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Welcome To Britain, Mr President - Now, Please Free The West Memphis Three
Awesome as it’ll be to have Obama over here, perhaps we should use his visit to help overturn the worst miscarriage of justice this side of the Birmingham Six?
So who isn’t excited to have Barack Obama visiting the UK? For this writer, the day this proud son of Kenya (hi, birthers) took his oath of office, I started counting the days until he’d head over to our green and pleasant land. And while he’s already paid one flying visit for the 2009 G20 summit, this forthcoming affair is the nearest I’ll come to understanding what those fainting girls went through when the Fab Four took the stage.
Thrilled as I’ll be to see this charismatic visionary on this side of the Atlantic, it’s my belief that while we should extend a warm welcome to the man, we should also take this rare opportunity to bring to his attention an appalling miscarriage of justice. That the crime in question occurred in the US might lead some to believe we have no business in entreating the president to attend to the matter. Think how much the Clinton White House did to bring peace to Ireland and you might agree that, as we have plenty to thank America for (surf ‘n’ turf, those movies where cops have dogs as partners, I could go on), being a good friend sometimes means pointing out when your ally has gone awry.
In May 1993, the bodies of three children were found in a dry river bed in Robin Hood Hills, a district of the Arkansas town of West Memphis. The murder of the boys, Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Stevie Branch, was so horrific that while photos of the crime scene are widely available on the net, we’ve chosen not to replicate them on our site. It should be enough to say that each of the boys had been tied up and tortured, and one of them, the eight-year old Christopher Byers, had been emasculated.
Even in late twentieth century America, it was possible to whip up feeling similar to those addressed in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
Determined to catch the guilty party(s) as quickly as possible, the local police arrested teenagers Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin. Although it might sound like a drastic oversimplification, the truth of the matter is that these boys were taken into custody because they liked to dress in black, they were fans of Metallica (a crime perhaps, but surely not one punishable by jail time) and one of them, Echols, owned a couple of books about witchcraft.
The trials that followed, the hysteria whipped up by the media and the local community’s desire to avenge the murders were captured in the documentaries Paradise Lose: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills and Paradise Lost II: Revelations. Directed by Joel Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, the men responsible for the peerless Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster, the films reveal that, even in late twentieth century America, it was possible to whip up feeling similar to those addressed in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. The trailer alone provides a telling snapshot of the mania that engulfed West Memphis in the wake of the Robin Hood Hills atrocities.
Over the course of the trial, virtually no evidence emerged to tie Misskelley, Echols and Baldwin to the murders. What did emerge was that Misskelley – whose confession was the prosecution’s trump card – had an IQ in the low seventies. As an imbecile, Misskelley should have been privy to exemplary treatment following his arrest. Instead, he was denied legal representation and access to his family and subjected to hours of questioning, the upshot of which was a confession so full of holes, John Torode could use it as a colander.
I’ve lots more to say about the West Memphis Three but a lot of it’s been said already by people whose legal knowledge far surpasses my own. Those who are willing to research the matter further might be surprised how quickly they conclude that the convictions of Misskelley, Echols and Baldwin are, at best, unsafe. Look a little further and you’ll surely wonder why it is that these three men – aged 17, 19 and 16 at the time they were convicted – have spent the last 18 years in prison. Echols, who was sentenced to death, spends 23 hours a day in his cell. He has rarely seen the son who was born just prior to his being sent down.
Of course, the wrongful conviction of three teenagers can’t rival the murder of three eight-year-olds in terms of tragedy. Britain, however, has first hand experience of what it is to find the wrong people guilty, and how such measures, instead of providing ‘closure’ (hate that word but it seems apropos in this instance) simply prolong the agony. Meanwhile, the case of Stefan Kiszko leaves us well qualified to point up the idiocy of leaning on an idiot when they’re in custody.
So welcome to Britain, Mr President. Enjoy the wonderful weather and the adoring crowds. We really couldn’t be happier to have you here. But please put pardoning the West Memphis Three on your to-do list when you arrive home.
For more on the Free The West Memphis Three campaign visit wm3.org
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COMMENTS
Not to sabotage your sunny view of Obama and America, but America has a horribly broken criminal justice system. No doubt tens of thousands of Americans are locked up wrongfully in this country. It's how we have become known as incarceration nation, our claim to fame. A converyor belt runs from the courthouse to the jailhouse and rubber stamp is what judge's do best. If you are a minority, forget about it. There are over 2,000 children serviing life without parole in this great and just land of freedom and tolerance, most for first time offenses, children with no criminal record, children who snapped for one reason or another. In some states children as young as 8 can be charge as an adult and receive a mandatory adult sentence, even lwop. Some states have no minimum age a child can be charged as an adult, it's up to the prosecutor. Many states do not have judicial review for kids automatically waived to adult court. America is not the shining light it would like other countries to think it is, and Obama who we all thought was going to shine the light and expose the injustices, AND do something about them, has turned the other cheek. We Obama voters saw that immediately when he let Bush and Cheney off the hook for waging an illegal war and lying to the American people and then when he bailed out Wall St. for bankrupting the country and people lost 10 years of savings. Regarding the WM3, I hope someone over there in jolly old England does ask him about the WM3. That would be to die for but if some brave sole does, don't expect an answer and surely don't expect to see it on his to-do list, most assuredly it is on his to-don't list. The Who said it so eloquently back in the 70's, "meet the new boss, same as the old boss", yea, when we Americans voted for Obama in a landslide we thought we had wised up, but we were just "fooled again". Have a nice day. Say "hi" for me too.
Just what we need 3 child murderers running around the us. Save your money give it too some sick kids.
the child murderer is still running around the U.S. Unfortunately. Hopefully, now that the sniffer dogs are on to him (thanks to his DNA found at the scene), he won't hop a plane and be running around THe English countryside.
