American Justice - Fatal Flaws - 10 Nov 07 - Part 1

[putdownan8dude]

how insane. i would trust that guy to babysit my parents, and i dont even know him.

[putdownan8dude]

andy richter???

[danakscully64]

Does anyone know where the wife stood during the trial, conviction, and time in jail before execution? Did she believe he killed their children? She wasn't mentioned.

[anchondohailey]

the main reason i dont belive in the death penalty is because i know innocent people get convicted all the time.

[juhart30]

Living in Iran, of course you're guilty..

[IceXMan87]

I don't look at a man and see black, white, yellow, or brown. I look at a man and see just that, a man. I judge him not by his race, his religion, his sexual orientation, or by his bank account, for I deny any impulse or instinct to judge anyone. This world is divided by those with power and those without it. But true power rests in the hands of the majority, the poor, we have strength in numbers.

[ad8369]

why would he kill his children?

[MARVIA35]

(cont.) it'll be a VERY small price to pay if innocent men and woman like todd have to continuously die. can only imagine the number of people who died back when forensic science wasnt as it is today. if we're sending the innocent to death row now w/ our modern science, can u imagine then?

[MARVIA35]

omg!! damn, sooo sad. my heart goes out to Todd and the entire willingham family. so damn tragic. im for the DP also, as long as its conclusively proven the persons guilty. i bet the authorities involved arent losing any sleep and r stubbornly in denial about it because if admitted to self and public, ALL past, present and future cases as well as their judgement and ability as public servants to effectively identify/interpret evidence or guilt/innocence will b called n 2 question.it(cont.)

[0ver9kay]

"this is a story of fatal flaws in the american justice system",

could he have just said,

"this is a story about the american justice system" and it would have meant the same thing lol

[manrayer88]

Whats the point of convicting guilty people?

Most of them aren't dangerous

[JediMasterCheryl]

What a tragedy for the Willingham family. So awful.

[Iraqgenocide2]

USA has NO democracy, NO freedom, NO "justice" whatsoever. America represents ONLY slavery and death. It's multi-billion dollar prison gulag is a for proit slavery larger than China which uses any means to create more career criminals, including inventing charges, counts out of thin air, rigged juries & destroying lives with "records". USA's injustice system is staffed by criminals.. child molesting judges, attorneys, prison contractors, police thugs who assault indigents and kids for greed.

[gagesmommy2188]

o hell no!!!!

[swlovesvegans]

hmmm  we got a guy out here... picking cotton in the fields... but was finally set free... and he's white.... how the tables have TURNED.. lol just kidding

[lovingit1000]

@swlovesvegans - Actually the tables haven't turned at all. That's the perception some people want us to believe. Poor whites have been getting shafted since this country started. Poor whites and poor blacks actually have more in common than they realize and the two fighting amongst each other has harmed both.

[swlovesvegans]

@lovingit1000 ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE the tables have NOT turned... their were poor whiteys and poor blackeys. there.. I've just been schooled in American History by lovingit.. badaabababa:)

[lovingit1000]

@swlovesvegans - There ARE poor whites and poor blacks, not were. This is not only history. We are talking about current events. The majority of poor people in America are white, not black. The majority of poor people live in rural areas, not urban areas.

[swlovesvegans]

@lovingit1000 its not to b taken seriously.. take a chill pill.. lol.. it is quite OBVIOUS there are poor people in America, and Africa, and Europe, South america and the ENTIRE WORLD.. but when i posted the comment, i didnt know it was supposed to be an essay about poverty in America...

DIDNT GET THAT MEMO

[lovingit1000]

@swlovesvegans - Just responded to your comment. That's what the respond button is for. However, I think too many people are stuck in stereotypes about who is poor in America. That's why it's important to correct misconceptions...even if you were "joking" many may not take it as "joking."

[0ver9kay]

@lovingit1000

ya =/

its shitty deals. it's because of now old parents spreading bullshit racist ideals into their children's heads.

I'd say give it 30-40 years when all of the baby boomers and war veterans are maggot food, and our generation starts having kids, racism will start to dicipate alot.

