Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)

James Woods: Byron De La Beckwith

Photos 

Quotes 

• Byron De La Beckwith : The point is you ain't never, ever gonna get twelve people to convict me of killing a nigger in the state of Mississippi. No, sir. Hell son, I don't even have to take the stand. A couple more days, I'll be back in my home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, where I'll just sit on my porch and live out my days in peace and prosperity. What are you gonna do, Mr. DeLaughter? What are you gonna do? Free at last, free at last... Great God Almighty, I'm free at last!

• Bobby DeLaughter : Mr. Beckwith, this is not some deer you brought down; this is a human being.

  Byron De La Beckwith : [seemingly shocked]  Mr. DeLaughter, a deer is a beautiful animal; it's one of God's creatures. I would never kill a deer.

  [coldly] 

  Byron De La Beckwith : A nigger on the other hand. Well, that's another matter entirely.

  Bobby DeLaughter : Are you standing here and admitting to me that you killed Medgar Evers?

  Byron De La Beckwith : [scoffs]  What if I did? It's not like there's anything you or anyone else can do about it, is there?

• Byron De La Beckwith : [from the trailer] 

  [during an interview] 

  Byron De La Beckwith : Did I kill Medgar Evers? No I did not

  [chuckles] 

  Byron De La Beckwith : But he sure is dead... he ain't never coming back