This past weekend I was able to attend a viewing of West of Memphis. The film tells a gripping story a terrible crime, compounded by a grave injustice. I have been a supporter of the WM3 for some time now. Have seen the Paradise Lost trilogy made by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky that aired in 1996 on HBO. You may ask yourself how many films on the WM3 need to be made? Personally I say as may as it takes to get the three exonerated.
Those of you that are unaware of who the West Memphis Three are here is a small recount. Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley JR. were convicted in 1994 of the murders of three 8 year old cub scouts, that occurred on May 5th of 1993. After a month of not being able to find a killer the state of Arkansas decided to create a motive in order to prosecute the the three teens whom they deemed as strange.They needed to arrest someone/anyone and hey who better than the misfit trio, with long hair, who listened to metal and read Stephen King novels. Calling it a satanic cult killing and creating a modern day witch hunt. Prosecute someone even if wrongly convicting three innocent teenage boys, at least that means West Memphis citizens would have the fears placed at rest.
What should we honestly fear most? Is it the violence that stole the lives of three 8 year old children? How about the possibility the justice system we should be able to place trust into is failing us on many levels. When law enforcement is able to take innocent lives away themselves in order to settle a case. Just to make themselves look favorable in order to get high political gains and line their pockets just slightly more. Concerned more about saving face than the innocent. Ask yourself what is more frightening the killers or the accusers with out cause?
New DNA evidence establishes that there os ZERO connection between the West Memphis Three and the deaths of those 3 little boys. Which lead to their release from prison 08-19-2011 with a very unjust plea deal called an Alford Plea. It allows them all to retain their innocence but allowing the state to claim them as guilty. Basically an easy out for the state saying we can't be sued for wrongfully convicting you and since we still claim you as guilty "even though we are setting you free" means we do not have to be bothered with this case anymore and the actual killer still gets to live his life out peacefully. This is wrong on all levels and needs to be corrected.
Back to my thoughts on the film itself. It was incredibly well crafted for a documentary 2 1/2 hours long it did not even seem that long. Even with all the knowledge I hold of the case and all that are involved, I was moved to tears, infuriating anger, with a few moments of smiles. WoM does indeed shed light on what should be a HUGE shame in the criminal justice system of the USA. It also show how the average persons voice can make a huge difference in the world. How people motivated by compassion and a belief in doing the right thing can effect a change. Amy Berg's documentary also strongly shows who law enforcement should have in prison. The Stepfather of Stevie Branch, Mr. Terry Hobbs. The man with a violent past and who's DNA was actually found at the scene of the crime. At the end of the day this is an extraordinary document about the three innocent children who were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas and the three innocent teenagers who spent 18 years in prison for the crime they did not commit. I highly recommend seeing it in a theater near you or at the very least once it is release to DVD. The more people that know about this case and other like it the better.