[paulspydar]

watch "death by fire" doc , its very compelling & very sad, but this kind of thing is going on & has been for years, its about control ,corruption & of course money, make a fairer more transparent justice system or you or someone you know really could be next strapped to a cot or in a wooden chair! it does not always happen to strangers not that that should make any difference, but it does as its "out of sight out of mind" attitudes that keep alowing this horror-show to carry on.

[1973mazdarx4coupe]

ive walked down death row, and seriously, who gives a shit about them. i say as soon as someone is a suspect they should be executed if they are low income or poor. lets save money !

[SpoofedTVadmin]

@1973mazdarx4coupe Low income or poor is only a job lost or a bad investment away. You are not immune to poor, even if you are rich.

[zephyrfalcon1966]

people sould take a real good look at how texas governer rick perry tried to and is still trying to cover up how texas executed an innocent man, todd willingham

[moviesforrandy]

there are no tellings how many people are rotting in jails in mississippi. or killed that are innosent.

[etbella3]

If the so-called justice system works, why is violence worse than ever? The Logical Song.

[JaYnEsAyZ]

great channel thnx for your uploads :)

[facciaditosta]

how did he get this medicine?

[mikeyjames]

this is nothing new...they do this to black men all the time. white lady get murdered by her husband, her husband says he saw a black man walking around his house late at night. poor Jermaine who's really a nice guy and the only black person in the neighborhood gets blamed for the crime...the prosecutor paints a bad picture of him, everybody says well he's black so its true. done deal. innocent man on death row and nobody cares.

[Brooke684]

"The Life of David Gale" is not only an awesome movie but a perfect example of why the death penalty should NOT exist. "Death Row" should be abolished.

[scumgod13]

West Memphis 3 comes to mind!

[scumgod13]

WEST MEMPHIS 3 are in Prison in Arkansas and Damien Echols is on Death Row because of circumstantial evidence, less than circumstantial.

[jimpurdie]

there must have been innocent men texecuted on g bushs orders.when governor,carlos de luna is 1 example look him uo.

[cheifbrownface]

Fucking crooked prosecuter

[chibi0025]

This is just so horrible. Justice system failed so many times.

Please stop these ignorant police officers and prosecutors from convicting innocent people.

And do not live in Texas where Bush is from. Texas is a nightmare...

[cedar7011]

I am so proud to call Canada my home!! This is yet another fine example of why the U.S. would be the last place in the world I would want to live. God bless these wrongly accused men, and PLEASE stop frying people!

[cheifbrownface]

@cedar7011 I don't know where you live in canada but in manitoba even if there is no doubt a man murdered another he will still get double credit time served aswell as statuatory release and/or parole 2/3 rds into his sentence 25 year sentence becomes 12 years over here

[scumgod13]

@cheifbrownface Good it should be less.

[Brooke684]

@cheifbrownface - I'm not sure I understand your comment, but wouldn't 12 years of a 25 year sentence be half and not two-thirds? I think 16 years would be more like it [more like two-thirds]? I don't know, maybe I just don't get what you're trying to say? ... Just curious ...

Regards,

B. ♀♥

[Brooke684]

@cedar7011 - I take it there's no death penalty in Canada? If so, that's something I did not know. Because systems are flawed, I don't believe in it. Have you ever seen the movie, "The Life of David Gale"? If not, you should watch it. It's a terrific movie.

[judy4justice]

To atlast23 How can anyone be satisfied with assumptions? How many innocent people will die before we wake up and change our judicial system? I am so sorry for Todd's family, and all the others who are wrongfully convicted.I pray for change!

[annaesse]

Todd Willingham was murdered by the State of Texas. Rick Perry will answer one day to a higher power.

[valpiserv1]

i believe it.

[atlast23]

Scott Peterson would be free if they had to prove something 100%. I am personally okay with the assumptions in this case. It was enough for me to be convinced.

[mmedefarge]

That's Texas. You hardly have to be literate or even prehensile to put into a position of authority; it saves tax money you know. And they just love fryin' people.

