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Netflix's True Crime Doc On Cyntoia Brown Will Have You Hooked

Joanna Freedman

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Netflix's True Crime Doc On Cyntoia Brown Will Have You Hooked

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Most of us will know the gut-wrenching story of Cyntoia Brown.

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Cyntoia was handed a life sentence for shooting 43-year-old real estate agent Johnny Allen back in 2006, who she claimed had paid for sex with her when she was a trafficking victim.

Her harrowing case sparked mass outrage - even leading to a #freecyntoiabrown hashtag - and won her support from the likes of Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West.

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And now, nearly a year since she was granted clemency and freed from jail, Netflix is set to retell her story from start-to-finish in new show Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story.

"In 2004, she was considered a prostitute," the trailer says. "Today, she would be considered a victim of sexual predators."

Cyntoia Brown was a victim of trafficking (Credit: Netflix)
Cyntoia Brown was a victim of trafficking (Credit: Netflix)

At the time of her conviction, Cyntoia had pleaded that the murder she committed was in self defence, revealing that she feared for her life and believed that Allen was searching for a weapon.

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"When I was 16, I did a horrible thing," she says in a courtroom. "I do pray that you show me mercy and that you give me a second chance".

But she had stolen Allen's wallet for fear of returning to her pimp, 'Kut-Throat' without any money, and unfortunately, the prosecution framed this as evidence that her real motive was robbery, leading to her life sentence.

Brown served 15 years behind bars (Credit: Netflix)
Brown served 15 years behind bars (Credit: Netflix)

It wasn't until she had spent 15 years behind bars that Cyntoia was finally granted clemency by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on August 7th, 2019.

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Her release is a huge victory for all campaigning for her, who expected her to serve at least 51 years before getting parole.

Now 32 years old, the documentary will powerfully look back at her past, and the mistreatment she endured.

The documentary looks back at her trial (Credit: Netflix)
The documentary looks back at her trial (Credit: Netflix)

Due to land on the streaming platform on April 29th, it is set to follow Cyntoia's journey from the moment she was sent to prison to the day she was freed, changing her narrative from the one the courts gave to her, and framing her no more than an innocent victim.

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While Cyntoia was not personally involved in the documentary, she has since issued a statement, stating that she "pray[s] that this film highlights things wrong in our justice system".

This is sure to be a gripping and important watch.

Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story lands on Netflix on April 29th.

Topics: True Crime, TV News, TV Entertainment, Netflix

Joanna Freedman
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