The West Memphis Three. Guilty or not guilty?

[johnnie]

If you don't know the back story, here is a pretty decent rundown.
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=4287&IssueNum=169

There is news that DNA tests have come back and they are going to file motions in July.

Have any of you seen the Paradise Lost movies?

Just thought I would ask to see if any of you have any thoughts on it.

[Blue_Tires]

1. i thought not guilty

i saw the first documentary years ago, and thought so then

[johnnie]

2. It is obvious it was a modern day witch hunt

I am still blown away that this sort of thing can happen. They have a part two of the documentary and are working on a third. I think they are waiting to see the outcome of this last attempt to get these guys out of prison.

[Maddy McCall]

3. Depends on the evidence.

Most articles I've read are skewed to project guilt on the stepdad or on the teens. The movies, especially the second one, certainly attempted to incriminate the stepdad and exhonerate the teens.

No matter who did the crime, what was done to the children is the stuff of nightmares. I hope the DNA evidence finally gives a clear indication of who did it.

:(

[MnFats]

4. definite NOT.....they jimmied up the evidence.

i have a friend who's a prosecutor. in his more candid moments he has admitted to me that some of his ilk, when they have no case or a weak case, set out to make the jury hate and fear the defendant.
the subtext message is "the defendant is a dangerous, violent person. We think he did this evil thing but EVEN IF HE DIDN'T he's dangerous. you must help make our city safer by putting him away. If he didn't do this, he certainly will do something as bad or worse if you let him go, and won't you hate yourself then?"

they completely ignored evidence pointing to other suspects; Damien Echols actually hurt his case by testifying CANDIDLY about his lifestyle and his interest in WICCA. the Jury was not about to understand any of that. (that he did may speak to the quality of his counsel.)



they should be freed.

[Elidor]

5. I can't say with certainty that they're innocent...

But I strongly suspect that they are. Regardless, it's amazing that people can be put on death row on such flimsy evidence and hearsay. They got railroaded so bad...I was stunned when I read their story: stunned that it happened in America. It's all so medieval and ignorant and misguided.

[mitchum]

6. Absolutely not guilty...

those convictions were a witch hunt and a travesty

[fishnfla]

7. There is very little info on any DNA evidence in this article

Where'd it come from?

[johnnie]

8. I only gave that article if someone didn't know about the case.

Here are some recent ones:

http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6534194

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/176745/dna_test_results_could_mean_new_trial.html

[fishnfla]

9. Thanks

i remember this case well, the day before I left Memphis they found the bodies....
they are keeping the DNA hush-hush for now.

If you are interested in this type of thing check out "An Innocent Man" by John Grisham (true story)

[Rhythm]

10. I never thought they were guilty...

Especially after doing a lot of reading about the case...

Too often there is a rush to judgment to clear cases, and real, true investigation goes by the wayside. People lose their whole lives because of this sort of thing, whether it's due to laziness or criminal ineptitude.