Conviction by Richard North Patterson is a powerful and disturbing book about truth, justice and the American way.
It poses more questions than it answers, incisively exposing the flawed
legal system in the United States, where elected judges care more for
public opinion than justice.
It tells the story of a semi-retarded black man, Rennell Price, who is
convicted with his brother Payton of a sex homicide involving an Asian
schoolgirl.
Fifteen years after the trial, Rennell’s time on death row is nearly exhausted and the execution date looms near.
A new lawyer, Terri Paget, takes up the case for final appeals with her husband and stepson in support.
Terri is an idealist and she bonds with Rennell, especially after becoming convinced of his innocence.
In researching the original case against him she discovers that the
state’s key witness, Eddie Fleet, was the likely perpetrator, with
Payton a passive accessory. Rennell was almost certainly asleep when
the crime was committed.
Terri concludes the original defence lawyer was corrupt, incompetent
and taking drugs. He should not have represented both brothers and
never gave Rennell a defence. The prosecution was aware of this
lawyer’s deficiencies and feared an appeal, so deftly had the trial
judge seek confirmation of counsel from the brothers.
The truth of the crime only emerges when Payton confesses shortly
before his own execution. He waited so long because he wanted to guard
Rennell from abuse by other prisoners. Throughout their lives he had
been Rennell’s protector. Although a big man, Rennell was physically
and mentally slow.
Conviction gives a detailed but readable account of the final appeals and the unfolding evidence of Rennell’s innocence.
The Californian Supreme Court and the state governor make it clear they won’t call off the execution.
Terri and her husband take their case to the federal courts, where
judges are appointed, rather than elected, and therefore less swayed by
popular opinion in favor of capital punishment.
They win one appeal, which is then appealed to the federal Supreme Court by the state of California.
Patterson backgrounds the politics of the court, where ideology
counts more than justice for some of the judges. The court’s right wing
is determined to enshrine the power of state courts and maintain
capital punishment at all costs.
The court votes 5-4 to validate the original verdict and Rennell’s fate is sealed.
The ending is obviously a sad one and leaves the reader feeling frustrated and angry.
Television gives us a rosy image of America’s robust legal system
and litigant culture. Patterson gives us an eye-opening account of how
justice can be denied to people who can’t afford to buy it.
One aspect I found slightly irritating was the use of Terri’s family
life, particularly the abuse her daughter suffered at the hands of
Terri’s first husband.
Initially I found this distracting and of dubious relevance, but it
became clear towards the end that Terri’s daughter represented the
large number of Americans who support capital punishment because they
live in fear of crime.
As courtroom drama goes, I rate this novel higher than anything else
I’ve read. It doesn’t have the theatrics perhaps of a John Grisham, but
the message is heartfelt.
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