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cover of episode The Luckiest of the Unlucky

The Luckiest of the Unlucky

2024/12/22
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A
Ayesha Roscoe
37年后被宣告无罪的本杰明·斯宾塞，揭示了美国司法系统中的严重错误定罪问题。
B
Barbara Bradley Hagerty
B
Ben Spencer
C
Cynthia Garza
D
Danny Edwards
J
Jimmy Cotton
J
John Curzo
R
Rick Magnus
法
法官
Topics
Ayesha Roscoe: 本期播客继续讲述Ben Spencer的案件，他被判终身监禁，并一直为自己的清白而斗争。本案反映了美国司法系统中存在的错误定罪问题。 Barbara Bradley Hagerty: 20世纪90年代，DNA检测技术为许多被错误定罪的人带来了希望，但Ben Spencer的案件中，警方没有从犯罪现场提取DNA证据，因此DNA检测无法帮助他。Ben Spencer入狱后失去了自由、未来和家庭，最糟糕的是他的妻子Deborah为此付出了巨大的代价。尽管离婚了，Deborah仍然是Ben Spencer最忠诚的朋友，他们保持着联系。Ben Spencer的生活中几乎没有其他积极的事情发生，直到2001年5月20日他收到Centurion Ministries的Jim McCluskey的来访。Jim McCluskey拜访Ben Spencer后确信他是无辜的，并决心帮助他。Jim McCluskey开始调查此案，试图找到新的证据说服法官重新审理此案。他找到了新的证据，证明了最初的调查和审判存在缺陷，包括一位法医视觉科学家证明，证人无法在当时的灯光条件下认出凶手；狱中线人Danny Edwards为了减刑而作伪证；警方忽略了一个更有可能的嫌疑人Michael Hubbard。Jim McCluskey将收集到的证据提交给达拉斯法官Rick Magnus。法官Rick Magnus花了大量时间研究此案，并举行了听证会。法官Rick Magnus认为Ben Spencer无罪，应该重新审判或被判无罪。 Rick Magnus: Ben Spencer是错误时间出现在错误地点的又一名非裔美国男性，被卷入了刑事司法系统。 Barbara Bradley Hagerty: 在德克萨斯州，法官需要德克萨斯州刑事上诉法院的批准才能释放一名被判有罪的囚犯。德克萨斯州刑事上诉法院驳回了法官的裁决，维持了Ben Spencer的终身监禁判决。在德克萨斯州，推翻定罪并宣布某人无罪的标准非常高，需要全新的、无可辩驳的证据。高等法院的驳回令所有为Ben Spencer争取自由的人感到沮丧。Ben Spencer入狱30年后，几乎失去了希望。作者在2017年介入此案，希望找到新的证据。作者与前警官Daryl Parker合作，寻找新的证据。作者和Daryl Parker的目标是找到新的证据，而不是仅仅依赖之前的证据。作者和Daryl Parker找到了新的证人，证实了Ben Spencer的不在场证明。作者和Daryl Parker找到了最初的证人之一Jimmy Cotton，他推翻了之前的证词。Jimmy Cotton承认在警方的压力下指认了Ben Spencer，Gladys Oliver为了获得赏金而对他施压。Jimmy Cotton签署了宣誓书，并通过了测谎仪测试，证明他当晚没有看到Ben Spencer。调查的第一课是坚持不懈地寻找线索；调查的第二课是时间既是真相的敌人，也是真相的朋友。时间推移改变了人们的联盟、记忆和良心，也为寻找真相提供了新的机会。作者找到了狱中线人Danny Edwards，他推翻了之前的证词。Danny Edwards因为诉讼时效已过，可以不受惩罚地讲述真相。 Danny Edwards: 他之前作伪证，说Ben Spencer向他坦白。 Barbara Bradley Hagerty: 作者的报道并没有立即导致Ben Spencer被释放。一位新的地区检察官John Curzo决定重新审理此案。Ben Spencer的法律团队提出了一种新的法律策略，证明他没有得到公平的审判。检察官Cynthia Garza发现了更多证据表明Ben Spencer是无辜的。任何人都能发现此案中的漏洞。检察官Cynthia Garza发现了新的证据，证明Gladys Oliver收受了贿赂并撒谎。 John Curzo: Gladys Oliver是一个骗子。 Barbara Bradley Hagerty: Ben Spencer在2021年3月12日获释。Ben Spencer获释的场景非常激动人心。Ben Spencer的获释是有条件的，最终的决定权在德克萨斯州刑事上诉法院。Ben Spencer在等待最终判决的同时，努力重新生活。Ben Spencer和Deborah在2022年1月复婚。Ben Spencer的婚礼有大约500人参加。在Ben Spencer婚礼的祭坛上站着五名男子，其中四人曾被错误定罪。这五名男子总共被错误定罪超过100年。德克萨斯州刑事上诉法院最终裁定Ben Spencer没有得到公平的审判。Ben Spencer在37年前被判刑的同一间法庭上，被宣布无罪。检察官Cynthia Garza为对Ben Spencer造成的巨大不公正道歉。法官向Ben Spencer表示祝贺。 Ben Spencer: Ben Spencer在获释后，提醒人们Jeffrey Young的家人也是受害者。 Barbara Bradley Hagerty: Ben Spencer在获释后依然关心受害者家属，展现了他的高尚品格。美国刑事司法系统在某些州有所改善，但在其他州仍然存在缺陷。德克萨斯州已经成为美国刑事司法改革的典范。让无辜者出狱仍然依赖运气。在美国，一个人的自由不应该取决于运气。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Ben Spencer ask his wife to divorce him?

