Morris' investigation suggested that five witnesses committed perjury. As a result of publicity around the film, Adams (whose death sentence had been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1980 and subsequently commuted to life in prison by the Governor of Texas, Bill Clements) had his conviction overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, The district attorney's office declined to prosecute the case again, and Adams was subsequently ordered released as a result of a "habeas corpus" hearing in 1989.