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Welcome
Aug 20, 2011 9:22:57 GMT -5
Post by bobbyo1011 on Aug 20, 2011 9:22:57 GMT -5
The news media is buzzing with yesterday's release of the West Memphis Three. The significance of this cannot be understated. This is a huge victory not only for the WM3 but all wrongfully convicted; especially those like Erick which involved false confessions. The WM3 is arguably the most highly publicized wrongful conviction case in history. It is bittersweet that they had to plea "no contest" in order to win their freedom. That has to be a bitter pill to swallow. However, the important thing is they are free.
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Welcome
Aug 20, 2011 19:06:01 GMT -5
Post by William Ruddock on Aug 20, 2011 19:06:01 GMT -5
Bobby: Thanks for this sign of hope. There was a pretty good article in the NY Times concerning this on the front page of today's paper. www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/us/20arkansas.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2. The Three were allowed to enter so-called Alford guilty pleas. These pleas allow people to maintain their innocence and admit frankly that they are pleading guilty because they consider it in their best interest. This case shows how difficult a road it is once you are convicted of a crime. Even with DNA evidence tested in 2006 showing they were not at the crime scene these three still had 5 more years of incarceration to deal with. We know from examples such as the West Memphis Three (WMT) that we cannot give up hope on Erick no mater what the ups and downs are in his case. We also can learn from this case that even people who were convinced that the WMT were guilty 18 years ago, now were convinced of the WMT's innocence and actively advocated for them. I hope that we may see that with Erick's case as well. Bill
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Welcome
Aug 21, 2011 14:16:52 GMT -5
Post by bobbyo1011 on Aug 21, 2011 14:16:52 GMT -5
That is certainly something to hope. I am hoping that with the WM3 case and others like it, that the public awareness regarding wrongful convictions increase. Prosecutors attempted to pressure Marty Tankleff into taking an Alford plea but he "rolled the dice" and refused. However, he was not on death row and he knew that the DA was in no position to retry his case.
Time can be an ally for the wrongfully convicted. People tend to reevaluate the evidence with cooler minds. Also, the truly guilty tend to share their secrets with others they think are on their side. Those "alliances" over time disintegrate and witnesses are willing to come forward.
The old saying that the only way three people can keep a secret is if 2 of them are dead holds true. Sometimes, people with information that can prove a wrongful conviction get qualms of conscience and can no longer bear to keep it to themselves.
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Welcome
Aug 24, 2011 9:14:09 GMT -5
Post by bobbyo1011 on Aug 24, 2011 9:14:09 GMT -5
I think Erick's contention that there were at least 3 people at the scene makes a lot of sense. The prosecution theory that Erick acted alone does not.
Now, it is a matter of finding out who those people are. Find the one and you have the other. Erick says he was not there. The Gray family and jury disagree. I can fully understand Erick's family insisting that Erick was home at the time of homicide. I can also understand the Gray family thinking that the cops arrested the right guy.
However, I believe that even the Gray family realizes that Tim Gray was not murdered by Erick all by himself . If the Gray family knows something they should come forward.
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