Episode 5 of “Breakdown: railroad justice in a railroad town” reviews some of the most critical breakdowns in the prosecution of Justin Chapman for murder and arson.

In the process, we learn of several pieces of evidence that Chapman's public defender Jan Hankins says she never received, and are introduced to witnesses that Hankins never had time to visit.

In this first season of Breakdown, senior legal affairs writer Bill Rankin goes deep inside the Chapman case, exploring where the criminal justice system broke down. You can listen to the Breakdown podcast below, or visit www.ajcbreakdown.com for the first five episodes, plus photos, articles, videos and more related information.

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Linda Tran works with staff to prepare large platters for each table during the Thanksgiving Celebration at the First Senior Center on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Norcross. Linda and her sister Von Tran, who jointly operate the First Senior Center, are refugees with a harrowing survival story of leaving Vietnam as children. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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Marquay Collins reviews Hattie B's in Atlanta in a video posted on Nov. 10, 2025. (marquaythegoat/TikTok)

Credit: @marquaythegoat