Truth
Capital punishment seen through the eyes of young people whose lives have been shaped by it. Two teenagers give different accounts of the murder with which they are charged.
Life and Death Row tells the story of capital punishment through the eyes of young people whose lives have been shaped by it. With unprecedented access inside prison walls, it discovers what it's like to live with the threat of the death chamber, as well as hearing from victims and their families, and the family of those on death row - some praying for execution, some hoping for a reprieve. Each episode focuses on different aspects of the system - execution, punishment and the complex nature of 'truth'.
In January 2014, Waynesville, Ohio, 18-year-old Justin Back is brutally murdered in his own home. Two of his 19-year-old friends, Austin Myers and Timothy Mosley, are arrested and charged with his murder. However both give very different versions of events, begging the question, who is telling the truth?
With prosecutors seeking the death penalty for the crime, what will each one do to save themselves from the ultimate punishment? With access to the families of all three boys, the devastating nature of this gruesome crime and it's repercussions are revealed. It's one crime but will there be two different outcomes?
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Who Is Telling The Truth?
Duration: 00:26
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Confession Room
Duration: 00:58
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Justin is dead
Duration: 02:30
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A heartbroken community
Duration: 01:05
Louis Theroux: Docs That Made Me

This documentary is part of Louis Theroux's Favourite Documentaries.
Louis describes the Life and Death Row strand as 'compelling and powerful' but the episode 'Truth' particularly stood out because of the age of the young men and the apparently senseless murder they committed. The viewer is asked to try and understand the perpetrators and their relatives - how they process their acts and adjust to their current situation.
There's a personal connection for Louis Theroux as he worked with this episode's director Ellena Wood on his 2017 documentary about anorexia in London, Talking to Anorexia.
In 2015, Life and Death Row won the RTS Television Award for Best Documentary Series.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Producer | Ellena Wood |
| Director | Ellena Wood |
| Executive Producer | Aysha Rafaele |
| Executive Producer | Fergus O'Brien |
Broadcasts
- Tue 8 Mar 201622:45BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland, Scotland HD, Wales & 1 more
- Tue 8 Mar 201623:10BBC One Wales HD & Wales only
- Tue 8 Mar 201623:15BBC One Northern Ireland HD & Northern Ireland only
- Tue 8 Mar 201623:45BBC One Scotland HD & Scotland only
- Tue 12 Dec 201723:45BBC One except Scotland, Scotland HD, Wales & Wales HD
- Wed 13 Dec 201700:10BBC One Wales HD & Wales only
- Wed 13 Dec 201700:45BBC One Scotland HD & Scotland only
- Mon 29 Aug 202221:00
- Tue 30 Aug 202201:55
- Thu 16 Mar 202321:00
- Fri 17 Mar 202301:10
- Fri 29 Sep 202321:00
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