[animalliberation0961]

Funny that AlJazeera is comfortable pointing fingers at anyone else's legal system:D

Aren't they the 'voice' for places where one gets stoned for going against the koran?

[mmedefarge]

Wrong. They happen to have a reputation for honesty. They're censored in several Islamic countries, most notably Saudi Arabia & Iran. Check out Al Jazeera English version. ( I believe that they are headquartered in one of the UAB countries, which does not have such draconian laws as other Islamic countries..)

[animalliberation0961]

@mmedefarge

Thanks, I'll check them out...And I mostly agree with you about TX.

[29martian]

terrible. they killed him. those 12 jurors must feel like crap

[trollnameshame]

If you think this stuff is bad the short video I just watched Stand, Take Action, Know Your Rights - THIS MEANS YOU! will blow your mind.

[sunlover518]

its attorneys plural form

[sunlover518]

so true solodanceparty it can happen to anyone

[planes100]

this is scarey . real scarey, the justice system including the police are criminals . not all but they are there ready, and waiting . its all about there self gain .

[sweetnseksi]

@planes100 You're right! As soon as we understand that, we can then be more careful of trusting just anyone! unfair world, is it not?

The sad truth to our predicament and there is no balance! Just sad!

[alhass2002kno]

It's better to let a guilty man go free than convict an innocent man to a serious crime.

[26highstreet]

@alhass2002kno And it's better to execute a bunch of murderers then set one free to kill again

[Goddess167989]

Poor people who are wrongly convicted...basterd prosecutors...all they care about is their own reputation, the more people they can convict (guilty or not) the better for them. They always take advantage of people who are poor, young, and naive to the fine print of law. Jerks...

[SLDNDASIXTIES]

I have no respect for prosecuting attorneys. They are not out for the truth or justice. They want to carve another notch on their belts for winning. How attorneys, judges and cops go to bed and sleep at night is beyond me. My conscious wouldn't let me sleep. I agree with janderson55...all of them are corrupt.

[Goddess167989]

All prosecuting attornies are assholes, professional liars and crooks

[janderson65]

This is why the death penalty is wrong.

Remember, prosecutors and their "helpers" are just as corrupt as the defense attorneys.

[Goddess167989]

I think the defense attornies are not nearly as bad as the prosecutors. They are just looking to gain convictions for their own sake, whether a person is innocent or not. If they can twist a vunerable person's case, you better believe they will.

[janderson65]

People are people; whether they're prosecutors or defense attorneys. It's important to remember that there are many good lawyers, but the pressures of hitting their conviction percentages make the bad ones no better than used car salesmen.

Human fallibilities are in everyone, and because of that, we cannot sentence people to death.

The fact that he would've died if a "high-powered (expensive) defense attorney" hadn't gotten involved tells us how unfair, and wrong, playing executioner is.

[29martian]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I realize in cases where the death of children are concerned people are just driven for a conviction - regardless of what evidence they have. Hell they'd make it up just to have someone who is anyone pay for the crime - doesn't matter if the person is guilty or not.

[believin13]

I agree, That happens with any case. it sucks bein a man. we can get accused of anything and like u said be sent to prison.

[shoegalsho]

The light flickers behind the mother when she is retelling the tale! At the point where she says that he went outside for a breath of air, just after she says 'I know'.... 8.10

[mariposasoleil]

weird yeah right before when she said "He"...how observant!!!

[roli255]

wow you are good, I had to go back to 8:10 to see it flicker, maybe that;s the kids talking from up above. weird. you should be a detective you are very observant.

[Kovayaj]

y is the mother so happy? c'mon, your son was executed by the state.

[stacier333]

what else can she do? You can't cry forever! This really sucks for the babies (oh it makes me sick to my stomache).

[mariposasoleil]

I dont think she's happy that hes dead but yet happy at the memory of him...the fact that he will be vindicated in death...ya know!!! I grew up around a lot of chaos...so I can understand how looking happy is a cover over breaking down...especially in the south they hold their composure well. Ya know...Just my 2 cents take it or leave it...lol

[astranine]

Perry is an ass!

[paddy9465]

Why was there no report of what Stacey, the mother of the three children killed, thought of her husband's arrest and execution? That's a VERY odd ommission!

