:40,382
You are literally fighting
to save your life.
407
00:27:40,475 --> 00:27:41,659
-That's what's happening.
-(tapping pen)
408
00:27:41,810 --> 00:27:44,236
That's... We're all fighting
to save your life.
409
00:27:44,330 --> 00:27:46,246
(tense music playing)
410
00:27:54,656 --> 00:27:56,006
Fields: I call michael ward
to the stand.
411
00:28:05,592 --> 00:28:09,411
Stand right here in front
and the judge will tell you
to raise your hand,
412
00:28:09,504 --> 00:28:11,263
She'll ask you
if you swear to tell the truth.
413
00:28:11,357 --> 00:28:12,272
I do.
414
00:28:15,753 --> 00:28:17,010
Patrick abitol: So, sir,
is it a fair statement
415
00:28:17,029 --> 00:28:22,533
That on September 28th of 2018
416
00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,202
That you shot
and killed sean allen?
417
00:28:26,931 --> 00:28:28,947
Yes.
418
00:28:29,041 --> 00:28:31,616
Abitol: So that day,
you carried a rifle,
is that correct?
419
00:28:31,711 --> 00:28:33,118
Correct.
420
00:28:33,270 --> 00:28:35,361
That firearm was chamber loaded,
is that correct?
421
00:28:35,381 --> 00:28:37,289
That is correct.
422
00:28:37,383 --> 00:28:41,443
Abitol: Is there any reason
that mr. Allen wouldn't think
423
00:28:41,462 --> 00:28:43,137
-That you were out there
to shoot him?
-(kirby whispering)
424
00:28:46,892 --> 00:28:48,058
I don't know.
425
00:28:49,562 --> 00:28:51,895
When he runs up,
426
00:28:52,122 --> 00:28:55,232
What... What does he do?
What's the first thing
he does with his hands?
427
00:28:55,459 --> 00:28:57,476
Ward: Grabs ahold
of my gun barrel.
428
00:28:57,570 --> 00:28:59,737
Abitol: Okay, so you grab
the gun away from him.
429
00:29:00,814 --> 00:29:01,572
What happens at that point?
430
00:29:03,650 --> 00:29:05,242
-Ward: I stumble back.
-Okay.
431
00:29:05,986 --> 00:29:08,078
(fields whispering)
432
00:29:10,065 --> 00:29:11,206
Abitol: And then
what does allen do?
433
00:29:12,067 --> 00:29:13,900
Ward: Turn to run.
434
00:29:13,994 --> 00:29:16,879
Abitol: The day that you decided
you were gonna shoot
and kill him,
435
00:29:17,739 --> 00:29:19,498
He had turned,
436
00:29:19,592 --> 00:29:21,074
And in your statement,
437
00:29:21,093 --> 00:29:23,010
He was 15 yards away from you.
438
00:29:27,658 --> 00:29:31,660
Fields: Mike, this is where it's
time to lose your (bleep).
439
00:29:31,753 --> 00:29:34,271
I thought he had a gun on me
and he could have killed me
at any second.
440
00:29:37,851 --> 00:29:38,692
Abitol: But the only person
441
00:29:40,170 --> 00:29:43,280
Showing any degree
of aggressive conduct
442
00:29:45,009 --> 00:29:47,576
Is not mr. Allen, it's you.
Fair statement?
443
00:29:49,863 --> 00:29:53,682
No. I had to shoot him
in self-defense.
444
00:29:53,775 --> 00:29:55,534
Fields: No,
this is where you say,
445
00:29:55,686 --> 00:29:58,278
-(smacks table)
-"I was afraid for my life.
He was fixing to kill me.
446
00:29:58,372 --> 00:29:59,871
"I thought I was gonna die."
447
00:29:59,965 --> 00:30:01,882
(dramatic music playing)
448
00:30:11,218 --> 00:30:12,976
(intense music playing)
449
00:30:15,481 --> 00:30:17,272
Ward: The trial
is finally starting today.
450
00:30:18,392 --> 00:30:19,483
Been a long time coming.
451
00:30:20,894 --> 00:30:22,611
A lot of pressure.
Lot of stress.
452
00:30:23,823 --> 00:30:26,898
My nerves are shot.
453
00:30:26,992 --> 00:30:28,659
This is harder
than I thought it would be.
454
00:30:31,313 --> 00:30:33,738
Fields: Defending someone
who is on trial for murder,
455
00:30:33,891 --> 00:30:36,575
Who could literally spend
the rest of their life in prison
456
00:30:36,727 --> 00:30:39,628
Comes with incredible pressure
and stress.
