Accused

by Paul Alexander

Paul Alexander, the bestselling author of the Kindle Single Murdered, introduces us to Tommy Harris, the 14 years veteran of the Houston Police force, his fight with a man outside a bar, a death and the ensuing homicide trial. The district attorney had boasted "Anyone can convict a guilty person, but it takes someone really good to convict an innocent one." Did Harris apply a naked chokehold or did the district attorney and his forensics team set up Harris?

Genres: Audiobook, True Crime

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2011

About the author

Besides the bestselling Kindle Singles Murdered, Accused, and Homicidal, Paul Alexander has published eight previous books of nonfiction: Ariel Ascending: Writings About Sylvia Plath; Rough Magic, a biography of Plath; Boulevard of Broken Dreams: The Life, Times, and Legend of James Dean, the bestseller that has been published in 10 countries; Death and Disaster: The Rise of the Warhol Empire and the Race For Andy’s Millions; Man of the People: The Life of John McCain; The Candidate, a chronicle of John Kerry’s presidential campaign; and Machiavelli’s Shadow: The Rise and Fall of Karl Rove.

A former reporter for Time, Alexander has published journalism in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, New York, The Nation, The Village Voice, Salon, Worth, The New York Observer, George, Cosmopolitan, More, Interview, ARTnews, Mirabella, Premiere, Out, The Advocate, Travel & Leisure, The Los Angeles Times Book Review, Biography, Men’s Journal, Best Life, The New York Review of Books, The Daily Beast, and Rolling Stone.

Shane Salerno’s forthcoming feature documentary Salinger is based on Alexander’s biography of J.D. Salinger. Alexander is the author of the plays Strangers in the Land of Canaan and Edge, which he directed. Developed at The Actors Studio, Edge, the critically acclaimed one-woman play about Sylvia Plath, ran in New York, London, Los Angeles, among other cities. Edge toured Australia and New Zealand and enjoyed a second run in New York. In all, Torn performed Edge 400 times. Alexander is also the director of Brothers in Arms, a documentary film about John Kerry and Vietnam (First Run Features).

A graduate of The University of Alabama and The Writers’ Workshop at The University of Iowa, Alexander is a member of the Authors Guild and PEN American Center. In the fall of 2002, he was a Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an extremely disappointing true crime read, this was much better. It revolves around a Nigerian man who hassles a bartender, and an altercation outside involving an off duty Police Officer, which culminates in a death and a trial. Different from the usual, and kept my interest throughout.

[Lashawn]

I never read Paul's book before, but I liked this one. It was really scary to know how people lie and do not care that they ruin someone else's life is very frightening! This was a nice novel. Thank you.

[ROBERT ANTHONY GARCIA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and detailed story of incompetence in our judicial system

Great book! I sat here for two hours and read straight through the book. Gives a small glimpse into how easily a good man can be taken down by poor police work.

[S.F. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put it down.

Book draws you in and makes you pay attention. It moves quickly and is succinct and to the point. I may read it again in a couple of months to catch what I missed.

[Khris Sellin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another case of overzealous prosecution. This direct quote from the district attorney says it all: "Anyone can convict a guilty person, but it takes someone really good to convict an innocent one."

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read (Audible Original listen) that covered the case of too quick to judge.

A Houston cop is out on the town with a few friends in a local in another town. A somewhat rowdy customer starts giving the waitress a hard time during her shift, threatens to assault her, and is asked to leave the establishment which he does. Sometime later, both in time and perhaps beverages, the waitress is escorted to her car by the off-duty Houston officer, she leaves without incident. The off-duty is then accosted by the rowdy customer whom he wrestles to the ground without incident, and the locals are called, including EMS. The customer ends up expiring either on the ground in the parking lot, or on the way to hospital. Various accounts are given to the local investigating officers, which differ from the reported experience of the off-duty officer. The Medical Examiner makes some injudicious leaps to conclude against our off-duty, perhaps with a bit of guidance from the local constabulary investigators.

Jump a head to the trial where novel explanations why the rowdy customer expired that are not due to potentially homicidal actions of our off-duty. As Malcolm Gladwell might well say, this is an example of fitting evidence to conclusions.

Good stuff.

[River Scott Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished listening to Accused by Paul Alexander

This is a true crime audiobook it's only 2 and half hours long I rate it 4 stars 🌟


This is a story of a off duty police man who is on trial after someone dies after he defends himself in a fight but what is more shocking is that the false information that witnesses say in their witness statements and the false information within the police this is a case of a man who defending himself is being punished on false information but thankfully the true is found out.. as this is a short story it would have been great if it was longer as it would of gone into more detail but I enjoyed this story it hot straight to the point.

