The Al Jazeera documentary featuring Willie Jerome Manning is now due to be broadcast in the spring. Willie’s story will be told during one episode of a series called “The System”; the episode will focus on the FBI review of forensic hair testimony. This review has found that in 27 death penalty convictions, including Willie’s, FBI experts may have mistakenly linked defendants to crimes with exaggerated scientific testimony (see Washington Post).

An earlier post on this website gives information about Al Jazeera’s previous reporting on Willie’s case.

Positive developments, such as the making of the Al Jazeera documentary, are helping Willie to recover his strength. In a letter written this month he said,

“My mind took a lot longer than I thought to settle in from all of that mess in May, but I’m slowly getting back to where I ought to be.”

We hope it is not long before he is fully recovered.