jaime esparza. course, was that daniel was a cold blooded killer. >> i think there is enough believable and persuasive evidence in the case. >> reporter: and there was no reason to think he'd changed his mind in the years since then. nevertheless mimbela arranged a meeting. >> well, everybody thought i was crazy. they said, "john, he's the guy that convicted daniel, why would you go talk to him?" >> good question. >> and i'm like, "he needs to know the truth." >> reporter: mimbela marched into the d.a.'s office confident that esparza would see the light, correct his mistake and free daniel john mimbela. i told him, "mr. esparza, i'm not here trying to blame you for any wrongdoing. but from what i've investigated, daniel's confession was coerced. you've got the wrong guy." >> and? >> and he tells me, well, john i can't do anything about it. you have to initiate it. get yourself a good appeals lawyer. >> reporter: the legal system, as we said, was something of a mystery to john. he shouldn't have been