[2] Stevenson featured this early case of his career in a TED talk and in his memoir Just Mercy (2014). dFLh&2WS H!C0.LI( P>PkC&vs @ 1z-!EK > He also proved that the two witnesses who said they saw Stevenson's truck could have not seen his truck at all because they described it as a low-rider truck and Stevenson didn't convert his truck into a low-rider vehicle until months after the murder, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. And Jamie Foxx is his usual terrific self as Walter McMillian, better known as Johnny D., who has been waiting to die for six years for a crime he didnt commit. Ralph Bernard Myers, age 33, Evergreen, AL Background Check Locations: Verbena AL, Bessemer ALPossible Relatives: Randy Ann Kaye-myers, Rebecca Lynn Littleton Show More . "I don't want to call it that. 6 0 obj McMillian said he was at home. Chapman told Baldwin County Circuit Court Judge Pam Baschab that three key witnesses lied about McMillian being present when an 18-year-old dry cleaners clerk, Ronda Morrison, was shot to death during a robbery on Nov. 1, 1986. 'Just Mercy': Freeing an innocent man shouldn't be this hard. 'q@S?JI &v8gO##v]XVv-7C@+CS
jE`bKCKJ[1VUA!CczoRPV!c(,RGvM3bF$vc1& e|wtQB]GNbX\>p=6@2EBa,Z'{Mw~F e|:bD"U>3zL&hmmcU&,RX@m5=PD`mW'A(/hNJX#C=$_(ZB>"}V [3][12] McMillian was arrested in June 1987. A frustrated McMillianslams the table and yells that in Alabama, Youre guilty from the moment youre born.. Prince 12.5 (www.princexml.com) @2022 - AlterNet Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weve always understood the importance of calling out corruption, regardless of political affiliation. As true-story dramas about innocent men on death row go, Just Mercy is just above average. 3zQ%)x/{g$nDkh1%'mXdqs?a%u!sF0J7;B(E\W&cP)8%8 ". Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. <>31]/P 23 0 R/Pg 42 0 R/S/Link>> [5], Six years after the original trial, in an unrelated case, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals found that the prosecutor, District Attorney Theodore Pearson, and Judge Key "had practiced 'intentional racial discrimination' in jury selection. Alabama Releases Man Held On Death Row for Six Years, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/03/us/alabama-releases-man-held-on-death-row-for-six-years.html. [5][14], The two witnesses who had testified that they had seen McMillian's truck retracted their testimony, and admitted that they lied at trial, committing perjury. His work ethic was relentless;at the time he had already appealed over 100 cases for inmates on death row. Weve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support. These included: The McMillian family:Walter McMillian had a family of believers. McMillian was mainly incarcerated because of an extramarital affair giving his wife every reason to split, but she didn't. Ralph Bernard Myers revealing the truth behind his testimony against McMillian to Bryan Stevenson. Judge Key, for two decades the local circuit court judge, moved the trial from Monroe County, which is 40 percent black, to Baldwin County, which is only 13 percent black. endobj "[Notes 3][4], On September 19, 1988, Judge Robert E. Lee Key, Jr., overruled the jury's recommendation of a life sentence and imposed the death penalty. Ronda Morrison, 18, was shot three times in the head and robbed while working at a dry cleaners in her hometown Nov. 1, 1986. He hadfound and used the tape recording of Myerstalking about being pressured as evidence. The trial judge overrode the jurys sentencing verdict for life and sentenced Mr. McMillian to death.. McMillian, who had "no prior felony convictions",[12] was arrested by newly elected Sheriff Tom Tate, who was under pressure to find a suspect. "[6][Notes 1][5] McMillian was represented by attorney J. L. Chestnut. what happened to ralph bernard myers. To quote a statistic cited in the film, for every nine prisoners executed in this country, one is found to have been wrongfully convicted. Judge Robert E. Lee Key, Jr., "had McMillian await trial on death row, as if a death sentence were a foregone conclusion, and relocated the trial from a county that was forty per cent black to an overwhelmingly white one," Baldwin County, where 86 percent of the residents were white, because the case had "generated extraordinary publicity. . or click here to become a subscriber. To many of his defenders, Mr. McMillian's conviction for the killing seemed like an updated version of the book, in which a black man was accused of raping a white woman. endobj But Judge Key overruled the jury and condemned Mr. McMillian to die in the electric chair. Stevenson said it was "too easy" to frame McMillian, and "too hard" to convince the court of his innocence. Mr. McMillian, who is married with three children from his current marriage and has nine children altogether, was dating a white woman named Karen Kelly. Even though you are only trying to talk to it or cuddle it . [3] A journalist described him as a "black pulpwood worker". The controversial case received national attention beginning in the fall of 1992. For a reason beyond me, Myers developed a conscious and realized the pain his lie caused the McMillian family. Following the trial, Myers pleaded guilty as a conspirator and received a . I don't give a damn what your people say either. "[3] Monroe County was described by The Guardian as "a remote, dirt-poor region of pine trees and bean farms". I'm going to put twelve people on a jury who are going to find your goddamn black ass guilty.". The key witness against McMillian at his 1988 trial was