Ben asked his wife to divorce him so she could move on with her life, as he felt their relationship was causing her unhappiness and emotional pain.

What new evidence did Jim McCluskey find that suggested Ben Spencer's innocence?

Jim McCluskey found that the eyewitnesses could not have physically identified anyone from the distance they were at, and discovered that the jailhouse informant had received a deal to reduce his sentence, contradicting his trial testimony.

Why did Judge Magnus believe Ben Spencer was innocent?

Judge Magnus believed Ben was innocent because he found the investigation and trial flawed, and concluded that Ben was likely caught in a case of tunnel vision by the police, who ignored a more likely suspect, Michael Hubbard.

Why did the Court of Criminal Appeals in Texas deny Ben Spencer's release despite Judge Magnus' findings?

The Court of Criminal Appeals required indisputable new evidence, such as DNA or video proof, to reverse a conviction, and since none of that existed in Ben's case, they denied his release.

What new evidence did Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Daryl Parker uncover during their investigation?

They found a new alibi witness, the younger brother of Ben's original alibi, who confirmed he was with Ben at the time of the crime. They also got key witnesses from the original trial to recant their testimony, including Jimmy Cotton, who admitted he felt pressured by the police and Gladys Oliver.

How did the criminal justice system in Texas change after Ben Spencer's case?

Texas has limited the use of jailhouse informants and now requires prosecutors to turn over all evidence to the defense, making it a model for other states aiming to prevent wrongful convictions.

What was the final outcome of Ben Spencer's case after decades of struggle?

In May 2023, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Ben had not received a fair trial, and the district attorney dismissed the charges based on innocence, officially exonerating him after 37 years.

What does Ben Spencer's case reveal about the criminal justice system in America?

Ben Spencer's case highlights the flaws in the justice system, where getting an innocent person out of prison often depends on luck, despite the availability of evidence suggesting innocence.

Chapters
This chapter sets the stage by introducing Ben Spencer's case, highlighting the context of the tough-on-crime era in the 1990s and the lack of DNA evidence that hindered his appeal. It also details the personal losses Ben suffered due to his wrongful conviction, including the toll it took on his wife and family.
  • Ben Spencer's wrongful conviction and life sentence.
  • The 1990s tough-on-crime era and the rise of DNA testing.
  • Lack of DNA evidence in Spencer's case.
  • Personal losses suffered by Spencer, including his family and future.

Shownotes Transcript

In part two of our story about Ben Spencer, a man sentenced to life in prison for a crime he said he didn't commit, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty begins her own investigation. She returns to the scene of the crime and reinterviews witnesses. Hagerty finds new evidence of Spencer's innocence. And yet, the courts refuse to release him. In this episode of The Sunday Story from Up First, a look at what finally happens to a man who pinned his hopes on the idea that the truth would eventually set him free.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)