'West Memphis Three' freed after 18 years in prison

Gerald · 08-20-11, 07:48 PM

Three US men who say they were falsely convicted of murdering three boys have been freed after 18 years in prison.

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were convicted in 1994, but new DNA evidence raised doubts.

The so-called West Memphis Three were backed by celebrities who had raised money for their case.

They were freed from prison on Friday in a deal allowing them to claim innocence while agreeing prosecutors had enough evidence to convict them.

Speaking to reporters after they were freed, Baldwin said he had been reluctant to plead guilty to crimes he did not commit, but said he had wanted to spare Echols the death penalty.

'Satanic rite'

Echols said the release was "overwhelming".

"It's not perfect by any means," he said of the deal. "But it at least brings closure to some areas and some aspects."

Although families of two of the victims had come to believe the trio were innocent, an onlooker shouted "baby killers" as the men walked free from court.

The men were teenagers when they were convicted for the brutal May 1993 murder and mutilation of three eight-year-old boys who were found nude and bound in a ditch in West Memphis in the US state of Arkansas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14598845

Note: 19 August 2011 Last updated at 20:49 GMT

08-20-11, 07:48 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	'West Memphis Three' freed after 18 years in prison Three US men who say they were falsely convicted of murdering three boys have been freed after 18 years in prison. Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were convicted in 1994, but new DNA evidence raised doubts. The so-called West Memphis Three were backed by celebrities who had raised money for their case. They were freed from prison on Friday in a deal allowing them to claim innocence while agreeing prosecutors had enough evidence to convict them. Speaking to reporters after they were freed, Baldwin said he had been reluctant to plead guilty to crimes he did not commit, but said he had wanted to spare Echols the death penalty. 'Satanic rite' Echols said the release was "overwhelming". "It's not perfect by any means," he said of the deal. "But it at least brings closure to some areas and some aspects." Although families of two of the victims had come to believe the trio were innocent, an onlooker shouted "baby killers" as the men walked free from court. The men were teenagers when they were convicted for the brutal May 1993 murder and mutilation of three eight-year-old boys who were found nude and bound in a ditch in West Memphis in the US state of Arkansas. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14598845 Note: 19 August 2011 Last updated at 20:49 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie