Een Amerikaanse Nachtmerrie
In 1983, the wife and stepdaughter of Dutch Jaitsen Singh are gruesomely murdered in California. Singh is convicted of inciting the murders, but has maintained his innocence for nearly 40 years. Given the way his case was handled at the time, this may well be true. Filmmaker Hans Pool investigates this intriguing and complex case and gets exclusive access to court and police documents that reveal a shocking story about racism, corruption, a mistress and a dubious key witness. How did Singh's American dream turn into a nightmare?
Episodes
On August 27, 1983, the Dutch Jaitsen Singh finds a massacre in his home in California. The bodies of his wife Grace and stepdaughter Daphne are found later that night. Eight months after the murders, Singh is arrested as the prime suspect. Filmmaker Hans Pool is fascinated by the story of Singh, who has always claimed to be innocent. In the mid-1980s, racial prejudice is rampant in California. In addition, Singh has to deal with an ambitious prosecutor who will do anything to win this murder case. Did Singh get a fair trial?
The key witness in Singh's case is notorious criminal Raymond Copas. Copas claims that Singh hired him to carry out the murders, but in the end Singh did not want to go through with it. Singh is convicted and given 56 years in prison. Singh's son hires a top lawyer for the appeal. This attorney proves that prosecutor Dennis Stout obtained Copas' testimony in exchange for a reduced sentence, without the jury knowing about it. Dutch lawyer Rachel Imamkhan hires a private detective and together with Hans they track down Stout. Will Singh be able to offer perspective on his freedom?
Hans and lawyer Rachel talk to prosecutor Dennis Stout. He was convinced of Singh's guilt, especially when the investigation revealed that Singh would collect a life insurance policy of more than $1 million. He also appears to have had a mistress. Because Singh's first trial was unfair, he gets a new trial in 2000. Singh's appeal with a new jury and new prosecutor looks strong, but suddenly, just before the trial, the case takes an unexpected turn.
Fred, Grace's brother, reveals how unhappy Grace was in marriage with Singh. The second trial begins and again the incriminating testimony of addicted star witness Copas from the first trial is used. Since Singh chooses not to testify himself this time, they read his fatal testimony from the first trial. It seems like a lost cause for Singh. Hans, after years of research, wants to meet Singh. He spends two hours with him in jail asking questions about the murders. Does Hans gain more insight into the events during this conversation with Singh?
One of the biggest questions remains: why were both Grace and Daphne killed? Hans tries to get an answer to this. Suddenly, Singh's parole seems imminent. And the question of whether this is justified is being debated. Guilty or not, wouldn't it be humane to release the now 78-year-old Singh after all this time?
