However much I may have doubts about the evidence and trial in this case -- I do not doubt that Echols is a giant a-hole.
Baldwin had it right in wanting to wait for a trial in order to properly clear his name -- he'd rather have stayed in prison than to have people simplistically interpret the deal as 'look, he pleaded guilty'. A crapton of pressure from all sides and the prospect of many more years in prison with a lot less support than he'd get as part of the 'WM3' is pretty good incentive for not doing so.
Those comments in the book are just low.
Baldwin had it right in wanting to wait for a trial in order to properly clear his name -- he'd rather have stayed in prison than to have people simplistically interpret the deal as 'look, he pleaded guilty'. A crapton of pressure from all sides and the prospect of many more years in prison with a lot less support than he'd get as part of the 'WM3' is pretty good incentive for not doing so.
Those comments in the book are just low.