[xxtoscaxx]

I can't believe what I am hearing. Why in Gods name do they sentence people to death when they don't have absolute evidence and even so they should abolish it. The death penalty is a murder. My opinion

[xxtoscaxx]

Why do these things always happen in Texas?

[cfreyja23]

Because here, unlike other states, we actually enforce our penal code. If everyone is "innocent", who the hell is committing all these crimes?

[solodanceparty]

Not everyone is innocent, but you have to understand that not everyone is guilty. I'm sure you would change your tune if you or someone you love were in this position.

[Saundy83]

I feel soooo sad for the other man who was executed. He should have been freed too.

[outgoing37]

This show is better with Bill curtis.Bring him back..This is American Justice Im bill curtis right here on A&e

[lavinder11]

Is it still playing? The website still says Bill Kurtis still hosts it.

[outgoing37]

I hope he is.He is what makes the show.

[CrusaderOfFreeSpeech]

These descriptions of US's "law system", gives me the creeps! US still has no "Justice", instead they've a "Vendetta System".

Which comes funny, on dark humor, is that some states, and to make it worse, the worse Vendetta states, still demand witnesses and defendants to swear over the bible... wonder what for, if it's clear the Judge and the Law he represents is totally unaware of who Christ was.

Guess on the American Bible, Jesus carried a 6 shooter and had Magdalene hanged...

[b43tands]

You make a very great point. The government distinctivly keeps law vs religion separate. So then why do we swear upon a bible, in court??

[CrusaderOfFreeSpeech]

Indeed... but still, if they do, then the Justice's role model is supposed to be the Bible, isn't it? Solomon and Jesus, mainly. It then represents sharpness, wiseness, forgiveness and restore. Yet the whole system looks so vengeful. I recall on one case like this where the woman got raped and got the wrong guy convicted she said, when the guy got one of those 200+ years of jail, "I felt justice". Justice? Add sorrow to the grief is justice? The hate on her made her no better than the rapist.

[djnextone]

our government does. so does the UK. so does France. so do most EU countries. but the US government doesn't - the president of the united states ends every speech i've ever heard with "god bless america". you even have it printed on your currency. that is not keeping government or law separate from religion.

[Lustgoth]

Just my opinion on the guilty beyond all reasonable doubt thing . The whole guilty beyond all reasonable doubt thing is messed up. One persons definition of reasonable doubt could be VERY different to another persons definition of reasonable doubt

[billykerfoot]

Where's Bill Kurtis?

[infinityLTFS]

lol... i was thinkin the same thing

[godsfiddler]

This is why the death penalty should only be given when it can be proven 100% that the person is guilty.

[gazmondcantona7]

Dumb comment. No one is given the death penalty when they aren't convicted. No one can be proven 50% guilty! You're either guilty or not guilty. Then they are convicted or freed.

So this the reason why the death penalty should be abolished altogether in the States. People can be wrongly convicted. You can't rectify the mistake if an innocent person is put to death. It's medieval justice. ALL western countries have abolished the death penalty excpet the US. Time to catch up.

[TheShaneWilkins]

@godsfiddler It is impossible to be 100% certain. But, the jury should be certain beyond any reasonable doubt.

[RyDawg084]

people get burned badly getting the family dog out alive! This coward ran outside and left his three babies to die yelling Daddy! Daddy! the second guy was guilty.

[butterflyink22]

I completly agree. I would have gone right back into that house regardless of how much smoke was in my face. My children are in there. I would rather die trying to save my children than stand outside and let them die and not make any attempt to do anything.

fuckin redneck white trash loser.

[godsfiddler]

That's easy to say. Have you ever breathed in such smoke? I have. Would it be better for your spouse to lose all of you, or just the kids? Not saying that you shouldn't try, but no fire dept would ever encourage you going back inside a burning building unless you know what you are doing.

[butterflyink22]

So have i, and i am still bummed out about losing my cat and her kittens, and that was when i was just a kid. Now i am a grown woman with a 4 year old son and i know for a fact that i would risk my life, smoke or no smoke, to save my child. i would rather not live than live with the guilt of knowing I could have at least tried to save him. if he dies so do i.

