The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez director explains why the documentary had to be a difficult watch
On the morning of May 22, 2013, 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez was not on his way to school like other kids his age. Instead, he was being rushed to a local hospital in Palmdale, Calif., with obvious signs of trauma all over his battered, malnourished body., award-winning documentarian Brian Knappenberger invites viewers into Judge George Lomeli’s courtroom where in 2018 Gabriel’s mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre were put on trial for his death.
But in their care, Fernandez suffered from severe neglect, abuse, and was forced to eat cat litter. He’d been shot with a BB gun, had broken ribs, and would be kept in a locked cabinet in his mother’s room. As Knappenberger and his team went deeper into the case, they uncovered Gabriel was part of a perpetual circle of abuse. Although the director does not excuse Pearl for her crimes against her own son, he does dive into the abuse she also suffered.
He adds, “The word evil was thrown around the courtroom a lot, which surprised me a little bit. There’s no question that these acts were evil but there’s also a broken system that allows this to happen. Which is more evil? Which causes more pain? There’s no excuse for Pearl or Isauro and I want that to be clear. But they are humans who were a product of their own upbringing, and that’s a big part of the story, too.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Netflix's 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez' Is a Necessary WatchDirector Brian Knappenberger talks to ET about his docuseries investigating the tragic death of an 8-year-old boy.
Read more »
Alex Jones admits 'I can be an awful mother' as she shares baby plansAlex Jones has given an honest assessment of motherhood as she explains why she has finished with having babies for environmental reasons
Read more »
The ADHD Mind — Decoded!Life is more intense for us than it is for neurotypical people. That's because our ADHD nervous system always wants to be engaged in something interesting & challenging. Our attention is never 'deficit;' it's always excessive & constantly occupied.
Read more »
Why the Olympic Marathon Trials Will Be the Best Race to Watch This YearGet ready for February 29 with a look at the top contenders in each race, how to watch, and a tour of the hilly Atlanta course.
Read more »
Murder trial for American teens accused of killing Italian cop in Rome beginsGabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 19, and Finnegan Elder, 20 are accused of fatally stabbing Mario Cerciello Rega, an Italian paramilitary policeman, in the early hours of July 26 after a drug deal gone wrong.
Read more »
The strange, true story of how Mt. Disappointment got its nameMt. Disappointment is a perfectly lovely peak in the San Gabriel Mountains above Los Angeles. So why did it get such a terrible name?
Read more »