Unarmed Black Male
The tragic story of two American men with troubled backgrounds: One a young black suspected shoplifter – the other the armed police officer sent to intercept him.
Late last year, a highly unusual trial concluded in the United States: A policeman was charged with first degree murder.
US police officer Stephen Rankin had responded to a report of shoplifting at a Walmart store the year before. Minutes after arriving at the premises, he shot and killed the 18 year old black suspect, William Chapman.
Chapman was just one of 306 black men who were killed by police in the US that year, but just 14 police officers faced any charges - Rankin was one of them.
With extraordinary access to the prosecution and defence, as well as Chapman's family and friends and those closest to Officer Rankin, this powerful documentary follows the drama as the trial unfolds. And as the court heard, both Chapman and Rankin had troubled backgrounds leading up to the tragedy of the young man’s death.
(image: Police Officer Stephen Rankin. Permission for use given/Circuit of Virginia.)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Thu 2 Feb 201700:32GMTBBC World Service except News Internet
- Thu 2 Feb 201703:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Thu 2 Feb 201705:32GMTBBC World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East, South Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 2 Feb 201706:32GMTBBC World Service East Asia
- Thu 2 Feb 201707:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Thu 2 Feb 201709:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Thu 2 Feb 201713:32GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & News Internet
- Thu 2 Feb 201719:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Mon 6 Feb 201702:06GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Mon 6 Feb 201707:06GMTBBC World Service East Asia
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes
