Oscar Contender ‘American Justice On Trial’ Reveals Remarkable Legacy Of Huey Newton Murder Case

deadline.com:

More than 50 years have passed since Black Panthers Party co-founder Huey Newton entered an Oakland courtroom facing a murder charge, but his trial continues to influence the American legal system.

The impact of the sensational case comes into focus in the short documentary American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton, directed by Andrew Abrahams and Herb Ferrette, and written by Lise Pearlman (based on her book The Sky’s the Limit).

It was produced by Abrahams and Pearlman. The film has earned a spot on the coveted Oscar shortlist despite lacking distribution. “When we think about great trials, we don’t think of this one,” Abrahams tells Deadline. “But when you start to look at it, it actually is.” The film dials back to 1967 when police in Oakland pulled over a van in which Newton was riding.

A dispute ensued and gunfire erupted, leaving officer John Frey dead, as well as another officer and Newton injured. Many observers, particularly conservative whites, considered it an open-and-shut case that would result in Newton’s conviction; Black Panther Party members and others sympathetic to Newton were convinced of his innocence, but doubted he could win acquittal.