To recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening:
He’s been working late with her every night this week – I smell a rat!
Cambridge Dictionary
In British English
to detect something suspicious
In American English
to suspect a trick, plot, etc.
To believe something is wrong:
When I got an e-mail asking for my password, I should have smelled a rat.
AMERICAN DICTIONARY
Getting Life:
An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace | Biography and Memoir
On August 13, 1986, just one day after his thirty-second birthday, Michael Morton went to work at his usual time.
By the end of the day, his wife Christine had been savagely bludgeoned to death in the couple’s bed-and the Williamson County Sherriff’s office in Texas wasted no time in pinning her murder on Michael, despite an absolute lack of physical evidence.
Michael was swiftly sentenced to life in prison for a crime he had not committed. Drawing on twenty-five years of recollections, court transcripts, and more than one thousand pages of personal journals he wrote in prison, Michael recounts
the hidden police reports about an unidentified van parked near his house that were never pursued;
the treasure trove of evidence, including a bandana with the killer’s DNA on it, that was never introduced in court;
the call from a neighboring county reporting the attempted use of his wife’s credit card that was given to local police; and, ultimately, how Michael battled his way through the darkness to become a free man once again.
Michael Morton
An Innocent Man’s 25-year Journey from Prison to Peace
Micheal Morton’s Website

What are the main reasons for the wrongful conviction of Mr.Morton?
1 I Was Wrongfully Imprisoned for Killing My Wife | Michael Morton | Google Zeitgeist
16 sep. 2014
in British English
to detect something suspicious
in American English
to suspect a trick, plot, etc.
2 John Bradley’s handling of Morton case questioned
6 okt. 2011
IMPORTANT CONTENT
3 Michael Morton reacts to exoneration
4 Michael Morton: If you want to be forgiven you must forgive
5 An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story
6 SXSW (2013) – An Unreal Dream Trailer #1 – Documentary HD
27 feb. 2013
Movieclips Indie
SXSW (2013) – An Unreal Dream Trailer #1 – Documentary HD
Check out the SXSW Playlist: http://goo.gl/YQNbh
No case in modern America illuminates this condition more completely than the story of Michael Morton. in 1986 his young wife was brutally murdered in front of their only child, and he was accused and convicted of the crime, spending a quarter century in Texas prisons. His unreal dream was and is a powerful journey through despair and abandonment to a greater freedom than most of us know, but all can appreciate.
8 Michael Morton: The TT interview
7 feb. 2013
IMPORTANT CONTENT
9 DNA links jailed suspect to Morton – 6 pm News

25 years falsely imprisoned for murdering his wife…
A poverful story of pain, injustice, redemption,
and reconciliation.”
Cast:
Director:
Al Reinert: http://j.mp/WkEUhx
Producer:
Kent Schaffer
Marcy Garriott
Al Reinert: http://j.mp/140D6Yv
Chris Mattsson
Jesse Lyda
Jason Wehling
John Aldrich
John Dean
Jim Embree
Nellie Gonzalez
J. Stephen Martin
Beverly Reeves
Clark Lyda
John Dean
Nellie Gonzalez
John Aldrich
Nellie Gonzalez
Writer:
Al Reinert: http://j.mp/WkEUxM
John Dean
Nellie Gonzalez
John Dean
Nellie Gonzalez
Nellie Gonzalez
Editor:
Jason Wehling
John Aldrich
John Aldrich
Cinematographer:
Levie Isaacks: http://j.mp/140D4Qc
Composer:
Chuck Pinnell
Rich Brotherton.
