Barbara Bradley Hagerty

I know. I know. She had been his most loyal friend, supporter all this time. So I went to the wedding, Aisha. It was in the middle of COVID. But about 500 people came to the ceremony. Everyone masked, right? And it was held in Deborah's church, her Baptist church. And one scene is really etched in my mind. So I was standing at the back of the sanctuary and I was looking at the altar.

And Ben was in the tux and Deb was in a traditional white gown. And standing at the altar were five men, including Ben, who had spent years in prison. Ben knew them from prison. Of those five men, four of them had been wrongly convicted.

And Ben was in the tux and Deb was in a traditional white gown. And standing at the altar were five men, including Ben, who had spent years in prison. Ben knew them from prison. Of those five men, four of them had been wrongly convicted.

And Ben was in the tux and Deb was in a traditional white gown. And standing at the altar were five men, including Ben, who had spent years in prison. Ben knew them from prison. Of those five men, four of them had been wrongly convicted.

More than 100 years. In total, more than 100 years had been stolen from them and 30 from Ben. So finally, in May of this year, the Court of Criminal Appeals issued its ruling. And for the first time, it ruled in Ben Spencer's favor. It agreed that he had not received a fair trial. But it didn't exonerate him. It didn't clear him of the crime.

More than 100 years. In total, more than 100 years had been stolen from them and 30 from Ben. So finally, in May of this year, the Court of Criminal Appeals issued its ruling. And for the first time, it ruled in Ben Spencer's favor. It agreed that he had not received a fair trial. But it didn't exonerate him. It didn't clear him of the crime.

More than 100 years. In total, more than 100 years had been stolen from them and 30 from Ben. So finally, in May of this year, the Court of Criminal Appeals issued its ruling. And for the first time, it ruled in Ben Spencer's favor. It agreed that he had not received a fair trial. But it didn't exonerate him. It didn't clear him of the crime.

That decision was left to the district attorney, John Crizzo. And Crizzo set a hearing to announce his decision on August 29th of this year. And I was there, along with Jim McCluskey. And crowded into the courtroom to learn what Ben's fate was going to be. This was actually the same courtroom where Ben had been sentenced to life in prison 37 years earlier. Ben was at the front of the room.

That decision was left to the district attorney, John Crizzo. And Crizzo set a hearing to announce his decision on August 29th of this year. And I was there, along with Jim McCluskey. And crowded into the courtroom to learn what Ben's fate was going to be. This was actually the same courtroom where Ben had been sentenced to life in prison 37 years earlier. Ben was at the front of the room.

That decision was left to the district attorney, John Crizzo. And Crizzo set a hearing to announce his decision on August 29th of this year. And I was there, along with Jim McCluskey. And crowded into the courtroom to learn what Ben's fate was going to be. This was actually the same courtroom where Ben had been sentenced to life in prison 37 years earlier. Ben was at the front of the room.

He's 6'4". graying hair in his charcoal pinstripe suit and light gray tie. And Cynthia Garza stood up first. She's a prosecutor who had gone through all the case files and found the newest evidence. And she said that the state was dismissing the charges based on innocence.

He's 6'4". graying hair in his charcoal pinstripe suit and light gray tie. And Cynthia Garza stood up first. She's a prosecutor who had gone through all the case files and found the newest evidence. And she said that the state was dismissing the charges based on innocence.

He's 6'4". graying hair in his charcoal pinstripe suit and light gray tie. And Cynthia Garza stood up first. She's a prosecutor who had gone through all the case files and found the newest evidence. And she said that the state was dismissing the charges based on innocence.

And then her voice cracked when she said this, quote, I want to apologize to you for this grave injustice that was had upon you.

And then her voice cracked when she said this, quote, I want to apologize to you for this grave injustice that was had upon you.

And then her voice cracked when she said this, quote, I want to apologize to you for this grave injustice that was had upon you.

And she walked over to Ben and they hugged and they were both crying. And then the judge did something really unusual. She came down from the bench and she stood in front of Ben. And she said, Mr. Spencer, I want to be the first one to shake the hand of this individual that is now found innocent. Congratulations.

And she walked over to Ben and they hugged and they were both crying. And then the judge did something really unusual. She came down from the bench and she stood in front of Ben. And she said, Mr. Spencer, I want to be the first one to shake the hand of this individual that is now found innocent. Congratulations.

And she walked over to Ben and they hugged and they were both crying. And then the judge did something really unusual. She came down from the bench and she stood in front of Ben. And she said, Mr. Spencer, I want to be the first one to shake the hand of this individual that is now found innocent. Congratulations.

Yeah, well, so here's how he used his time. He stood up and he reminded everyone that he and his family were not the only victims of the justice system.