Where is he now? About this Event. Rath: So how did it come to be the case that Sean Ellis ended up being charged in this horrible crime? He's now a free man, and the subject of a Netflix docuseries, Trial 4. Sean Ellis (Netflix) Netflix's new limited docuseries, 'Trial 4', will tell the story of a man who says he was wrongly convicted of murdering a police officer when he was just 19. Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, Alaska Town Now Vaccinating Everyone 16 And Older, FDA Authorizes Johnson & Johnson's One-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine, A 'Lamborghini' Of Chariots Is Discovered At Pompeii. Netflix's 'Trial 4' spotlights the case of Sean Ellis, who served more than 22 years in prison for the murder of John Mulligan before being exonerated. Netflix: Release; Original release: November 11, 2020 () Trial 4 is a 2020 true crime documentary television series directed by Rémy Burkel. Ellis … Netflix In 1995, Sean Ellis was sentenced in life in prison for the murder of a Boston police detective. GBH State House reporter Mike Deehan analyzed the legislature's hearing on the governor's pandemic response. Now Comes The Recovery, And It Won't Be Cheap. As you can imagine, dozens of police cars came on the scene, and that's where they found John Mulligan, shot five times. Ellis' lawyer Rosemary Scappichio ultimately filed a motion for her client's case to be retried on the basis of multiple federal corruption charge indictments of the officers leading Mulligan's murder investigation. It's good that he did not have to remain in jail, but the bad, according to him and his attorney, is that he did not have an opportunity to exonerate himself. On 'The Innocence Files,' Discredited Dentist Michael West Sticks to His Guns. Since 1998, DVD Netflix has been the premier DVD-by-mail rental service. Sean Ellis movies and TV shows. Why would he carry out this murder? A conversation the evening of December 8 with Sean Ellis and discussion about the Netflix Documentary, Trial 4 . The eight-part Netflix series was exhaustive and detailed in its exploration of all of this backstory, and was filmed while Sean Ellis awaited a … Donors make that happen, and every donor counts. Mulligan made a lot of people angry on the streets. The only way you could describe it is as an execution-style murder. The arrest led to a series of four trials over the course of the next 20 years, the last of which is the focus of the Netflix series. But problems still remain within the Boston Police Department that are still unaddressed, including who actually shot John Mulligan, and why was this murder attributed to Sean Ellis with no examination of some of the discovery that was uncovered by Rosemary Scapicchio and others that pointed to others who could have been involved in this case? Trial 4 on Netflix is about Sean K. Ellis, who spent 22 years in prison after being convicted of the 1993 murder of Boston police detective, John Mulligan. Nearly 30 years ago, Sean Ellis, a young Black man, was accused of killing white Boston police detective, John Mulligan. In October 1993, the then 19-year-old black man was arrested for the murder of a white police officer. Where Is 'The Innocence Files' Subject Kenneth Wyniemko Today? Could you speak to that point, of what policing was like in Boston circa 1993? He is a trustee of the New England Innocence Project, a 2020-2021 Tufts University Institute for Nonprofit Practice fellow, and works at Community Servings, a nonprofit that provides meals to homebound Bostonians. The sad story concerns Sean K Ellis, who, at the age 19, was accused and convicted of the murder of a white police detective, John Mulligan. But as it is, I largely appear in these docuseries at the time that DA Rollins is running a very extraordinary race between several candidates of very different personalities, where folks believe, particularly the American Civil Liberties Union, that a DA can make all the difference in the world in terms of how justice is meted out and even defined. They felt they could have shown that the gun, which was allegedly taken by Sean Ellis, was not taken by Sean Ellis, and they felt that was a setup, eventually resulting in his complete exoneration rather than having this case still hanging over his head. He was in the company of another young man, and they were basically implicated in the case. At this point, Ellis was released from prison on bail after having been behind bars for more than 20 years. Netflix documentary Trial 4 shows Sean facing three different trials - with the first two resulting in hung juries and mistrials - before he … Martin: That's right. She started to look at the Sean Ellis case, and she saw a lot of things that are problematic, including some of the things I've described here. He's now a free man, and the subject of a Netflix docuseries, Trial 4. Netflix's 'Trial 4' delves … We expect Mr. Sean Ellis and one of his attorneys Jillise McDonough, Esq to attend. Rachael Rollins ran for the district attorney's office and won. Is El Chapo's Wife the Most Ride-or-Die Woman Ever? Make your movie list and get Blu-rays and DVDs conveniently delivered to you with free shipping both ways. November 16, 2020 - 12:36 GMT Francesca Shillcock Netflix 's new true crime series Trial 4 has both gripped and shocked fans since it appeared on the streaming platform last week. Learn more about Ellis on Trial 4, now streaming on Netflix. A conversation with Sean K. Ellis and discussion about the Netflix Documentary, Trial 4, led by Prof. Stephanie Roberts Hartung About this Event This Zoom event is organized by the Needham Diversity Initiative. The eight-episode docuseries is the latest of the platform's true crime releases and unpacks Ellis's case in the months ahead of his fourth trial. The first two, which took place in 1995, ended in hung juries. So you had a police department in 1993 that was riven with corruption. ET Netflix's Trial 4 follows the life of Sean Ellis, who spent more than two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. Sean