Show Notes
“I am guilty of the crime, but not as I was charged. I will tell you what honestly happened.”
In 1981, Phillip Tompkins robbed and kidnapped a woman who he claimed was accidentally killed during the abduction. He was a black perpetrator who pleaded innocent when convicted by an all-white jury.
True Crime documentary makers, Zoe Hines and Ned Parker discuss issues of culpability during accidental homicide and themes of prejudice in the American legal system as detailed in these Letters From A Killer.
More from Letters From A Killer
“I have asked Jesus Christ to forgive me these cowardly acts that I did back then and to give me a clean slate, and he has.”
"He stopped for me to buy some ice cream. I told him I wanted to borrow his truck (and him) for a bit of a ride. I guess he thought I was playing. He soon changed his tune when I pulled out the revolver.”
“I’m a lot more mature, and really glad I came to Death Row. I truly believe that Death Row saved my life, as crazy as that sounds.”
When I got into trouble, I got beat. I’d have to stand naked and put my hands on the wall and count each hit. If I missed a count, he’d start over.”
“After 18 years of solitary confinement with death breathing down my neck, some things don’t matter as much as they used to. I’ll still be strapped to that gurney and have my body pumped full of poison.”