Presunto Culpable (Presumed Guilty) is a must-see documentary by Mexican attorney-turned-film maker Robert Hernandez. It recounts the story of an impoverished young man, Jose Antonio Zúñiga, who is convicted of a street murder although alibi evidence indicates that he was miles away at the time. After it is discovered that Zúñiga’s original attorney did not even have a license to practice law, a retrial is granted and a team of dedicated attorneys works to free him in the second proceeding. They must battle an arrogant, disinterested judge and lying witnesses, but eventually win exoneration for their client in an appellate court. The film graphically displays the inherently unfair trial procedures which have been used by Mexican criminal courts for generations. Some judicial authorities were so upset by the embarrassing light in which the film portrayed them that it was enjoined and removed from cinema screens for a few days in February (including here in Merida). A Mexican federal judge quickly overturned that order and the documentary was shown all over the country.
The film won an Emmy last evening for
Best in Investigative Journalism. I recommend it to all. It is available on YouTube.
The good news is that Mexico is just embarking on a massive, nationwide overhaul of its criminal justice system. Read
a summary of new legal procedures here:
http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/major-legal-changes-on-their-way-to.html.
Many Mexicans, including myself, have always believed or suspected that our judicial system is somehow deficient. When this movie came out, we all saw for the first time how bad the system is. I can’t avoid to feel angry every time I think about that
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