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The Hurricane Tapes

Factual: Life Stories

The true story of the triple murder convictions of boxer Rubin Hurricane Carter.

Racism, poverty and violence. Enter the world of Rubin Carter #HurricaneTapes

Meet Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. To understand the events of June 1966 we must first understand him: the man, the boxer, his life and the times he lived in.

The previously unheard cassette recordings reveal his traumatic childhood, entwined with racism and violence; how he finds redemption in boxing, and how his violent persona in the ring spills out on to the streets of Paterson, New Jersey. It’s about why he thought cops targeted him, all set against the 1966 backdrop of civil rights era America.

The Hurricane Tapes: Chipmunk

16/02/2019 GMT

Chipmunk

BBC World Service - The Hurricane Tapes, Chipmunk

How Carter and Artis's case made its way back into the headlines

How Carter and Artis's case made its way back into the headlines in 1975.

The story moves forward seven years to 1975. Carter and Artis have largely been forgotten, and are serving their triple life sentences in prison. All their appeals had failed, and they had effectively given up any hope of being freed. But their case made it back on to the front pages, because of the tenacity of one man: public investigator Fred 'Chipmunk' Hogan. 

Presented by Steve Crossman.

Produced by Steve Crossman and Joel Hammer for BBC World Service.

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