Killeen Man Featured in Netflix True Crime Series ‘Exhibit A’
Exhibit A, a new true crime series premiering on Netflix Friday, July 28, explores the idea that faulty science or good science misinterpreted or manipulated by our legal system has been used to convict innocent people.
George Powell III, who was convicted of robbing a Killeen 7-Eleven in 2008, is currently serving 28 years for the crime. His case will be the subject of an episode of the new docuseries.
Powell spoke with our partners at News 10, and he and his attorney insist unsound science was used to put him away. He's not alone in that claim. Back in late January, District Judge John Gauntt ruled in favor of a retrial for Powell.
His advocates say questionable analysis of surveillance footage played a key role in convicting Powell, who stands 6'3". A suspect captured on security cam footage was described by a clerk as standing 5'6". Another kink in the case was testimony from a jailhouse informant who claimed Powell confessed involvement in the crime to him, but later recanted.
Bell County District Attorney Henry Garza is limited in how much he can say about an active case, but told News 10 that the evidence used to convict Powell is sound. He said he has no recollection of anyone from Netflix reaching out to him for information or comment.
While true crime shows have always been popular, Netflix scored a massive hit with docuseries Making a Murderer in 2015, which examined the case of Steven Avery in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
It's ultimately up to courts and juries to decide, and documentaries will always have a bias no matter far out of their way they go to avoid one. Still, it's been interesting to see pushes for justice system reform ramp up in recent years and filmmakers working to bring to light major flaws in the system.
Season 1 of Exhibit A premieres Friday on Netflix. Will you be watching?