Just Mercy Lesson Plan

Describe the case of Herbert Richardson and explain why Stevenson found his death sentence unjust.

Richardson fought in the Vietnam War starting at age eighteen and had a number of horrific experiences there that left him traumatized. He had a complete mental breakdown that resulted in an honorable discharge, but the PTSD followed him home to Brooklyn. He ended up at a veteran's hospital where he fell in love with a nurse. She was from Alabama, and when she moved back home, Herbert followed her. They had a brief romantic relationship, but Walter's mental issues started to concern her and she ended the relationship. Walter became all the more obsessed with her and began...