[Lustgoth]

If the heat was so intense the chances are he would never have gotten out alive anyways, the people already in the house still would have died, there would of just been one extra dead person if hed gone back in. Its just logic

[Lustgoth]

No disrespect meant, but you should listen more closely. The guy DID TRY and go back but the heat was too intense...

[TRUDOWNSOUTH]

Yeah he is human and your natural reflexes won't let you get that close to fire. Somethings are just better left in Gods hands!

[solodanceparty]

Problem is, you can say that now.. But when you're thrown in this situation, you don't know how you would react.

[MissMelodia]

If Bush would been the Governor he would be dead.

[valarie1976]

good job!

keep it up!

keep posting!!

[bladecutter25]

At least Tod can see his kids again. He's probably happy now, up there.

[C0mm0nS3ns3]

R u high there is no heaven

[camelotnax]

People need to believe that...

I so dislike reading: "oh well, the murdered child is better off up there with the Lord."

WTF??

[sbnewman]

well... no one can prove that there IS a heaven, but you can't prove that there isn't, either...

[froobcity]

spend 23 years in prison getting raped mabee/ beat/ humiliated and you know How much texas thginks that time is worth in compensation? $250,000 only

WTF 250k for 23years of that? paying what an average mans salary? fucking bullshit 1mil per year min for that i would think. only in texas/ in canada you can sue and get millions

[bladecutter25]

Another reason Canada rules.

[froobcity]

i agree

CANADA PWNS

[AngryWhiteGurl]

That...and hockey (:

[tellurye]

Awesome! What is Canada's compensation? Canada is pretty cool. I hear they have cool health care too.

[mmoreau1]

Canada IS brilliant!

[sciencealwayswins]

Canada's justice system isn't without its flaws. The sentences for rape, child molestation and sexual assault are much too low, white collar criminals (such as scam artists, embezzlers, etc.) are rarely prosecuted and even murderers get off with relatively short prison times. We don't have the death penalty -- and thank god for that, execution is barbaric -- and our drug laws are much saner than the ones down in the states, but things definitely aren't perfect up here, or even 'brilliant'.

[niemanickurwa]

Yeah is kinda bullshit isn't it.

[howeuth]

man shit's fucked

[HorsemasterK]

Hey, its the American philosophy. If you can't afford it, you don't deserve it.

[dukemanjapan]

very sad. at the end: is there any doubt in your mind that the state of texas killed an innocent man? answer: definitely. er, wrong answer lady. they need to simplify questions to american hillbillies, like: do u think he was innocent?

[tofuwawa]

What a good and sad reality.

Justice is for rich and powerful?

[elphaba0the0dancer]

If you live in America it is...who can hire the best lawyer?

[C666O]

There justice in America?

[sgelles]

from what does our moral authority vis a vis the rest of the world derive?

[MustafaPresents]

The United States incarcerates at a higher rate than any other nation state. We have the mentality that if there is a crime committed, a long jail term is the proper punishment.

[DamNationDiplomat]

I used to live in texas, they realllly like killing people there. They even proposed a law under govenor bush that would allow the death penalty to be extended to people as young as 14; i'm not sure if it ever passed. Death to the death penalty!

[jwlvs]

This is HORRIBLE. Especially the guy who lost his three children in the fire, and then CHARGED with it! Ugh.

[wiskawind]

This guy was saved; I wonder how many have been put to death wrongly? If even one innocent person has been put to death, then the death penalty is WRONG!

[crazycatfguy]

I have never met a prosecutor with a conscience. It is a low paying job lawyers take as a stepping stone to politics or judgeship. They are more worried about their win/loss stats than any athlete and having put an innocent person to death is aok if it can be used in a tough on crime political ad eventually.

[zooch79]

Geez don't generalize or anything...

[crazycatfguy]

Observations based on first hand experience are anecdotal evidence not generalization.

[zooch79]

OK...

[aloha0099]

Actually that can depend...

[crazycatfguy]

on what?