My father, mental illness and the death penalty | Clive Stafford Smith | TEDxExeter

The story of Ricky, a convicted child molester and murderer, and the mother of the child he killed; and of mental illness, the death penalty, victimhood and seeking understanding.
Clive Stafford Smith OBE is a lawyer specialising in defending people accused of the most serious crimes, and is Founder and Director of the UK legal action charity Reprieve.
Clive spent 26 years working as an attorney in the Southern United States, where he represented over 300 prisoners facing the death penalty. Whilst only taking the cases of those who could not afford lawyers, he prevented in the death penalty in all but six cases (a 98% “victory” rate). Few lawyers ever take a case to the US Supreme Court. Clive has taken five, and all of the prisoners prevailed.
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TEDxExeter 2015 took the long view both back into the past and ahead into the future. We asked our speakers to help us understand the challenges that face us now - how they shape the way we live, make decisions, and innovate.
Video Production Chromatrope (chromatrope.co.uk/)
Production Manager Andy Robertson ( / familygamertv )
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@gianpaolozanconato5012]

this guy is illuminating, he made me understand more my brother than any other including many psychologists , I can't thank him enought.

[@lnoorplaylist]

I hope your brother has improved, I hope he got treatment.

[@vivlangham1994]

I'm pretty hard to be inspired, but this man is my hero!!

[@beckyambury3774]

Such a wonderful human. Always inspiring. Thank you.

[@paulmoran7026]

First time I ever saw this man was in the documentary “14 Days in May” in 1987. I’ve never forgotten it, Edward Earl Johnson and Clive Stafford Smith..... I found him a marvelous human being and admire him greatly.

[@MsWatchdog]

Love this guy.. one day will have my dream come true to work with him

[@miriamgonczarska613]

😂❤️Thank you for being who you are..

[@stephenhooker882]

I am truly fortunate, indeed blessed, to know Clive Stafford Smith personally and consider him a dear friend. One of the most decent and dedicated human beings I have had the great pleasure to have ever known. He gives me hope. Many thanks, Clive, on behalf of everyone in the Working Group. You know precisely who I'm referring to, of course...

[@peggypriestcoleman7542]

Stephen Hooker your both fortunate I'm sure to be friends.

[@vivlangham1994]

Wow Stephen, you are very lucky!!! I would love to meet him.

[@vivlangham1994]

can you arrange it - haha

[@dmichael100]

This is me giving Clive Stafford Smith a standing ovation. What a remarkably poignant and riveting presentation.

[@veevictorius5116]

The death penalty achieves nothing. In my country, it's life for capital offences

[@postcardterry]

Why hasn`t this man ; CLIVE STAFFORD SMITH, got a knighthood??? He is clearly one of the truly great Brits!

[@stephenhooker882]

+postcardterry Please be patient. His OBE will do for now....

[@postcardterry]

+Stephen Hooker Thanks Steve!

[@vivlangham1994]

100% agree!!!!

[@lnoorplaylist]

I know this man as Aafia saddiqui's lawyer.

[@adamj6645]

Just watched Fourteen Days in May 😥

[@peggypriestcoleman7542]

If there was any way I could tell you thank you for sharing this is would, it was interesting and heart warming as well as insightful. Thank-you

[@beverleywells7948]

he is a decent man and seems genuine about the people he represents " and I agree with him about the death penalty

[@vivlangham1994]

I'm so pleased that we have this amazing man in our world. Clive, you have won your great place in Heaven! I would LOVE to have the honour of meeting you. Thank you x

[@LuisGonzalez-zu3bd]

Viv Langham the only way to heaven dear Viv is,thru Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR...

[@joanaisabelcolltruyol3090]

This was not enough for Clive to defend people.....This man must be wonderfu....but there is still death penalty in USA.....and innocent people who have been executed.....their flawed system still remains....

[@valmacclinchy]

Heartbreaking. One innocent person put to death is too many. I'm in the US. Voting for people who will make positive changes.

[@albertpanara8068]

Dealing with life is no fucken joke

[@jayrich6532]

this guy is a genius defense lawyer to get whats best for his client. But, in a way i thinks its all makes sense. win win to understand and relate is very important to understanding that getting upset and irrational is pointless. your only getting mad or upset about a situation that the other person has not yet experienced or possibly is in denial of comprehending. so really, your just getting mad and upset with yourself.

[@Alec_Collins78]

Anybody know the name of the follow up to the Edward Earl Johnson documentary he made?

[@yupyuphyphy01]

4 days in may

[@claudettestewart3711]

The journey

[@themanagerhub5952]

14 days in May

[@Alec_Collins78]

@@themanagerhub5952 Thanks.

[@Alec_Collins78]

Two years! What made me ask this here?

[@franciscagoulart5699]

why are people laughing?

[@valmacclinchy]

Sometimes people laugh when they're uncomfortable.

[@albertpanara8068]

How come all the ted videos I see make fun of suicide

[@deshvibhuti]

Great speech

[@TheShamwari]

Not all questions answered - for instance why is it that essentially mainly it is men who become paedophiles ? Also what about the cost of keeping him as a patient !!

[@annaykaleo6546]

Do you know how much it costs to execute someone? $1.26 million. get your facts straight before making random assumptions..

[@jimdor8353]

end of the day he was mentaly capable of killing a little boy, so he should be put down,, we kill ill dogs, whats the diffl. he chose to do that, it was his choice

[@painite9972]

because humans and dogs are not the same.

[@mysteryguy793]

not all of us kill ill dogs

[@LERobbo]

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. Death penalty is inherently wrong and not a solution. Today's crime rates more than show that.

[@colfer222]

Cant stand this creep...no justice for the victims