Broader DNA and genetic testing to be requested in West Memphis Three case

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Pam Hobbs had one more motherly task to perform for her 8-year-old son, Stevie Branch. He along with his two friends, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, were murdered May 5, 1993, in West Memphis. His lifeless body was at the funeral home, but he still needed her.

He needed socks. With tears in her eyes, Pam Hobbs said she slipped them onto her only boy. At that moment, she had no clue as to who ended her son’s life.

Advanced DNA testing may finally reveal who took Stevie’s, Christopher’s and Michael’s lives.

Broader DNA and genetic testing to be requested in West Memphis Three case

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., were convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1993.

Arkansas Supreme Court to allow touch DNA testing to move forward in West Memphis Three case

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday (April 18) that advanced touch DNA testing can be done on evidence in the “West Memphis Three” case. The decision was a reversal of Crittenden County Circuit Court Judge Tonya Alexander who in 2022 denied a motion for the DNA testing of the ligatures that bound the victims in the case.

Alexander ruled that since Damien Echols was not in prison anymore he could not seek relief in the form of DNA testing. Majority opinion writer Judge Karen Baker said the statute does not require a person to be incarcerated to seek relief under its provisions.

“Here, the plain language in sections 16-112-201 and -202 unambiguously permits ‘a person convicted of a crime’ to petition for additional DNA testing to demonstrate the person’s actual innocence pursuant to Act 1780. This language imposes no requirement that a petitioner must be in state custody to seek relief pursuant to Act 1780, and we decline to CR-22-670 13 read such a requirement into the statutes,” Baker wrote.

Arkansas Supreme Court to allow touch DNA testing to move forward in West Memphis Three case

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., were convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1993.

Echols hearing before the Arkansas Supreme Court likely in early 2024

by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)

Damien Echols plight to force the state of Arkansas to test ligatures used to bound three boys murdered in West Memphis on May 5, 1993, likely won’t be decided by the Arkansas Supreme Court until next year.

The Court is still waiting on an amicus brief from the Innocence Project that is expected to be filed before the end of the month. Once that brief has been filed the appeal will be “get in line” behind previously filed cases to be officially submitted to the high court, Arkansas Supreme Court Clerk Kyle Burton told Talk Business & Politics. It’s difficult to predict when it will be heard, Burton said.

Since it’s a criminal case, it could take precedent over some of the civil cases that have already been filed. Once submitted, justices will render a decision in two to four weeks. That means the timeframe for a decision could span from January to April of next year.

Echols hearing before the Arkansas Supreme Court likely in early 2024

Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., were convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1993.