Ralph Bernard Myers, who later recanted his story that he saw McMillian at the murder scene. He was an actor, known for Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Highway Patrol (1955) and Shannon (1961). Two other men split $7,000 in reward money for identifying. Bryan Stevenson: Obviously Stevenson is the MVP. -----------------------------------------------------------------, Growing Peppers in Your Garden: Tips, Hardening Off and Soil Mix, Growing peppers is a great way to spice up your garden. Ralph Werner Bernard Marysville, WA (Getchell) Phone Number Address Background Report Addresses 72nd St NE, Marysville, WA 75th St SE, Everett, WA Relatives Librada C Bernard View details Phone Numbers (425) nay - peek (425) nay - peek + 1 more View Details AGE 50s Ralph T Bernard Jr Verona, NJ (Verona South Side) Aliases Ralph T Bernard Bernard His conviction was wrongfully obtained, based on police coercion and perjury.In the 1988 trial, under a controversial Alabama doctrine called "judicial override", the judge imposed the death penalty, although the . endobj Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther) plays Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard Law graduate who, against his familys wishes, moves to Alabama to open the Equal Justice Initiative, aimed at providing legal assistance to condemned prisoners. Brie Larson (Room, Captain Marvel) is Eva Ansley, the local woman who becomes his director of operations and guide to the mysteries of the South. From $500. For a reason beyond me, Myers developed a conscious and realized the pain his lie caused the McMillian family. What's more, Mr. Stevenson's investigation turned up Mr. Myers's first response to the inquiries by the police about Mr. McMillian, in which he said he had had no knowledge of Mr. McMillian's involvement in the crime. To commemorate this special occasion, KarenO, a registered nurse with 35 years of experience, has started The Nightingale Project. Prosecutor Joins Defense. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson. The court said the state had surpressed evidence that could have demonstrated his innocence or damaged the testimony of a key witness. uuid:fbc87efd-adc0-11b2-0a00-90579c34fc7f 30 0 obj TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. A sheriff told McMillian, according to "Circumstantial Evidence," "I don't give a damn what you say or what you do. F. McMillian has said he was home at the time of the murder, and his family has supported his alibi. He is past president of the Psychology of Religion division of the American Psychological. His family. ", According to David Rose in his 1999 article in. Jiffy peat pellets are a popular choice for starting tomatoes, but they can also be used for peppers. There, Mr. Myers said, he witnessed the murder. Clipping found in News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida on Sep 30, 2006. It was to "cover any outstanding fees that had not. ", The casting is especially strong. View the profiles of people named Bernard Ralph. A long time ago, Stevenson said, "You are better off being rich and guilty than being poor and innocent.". That and the bone-deep satisfaction of seeing justice at long last done. Following his own trial and sentencing, Ralph Bernard Myers told McMillian's trial counsel that the testimony he gave "against McMillian was false.". Why is his ears cropped? Myers is serving a 30-year sentence for the robbery. endobj Donald Trump is the Republican Party, Scott Adams and why American capitalism kneels before a bigger God, 'How confident your stupidity is': Lauren Boebert lampooned for posting crudely-cropped US map, 'Rule by local warlords?' Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Ralph Bernard Myers: Myers had a change of heart. Nine months later, he was arrested and convicted by an almost entirely white jury on the testimony of a career criminal named Ralph Bernard Myers, despite multiple witnesses establishing McMillian . After a week of interrogation by. In November 1988, 28-year-old attorney Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard Law School and Harvard School of Government graduate, who was the director of the newly formed Alabama Capital Representation Resource Center in Montgomery, took on the task of appealing the case. It doesn't necessarily mean we believe in the judicial system. endobj dave kleiman cause of death. The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Every reader contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference in allowing our newsroom to bring you the stories that matter, at a time when being informed is more important than ever. <> "[5] It emerged that Sheriff Tate and investigators with the Monroe County D.A. Mr. McMillian's case, which was given national attention last fall on the CBS News program "60 Minutes," played out in Monroeville, Ala., best known as the home of the Harper Lee, whose "To Kill a Mockingbird," told a painful story of race and justice in the small-town Jim Crow South. Bernard Ralph. Testimony at Trial. 