FAST FACTS:
(West Memphis, AR 01/20/2009) An Arkansas judge says no to new trials for two of the West Memphis 3, rejecting claims by Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin that they didn't receive fair trials.
They and a third defendant, Damien Echols, were convicted back in 1993 for the brutal, satanic style murders of three 8-year-old West Memphis boys.
Those on both sides of this case say the ruling is no surprise.
"It means she's crying for the boys. Justice is blind," said Jessie Misskelley, Sr.
Misskelley Sr. believes his son is innocent and so is Jason Baldwin but he's actually not upset Judge David Burnett ruled against them. He says even his son wanted that way.
"They wanted him to deny it so they can go to federal court. Get it out of his hands because as long as it's in his hands they ain't going to get no trial out of them. They'll stay right where they are," said Misskelley,Sr.
Misskelley's father, along with Arkansas Take Action, believes they need a new judge to get a new trial.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Arkansas Take Action said, "With all the new evidence of their innocence, including blatant jury misconduct, DNA linking others to the crime scene, forensic testimony from the country's leading pathologists and, what is universally recognized as a false confession, what more does it take to free these innocent men?"
They aren't the only ones upset with the judge's decision, surprisingly so are some of the parents of the children who were murdered. Pam Hobbs, the mother of Stevie Branch, also wants a new trial for those convicted.
"They're never going to admit that Arkansas made a mistake they did not put on the investigation that they should have. They took poor 3 teenage boys and convicted them on circumstantial evidence and they'll never admit they didn't put the thorough investigation into the death of my son that they should have," said Hobbs.
- Arkansas judge denies new trial for Jessie Misskelley and Charles Jason Baldwin
- New trial for Damien Echols denied earlier
- Parents of both victims and those convicted want new trials
(West Memphis, AR 01/20/2009) An Arkansas judge says no to new trials for two of the West Memphis 3, rejecting claims by Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin that they didn't receive fair trials.
They and a third defendant, Damien Echols, were convicted back in 1993 for the brutal, satanic style murders of three 8-year-old West Memphis boys.
Those on both sides of this case say the ruling is no surprise.
"It means she's crying for the boys. Justice is blind," said Jessie Misskelley, Sr.
Misskelley Sr. believes his son is innocent and so is Jason Baldwin but he's actually not upset Judge David Burnett ruled against them. He says even his son wanted that way.
"They wanted him to deny it so they can go to federal court. Get it out of his hands because as long as it's in his hands they ain't going to get no trial out of them. They'll stay right where they are," said Misskelley,Sr.
Misskelley's father, along with Arkansas Take Action, believes they need a new judge to get a new trial.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Arkansas Take Action said, "With all the new evidence of their innocence, including blatant jury misconduct, DNA linking others to the crime scene, forensic testimony from the country's leading pathologists and, what is universally recognized as a false confession, what more does it take to free these innocent men?"
They aren't the only ones upset with the judge's decision, surprisingly so are some of the parents of the children who were murdered. Pam Hobbs, the mother of Stevie Branch, also wants a new trial for those convicted.
"They're never going to admit that Arkansas made a mistake they did not put on the investigation that they should have. They took poor 3 teenage boys and convicted them on circumstantial evidence and they'll never admit they didn't put the thorough investigation into the death of my son that they should have," said Hobbs.
