had you talked to cameron todd willingham before? did you know who he was? in 1992 webb had been convicted of aggravated robbery and was housed in the same gaol where cameron todd willingham awaited trial. the lead prosecutor in cameron todd willingham's case was assistant da john jackson, a friend of webb's father. >> he was one of boys they take tare of each other. >> reporter: cameron todd willingham's confession to you, who came up with the story, you or jackson? >> jackson. >> reporter: what did he tell you to sigh? >> he showed me the pictures of babies. he convinced me of his will. it wasn't hatched on the fly. it took days. i went to the office 2-3 times. it was a period of coaching. >> reporter: webb says jackson promised him something in return for his testimony. webb's robbery sentence was reduced. webb took the deal. >> if you are in my position you are 22 years old, and the da the one that controls your life tells me "look, we'll convict you but we'll come back and pardon you for it but you have to do this", or i'll give you a life sentence what

cameron todd willingham was found guilty of starting the fire that killed his three children but thatay have been based on a lie. we are following the latest developments. >> reporter: 23 years ago was the place where three young girls died in a terrible fire inside this home. they were the three daughters of cameron todd willingham, later convicted of their murders and sentences to death. the state's case rested on two pillars of evidence, forensics believed at the time to show that the fire was intentionally set, and the testimony of a jailhouse informant who said willingham confessed to him. willingham professed his innocence throughout his trial and incarceration. he was executed in 2004, but today the state's evidence has been called into question. independent fire investigators now say the fire may have been accidental and the jailhouse informant says his testimony was a lie. coerced by a prosecutor who promised him a secret deal, never disclosed to the jury. the prosecutor john jackson is now under investigation by the texas bar association and the informant johnny webb spoke e

that time it leads the nation with more than 500 inmates put to death and this brings us to cameron todd willingham. 20 years ago the father of three girls was accused of killing them after they died in a house fire, but he was executed, and now texas may have executed an innocent man. heidi zhou-castro has our story. >> reporter: it was a morning just before christmas 1991. cameron scott willingham. , and his children which are napping, while their mother was out. willingham escaped, his three children died. >> it is hard to imagine a greater tragedy. >> but willingham known as a troublemaker and accused of beating his wife, was accused of their death. unconcerned about his daughters inside, the trial was swift. >> the prosecutor said, at his trial, that there were two pillars of evidence in the case. one was the testimony of the arson investigators, who testified that this was an intentionally set fire. >> reporter: the corsicana fire department said they found accelerant leading from the girls bedroom to the back doosh doordoorand orefrigerator block the back door. >> johnny webb testified he wa

. >> in 2004 cameron todd willingham was strapped to a gunny and put togurney and put to death by the state of texas. some said the state executed an innocent man. a texas judge tried find out the truth but was stopped in his tracks. now he's talking to al jazeera. heidi zhou-castro joins us from austin with a story she brought us last night. heidi. >> that's right john. we heard from the jailhouse foarnlt that ininformant testified that in 1992 willingham confessed to setting the fire. in fact he told me the confession told him by willingham never happened. he said it was all a lie. that's not all. in this case so full of 20ss and turns john -- twists and turns that willingham was to be exonerated. >> the state of texas texas texas has executed an innocent man. i don't know how much more he would have wanted. >> six years after the execution, an exoneration letter. this court l holds the state of texas wrongfully executed willingham. but the order never took effect. its author forced to stand by as the order faded to irrelevance. >> on the scale of things you're sorry about or sad ab

. >>> cameron todd willingham, convicted of killing his three young children. he was executed in 2004. but there are serious doubts about the evidence in the case. what the judge is saying and what his wife is asking. >>> it's one of the biggest threats to cal's limited drinking water. >> it's sad to say that there are serious cancer-causing chemicals in the ground water right now. >> documents what state regulators knew about chemical dumping and the surprise admission from the agency in charge of protecting california's water. >>> artist jacob lawrence brought hope to the struggles of migrating african-americans in the 1920s. how his work still influences today and the collection of new york's museum of modern art is putting on display. those are all coming up in 40 minutes. >> a story of survival off the north carolina coast. >> this was the moment louis jordan's long ordeal finally came to an end 200 miles off the coast of north carolina. for the first time in more than two months he was back on dry land. jordan set out from south carolina on a fishing trip

they were the three daughters of cameron todd willingham, later convicted of their murders and sentenced to death. the state's case rested on two pillars of evidence, forensics believed at the time to show the fire was intentionally set and the testimony of a jailhouse informant who said willingham confessed to him. willingham protested his in sense throughout his trial and incarceration. he was executed in 2004. today, the state's evidence has been called into question. independent fire investigators now say the fire may have been accidental and the jailhouse informant said his testimony was a lie coerced by a prosecutor who promised him a secret deal, never disclosed to the jury. the prosecutor, john jackson is now under investigation by the texas bar association and the informant, johnny web spoke with al jazeera. >> everybody says i'm a snitch. i didn't snitch on nobody. i straight up lied like john jackson told me to. >> had you ever talked to willingham before? >> uh-uh. >> done who he was? you lied under oath, you are a liar. why should we believe you're telling the truth now. >>