Regarding my last post...
I didn't have time this morning before work to go on about the url I urge everyone to take a look at but here are a few thoughts on the matter...
I heard about this case back *around* the time the boys were erroneously arrested for the murders of three little boys. At that point, I was like 14 and extremely obsessed with any form of true crime, particularly grisly murders. And I think a little boy having his genitals chopped off while still obviously alive constitutes as "grisly." Along with utterly unthinkable.
At any rate, it is unfortunate but true that the first book I read on the matter was written by some biased asshole who merely jumped on the bandwagon of "Guilty!" in regard to the currently (and wrongly!) convicted guys.
It was the only book out when I was interested in the case so, I thought they seemed guilty. It seemed cut and dry to me. As time passed, I noticed more and more people online even, with the "Free the West Memphis Three" banners and really didn't pay any further attention. I knew about the documentary done by HBO but never got to watch it. Until last night, we rented the second one which only goes up to 1999 I believe. I was so utterly horrified by the one murdered boy's stepfather and just the sheer *lack* of evidence in the conviction of Damien Echols and the sheer *amount* of at the very least; intense suspicious behavior on the behalf of the stepfather, Mark Byers.
I recommend anyone who is interested to go and rent the documentary "Paradise Lost" there is a first and a second one. Rent it. You will not believe what you are watching and just how fucking cruel and ignorant people are.
It is scary, very scary that basically Damien is on death row because of his interests and what people *perceive* of him. Not because of any real hard-core evidence.
Granted, the confession of the third member of the convicted party did not at all make things better. But watch it, you will see how easily the police could have lead that boy, Jesse, who only had an IQ of 72 into a false confession after 12 hours of interrogation! Of which, at the time, he was still a minor and the did not call his parents nor did they even allow him an attorney and you know what is really scary about it? Strangely, on the last 45 minutes of his 12 hour interrogation were recorded...
So, three little boys are dead and 3 innocent guys have been rotting in prison while the obvious killer is making a mockery of the whole thing. It is a sad documentary to watch but do rent it. And donate to the defense fund!
I heard about this case back *around* the time the boys were erroneously arrested for the murders of three little boys. At that point, I was like 14 and extremely obsessed with any form of true crime, particularly grisly murders. And I think a little boy having his genitals chopped off while still obviously alive constitutes as "grisly." Along with utterly unthinkable.
At any rate, it is unfortunate but true that the first book I read on the matter was written by some biased asshole who merely jumped on the bandwagon of "Guilty!" in regard to the currently (and wrongly!) convicted guys.
It was the only book out when I was interested in the case so, I thought they seemed guilty. It seemed cut and dry to me. As time passed, I noticed more and more people online even, with the "Free the West Memphis Three" banners and really didn't pay any further attention. I knew about the documentary done by HBO but never got to watch it. Until last night, we rented the second one which only goes up to 1999 I believe. I was so utterly horrified by the one murdered boy's stepfather and just the sheer *lack* of evidence in the conviction of Damien Echols and the sheer *amount* of at the very least; intense suspicious behavior on the behalf of the stepfather, Mark Byers.
I recommend anyone who is interested to go and rent the documentary "Paradise Lost" there is a first and a second one. Rent it. You will not believe what you are watching and just how fucking cruel and ignorant people are.
It is scary, very scary that basically Damien is on death row because of his interests and what people *perceive* of him. Not because of any real hard-core evidence.
Granted, the confession of the third member of the convicted party did not at all make things better. But watch it, you will see how easily the police could have lead that boy, Jesse, who only had an IQ of 72 into a false confession after 12 hours of interrogation! Of which, at the time, he was still a minor and the did not call his parents nor did they even allow him an attorney and you know what is really scary about it? Strangely, on the last 45 minutes of his 12 hour interrogation were recorded...
So, three little boys are dead and 3 innocent guys have been rotting in prison while the obvious killer is making a mockery of the whole thing. It is a sad documentary to watch but do rent it. And donate to the defense fund!