The West Memphis Three murder case has returned to the court today. Gordon Campbell starts off with a 2-part overview to cover that by holding an exclusive interview with the author of the famous book on the case, Arkansas journalist, Mara Leveritt. The show was on the CBS show 48 Hours Mystery this Saturday and covered the tragic case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley Jr., otherwise known as West Memphis three. There were Lonnie Soury, Lisa Fancher, Burk Sauls, Grove Pashley and Kathy Bakken on the show.

For those who would like to know more on what the West Memphis three case is all about, read on.

Soon after 3 eight-year-old boys’ bodies were located, mutilated beyond recognition, and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, the local dailies reported that the killers have been caught when 3 teenagers were taken into custody. The police guaranteed the public that the 3 teenagers positively were responsible for the horrifying crimes based on what the public however deemed flimsy evidences.

It is alleged that these police officers pressurized a “confession” that lacked credibility from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped or challenged. They quizzed him for hours together without direction or parental approval, audio-taping only 2 fragments totaling just 46 minutes. Jessie renounced the content of the tape that very evening, however it was too late. Damien Echols, Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted for murder in 1994.

Even though there were no physical evidences pointing to the murder such as murder weapon, motive, or even connection to the victims, the prosecution sadly presented flimsy evidences like black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and a Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Inconceivably, Echols was ordered to death, Baldwin got a life without parole, and Misskelley was given life + 40.

However the public been consistent in maintaining that West Memphis three were innocent and have been wrongly indicted on basis of flimsy reason. In the following years, subsequent to the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley for a crime that they might not have committed, their cause garnered support from all across the globe, and these 3 men infamously were known as the West Memphis 3 then on. The tale of injustice they had to bear in the state of Arkansas has not lost it’s sheen yet, and in recent months the facts in their favor seemed to have developed to the point where it’s practically impossible to comprehend that this case is anything less than a miscarriage of justice.

For more you can visit the official site for West Memphis three here at West Memphis Three Official Site