Longtime CNN staple and soon-to-be retiring Larry King is bringing out the heavy hitters as he ends his tenure on the network. It doesn’t get any heavier than the plight of the West Memphis Three, and who better to lend voice and support to the cause than Pearl Jam’s singer Eddie Vedder? He’ll be joined by Natalie Maines and others as “Larry King Live” focuses on the plight of the Three. The below info clipped from the CNN blog:
WEDNESDAY: CASE OF THE “WEST MEMPHIS THREE”
Three young men accused and convicted of murdering three little boys in 1993. Find out why Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and The Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines think they should be freed.
Check your local cable listings for CNN for times in your area, Larry is usually on 9:00 p.m. Eastern 6:00 Pacific, with repeats at Midnight and 3:00 a.m. CNN Schedule can be found here.
Thanks to AKM and PWH for the heads up!
Interview Rock!
{ 10 comments }
who wants to bet that there is going to be a breaking news story which pre-empts the entire vedder interview? that always seems to happen when they have an awesome guest like this
Echols (one of the 3) was seen in muddy clothes near the crime scene. He bragged about the murder to two other teenagers, stating he killed the three boys. This was presented as evidence at the trial. Echols also had a history of psychiatric treatment. His reported actions included brutally killing a dog, starting fires at his school, threatening to kill his teachers and parents and stating he liked to drink blood.
Baldwin (another of the 3) confessed to a friend and described the crime to this friend. This evidence was presented at trial.
Fibers on the murdered victims’ clothing were found to microscopically similar to things in the Baldwin and Echols homes.
WM3 are innocent.
I could go on and on about the holes in this case. The confessions were a combination of being coerced by Miskelly, who is mentally challenged, and Echols, who was not taking the case seriously at the time. Echols’ comments were admittedly immature and irresponsible (which he admits), but not uncharacteristic of a rebellious teenager who doesn’t view the big picure, or his entire life in front of him at the time. DNA and forensic evidence have pretty much cleared them of the crime. It’s the WMPD’s unwillingness to admit error and irrational fear that keep these men behind bars 17 years after the horrific murders of 3 young boys. Don’t let emotion blind you to the facts. Imagine spending your entire adult life behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit. Even if you’re positive these men are guilty; if you have any respect for America and it’s justice system, you’ll admit that they’ve never received a fair trial. Seriously, in Arkansas? In the late 80′s/early 90′s, when Satan worship and heavy metal were the terrorist threat? Are you kidding me? These three were guilty before trial upon appearance when entering that courtroom. Have you seen the jury? Have you watched the hilarious (yet frightening) video footage, of Christian ministers during that time, giving sermons based entirely on rock n’ roll album covers and lyrics? If you’re so sure they did it and do trust the justice system…give them a fair trial today. The one they never received.
# omg on August 31st, 2010 at 9:01 pm
who wants to bet that there is going to be a breaking news story which pre-empts the entire vedder interview? that always seems to happen when they have an awesome guest like this
you maybe right…Hurricane Earl could trump eddie
Wow they didn’t bump it! I thought that crazy Discovery Channel hostage situation was going to bump it, but I guess since they executed him so quickly the story was over. The interviews were pre-taped so it was very bumpable
They lost every appeal after the trial. Everything the bloggers mention has been looked at in court. The DNA evidence proves nothing. The courts decided it was not strong enough to re-open the case. How many times does this case need to be tried? There was a confession and two of the defendants admitted to others they committed the murders. They are the only ones with a motive and it would have taken three teenagers to catch three young boys and do what they did.
The court also found that Misskelley’s confession was not coerced. (Jessie Lloyd MISSKELLEY, Jr. v. STATE of Arkansas CR 94-848 S.W.2d)
@WM3 were guilty:
This isn’t a courtroom. Nor were you there or know all the facts. Whether they are guilty or not (I believe they are not), I don’t think this is the place to try to prove your viewpoints. It’s pointless.
This is a debate. The viewpoint of the those that believe they are guilty is allowed.
Recent statement from Diana Moore, mother of murder victim Michael Moore:
In 1993, all I wanted was justice for Michael, Christopher, and Stevie, and closure for myself, and my family. 17 years later, still no justice, or closure.
Since the convictions, the media has made it a point to make this case all about the convicted. I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that three innocent 8 year old children were brutally murdered, and these three men were convicted on the evidence presented to 24 , (in total), juror members that voted unanimously to convict.
Not one of the celebrities interviewed in this program has ever bothered to personally read the case file at West Memphis PD, or speak to anyone involved in prosecuting this case.
My little boy died that day. I’m his mother, and wish to say that the public remains ignorant about what happened in court primarily as a result of the Paradise Lost films, and the writing of Mara Leveritt. My voice is small compared to theirs, but I believe more relevant. They weren’t there during the trials, and they didn’t lose anybody. I lost almost everything, and not a day goes by that I don’t mourn for Michael. The public should think about that before casting their lot in with Eddie Vedder and Natalie Maines….
The mother of one of the other victims has spoken out in support of the WM3 saying they are NOT GUILTY.
I belive the truth will eventually come out, one way or the other.
But i also believe that DNA is the ultimate proof. Countless convictions have been overturned due to DNA evidence. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE not to leave DNA at a crime scene.
Hopefully the new evidence will give the families of both the victims and the OTHER victims (WM3) closure.
If you watch the interview, Eddie Vedder speaks at length about the 3 murdered victims and being sympathetic to their families.