Basic Trope: An innocent person is falsely suspected of a crime and dies before their name can be cleared.
- Straight: Alice kills Bob and frames Charlie for the crime. By the time Alice is correctly identified as Bob's killer, Charlie has been executed.
- Exaggerated: Alice frames Charlie for Bob's murder and he's executed before she can be linked to the crime. In addition to Charlie being executed, his wife receives constant ridicule for his alledged involvement, his family is forced to pay Bob's in a civil suit, his children change their names to avoid association with him...
- Downplayed: Alice beats Bob to a pulp and Charlie goes to prison for the assault. He spends twenty years in prison before Alice is convicted and he's released, but he's already missed so many things while in prison he considers his release to be a Pyrrhic Victory.
- Justified:
- The evidence against Charlie and the circumstances of the murder are pretty damning...just as Alice planned.
- Everyone just rushed to the conclusion that Charlie is guilty and executed him without even giving him a fair chance.
- Inverted: After Alice murders Bob, the police know it was her but fail to gather enough evidence to arrest her. Much later, they make the vital connection, go to arrest her, and discover that she died some time ago.
- Subverted:
- Charlie is arrested for Bob's murder that Alice committed. Shortly before he's to be executed, the police discover that Charlie has an alibi for the murder and release him...
- While Charlie is on death row for Bob's murder, the state abolishes the death penalty and his sentence is reduced to life in prison, giving him time to prove his innocence...
- Double Subverted:
- ...but David is not aware of said alibi, still thinks Charlie is guilty, and kills Charlie in a Vigilante Execution as he leaves the prison.
- ...only for Charlie to be killed by another prisoner before said proof is found.
- Parodied: Alice borrows Charlie's car and racks up a number of speeding tickets, letting him get the blame. By the time she comes clean, Charlie's license has been revoked and his car towed. Everyone involved treats it like he's been executed for a murder she committed.
- Zig-Zagged: After Alice kills Bob, she forges evidence that implicates Charlie. At first, he's dismissed as a suspect because he has an alibi, but evidence comes in that he faked his alibi and he's arrested, convicted, and sentenced to death. While in prison awaiting his execution, he hires a detective to prove his innocence. The detective finds a number of leads that prove Charlie's innocence, only for each one to be dismissed for various reasons. Finally, the detective finds absolute proof that Charlie is innocent just as he's about to be executed. The stay of execution arrives just after the sentence is carried out...but before Charlie actually dies, the prison doctor is able to save his life and he goes free.
- Averted:
- Charlie is never arrested for Bob's murder because the police knew it was Alice from the start.
- Charlie is found innocent at trial.
- Charlie is actually guilty of Bob's murder, is rightfully executed, and is never suspected of being innocent.
- Enforced: The writer is an anti-death penalty advocate and wants to show what would happen if an innocent person was executed for a crime they didn't commit.
- Lampshaded: When Alice is arrested for another crime, she says "Oh, by the way, remember when you executed that Charlie guy for killing that Bob guy? That was actually me. Way to conduct a thorough investigation, guys."
- Invoked: Alice framed Charlie for Bob's murder because she wants him to die as well. She goes to great lengths to ensure he gets the death penalty and never gets acquitted in his lifetime.
- Exploited: Alice, knowing that Charlie is innocent but still framed him, uses his false conviction as a way to divert suspicion from herself and continue her criminal activities undetected. She takes advantage of the public's belief in Charlie's guilt to manipulate situations and further her own agenda.
- Defied: The detective investigating Bob's murder decides to make absolutely sure Charlie is innocent before arresting him.
- Discussed: From jury deliberation: "Should we go for the death penalty?" "I don't know. I think there was a chance he could be innocent and I'd rather not be responsible for putting an innocent man to death." "Well, I'm not that comfortable letting a guilty man get off easy."
- Conversed: During a discussion on capital punishment, the possiblity of an innocent person being executed comes up and is thoroughly examined.
- Implied:
- The news reports mention that Charlie was executed for Bob's murder, but the actual details of his case and his potential innocence are not explicitly explored in the story. It is left to the audience's interpretation whether Charlie was falsely accused or not.
- A century old case is reopened by order of the SCOTUS, the chances of the original defendant being still alive are minimal to say the least.
- Deconstructed: The story delves into the devastating consequences of Charlie's false conviction and execution. It explores the emotional toll it takes on his family, the flaws in the justice system that failed to recognize his innocence, and the lingering doubts and questions that haunt those involved in the case. The deconstruction highlights the irreversible damage caused by a wrongful execution.
- Reconstructed: In a twist of events, evidence surfaces after Charlie's execution that not only proves his innocence but also exposes Alice as the true culprit. The story then focuses on the aftermath and the pursuit of justice for Charlie, as his name is posthumously cleared and Alice is brought to justice. The reconstruction emphasizes the importance of uncovering the truth and rectifying the injustice done to Charlie.
- Played for Laughs: Charlie is repeatedly suspected and falsely accused of various crimes, each time facing hilarious misunderstandings and misadventures. The focus is on the comedic situations and the audience's amusement rather than the serious consequences of the false accusations.
- Played for Drama: The story explores the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by Charlie as he fights to prove his innocence while facing the imminent threat of execution. The focus is on the emotional journey, the injustice, and the exploration of themes such as loss, redemption, and the flaws in the justice system.
- Played for Horror: The story emphasizes the psychological torment experienced by Charlie as he is falsely accused and condemned to death. It delves into the dark and disturbing aspects of the wrongful conviction, highlighting the corruption, manipulation, and hopelessness of the situation. The focus is on creating a chilling and unsettling atmosphere for the audience.
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