Product Details

• Actors: Mumia Abu-Jamal
• Directors: John Edginton
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Unknown)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Fox Lorber
• DVD Release Date: February 26, 1999
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305228906
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,632 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt joins the likes of The Thin Blue Line, Brother's Keeper, and Paradise Lost in its depiction of a justice system that is sometimes not conscientious about whom it convicts. Mumia Abu-Jamal had been on death row for 14 years at the time this film was made in 1996, following his conviction in the shooting death of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Yet the film makes a persuasive case that events, as told by eyewitnesses whose original statements are claimed to have been either coerced by the police or concocted to please the prosecution, did not unfold the way the investigating officers say they did. A "confession" the police claim they got from Mumia in the hospital (both he and Faulkner were shot) never happened, according to the attending physician who was with Mumia the whole time. Forensic evidence suggests the murder weapon was not the one carried by Mumia, who worked nights as a cab driver, and in any case the weapon had no prints on it. The judge on the case was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and had the largest murder conviction record of any judge in the country. On the other hand, Mumia, formerly a member of the Black Panthers, refuses to give a full account of what happened the night of December 9, 1981, when the murder occurred. The seeds of doubt sowed by this film should be enough to make anyone crave knowing what really happened. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lack of a "fair" trial does not equal innocence, March 18, 2004

By 

Traveler (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt (DVD)

As a [Edit: FORMER] hardcore progressive activist (involved in the peace movement, oppose the death penality, etc.), I've followed the Mumia situation for quite some time. However, I've been troubled, not by the pro-death penality advocates, but by the Pro-Mumia movement itself which has repeatedly relied upon lies and manipulation to make a case for Mumia.

There are claims made in this documentary that don't hold up to scrutiny.

The caliber of the gun "not matching" the murder weapon: This claim is based on a hand written note of the initial doctor who saw Faulkner's body who had very little training in ballistics. Afterwards this doctor retracted his statement and stated quite bluntly that he was just guessing. Those trained in ballistics have stated that the bullet that killed Faulker did indeed come from the gun owned by Mumia. It was in fact Mumia's gun which killed officer Faulkner. Did Mumia pull the trigger? We can't be 100 percent sure.

Mumia's brother has not testified on his behalf nor made ANY - EVER - public statement in defense of Mumia. And Mumia's brother was at the scene of the crime. Mumia activists state that the brother won't come forward because of fear of reprisals. This just doesn't make sense. Mumia has been on death row! Couldn't he make a video statement taped in another country which won't extradite him should there be any ramifications from his actions?

Mumia's confession: Pro-Mumia activists claim that the police officer who quotes Mumia confessing to the killing only came forward months after the fact. The argument is that a confession of this importance should have been reported immediately and that this kind of behavior indicates a possible fabrication given the delay. This seems to make sense on its face. However, there was another witness to this incident. A hospital security guard reported within a day or so that Mumia had confessed to the shooting. Pro-Mumia activists point out that the guard was a "friend" of Faulkner. OK, maybe that creates bias, but the fact of the matter is, the guard's statements destroys the attack on on the delayed police report - because there was no delay. This doesn't mean that no one is lying, of course.

The trial: There is in fact evidence to show that Mumia did not receive a fair trial. However, as pointed out by others, Mumia certainly didn't help his case by being disruptive. The man seemed almost intent upon angering the judge and doing everything possible to have himself removed from the court room.

Eyewitnesses: This is perhaps the most problematic portion of either side. Some say Mumia did it, some say he didn't. Some say there was a running man from the scene of the crime. Just about all the witnesses have ulterior motives and could be dismissed as lacking credibility.

Many people don't realize this, but Faulkner had on his body a driver's license which had not been called into the police department. The obvious conclusion is that this license belonged to a third suspect (Mumia, his brother, and someone else). Tracing this license, the police discovered that it belonged to a man with a solid alibi - but he had loaned it to another man who was a friend of Mumia's brother. Voila. Now you have the "running man." Unfortunately, this man has been dead for many years now, killed in an apparent gang shooting.

So did Mumia do it? And did he receive a fully fair trial? The evidence points straight to Mumia as the shooter. However, none of this means he got a fair trial or that the police didn't lie to make their case.

The problem is, Mumia has come to represent much more than a single event. Progressives of all stripes bring this case up as evidence of police lies and manipulation. This is unfortunate. Mumia's case is not as clear cut as activists make it out to be. Even worse, the constant arguing of his innocence damages the credibility of an entire movement which opposes the death penalty and the rampant racism within the US justice system. More than any other case, Mumia has come to represent to death penalty advocates the overall "lies" of the progressive left.

This documentary only contributes further to the damage.

5.0 out of 5 stars TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE, August 6, 2011

By 

Christopher Garrett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt? (DVD)

Mumia Abu-Jamal is an innocent man that has been violated in every way possible by the Philadelphia Police, DA, and F.O.P. This film exposes some of the ways the system gets-its-man. Mumia Abu-Jamal's case is a complete failure, and travesty of justice. This film is compelling, and it will greatly inform viewers of the facts that aren't reported on by the commercial news media. MUMIA ABU-JAMAL MUST BE FREED!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars A lingering case, August 1, 2011

By 

Calvin W. Fergins "Maverick Historic Theologian" (Seminary (Outside Bethlehem, PA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt? (DVD)

I did a paper and presentation on Mumia back about 13 years ago for 9th grade. I was very interested in the case at the time because it was so... strange and shadowy.

This documentary is quite old and doesn't shed too much light on the case than I knew 13 years ago from my research but it is compelling and quite engaging.

Was/is race an issue in this? Yes. They never explained why Mumia's brother was getting attacked by the police and it does appear he did not get a fair trial or appeal process. The other interesting fact is that the FBI was watching him for his Black Panther Party involvement and activity. Racism aside, did Mumia do it?

In the end, we may never know what happened that dark and shady night. All we know is that one man is dead and another is locked up on death row and no one's story completely makes sense given any and all of the evidence.

For crime and mystery buffs, this is worth watching and taking a long time to process and think about.

God, bring justice for what really happened because only You know...