Unjust Conviction

On January 18, 1991, Franky Carrillo’s life dramatically changed. The 16 year old from Los Angeles was identified as the gunman in a drive-by shooting, killing 41 year old Don Sharply on the steps of his home. Five witnesses at the scene testified that Franky was seen with the gun in the car at the time of the shooting. The first jury deadlocked, declaring a mistrial. But, the second jury found Franky guilty and a judge sentenced him to two life sentences.

On March 15 of this year, Franky was released from prison. After 20 years, new evidence proved to a judge that Franky had been misidentified. He was innocent. Scott Turner, one of the intended victims of the shooter and one of the five witnesses that testified against Carrillo, recanted his story. He said that he not only misidentified Franky in a photo lineup, but that he had also influenced the other four witnesses to choose Franky. Because there was no physical evidence in connecting Franky to the crime, the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of Turner and the four others. Turner apologetically took the stand stating that what he had done in testifying against Carrillo was wrong and he was sorry he had “stolen the life of an innocent man.” Two others also admitted to the shooting. The evidence was clear and Franky was set free. (Story taken from KTLA.com.)

Can you imagine being accused of something that you didn’t do? Can you imagine people colluding against you in false testimony that would cost you decades of your life? Could you imagine enduring the penalty of a crime you didn’t commit as the real criminals go free? Stories like this horrify us. We are deeply saddened at an injustice like this.

As we read the story of Jesus’ final days before the cross, we should be horrified by the injustice of the scene that unfolds. Jesus is betrayed by a mole who called himself a follower and friend. Those who were known as spiritual leaders of Israel plotted to seize and kill Jesus under darkness of night so not to rile the interests and anger of the people. When Jesus is arrested, his followers flee his side and are scattered in fear and confusion. One disciple denied he ever knew Jesus. Only one disciple was found near Jesus at his execution. He was tried in a “kangaroo court,” being passed from authority figure to authority figure, none of whom really wanted anything to do with justice. Jesus was convicted for crimes that were trumped up by leaders who felt threatened by Jesus’ claims and teaching. At the end, Jesus was punished, not for his crimes, but for the sins of others.

In church circles today we often hear the words, “Jesus died for our sins.” These words are easily said but can lose their punch when we fail to recognize what happened as Jesus approached the cross with all its humiliation, mockery, spit, false accusations, and—on Jesus’ part— his silence. Could this scene be more “just” than it appears? Several decades after Jesus’ death, Paul writes to a church in Rome.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood… God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3.23-26