September 25th 2025.
The city of Boston recently made headlines as it made amends for a grave mistake made over three decades ago. In a heart-wrenching case of wrongful accusation, two Black men, Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, were falsely accused of the murder of a pregnant white woman, Carol Stuart. The crime was later revealed to have been orchestrated by her own husband. As a form of reparation, the city has agreed to pay a settlement of $150,000 to the two men.
According to NBC News, the settlement was approved by city officials on Sept. 23. Bennett will be receiving $100,000 while Swanson will receive $50,000. This case sparked outrage in the community and intensified racial tensions in the city. It also led to a police crackdown in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
The incident took place in 1989 when Carol Stuart was fatally shot in the head. Her husband, in a twisted plot, claimed that it was an attempted carjacking by a Black gunman. However, it was later discovered that he was the mastermind behind the murder, after attending a birthing class earlier that day. The couple's baby, delivered by cesarean section, miraculously survived for 17 days.
Initially, Swanson was arrested and then released when he was ruled out as a suspect. The police then turned their attention to Bennett, who was eventually released as well. Carol's husband, Charles Stuart, who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, identified Bennett as the gunman. However, neither of the two men were ever charged. In a shocking turn of events, Stuart later took his own life as the truth behind the crime began to unravel.
It wasn't until two years ago that Mayor Michelle Wu publicly apologized to Swanson and Bennett for the harm and turmoil caused to them and the Black community. She acknowledged the pain inflicted on the Black residents of Boston and the impact it had on their neighborhoods. "The mayor's office, city officials and the Boston Police Department took actions that directly harmed these families and continue to impact the larger community, reopening a wound that has gone untended for decades," Wu stated.
The case gained renewed attention with the release of the HBO docuseries Murder in Boston. It was revealed that the police only turned to the real suspect, Charles Stuart, after his brother, Matthew Stuart, came forward and confessed to his involvement in the crime. Before he could be arrested, Charles jumped from Tobin Bridge, taking his own life.
In the words of Mayor Wu, "There was no evidence that a Black man committed this crime. But that didn't matter because the story was one that confirmed and exposed the beliefs that so many shared...At every level and at every opportunity, those in power closed their eyes to the truth because the lie felt familiar. They saw the story they wanted to see."
This case serves as a reminder of the injustice and prejudice that still exists in our society. It also highlights the importance of acknowledging and correcting past mistakes, and working towards a more just and equal future.
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