In march 2001, betty anne waters helped to free her brother based on existing dna evidence as portrayed in the movie conviction released in october 2010. The estate of the late kenneth waters, who was exonerated in 2001 after spending 18 years in prison, has settled their case against the town of ayer for a total of 3. Kenneth died in september 2001, six months after his exoneration, due to a. The grim truth behind convictions happy ending openwide online. We thought kenny was coming home decca aitkenhead when her brother was convicted of murder, betty anne waters swapped waitressing for law school to prove his innocence. How are nancy taylor and martha coakley alive still.
I read that nothing ever happened to the real officer nancy taylor although she was involved in at least two separate situations where wrongly convicted men served time for a total of over 3 decades. Conviction is the inspirational true story of a sisters unwavering devotion to her brother. He died of a freak fall, he was climbing over a 15foot wall after having dinner in his brothers house, withsuch a shame he spent 18 years of his life in prison. Betty anne waters, reallife heroine of conviction the. Jury rules against conviction arts the harvard crimson. Gloria allreds statement regarding the movie the conviction. Something the movie conviction doesnt say is that kenny died six months after his release. Betty anne waters was played by hilary swank in the 2010 movie conviction.
If you fought your entire life to free your brother and he went to jail for 18 years and was innocent, wouldnt it have been right for kenneth to go and kill nancy taylor and martha coakley. Kenneth waters was in his midtwenties and working as a chef in. After waters conviction, his sister, betty anne waters, sought to prove his innocence. In may 1983, kenneth waters was arrested and convicted of first degree murder and armed robbery. Betty anne waters talks conviction, the innocence project. Betty anne waters stated taylor was a retired grandmother living in massachusetts.
The mother of two had been found in her mobile home with more than 30 stab wounds. Betty anns brother, kenny was convicted of a violent murder in their home town in massachusetts and sent to prison in 1983. In 1983, she had recanted to a private investigator and to betty waters, stating that she couldnt actually remember what kenny waters had told her about brows death because they were both so drunk at the time. Conviction filmmakers struggled with tragic ending to their reallife story december 3, 2010 4. Betty anne waters, a server who went to law school to free her brother from prison, is the subject of conviction, starring hilary swank. She speaks out against the death penalty, lobbies for legislation on. A film clip at the innocence project tells the true story behind the movie in which waters s sister betty anne gets her ged, then put herself through college and law school so that she could prove her brother innocence. The movie, at that point, goes into lockdown, as the talents of a number of superb actors are stifled by an airless, bythenumbers story. That allowed katsas to offer an expert opinion that the time of death was closer to 7 a. Now the real life drama is hitting the big screen in the movie conviction. The 2010 film based on her fight to get her brother out prison is called conviction, and hillary swank plays waters.
Betty anne, abra, and scheck visit the other two main trial witnesses, kenny s exwife and his exgirlfriend. The tragic and ironic fate of kenny six months after his freedom is not mentioned in the film that stops the journey of the waters family in the best moments of their lives. Betty anne waters inspired conviction, a film opening on friday and starring hilary swank. In real life, conviction guy died six months after. Betty anne waters inspired conviction, a film opening on friday and. The case was the basis of a 2010 movie, conviction, starring hilary swank. Ayer months after the town of ayer and its insurance companies settled the wrongfularrestandconviction lawsuit of the late kenneth waters for millions of dollars, retired ayer police chi. She put herself through college and law school, all with the goal of exonerating her brother. The movie suggests that after an initial dna test clears kenneth waters in the gruesome murder of a neighbor, coakleys office allows him to languish in jail for almost another year. Kenneth waters was convicted of her murder in 1983 and released 18 years later. A state appeals court panel has upheld a whittier mans conviction for killing his longtime girlfriend inside the apartment they shared. Conviction is a new film based on a true story about kenny, played by sam rockwell, and his sister. Oct 26, 2010 betty anne and kenny s story, the subject of a movie out now called conviction, starring hilary swank, begins in rural 1960s massachusetts, where they were two of nine children of more than one. Conviction filmmakers struggled with tragic ending to their.
With an affidavit from kenny s exwife and the dna evidence, kenny s conviction is vacated and he is freed from prison in june 2001. View a slideshow of waters family photos and pictures from the day kenny was freed. After so many years behind bars, the world was new to him. Betty anne waters, who freed her brother from prison. Nov 16, 2010 when kenny waters was convicted of a murder he didnt commit, his sister betty anne waters promised to help overturn his conviction and set him free. Just six months after the prosecution dropped all charges against him on june 19, 2001, waters died due to a head injury resulting from an accidental fall. Sadly, kenny suffered a fatal fall in 2001, just six months after his release an ironic twist of fate forcing people to contend with the oftenconfusing from our vantage point elements of gods. Sadly, six months after his release, waters died in an accidental fall. By the late 70s the family had moved to rhode island, where waters dropped out of high school a year early and began working parttime in a restaurant with kenny. Kenneth waters was convicted of her murder in 1983 and released 18. Watch a 3minute video on the story behind conviction, featuring betty anne waters, kenny waters and innocence project codirector barry scheck. Oct 18, 2010 family members of a murder victim portrayed in the new movie conviction have lashed out at star hilary swank and the films.