457
00:30:44,068 --> 00:30:47,493
I fight as hard
as I possibly can.
458
00:30:47,513 --> 00:30:49,346
I fight with everything
that I have.
459
00:30:50,908 --> 00:30:52,591
Ward: Your mind's never at ease.
460
00:30:52,743 --> 00:30:54,184
You're always thinking
about going to prison.
461
00:30:55,412 --> 00:30:56,353
I just want it to be over with.
462
00:30:58,006 --> 00:30:58,856
Fields: Are we ready?
463
00:31:00,100 --> 00:31:01,859
(suspenseful music playing)
464
00:31:23,048 --> 00:31:25,457
Fields: The prosecution
said to the jury,
465
00:31:25,609 --> 00:31:31,537
Michael ward took a deer rifle
and went onto his property
to hunt sean allen.
466
00:31:31,557 --> 00:31:35,893
He tried to indicate
that there was absolutely
no struggle over the gun,
467
00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:37,561
Which couldn't be further
from the truth.
468
00:31:52,819 --> 00:31:55,913
Fields: The state is working
overtime to try to keep out
469
00:31:56,064 --> 00:32:00,042
Evidence regarding sean allen's
extracurricular activities.
470
00:32:02,254 --> 00:32:06,331
That is problematic
because mike was afraid of sean,
471
00:32:06,483 --> 00:32:08,425
By and large,
because of his criminal history.
472
00:32:10,504 --> 00:32:11,762
He was a career criminal.
473
00:32:13,157 --> 00:32:14,765
He'd been
to prison multiple times.
474
00:32:16,326 --> 00:32:20,586
He was terrorizing
an entire town
475
00:32:20,606 --> 00:32:27,427
And that all factors into
mike's beliefs about his safety
on the day of the shooting.
476
00:32:27,521 --> 00:32:30,188
We have to get it in front
of the jury as soon as possible.
477
00:32:30,340 --> 00:32:32,115
(intense music playing)
478
00:33:06,376 --> 00:33:07,967
Fields: If the jury
doesn't understand
479
00:33:07,987 --> 00:33:09,611
That he was
in fear for his life,
480
00:33:11,306 --> 00:33:13,490
That is a failed self-defense,
481
00:33:16,053 --> 00:33:17,828
And that amounts
to a conviction.
482
00:33:20,332 --> 00:33:21,498
Damn it.
483
00:33:29,900 --> 00:33:31,675
(suspenseful music playing)
484
00:33:42,337 --> 00:33:44,079
Fields: Did you sleep
last night?
485
00:33:44,097 --> 00:33:45,671
Not too good, to be honest.
486
00:33:45,766 --> 00:33:48,191
-Yep.
-Nerves, I guess.
487
00:33:48,418 --> 00:33:50,935
-I recommend that you don't eat.
-Okay.
488
00:33:51,030 --> 00:33:53,271
The art of war says
you never eat in battle.
489
00:33:53,423 --> 00:33:55,032
I...
490
00:33:55,183 --> 00:33:58,160
And I find that the hungrier
I get, the meaner I get, so...
491
00:34:04,192 --> 00:34:07,602
Fields: Mike's performance
in the mock
was less than stellar,
492
00:34:07,621 --> 00:34:09,337
And I'm being kind there.
493
00:34:11,775 --> 00:34:14,959
If mike folds in his testimony,
494
00:34:15,112 --> 00:34:17,962
I think that could
send him to prison.
495
00:34:18,115 --> 00:34:21,800
He has to tell his story
and bring the jury into his mind
496
00:34:21,952 --> 00:34:23,185
And make them feel what he felt.
497
00:34:24,045 --> 00:34:25,854
(tense music playing)
498
00:34:39,060 --> 00:34:40,577
Ward: It was rough.
499
00:34:43,749 --> 00:34:46,249
It's not easy to sit there.
You're under scrutiny.
500
00:34:47,644 --> 00:34:49,252
You can feel their eyes on you.
501
00:34:52,407 --> 00:34:54,482
Fields: Mike performed
beautifully.
502
00:34:54,501 --> 00:34:57,485
He told his story with emotion.
503
00:34:57,504 --> 00:35:00,580
He held it together honestly
better than I expected him to.
504
00:35:00,599 --> 00:35:02,157
And I believe that
505
00:35:02,175 --> 00:35:03,583
He's probably saved his life
506
00:35:03,602 --> 00:35:04,559
A second time.
507
00:35:06,012 --> 00:35:07,896
(intense music playing)
508
00:35:10,517 --> 00:35:11,850
Ward: Yeah.
