Trial By Media On Netflix: Stream It Or Skip It

N etflix's latest crime documentary, “Trial By Media” poses a thought-provoking question to its audience; how does the court of public opinion impact a judicial system and its verdicts?

Sometimes, a passing occurrence on TV can lead to unintended real-life consequences. This is just what Clooney’s newest co-production, the Netflix docuseries Trial By Media reiterates. Exactly what it aims to say, or prove, is unclear. If it aims to indicate “the media,” it fails. All it indicates is human nature and human frailty.

It highlights six instances, over different episodes, where the media played a crucial role in shaping the narrative and possibly influencing the verdict of a court case.

The stories explored in this series, span wild and tragic moments in American history throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Each episode looks into the media’s role in publicizing the case , and how they ultimately shaped general views of crime, often for the worse.

Here’s what to know about the cases at the center of Trial by Media.

The murder of Scott Amedure

The first case tackled is known as the “talk show murder” . It is of the murder of Scott Amedure, who appeared on the 90s television program “The Jenny Jones Show” to tape an episode about "Same-Sex Secret Crushes" . In the course of the episode, (which never aired) , he informs another man, Jonathan Schmitz , that he has a crush on him in a revelation that takes the man by surprise. Shortly after the taping, Schmitz murders Amedure, later claiming that it was out of embarrassment over what happened on the talk show.

Later, the Amedure family sued the Jones show for negligence and that trial was televised. It was chaotic, real courtroom drama, heavily covered by national and local news. There is no narrative strand, no sense of what is being probed.

Schmitz was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison in 1996 and was released in 2017. Amedure’s family successfully got a ruling grant of $25 million from the program; however, it was later overturned.

The “subway vigilante”

Episode two became known as the “subway vigilante” . The story of Bernhard Goetz, a white man who rose to notoriety in 1984 after he shot and wounded four black men in a New York City subway car , comes to foreshadow many other incidents of racist violence whose perpetrators claimed a “vigilante”-like self-defense. Goetz claimed it was not a racial attack and that the man had approached him and asked for money. He said he presumed they were going to mug him and that he acted out of a fear of being attacked.

Goetz, as Trial by Media shows, immediately gained support throughout the country, and was dubbed the “subway vigilante”. Eventually, Goetz was acquitted on charges of attempted murder and assault, and only found guilty for carrying an unlicensed firearm.

Fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo

The third episode of the show is about the murder of Amadou Diallo , an immigrant from Guinea, sparked outcry in New York City. Diallo was killed by police in 1999 while in a vestibule outside his apartment building when New York City police officers mistook his wallet for a gun. It was claimed he matched the description for a sexual assault suspect.

He was shot 41 times, inciting outrage throughout the city over racial profiling and police brutality. Diallo’s mother (Kadijatou Diallo) , emerges in Trial by Media as a central figure who pushed for justice in the wake of her son’s death. The police officers, charged with second-degree murder , were later acquitted in a trial.

Former CEO Richard Scrushy

The fourth instalment of the series is a look at the case of Richard Scrushy , a former CEO who was accused of money-laundering and fraud , began hosting a Christian talk show with his wife as part of his defense tactic. The episode tracks the uber-wealthy Scrushy as he becomes a televangelist within a community of black churchgoers in Birmingham, Ala.

While Scrushy was at first acquitted the charges of fraud brought against him, he was later indicted by a federal grand jury on counts of extortion, money laundering, bribery and more and sentenced to prison in 2006 along with former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. In 2012, Scrushy was released from prison.

“Big Dan’s rape trial

Episode five of Trial By Media on Netflix is about a sexual assault case. By far the most gripping episode, and one with a truly chilling tone, is “Big Dan’s. ” It covers the infamous gang-rape of a young woman in a local bar by four men in full view of onlookers in 1983 in New Bedford, Mass. The case began a huge discussion over the treatment of sexual assault victims during their trials. The woman was said to have been victim-blamed and harshly cross-examined in what was soon known as “Big Dan’s” trial.

It was the first rape case televised in the U.S. and the judge , interviewed now, expresses deep regret at some of the shenanigans that unfolded. He was aiming for transparency but throwing the case into the mud-filled media arena. When the case went to trial in 1984 and the judge decided to allow one camera in the courtroom so that it could be televised nationally, the ensuing media circus was flat-out frightening.

Rod Blagojevich’s corruption scandal

The final episode is about the Rod Blagojevich corruption scandal. Trial by Media closes on the case surrounding former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. When the governor was facing a corruption trail he tried to embrace his new found media coverage and even went on “Celebrity Apprentice” . In 2008 he was arrested for his links to a corruption case.

Among many charges, including attempted extortion and lying to federal agents, Blagojevich notably tried to sell the vacant senate seat of then-President Barack Obama. The series’ final episode follows Blagojevich as he goes from a politician with a bright future to a national punchline, to an extent that began to overshadow his prior crimes.

In short, the episode looks at his fall from grace, going from a positive politician to a laughing stock.

Twitter Reactions

Trial by media on Netflix is a must watch!! American justice system is not fit for purpose

— Nic Max (@Nicoleyy_9) May 11, 2020

‘Trial by Media’ on Netflix is wild

— Sam Moore (@ManBearPig7) May 11, 2020

Trial By Media on Netflix 10/10

— Stephy Snaps (@Stephy_Snaps) May 12, 2020

Netflix did it again, Trial by media. 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

— Jesus Shuttlesworth (@nicarellano) May 12, 2020

Twitter also seems to be pretty hooked on the show. One person described it as “wild”, whilst another said it is “mad”. Others added that the series is “10/10”, “awesome” and a “must watch”.

It’s been described as ‘mad’, ‘wild’ and a ‘must-watch’

The reviews of Trial By Media on Netflix say it’s the next big thing for all true crime lovers. Mashable describes the series as “six solid episodes of true-crime worthy of an all-at-once binge.”

What is going in favor of this series , is that it does pose a crucial question when it comes to sensationalized court cases , even if it can't answer it in totality.

The media indeed has much to be accountable for when it comes to sensationalizing coverage of crimes of public interest. It often gives society the impression of knowing the facts, but after the dust settles we find the legal narrative is far removed from the media narrative.

Do Stream it; whether you know the details from a case in a particular Trial By Media‘s episode or not, you’ll appreciate the filmmakers’ efforts to examine just what influence the media had on those cases, in both obvious and hidden ways.