Soledad O'Brien

In court, Hantman brought out these, quote, built-up shoes. They're a vanity thing some short men use to bolster their height. He waved them in front of the jury, pointing to the heels. There are two inches of heel on these shoes, he declared. If Ray was 5'5", and he had some help from these shoes, that would get him to 5'7".

In court, Hantman brought out these, quote, built-up shoes. They're a vanity thing some short men use to bolster their height. He waved them in front of the jury, pointing to the heels. There are two inches of heel on these shoes, he declared. If Ray was 5'5", and he had some help from these shoes, that would get him to 5'7".

This is what gave Wiggins the idea he saw a man five feet, eight inches tall. This was his last chance. Hantman was exasperated. He asked the jury if this would really come down to a back and forth over a half inch or so. It was a good question. Only time would tell whether Dovey had sown enough doubt into his star witness's testimony.

This is what gave Wiggins the idea he saw a man five feet, eight inches tall. This was his last chance. Hantman was exasperated. He asked the jury if this would really come down to a back and forth over a half inch or so. It was a good question. Only time would tell whether Dovey had sown enough doubt into his star witness's testimony.

Dovey had her ways of decompressing after a stressful day in court. Each evening, she ventured outside to her back porch. She sipped on some lemonade in the hot, muggy D.C. air, and she took notes on the day's proceedings in her legal pad. Dovey still had to present her own evidence and witnesses to the court. That particular evening, she was wondering if she should put Ray on the bench.

Dovey had her ways of decompressing after a stressful day in court. Each evening, she ventured outside to her back porch. She sipped on some lemonade in the hot, muggy D.C. air, and she took notes on the day's proceedings in her legal pad. Dovey still had to present her own evidence and witnesses to the court. That particular evening, she was wondering if she should put Ray on the bench.

If she put him on the stand, it would become clear that he wasn't calculating enough to pull off a murder in broad daylight.

If she put him on the stand, it would become clear that he wasn't calculating enough to pull off a murder in broad daylight.

They thought the prosecution would decimate him. Dovey believed Ray had intellectual disabilities. She worried he couldn't go toe-to-toe with someone like Hantman. It was during these nights, sometime after midnight, that Dovey's phone would ring. When she answered it, she could hear someone on the other end, but they were silent. She just heard breathing.

They thought the prosecution would decimate him. Dovey believed Ray had intellectual disabilities. She worried he couldn't go toe-to-toe with someone like Hantman. It was during these nights, sometime after midnight, that Dovey's phone would ring. When she answered it, she could hear someone on the other end, but they were silent. She just heard breathing.

That's Patricia Bradford, a congregant from Dovey's church. These lingering calls happened multiple times throughout Ray's trial. Dovey had the sinking suspicion some people didn't want her to win this case. The next day, Dovey took the elevator up to the fourth floor of the courthouse. A Black woman was operating the elevator.

That's Patricia Bradford, a congregant from Dovey's church. These lingering calls happened multiple times throughout Ray's trial. Dovey had the sinking suspicion some people didn't want her to win this case. The next day, Dovey took the elevator up to the fourth floor of the courthouse. A Black woman was operating the elevator.

As the floors ticked up, she told Dovey something that would alter her entire defense strategy. The prosecution is delighted at the chance to cross-examine him. The Black elevator attendant overheard Hantman and his colleague talking about wanting the opportunity to question Ray.

As the floors ticked up, she told Dovey something that would alter her entire defense strategy. The prosecution is delighted at the chance to cross-examine him. The Black elevator attendant overheard Hantman and his colleague talking about wanting the opportunity to question Ray.

The attendant told Dovey people say things in front of certain people, Black people, that they wouldn't say in front of others. Call it arrogance or just a big mistake, but Hantman had clearly underestimated this elevator attendant. It was the kind of break Dovey needed. She entered the courtroom and started her defense as she would with any other case. Evidence.

The attendant told Dovey people say things in front of certain people, Black people, that they wouldn't say in front of others. Call it arrogance or just a big mistake, but Hantman had clearly underestimated this elevator attendant. It was the kind of break Dovey needed. She entered the courtroom and started her defense as she would with any other case. Evidence.

Her exhibit A was Ray Crump himself. She told the jury this was not the man Hantman's witnesses described. Just look at him. Here he was, all but 5'5", a small, slender man sitting before them. Then she brought on three character witnesses for Ray. A member of Ray's family, a member of his church, and a neighbor. They all said that Ray was known as a peaceful man in his community.

Her exhibit A was Ray Crump himself. She told the jury this was not the man Hantman's witnesses described. Just look at him. Here he was, all but 5'5", a small, slender man sitting before them. Then she brought on three character witnesses for Ray. A member of Ray's family, a member of his church, and a neighbor. They all said that Ray was known as a peaceful man in his community.

Hantman cross-examined each character witness. He tried to show the jury that they barely knew Ray, that they couldn't attest to his character. But the witnesses stood firm that they did know Ray and had grown up with him even. According to them, he was no killer. and she has to make a game-time decision. After hearing what went on inside the elevator, Dovey had to decide.

Hantman cross-examined each character witness. He tried to show the jury that they barely knew Ray, that they couldn't attest to his character. But the witnesses stood firm that they did know Ray and had grown up with him even. According to them, he was no killer. and she has to make a game-time decision. After hearing what went on inside the elevator, Dovey had to decide.