first hearing as a lawyer. >> she was very fierce. she had not the slightest doubt about eddie elmore's innocence. she was determined to make sure that i did my job. >> the state was represented by donald zelenka, who reportedly once argued that women who had abortions in the third trimester could be executed for murder. and elmore's fate would be decided by judge ernest kinard. one of the first witnesses called was james gilliam, the inmate who said elmore confessed to him in jail. but in the small town of greenwood, both elmore and gilliam knew bishop spearman. and before the hearing, gilliam told spearman the truth. >> james gilliam and i go back i guess all our life. one night he called me and he told me i lied and my conscience is bothering me. >> gilliam said he made a deal with the prosecutor to testify against elmore in exchange for release from prison.