2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Brian Hall wasn’t a killer when he went into prison but certainly had no issues becoming one once released, even though he wasn’t a pedophile. Did 34 years in prison transform him or did he always have the capability given his personality?

I think he always had the capability, but his anger at being imprisoned for so long as an innocent man pushed him over the edge. He had probably been planning it the whole time.

I agree, Melissa. That side of him just intensified because of the unlawful imprisonment. So many others who are exonerated after long-term incarceration choose a different path so I wasn’t sympathetic to his revenge. The people he chose to go after weren’t the ones responsible.

I agree too. He obviously had that violent side in him. And he definitely took revenge out on the wrong people.

I think there was something about him that made everyone believe he did it, even though he really was innocent. Even his family believed it. Bitter, vindictive and abandoned he plotted revenge on everyone he thought was responsible for what happened. I think prison nurtured a element of his personality that was always there.

I think you’re on to something, Anita. When your own family won’t even consider believing you....

I am ambivalent about this question. I can't imagine that he planned out what he'd do (for real) if he was ever released, but I may be very naive.
He certainly made the worst choices, and his stupidity shows that he took action before he got the big payout from the government. Not a likable character at all.

It was pretty stupid but most criminals are. The murders were pretty easy, not well planned. After he killed the detective, the police quickly figured everything out.

I think when he was released and his mother very obviously thought he was guilty, that put him over the edge.

I think you may be right, Karen, though he was already thinking about revenge. Maybe not so extreme.

I think if his family had welcomed him unconditionally he would not have been so bent on his revenge.

Welcomed him at all!