The Jens Soering Case: A New Verdict
Was he a cold-blooded killer, or the victim of a miscarriage of justice? A naive, lovestruck nerd, or a calculating double murderer? Horrific crimes are committed every day, unfortunately, but only a few remain in the public eye for decades afterwards. Hardly any case has polarized the public as much over the last 38 years as that of the German diplomat's son Jens Soering. In this podcast series, hosts Daniela Hillers and Ralph Guise-Ruebe critically examine a homicide case from the 1980s: the murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom in Virginia, a crime that has come to be known as the Jens Soering case. Daniela Hillers is an author and journalist who has written widely on the German terrorist group RAF. Ralph Guise-Ruebe is the Judge and President of the Hannover Regional Court in Germany. Would Jens Soering still be indicted and convicted today, based on the evidence available now? Was the trial in 1990 conducted according to the principles of due process? In addition to Jens Soering himself, a total of 14 experts on the case — including bestselling author John Grisham, the original lead detective Chuck Reid as well as a former friend and fellow inmate of Elizabeth Haysom‘s — all have their say, providing listeners their in-depth insider knowledge. What if the real story was completely different than the verdict at trial? “The Jens Soering Case — A New Verdict” Due to the internationality of the case, the original voices of Daniela and Ralph were replaced by English AI voices, so that English-speaking listeners can also listen to the podcast. In episode 10, however, you will hear the original voices of the two hosts. Do you want to know more about the Jens Söring case? In his exclusive report, investigator Chuck Reid describes his perspective on things and goes into detail with observations and evidence that were not even used in the trial at the time. For more information just read into it: www.soering-case.com
Episodes
“I'm innocent!” The final words of defendant Jens Soering at his trial in 1990 are by now nearly world-famous. Immediately after he said those words, Judge William Sweeney pronounced him guilty, based on the jury’s verdict. In this episode, Judge Ralph Guise-Ruebe renders his own verdict in the Soering case, based on the evidence known in 1990 and today.
Would Soering still be indicted and convicted today?
The verdict – the Presi...
Jens Soering faces his accusers. A key aspect of criminal trials is the interrogation of the defendant. In this episode, Soering must answer difficult questions posed by Judge Ralph Guise-Ruebe. Soering responds to the allegations that have been considered unanswered for decades.
Why did he confess three times? Why did he wait four years to withdraw his confession? How could he know so many details of the crime scene if he was not t...
A German citizen on trial in an American court: This unusual constellation throws an interesting light on the divergent features of the two legal systems. In the eighth episode, the two hosts talk about the role of criminal defense lawyers in court, and how the public perception of the trial has had a lasting impact on Jens Soering.
How should the proceedings against him in 1990 be assessed today, considering all of the surrounding ...
“A witness is the worst kind of evidence!” That‘s what Judge Ralph Guise-Ruebe says in this episode, and he explains why. At Soering’s trial, witness Donald Harrington claimed to have seen bandages on Soering’s hands and a black eye on his face at the funeral of Derek and Nancy Haysom. A mystery for the investigators and even for the victims’ relatives, since no one else noticed these injuries.
How important are the alleged wounds o...
Carelessness or malfeasance? Years after Jens Soering’s conviction, various new pieces of evidence came to light. The jury at his trial was never told about the results of a luminol test on the getaway car, chief investigator Chuck Reid did not testify as a witness - on top of that: in 2016 the existence of a drawn up FBI perpetrator profile from 1985 is denied.
Procedural errors by the court in Bedford and a failure of the crimina...
“It fits Soering like a glove” — that’s what the prosecutor told the jury about a sock print found at the crime scene. After the trial one of the jurors confirmed that Jens Soering was only found guilty because of a sock print called LR3.
But how does Judge Ralph Guise-Ruebe see this piece of evidence today? Was it “junk science” or conclusive proof of guilt? How much weight should sock print analysis be given in criminal proceeding...
“DNA tests solve the case.” How often do we read headlines like this today? In the 2020s, DNA plays an essential role in criminal investigations and trials. But in the Jens Soering case, new DNA findings and expert opinions are hotly contested decades after the trial and years after his release. Does the genetic evidence from 2022 say something different than the serological evidence in 1990? What information do the DNA traces foun...
Showdown of the former lovers in court: During the three-week trial in June 1990, Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom meet again for the first time since their arrest in 1986. Their encounter takes place in front of the cameras. Elizabeth Haysom takes the stand as the prosecution’s star witness. But how reliable is her testimony? Can you believe a witness who makes a deal with the prosecutor and has lied so many times in the past? Ho...
Since his trial in 1990, Jens Soering has insisted that his false confession was intended to protect his girlfriend at the time, Elizabeth Haysom, from execution.
Do people really confess to murders and accept long prison sentences for others? In the second episode of this podcast, the focus is not only on Soering’s confessions but also on the interrogation methods used at the time. What types of false confessions are there? What we...
A fair trial or a witch-hunt? The court proceedings against Jens Soering became a public show trial and media spectacle.
Was the German honors student presented as a convenient fall guy? Was Judge William Sweeney really biased? How did the jury reach its guilty verdict? The images of the chubby-cheeked German in front of an American court are deeply etched in public memory. What role does a judge play when presiding over a high-prof...
In June 2023, Daniela Hillers is heading to Washington for a trip back in time. The shocking double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom in 1985 rocked the peaceful town of Lynchburg in the state of Virginia.
The suspects in this case are Elizabeth Haysom, the daughter, and her then-boyfriend, Jens Söring, the son of a German diplomat. Their hasty departure from the USA raised suspicions that they might be involved in the Haysom couple'...
The trailer for "The Jens Soering Case: A New Verdict"
Cold-blooded killer or victim of injustice? Naive nerd and lifesaver or calculated double murderer of his then-girlfriend's parents?
In this 10-part podcast series, the two hosts, Daniela Hillers and Ralph Guise-Ruebe, take a critical look at the murder case from the 1980s: the murder of the Haysom couple in Virginia in 1985, which for decades has also become the "Jens Soering ca...
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