16 0 obj ", See the article in its original context from. They have also lived in Halethorpe, MD and Baltimore, MD. All records are subject to change and, while every effort is made to ensure the information available is current and accurate, it may contain errors. Like many in that situation would do, McMillian lost all hope. endobj endstream [9][Notes 5], In 1992 the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in McMillian v. State 594 So. "[9] Myers confessed that "he knew nothing about the crime, that he was not present when the crime was committed, that he had been told what to say by certain law enforcement officers, and that he had testified falsely against McMillian because of pressure from the officers. McMillian, who was sent to death row after his conviction, said he was at home when the teen-ager was slain. Mr. Myers testified that Mr. McMillian asked him for a ride to the cleaning store. Myers is serving a 30-year sentence for the robbery. "It's clear he had nothing to do with this crime. Salary, income, and how that happened is the second Haisley funeral we have attended this year found! [9] McMillian was charged with a two-count indictment "for the offense of murder made capital because it was committed during a robbery in the first degree", and the jury recommended a life sentence. Ralph Bernard Geschftsfhrer bei mba Automation GmbH Calden MBA Automation GmbH Universitt Kassel Ralph Bernard Chairman at Central School of Ballet Swindon Broadcast Journalism Training. Walter McMillian walked out of a courtroom here today a free man after prosecutors conceded that he had spent six years on Alabama's Death Row because of perjured testimony and evidence withheld from his lawyers. We need your support in this difficult time. Anyone can read what you share. He told jurors that he saw McMillian standing over the girl's body. John Bernard Myers papers AAA.myerjohn Page 2 of 13 Biographical Note During his youth in Buffalo, New York, John Bernard Myers developed life-long interests in poetry, puppets, and painting. And through Larsons Ansley, we see a segment of the South quietly pushing uphill against centuries of punishing inequality, despite the civic smugness coursing through the hometown of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird. (Stevenson is repeatedly urged to go over to the Mockingbird Museum, where he can stand right where Atticus stood.). Three witnesses testified against Mr. McMillian and the jury ignored multiple alibi witnesses, who were black, who testified that he was at a church fish fry at the time of the crime, the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization based in Montgomery, Alabama which Stevenson founded, states. Criminal charges are only formal allegations. Brie Larson (Room, Captain Marvel) is Eva Ansley, the local woman who becomes his director of operations and guide to the mysteries of the South. endobj He was freed by a state judge who dismissed all charges with the backing of Monroe County District Attorney Tommy Chapman. The fact that no real evidence tying McMillian to the murder existed didn't matter, or that the key witness was a criminal trying to cut a deal, or that his truck, that was supposedly spotted at the murder seen was in the shop having the transmission worked on or that many of McMillan's family and friends, (even a police officer) were with him during the time of the murder didn't matter. "The only reason I'm here is because I had been messing around with a white lady and my son married a white lady," he said last week in a prison interview. The camaraderie between him and his death-row neighbors is especially moving: Herb Richardson (Rob Morgan), a traumatized Vietnam vet who cant forgive himself for the bombing death he caused, and Anthony Ray Hinton (OShea Jackson Jr. Ice Cubes son), younger, more upbeat, and as insistent as McMillian on his own innocence. Join Facebook to connect with Ralph Bernard and others you may know. Whether he was also put there for being a black man who violated the racial and sexual taboos of the small-town South is only one of the issues swirling around a case that has evoked not only distinctly Southern but also far broader questions of race and justice. Your guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more. As a result, McMillian wasfound guilty by an all-white jury and sentenced to death by a white judge. But he contended there was no deliberate effort to frame Mr. McMillian. He was at a fish fry, according to a Washington Post book review of "Circumstantial Evidence: Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town," which details the case. Pearson had failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to McMillian's attorneys, including records from the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility and Myers' June 3 and August 27 statements. There were no immediate suspects after Ronda Morrison was murdered on the morning of Nov. 1, 1986, in a dry cleaning store. Menu. McMillians lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, had filed a motion Monday seeking McMillians release. [6][7][8] Both McMillian and the attorney he had in 1987, J. L. Chestnut, "contended that Mr. McMillian's relationships alone had made him a suspect. [13][5] Two of the witnesses claimed to have seen McMillian's "low-rider" truck outside the dry cleaner's around the time that the crime occurred. Mr. McMillian's lawyer called a dozen witnesses, who all testified he was at home the day of the murder taking part in a fish fry. Information available through ArrestFacts.com is provided for informational purposes only. 9 0 obj View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. A place to discuss missing and murdered children. <> Gardening can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenge. Records published on this website are in no way an indication of guilt or evidence that a crime was committed. Marjorie Taylor Greene pilloried after endorsing secession for towns and counties, Marjorie Taylor Greene spokesperson throws profane tantrum when confronted by CNN fact-checker, 'This is downright authoritarian': Florida Republican lambasted over bill to obliterate all traces of Democrats, 'The maths are hard': Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked for not understanding what 'seized' means, 'I obviously don't have evidence': House Republican has a wild new conspiracy about COVID-19 origins, 'Isnt she amazing?' 