Texas The Hollywood ending of the state murderer? The
murder of Bernie Tedder's release shocked everyone, unexpectedly and unthinkable. It was published in the Texas Monthly Magazine and was later adapted into the movie Bernie.
In 1996, Bernie Tide, an assistant funeral director in East Texas, killed his close friend, a reclusive rich woman named Marjorie Nugent, but in the eyes of the people in Carthage , Bernie is an amiable person who is deeply loved by everyone.
That year, he was 38 years old and she was 81 years old. Bernie, who spoke softly, hid her body in the freezer in her house and kept it for 9 months, as if she was still alive.
About how his secret was revealed, how he was convicted of murder, are all in the film directed by Richard Linklater in 2011, the movie starring Jack Black.
After the movie was released, praise continued. According to the movie's description, Ted should still be in prison.
However, recently he was released from prison.
Ted was free from prison on Tuesday. A judge in Panola County, Mississippi, recommended reducing his life imprisonment sentence to a serving sentence. As long as the Court of Appeal agrees, he can be released after paying a security deposit of 10,000 US dollars. The judge also set some conditions, including: Ted will live in director Linklater's garage apartment (a room built on the garage).
"This is art imitating life, life imitating art-imitating murder!" Skip Hollandworth, author of "Texas Monthly" (his story inspired the director and shared with the director Linklater Finished the script) said, “As he usually did, Linklater said casually that he wanted to do something about Bernie’s case and ask everyone to give Bernie some support. I just said, “Forget it. You can’t give Bernie a chance for a new trial.””
Ted, who is 55 years old, does not need a new trial. This reason seems to be tailored to Hollywood.
"Start writing, this story is really good," Hollandworth said in a telephone interview. "There was a lawyer who watched the premiere of "Bernie" in 2011. Her name is Judy Kerr, Lin Klett was also on the scene. Judy stepped forward and handed the business card to the director and said that there were some unreasonable points in that case. "
Most people think this case is strange. Ted met the rich woman during the funeral of Nugent's husband, and Ted was a good man in the small town, willing to give gifts and good at conversation.
As his relationship with Nugent grew closer, he began to help with Nugent's many things, and Nugent even agreed to let him sign the check on his behalf.
Whether it’s the description of their relationship in magazines or movies, Nugent is a bossy and annoying character. Her personality makes Ted breathless until one day, he shoots her pangolin gun at her. Four shots in the back.
Ted defended at the trial that he shot suddenly, but the prosecutor portrayed him as a murderer who coveted Nugent's property. After Nugent's death, he was still spending Nugent's money, which may not be conducive to Ted's case.
But when the new lawyer Kerr re-examined the case, he found a detail that could strengthen his defense: Ted collected some self-help books about sexual abuse victims.
Horlandworth has been following the case. According to him (Kerr was not contacted to comment on this), with the help of Kerr and the therapist, Ted eventually admitted that he was repeatedly sexually abused as a child, but He felt very embarrassed and didn't mention it with the previous defense team.
When this evidence is submitted, there is also the support of the report provided by the defense psychiatrist (the report says that the murder is likely to be affected by the abuse of Ted, so the tolerance for the "toxic" relationship is poor), it may change The idea of a bunch of prosecutors in East Texas who are firm and vow to sentence Tied to life in prison.
"After I watched it, I thought about it. After all, there are a lot of spiritual people. Now I have information that I didn't have at the previous trial," said District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson. The movie is featured by Matthew McConaughey. Acting (Davidson commented that McConaughey's performance is very accurate).
Davidson said, "At the time, I tried that case as a pervert who killed people for money. Now that I have new evidence, I think'what should I do?', and then I said,'Let's take a look at ours. What the psychiatrist said.'"
The psychiatrist of the prosecution (that is, the one who checked Ted before the trial) agreed with the defense's evidence, and Davidson changed his argument. "If you believe that'prosecutors are good people,' then we must respect the facts, regardless of the outcome on the road to justice, maintaining justice is our primary duty," Davidson said.
On Tuesday, Davidson told a judge in Panola County that he supports reducing Ted’s sentence to the one already served. It is said that Tied cried bitterly when he heard the news. Linklater (the director was not contacted to comment on this article) attended the court trial.
Helandworth used a video to record the trial process. He said, "Lin Ke wore a gray suit and tie today and stood on the witness stand. I thought,'Who has seen Link wear a suit?' , He also said that he would let Bernie live in his garage apartment in Austin.”
According to the Texas Tribune, Ted will become Kerr’s legal assistant, and the state district judge Diana Devasto ordered He must not tell the media.
What surprised some observers the most were the little old ladies who supported Teed in court and even visited prison from time to time. Davidson said that many people have now passed away, and the movie has made many people in Carthage dissatisfied with Ted, especially Nugent's family.
"Everyone is very angry," he said, and then added, "I'm just doing my job."
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My thoughts:
As a loyal fan of director Linklater, after watching so many films, I finally understand why I like him. "Bernie" may not be too successful as a commercial film, but it is in line with the value that the director has always insisted on. What he shoots and tells about things that happen in real life, there is no imagination, no illusions, no matter what Whether it's a tuberculosis love movie, a philosophical viewpoint, or even a murder movie, the director always uses a gentle and quiet way to show us these stories that may happen to any one of us.
In the movie, Bernie is a funeral and funeral master loved by the villagers. He is versatile and enthusiastic to help others. Even though he has obtained a large amount of wealth from the old lady, what he thinks of is to benefit the residents of the town, build a church, and help everyone build it. House, send the car. If placed in ancient China, he would be a good man who is a chivalry and righteousness. The government can't help him. Unfortunately, he was born in a modern society with strict legal system, and all actions must be legally responsible. Although in reality Bernie was finally released under the influence of mental illness, even if he did not have this evidence, facing those in society who are already extremely hateful (both mentally and physically), if the victim belongs to Can a homicide with no choice be a light sentence? ! The law is important, but the law should also give due consideration to human sentiments. In everything, we only look at the result, not the process, or the cause. It is inevitable that some weak people will inevitably be pushed into a more desperate abyss.
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