10 Michael Morton and the justice system – 6 pm News
11 Innocent man: There were years I plotted revenge
12 Morton to be released from prison
13 Judge named to oversee Anderson inquiry
14 Anderson admits Morton was innocent
15 John Bradley testifies in Anderson case
16 Ken Anderson on Michael Morton Conviction
16 nov. 2011
17 State Bar of Texas Files Civil Suit Against Judge Ken Anderson
18 Judge Anderson resigns amid controversy
20 Ex Prosecutor Ken Anderson jailed 3 days for misconduct in sending innocent man to 25 yrs in prison
16 nov. 2013
21 Evidence of Innocence: The case of Michael Morton
22 Michael Morton: Life after prison
23 Freeing Michael Morton
26 mrt. 2012
IMORTANT VIDEO
Barry Scheck speaking
25 Michael Morton Interview – Part I
22 apr. 2014
26 Michael Morton Interview Part II
18 aug. 2018
27 Evening With Michael Morton and Barry Scheck
1 okt. 2014
IMPORTANT CONTENT: Please enjoy
Emotional
28 Juror who convicted Morton feels guilty
29 Michael Morton Freed in Texas
6 okt. 2011
30 Delayed Freedom: Exclusive interview with Michael Morton
31 jul. 2014
31 Michael Morton’s journey to forgiveness
30 sep. 2016
32 HCCLA Reasonable Doubt – John Raley (Michael Morton)
10 apr. 2015
One hour
33 Nina Morrison Discusses Michael Morton Case at UVA Criminal Law Symposium
12 mrt. 2014
VERY IMPORTANT VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL CONTENT, please enjoy
34 John Raley Discusses Michael Morton Exoneration Case at OU Law
7 jun. 2012
35 Michael Morton Interview
18 aug. 2018
36 Interview: Michael Morton sits down with KXAN
37 “Getting Life” Author Michael Morton Tells His Story
25 aug. 2014
38 Michael Morton speaks out about Greg Kelley
18 aug. 2018
39 Michael Morton hearing
40 Judge rules Anderson withheld evidence in Morton case
41 MIchael Morton one-on-one: Life after prison
42 Michael Morton on Brady v. Maryland
15 jul. 2015
The unthinkable story in 25 minutes: please enjoy
43 Michael Morton takes the stand in Norwood trial, day 5
44 Greg Kelley sex assault conviction called into question
45 Innocent man rebuilds life after serving 25 years in prison
5 jul. 2014
46 AN UNREAL DREAM: THE MICHAEL MORTON STORY – Official Trailer
2 dec. 2013
For more information visit: www.firstrunfeatures.com/unrealdreamdvd
In 1986 Michael Morton’s wife Christine is brutally murdered in front of their only child, and Michael is convicted of the crime. Locked away in Texas prisons for a quarter century, estranged from his son, he has years to ponder questions of justice and innocence, truth and fate. Though he is virtually invisible to society, the Innocence Project and Michael’s pro bono attorney spend years fighting for the right to test DNA evidence found at the murder scene. Their discoveries ultimately reveal that the price of a wrongful conviction goes well beyond one man’s loss of freedom.
Director Al Reinert is a two-time Academy Award nominee, as a documentary filmmaker (For All Mankind, which won the documentary Jury and Audience Awards when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1989) and as a screenwriter (Apollo 13).
