Ark. man convicted of killing 3 boys takes stand

Yahoo! News ^ | September 25, 2008 | Associated Press

[LuxMaker]

JONESBORO, Ark. - A man who has spent nearly 15 years in prison after being convicted of killing three suburban Memphis boys took the stand for the first time Thursday, insisting that he was innocent and that his lawyers ignored his alibis.

[LuxMaker]

Any thoughts as to whether or not this is a spin doctored article or did this guy really get railroaded? I tend to think the guy did get railroaded and that his defense was remiss. Travesties of justice are definitely a threat to the long term stability of a Republic.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

I hope one of the boys wasn’t Danny Williams. Bill would be SO PISSED!

[JudgeFelon]

Having some personal knowledge on this. He [and two strange friends} are guilty.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

Why people do such things is beyond me but let’s just hope Bill doesn’t work his magic to get them pardoned as he’s keen to do with criminals.

[snarkytart]

Ah, the west memphis three. They were a big celeb cause several years ago.

[truthluva]

I agree. I live just outside of Memphis and very much remember how this whole thing played out. The guilty were identified and sent to prison.

[TheBattman]

For those of us from Arkansas who remember this case quite vividly, this case was fairly clear-cut when tried.

If the boys were railroaded, it was an awfully good job (for a police department not known for being the brightest in the world).

That being said, I do hope they are guilty. The thought of the “real” killer(s) running around free is a major problem.

There are also some folks with some very deep wounds that won’t take well to the idea of these “boys” being cut loose.

[TheBattman]

Another curiosity - why take 15 years to get the appeals rolling? The gears of “justice” can turn awfully slowly - but 15 years? Must be getting close to execution time for Damien (a somewhat appropriate name for the crime he is convicted of).

[Condor51]

All three have appealed their convictions. State Circuit Judge David Burnett began a hearing Wednesday on arguments from new lawyers for Baldwin and Misskelley to void the convictions and sentences, based on claims of ineffective counsel during their trials.

"Ineffective Counsel." And exactly what does that mean? Was the lawyer drunk, asleep in court, snorting coke, shooting up in the Men's Room, doodling on his legal pad and flirting with a juror?

NO. It means he lost the friggen case.

Well sooooooooooorry but that's the way it goes at times. And isn't it bit funny that all three are saying their lawyers sucked, gee whiz, what a coincidence. As to this guy's 'alibi' witnesses. Like it says at the end of the article, the original lawyer didn't call them for a good reason. The....

'He's a good boy, he was home at the time, was turning his life around, had a job interview 'tomorrow', and didn't even own a gun'

bullsit doesn't fly any longer. We hear that 'carp' from Grandma or Auntie after every one of these killers gets caught red handed.

"Ineffective Counsel" my patoot.