However at a price. As Damien Echols himself said in a news conference a scant few hours ago, the “deal” they had to agree to was, “not perfect by any means, but at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects.” Not perfect because Arkansas essentially made the three plead guilty to lesser degree murder charges in order to become free. So, Arkansas doesn’t want egg on their face and they sure as hell do not want to be sued for putting three teenagers in jail on weak evidence and suspicion and leaving them there for the better part of twenty years.
Okay, guilty but free? Here’s the “deal”:
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley had to plead guilty to, respectively, three counts of first degree murder, three counts of first degree murder and one count of first degree and two counts of second degree murder. They had to legally waive their right to sue the state and acknowledge that at the time of their initial sentencing in 1993 the state essentially had enough evidence to reach the verdict they did. So that sucks, but after eighteen years, there are a whole lot of folks, most especially the guys and their families, who are just happy to have their freedom (and, in Echols’ case, be removed from death row). Let it also be said that along with their own freedom this now opens the door to the real killers being found and the victims, three eight-year old boy scouts named Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, being properly honored and laid to rest.
The case is itself fairly complicated, mostly because of the state and not the actual crime. The WM Three were essentially, in 90’s nomenclature, ‘Stoners’ and as such in a backwater fuck pond such as West Memphis, Arkansas, easy targets because they wore black and listened to heavy metal. The conviction came after a “witness” reported seeing Echols covered in mud the night the boys’ were tied up and killed in what is apparently a very noteworthy and rare commodity in Arkansas – mud.
Of course! Elementary my dear Watson! Find the mud and we’ll find the killer!
From here there was the mentally-challenged Misskelley’s “confession” to police after approx. four hours of interrogation, testimony that was eventually thrown out. Funny then that despite that dismissal and the lack of any DNA evidence the three were still convicted.
But now they are free.
Wrongful imprisonment aside, it is unthinkable in a case such as this that an entire community would be more interested in accepting convenient closure than actually attempting to solve the real crime, avenge the victims and their families and bring murderous individuals to justice. But then, I guess the definition of justice varies for a lot of folks, hence the obligatory shouts of “baby killers” as the three were released this afternoon.
At least Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley finally received a modicum of justice after so long, even if it was tainted by having to publicly admit to something they didn’t do.
Now, if there’s a Circuit Court judge in Arkansas that has half a brain, maybe there’s a law man or two with one as well and someone will re-open the case and actually strive to complete the Justice in a case that has plagued the American legal system for almost two decades.
Welcome home boys.
7 comments
Why this is important to CHUD readers: The excellent “Paradise Lost” documentaries which helped propel this case into to the public sphere.
As a native from Northeast Arkansas and who grew up only less than sixty miles from West Memphis, I can tell you that the baffling nature of this case is a prime example of the area’s politics, as well as many of America’s rural and socially homogenous communities. If you’re not white and/or Christian, you’re not the right kind. You’ll be looked down on and secretly despised…or in some cases, publicly rebuked for being different. Of course, the area’s apologists and political stances insist on some sort of weak progressiveness, but the hate is alive and well, if only muffled. The truth is pretty well known to any outsiders who happen upon this cultural vacuums for any period of time: assimilate, leave or pay the price.
The WM3 were easy targets to pin it on, especially with such circumstantial evidence. If they did commit those atrocious crimes, the state failed to present a convincing case, which only further proves the incompetence of local government and law enforcement in that community. It’s such a raw deal, either way. I hope the true killers will be found one day, whether it was the WM3 or an abroad party. Those children who died deserved better.
http://www.wm3truth.com
Which one of the West Memphis Three is your favorite?
Baldwin, who mutilated Stevie’s body with his teeth, as he was stabbing him?
Or everyone’s favorite, Echols, who stomped an ill dog to death a few weeks before murdering the boys?
A professional profiler’s take:
http://womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/2010/03/dont-free-west-memphis-three.html
Yes, I know – she’s just a professional crime analyst, rather than a frat boy blogging on a movie site. And yet, for some reason, she actually does know something about the case. Unbelievable.
You may also note that, to convey the truth, she uses the unusual and obscure method of presenting facts rather than typing ungrammatical sentences peppered with pitiful, infantile and failed attempts at being snarky. I know, I know, bizarre – but, somehow, her method works!
Wow MariaAnna, you sure took me to task. It is interesting that you say “stomped a dog to death a few weeks before murdering the boys” yet even on this profiler’s blog you link to she says Echols “is reported to have stomped a dog to death”. Reported being the operative word. Guilty until proven innocent, yes?
I do not claim to know what happened but I do claim to have a pretty good idea what did not happen based on the original evidence of the conviction alone. The dodgy nature of said evidence is openly discussed on the second link you provided – the profiler’s blog – yet you clearly speak as though you ‘know’ what happened. It is also interesting that said blog takes very special care to begin discussing the WM3 by first, for no reason that I can see except to garner bias, describing in graphic detail a heinous crime that was proven, that of Alyssa Bustamente. This way, after the author of the blog jerks our emotions and makes us sick, her bias becomes an undercurrent to our emotionally charged reaction as she segues into a case that was not proven, that of the WM3. Of course that may be the tactic of one who makes a living writing ‘true crime’ books and making television appearances on such landmarks of credibility as the Today Show, Dr. Phil and Larry King (read Pat Brown’s bio on the site).
CHUD asked me to “approve” your comment and I did because you are entitled to your opinion and why would I block it? However, all you’ve done is provide links to two independently written blogs from people with clear biases and then proceed to “strengthen” your argument by insulting my writing.
Well played.
By the way, I have never belonged to a frat or perpetrated frat activities. I graduated college long ago and work for a living. But it does speak volumes that you would assume so much and be so wrong, as your comments also showcases these abilities. Your righteous indignation pauses for no fact.
How do I just know you will offer a rebuttal?
Baldwin’s teeth imprint didn’t match the bites on Stevie’s body, but thanks for playing. Here’s a link to Alex Jones’ website where you might find some more like minded individuals like Birthers and Tea Party Jagoffs. http://www.prisonplanet.com
Sorry to digress, but speaking as a Jagoff I’d appreciate it if you didn’t associate my kind to the Tea Party.
Thanks.
CHUD stands for the rule of law! CHUD stands for justice! Mr Baker, your classy reply utterly destroyed this Nancy Grace superfan’s pseudo-logic. Well played! : )
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.