Has anybody seen the documentary Paradise Lost?

[LostInAnomie]

I was thinking about how fundamentalists have solidified their power, and wondered how long it will be until the witch hunts start. This made me think of the documentary "Paradise Lost", and how those boys were wrongly convicted because they were different than the Christian mold. Just thinking of it makes me angry.

Anybody not familiar with the case here is a good link: http://www.wm3.org/live/caseinfo/index.php

I really think this case is going to be the prototypical example of the new fundamentalism here in the US.

[Droopy]

1. I think I've seen it

Is that the one where the teens were convicted of murder of a couple of little boys, but it became apparent after the case that there was abuse by the stepfather of one of the boys and it looked more likely that he was a perpetrator of the crime than the teens convicted? That film broke my heart. Do you have the latest on what is happening to those convicted of the crime? I know one of them is on death row.

[LostInAnomie]

2. The link says that he is still on death row, and the other two are...

... spending the rest of their life in prison with no possibility of parole. They are trying to appeal but the original judge knows very little of the law and is being an obstructionist.

[Droopy]

3. Motherfucker

Those boys are innocent! If their trial were held in New York it would be obvious. Those boys were convicted on the basis that they were different. I think all DUers should see that film and write whoever they can to see they they get a new trial. You're right about the witchhunt business.

[LostInAnomie]

4. I've been thinking about changing my sig line to:

"Free the West Memphis Three" just so someone might look it up.

Pearl Jam recently did a few concerts for their defense fund.

[Droopy]

5. You should do it

If you'll do it, I'll do it. I need a cause. Free the West Memphis Three! God bless Pearl Jam. They are cool as fuck.

[LostInAnomie]

6. Deal.

[Droopy]

7. Cool! I'm with you.

[McKenzie]

8. I had a quick look at the linked site

from my brief scan it seems justice (sic) is lacking in this case.

And I noticed a section that deals with "satanic" issues. Oh boy. I bet there was a feeding frenzy of mob hysteria in the press when the case was under consideration in the courts.

The establishment generally closes ranks if there is a risk that their errors become public. It undermines their authority. This case, whilst sad, is not unusual.

[LostInAnomie]

9. There is a Paradise Lost 2 that is just as disturbing...

There was a bite mark on one of the boys that a forensic scientist said could have not belonged to any of the boys, but this evidence was barred from being presented because the judge had never heard of bite mark evidence. After the trial and into the appeal process one of dead boy's step father has all of his teeth removed, and the boys mother dies of "mysterious circumstances".

There was a mountain of evidence against the step father but because he was a drug informant the police never looked at him as a suspect.