Crime Story Editor

In Part 60, Judge Mader discusses the far-reaching implications of the Brock Turner sexual assault case and the challenge of determining the 'correct' sentence for a given crime. June 9 The uproar over the “lenient” sentence for Brock Turner, the sexual assault defendant at Stanford, continues. Vice President Biden wrote a personal letter of support to the victim and called her a “warrior.” Signatures are approaching one million people online urging that Judge Persky be recalled from office. Thankfully, the District Attorney of the county where the crime occurred still supports the judge and said that he would not appeal the...

In Part 59, Judge Mader offers insight into the impact of public opinion on sentencing decisions and offers the details in a particularly brutal murder case as an example of some of the senseless violence that comes before her court. June 7 One more sentencing date this morning for the “Ferrari doing donuts” defendant. His evolving defense, from “sleepwalking” to “sleep-driving” was not believable. The jury had obvious problems with his credibility as it convicted him immediately. When someone puts on a defense that I think is phony, it colors whether I believe him in the future. On the last sentencing date,...

You can find links to all of CRIME STORY’S coverage of the Robert Durst trial here. This episode, The Trial's Key Moment, focuses on the explosive testimony of Emily and Stewart Altman, longtime friends and confidants of Robert Durst. Host Kary Antholis discusses the week's shocking developments with co-host Brittany Bookbinder and Charles V. Bagli, who is covering the trial for The New York Times and CrimeStory.com and who became a part of the trial himself during Emily Altman's testimony.

See all of Amanda Knox and Christopher Robinson's writing and interviews for Crime Story here. Time Banking Can Revolutionize Prison by Amanda Knox with Christopher Robinson Most evenings in Capanne prison, I visited the Nigerian women who called me “America.” They’d greet me with hugs and a juice box. Then I’d translate their court documents and letters from their Italian boyfriends, and write out their saucy responses, translating pidgin English into proper Italian. I did this both out of compassion and self-interest. The social capital I earned through my literacy helped me more safely navigate my prison community. Most of my fellow prisoners...

You can find links to all of CRIME STORY’S coverage of the Robert Durst trial here. In this special breaking news bonus episode, we detail how Robert Durst — for the first time in weeks — stood up at the defense table and made his voice heard.

You can find links to all of CRIME STORY’S coverage of the Robert Durst trial here. In court this week, defense attorney Dick DeGuerin presented a photo of a young Robert Durst and a pretty young woman to illustrate Bob's affection for his missing wife, Kathie, and attempting to cast doubt on suspicions that Durst may have harmed her. The only problem? The woman in the picture isn't Kathie. Host Kary Antholis is joined by Charles V. Bagli, who is reporting on the Durst trial for The New York Times and CrimeStory.com, to discuss this odd misstep.