has been focusing "on his large extended family in the Boston area and his growing circle of friends." "The death of a police officer, it's not handled like other homicides," we hear in the trailer for Trial 4. Authorities said that he wasn't just there to buy Pampers, as Ellis had said, but that he actually had carried out this murder. In 2018, a Suffolk Superior Court judge formally ended the prosecution of Sean Ellis and he was set free. The former Suffolk County DA, Dan Conley, was intent on trying Sean Ellis again. His dramatic story is detailed in the new Netflix documentary entitled “Trial 4.” Ellis was a teen when he was charged with the execution … Over the course of this docuseries, they show that stealing the gun was implausible. Now, Sean Ellis felt and his lawyer felt that if a fourth trial had occurred, they could have shown the corruption in the police department, and they could have shown and implicated John Mulligan in that corruption. So he had a lot of enemies. Ellis' fourth trial was scheduled for 2019 but never took place. He was supposed to have another trial, right? Archaeologists Are Wowed, Scientists Talked To People In Their Dreams. This was personal. Rath: Before we let you go, I've got to ask you about about you, because you're in this docuseries. The documentary shows Sean facing three different trials … Martin: That's right, and that trial would have been around now. Keep reading to find out what happened to him in 2018. Phillip Martin on Trial 4 Nearly 30 years ago, Sean Ellis, a young Black man, was accused of killing white Boston police detective, John Mulligan. But where is Sean Ellis today? The eight-episode series tells the story of Sean Ellis, a man who has spent over 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The true story behind Netflix's addictive new true crime documentary, Trial 4. Gail Samuel is set to become CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in June. Sean Ellis' story becomes a Netflix docuseries about police misconduct and systemic injustice. Rath: There's obviously a lot of detail, because this is an eight-part docuseries. Every day GBH News journalists and program hosts come together to deliver timely information and intelligent analysis about what today’s news means to our community and our culture, for free to everyone. But where is Sean Ellis today? As viewers of the new Netflix docuseries, “Trial 4,” take in the story of Sean Ellis and the 1993 Boston murder that sent him to prison … November 11, 2020 Netflix's new docuseries Trial 4 peers inside the case of Sean Ellis, a man who spent 22 years in prison for a crime he insists he did not commit. For Sean Ellis, that was both good and bad. Charged as a teen in the 1993 killing of a Boston cop, Sean K. Ellis fights to prove his innocence while exposing police corruption and systemic racism. What made the difference was a new district attorney. Sean spent 22 years in jail after being imprisoned at the age of 19. It tells the story of Sean K. Ellis, who was unjustly convicted as a teen in the 1993 killing of Boston police officer John J. Mulligan. They claimed that Patterson had killed Detective Mulligan and had engaged his friend Sean Ellis, and together this joint enterprise of murder had taken place. Rath: Right, because after the charges were thrown out and Ellis was freed. There were a lot of things about this case that make absolutely no sense, and the docuseries does better than most in showing why it's problematic. But in shorthand, there are a lot of issues around police corruption. But Patterson was ultimately released from prison in 2007 after being granted a new trial by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, who decided that he had been deprived of crucial evidence. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. But Conley quit and started working for a law firm. Trial 4 has gripped viewers since arriving on Netflix (Image: Netflix) The police department says they've done a great job since then of cleaning up a lot of that corruption, and that's no doubt true. They Answered, The Power Is Back On In Texas. Martin: If it it were a movie, it would be a supporting role or a cameo. The series quickly caught the interest of viewers from around the world, becoming Netflix’s #3 most-watched TV series in early November and remaining in the top 10 for weeks thereafter. His friend, Terry Patterson, it was alleged, according to police, had basically wanted to steal the officer's gun. The eight-episode docuseries is the latest of the platform's true crime releases and unpacks Ellis's case in the months ahead of his fourth trial. Ellis was wrongfully convicted and spent more than 20 years in prison. Pappas and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, even though they decided not to pursue the case to a fourth trial, said that they felt that beyond question, Ellis is guilty. Conspiracy Theorists Don't Think So. Patterson was indeed convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm and sentenced to life behind bars in February 1999. Ellis was wrongfully convicted and spent more than 20 years in prison. This transcript has been edited for clarity. Anthropoid. Martin: According to his defense attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio, Ellis had gone to this Walgreens at about three o'clock in the morning to buy Pampers for his cousin, who he lived with. Sean spent 22 years in jail after being imprisoned at the age of 19. There's still a gun charge on his record, he's still charged with having taken this gun from Detective Mulligan. Netflix documentary Trial 4 shows Sean facing three different trials – with the first two resulting in hung juries and mistrials – before he was found guilty. 22 Years Later the Charges Were Dropped. NETFLIX © 2020 Following a summer of Black Lives Matter protests over the murders of … And that also explains, and this may lead to the next question, of why there was no new trial. Join for a free month. Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders) stars in a six-part mystery. Cr. So my role is basically covering the race for district attorney and taking a deeper dive into the Ellis case and basically trying to ask questions. © Provided by Refinery29 Sean Ellis in episode 1 (Chapter 1) of Trial Four. Sean Ellis (Netflix) In Netflix's latest docuseries, we meet Sean Ellis who was just 19 years old in 1993 when he was convicted of the murder of Boston Police Department's Detective John Mulligan who had been with BPD for 17 years. Phyllis Broker Convinced a Jury to Put Sean Ellis in Prison For Life. At that time, you had several police officers involved in this case, Kenneth Acerra, Walter Robinson and John Brazil. No one was sure who could have done this, but it was clear that it was someone who did not like John Mulligan. In fact, his large family is set to get even larger, as he plans to "wed a colleague at Community Servings" in 2021. Now they were trying to find a motive. This Zoom event is organized by the Needham Diversity Initiative. Netflix’s latest true crime documentary, Trial 4, has gripped and upset viewers since it arrived on the streaming platform. In 2013, after her initial motion was denied, Scappichio filed for a retrial once again, which was granted in 2015. Amesbury Council on Aging director Doreen Arnfield is among the senior advocates calling for changes to the state's vaccine rollout. Netflix's "Trial 4" tells the story of Sean Ellis, who spent 22 years behind bars, three trials, two hung juries, and a release on bail. We couldn't do it without you. It was later determined that they were working in collaboration with John Mulligan. He too was corrupt. It was in the early morning hours in September 1993, the call was basically that a police officer had been shot sitting in his car outside a Walgreens. Two of these officers, Acerra and Robinson, were later sent to prison for corruption. Ellis and his defense team maintained his innocence all the while, saying that the friend he was with at the Walgreens where Mulligan was killed acted alone in murdering the detective. Support GBH. If you can right now, please consider a donation in any amount. He discussed the case and where it stands with GBH All Things Considered host Arun Rath. When do we see Phillip Martin, and what role are you playing in this documentary? Who is Sean Ellis? Produced in Boston, shared with the world. But for those who might not know, tell us the basic facts of this case, this officer who was killed. The Broken. Sean Ellis spent 21 years, seven months and 29 days imprisoned for a crime he has always said he did not commit. 'The Innocence Files' Thomas Haynesworth Exemplifies Resilience in Tragedy, Get Ready to Super Follow Your Faves on Twitter. Yes, Helen Keller Was Real and Yes, She Did Write All of Those Books, Are Penn and Teller Still Alive? It was pretty horrific. The eight-part docuseries will feature Sean Ellis as he faces his fourth trial — 25 years after he was first tried in 1995 — as he may end up going back to prison. ... of Sean Ellis for the 1993 murder of Boston police detective John Mulligan -- certainly resonates Arun Rath: I think that people who are old enough will probably remember this very well, even though it was back in 1993. With regard to his personal life, 41-year-old Ellis has now learned to drive and is readjusting to civilian life, according to the website his longtime friend and former criminal justice researcher Elaine Alice Murphy started for him. The third trial, which happened in September 1995, found Ellis guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery, and gave him a life sentence. So the role I play largely is that of the role I play every day, which is that of reporter, investigator and analyst. In 1993, then 19-year-old Ellis was charged with the murder of Boston police detective John Mulligan, who was shot many times in the head while sleeping in his car. Nov. 13 2020, Published 2:06 p.m. A High School Prepares To Bring Students Back. If you love true crime, then you should check out Trial 4 on Netflix. Quite often those he deemed as criminal were young African Americans, Latinos, and oftentimes young women who he had a reputation for victimizing. GBH News reporter Phillip Martin has been covering Ellis for years and is featured in Trial 4. He was flamboyant, and he was brutal to those he deemed as criminal. Ellis has maintained his innocence from the start. Before she took office, the acting Suffolk County DA John Pappas said they would not pursue a fourth trial for Sean Ellis. Unlimited movies sent to your door, starting at $7.99 a month. Phillip Martin is a senior investigative reporter for the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. What his attorney would like to do right now is to have that charge dismissed. Since being released from prison, Ellis has dedicated a lot of his time to criminal justice reforms. In November 2020, Netflix released “Trial 4,” an original, eight-part documentary series about the Sean Ellis case produced by Gaumont and What’s Up Films. In December 2018, the Suffolk County District Attorney dismissed the case, citing the unreliable witnesses who had been indicted for corruption. Cashback. True crime fans have a new series to binge: The Netflix docuseries Trial 4, which premiered on Wednesday, Nov. 11, follows Sean Ellis, a Boston man facing his fourth trial for murdering a police officer as he "fights to prove his innocence and expose the police corruption that unjustly put him away for 22 years.”Ellis is now a free man, but apparently, hasn’t gotten … The low vaccination rates are a weakness in a system that has contributed to the deaths of at least 19 people in state prisons, advocates say. Arun Rath is the host of WGBH News' All Things Considered. Sean Ellis was released 22 years later Credit: Netflix. Two decades later, he was freed when all … Netflix's Trial 4 follows the life of Sean Ellis, who spent more than two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. Phillip Martin: It was shocking.