By considering his innocence and not his personality, conviction puts the focus where it belongs. On may 11, 1983, kenny was charged and convicted for robbery and murder and sentenced to life in prison. Here again swank portrays the reallife betty ann waters. But kenny moved back to ayer, to look after their grandfather, and while he was there, a neighbour was robbed and stabbed to death. Oct 23, 2010 conviction tells the reallife story of a woman named betty ann waters, a single mother of two who tended bar while acquiring her ged, bachelors degree, and then her law degree, all so that she. Both tearfully confess that sergeant taylor coerced them into perjuring themselves at kenny s trial. Betty anne waters stated that the brow family did not try to make any contact with her or. Oct, 2010 betty anne waters, a server who went to law school to free her brother from prison, is the subject of conviction, starring hilary swank.
Conviction is a true story of a sisters devotion to her brother. In 1999, she located the type o blood evidence collected from the scene of the crime and obtained a court order to preserve the evidence for possible dna testing. The grim truth behind convictions happy ending openwide. The estate, headed by waters sister, betty ann waters, is still in negotiations with one final insurer. If youre planning on seeing the movie in question here hilary swanks latest, conviction and dont know the result of betty anne waters reallife struggle to get brother, kenny waters, name cleared from a firstdegree murder conviction, then consider this a spoiler alert. It foretells the contract the reallife waters had with her brother kenny waters. Kenny waters was the inmate at the center of the 2010 movie conviction. The tale is based on the reallife story of waters, played by oscarwinner swank, and her brother, who was convicted of the 1980 murder of katharina brow.
In a ruling thursday, the threejustice panel from there is strong conviction college football will be played this season, according to a report from espns adam schefter on thursday. Her determination is fierce, her rebirth is inspiring, and in hilary swank, the film finds the right actress to embody gritty tenacity. Swank and rockwell both carry this emotional film on their very strong shoulders. Its about a massachusetts man named kenneth waters, who claimed he was wrongly convicted of murder and was. Conviction is a 2010 biographical legal drama film directed by tony goldwyn, written by. Woman who got imprisoned brother freed still helps prisoners. Waters, 47, died six months after his release when he fell 15 feet off a brick wall onto his head. These movies, no matter how depressing, should be applauded. Til that in 2001 kenny waters, a massachusetts man who was. Tony goldwyns conviction and the death penalty broad.
In july 2015, alprentiss nash, 40, died of multiple gunshot wounds in a drug. Oct 15, 2010 now the real life drama is hitting the big screen in the movie conviction. Kenneth waters was convicted of katharinas murder in 1983 and served 18 years in prison after a jury found him guilty. Just a few years later, he was charged and convicted of murder, and served 18 years. When her brother kenny was sentenced to life without parole for the 1983 murder of katharina brow, betty anne waters was a single mother of two, living handtomouth as a parttime bar waitress. Conviction and hilary swank draw fire from slain womans. He would keep himself alive in prison, where he spent 18 years on a murder conviction, in exchange for his sister. Conviction, a 2002 film about the life of carl upchurch. Last years hilary swank film, conviction, tells the story of betty anne waters, a single mother who with the help of former o. Mar 02, 2011 such is the theme of the movie conviction, which came out on dvd last month. The films subject spent 18 years in prison for a murder he didnt commit luckily for him, in massachusetts, a state with no death penalty. Betty anne waters, reallife heroine of conviction the new york.
Mar 18, 2020 perry also publicly recanted her testimony in 2001. Kenneth waters, exonerated by dna in massachusetts. Dec 03, 2010 conviction filmmakers struggled with tragic ending to their reallife story december 3, 2010 4. A decade on from her brother kennys release, conviction brings her story to. Such is the theme of the movie conviction, which came out on dvd last month.
The victim in this movie and in real life seems to have been murdered during a robbery. Nov 10, 2010 when asked about her brothers death in a recent interview, the real betty anne waters said thoughtfully that its sad, but the greatest part is kenny died free and innocent now if that isnt more powerful than the bythebooks finish of conviction then someone stop me from typing. After the murder, kenny is initially brought in for questioning by sergeant nancy taylor. Swank plays betty anne waters, a young woman whose world is shattered when her beloved brother kenny rockwell is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Conviction, which came out on dvd last month is about a man named kenneth waters, who claimed he was wrongly convicted of murder and. Theyre the children of katharina brow, a diner waitress who was found stabbed to death in her trailer home in 1980.