509
00:35:11,944 --> 00:35:14,686
So we're gonna...
(clears throat) go back in...
510
00:35:14,780 --> 00:35:15,779
Ward: Mm-hmm.
511
00:35:17,007 --> 00:35:18,281
...And I think we're gonna rest.
512
00:35:20,844 --> 00:35:24,770
I almost want to blindside them
with "we rest."
513
00:35:24,790 --> 00:35:26,848
But I'm gonna try
to do it fast, okay?
514
00:35:26,867 --> 00:35:29,775
-Okay.
-'cause I want to rest today.
515
00:35:29,795 --> 00:35:30,752
Okay, I trust you.
516
00:35:32,022 --> 00:35:32,963
Okay, let's do this.
517
00:35:37,285 --> 00:35:39,094
(dramatic music playing)
518
00:35:46,036 --> 00:35:48,370
Tell us the story
and let us make a decision.
519
00:35:48,463 --> 00:35:50,872
That's typically
what juries want,
520
00:35:50,891 --> 00:35:52,482
And that's essentially
what we've done today.
521
00:36:00,141 --> 00:36:00,991
Bailiff: All rise.
522
00:36:05,980 --> 00:36:07,998
-Judge gore: Be seated.
Thank you very much.
-(door closes)
523
00:36:12,820 --> 00:36:15,063
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
524
00:36:15,081 --> 00:36:18,175
You will now listen
to the argument of counsel.
525
00:36:18,326 --> 00:36:21,085
Miss fields, you may close
on behalf of the defendant.
526
00:36:21,180 --> 00:36:22,179
Yes, ma'am, thank you.
527
00:36:23,998 --> 00:36:27,851
Ladies and gentlemen,
the truth is like a lion.
528
00:36:28,078 --> 00:36:30,687
You turn it loose
and it will defend itself.
529
00:36:32,599 --> 00:36:35,750
In the interview,
he said repeatedly,
530
00:36:35,769 --> 00:36:39,754
"I was afraid for my life.
I was scared." repeatedly.
531
00:36:39,773 --> 00:36:42,941
And you watched his demeanor
change on the stand
532
00:36:43,035 --> 00:36:45,368
In talking about the struggle
over the gun.
533
00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:49,021
And the realization that,
"if he gets this gun
away from me,
534
00:36:49,041 --> 00:36:50,540
"he was gonna kill me
with my own gun."
535
00:36:53,361 --> 00:36:56,696
You heard him talk about
mustering every bit
of strength that he had
536
00:36:56,715 --> 00:36:59,865
To get that gun
back away from this man,
537
00:36:59,885 --> 00:37:02,277
In a fight for his life.
538
00:37:02,295 --> 00:37:06,389
And he ran back up on the trail
and sean allen was turning
around, he could see him.
539
00:37:08,952 --> 00:37:10,969
And he said
he raised his gun and he shot it
540
00:37:11,121 --> 00:37:13,137
And he intended to do so,
541
00:37:13,290 --> 00:37:17,567
Because he believed
that that person
was coming back for him.
542
00:37:19,738 --> 00:37:23,556
Ladies and gentlemen,
I want justice for michael ward.
543
00:37:23,575 --> 00:37:25,967
What justice looks like
in this case
544
00:37:25,986 --> 00:37:28,078
Is michael ward walking out
these doors a free man.
545
00:37:36,329 --> 00:37:38,088
(suspenseful music playing)
546
00:37:41,593 --> 00:37:45,320
Let's just say sean allen
was absolutely trespassing.
547
00:37:45,338 --> 00:37:48,156
Let's say he was absolutely
stealing trees.
548
00:37:48,174 --> 00:37:51,159
That that angered mr. Ward.
549
00:37:51,177 --> 00:37:54,345
He was frustrated.
Law enforcement was doing
nothing about it.
550
00:37:54,439 --> 00:37:57,399
Michael ward decided
he was gonna put an end to it.
551
00:37:59,427 --> 00:38:00,610
Michael ward went out there
552
00:38:00,837 --> 00:38:04,430
Fully planning
on finding sean allen.
553
00:38:04,449 --> 00:38:07,175
If sean would have hit
the ground and said,
"you're right, you got me."
554
00:38:07,268 --> 00:38:08,451
Maybe that's where
it would have ended.
555
00:38:10,347 --> 00:38:11,288
But no way.
556
00:38:12,958 --> 00:38:14,791
Sean was a runner.
Ran from the law.
557
00:38:17,687 --> 00:38:18,628
Michael ward knew that.
