Wrong Man exclusive clip episode 3: ‘Curtis Flowers: Trial and Error’
By Wade Wainio
Wrong Man Episode 3 will delve into the case of Curtis Flowers, who’s had 6 murder trials and verdicts overturned, often on racial grounds.
In this Wrong Man clip, Civil Rights Lawyer Ronald Kuby explains how Flowers became a suspect.
Airing on June 17th, 2018, this episode of Wrong Man promises to be different from those about Evaristo Salas.
Related Story: Wrong Man episode 2 recap: ‘Evaristo Salas: The Informant’
According to this episode’s plot summary:
"“On the morning of July 16, 1996, owner Bertha Tardy and three of her employees were murdered execution-style inside her furniture store in the quiet town of Winona, Mississippi. All four died of gunshot wounds to the head. Twenty-six-year-old Curtis Flowers became a suspect almost immediately when investigators learned that he’d been fired from the store days earlier. No murder weapon was ever found, but a gunshot residue test conducted on that day revealed one particle on Curtis’ right hand.”More from Show SnobThe Santa Clauses season 2, episode 6 recap “Wanga Banga Langa!”Lawmen: Bass Reeves season 1, episode 7 preview: Non-spoiler thoughts for Part VIIGoosebumps season 1, episode 6 recap: “Night of the Living Dummy”Beacon 23 season 1, episode 3 recap: “Why Can’t We Go on as Three?”Upload season 3, episode 2 recap: “Strawberry”"
In other words, this case actually has some physical evidence involved, enhancing the possibility that Flowers could be guilty. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s clear-cut — not by a long shot! There are allegations of racial discrimination in Jury selection. In one retrial, some black Jurors were screened out for objecting to the death penalty. That always complicates a case, even putting skin tone aside. It means death penalty opponents can’t be on death penalty Juries — at least not without lying about their views.
Also, according to CNN, one witness claimed she saw Flowers running from the store around the time of the shootings. However, the defense called her sister to the stand, who claims she was at her house at the time. If true, she couldn’t have witnessed the crime!
Did Flowers Do The Crime?
If there’s one thing to immediately learn from the Curtis Flowers case, it’s that racial prejudice is not only morally wrong, but can lead to factual wrongs as well. If prejudice has been involved in convicting Flowers, or anyone else, it will always be potential grounds for a retrial. So, even if a person thinks Flowers is guilty, racism is undermining their belief, too! As a matter of fact, the first 2 times the verdict was thrown out, it was because Prosecutor Doug Evans was accused of racial discrimination in Jury selection.
In a way, then, this trial isn’t only about Curtis Flowers. It’s almost like America’s history is being put on trial. Can a non-white person face a fair trial in a Mississippi courtroom? Unfortunately, the answer may basically be “No.” Even the appearance of bias will complicate a given trial!
The Case should be about the Specific Murders and the Evidence
Another danger lurks here: Turning this trial solely into a racial issue can overlook its specifics. A very simple question is, did this one man commit these murders? It can’t just be about our opinion of Flowers. Certainly, one can mention that Curtis Flowers sang in a gospel quartet at local churches, and say he couldn’t be cold-blooded enough to commit murder. It sounds good, character witnesses can only go so far. One’s seeming like a good guy doesn’t rule them out as a murder suspect.
To highlight this point, one can note that serial killer Ted Bundy once worked at a Suicide Hotline Crisis Center. Bundy was also assistant director of the Seattle Crime Prevention Advisory Commission, where he wrote a pamphlet for women on rape prevention!
Next: Wrong Man preview: Air date, time, trailer and what you need to know
Quite simply, physical evidence has to be what matters most. If there’s room for reasonable doubt, the case becomes weaker. Either way, it will be fascinating to watch!
What do you think? Will this be a great case for Wrong Man? Let us know in the comments!