Hey FP who are the west Memphis three?
Taken from The West Memphis Three website:
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 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.
In the years since the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley for a crime they did not commit, their cause has gained support from all over the world, and these men have become known as the West Memphis Three. The story of the injustice they have endured at the hands of the state of Arkansas has never lost momentum, and in recent months, the evidence in their favor has grown to the point where it's nearly impossible to view this case as anything other than a miscarriage of justice.
If you really want to know more, I suggest starting with the Wikipedia entry and then the actual website which has an overwhelming amount of information. Also watch two documentaries: Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. The first one is a document of the first trials and really gives a clear picture of everything surrounding the case at the time. I would also strongly suggest reading a book by Mara Leveritt called The Devil's Knot that examines every aspect of the case including evidence court transcripts and interviews with "witnesses".
I stumbled across the case about a year ago for a research project in one of my classes and by the time I was done with my research I was literally sick to my stomach.
Also check out a song by a band called Zao called Free The Three... the music might now be for everyone but the interlude in the middle has some spoken word that has an accurate, straightforward synopsis of the case.