Ep 8. The Prosecution: Hidden Alibi

The Innocence Files season 1 episode 8, titled The Prosecution: Hidden Alibi, follows the story of Chester Hollman III, a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder in Philadelphia. After being sentenced to life in prison without parole, a team of lawyers from the Innocence Project take on his case and uncover evidence that points to Hollman's innocence.

The episode begins with a detailed look at the events that led up to Hollman's arrest and conviction. In October 1991, a young man named Tae Jung Ho was shot and killed in a robbery gone wrong in downtown Philadelphia. Police quickly identified Hollman as a suspect based on eyewitness testimony and his previous criminal record.

Despite a lack of physical evidence linking him to the crime, Hollman was ultimately convicted based on the testimony of two eyewitnesses who claimed they saw him at the scene of the crime. However, as the Innocence Project team begins to dig into the case, they quickly realize there may be much more to the story.

The episode chronicles the team's investigation as they track down witness statements and interview individuals who were involved in the case. As they begin to unravel the case against Hollman, they uncover a shocking piece of evidence that was hidden from the defense during the trial – a witness who saw Hollman in a completely different location at the time of the murder.

The witness, a cab driver named Fred Druding, had given a statement to police on the night of the murder indicating that he had picked up Hollman and several other people in a completely different part of the city at the time of the crime. However, this information was never disclosed to the defense during the trial, and Druding was never called to testify.

The Innocence Project team works tirelessly to track down Druding and convince him to come forward with his testimony. Eventually, they are successful, and Druding provides a taped statement that completely contradicts the prosecution's case against Hollman.

As the team prepares to present this new evidence to a judge, they begin to encounter resistance from the prosecution. The district attorney's office argues that the new evidence is unreliable and that Hollman's conviction should stand. However, the Innocence Project team is undeterred and pushes forward with their case.

The episode culminates in a dramatic courtroom scene as the team presents their evidence to a judge. The prosecution argues that the evidence is not enough to overturn Hollman's conviction, but the defense argues that it is clearly enough to cast doubt on the prosecution's case.

Ultimately, the judge decides to grant Hollman a new trial, citing the new evidence brought forward by the Innocence Project team as significant enough to warrant a reevaluation of the case. The episode ends with Hollman being released from prison on bail as he prepares for his new trial.

Overall, The Prosecution: Hidden Alibi is a powerful and compelling episode that highlights the importance of rigorous investigation and the fight for justice in the face of overwhelming odds. The episode is a testament to the work of the Innocence Project and their ongoing efforts to exonerate those who have been wrongly convicted.