Ep 9. The Prosecution: The Million Dollar Man
- April 15, 2020
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7.5 (85)
The Innocence Files season 1 episode 9 is titled "The Prosecution: The Million Dollar Man." In this episode, viewers are taken on a journey through the criminal justice system and its flaws.
The episode focuses on the case of Levon Brooks, a man who was wrongly convicted of murdering a young girl in 1992. Brooks was sentenced to life in prison based on flawed forensic evidence and the testimony of an unreliable witness. However, after years of legal battles and the work of dedicated lawyers and investigators, Brooks was finally exonerated in 2008.
The episode explores the role that the prosecution played in this injustice, and specifically looks at one prosecutor, Forrest Allgood, known as "the million dollar man." Allgood has a reputation for winning high-profile cases and securing hefty verdicts for the state, but this episode questions the ethics of his tactics and the fairness of his convictions.
Viewers are taken through the evidence presented in Brooks' trial and shown how it was used to secure his conviction. The episode also delves into the history of Mississippi's criminal justice system and the racism that has pervaded it for decades. As Brooks' case is reviewed and ultimately overturned, viewers are shown the true cost of wrongful convictions and the immeasurable toll they take on the lives of the accused and their loved ones.
Overall, "The Prosecution: The Million Dollar Man" is a powerful episode that highlights the importance of a fair and just criminal justice system. Viewers are left questioning the motives of those who hold power in the system and the responsibility they have to protect the innocent.