Bloodsworth: An Innocent Man

In 1984, a 9-year-old girl in Baltimore County was brutally assaulted and murdered. Kirk Bloodsworth was arrested after his similarity to a police sketch aroused suspicion, and he was quickly convicted and sentenced to death. Directed by Gregory Bayne, this documentary follows Bloodsworth's desperate quest for justice in the face of legal bureaucracy, indifference, and outright incompetence on the part of the defense. In prison, no inmate ranks lower than a child molester or murderer, and Bloodsworth was subjected to constant threats and taunts. After almost nine years in prison, Bloodsworth read Joseph Wambaugh's 1989 nonfiction book The Blooding, which alerted him to the importance of DNA fingerprinting. Incredibly, forensic evidence in his case that was thought to be lost turned up in a prosecutor's closet, and after testing Bloodsworth was cleared and released (the real murderer was actually located in the same prison as Bloodsworth, serving time for an unrelated crime). Since leaving prison, Bloodsworth has devoted his time to working to have the death penalty repealed in Maryland. The documentary shows him testifying at hearings and speaking before anti-capital-punishment advocacy groups. In addition to the facts of his case, Bloodsworth also describes the horrific conditions in the jails, his difficult readjustment to freedom, the minimal compensation he received for being unjustly imprisoned (much of the money went to lawyer's fees), and his feelings of vindication when Maryland's death penalty is finally repealed. Not everyone will agree with Bloodsworth's opinions on criminal justice (or the lack thereof), but this is a thought-provoking film that raises serious issues concerning our legal system. DVD extras include alternate endings and outtakes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)