SURPRISE HEARING Friday 18th August

[krt]

Well a very obvious reason is because Damien was on DEATH row-
then consider that it might have taken years to get a new trial if they even were granted one.
The people who believe they are guilty will always believe they are guilty no matter what a new trial might find- so they might as well be free rather than sitting in prison on principle.

To me being on death row is NOT an OBVIOUS reason............especially in light of the fact that they had an upcoming hearing in Dec if I heard correctly

 

[kalekona]

I was seriously wondering why they would plea too until their press conference. I was very impressed with Jason's reasoning.

So true, Jason just made me cry today- that was something monumental to do for someone else..

To those who have a problem with the celebrity involvement- This day would have never come without the spotlight Celebs like Depp and Vedder turned on this case- Damien most likely wouldn't be alive today.


I understand the distaste some have for the Celebrity cause of the day and sure some are just pure PR- others like Depp and Vedder believe in giving backn and honestly what better way to give back than to give someone their life back.

 

[mrye4709]

I am the same age as Damien and I graduated high school in 93, so I have a good barrier to be able to see what came out when. Cell phones at that time were HUGE and high dollar!! They are going to have to get used to a lot, but I think they are going to have a lot of fun....at least after getting used to being around tons of people and learning how to sleep right again!

Yeah, I guess I didn't state that right. I meant that they weren't in everyones hands at that time. Now everyone has one, even alot of kids. They certainly have missed alot, I hope they can adjust well. I could imagine it feeling like being in a foriegn country for the first time, only with all eyes on you. I never followed the case, but I remember when it happened. I went and read alot after I heard about the release. From what I have read, I don't believe they did it.

 

[krt]

What was the statement from Jason?

 

[kalekona]

To me being on death row is NOT an OBVIOUS reason............especially in light of the fact that they had an upcoming hearing in Dec if I heard correctly

correct, they had a hearing scheduled in Dec. but that hearing was simply to determine if they could even get a new trial- it wasn't a sure thing at all- and even if granted a new trial it would have taken years-

Damien might has well been sitting on the edge of a cliff hoping someone didn't come along and push him off- Death row isn't an easy place to be.

 

[HRCODEPINK]

To me being on death row is NOT an OBVIOUS reason............especially in light of the fact that they had an upcoming hearing in Dec if I heard correctly

The thing is, the hearing in December was just to see if they could even have a new trial. Then there would be the wait on the trial and taking the chance that they wouldn't get railroaded again (which I honestly don't think they could have found a jury that would convict). And it just always takes forever, and now they can work on their innocence from out here. Like I said about Earl Washington's case earlier, DNA proof that he did not commit the crime took him off death row but it was almost 9 more years after everyone knew it wasn't him before he was finally released. These things are so slow....

 

[kalekona]

What was the statement from Jason?

Jason said the reason he finally decided to go ahead with the deal was for Damien- "because they were trying to kill him"

So Damien being on death row was the motivating factor in all 3 agreeing to this plea.

 

[HRCODEPINK]

What was the statement from Jason?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb6YtzQ4TUg&feature=player_embedded"]West Memphis Three Freed From Prison - YouTube[/ame]

 

[krt]

Jason said the reason he finally decided to go ahead with the deal was for Damien- "because they were trying to kill him"

So Damien being on death row was the motivating factor in all 3 agreeing to this plea.

IF they are truely innocent, it stlil sucks!!! ROYALLY

 

[kalekona]

IF they are truely innocent, it stlil sucks!!! ROYALLY

I agree! I wish they had gotten full exoneration-
But this way they at least get to have lives-and unlike OJ I think they will continue to dig for the truth so their sentences can be overturned.

 

[Roxye]

To me being on death row is NOT an OBVIOUS reason............especially in light of the fact that they had an upcoming hearing in Dec if I heard correctly

Be on Death Row until December... Get a new trial... Wait 5 years or more for the truth to finally come out...

OR

Take the plea now! Continue to investigate! Wait 5 years and the REAL killer(s) be behind bars!

Seems pretty simple to me!

 

[doubt]

I am very glad that Fox News has ignored this story.

i am not surprised! and i rather doubt the wm3 would be either!

 

[CountryGirl]

So true, Jason just made me cry today- that was something monumental to do for someone else..

To those who have a problem with the celebrity involvement- This day would have never come without the spotlight Celebs like Depp and Vedder turned on this case- Damien most likely wouldn't be alive today.


I understand the distaste some have for the Celebrity cause of the day and sure some are just pure PR- others like Depp and Vedder believe in giving backn and honestly what better way to give back than to give someone their life back.

We USED to have JOURNALISTS that investigated things. Instead of just printing what they are handed, they went out and interviewed and dug out the facts. Now we have "rip & read".

 

[CountryGirl]

BTW, CNN is doing the special on the story now.

 

[raeann]

The information that FOX is ignoring the story was proven false many hours ago. They started covering it immediately and have had probably dozens of segments mentioning it throughout the day. They also had a breaking news banner on their website and an article posted almost immediately after the story broke.

 

[Pensfan]

I have read documents too but they are usually attached to opinions for or against.

Here are some interesting ones from the court documents:

Admitting diagnosis: psychotic disorder
http://callahan.8k.com/images/500/4/464.jpg
http://callahan.8k.com/images/500/4/456.jpg
Threatened to kill his father and eat him. Sucked blood from an another injured child’s wound. Rubbed the blood all over his face. He admitted that he had a suicide pact with his girlfriend. The other PSYCH patients were afraid of him. Had to be locked in the isolation room.

Others stated he told them that he and his girlfriend wanted to create a child so they could sacrifice this child. Others also said he threatened to kill his girlfriend and her parents.

 

[indicat]

I've put hours of time into researching ALL of the evidence and its all available for everyone to read, so I'm just wondering where people's opinions differ when coming to a guilty or innocent conclusion?

Quoting your post again: I know I asked you about your research and I stumbled across the callahan website I have visited long ago and rediscovered all the links. Off to figure out how I really feel about all this.

 

[indicat]

Here are some interesting ones from the court documents:

Admitting diagnosis: psychotic disorder
http://callahan.8k.com/images/500/4/464.jpg
http://callahan.8k.com/images/500/4/457.jpg
http://callahan.8k.com/images/500/4/456.jpg
Threatened to kill his father and eat him. Sucked blood from an another injured child’s wound. Rubbed the blood all over his face. He admitted that he had a suicide pact with his girlfriend. The other PSYCH patients were afraid of him. Had to be locked in the isolation room.

Others stated he told them that he and his girlfriend wanted to create a child so they could sacrifice this child. Others also said he threatened to kill his girlfriend and her parents.

funny, I just posted that I had rediscovered this callahan site, thank you!

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Are those records in readable text format anywhere?

 

[claudicici]

http://www.jivepuppi.com/damien_echols_5.html
You guys should read all parts of Damien demons on jivepuppy.
I would never whitewash who Damien Echols was.Do I think back then he would theoretically be capable of such a crime? Possibly.
He was like so many of us ,a kid growing up in poverty with an intellect that exceeded his surrounding.It makes you feel pushed into a corner.A real outsider.
Considering all of that there is still ABSOLUTELY nothing that links Echols to the victims or the crime scene.
He was targeted because of his DIFFERENCE.
That's what's so wrong here.That's what this is about.