Arkansas AG Weighs In....

[the original tez]

I am going to post my comments first....Why does he feel the need to give his opinion.:confused::confused: The ball isn't in his court. The evidence tested may not exonerate the WM3, but it certainly doesn't prove they committed the crime either! Considering not one piece of evidence could be linked to any of them, I consider it pretty certain that they didn't commit the crime. I think the AG is in covering his a** mode, along with covering the State of Arkansas's a**.

Heck, if a nut job like Byers doesn't even think the WM3 are guilty, what does that tell you?

A not so proud citizen of the State of Arkansas.....(Yes, I'm hanging my head)

http://www.katv.com/news/stories/0108/488569.html

~~~SNIP~~~

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday that he hasn't seen any evidence exonerating the three teens convicted in the brutal 1993 killings of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis.

McDaniel accused the supporters of the so-called West Memphis Three for running a, "misleading" campaign.

McDaniel says he doesn't believe there is any new DNA evidence that prove the innocence of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, who were convicted in the slayings.
McDaniel says that if he had seen new evidence exonerating the men, he would be the first one to approach the governor to do something about it.

~~~SNIP~~~

[kimberdawn]

In any other state and I think if it was any other case here in Arkansas- there would have been all kinds of people runing over each other in order for a new trial, a pardon, a something done. There have been many people in the United States that have been exonerated due to either new DNA evidence or new testing of DNA evidence in the past few years. I CANNOT under stand why these men can not even get a new trial. But I am begining to think that Arkansas (the law enforcement, judical system, state officals, etc. ) are trying to hide something bigger and is afraid of what may be discovered if the wm3 are found innocent. And I know that sounds really "conspiracy theory ", and I dont mean for it to. But something seriously is wrong here and there are so many people who see that , yet none of the people who have the power to help will acknowledge it????

and for Dustin- he just seen a media moment and basked in it. I really dont have any respect for him. And did you know he was on the Jonesboro police force for a couple years in the mid 1990's before going to law school? see leads back to my cover up theory (sorry just kidding)

[PackerFan]

I've been following the WM3 case since 1993 when I lived in Jonesboro, AR, where the 'trial' of Damien and Jason was held. I was shocked then and still am at the outcome of the trials.

I've decided to come out of the shadows and post with the hope there be movement forward in this case. I just read Jessie's statment again; it's unbelievable that was used as a key piece of evidence.

I hope I get to know some of you as we dissect and discuss the new trials (I can hope, right?) in the coming year.

[southcitymom]

I've been following the WM3 case since 1993 when I lived in Jonesboro, AR, where the 'trial' of Damien and Jason was held. I was shocked then and still am at the outcome of the trials.

I've decided to come out of the shadows and post with the hope there be movement forward in this case. I just read Jessie's statment again; it's unbelievable that was used as a key piece of evidence.

I hope I get to know some of you as we dissect and discuss the new trials (I can hope, right?) in the coming year.

Welcome to Websleuths, PackerFan. :) I am glad you posted and hope we will hear more from you. Like you, the conviction of these three baffles me on an extreme level. Praying for a new trial!

[the original tez]

In any other state and I think if it was any other case here in Arkansas- there would have been all kinds of people runing over each other in order for a new trial, a pardon, a something done. There have been many people in the United States that have been exonerated due to either new DNA evidence or new testing of DNA evidence in the past few years. I CANNOT under stand why these men can not even get a new trial. But I am begining to think that Arkansas (the law enforcement, judical system, state officals, etc. ) are trying to hide something bigger and is afraid of what may be discovered if the wm3 are found innocent. And I know that sounds really "conspiracy theory ", and I dont mean for it to. But something seriously is wrong here and there are so many people who see that , yet none of the people who have the power to help will acknowledge it????

and for Dustin- he just seen a media moment and basked in it. I really dont have any respect for him. And did you know he was on the Jonesboro police force for a couple years in the mid 1990's before going to law school? see leads back to my cover up theory (sorry just kidding)

Kimberdawn, I fully buy into the conspiracy theory. The Drug Task Force and the Sheriff's Department were under investigation by the FBI when these murders happened. As soon as the murders happened, the investigation went away....I'm still scratching my head. Byers was an informant, I think he knew a lot about what was going on in West Memphis. I think that he wasn't pursued as a suspect because of WHAT he knew. I think in the end though, it's all going to come out. I am not going to give up hope.

