SCRIPT – TIME CODED
0” – 16” blank screen.
16” - 22” Photos from court records
OPENING PIX (16”)
Meet two men.
Convicted as children.
Both have different stories,
22” – 45” own filming
PRISON PIX( 22”)
both got the same sentence.
In America, for murder, children are treated as adults.
A lifetime behind bars.
But should they get a second chance?
Almost 2 decades ago, when only 14, Alfonza Smalls made a choice he can—never undo.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (44”)
“I can’t even put into words the regret I feel”
46” – 1’02” Photos from court records
SUPERMARKET PIX (46”)
Outside this supermarket -- Urged on by his 18 year old friend --- alfonza took part in the carjacking of dorothy lewis and her two young daughters.
1’02”- 1’28 own filming
STREET FOOTAGE (1’02”
At gunpoint they drove them to this isolated road.
PTC (1’07”)
It was here that dorothy lewis was raped, shot and left for dead. Alfonza smalls and his friend then drove a bit further with three year old jasmine and seven year old jamilya both in the car screaming for their mother. Both were then shot in the head and their bodies thrown into the bushes. It was a truly brutal crime.
1’29” – 1’41 footage from previous TV coverage
FOOTAGE OF THEM AS BOYS (1’29”)
Alfonza's 18 year old friend Richard Henyard was executed.
Alfonza was too young for the death penalty so he was sentenced to life without parole.
1’42 – 2’50” own filming
PRISON PIX (BARBED WIRE) (1’42)
Now at 32 Alfonza says he looks back on what he did with horror.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (1’50”)
"For the part I played, I hold myself 100% responsible for what I did. I did that, you know he didn’t hold my hand and walk me to that car, I walked to that car on my own.”
MY QUESTION (2’02”)
“Why do you think you deserve a second chance.”
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (2’04”)
“The nature of crime says no I don’t deserve a second chance, but I would like to be given another chance, that’s not to say I will.”
PRISON PIX (2’12”)
Across America there are thousands who’ve been sentenced when children to grow up, grow old and die in prison.
We-got rare prison access in Florida.
These boys are awaiting trial so we can't show you their faces.
They're too young to vote, they're too young to drink. But for murder/ - children as young as 13 are considered adults.
The supreme court is deciding whether to change that - no other country// has juveniles-serving life without parole.
2’50 – 3’02” footage from previous news coverage
In Britain, no one can forget the murder of toddler Jamie Bulger’s. His young killers both served 8 years in custody and got a chance for rehabilitation.
3’02 – 5’40 own filming
In America, the system says Alfonza can never be released.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (3’08”)
"My biggest fear is dying in prison. That’s really the only fear I have."
DOROTHY LEWIS (side shot) (3’14”)
Dorothy Lewis survived the attack by Alfonza and his friend - despite being shot in the head 3 times.
MY QUESTION (3’22”)
“Do you think that, given that he was 14 at the time, he deserves the hope of a second chance?”
SOUNDBITE DOROTHY LEWIS (3’29”)
“I think his second chance is having life. That’s how I feel about that, I mean he was 14, but he knew what he was doing. So he still has hope, he has hope because he’s living, my daughters aren’t.”
A QUICK Q AND A: 3’52”
“We have some video of him, so maybe we could show that to you, and you can tell us what you think.”
“I’d like that.”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what he looks like now.”
DOROTHY LEWIS SIDE SHOT (4’11)
This is the first time Dorothy has seen Alfonza--since the trial.
MY QUESTION TO ALFONZA SMALLS (4’16”)
“What would you say to Dorothy Lewis if she were sitting here?”
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (4’22”)
“All I can do is apologise, which you know a mere apology, it can’t bring back her loss, but all I can do is apologise and ask that she forgive me for what happened. That’s all. I have nothing else to offer.”
DOROTHY LEWIS BREAKING DOWN (4’41”)
SOUNDBITE DOROTHY LEWIS (4’50”)
“He says that he deserves a second chance, and again I feel like him having his life is a second chance and he wants to know how could he prove that he is being rehabilitated if he doesn’t get a chance to get out in society. Well he can prove that where he is.
I’m glad that he knows what he did is wrong. I’m glad that he manned up to that, but I think he needs to stay where he is.”
SHOT OF DOROTHY LEWIS (5’29”)
It’s hard not to agree with Dorothy.
It’s almost impossible to empathise with Alfonza.
