The Innocent Man

IN THE BASEBALL DRAFT OF 1971, RON WILLIAMSON WAS THE FIRST PLAYER CHOSEN FROM OKLAHOMA. SIGNING WITH OAKLAND, HE SAID GOODBYE TO HIS SMALL HOME TOWN AND LEFT FOR CALIFORNIA TO PURSUE HIS DREAMS OF GLORY. SIX YEARS LATER HE WAS BACK, HIS DREAMS BROKEN BY A BAD ARM AND BAD HABITS - DRINKING, DRUGS AND WOMEN. HE BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS. UNABLE TO KEEP A JOB, HE MOVED IN WITH HIS MOTHER AND SLEPT 20 HOURS A DAY ON HER SOFA. IN 1982, A 21 YEAR-OLD COCKTAIL WAITRESS, DEBRA SUE CARTER, WAS RAPED AND MURDERED, AND FOR FIVE YEARS THE CRIME WENT UNSOLVED. FINALLY, DESPERATE FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME, POLICE CAME TO SUSPECT RON WILLIAMSON AND HIS FRIEND DENNIS FRITZ. THE TWO WERE FINALLY ARRESTED IN 1987 AND CHARGED WITH MURDER. WITH NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, THE PROSECUTION`S CASE WAS BUILT ON JUNK SCIENCE AND THE TESTIMONY OF JAILHOUSE SNITCHES AND CONVICTS. DENNIS FRITZ WAS FOUND GUILTY AND GIVEN A LIFE SENTENCE. RON WILLIAMSON WAS SENT TO DEATH ROW. BUT AS GRISHAM METHODICALLY LAYS OUT, THERE WAS NO CASE AGAINST HIM. RON WILLIAMSON WAS WRONGLY CONDEMNED TO DIE. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IN AMERICA YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, THIS BOOK WILL SHOCK YOU. IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE DEATH PENALTY, THIS BOOK WILL DISTURB YOU. IF YOU BELIEVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FAIR, THIS BOOK WILL INFURIATE YOU. अडा या ओक्लाहोमाच्या छोट्या गावातील रॉन विल्यमसन... बेसबॉलमध्ये उज्ज्वल भविष्य असताना दारू आणि अमली पदार्थांच्या आहारी गेलेला, विचित्र वागणारा, आईबरोबर राहणारा एक बेरोजगार, घटस्फोटित, मानसिक विकारांनी त्रस्त तरुण.. नाइट क्लबमध्ये काम करणाऱ्या डेबी कार्टर या कॉकटेल वेट्रेसवर अमानुष बलात्कार करून तिचा खून करण्यात येतो... खुनाच्या आदल्या रात्री ग्लेन गोअर या माणसाबरोबर तिला पाहिल्याचं बNयाच साक्षीदारांनी सांगूनही रॉन विल्यमसनवर या खुनाचा आळ येतो... त्याला खुनी ठरवणारा एकमेव साक्षीदार असतो ग्लेन गोअर... रॉनचा मित्र डेनिस प्रिÂट्झ यालाही त्यात अडकवलं जातं... डेनिसला जन्मठेपेची शिक्षा सुनावण्यात येते, तर रॉनला मृत्युदंडाची...ते दोघं आपलं निरपराधित्व सिद्ध करू शकतात का याचा थरारक वेध घेणारी सत्य घटनेवर आधारित कादंबरी द इनोसन्ट मॅन