Why did Ralph Myers lie?
Asked by: Scotty Sipes | Last update: November 18, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (17 votes)
The corrupt justice system used Ralph Myers's fear of death row and the electric chair to coerce him into lying about McMillian. As he tells the court that the allegations were untrue, Myers makes eye contact with the judge and prosecutor to demonstrate that he's been freed from his fear.
Why was Ralph Myers so trustworthy?
Explanation: Ralph Myers was considered to be trustworthy by the Monroe County police department due to his reputation as an informant. He had provided helpful information in multiple criminal cases, leading to successful arrests and convictions.
Why did Ralph Myers change his testimony?
Myers claims that therapy sessions during his own incarceration have helped him focus on his own transgressions and the need to set right several of the things he did wrong, including providing false testimony against McMillian.
What happened to Ralph Myers in Just Mercy?
Ralph Myers served 30 years in prison and was released in 2017. He lived in Alabama until he passed away in December 2021.
What was Ralph Myers convicted of?
Approximately five months after Myers testified in the appellant's trial, he pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of robbery in the third degree and was sentenced as a habitual offender to 30 years' imprisonment.
From the 60 Minutes archives: The true story behind “Just Mercy”
What is the true story behind the movie just mercy?
The "Just Mercy," 2019, film is a true story based on Bryan Stevenson's 2014 memoir, "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption." The film follows attorney Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan) fight to overturn the wrongful conviction of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx).
How many prisoners did Bryan Stevenson free?
Mr. Stevenson and his staff have won reversals, relief, or release from prison for over 140 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row and won relief for hundreds of others wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced.
What happened to Ralph Myers' mouth?
As detained in my book, Myers had been badly burned on his face as a child which caused him to speak out of one side of his mouth, which Nelson captured perfectly.
Who committed the crime in Just Mercy?
Just Mercy: Sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit - the true story behind gripping drama. In August 1988, a black man named Walter McMillian, known as Johnny D, was sentenced to death for the murder of a white teenage girl in Monroeville, Alabama.
Who was electrocuted in Just Mercy?
During this period, Stevenson had a case on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of another death row inmate, Herbert Lee Richardson; the court denied the appeal. Convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's niece with a bomb on her porch, Richardson had been sentenced to death by electric chair.
Why did Ralph Myers tell the truth?
He does much of what he does in the story out of self-preservation or a need for attention. His decision to tell the truth, inspired by group therapy, highlights hope for redemption, though the retelling as a way to one-up the other prisoners still suggests a need for attention.
What does Brian hear on a cassette tape recording of Ralph Myers?
What does Bryan hear on a cassette tape recording of Ralph Myers? On a cassette tape recording, Bryan hears Ralph Myers recanting his testimony. Myers admits that his testimony against Walter McMillian was coerced and false.
How does Myers' name get put on the map?
How does Myer's name get put on the map? Myer's name gets put on the map when a deputy from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) shows up at his home and questions him about his involvement with Cecil McMillian. 11. How does the ABI ensure that Myers and McMillian are in cahoots?
What is the rule 32 for Just Mercy?
In the state of Alabama, a Rule 32 Petition requires State and local officials to turn over any and all available records and forms of evidence connected to the case of a convicted individual as part of a postconviction collateral appeal. Get the entire Just Mercy LitChart as a printable PDF.
Why was Ralph so frustrated?
5, Ralph expresses frustration with the boys and their lack of concern in trying to improve their situation(building shelters, keeping the signal fire going, etc). Ralph also notices how the boys are starting to disregard his rules, noticing how the boys are starting to act uncontrollably and think more irrationally.
Was Ralph Myers illiterate?
Ralph Myers
Bearing burn scars as the result of a childhood accident, Myers is an illiterate outcast and drug user. He is easily manipulated into false accusations against McMillian because he is prone to exaggeration and enjoys getting the police's attention.
Does Mercy get out of jail?
Mercy was released from prison and lost touch with Tricia. When Tricia died, Big Boo called Mercy to inform her of Miller's death ("Tall Men with Feelings").
What happened to Mr Ruffin in Just Mercy?
Through the story of Lourida Ruffin, a 39-year-old Black father who dies in jail after being beaten by police and denied his asthma medication, Stevenson highlights how a minor infraction can lead to death.
Is Mercy based on a true story?
Based on Bryan Stevenson's true story, Just Mercy shows us what it means to fight for what is right and reminds us of the urgency for criminal justice reform.
What happened to Myers eye?
During the climax to the original 1978 Halloween, Laurie Strode stabs him in the eye with the tip of a coat hanger. It's enough to bring him down, and yet subsequent movies are inconsistent about how the left eye injury is portrayed.
What happened to Michael Myers hands?
As the two struggled, Michael was eventually forced to retreat after Laurie shot off her shotgun and severed three of Michael's fingers, setting herself free.
Was Walter McMillian innocent?
A new investigation was ordered. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation ultimately confirmed the evidence uncovered by EJI and determined that Mr. McMillian was innocent, but prosecutors still wavered on whether they would join the motion filed by EJI to dismiss all charges against Mr. McMillian.
Why did Herbert Richardson decide to build a bomb?
Mr. Richardson devised a bomb to place on the nurse's front porch and planned to detonate the bomb and then run to her aid to save her, like he had saved people in Vietnam. Then she would love him and want to be with him again.
What was Bryan Stevenson's best quote?
There is no wholeness outside of our reciprocal humanity. But simply punishing the broken--walking away from them or hiding them from sight--only ensures that they remain broken and we do, too. There is no wholeness outside of our reciprocal humanity.