5’40 – 5’45 footage from previous news coverage
On such a crime – most people’s instinct is
5’45 – 7’04 own filming
… lets just throw away the key.
But advocates say age should be a mitigating factor.
SOUNDBITE JODY KENT/DIRECTOR/ FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH (5’52”)
"If we look back on our own teenage years, I’m sure we can all come up with examples of things that we did that frankly we would regret now and that we wouldn’t do now. And so common sense really tells us that we don’t know what these young people are going to be like decades later and we need to have an opportunity to check in on them after they have served time and after they have been held accountable.”
INSIDE PRISON PIX (6’13”)
It’s only relatively recently the supreme court ruled children couldn’t be executed.
In many states life without parole is a mandatory minimum whatever your age.
And murder is broadly defined – you can be convicted of it, even if you didn’t kill someone.
COURT HOUSE (6’33”)
In Florida there’s no sentencing discretion - a judge has no choice once a person is found guilty.
SOUNDBITE JUDGE MARK HILL (6’41”)
“Sometimes you need discretion. That’s what judging is all about, is discretion, looking at each case separately and the facts surrounding it separately and then making a decision on those facts, and mandatory sentences do not provide that.”
COURT HOUSE (6’57”)
It was here, that Judge hill sentenced Alfonza.
And it was also here he sentenced Devin Jarrett.
7’04” – 7’33” pictures and video from court records
CRIME SCENE PIX (7’04)
At 16, Devin was charged with felony murder.
A robbery went wrong. Devin’s friend killed a man.
Devin didn’t pull the trigger. He was sitting in the back of the getaway car.
But In Florida, it doesn’t matter.
Felony murder means - he was there, he was involved.
That’s automatically – a lifetime in jail, with no review.
7’33 – 8’13” own filming
SOUNDBITE DEVIN JARRETT (7’33”)
"I didn't think they were going to have me in forever. I didn't kill nobody. That was my one thing, I could see if I killed somebody, but I ain't killed nobody."
DEVIN JARRETT CUTAWAYS (7’43”)
Devin’s childhood was difficult – his father was a junkie. His mother tried to protect him.
He says he got in with the wrong crowd - he wanted to be cool.
SOUNDBITE DEVIN JARRETT (7’55”)
“I understand now as an adult that an adolescent is quick to rush into things without thinking, but an adult takes his time and makes rational decision about what he do. And on impulse when I was a teenager I jumped into things that I really didn’t see through.”
8’13 – 8’27 video footage from court records
TRIAL FOOTAGE (8’13)
At his trial Devin was confronted with the consequences of his actions.
16 years on he still talks about … if only….
8’27 – 11’01 own filming
DEVIN SOUNDBITE (8’27”)
“If I could change the whole scenario, if I could change everything that led up to them events, I would go back and take every one of them back. You know, I would have listened to my mother, I’d do anyting possible to make that happen.”
MY QUESTION (8’50”)
“If you had had discretion would you have sentenced Devin differently?”
SOUNDBITE JUDGE MARK HILL (8’55”)
“You know at the time I may have just gone ahead and sentenced him to life but as I sat on the bench longer, seen more cases, seen the studies about children and how they think and how they think differently from you and I. Today I may not have.
But Alfonza Smalls, not that crime, and particularly after what they did after the crime. As a trophy they were showing her undergarments saying ‘we got a bitch tonight’, very cruel, very heartless, very cold.”
ALFONZA SMALLS IN PRISON (9’33)
Now the Supreme Court has to decide whether Alfonza and others deserve the hope of a second chance.
Alfonza’s actions were horrific.
But he was also this boy.
Just three months before the crime he’d written this note in class.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA READING NOTE (9’52)
“ ‘Goals for the year. Hi, my name is Alfonza Smalls. I plan on not getting in trouble no more. I hope to make the honour role this year. The reason I made bad grades last year is because I never did my work, I never did my homework. I always was talking in class. But I plan on making this a better year. But I’m running out of words to say, so bye. Alfonza Smalls’. Wow that was a long time ago, wasn’t it.”
ALFONZA SMALLS FINAL SHOTS (10’37)
A haunting message to the man from the boy – he can hardly remember that moment of innocence.
Life without parole is a final judgement. It doesn't allow for change, and right now inAmerica it doesn't allow for age.
Dumeetha Luthra Channel 4 News Florida
END 11’01
0” – 16” blank screen.