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Obituary for Ralph Bernard Story (Aged 86) Works on Paper. Should Trump be allowed to hold office again? Ralph Bernard Myers, who was accused in the robbery, avoided the death penalty by testifying against McMillian in the 1988 trial. It was appealed to the United States Supreme Court,[19] which ruled against McMillian, holding that a county sheriff could not be sued for monetary damages. . In the film "Just Mercy," attorney Bryan Stevenson fights for one of his first-ever clients, Walter McMillian, who was wrongfully convicted of killing a young white woman named Ronda Morrison. In the case Walter McMillian v. State proceedings it was recorded that Myers identified Larry Ikner, and Thomas Tate, as the law enforcement officers. Finally, the lawyer found that Mr. McMillian's truck was not turned into the low rider identified by his accusers until well after the murder. "[10], On February 23, 1993, in his fifth appeal to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, the judges ruled 50 to reverse McMillian's conviction and grant him a new trial. 5 0 obj Career [ edit] ArrestFacts, Inc. is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"). endobj McMillian's case served as a catalyst for Alabama's compensation statute, which was passed in 2001. And Jamie Foxx is his usual terrific self as Walter McMillian, better known as Johnny D., who has been waiting to die for six years for. Circumstantial Evidence: Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town,. There are other folks in prison who don't have the money or the resources or the good fortune to have folks come in and help them.". The key prosecution witness at McMillian's 1988 trial was Ralph Bernard Myers, who later recanted his story that he saw McMillian at the murder scene. His office accepts new patients. Iconic Collections. Invest with us. [7][9] Myers pleaded guilty as a conspirator in the murder and received a 30-year prison term.[7]. Eight months later the police, arrested Ralph Myers, a 30-year-old with a long criminal record, in connection with another killing in nearby Escambia County. endobj Mr. McMillian was convicted after a one-and-a-half-day trial on the testimony of three witnesses. The collection measures 2.0 linear feet and documents Myers's work as a writer, editor, and gallery director, and includes correspondence, writings, printed material, and photographs. [9][5] She had been shot numerous times from behind. These images, rather than the fine speeches the script gives Stevenson toward the end, are what remain with you when the lights come up. Arrest and other court records do not imply guilt. xYn7}WJsfx,)E!
iK!3jIi%;hZ-y33/xe\z}_\_5]B1?]E6_ R}17Qv>65;x}juuGk That's so sad, thanks for posting that Barbara. He got 30 years and has a release date from prison of 2017. 2020-02-24T08:43:39-08:00 McMillian and another man, Ralph Myers, were arrested and charged with capital murder. The visits normally stop after the first year, and the letters after the second. endobj Using Natural Predators Ralph Bernard Myers: Myers had a change of heart. ), he nailed it. Prosecutors told the judge that three witnesses lied at McMillians trial. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 32 0 obj God bless, Bill Myers, Cousin . A man condemned to death more than four years ago walked out of his prison cell for the last time Tuesday: to freedom, not the electric chair. Pests such as voles, chipmunks, gophers, squirrels, mice, and birds can wreak havoc on your garden if left unchecked. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. If Jordans Stevenson remains a model of simmering righteous rectitude throughout, Foxxs Johnny D. is a more complicated sort: a man so long wronged by a racist world that he has dug himself into a hole and sees anyone lowering him a ladder as some kind of a joke. Chapman said prosecuting Myers and the other two witnesses who lied could be difficult because the three-year limit on bringing perjury charges has expired. [6] McMillian's conviction and death sentence were affirmed on appeal in 1991 in McMillian v. State, 594 So. Just Mercy is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who in his feature debut, , Michael B. Jordan and Brie Larson in "Just Mercy. The key prosecution witness at McMillian's 1988 trial was Ralph Bernard Myers, who later recanted his story that he saw McMillian at the murder scene. Stevenson was motivated to take McMillian's case because of the use of the judge override. "God knows I'm innocent," Walter D. McMillian said. display: none; 2020-02-24T08:43:39-08:00 55 0 obj <> He was indeed found guilty, after only a day and a half long trial, in 1987, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. 1 Although he held two jobs, had no history of violence, and had no record of serious crime, McMillian was accused of par There were a number of impossible factors that all had to work in his favor that ultimately granted his freedom. Memorial has been sponsored successfully. Six years is a long time. There was even taped evidence of him complaining about feeling forced to implicate McMillian, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.