Clear & Convincing - Ep. 14 - Texas v. John King, Lawrence Brewer & Shawn Berry

On the morning of June 7, 1998, Jasper County officials responded to a rural road for what they believed was a hit and run fatality.  Once at the scene, they realized the death of James Byrd, Jr. was no accident.  A trail of evidence led back to a field, where in addition to signs of a struggle, police found a tool with the name “Berry.”  A lighter with the nickname “Possum” and “KKK” was also found at the scene.  A witness reported seeing Byrd get into a pick-up truck with three men.  His description of the truck led deputies to Shawn Allen Berry, who was picked up on a traffic violation later that night.  Berry eventually confessed, leading police to his roommates, John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer, both of whom had recently been released from a Texas prison.  Join Lisa O’Brien and Michael Carnahan on Monday, June 10, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. Central for a discussion of the murder of James Byrd, Jr., the witnesses and evidence that led to Berry, King and Brewer and the crime and trials that showed small-town Jasper, Texas in an unflattering light.  We’ll also talk about the direct appeals and post-conviction claims raised by Brewer and King and their efforts to avoid execution.  We’re a live show and calls are always welcome at (347) 989-1171.