16” - 22” Photos from court records
OPENING PIX (16”)
Meet two men.
Convicted as children.
Both have different stories,
22” – 45” own filming
PRISON PIX( 22”)
both got the same sentence.
In America, for murder, children are treated as adults.
A lifetime behind bars.
But should they get a second chance?
Almost 2 decades ago, when only 14, Alfonza Smalls made a choice he can—never undo.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (44”)
“I can’t even put into words the regret I feel”
46” – 1’02” Photos from court records
SUPERMARKET PIX (46”)
Outside this supermarket -- Urged on by his 18 year old friend --- alfonza took part in the carjacking of dorothy lewis and her two young daughters.
1’02”- 1’28 own filming
STREET FOOTAGE (1’02”
At gunpoint they drove them to this isolated road.
PTC (1’07”)
It was here that dorothy lewis was raped, shot and left for dead. Alfonza smalls and his friend then drove a bit further with three year old jasmine and seven year old jamilya both in the car screaming for their mother. Both were then shot in the head and their bodies thrown into the bushes. It was a truly brutal crime.
1’29” – 1’41 footage from previous TV coverage
FOOTAGE OF THEM AS BOYS (1’29”)
Alfonza's 18 year old friend Richard Henyard was executed.
Alfonza was too young for the death penalty so he was sentenced to life without parole.
1’42 – 2’50” own filming
PRISON PIX (BARBED WIRE) (1’42)
Now at 32 Alfonza says he looks back on what he did with horror.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (1’50”)
"For the part I played, I hold myself 100% responsible for what I did. I did that, you know he didn’t hold my hand and walk me to that car, I walked to that car on my own.”
MY QUESTION (2’02”)
“Why do you think you deserve a second chance.”
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (2’04”)
“The nature of crime says no I don’t deserve a second chance, but I would like to be given another chance, that’s not to say I will.”
PRISON PIX (2’12”)
Across America there are thousands who’ve been sentenced when children to grow up, grow old and die in prison.
We-got rare prison access in Florida.
These boys are awaiting trial so we can't show you their faces.
They're too young to vote, they're too young to drink. But for murder/ - children as young as 13 are considered adults.
The supreme court is deciding whether to change that - no other country// has juveniles-serving life without parole.
2’50 – 3’02” footage from previous news coverage
In Britain, no one can forget the murder of toddler Jamie Bulger’s. His young killers both served 8 years in custody and got a chance for rehabilitation.
3’02 – 5’40 own filming
In America, the system says Alfonza can never be released.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (3’08”)
"My biggest fear is dying in prison. That’s really the only fear I have."
DOROTHY LEWIS (side shot) (3’14”)
Dorothy Lewis survived the attack by Alfonza and his friend - despite being shot in the head 3 times.
MY QUESTION (3’22”)
“Do you think that, given that he was 14 at the time, he deserves the hope of a second chance?”
SOUNDBITE DOROTHY LEWIS (3’29”)
“I think his second chance is having life. That’s how I feel about that, I mean he was 14, but he knew what he was doing. So he still has hope, he has hope because he’s living, my daughters aren’t.”
A QUICK Q AND A: 3’52”
“We have some video of him, so maybe we could show that to you, and you can tell us what you think.”
“I’d like that.”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what he looks like now.”
DOROTHY LEWIS SIDE SHOT (4’11)
This is the first time Dorothy has seen Alfonza--since the trial.
MY QUESTION TO ALFONZA SMALLS (4’16”)
“What would you say to Dorothy Lewis if she were sitting here?”
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA SMALLS (4’22”)
“All I can do is apologise, which you know a mere apology, it can’t bring back her loss, but all I can do is apologise and ask that she forgive me for what happened. That’s all. I have nothing else to offer.”
DOROTHY LEWIS BREAKING DOWN (4’41”)
SOUNDBITE DOROTHY LEWIS (4’50”)
“He says that he deserves a second chance, and again I feel like him having his life is a second chance and he wants to know how could he prove that he is being rehabilitated if he doesn’t get a chance to get out in society. Well he can prove that where he is.
I’m glad that he knows what he did is wrong. I’m glad that he manned up to that, but I think he needs to stay where he is.”
SHOT OF DOROTHY LEWIS (5’29”)
It’s hard not to agree with Dorothy.
It’s almost impossible to empathise with Alfonza.
