True Crime in 2024: A Year of Justice Restored
True crime is often viewed as a harmless distraction, mere entertainment. However, this genre is critically important to our democracy, and our faith in the justice system is crucial to its functioning. As 2024 comes to a close, there are reasons to be optimistic that justice took precedence over drama in true crime cases.
The year began with a hearing in a notorious murder case in South Carolina, where Alex Murdaugh sought a new trial for alleged jury tampering. Despite his history of corruption and financial malfeasance, Murdaugh’s motion was denied, and he now sits in prison for life.
In January, it was the 25th anniversary of the murder of Hae Min Lee by Adnan Syed, a case that was famously featured on the “Serial” podcast. However, the Maryland Supreme Court reversed the decision of then-Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who had vacated Syed’s conviction, and Syed was once again found guilty.
In another high-profile case, the murderer of two teenage girls, Libby German and Abby Williams, was finally brought to justice in Delphi, Indiana. Richard Allen’s trial was marred by his lawyers’ attempts to turn the case into a circus, but the jury was ultimately swayed by the evidence, including Allen’s own confessions.
These cases demonstrate the importance of an impartial and functioning justice system. As people’s faith in institutions wanes, it is more crucial than ever that the courts deliver justice free from prejudice. Here’s hoping for more justice in 2025.