A Time To Kill
Summary
This episode details the 1995 stabbing of Doug Wyatt by 17-year-old Sterling Barber, who claimed self-defense against a sexual assault. Barber was initially convicted of murder after the judge excluded evidence of Wyatt’s history as a child molester. The Georgia Supreme Court later overturned the conviction, ruling that child molestation constitutes violent crime. After years of legal delays, Barber pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was released in 2000.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and introduction to Sterling Barber's story
Sterling Barber's life and the night he met Doug Wyatt
The attack in the car and Sterling's self-defense claim
Aftermath, police investigation, and conflicting witness accounts
Doug Wyatt's dual life: respected citizen and alleged predator
Other victims come forward about Wyatt's predatory behavior
Wyatt's prior legal troubles and the Duncan family's confrontation
Wyatt's wife's denial and the upcoming murder trial
The trial: suppressed evidence and Sterling's conviction
Judy Barber's fight for an appeal and finding new counsel
Legal arguments, suppressed trauma, and the appeal process
Supreme Court overturns conviction; Sterling awaits new trial
Sterling's 19th birthday in jail and family support
Years of delay: Sterling ages in prison without a trial date
Legal hurdles, Sterling's resilience, and hopes for the future
Resolution: Plea deal, release, and final reflections
Sponsors: Indeed and Mercury
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