Proving Innocence

This project started, as these tend to, while I was working on another story. I was on a train with Jenifer McKim, of the New England Center for Investigative Reporting, when I mentioned doing an Honors in the Discipline project for my last semester of school at Northeastern University in Boston, where I am graduating from the school of journalism. She told me about Eddie Knight, a man who was convicted of murder in 1998 and has since been on a pursuit to prove he is innocent. She had interviewed Knight in 2017 with a colleague, Chris Burrell, but they never published a story. They were both kind enough to share with me a recording of their interview and two photos they had of him.

 

There were a number of things that intrigued me about the case: Knight was convicted on testimony from his former girlfriend who is still alive, he has maintained his innocence since he was convicted, and he was scheduled to appear in court in January for hearings on a motion for a new trial. I went to the hearings and listened to his lawyer, Ira Gant, explain why Mr. Knight deserved a new trial. Since then, I have read hundreds of documents, made dozens of phone calls and knocked on a number of strangers’ doors in addition to the interviews I conducted to get at the story. I also correspond via letter with Mr. Knight.

 

The project wouldn’t have been possible without the help and guidance of Professor Carlene Hempel all semester long. I’d like thank her, and the many other people who let me ask them questions and pick their brains.