Trace of Doubt

By: Samantha Weinberg

Narrated by: Samantha Weinberg

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In the summer of 1985, a brilliant young British DNA scientist Helena Greenwood is found murdered in her front garden in a quiet suburb in California. The police believe they know the killer’s identity but there’s no evidence against him, and the only thing linking him to the crime is the fact he’d been charged with sexually assaulting Helena just a few months previously. Fifteen years later the case is reopened and after a breakthrough in DNA evidence, David Paul Frediani is re-investigated, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. It was almost as if Helena was pointing to her killer from beyond the grave, using the very scientific technology she had spent her life working on. Author Samantha Weinberg has been fascinated by this case, writing an award-winning book about the tragic sequence of events. She’s spent time with the man convicted of the murder and was utterly convinced of his guilt. But, in 2018, she received a letter from a jailhouse lawyer, a fellow inmate of Frediani that would blow the case apart. Together, they reopen the investigation, embarking on a shocking journey to discover the truth - in the process uncovering systematic failings and abuses in the American criminal justice system.

Content Warning: This series contains strong language and graphic descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. If you have been affected by any of the themes in this series, please find below links to organisations that can help you:

sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/#support

rapecrisis.org.uk

www.thesurvivorstrust.org

www.rainn.org

Episode 1: DEAD WALKING TALKING

In August 1985, Dr Helena Greenwood’s body is found in the front garden of her cottage in southern California. The police believe they know who killed her, a handsome financial advisor named David Paul Frediani. But there is nothing to tie him to the murder scene. The case is filed: unsolved.

Episode 2: POETIC JUSTICE

There have been extraordinary breakthroughs in DNA science. Fifteen years after the murder, the sheriff’s cold case team reopens the investigation, and, using DNA, they catch their killer. Samantha Weinberg becomes fascinated by the case. She returns to San Diego for Frediani’s trial.

Episode 3: SEEDS OF DOUBT

Samantha visits Frediani in prison, where he is serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He insists he didn’t kill Helena Greenwood, and that he was framed. Buried deep in the investigation files, she finds a letter which suggests his conviction may be unsafe.

Episode 4: THE JAILHOUSE LAWYER

In 2018, Samantha is contacted by Dustin, a jailhouse lawyer, who has himself been in prison for 45 years. He is helping Frediani, and says that, using the letter Samantha found, he thinks he can get Frediani’s case reopened. Dustin and Samantha launch parallel investigations.

Episode 5: THE PUNCHBOWL

Samantha returns to San Diego. She learns about suspect practices at the sheriff’s department crime lab, and delves into the case of Jane Dorotik, who was convicted of murder at around the same time as Frediani, and who has just been exonerated, because of mistakes at the same lab. Does it help to understand Frediani’s case?

Episode 6: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

Samantha and Dustin pick through the case files and each find bits of evidence that don’t add up. Doubt about Frediani’s conviction keeps growing. Dustin is trying to get him a new trial.

Episode 7: BROKEN DOWN

Samantha visits Frediani in prison. He’s ill, but still protesting his innocence and excited about Dustin’s work. The cops open the old files for her, and some of her questions are answered. But two witnesses throw a new light on what happened.

Episode 8: CALLING TIME

Frediani’s health is failing. He is waiting to hear about his new trial. But Samantha has some tricky questions for him. Dustin has positive news. Samantha pays her respects at Helena’s grave, in the New Forest. And comes to a surprising conclusion.

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The background music is way too distracting.

It’s obvious he was guilty - the story was unbalanced with way too much focus on empathy for the rapist/murderer.

Riveting

What a fascinating & enlightening story presented beautifully by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed it & highly recommend it to anyone who is addicted to true crime like me. The only thing I was left wondering is why the husband, Roger, was never mentioned again, apart from his call to 911.

Highly recommended.

Interesting story. I wish we would have gotten more information at the end though. What happened with his conviction? 

It kept my interest, but I wouldn’t listen to it again, or if I could take it back I wouldn’t listen to it. 

Great storytelling!

Enjoyable podcast- very heartfelt and expertly written. Compelling story that has you questioning. Wonderful weaving of storylines.

Interesting story

Interesting story that was well investigated by the author. She has a pleasant voice & isn’t overly emotional.

Interesting subject

I liked the authors determination to get to the truth and at the same time pointing out flaws in our criminal justice system.

an interesting listen

The author gave many years to her book and this podcast. I cannot imagine. True crime story narrated by the author. The emotion in her voice was noticeable.

Got me thinking

I don’t want to ever have to be on a jury! I was convinced he was innocent until the end! Still don’t know…

Complicated and troubling story

Even though I disagree with the author’s final assessment of the situation, I understand the complexities and the issues within the system that make it a very difficult call. Listening to the audiotapes of the accused, I feel certain that the author was correct on the first book she wrote. But I really appreciate her willingness to self-reflect and consider the flawed system that makes this very thing an issue.

The pendulum swings...

This is a great book to listen to, in order to get a real firsthand look at what "beyond probable doubt" means, even after years of immeasurable scrutiny during the author's quest!