Back in October, I linked to a story in The New York Times about shifting attitudes in West Memphis about the West Memphis Three case. The Times mentioned that among those having second thoughts was Pamela Hobbs, mother of 8-year-old victim Stevie Branch. According to an Associated Press story, she told "Little Rock television station KTHV that
she doesn't think Jason Baldwin, Jessie Misskelley and Damien Echols
killed her son and his two friends, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore."
In a story posted today, CNN followed up with Hobbs and with Mark Byers, Christopher's father.
Todd and Diana Moore, parents of Michael Moore, still believe the West Memphis Three are guilty.
Terry Hobbs, Stevie's stepfather of Stevie, also believes that the case was disposed of correctly. However, Hobbs, who was divorced from Pamela Hobbs in 2004, is linked to new evidence that condemned killer Damien Echols hopes will bring him a new trial.
CNN also reported that the Arkansas Supreme Court likely will hear in February oral arguments on whether to grant Echols a new trial based on DNA and other evidence. A retired Craighead County judge has been considering whether to grant Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. new trials based on their claims that they received inadequate legal representation.
In a story posted today, CNN followed up with Hobbs and with Mark Byers, Christopher's father.
"I wanted to believe in our justice system," said Hobbs, now 45. She moved to Blytheville, Arkansas, shortly after the 1993 trial. "But time heals all wounds, and you start looking at things differently."
[snip]
"The worst part about it is the three real victims that deserve justice, the three 8-year-old children have not been given justice," Byers said. "They got a hack job for a police investigation. It was a rush to find someone who they said did this."
Todd and Diana Moore, parents of Michael Moore, still believe the West Memphis Three are guilty.
Terry Hobbs, Stevie's stepfather of Stevie, also believes that the case was disposed of correctly. However, Hobbs, who was divorced from Pamela Hobbs in 2004, is linked to new evidence that condemned killer Damien Echols hopes will bring him a new trial.
CNN also reported that the Arkansas Supreme Court likely will hear in February oral arguments on whether to grant Echols a new trial based on DNA and other evidence. A retired Craighead County judge has been considering whether to grant Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. new trials based on their claims that they received inadequate legal representation.
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