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER, DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT- SXSW 2013
“A powerful story of pain, injustice, redemption, and reconciliation.” – Huffington Post
“Recounts an outrageous miscarriage of justice without a trace of manufactured melodrama or visual hyperbole. The film’s rivetingly straightforward style of storytelling is a perfect match for its subject. An inspiring tale of spiritual uplift, sympathetically detailing how religious faith gave Morton the strength to endure, and the mercy to forgive.” – Variety
“An unflinching look at how Morton was wrongfully convicted of murder and had his only son disown him.”- Associated Press
“Makes very real an innocent man’s nightmare through a cruel and broken justice system that stole his freedom, his relationship with his son and, nearly, his spirit.”- Houston Chronicle
“A gripping saga. What is most frightening is how much effort and time it took a squad of highly motivated, expert lawyers to claw Morton out of prison, even after the truth became widely apparent. If a respected, responsible citizen like Morton can be thrown in prison for decades based on such a feeble case, the film asks, who among the rest of us can consider ourselves safe?”- PopMatters
“An extraordinary film…ultimately a story of transcendence.”- Austin American Statesman
“Morton’s character fills this all-too-familiar story of injustice and absolution with a uniquely generous, moving spirit.”- Austin Chronicle
47 I Was Wrongfully Imprisoned for Killing My Wife | Michael Morton | Google Zeitgeist
16 sep. 2014
48 Michael Morton Freed in Texas
6 okt. 2011
49 Ken Anderson on Michael Morton Conviction
17 nov. 2011
50 Michael Morton Interview – Part I
22 apr. 2014
52 Innocent man: There were years I plotted revenge
4 dec. 2013
For more information visit: www.firstrunfeatures.com/unrealdreamdvd
In 1986 Michael Morton’s wife Christine is brutally murdered in front of their only child, and Michael is convicted of the crime. Locked away in Texas prisons for a quarter century, estranged from his son, he has years to ponder questions of justice and innocence, truth and fate. Though he is virtually invisible to society, the Innocence Project and Michael’s pro bono attorney spend years fighting for the right to test DNA evidence found at the murder scene. Their discoveries ultimately reveal that the price of a wrongful conviction goes well beyond one man’s loss of freedom.
Director Al Reinert is a two-time Academy Award nominee, as a documentary filmmaker (For All Mankind, which won the documentary Jury and Audience Awards when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1989) and as a screenwriter (Apollo 13).
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER, DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT- SXSW 2013
“A powerful story of pain, injustice, redemption, and reconciliation.” – Huffington Post
“Recounts an outrageous miscarriage of justice without a trace of manufactured melodrama or visual hyperbole. The film’s rivetingly straightforward style of storytelling is a perfect match for its subject. An inspiring tale of spiritual uplift, sympathetically detailing how religious faith gave Morton the strength to endure, and the mercy to forgive.” – Variety
“An unflinching look at how Morton was wrongfully convicted of murder and had his only son disown him.”- Associated Press
“Makes very real an innocent man’s nightmare through a cruel and broken justice system that stole his freedom, his relationship with his son and, nearly, his spirit.”- Houston Chronicle
“A gripping saga. What is most frightening is how much effort and time it took a squad of highly motivated, expert lawyers to claw Morton out of prison, even after the truth became widely apparent. If a respected, responsible citizen like Morton can be thrown in prison for decades based on such a feeble case, the film asks, who among the rest of us can consider ourselves safe?”- PopMatters
“An extraordinary film…ultimately a story of transcendence.”- Austin American Statesman
“Morton’s character fills this all-too-familiar story of injustice and absolution with a uniquely generous, moving spirit.”- Austin Chronicle
53 Michael Morton Case Analysis | Police and Prosecutor Misconduct
12 jul. 2021
Dr. Todd Grande



















Notice
Now looking at the argument for the defence, no physical evidence tied Michael to the crime, no murder weapon was found he had no criminal history, no history of violence, the motive suggested by the state was weak, Michael had no injuries he was in a struggle, why would he kill his wife and leave his son alone where was the missing firearm and who left the footprint and the fingerprints, the prosecutor had not turned over all the notes from the police, the defence did not know about a lot of the exculpatory evidence including the man and the van and the bloody bandana. On February 17 1987 Michael Morton was found guilty of murder, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Michael suffered in prison his son was taken to visit him until he was 13 when Eric no longer wanted to visit his father. Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in literature while his was in prison. he was offered parole in 2010 under the condition that he expressed remorse. Michael maintained his innocence. Over the course of several years after his conviction the case against Michael started to unravel, advances in DNA testing on the fluid found on Christine’s body showed that Michael and Christine had sex days and weeks before the murder. He did not masturbate on her body after the murder. The defence learned about the bandana and other evidence. DNA testing on the blood found on the bandana revealed Christine’s DNA and DNA of an unknown man. Michaels DNA was not found. The unknown DNA was eventually matched to a man named Mark Allan Norwood, an individual with an extensive criminal history including arson, breaking and entering resisting arrest and aggravated assault with intent to kill. Mugshots of Norwood revealed he had a large moustache. Norwoods DNA was found at the scene of another similar homicide that occurred in 1988, the victim was a woman named Deborah Masters Baker.
