Publicity and the Current State of the Case

When I wrote in my to-do list that I wanted to appear on the radio, doing an interview about my case and the Skeptical Juror book wasn't what I had in mind. Nevertheless, when the invitation came to talk about these topics live on Sharon Lockhart's call-in program, on KKFI, my mother and I accepted. It was the first interview I'd considered granting since the 2002 fiasco that was the Pitch's "Cemetery Plot" story.

As it turned out, those forty minutes of my Saturday afternoon couldn't have been much better spent, nor friendlier to our cause. Ms. Lockhart was fascinated and appalled by the facts presented in the book (as is almost everyone who's read it), and asked all the questions an attentive reader would: Where is Kelly Moffett today? What is being done now to reverse Byron's conviction? Will the discoveries made by J. Bennett Allen in the book be used to get a new trial? Astute questions, all.

I hung up the phone at the end of the interview and took a deep breath. Talking about the case has never stopped being a draining experience. But this was totally worth it. I plugged the Free Byron Case site (and even this blog), and funds appeared soon thereafter, donated to help with legal expenses. The book also landed in the hands of a few more people, some at the station itself. Later I realized the experience even allowed me to cross an item off my list. To Sharon Lockhart I owe one huge debt of gratitude.

It's certain that interest in the case is spreading. The Skeptical Juror and the Trial of Byron Case has a lot to do with that. The Kansas City Star columnist Mary Sanchez requested a copy of the book, and other news sources have given signs of flirting with the idea of making stories of it, proving that local media is paying attention. More exciting, though, is that two prestigious law firms (one of them nationally renowned) have sought out their own copies for what should be self-evident reasons. All this is just at the time of this writing. Can I be blamed for my enthusiasm?

We're only four months into 2010, yet already there's conspicuous promise for me and my cause. As the months progress I'm confident that more and more goodness will come. Spirits are higher than ever for everyone involved with the fight for my freedom. At the risk of sounding like an overenthusiastic corporate executive, I think we're close to the tipping point — the critical moment when we see concrete results and gain wide public recognition. Right now, in other words, things are looking good. Really, really good.

The Skeptical Juror and the Trial of Byron Case Now Available

Over the years, several writers have expressed a professional interest in my case. Some thought it would serve as the basis for a dark novel, others were of the opinion that the events called for a strict reportage style, and still others wanted to twist the already grisly truths into some phantasmagoria of sensationalism. Until J. Bennett Allen contacted me through my then-attorney, no one's interest resulted in a published work. Now we have The Skeptical Juror and the Trial of Byron Case, a truly in-depth analysis of my experience with the judicial system. Not to mention an eye-opener.



The book's first section is a condensed version of the hundreds and hundreds of transcript pages from my trial. Mister Allen has taken great care to preserve the substance of what was said in the courtroom, while at the same time converting the witness statements into a more natural narrative structure. Afterwards, he takes the reader into the deliberation room with a fictional jury, where everything that was said and shown in trial is discussed and debated in lively detail. The approach presents an intriguing mental exercise in addition to making for a lively read. At the end of Part II, just as a juror would, the reader is asked to weigh the evidence and reach a verdict.

In the end, the outcome of the trial is revealed. This blog's existence ought to merit a spoiler alert for the book, I suppose, but even for those who know the story the book will be enlightening. It will also raise the ire of anybody with a belief in the sanctity of concepts like Justice and Liberty.

The Skeptical Juror is to be a series of books, each focused on a different case of someone for whom there is strong evidence to suggest wrongful conviction. If Mr. Allen's work on this book is any indication, many more incarcerated people can look forward to their cases finally getting the attentive treatment they've always deserved. With a little luck, it just might be a catalyst for the elusive freedom many have waited decades to have returned to them.

I urge you to pick up your copy of The Skeptical Juror and the Trial of Byron Case today.