Exonerate the WM3 Official Blog

Echols Requests DNA Testing of Hairs Found at Crime Scene

In a brief filed today in the court of Second Judicial District Circuit Judge David N. Laser, Damien Echols’s defense team asked for permission to conduct DNA, fiber, and fingerprint tests on certain materials found at the crime scene and elsewhere, some of which could not be tested in 1993 because the testing technology was unavailable.

The attorneys requested all material held by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and certain forensic evidence possibly in the possession of the West Memphis Police Department, LabCorp (formerly known as Genetic Design), the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and the FBI.

Requested material includes hair, biological material including skin cuticles from ligatures, all victim's clothing, cut non-ligature portion of one black shoelace, physical evidence from the crime scene, wooden planks, white sheets used to transport the victims and white paper used to dry victim's clothing.

Read the full brief  Download Dnamotion330

Damien Echols: Nostalgia and Marlou

Mara Leveritt has published both the full text and a video of Damien Echols reading his short story, "Nostalgia and Marlou," about a girl who loves Halloween on DK2. DK2 is the members-only part of maraleveritt.com, with a one-time subscription fee of $15. We can't recommend her exclusive content highly enough!

Illustration by Sebastian Yingling.

WM3 Victim’s Mother Prepares for New Hearing

May 5th will mark the 18th anniversary of when 3 cub scouts were murdered in West Memphis. For the mother of one of the victims, she says it's just as much a part of everyday conversation now as it was in 1993.

Pam Hobbs Remembers the Day Her Son Disappeared

Pam Hobbs hasn't spoken publicly about the case in years. She says she took some time to reflect and get perspective. She says its hard to think 18 years have gone by and that her son would now be 26 years old. But the case hasn't gone away, and now she's faced with a new hearing and having to relive the event all over again.

WM3 Victim’s Mother Prepares for New Hearing: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

 

West Memphis Three Hearing to be Set Soon: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

 

David Duchovny Says Free the WM3!

on the episode "Commence Sentencing" of  CALIFORNICATION... Amazing!

 

WM3 Evidentiary Hearing to Begin on December 5, 2011

Again Mara Leveritt's exclusive content on DK2 contains the first report that hearing date has finally been set. And you're not subscribed yet because.... ?

"Judge David Laser has told attorneys representing Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. that the evidentiary hearing ordered in their case is to begin in Jonesboro on 9:30am on Dec. 5, 2011." Misskelley's Arkansas attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, may have a scheduling conflict in which case Misskelley's hearings will be held separately, otherwise Jessie, Jason and Damien will all be present along with their attorneys through December 21, 2011.

 

Judge Laser Ruling Calls for Continuous 3-Wk Hearing

Second Judicial District Circuit Judge David N. Laser issued his First Scheduling Order-- an evidentiary hearing for up to three weeks (continuous) between October 1, 2011 and December 15, 2011. He further ordered that requests for DNA testing be made by motion within 15 days of the order issued March 14, 2011. He asks that all DNA and forensic testing ordered by the court to be completed and back in the court within 90 days. Concerning the juror misconduct issue, Laser asks attorneys and prosecutors to submit briefs by May 1, 2011.

Click here to Download Laserorder314dl

 

March 26: Seattle WM3 Benefit w/ Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy

MMA fighter Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy will be hosting a post-fight party after his fight at UFC Fight Night 24 on Saturday, March 26th at the popular music venue El Corazon in Seattle, WA.  Dan will be having a meet and greet in the El Corazon lounge area from 12:00 AM - 1:00 AM (times and appearance are tentative due to fighter’s schedule).

A minimum donation of $10 is suggested at the door. Each guest will be entered to win raffle prizes of goodie bags with gifts specially picked out by Dan and our special presenters. All money raised for the evening will be donated to the West Memphis Three legal defense fund. Show entry will be limited to only those guests that are 21 years of age and above.

Click here to read a fine article regarding Dan's involvement with the WM3 saga.

Event: Media's Role in the West Memphis Three Case

"The Media's Role in the West Memphis Three Case" is the topic of the 2011 Freedom of Information Congress hosted annually by The Society of Professional Journalists at The University of Memphis on March 24, 2011. Guest speakers and panelists include Mara Leveritt (also delivering the keynote address), Lorri Davis (wife of Damien Echols), Henry Stokes (former managing editor of The Commercial Appeal) and other local journalists who have covered the West Memphis Three case then and now.

Start time is 7 p.m. at The University of Memphis campus in the University Center Theater. It is free and open to the public on a first come first serve basis.

'Devil's Knot' Author on WM3: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

 

Bid on JM Byers' Art for the Defense Fund Now!

Register and bid now as Skeleton Key's  auctions for John Mark Byers' art pieces end on March 13. The prices are bound to shoot higher as they come to a close so don't miss out. Individual links are listed in the posts below... 100% of the proceeds will go to the defense fund so it's a great opportunity to help the WM3 and get a one of kind art piece.

March 18: Michale Graves at Juanita's in Little Rock

Long time WM3 supporter and musician Michale Graves has put together a short film called "The Blackness and the Forest" about his experiences bringing awareness to the case via his Almost Home tour a few years ago. Graves will perform songs from "Illusions" --especially the Echols collaborations-- so come on down and show your support dual support. Mara Leveritt promises to be in the house as well!

Juanita's  8:30pm Friday, March 18th