Betty anne waters life revolves around her brother, who is now in jail for. Betty anne waters, kenneths sister, agrees that justice wasnt. But at an evidentiary hearing in 1985, perry repeated her trial testimony. Oct 19, 2010 conviction is a new film based on a true story about kenny, played by sam rockwell, and his sister. Today we remember kenny waters on his 18th exoneration. I dare say that i know that it takes a special few that have such perseverance or such conviction. As for the hollywood movie, connors said he wont be seeing it. However, 6 months after his release, he died in a freak accident. Tony goldwyns conviction tells one of the 254 stories of dna exoneration through barry schecks innocence project, most of them grim parables of judicial incompetence, bias, or worse. Conviction movie clip so this is what im going to do. Family members of a murder victim portrayed in the new movie conviction have lashed out at star hilary swank and the films. Just six months after she finally won kennys release and was reunited with him, he fell off a wall in a freak accident that left him in a coma. When kenny waters was arrested for murder and sentenced to life in prison, his sister made a choice to dedicate her life to overturning the murder conviction. Kenneth waters and his sister, betty ann waters on the morning of may 21, 1980, 48yearold katharina reitz brow was stabbed to death in her home in ayer, massachusetts, about 40 miles northwest of boston.
Convinced of her brothers innocence and lacking the resources to pay for an appeal waters. Kenny s sister, betty anne waters, was convinced that her brother was not a murderer and never would have committed this crime. Conviction filmmakers struggled with tragic ending to their reallife. It was the best six months in his life, waters said. Kenny had the best six months of his life, his sister stated. Oct 14, 2010 hilary swank has called conviction, the fox searchlight film she stars in, a feelgood story. A true story, prettied up for a picture a true tale of a womans courageous campaign on behalf of her wrongly imprisoned brother, the film features strong performances from hilary. New film shows sibling love, injustice of death penalty. Jun 06, 2011 i was wondering the same thing after recently seeing conviction. May 21, 1980, katherina brow was stabbed to death in her home in ayer, massachusetts. Sadly, waters died in a tragic accident on september 19, 2001, only six.
A film clip at the innocence project tells the true story behind the moviein which waterss sister betty anne gets her ged, then put herself through college and law school so that she could prove her brother innocence. Til that in 2001 kenny waters, a massachusetts man who was wrongly imprisoned for 18 years for murder, was finally freed after his highschool dropout sister went to law school to prove his innocence. Betty anne waters, who freed her brother from prison, wants. Bringing conviction to the big screen was a yearslong challenge for producer and star hilary swank, but it paled in comparison to the 18year ordeal betty anne waters went through to clear. Conviction tells the reallife story of a woman named betty ann waters, a single mother of two who tended bar while acquiring her ged, bachelors degree, and then her law degree, all so that she. In real life, conviction guy died six months after exoneration in wallscaling gone wrong. Tragically, in 2001, 47yearold kenny died after a freak fall, just six months after his release.
Talking conviction and wrongful conviction with sam rockwell. After waters conviction, his sister, betty anne waters, sought to prove his. Conviction, a 2010 film about the life of betty anne waters. Nov 05, 2010 conviction is a simple, dramatic story, told well. When betty anne waters twotime academy award winner hilary swank older brother kenny sam rockwell. Conviction 2010 film sa prevodom online hd filmovi. Steadfastly convinced of his innocence, betty anne embarks on an 18year journey to set kenny free, using stateoftheart forensic technology. Conviction filmmakers struggled with tragic ending to.
The revelation in the film is sam rockwell as kenny waters. Kenny waters, one of nine children, grew up in a rural town in massachusetts. Kenneth waters, exonerated by dna in massachusetts justice. Ayer months after the town of ayer and its insurance companies settled the wrongfularrestand conviction lawsuit of the late kenneth waters for millions of dollars, retired ayer police chi. Sibling love and sacrifice themes of new film conviction is a new film, based on a true story about a brother and a sister, which opens today nationwide. How come no one murdered nancy taylor or martha coakley yet. The film is based on the true story of kenny waters rockwell, who was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didnt commit, and his sister betty anne swank who subsequently dedicated her. Betty anne hilary swank puts herself through law school for the sole effort of freeing her innocent brother kenny sam rockwell from a lifesentence in prison for murder. When betty anne waters twotime academy award winner hilary swank older brother kenny sam rockwell is arrested for murder and sentenced to life in 1983, betty anne, a massachusetts wife and mother of two, dedicates her life to overturning the murder conviction. When her brother was convicted of murder, betty anne waters swapped. But apparently, theres nothing about the movie, which hits theaters friday, that makes melrose and charles brow feel good. It took nine years to get conviction made and one question writer.
1523 825 1292 980 90 1331 613 50 735 799 275 1374 968 1284 1214 1520 67 1431 1110 252 428 851 841 921 1490 1528 751 1385 461 280 1444 423 734 1385 181 138 675 969 886 100 1108 1163 647