[Deirdre Lowney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this story without any knowledge of the case it covered. It was scary to read how those involved in the investigation conspired to get the result they wanted instead of remaining impartial. In attempting to get the result they wanted they nearly did an injustice to the deceased as well as the accused police officer.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank goodness for good attorneys who can see the truth in an innocent man, and have the patience to come carefully through all the evidence. Don't want to give any spoilers. This was an excellent listen.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Kindle Single and is about two and half hours long. Heavy on police procedure, it focuses on an event that happened in Stafford TX. The assumptions and opinions that were made by the attending officers as well as the ME listening to them beforehand is appalling.

[Nikki Deeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accused is a true crime story about Tommy Harris who was falsely accused of murder after using self defence.

A very interesting read which was concise yet detailed, an interesting case and well written and researched.

[Maria A · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

When you believe in yourself, that's empowering. But when you have to believe in others, that's a whole other ball game! It's ashamed that your own "BROTHERS" didn't back you up in the beginning!

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Fast paced pageturner. Couldn't put down. Well done from a to a. I am going to seek out other books by this author.

[Christine L Martell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accused

This gives you a glimpse at how the justice system can be tainted. For political gain they rushed to judgement and decided he was guilty without all the evidence.

[Regis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tangled web. Absolutely insane the lengths that people will go to to push their agenda. Thank God the corruption was uncovered. Good narration.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting and well-presented account of an off-duty Houston police officer who was in a bar with friends. A customer asked one of the bartenders for her phone number and she politely refused. Determinedly he continued to ask for her phone number several more times and each time she refused. As the customer was leaving, he said, "I'll wait for you in the parking lot."

The second bartender was ready to leave and the manager asked the police officer to escort her to her car. After she had driven off, the customer charged toward the police officer clutching something shiny and silver in his hand.

The police officer, not knowing what the man held, defended himself by taking the man to the ground. Shortly thereafter, the man died and the officer was charged with criminal negligence.

The trial presents a whole picture of what happened.

I have rated it five stars although there are quite a few errors. And, Mr. Alexander, it's opening statements and closing arguments. You may not argue the case during your opening statement.

[Kipp Poe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eBook Single is the reason i Love my Kindle, The ability to have access to stories like this and the entertainment value. I was instantly drawn into the case discussed in the story, giving different view points and seeing how corruption, and just plain neglect to do your job correctly can give a person his life or take it from them.

I became emotionally wrapped up in the outcome of the case, and still feel I was also taken step by step of the procedure of the arrest, and court case a perfect blend to grip you into reading more and more.

I will be looking forward to reading more of his work.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anyone can convict a guilty person, but it takes someone really good to convict an innocent one." ~ Words of wisdom by a dirty DA. If you are a law-abiding citizen-or clean cop-, stay the hell away from Houston environs; certain cops, DAs and pathologists will turn your life into a notch on their belts, and park your butt in jail. And, oh yeah... don't do your bar friends any favors late at night....'cause no good deed goes unpunished ..... A quick, informative read about our judicial system derailing. Recommend.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story really interesting, but felt that the story could have been filled out some. I know it is a "single" and a shorter work, but a little more content would have made all the difference.

[Casey Raehtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took about an afternoon's worth of reading. A friend suggested it to me and I saw that it was only $0.99 an Amazon so I bought it. A great example of what can happen when politics get too much involved in policing.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good short read. I love the Kindle Singles with audio for my walks. This story was perfect for that. It was interesting and painfully realistic. I see that Paul Alexander has quite a few of these singles, so I will probably read/listen to more of them.

[Shirin Afrasiabi · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is not a novel. It is like a book report. There is no writing involved, just a statement of facts! Waste of time and money

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it to be very poorly written...not sure if I finished it, but it doesn't really matter.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this Kindle Single was really exciting. I couldn't put it down and just wanted to know how it ended.

Definitely worth the couple of hours to read!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Kindle single that was a short interesting read about a cop accused of murder. It showed what happens when a DA's office is over zealous and the investigation has tunnel vision

[Paulah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting REAL police procedural, in which the police build a murder case against a fellow cop who just happened to be on the scene of what was probably a natural death.

[Pam M]

Okay.