It's been a while since I checked the West Memphis Three website to see how this case was coming along. For those who aren't already familiar, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were convicted in 1994 for the murder of three children in West Memphis, AR. I am utterly convinced, as are many, that they were innocent. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, and remains on death row to this day. The defendants were convicted largely on the coerced testimony of Jessie M., who is mentally retarded, and on the basis of their mutual interest in the Wiccan religion and heavy metal music.

Checking back this week, I discovered a couple of "new" (to me) items, worth mentioning. First, Echols has successfully requested new DNA testing in an effort to exonerate himself, and been granted a habeus petition pending the litigation of the DNA claim. DNA evidence has been preserved, and testing began in October of 2005. No result is back yet.

Second, Damien has written a book from death row, entitled "Almost Home: My Life Story". I haven't read it, but I plan to very soon.

I have read Devil's Knot, which is an investigative report by Mara Leveritt into the handling of the case. Reading it really shook my faith in the criminal justice system. Although this is probably one of the more egregious cases, and may yet be resolved in the defendant's favor (after taking ten or more years of their lives) - it forced me to consider the possibility that our justice system would be best served by radically reforming the process.

Damien Echols is awaiting execution - the other two are serving life sentences. So, yes - this is about the death penalty... but it's about the problems with the justice system generally, too. If you are prepared for a major moral and political challenge, pick up Leveritt's book... I'm ready for some insight into the life of a person awaitin execution for a crime he didn't commit... so I'll be looking into Damien Echols' book.