SURPRISE HEARING Friday 18th August

[decemberbee45]

Funny ,they would want to be labeled child murderers forever because of not wanting to wait until Dec when they were so sure they would be set free then.

Very telling.. Oh and Anyone see the middle finger DE was holding up as he was waiting for the media to set up. He did a slick jail house middle finger thing..

IMO, I would have no faith in AR judicial system. MOO, 18 yrs of my life would be enough.

 

[Kaybug]

This is what the attorney said...the State maintains that they are guilty. They are still convicted murderers. The attorney was indicating that the State would never have accepted this deal if they really thought the WM3 were guilty.

It's the money, millions and millions!

 

[21merc7]

This is what the attorney said...the State maintains that they are guilty. They are still convicted murderers. The attorney was indicating that the State would never have accepted this deal if they really thought the WM3 were guilty. Sorry to confuse!!

Lol, you are not confusing anyone. The politics of this is.

The State would never let these men free even on an Alford Plea if there was any evidence to convict them. They could all 3 just spend life in jail, and no deal would have been made. The original convictions would never have even been looked over. We would not be here today discussing this, as it would never happen otherwise.

This means there must be some new evidence that leads directly to someone else. We may find out about in a few months, after all of this dust settles and the State feels they are safe to proceed with a new trial, after any elections, after the confusion of this, and after the money issues calm a bit. At least I hope there will be a trial based on whatever the new evidence may be.

 

[BeanE]

Damien attorney:
State's acceptance of the Alford plea is recognition of their innocence.

Prosecutor:

In light of these circumstances I decided to entertain plea offers that were being proposed by the defense. I NEVER considered ANY arrangement that would negate the verdicts of those two juries. Guilt or Innocence was NEVER ON THE TABLE.

Today’s proceeding allows the defendants the freedom of speech to SAY they are innocent, but the FACT is, they just plead GUILTY.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlo...ecutors-statement-on-west-memphis-3-plea-deal

 

[chasing.halos]

wmctv stating Steve Branch Sr yelled in court to the judge that it wasn't right and he was escorted out.

 

[Amster]

That seems to be forgotten, the victims voice are silenced and snuffed out.

The one child was mutilated. I'm sure the 3 victims were terrified and tortured.

Totally forgotten. Defense attorneys rationalizing why the 3 would admit guilt even though they are innocent doesn't make me feel all squishy and proud. The DA explaining why it is a good idea to allow 3 child killers to go free after admitting their guilt is just as sickening.

But, seems it is what it is. Hopefully, no other little ones die because of it.

 

[chasing.halos]

wmctv also stating the reason why we heard yesterday that only 2 would be freed is because Jason wasn't going to take the plea but did so last minute.

 

[Kimster]

I'm getting alerts and I'll be honest, I haven't followed this case and do not have an opinion of this breaking news.

However, I do know that we are not to tell others how they should feel. If someone feels differently than you do, that's okay.

 

[UdbCrzy2]

I wonder where they will live now?

Can you imagine having a neighbor who was convicted of multiple murder of 3 little boys (one being mutilated) living next door to you?

I think that would make me feel very uncomfortable and restless at night.

I wonder what kind of backlash they will face in the community.

I believe they murdered those little boys and do so by their plea of guilty like the prosecutor said. I don't understand why people are saying they are innocent when they just gave a plea of GUILTY?

 

[dr dona]

understanding an Alford plea is difficult. My oldest daughter got pulled over by a cop when a girl min her backseat opened up a window and barfed. Meg had only had 1 glass of wine---I was with her. She blew a .09...so they srrested her. The cops never did a blood test even though we asked for one. The hooker in all this is that Meg had anorexia and bullemia and was acidotic all the time. That screws up the "blow Test". We could have fought the charges but it would have cost un $5000 to $10000. Meg didn't have the money. The Da offered an Alford plea----she didn't admit her guilt but acknowledged the DA could go to court and she might be convicted. So, she settled for court costs and an ed class. I know she was not legally drunk., So, accepting an Alford plea does not mean you are guilty----its just a way to setttle the matter without more costs etc. I personally think the state would lose a retrial!!!

 

[Tricksy]

At the beginning of the press conference, I heard someone say, "They should make a movie about this" and then someone else said, "It'll be out in 3 weeks" Was that them just joking around or is there a movie planned?

I think there is another part of The Paradise Lost Documentaries coming out. IIRR, it was due to come out before the December hearings and I read today that the directors were rushing to the Courtroom. Perhaps they will have it out in 3 weeks?

 

[Soulmagent]

Thanks for that link.

To the people who are unhappy with today's outcome and think they are guilty (and not just saying guilty to get a plea deal), The Prosecutor said that two of the victims families have now joined forces with the defence and feel that they are innocent, how do you feel about this, does this not make you entertain any chance of their innocence?

I am not trying to be argumentative, I just want to understand it from the other point of view?

Are the familys onboard with the defence due to the plea or because they think the guys are truely innocent ?

