GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER, History Channel, 2006
Laws are designed to protect the innocent, but sometimes they backfire and end up sheltering the guilty. That is exactly what happened to Melvin Henry Ignatow, who will never go to jail for killing his fiance in 1988, despite iron-clad evidence that he planned and carried out her murder!
AMERICAN JUSTICEŽ interviewed those most familiar with this startling case, including family members of the poeple involved and lawyers for both sides, to show how this travesty unfolded and examine its impact. The case broke when Ignatow's former girlfriend, Mary Ann Shore, confessed to helping with the murder and taking photos of the crime as it happened. Despite an extensive search, the photos were not found, and the trial proceeded without them, relying instead on Shore's testimony. To the shock of nearly everyone, including the judge, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Then the photos were found...
On the basis of the photographic evidence, Ignatow was convicted of perjury and sentenced to five years in jail, but double indemnity laws prevent his ever being tried again or serving time for the murder he committed.
50 minutes, closed-captioned, fully narrated, VHS only, ISBN: 0-7670-2836-8, VG3990 / $24.95
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