With Little Evidence, 4th Trial Opens in '61 Killing
Wilbert Rideau has spent the last 44 years on death row in Louisiana. Now, for the fourth time, he is on trial for killing a bank teller in 1961.
Mr. Rideau's lawyers will try to suggest that prosecutors have the wrong man - not in the usual sense, but in that Mr. Rideau, they say, has changed so completely that he bears little resemblance to the hapless teenage bank robber.As editor of The Angolite, a prison newspaper, Mr. Rideau has won the George Polk Award, one of journalism's highest honors. A documentary that he co-directed was nominated for an Academy Award. He has been a correspondent for National Public Radio and has appeared on ABC's "Nightline" to discuss criminal justice with Chief Justice Warren Burger of the Supreme Court.
Mr. Rideau's story reminds me of one of the main characters (Ashanti Witherspoon) in the documentary, The Farm.
Posted by katherine at 10:42 PM
Comments
Wilbert Rideau should have been released a long time ago. The great news is that he survived so that the greatness that God placed in him can continue to be expressed on this tide of the fence (prison).
His challenge will be adjusting, but he's going to do great.
It's great to see how times have changed.
I am currently working on a documentary on innocent men and women. I will keep you all posted on the progress.
Ashanti Witherspoon
Posted by: Ashanti Witherspoon at January 21, 2005 06:15 PM
Hello my name is Mieisha Tanner and I am a student at the University of Michigan. This film was showed to us in one of my Criminal Justice classes and it was astounding, Inever knew that prison life could be forseen this way. I appreciate that the warden let you come in and see the way it is for lifers. I am no advocate of the death penalty, but I do respect the law and can smpathize with those who make it. I loved the stories told , and will continue to have hope for the innocent brothers that deserve another chance. I was glad tohear that Mr. Witherspoon had gained his freedom and will hope that others will also obtain their's. Keep making these powerful films so that society can see that prison life is no place to be and that thos nect generation can escape this awful destiny.
Posted by: Mieisha at November 17, 2005 02:09 PM