Michael Morton was released on October 3 2011. He was exonerated. he would receive just under 2 million dollars for wrongful imprisonment.
Over some time he was able to reconnect with his son Eric. The actual killer Norwood was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2013. In 2016 Norward was convicted of Deborah Masters Baker.
The man who prosecuted Michael Morton Ken Anderson was charged with contempt of court and evidence tampering. Under a plea bargain he was found guilty of the contempt of court. The other charge was dropped. He was sentenced to just 10 days in jail, 500 hours of community service and a 500 fine. He was given credit for one day spent in jail and after being arrested Ken Anderson would only spend five of the nine remaining in jail. This was due to good behaviour. I guess he managed not to falsely accuse anyone else when he was in jail.
Now moving o my analysis. This case illustrates how dependent the criminal justice system is on honesty from the police and prosecutors. and how easy people trust the police and prosecutors. Both Norwood and Anderson escaped any real consequences. Noutwell died of cancer. He was never charged. I doubt he would have been charged if he had survived. Anderson was convicted and served six days in jail total due their irrational and indefensible behaviour not only did Michael Morton go to prison. another victim was murdered by the actual perpetrator. It is possible the police could have stopped Norwood if they had ever suspected for a moment he existed. The false conviction of Michael Morton occurred not only because of corrupt law enforcement but due to a jury that was easily manipulated. The jury fell for the unlikely motive of being upset about not having sex when Michael Morton cried in the courtroom. They assumed he was crying tears of guilt when he testified on the stand. He tried to stay strong not to show too much emotion. this also worked against him. They assumed he was a callous monster. I find this interesting when he is crying he is guilty. When he is not crying he’s guilty. What behaviour would be consistent with not guilty. I guess when the jury was given instructions on what to do. They were never told about the not guilty possibility. The judges were like you can find the defended guilty or and then the jury cuts him off. All right that’s enough talking. We got it that’s all we need. It wasn’t only law enforcement and the jury. many people in the community were eager to believe the narrative of the police in part because it provided a them a sense of safety, it gave them certainty. they didn’t want to believe there was a killer on the loose. They wanted peace of mind. In reality the community was in danger from two Norwood and the police. Norwood because he killed people and the police because they were content to charge an innocent person. This case illustrates how easy it is to be falsely convicted. How almost anything a person does can be distorted into a malicious narrative. An imperfect relationship, complaining about a partner an unsatisfactory sex life, an note to that effect, a lack of emotion, ostensibly having the wrong emotion or the wrong reaction. The negative theme is easier to believe when there isn’t a lot of evidence of an alternate theory of the crime. In this case that evidence was available, but it wasn’t shared with the defence. The other incredible part of this case is the resilience of Michael Morton. A man who was 100 percent innocent and suffered for over 24 years in prison. He lost everything: his wife, contact with his son, his freedom, people hated him, they wouldn’t talk to him, he was isolated. People wanted him to confess to something he did not do. I think it’s a reminder that prison is a devastating punishment. Prisoners who maintain their innocence should always have their claims seriously considered. they in a position where it’s very hard to undo what’s been done to them. That if they’ve been falsely convicted, it’s really a difficult road to travel to get that reversed those are my thoughts on the case of Michael Morton.
