Netflix Tip of the Day: The Devil on Trial

Yes dear true crime lovers, it's that time again: there's a really nice addition on Netflix. The Devil On Trial, and with a title like that, you already know it's going to be good. And believe me, when you see the trailer, you won't know what hit you. I have the feeling that this kind of thing can only happen in America, but it's honestly the strangest case I've heard of in ages. Think of a real-life Exorcist — so grim.

This documentary is about Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who was tried for murder in 1981 — he was 19 years old at the time. Arne had murdered his landlord, Alan Bono, or rather… His body had done that: he claimed to be possessed by the devil.

And you might think that the lawyers laughed at him hard, but that was absolutely not the case. In fact, this is the only time in American history that a demonic possession was used as a defense in a court case. Ultimately, however, with little success; Arne was found guilty of murder and the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence that he was actually possessed by the devil. Sounds pretty logical.

But it gets even weirder: Arne's brother-in-law, David Glatzel, also claims to have been possessed by the devil in the past. At the age of eleven, the devil supposedly took his body as a home for a while. No idea what's in the water in Connecticut (where both gentlemen live), but it can't be entirely good.

They are so convinced of this that they hire paranormal investigators: Ed and Lorraine Warren. That name might not sound familiar to you, but they are also the couple that investigated The Amityville Horror — that horror film is actually based on true stories.

Believe me: you want to see this doc — purely because it's so bizarre.