The Jury’s Decision

On May 15, 1987, twelve jurors were charged with determining the guilt or innocence of Frederick Freeman in the first-degree murder of Scott A. Macklem. The State's theory relied upon the jury believing that Freeman, 23, was a violent, manipulative, self-proclaimed ninja warrior who was consumed by jealousy and rage. With an unrelenting need to control his former girlfriend by any means necessary, the prosecution maintained, Fred deliberately ambushed and executed his unsuspecting victim as he arrived on the campus. The State had presented 30 witnesses – several of them eyewitnesses who placed Freeman near the scene – to support their theory. However, the defense countered that this was pure fantasy, and that Freeman was actually 436 miles away in Escanaba at the time of the murder – and they were able to provide a series of equally credible eyewitnesses to prove it. After nearly three weeks of harrowing, emotional testimony on both sides, it was now up to the jury to reach a conclusion – would Freeman walk out of the courtroom as a truly free man, or would he spend the remainder of his life in prison?

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