Bemerk
Als we nu kijken naar de argumenten van de verdediging, er was geen fysiek bewijs dat Michael verbond aan de misdaad, er was geen moordwapen gevonden hij had geen crimineel verleden, geen geschiedenis van geweld, het motief dat door de staat werd gesuggereerd was zwak, Michael had geen verwondingen hij was in een worsteling, waarom zou hij zijn vrouw vermoorden en zijn zoon alleen laten waar was het vermiste vuurwapen en wie liet de voetafdruk en de vingerafdrukken achter, de aanklager had niet alle notities van de politie overhandigd, de verdediging was niet op de hoogte van veel ontlastend bewijs waaronder de man en het busje en de bebloede bandana. Op 17 februari 1987 werd Michael Morton schuldig bevonden aan moord, hij werd veroordeeld tot levenslange gevangenisstraf met de mogelijkheid van voorwaardelijke vrijlating. Michael leed in de gevangenis zijn zoon werd meegenomen om hem te bezoeken tot hij 13 was toen Eric zijn vader niet meer wilde bezoeken. Michael behaalde een bachelor in psychologie en een master in literatuur terwijl hij in de gevangenis zat. In 2010 werd hem voorwaardelijke vrijlating aangeboden op voorwaarde dat hij berouw toonde. Michael hield vol dat hij onschuldig was. In de loop van de jaren na zijn veroordeling begon de zaak tegen Michael te ontrafelen. DNA-onderzoek op de vloeistof die op het lichaam van Christine was gevonden wees uit dat Michael en Christine dagen en weken voor de moord seks hadden gehad. Hij masturbeerde niet op haar lichaam na de moord. De verdediging kwam meer te weten over de bandana en ander bewijsmateriaal. DNA-onderzoek op het bloed dat op de bandana werd gevonden, toonde het DNA van Christine aan en DNA van een onbekende man. Michaels DNA werd niet gevonden. Het onbekende DNA werd uiteindelijk gematched met een man genaamd Mark Allan Norwood, een individu met een uitgebreid crimineel verleden waaronder brandstichting, inbraak, verzet bij arrestatie en zware mishandeling met de bedoeling te doden. Mugshots van Norwood toonden aan dat hij een grote snor had. Norwoods DNA werd gevonden op de plaats van een andere soortgelijke moord die plaatsvond in 1988, het slachtoffer was een vrouw genaamd Deborah Masters Baker.
Michael Morton werd op 3 oktober 2011 vrijgelaten. Hij werd vrijgesproken. Hij zou iets minder dan 2 miljoen dollar krijgen voor onterechte opsluiting.
Na verloop van tijd was hij in staat om weer contact te maken met zijn zoon Eric. De werkelijke moordenaar Norwood werd in 2013 veroordeeld voor moord en tot levenslang. In 2016 werd Norward veroordeeld voor Deborah Masters Baker.
De man die Michael Morton vervolgde Ken Anderson werd aangeklaagd voor minachting van het hof en geknoei met bewijsmateriaal. Onder een plea bargain werd hij schuldig bevonden aan de minachting van het hof. De andere aanklacht werd ingetrokken. Hij werd veroordeeld tot slechts 10 dagen gevangenisstraf, 500 uur dienstverlening aan de gemeenschap en een boete van 500 euro. Hij kreeg krediet voor één dag die hij in de gevangenis had doorgebracht en na zijn arrestatie zou Ken Anderson slechts vijf van de negen resterende dagen in de gevangenis doorbrengen. Dit was te danken aan goed gedrag. Ik denk dat hij erin geslaagd is om niemand vals te beschuldigen toen hij in de gevangenis zat.