558
00:38:23,117 --> 00:38:24,968
He told you
in front of this court
559
00:38:25,119 --> 00:38:27,470
That he had
the deliberate intent
to kill sean allen.
560
00:38:27,622 --> 00:38:28,471
He said that.
561
00:38:29,808 --> 00:38:33,793
If you believe
everything he said,
562
00:38:33,812 --> 00:38:36,813
He is guilty of murder
in the first-degree.
563
00:38:39,392 --> 00:38:40,775
That boy deserves justice.
564
00:38:42,379 --> 00:38:43,320
And you give it to him.
565
00:38:48,234 --> 00:38:49,159
(ward whispering)
566
00:38:51,979 --> 00:38:52,829
(fields whispering)
567
00:39:03,342 --> 00:39:09,587
Fields: Waiting for the verdict
is the most intense pressure
that I've ever felt.
568
00:39:09,739 --> 00:39:12,182
Mike's innocent,
he doesn't deserve prison,
569
00:39:13,852 --> 00:39:16,978
But I feel very good
about this case.
570
00:39:18,598 --> 00:39:19,522
Now we wait.
571
00:39:21,267 --> 00:39:23,526
(suspenseful music playing)
572
00:39:24,604 --> 00:39:26,363
(cell phone ringing)
573
00:39:26,514 --> 00:39:27,530
(fields clears throat)
574
00:39:28,367 --> 00:39:29,366
Hello?
575
00:39:35,782 --> 00:39:36,706
We have a verdict.
576
00:39:58,288 --> 00:40:00,121
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,
577
00:40:00,214 --> 00:40:01,456
Have you reached a verdict?
578
00:40:01,474 --> 00:40:02,565
(jury foreperson speaking)
579
00:40:10,316 --> 00:40:12,634
Ladies and gentlemen,
is this in fact your verdict?
580
00:40:12,652 --> 00:40:13,701
(jury foreperson speaking)
581
00:40:16,322 --> 00:40:19,082
We will have the court clerk
publish the verdict.
582
00:40:21,903 --> 00:40:23,828
Court clerk:
"the state of oklahoma,
plaintiff,
583
00:40:23,980 --> 00:40:26,589
"vs. Michael ward, defendant,
584
00:40:26,816 --> 00:40:30,743
"verdict, count one,
murder in the first degree,
585
00:40:30,762 --> 00:40:35,765
"we the jury in the
above-entitled cause do,
upon our oath, find as follows:
586
00:40:38,828 --> 00:40:43,273
"defendant is guilty and fixed
punishment at life and no fine."
587
00:40:51,450 --> 00:40:53,616
Judge gore: Does either side
wish to poll the jury?
588
00:40:53,768 --> 00:40:54,617
No, ma'am.
589
00:41:00,959 --> 00:41:05,128
Judge gore: Mr. Ward,
the jury of your peers
has made a determination
590
00:41:05,279 --> 00:41:08,798
That you are in fact guilty
of murder in the first degree.
591
00:41:08,950 --> 00:41:11,025
You're remanded to the custody
of the sheriff.
592
00:41:11,118 --> 00:41:13,261
We are in recess. Thank you.
593
00:41:14,139 --> 00:41:15,972
(mournful music playing)
594
00:41:18,034 --> 00:41:18,975
(fields whispering)
595
00:41:27,727 --> 00:41:29,969
(chains clinking)
596
00:41:29,988 --> 00:41:31,488
Fields: The verdict
means mike dies in prison.
597
00:41:33,717 --> 00:41:35,717
A sweet old man
comes to oklahoma
598
00:41:35,735 --> 00:41:39,387
To spend the remainder
of his years in peace,
599
00:41:39,405 --> 00:41:42,457
And now he is spending them
in the penitentiary.
600
00:41:49,156 --> 00:41:51,007
I don't know that I'll ever
bounce back from this.
601
00:41:58,742 --> 00:42:03,311
The jury did not understand
the threats that mike faced
from sean allen.
602
00:42:05,098 --> 00:42:09,767
The judge did not allow us
to get into his meth use.
603
00:42:09,861 --> 00:42:16,181
We weren't allowed to let
the jury know that he was high
on meth at the time.
604
00:42:16,201 --> 00:42:19,035
I don't think they were allowed
to know the whole story.
605
00:42:22,690 --> 00:42:26,100
The plan at this point
is to launch an appeal for mike
606
00:42:26,193 --> 00:42:29,528
To try to get him a new trial.
607
00:42:29,548 --> 00:42:33,550
I feel like this was the worst
miscarriage of justice
that I've ever seen.