I never thought I’d ever have the chance to write those words and as I sit her writing this, the whole event that took place in Jonesboro, Arkansas only a few hours ago is bittersweet. As any of my regular readers will know I have been a staunch supporter of these three men for many years now. In fact it was only three weeks ago that I wrote a blog piece about the DNA evidence the defence had that would clear Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley from having in part in the murders of the three little boys back in 1993. For 18 years many of us have supported these men and done everything we can to get the message out that this entire thing has been a miscarriage of justice. While they may have walked free today the way this was handled is still a massive miscarriage of justice and the legal system and everyone within it should be ashamed of how this has turned out, especially you Mr Prosecuting Attorney, Scott Ellington.
A couple of days ago it was announced that the judge in the case had called a surprise last minute hearing for Friday morning and that is when the murmurs first began that the three could be looking at release from prison. Most of us to begin with thought this is fantastic they acknowledge that the defence now has DNA evidence so they know the defence has a chance of winning the admission of evidence hearing that was scheduled for December. What we didn't count on was that because these three were desperate to gain freedom the prosecutors could use this to their advantage and use underhanded tactics to allow their release, so they offered them something known as an Alford Plea. The plea works with the defendant/s not admitting the act but acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely prove the charge. In a round about way they are admitting guilt by admitting the prosecution has enough evidence, which we all know is completely false. The only reason the prosecution offered them this plea is because they needed to save face and avoid a lawsuit from the three men. By taking this plea Damien, Jason and Jessie cannot sue the prosecution or the state for the 18 years misspent in Jail.
To begin with Jason Baldwin did not want to take the plea, he wanted to fight for their freedom and clear their name but they were advised by their defence counsel to take the plea. Personally I think that the defence were worried that a retrial could end up the same abortion as the first one because of the obvious corruption that has carried this case now for 18 years. Jason realised that in order to ultimately save Damien’s life from death row the plea needed to be taken. As I said this makes it a bittersweet moment for us all, that yes they are finally free but their names are not completely cleared yet. This is something that I am prepared to rally for and support them through in the future. We need to clear their names and try to reassert some form of justice into what has become a three ringed circus. We also need to try and find some closure for the three little boys that lost their lives at the hand of a coldblooded killer. Whoever it is, they are still roaming free and we need to do whatever we can to find out the truth and make the real criminal in this case accountable.
This is the next stage in this story, this doesn’t stop here for those of us that support Damien, Jason and Jessie. They need our support more now than ever as they try to adjust to a world they don’t know or understand. I’ve shed tears of joy and tears of heartache through this case, hell I stayed up until 6am my time all the way over here in little old New Zealand just to watch them walk out of that court room free at last. I’ve always been one to fight for those who need it, and I’m not going to stop now. We need to rally together to support these three men and their families through what is still going to be some tough times ahead. We need to clear their names and bring justice once and for all.
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