Nu over naar mijn analyse. Deze zaak illustreert hoe afhankelijk het strafrechtsysteem is van de eerlijkheid van politie en aanklagers.en hoe gemakkelijk mensen de politie en aanklagers vertrouwen. Zowel Norwood als Anderson ontsnapten aan echte gevolgen. Norwood stierf aan kanker. Hij werd nooit aangeklaagd. Ik betwijfel of hij zou zijn aangeklaagd als hij het had overleefd. Anderson werd veroordeeld en zat in totaal zes dagen in de gevangenis door hun irrationele en onverdedigbare gedrag ging niet alleen Michael Morton naar de gevangenis. een ander slachtoffer werd vermoord door de eigenlijke dader. Het is mogelijk dat de politie Norwood had kunnen aanhouden als ze ook maar een moment het bestaan van hem hadden vermoed. De valse veroordeling van Michael Morton was niet alleen te wijten aan corrupte rechtshandhaving, maar ook aan een jury die gemakkelijk te manipuleren was. De jury viel voor het onwaarschijnlijke motief van het niet hebben van seks toen Michael Morton huilde in de rechtszaal. Ze veronderstelden dat hij tranen van schuld huilde toen hij in de getuigenbank zat. Hij probeerde sterk te blijven en niet te veel emotie te tonen. Dit werkte ook tegen hem. Ze namen aan dat hij een gevoelloos monster was. Ik vind dit interessant. Als hij huilt, is hij schuldig. Als hij niet huilt, is hij schuldig. Welk gedrag zou overeenkomen met niet schuldig. Ik denk dat toen de jury instructies kreeg over wat te doen. Ze werden nooit verteld over de niet schuldig mogelijkheid. De rechters zeiden dat je de verdachte schuldig of onschuldig kon vinden en dat de jury hem afkraakte. Oké, dat is genoeg gepraat. We hebben het, dat is alles wat we nodig hebben. Het was niet alleen de rechtshandhaving en de jury. Veel mensen in de gemeenschap wilden graag het verhaal van de politie geloven, deels omdat het hen een gevoel van veiligheid gaf, het gaf hen zekerheid. Ze wilden niet geloven dat er een moordenaar rondliep. Ze wilden gemoedsrust. In werkelijkheid was de gemeenschap in gevaar door twee Norwood en de politie. Norwood omdat hij mensen vermoordde en de politie omdat ze tevreden waren met het aanklagen van een onschuldig persoon. Deze zaak illustreert hoe gemakkelijk het is om valselijk veroordeeld te worden. Hoe bijna alles wat iemand doet kan worden verdraaid tot een kwaadaardig verhaal. Een onvolmaakte relatie, klagen over een partner een onbevredigend seksleven, een briefje van die strekking, een gebrek aan emotie, ogenschijnlijk de verkeerde emotie hebben of de verkeerde reactie. Het negatieve thema is gemakkelijker te geloven wanneer er niet veel bewijs is voor een alternatieve theorie van het misdrijf. In dit geval was dat bewijs wel beschikbaar, maar werd het niet gedeeld met de verdediging. Het andere ongelooflijke aan deze zaak is de veerkracht van Michael Morton. Een man die 100 procent onschuldig was en meer dan 24 jaar in de gevangenis heeft moeten lijden. Hij verloor alles: zijn vrouw, het contact met zijn zoon, zijn vrijheid, mensen haatten hem, ze wilden niet met hem praten, hij was geïsoleerd. Mensen wilden dat hij iets zou bekennen wat hij niet gedaan had. Ik denk dat het een herinnering is dat gevangenisstraf een verwoestende straf is. Gevangenen die volhouden onschuldig te zijn, moeten hun eisen altijd serieus in overweging nemen. Ze bevinden zich in een positie waarin het erg moeilijk is om ongedaan te maken wat hen is aangedaan. Als ze ten onrechte veroordeeld zijn, is het een moeilijke weg om dat terug te draaien. Dat zijn mijn gedachten over de zaak van Michael Morton.
54 When prosecutors get it wrong in the courtroom
28 nov. 2013
55 DNA evidence frees innocent man who spent 25 years in jail
6 dec. 2013
56 Michael Morton and the justice system – 6 pm News
28 mrt. 2012
57 EXCLUSIVE: Greg Kelley reacts to his overturned child sex assault conviction | KVUE
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7 mrt. 2019
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