West Memphis Three

beavis · 03-21-2008, 11:21 AM

So it's a bank holiday here today, and I'm only having to work about half time, so I've spent most of the day watching Paradise Lost, a documentary about three teenage boys that were convicted of murdering 3 grade skill boys in a satanic ritual in Arkansas 15 years ago. I don't know how I'd never heard about this case before, and was amazed that one of my English friends turned me onto it. The link below is an organization that's trying to get them free, as they think they are innocent.

Link

I'd be interested to hear what any of the lawyers on the board have to say about it. I gotta admit, the evidence seems to have a lot of holes in it, and the victims dad that's constantly raving into the camera throughout the whole movie is a nut, but I haven't been exposed to enough of it yet to render a firm opinion.

At the very least, I recommend the documentary, and the sequel to it that was made. Entertaining is the wrong word... maybe engrossing is a better way to describe it.

Anyone have an opinion?

Brock · 03-21-2008, 11:22 AM

It's definitely worth a look and so is the sequel. I don't really have an opinion about their guilt though.

Ultra Peanut · 03-21-2008, 11:23 AM

Shit's ****ed up.

**The Franchise** · 03-21-2008, 11:28 AM

I remember watching this on HBO a long time ago.

Chiefnj2 · 03-21-2008, 11:34 AM

It's been years since I've seen it. There is a sequel that is good. I believe they found a partial bite mark on one of the deceased and it did not match any of the three. IIRC, the nutty dad/step dad of one of the deceased (the one with the knife with blood) apparently had all of his teeth voluntarily extracted before they could get a bite sample from him. Draw your own conclusions.

NewChief · 03-21-2008, 11:35 AM

It's nuttiness for sure. I'm pretty disappointed. The current AG of Arkansas was one of my fraternity brothers, and he's refusing to reopen the case. I had hopes once he came into office that they'd have a full-on reinvestigation of the murders.

raybec 4 · 03-21-2008, 11:53 AM

my wife and I have been watching this for a few years and there is some new DNA evidence that should get all 3 boys a new trial at least. The DNA belongs to one of the victims step father.

teedubya · 03-21-2008, 11:57 AM

Eddie Vedder is one of the WM3's friends, and the main one, I don't recall his name, cowrote a song on one of their last albums.

It is a weird deal.

beavis · 03-21-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPhin

It's nuttiness for sure. I'm pretty disappointed. The current AG of Arkansas was one of my fraternity brothers, and he's refusing to reopen the case. I had hopes once he came into office that they'd have a full-on reinvestigation of the murders.

This is what I don't understand. It seems to me that there is clearly enough evidence to at the very least warrant a new trial. I just can't figure out what they seem to be covering up. If it's just the fact that they screwed up, or were inept... then it's just sad. If it's some form of corruption in the state system, it's really scary.

Deberg_1990 · 03-21-2008, 11:58 AM

Yea, this used to be on HBO alot back in the mid 90's. I think it even won several awards.

great documentary.

JBucc · 03-21-2008, 11:58 AM

wm3.org

beavis · 03-21-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Eddie Vedder is one of the WM3's friends, and the main one, I don't recall his name, cowrote a song on one of their last albums.

It is a weird deal.

.

NewChief · 03-21-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raybec 4

my wife and I have been watching this for a few years and there is some new DNA evidence that should get all 3 boys a new trial at least. The DNA belongs to one of the victims step father.

The last I'd heard, Dustin McDaniel (the Arkansas AG) said that the "new" DNA evidence wasn't enough to warrant a reopening of the case. That was the disappointment I referred to in another thread. Maybe something new has come about, though?

NewChief · 03-21-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beavis

This is what I don't understand. It seems to me that there is clearly enough evidence to at the very least warrant a new trial. I just can't figure out what they seem to be covering up. If it's just the fact that they screwed up, or were inept... then it's just sad. If it's some form of corruption in the state system, it's really scary.

As sad as it is, I really think that the WM3 are suffering from the stubborn nature of Arkansans. The people involved seem to feel that Hollywood liberals and other outsiders are trying to poke their noses in where they don't belong and stir up trouble that they don't understand. They claim that the documentaries and media barrages are misleading and motivated by outside forces. As sad as it is, I also think that there is quite a bit of superstition at play in that people may feel that Echols and company really were working for Satan and all of this outside pressure to free them is also coming from satanic forces, ala Frank Peretti.

beavis · 03-21-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPhin

As sad as it is, I really think that the WM3 are suffering from the stubborn nature of Arkansans. The people involved seem to feel that Hollywood liberals and other outsiders are trying to poke their noses in where they don't belong and stir up trouble that they don't understand. They claim that the documentaries and media barrages are misleading and motivated by outside forces. As sad as it is, I also think that there is quite a bit of superstition at play in that people may feel that Echols and company really were working for Satan and all of this outside pressure to free them is also coming from satanic forces, ala Frank Peretti.

It's interesting to hear you say that, because I was kind of getting that vibe too.

03-21-2008, 11:21 AM
beavis Free Born Man of the USA Join Date: May 2003 Casino cash: $9954900	West Memphis Three So it's a bank holiday here today, and I'm only having to work about half time, so I've spent most of the day watching Paradise Lost, a documentary about three teenage boys that were convicted of murdering 3 grade skill boys in a satanic ritual in Arkansas 15 years ago. I don't know how I'd never heard about this case before, and was amazed that one of my English friends turned me onto it. The link below is an organization that's trying to get them free, as they think they are innocent. Link I'd be interested to hear what any of the lawyers on the board have to say about it. I gotta admit, the evidence seems to have a lot of holes in it, and the victims dad that's constantly raving into the camera throughout the whole movie is a nut, but I haven't been exposed to enough of it yet to render a firm opinion. At the very least, I recommend the documentary, and the sequel to it that was made. Entertaining is the wrong word... maybe engrossing is a better way to describe it. Anyone have an opinion?
Posts: 7,588

03-21-2008, 11:22 AM	#2
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	It's definitely worth a look and so is the sequel. I don't really have an opinion about their guilt though.
Posts: 47,314

03-21-2008, 11:23 AM	#3
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	Shit's ****ed up. __________________
Posts: 39,518

03-21-2008, 11:28 AM	#4
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2995047	I remember watching this on HBO a long time ago.
Posts: 92,201

03-21-2008, 11:34 AM	#5
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $7873688	It's been years since I've seen it. There is a sequel that is good. I believe they found a partial bite mark on one of the deceased and it did not match any of the three. IIRC, the nutty dad/step dad of one of the deceased (the one with the knife with blood) apparently had all of his teeth voluntarily extracted before they could get a bite sample from him. Draw your own conclusions. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,394

03-21-2008, 11:35 AM	#6
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $9660204	It's nuttiness for sure. I'm pretty disappointed. The current AG of Arkansas was one of my fraternity brothers, and he's refusing to reopen the case. I had hopes once he came into office that they'd have a full-on reinvestigation of the murders. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,760

03-21-2008, 11:53 AM	#7
raybec 4 MVP Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Jabip Casino cash: $5133807	my wife and I have been watching this for a few years and there is some new DNA evidence that should get all 3 boys a new trial at least. The DNA belongs to one of the victims step father.
Posts: 10,911

03-21-2008, 11:57 AM	#8
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	Eddie Vedder is one of the WM3's friends, and the main one, I don't recall his name, cowrote a song on one of their last albums. It is a weird deal.
Posts: 36,652

03-21-2008, 11:58 AM	#10
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3904454	Yea, this used to be on HBO alot back in the mid 90's. I think it even won several awards. great documentary. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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03-21-2008, 11:58 AM	#11
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	wm3.org
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