大象传媒

Gerry Osborne is a pensioner who lives in west Belfast with his two adult sons. Tommy Zeigler has been a death row inmate in Florida State Prison for the last 47 years. He is convicted of the quadruple murder of his wife, her parents and a customer at his family-owned furniture store in Winter Garden, Florida on Christmas Eve, 1975.

Gerry received his first letter from Tommy in 1997. It included a plea for help and a listening ear. Despite being from completely different worlds and having never met in person, they have remained constant in each other鈥檚 lives during difficult times. Tommy has claimed to be innocent since being convicted of the crimes. Gerry, an understanding and kind-hearted man, has done everything in his power to spread awareness and try to help Tommy.

Their 25-year correspondence has developed into a significant friendship and has become a record of the ebbs and flows of the two men鈥檚 lives. Gerry and Tommy share their thoughts and fears through their regular correspondence. Gerry鈥檚 stories of family holidays and photos give comfort to Tommy; he enjoys hearing about the everydayness of Gerry鈥檚 life, it gives him a lifeline to the outside world. Tommy has provided support to Gerry while he has been grieving the loss of his late wife Anne.

So much has changed in the world and in their own lives since they began writing letters, but their bond remains strong after all these years. As both men are now in their 70s and Tommy鈥檚 health is deteriorating, time is running out for Gerry鈥檚 wish that his friend might prove his innocence. Still, Gerry strives for justice and his hope doesn鈥檛 fade.