The AG just needs to crawl back under the rock he came from. I didn't know he was on the Jonesboro police force.

Welcome PackerFan!!!! It's good to have new posters!

[RGSG99]

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday that he hasn't seen any evidence exonerating the three teens convicted in the brutal 1993 killings of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis.

McDaniel says he doesn't believe there is any new DNA evidence that prove the innocence of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, who were convicted in the slayings.

McDaniel says that if he had seen new evidence exonerating the men, he would be the first one to approach the governor to do something about it.

What "evidence" was used to convict them in the first place? The only reason these three are in jail is because they wore black and listened to Metallica in the era of Satanic panic. Good thing I didn't hang out in West Memphis, because I would be there right alongside them!

[the original tez]

What "evidence" was used to convict them in the first place? The only reason these three are in jail is because they wore black and listened to Metallica in the era of Satanic panic. Good thing I didn't hang out in West Memphis, because I would be there right alongside them!

A coerced recanted confession is about the only "evidence" that was used to convict them.

Yep, I would have been right alongside of them too!!!

[kemo]

This case is appears to me to be a obvious miscarrage of justice. Anyone interested should check out http://wm3.org/splash.phpfor all of the background and updates. In a nutshell, Three kids were found brutally killed and the police got a very "confession", of sorts from a local teenager implicating two associates including the Metallic tee-shirt wearing original prime suspect. The "confession" was really just a statement of an alleged witness who did not realize that his own involvement, according to his statement, constituted legal culpabity in the crime. (he also got a lot of key details about the crime wrong) The words of the "confessor" suggest that he expected to be immediatly released and possibly eligible for a reward. There was no suggestion of guilt or remorse. In other words, this "confession" was actually intended to be self serving. He was surprised when he was arrested and promptly recanted. He was however convicted on the "confession" alone.

The other two teenagers came to trial next. They managed to get the "confession" excluded, but the earlier conviction was a huge story through out the state. Every juror knew that an accompalist had confessed and was convicted even though it was not admitted as evidence. What was actually intorduced at the trial was pretty scanty at best. There was some circumstantial evidence that was consistent with guilt but there was compelling exculpatory evidence as well. I can not see anything anywhere near "beyond all reasonable doubt". The jury was told not to consider anything not introduced as evidence but it is pretty obvious that the "confession" was the basis for the conviction.

The appeal lawyers have been trying to come up with grounds for a new trial. Since "jury error" isn't a basis, they have come up with some new evidence that doesn't necessarily blow the prosecution's case out of the water but it would certainly strengthen the defense's case; if there was a new trial.

The Arkansas legal establishment is very defensive over this case. It makes the state look backwards and intolerant but a new trial might prove even more embarrassing.

The consensus of most folks in Arkansas can be summed up as " perhaps the burden of proof wasn't met at the trial but they really are guilty. so justice was served". My own opinion is that they are probably innocent. I would like to bet no governor will ever sign a death warrant.

[BAMAVADER]

Heck, if a nut job like Byers doesn't even think the WM3 are guilty, what does that tell you?



That they probably are guilty...

[Eire]

What "evidence" was used to convict them in the first place? The only reason these three are in jail is because they wore black and listened to Metallica in the era of Satanic panic. Good thing I didn't hang out in West Memphis, because I would be there right alongside them!

Me too! It was King Diamond for me though.

Funny how the AG accuses supporters of running a misleading campaign considering that's exactly what the state did. Complete with an "expert" who earned his degree at a diploma mill and a cop who was notorious for running wild goose chases for satanic cults.

[philamena]

That they probably are guilty...


UMM No. IMO, they are not guilty and were railroaded by corrupt people in that town. :mad:
There was no clear evidence that pointed to the WM3 as the murderers of the boys.


Kind of a big ole post for your first time isn't it?

[Masterj]

UMM No. IMO, they are not guilty and were railroaded by corrupt people in that town. :mad:
There was no clear evidence that pointed to the WM3 as the murderers of the boys.


Kind of a big ole post for your first time isn't it?

LMAO. I thought the same thing.