NOVA: The Killer's Trail - Murder Mystery of the Century on AllMovie

With modern methods and precise science, Nova gets scientific to catch a killer. Nova: Murder Mystery of the Century takes the viewer behind the scenes of the case of Dr. Sam Sheppard. Accused of killing his wife Marilyn in 1954, Sheppard was tried not once, but twice. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Ten years later, Sheppard was released by the Supreme Court due to errors in the trial, but his reprieve was short-lived. He was set to go to court again only this time he would have the magnanimous F. Lee Bailey on his side. With a stronger defense and an unbiased jury, Sheppard finally won his freedom in 1966. Nova explores all angles of the case, from forensic evidence to the newly suspected limping culprit. Using the Sheppard trial as an example, PBS shows that criminology has come a long way.