West Memphis Three

[dreamliner77]

Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence?

The same police officers coerced an error-filled “confession” from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late— Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994.

Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40.

For over 11 years, The West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection our tax dollars will pay for. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment.

But there’s still hope for them, and you can help.


http://www.wm3.org/


This is a cause I feel very strongly about. I normally try not to bring my sometimes extremely left wing views into the forums, but I think this is something that definitely needs attention.

I'm not really concerned with whether or not you personally think they are innocent or guilty. I know how I feel. What I am pushing for is that the three of them have the opportunity for fair trials. I think they at least deserve that much.

A great book on the subject: http://21361.com/Merchant2/merchant..._Code=2&Product_Code=2042&Category_Code=Books

And a documentary: http://21361.com/Merchant2/merchant...Code=2&Product_Code=2024&Category_Code=Videos


I hope all of you will at least take a few minutes to look over the website.


Thanks fellow OSNN'ers

 

[dreamliner77]

I'm really suprised that no one has responded back to this yet. I hope that I'm not way off base here.

 

[dreamliner77]

C'mon guys (and gals). Don't make me keep bumping this.

 

[muzikool]

Well, it's one of those things where I'm through reading the post, and I don't really know what to think either way. My conclusion is that I don't have one, so I can't support or not support the argument. So there, that's what I think.

 

[Mainframeguy]

There's a lot to read there - if you want to delve into it. Certainly looks controversial, especially with absence of real evidence - and then the guy who used a restroom and was covered in blood and mud

I sure hope something happens before the sentence is carried out - one of the reasons I feel the death sentence is a really bad idea, barbaric almost... I mean if you get it wrong there is no going back.