Soledad O'Brien

He shot her a second time, this time in her right shoulder. The bullet ripped through the main blood vessel leading into her heart. The details were hard to hear then. They're hard to hear now, decades later. Once Hantman had the courtroom horrified, he tore into Ray.

He shot her a second time, this time in her right shoulder. The bullet ripped through the main blood vessel leading into her heart. The details were hard to hear then. They're hard to hear now, decades later. Once Hantman had the courtroom horrified, he tore into Ray.

According to Hantman, Crump was a killer with no motive, a black man who enjoyed the thrill of violence, who killed for the sake of killing. The jury looked terrified. Hantman's details were graphic. That was the point. It seemed like his strategy was to scare jurors into a guilty verdict. But he didn't just want jurors to think Ray was a mindless killer, a man without a moral compass.

According to Hantman, Crump was a killer with no motive, a black man who enjoyed the thrill of violence, who killed for the sake of killing. The jury looked terrified. Hantman's details were graphic. That was the point. It seemed like his strategy was to scare jurors into a guilty verdict. But he didn't just want jurors to think Ray was a mindless killer, a man without a moral compass.

He also wanted them to know he was a liar. Hantman brought up the fishing rod.

He also wanted them to know he was a liar. Hantman brought up the fishing rod.

We know Ray hadn't told the truth. As you might remember, he told Dovey he was with a lover that day. But the woman, Vivian, didn't want to testify because she didn't want her husband to find out. But during Hantman's opening statement, the jury thought Ray was lying because he had killed Mary. It was a devastating moment in court. Hantman finished his opening statement.

We know Ray hadn't told the truth. As you might remember, he told Dovey he was with a lover that day. But the woman, Vivian, didn't want to testify because she didn't want her husband to find out. But during Hantman's opening statement, the jury thought Ray was lying because he had killed Mary. It was a devastating moment in court. Hantman finished his opening statement.

The fairest verdict was the guilty one. The U.S. attorney sat down. It was an unforgettable opening. Usually at this point, a defense lawyer tells their version of events so jurors will believe that the accused is actually innocent. Not, as Hantman argued, a killer who enjoyed the thrill of violence. Dovey rose. Then she did something out of the ordinary.

The fairest verdict was the guilty one. The U.S. attorney sat down. It was an unforgettable opening. Usually at this point, a defense lawyer tells their version of events so jurors will believe that the accused is actually innocent. Not, as Hantman argued, a killer who enjoyed the thrill of violence. Dovey rose. Then she did something out of the ordinary.

Even though everyone was expecting she would, she didn't make an opening statement. It was a bold move. But Dovey had her reasons. She didn't want to give away the main points of her case. If she did, then Hantman might not call one important witness, a gentleman who mapped out the area where Mary died. So Dovey bided her time and let the witness testimonies begin.

Even though everyone was expecting she would, she didn't make an opening statement. It was a bold move. But Dovey had her reasons. She didn't want to give away the main points of her case. If she did, then Hantman might not call one important witness, a gentleman who mapped out the area where Mary died. So Dovey bided her time and let the witness testimonies begin.

Hempman called upon Ray's neighbor, Elsie Perkins, to testify about the fishing gear. Elsie and Ray's apartment sat side by side on Stanton Terrace. She testified she saw Ray leaving his apartment at 8 that morning. He was wearing the same cap and jacket that the police found near Mary's body later that day. And mind you, he had no fishing gear with him.

Hempman called upon Ray's neighbor, Elsie Perkins, to testify about the fishing gear. Elsie and Ray's apartment sat side by side on Stanton Terrace. She testified she saw Ray leaving his apartment at 8 that morning. He was wearing the same cap and jacket that the police found near Mary's body later that day. And mind you, he had no fishing gear with him.

She also said she knew Ray owned only one fishing rod. She saw it in a closet in his family's apartment later that day. Dovey cross-examined Elsie. The Evening Star documented the exchange. Why was Elsie so certain of what Crump wore on the day of the murder? Elsie responded, Mr. Crump's wife and I are in the habit of checking to see who's coming or going. Isn't that being nosy? Dovey asked.

She also said she knew Ray owned only one fishing rod. She saw it in a closet in his family's apartment later that day. Dovey cross-examined Elsie. The Evening Star documented the exchange. Why was Elsie so certain of what Crump wore on the day of the murder? Elsie responded, Mr. Crump's wife and I are in the habit of checking to see who's coming or going. Isn't that being nosy? Dovey asked.

You could call it that, the housewife answered. Dovey wasn't getting anywhere. The media didn't think so either. The Washington Star's headline the next day read, Meyer Witness Links Cap to Crump. That didn't sound good. Dovey knew she had to be strategic. Pantman may be aggressive, but maybe she could outmaneuver him in other ways.

You could call it that, the housewife answered. Dovey wasn't getting anywhere. The media didn't think so either. The Washington Star's headline the next day read, Meyer Witness Links Cap to Crump. That didn't sound good. Dovey knew she had to be strategic. Pantman may be aggressive, but maybe she could outmaneuver him in other ways.

She tried to win over the jury by showing that Ray was a man worth tending to, not a monster, but a slight, short man who was somebody's son. Hantman brought another witness to the stand. It was one of Ray's friends, Robert Woolbright. Robert was the guy who was supposed to take him to the construction job that day. He stopped by Ray's. But that morning, Ray was nowhere to be found.

She tried to win over the jury by showing that Ray was a man worth tending to, not a monster, but a slight, short man who was somebody's son. Hantman brought another witness to the stand. It was one of Ray's friends, Robert Woolbright. Robert was the guy who was supposed to take him to the construction job that day. He stopped by Ray's. But that morning, Ray was nowhere to be found.