Original sentence: Berendt actually came to Savannah a year after the crime occurred and met Jim Williams in prison after Williams's second conviction.Chablis, a friend of the deceased, provides both a Greek chorus of sorts as well as a lighthearted contrast to the more serious action.The action that serves as a catalyst in the book is the killing of Danny Hansford, a local hustler (characterized as "a good time not yet had by all") by respected art dealer Jim Williams, an event which resulted in four murder trials, the final one ending in acquittal after Williams finally agreed to having the case moved away from the Savannah jury pool, and which is characterized in the book as a murder.The death took place in Williams's home, originally built by an ancestor of songwriter and Savannah native Johnny Mercer.The reporter role, played by John Cusack, was based upon Berendt.While the author contends that the essence of the book is true, and the events did occur, much of the book's text is highly subjective
Edited sentence: Berendt actually came to Savannah a year after the crime occurred and met Jim Williams in prison after Williams' second conviction.Chablis, a friend of the deceased, provides both a highly partisan Greek chorus of sorts as well as a lighthearted contrast to the more serious action.It is important to note that, while the author contends that the essence of the book is true, and the events did occur, much of the book's text is highly subjective.The action that serves as a catalyst in the book is the self-defense killing of Danny Hansford, a local hustler (characterized as "a good time not yet had by all") by respected art dealer Jim Williams, an event that resulted in four murder trials, the final one ending in acquital after Williams finally agreed to having the case moved away from the tainted Savannah jury pool, unfortunately mischaracterized in the book as a murder.The death took place in Williams' home, originally built by an ancestor of songwriter and Savannah native Johnny Mercer.The reporter role, played by John Cusack, was ostensibly based on Berendt