I dont know what to think , except it makes no sence that they would accept this plea much less bring it to the table themselves. Trust or no trust who would accept being a child murder after making so much headway in the case if they were truely innocent when a court date in dec had a very real chance of justice to an innocent man. 18 years in jail for a crime you claim you didnt comment and claim LE forced you to say this and etc just to enter a plea instead of even trying to clear your name. This isnt just a speeding ticket ,or a simple A&B

I personaly know how I felt when I was wrongly convicted ,I appealed and won my appeal and WOULD NOT take a plea.

 

[Amster]

Thanks for that link.

To the people who are unhappy with today's outcome and think they are guilty (and not just saying guilty to get a plea deal), The Prosecutor said that two of the victims families have now joined forces with the defence and feel that they are innocent, how do you feel about this, does this not make you entertain any chance of their innocence?

I am not trying to be argumentative, I just want to understand it from the other point of view?

Sorry...the 3 convicted killers just admitted their guilt. But, doesn't matter what I think. Just hoping and praying one of these killers doesn't move anywhere near my family. Let their celebrity cheerleaders and those who believe they are innocent (even though they just took a plea saying they are guilty :waitasec deal with them.

Have any of the media or the 3 convicted killers or their attorneys mentioned the names of the 3 victims today? By victims, I mean the 3 little boys....

 

[~n/t~]

I wonder where they will live now?

Can you imagine having a neighbor who was convicted of multiple murder of 3 little boys (one being mutilated) living next door to you?

I think that would make me feel very uncomfortable and restless at night.

I wonder what kind of backlash they will face in the community.

I believe they murdered those little boys and do so by their plea of guilty like the prosecutor said. I don't understand why people are saying they are innocent when they just gave a plea of GUILTY?

IMO, they will move out of State. When asked if they had to stay in AR, all 3 said resounding NO

 

[decemberbee45]

Prosecutor:

In light of these circumstances I decided to entertain plea offers that were being proposed by the defense. I NEVER considered ANY arrangement that would negate the verdicts of those two juries. Guilt or Innocence was NEVER ON THE TABLE.

Today’s proceeding allows the defendants the freedom of speech to SAY they are innocent, but the FACT is, they just plead GUILTY.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlo...ecutors-statement-on-west-memphis-3-plea-deal

Yes, I am afraid my post was misleading. It was Echols attorney saying that he felt that the acceptance of the plea was indicitive of the State's knowledge that the defendants are innocent.

They do indeed remain convicted murderers.

 

[MsFacetious]

Are the familys onboard with the defence due to the plea or because they think the guys are truely innocent ?

I dont know what to think , except it makes no sence that they would accept this plea much less bring it to the table themselves. Trust or no trust who would accept being a child murder after making so much headway in the case if they were truely innocent when a court date in dec had a very real chance of justice to an innocent man. 18 years in jail for a crime you claim you didnt comment and claim LE forced you to say this and etc just to enter a plea instead of even trying to clear your name. This isnt just a speeding ticket ,or a simple A&B

I personaly know how I felt when I was wrongly convicted ,I appealed and won my appeal and WOULD NOT take a plea.

They believe they are innocent. They have said so for YEARS. Long before 4 days ago when this plea was mentioned.

 

[decemberbee45]

At the hearing when entering pleas:

Damien
Your honor, I am innocent of these charges. However, I am entering an Alford plea today as advised by my attorney that this is in my best interest.

Jason
I am innocent...

Jesse
I am pleading guilty...altho I am innocent..this plea is in my best interest.

 

[21merc7]

Apparently the true victims in this case have been forgotten.

Now, they are trying to make the victims the WM3.

That's so sociopathic.

I disagree. They are victims too. Not the murdered victims, but victims just the same.

I do hope the new evidence that made this possible at all is aired soon. I do hope that a new trial will happen within a year or two. jmo

 

[Wishbone]

I think there is another part of The Paradise Lost Documentaries coming out. IIRR, it was due to come out before the December hearings and I read today that the directors were rushing to the Courtroom. Perhaps they will have it out in 3 weeks?

Plans to air Paradise Lost 3 on HBO in November. They may have to add the recent developments

 

[Evan's Mom]

Are the familys onboard with the defence due to the plea or because they think the guys are truely innocent ?

I dont know what to think , except it makes no sence that they would accept this plea much less bring it to the table themselves. Trust or no trust who would accept being a child murder after making so much headway in the case if they were truely innocent when a court date in dec had a very real chance of justice to an innocent man. 18 years in jail for a crime you claim you didnt comment and claim LE forced you to say this and etc just to enter a plea instead of even trying to clear your name. This isnt just a speeding ticket ,or a simple A&B

I personaly know how I felt when I was wrongly convicted ,I appealed and won my appeal and WOULD NOT take a plea.

I am assuming now that they are out, they'll work to prove their innocence and eventually be exonerated.
I know for me personally, I'd much rather try to prove my innocence from the freedom of my home than from 23 hour a day lock down in a cell.