West Memphis Three
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| - | '''''Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills''''' is a [[1996 in film|1996]] [[documentary film]] directed by [[Joe Berlinger]] and [[Bruce Sinofsky]] about the trials of [[West Memphis 3|three teenage boys]] in [[West Memphis, Arkansas]] for the murder and sexual mutilation of three prepubescent boys. The boys on trial for the crime are: [[Jessie Misskelley]], [[Damien Echols]] and [[Jason Baldwin]], also known as the [[West Memphis 3]]. | + | The '''West Memphis 3''' is the name given to three teenagers who were tried and convicted of the murders of three children in [[West Memphis, Arkansas]], [[United States]] in 1993. [[Damien Echols]] was [[capital punishment|sentenced to death]]. [[Jessie Misskelley]], Jr., was sentenced to life in prison, plus 40 years (he received two 20-year sentences in addition to the life sentence). [[Jason Baldwin]] was sentenced to [[life imprisonment]]. |
| - | During the course of the filming, [[John Mark Byers]], the stepfather of one of the victims, gives the filmmakers a knife which has blood in the hinge. The filmmakers turn the knife over to police, who examine it; the [[DNA]] is similar to that of himself and the boy but the evidence is nonetheless inconclusive since the DNA evidence produced was fragmented and can not provide concrete links. Other evidence is lost. All three teenagers are convicted. | + | The case has received considerable attention. Their supporters believe the arrests and convictions were a [[miscarriage of justice]] and that the defendants were wrongfully convicted during a period of intense media scrutiny. The defendants remain imprisoned, but legal proceedings are ongoing. |
| - | The film was followed by a sequel, ''[[Paradise Lost 2: Revelations]]'' (2000), which suggests that further evidence was missed or suppressed and attempts to prove Echols' innocence. | + | In July 2007, new [[forensic evidence]] was presented in the case, including evidence that none of the [[DNA]] collected at the crime scene matched the defendants, but did match Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the victims, along with DNA from a friend of Hobbs' whom he had been with on the day of the murders. The status report jointly issued by the State and the Defense team on July 17, 2007 states, "Although most of the [[DNA|genetic material]] recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the defendants." On October 29, 2007, the defense filed a ''Second Amended Writ of Habeas Corpus,'' outlining the new evidence. |
| + | In September 2008, Judge David Burnett (Circuit Court) denied Echols' application for a hearing on the new DNA evidence. The [[Arkansas Supreme Court]] is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Burnett's decision on September 30, 2010. Unless that court reverses the conviction, he will proceed to federal court on his pending writ of [[habeas corpus]]. | ||
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Revision as of 14:12, 23 September 2010
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The West Memphis 3 is the name given to three teenagers who were tried and convicted of the murders of three children in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States in 1993. Damien Echols was sentenced to death. Jessie Misskelley, Jr., was sentenced to life in prison, plus 40 years (he received two 20-year sentences in addition to the life sentence). Jason Baldwin was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The case has received considerable attention. Their supporters believe the arrests and convictions were a miscarriage of justice and that the defendants were wrongfully convicted during a period of intense media scrutiny. The defendants remain imprisoned, but legal proceedings are ongoing.
In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented in the case, including evidence that none of the DNA collected at the crime scene matched the defendants, but did match Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the victims, along with DNA from a friend of Hobbs' whom he had been with on the day of the murders. The status report jointly issued by the State and the Defense team on July 17, 2007 states, "Although most of the genetic material recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the defendants." On October 29, 2007, the defense filed a Second Amended Writ of Habeas Corpus, outlining the new evidence.
In September 2008, Judge David Burnett (Circuit Court) denied Echols' application for a hearing on the new DNA evidence. The Arkansas Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Burnett's decision on September 30, 2010. Unless that court reverses the conviction, he will proceed to federal court on his pending writ of habeas corpus.
