Ep 7. The Prosecution: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
- April 15, 2020
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7.8 (112)
The Innocence Files season 1 episode 7, titled "The Prosecution: Wrong Place, Wrong Time," delves into the case of a man named Levon Brooks, who was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a young girl. The episode explores the questionable tactics used by the prosecutors in the case and sheds light on the devastating impact that wrongful convictions can have on both the victims' families and the individuals who are wrongly accused.
Levon Brooks was a small-town Mississippi man who was convicted of the murder of Courtney Smith, a three-year-old girl who lived in his neighborhood. Despite a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the crime, Brooks was eventually arrested and charged with the murder, largely based on the testimony of a local dentist who claimed to have found bite marks on the victim's body that matched Brooks' teeth.
As the episode unfolds, viewers are introduced to the team of attorneys who worked tirelessly to secure Brooks' release from prison. These attorneys began by questioning the validity of the bite mark evidence, pointing out the lack of scientific rigor involved in identifying matching bite marks. They then went on to uncover a long history of coerced confessions and dubious testimony within the Mississippi legal system, painting a picture of a justice system that was willing to do whatever it took to secure a conviction.
Throughout the episode, viewers are also introduced to several key players in the case, including members of the victim's family, law enforcement officials, and the prosecutors who pursued Brooks' conviction. While some of these individuals come across as sympathetic figures, others are shown to be highly biased and eager to see Brooks punished, regardless of whether he was actually guilty of the crime.
Ultimately, "The Prosecution: Wrong Place, Wrong Time" serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of a justice system that is more concerned with securing convictions than with uncovering the truth. Through the story of Levon Brooks, viewers are reminded of the many innocent individuals who have been wrongly convicted and the devastating impact these convictions can have on their lives. For anyone interested in issues of social justice and criminal reform, this episode is an important and thought-provoking watch.