Netflix’s hit documentary series Making a Murderer has brought true crime back as a hot genre for television, but CBS is learning the hard way that you have to be careful when making conclusions about the crime you’re covering. The network just aired their two part documentary The Case Of: JonBenét Ramsey and (spoiler alert) basically pinned the crime on JonBenét’s brother Burke, who was 9 at the time. In response, longtime Ramsey lawyer L. Lin Wood has said he plans to sue the network.
“I will be filing a lawsuit on behalf of Burke Ramsey,” Wood told Reuters. “CBS’ false and unprofessional attacks on this young man are disgusting and revolting.”
There’s been so much information and misinformation peddled about the JonBenét Ramsey case that a definitive refresher on all the evidence 20 years later was welcome. But CBS went further than that, featuring a panel of experts claiming Burke hit his sister in the head with a heavy object while parents John and Patsy covered for him with stories of an intruder.
Now 29 years old, Burke Ramsey appeared on Dr. Phil to defend himself from the accusations. He denied having anything to do with her death and thinks it was “probably some pedophile in the pageant audience” that killed her.
The CBS response to Wood’s lawsuit was short and simple. “CBS stands by the broadcast and will do so in court.”
(Via Reuters)