Appreciate the thought, but Obama can't pardon the WM3 - he can only pardon FEDERAL offenses and the WM3 were wrongfully convicted of a STATE offense. But freedom is coming - 150 days or so to the hearings ordered by the Arkansas Supreme Court. In any case, thanks for bringing attention to the West Memphis Three. Anyone interested in keeping up with the latest - and learning what YOU can do to help - should visit the website co-run by Mark Byers', the father of one of the victims of (Terry Hobbs') crime... and one of the most vocal WM3 supporters out there. Get involved and stay up on the case: http://www.wm3blackboard.com Justice for 6 = Free the 3 & arrest the 1
I'm assuming anyone with the time enough to post comments on the internet has had plenty of time to read, watch, listen, and learn about the case of the WM3, so I'm not going to state the facts of the case.. I just wanted to comment that the only way, I feel, that Damien and the others will be pardoned, or their cases even given a decent, deserved second chance is if, and when, the people that put them away so quickly (the West Memphis police, namely the Chief, the Ark. DA at the time, the judge) either die or are out of the "public service" business. This was a career-making case for the hillbillies involved, and they took full advantage by running these boys through the proverbial 'wood-chipper', and then quickly getting promoted to high enough levels that they could keep their eyes, hands and influence hovering over the possible overturning or honest second glance at this grave injustice. America does terrible things (and great, sometimes), but possibly the worst thing it 'does' is that it never admits when it was wrong. I'm 25 and I, sadly, doubt I will get to see the day when this wrong is righted, but that doesn't deter me from learning, spreading the word, and donating any resources I may have as a "free" American to these innocent boys (now men). It's alarming how many foreign citizens know much more, or even anything at all, about this case than the average American citizen. Here's to hoping that God exists, and that 'he' believes in justice; justice in freeing the WM3, and justice in finally finding the actual monster behind the slaying of the three children and giving 'him', somehow, a worse punishment than Damien has had to endure.
THe US has approx 4.5% of the world's population, yet it has 25% of the world's jail population.
The US is not a rational place. We've lost our mind. Who knows how much potential is locked up behind bars in this country. Life sentences are thrown around like confetti. Three strikes, mandatory sentences, no parole, endless probation, bla, bla. Smoking pot can get you 10 years mandatory and it goes up from there. We'd lock up Einstein if he liked weed, and who knows, the next one is probably locked up somewhere in one of the gazillion prisons across America. A cure for cancer, AIDS, is locked up. A Jobs or Gates may be doing 10 mandatory for a doobie or 3. Unfortunately, the sleezy politicians are destroying this country appealing to the lowest common denominator, touch on crime rhetoric to get stupid's votes. As Sen. Webb has suggested America either has a broken criminal justice system or the worst people in the world, at 8 times the worlds prison population. Incarceration for drug offenses has risen 1200% since 1980. Billions upon billions of dollars are spent to lock up non-violent pot smokers. Anyway, rant, rant, rant, rolls eyes... Scorn, I believe you WILL see the WM3 freed, and soon. The AR Supreme Court has given the green light and seems to have shut down the cover up effort with the new hearing and ALL evidence can be presented. There is a new judge who also seems to have left the original bunch of snakes out on a limb to fend for themselves. The gig is up as they say and I believe the cover up is no longer going to be tolerated. Yes, careers were made, but Folgelman was not elected to the AR Supreme Court, being the first one to have hit a stumbling block due to this case. It was a paradigm shift for the career seekers and I think sent a message loud and clear and echo heard throughout.
Whoever sent me the message, I had plenty of time to read about the case, I also know the players. You weren't at the trials so you have no idea of what went on, the one thing I can tell you is Damien will get out, he will get out in a pine box. As will Jessie and Jason, you think you know what your talking about but your not even from this country, wait for the hearings a few surprises are coming your way.
What is the reason of your support for child rapists and murderers Baldwin & Echols? Stupidity, being English, or some revolting kinhsip I'd rather not know about?
Annie, silly girl, no one is for child rapists for pete's sake. Also, new evidence has shown there was no "child rape". There was animal predation, but no rape. Annie, sweet dear, what people are for is justice AND to see the right person/people held accountable for this heinous crime, not the wrong people. It's not all that complicated or far out a concept. Now calm down and go read up on the case.
Annie, is there something wrong with you? Anyone who relates stupidity with being English is a complete and utter racist moron who shouldn't be given my time, but since I'm not an arsehole like yourself, I'll try to be nice here and just suggest you do some reading. You can find true and impartial accounts on www.wm3.org (the site is in support of the trio, but is factual for the most part). Unfortunately, I can imagine that you won't do this. You claiming you're against "child rapists" already suggests you're not totally aware of who the WM3 are, yet will pass judgement anyway. Anyway, have fun with your life, I hope you aren't always as racist and mis-guided!
Met a guy from the US last night, he was surprised by the fact that I know about this case...We're putting on a benefit gig in a squat in South London....keep checking for ads on the wm3.org site soonish once we've got it together, and of course contacted the wm3 team...
haha, I'm surprised the guy from the US knew about it. Good luck with the gig.
Phil If your that stupid to throw a gig for 3 child murderers what can I say, I have been with this case for 10 years, we have asked many time for an audit of money coming in, just by searching the internet it's well over 3 million dollars, now thats just what I found, If Lorri Davis can quit her job and work PR for Damien for the last two years and fly to California or where ever to beg for money, than your a fool for giving her money for the defense fund, give your money to a cancer foundation instead, otherwise your just putting it in her pocker and she can go another year without working. And who knows after December she just might split, I am sure she has an account in another country.
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