This podcast episode tells the gripping story of Ben Spencer, a Black man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1987 murder of a white man in Dallas. His conviction was largely based on questionable eyewitness testimony motivated by a hefty reward, along with a jailhouse informant seeking sentence leniency. Although false evidence led to a vacated conviction because of prosecutorial misconduct, Spencer faced another trial and was re-convicted, spending many years behind bars. Eventually, his case was taken up by a nonprofit organization committed to fighting wrongful convictions. This narrative sheds light on serious systemic flaws in the justice system, such as racial bias, unreliable evidence, and the "trial penalty" that pressures innocent individuals into accepting plea deals.