5’40 – 5’45 footage from previous news coverage
On such a crime – most people’s instinct is
5’45 – 7’04 own filming
… lets just throw away the key.
But advocates say age should be a mitigating factor.
SOUNDBITE JODY KENT/DIRECTOR/ FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH (5’52”)
"If we look back on our own teenage years, I’m sure we can all come up with examples of things that we did that frankly we would regret now and that we wouldn’t do now. And so common sense really tells us that we don’t know what these young people are going to be like decades later and we need to have an opportunity to check in on them after they have served time and after they have been held accountable.”
INSIDE PRISON PIX (6’13”)
It’s only relatively recently the supreme court ruled children couldn’t be executed.
In many states life without parole is a mandatory minimum whatever your age.
And murder is broadly defined – you can be convicted of it, even if you didn’t kill someone.
COURT HOUSE (6’33”)
In Florida there’s no sentencing discretion - a judge has no choice once a person is found guilty.
SOUNDBITE JUDGE MARK HILL (6’41”)
“Sometimes you need discretion. That’s what judging is all about, is discretion, looking at each case separately and the facts surrounding it separately and then making a decision on those facts, and mandatory sentences do not provide that.”
COURT HOUSE (6’57”)
It was here, that Judge hill sentenced Alfonza.
And it was also here he sentenced Devin Jarrett.
7’04” – 7’33” pictures and video from court records
CRIME SCENE PIX (7’04)
At 16, Devin was charged with felony murder.
A robbery went wrong. Devin’s friend killed a man.
Devin didn’t pull the trigger. He was sitting in the back of the getaway car.
But In Florida, it doesn’t matter.
Felony murder means - he was there, he was involved.
That’s automatically – a lifetime in jail, with no review.
7’33 – 8’13” own filming
SOUNDBITE DEVIN JARRETT (7’33”)
"I didn't think they were going to have me in forever. I didn't kill nobody. That was my one thing, I could see if I killed somebody, but I ain't killed nobody."
DEVIN JARRETT CUTAWAYS (7’43”)
Devin’s childhood was difficult – his father was a junkie. His mother tried to protect him.
He says he got in with the wrong crowd - he wanted to be cool.
SOUNDBITE DEVIN JARRETT (7’55”)
“I understand now as an adult that an adolescent is quick to rush into things without thinking, but an adult takes his time and makes rational decision about what he do. And on impulse when I was a teenager I jumped into things that I really didn’t see through.”
8’13 – 8’27 video footage from court records
TRIAL FOOTAGE (8’13)
At his trial Devin was confronted with the consequences of his actions.
16 years on he still talks about … if only….
8’27 – 11’01 own filming
DEVIN SOUNDBITE (8’27”)
“If I could change the whole scenario, if I could change everything that led up to them events, I would go back and take every one of them back. You know, I would have listened to my mother, I’d do anyting possible to make that happen.”
MY QUESTION (8’50”)
“If you had had discretion would you have sentenced Devin differently?”
SOUNDBITE JUDGE MARK HILL (8’55”)
“You know at the time I may have just gone ahead and sentenced him to life but as I sat on the bench longer, seen more cases, seen the studies about children and how they think and how they think differently from you and I. Today I may not have.
But Alfonza Smalls, not that crime, and particularly after what they did after the crime. As a trophy they were showing her undergarments saying ‘we got a bitch tonight’, very cruel, very heartless, very cold.”
ALFONZA SMALLS IN PRISON (9’33)
Now the Supreme Court has to decide whether Alfonza and others deserve the hope of a second chance.
Alfonza’s actions were horrific.
But he was also this boy.
Just three months before the crime he’d written this note in class.
SOUNDBITE ALFONZA READING NOTE (9’52)
“ ‘Goals for the year. Hi, my name is Alfonza Smalls. I plan on not getting in trouble no more. I hope to make the honour role this year. The reason I made bad grades last year is because I never did my work, I never did my homework. I always was talking in class. But I plan on making this a better year. But I’m running out of words to say, so bye. Alfonza Smalls’. Wow that was a long time ago, wasn’t it.”
ALFONZA SMALLS FINAL SHOTS (10’37)
A haunting message to the man from the boy – he can hardly remember that moment of innocence.
Life without parole is a final judgement. It doesn't allow for change, and right now inAmerica it doesn't allow for age.
Dumeetha Luthra Channel 4 News Florida
END 11’01