Who Did Matthew Poncelet Kill?

Poncelet was sentenced to Louisiana's death row for killing two young teenagers, Hope Percy and Walter Delacroix. Although Poncelet was sentenced to death, Carl Vitello, his accomplice, was sentenced to a lesser sentence of life without parole.

What was Dead Man Walking about?

"Dead Man Walking" is based on a book by New Orleans Sister Helen Prejean (Sarandon) who befriended death-row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Penn), convicted killer of two teen-age lovers. When the date is set for execution, Poncelet asks Prejean to be his spiritual adviser.

Is the film Dead Man Walking based on a true story?

Dead Man Walking is loosely based on a couple of true stories involving Sister Helen Prejean and is adapted from her memoirs, although Penn's character is a composite based on multiple convicted murderers helped by the sister.