Roberto Hernandez and Geoffrey Smith's chilling film examines the reality behind Mexico's judicial system. The country, currently embroiled in what amounts to a war with the drugs cartels, has a conviction rate of 90% for all defendants no matter what they plead since its legal system has no presumption of innocence.
One of them is Antonio Zuniga, sent to prison for 20 years for murder despite pleading innocent. The only witness didn't mention his name until his third statement with which, he admits, he was `helped' by the police; others place him elsewhere at the time of the shooting and there is no forensic evidence between him and the murder weapon.
Hernandez, a law student as well as a filmmaker, joins with fellow law student Layda Negrete to unpick the case and with Antonio granted a rare re-trial, follow the unfolding events which may or may not see Antonio freed.
More4 12th October 2010 120 minutes
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