Uncover (Dead Wrong): When the justice system fails in a big way
The Premise (from Apple Podcasts):
A botched police investigation, missing evidence, and a wrongful conviction in a city plagued with more than a hundred unsolved missing and murdered cases. Uncover: Dead Wrong takes us through the twisting, almost unbelievable story of Glen Assoun, who spent more than 17 years in prison for the murder of Brenda Way, a crime he did not commit. How did institutions fail him — and who really killed Brenda?
Series or standalone:
Series
Begin listening to:
Episode 1: Pitbull
Format:
Longform true crime investigation
Host(s):
Investigative journalist Tim Bousquet
Sound/production quality:
Excellent
Rating/age suitability:
Best for adults
Approximate length of episodes:
45 minutes
Curricular ties:
None
Similar recommended pods:
Any other season of Uncover or other true crime podcasts from the CBC like Someone Knows Something
Podcast Librarian’s Review:
Uncover is in its 7th season, and it’s no mystery why—it’s really good and consistently so. Honestly, no one does true crime reporting pods like the CBC (see also: Someone Knows Something); however, it’s a little disturbing that Canada has so many unsolved murders (particularly, as we learn in this season, in the vicinity of Halifax, Nova Scotia). This newest case centers around the murder of a young woman who was working as a prostitute and found dead behind an apartment building. That’s a good start to any true crime, but it gets much stranger and more twisted after that. The victim’s boyfriend, Glen Assoun, is accused of the crime (based on some sketchy testimony by a series of unreliable witnesses) and convicted, probably in large part because he was not able to obtain a lawyer who he believed could represent him appropriately, forcing him to represent himself in court. The court audio of this is cringeworthy because, well, he’s not a lawyer and the awkwardness and hopelessness is palpable. Not surprisingly, that choice doesn’t work out well for him, and he goes to prison. It isn’t until later that the truth about the real killer comes out—and not just any killer, as this is a serial killer. Even more sinister is the injustice Glen experienced at the hands of the Canadian police and prison system. I love that Uncover picks cases that might otherwise be overlooked. Let’s be honest—a sex worker’s murder was usually considered inevitable, particularly in the 90s when this murder occurred. As always, this pod does a great job of honoring the victim while revealing the politics and miscarriage of justice surrounding the case.
