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On May seventh, 2000, in the parking lot of Hotel Ramada Inn in Jacksonville, Fl, Mary Ann Stephens, a 65-year-old woman and her husband had been approached by a black gentleman who held them in gunpoint and asked for the woman’s pocketbook. Mrs. Stephens gets shot in the head prior to her partner. Ninety moments later, a 15 year old black American teenager, Brenton Butler, gets accused of robbing and murdering seniors white holiday. The police busted the first black American guy that they came across, a boy who was on his way to obtain a job by a Blockbuster Video wall socket.
They’d no facts to link him to the crime other than the positive My spouse and i. D by the sole eyewitness to the murder, husband of the woman. Mr. Stephens was sure regarding one thing only; the shooter was a dark guy. Retainer gets interviewed by a great intimidating police officer, Michael Glover, son of Sheriff of Jacksonville. Private investigator Glover took Butler profound into the woods allegedly to find the murder weapon but instead he struck him a few times to get a croyance.
Afterwards, the case arrived to the hands of a lawyer, Patrick McGuinness. McGuinness looked at with one other lawyer, Ann Finnell.
In the meeting with his client, Butler confessed to him that he was innocent and was forced to confess murdering the girl. McGuinness’ skepticism forced the investigations to look into the simple evidence which he collected. Patrick McGuinness fought a battle pertaining to Brent Butler’s rights by proving the fact that case confirmed incompetence and prejudice shown by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. He aimed the accusing finger in the corrupt and shameless culprits: Detectives Williams, Glover and Darnell. McGuinness disclosed that there was simply no physical facts, DNA tests, weapons or perhaps other witnesses tying Butler to the criminal offenses.
He interrogated policemen around the stand and challenged their particular words. Law enforcement admitted that they can did tiny to investigate the crime and didn’t followup any other prospects. At the same time, Brenton Butler’s friends and family had trust in his innocence and securely believed that God is going to set Brenton free. They stood by simply him and encouraged him. In the end, McGuiness succeeded in proving his client innocent and the jury declared Brenton Butler not liable. The film acts as a great eye-opener towards the deceits in the police investigation and suggests rebalancing from the justice program.
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