Still seeking justice for the men known as the West Memphis Three, Johnny Depp has asked that President Obama grant the three a pardon. You can read my series of blogs about the West Memphis Three, but basically, they spent 18 years in an Arkansas prison for a crime they said they didn’t commit. There was no physical evidence against them and a little over two months ago, the three were released from prison on the little known Alford plea. With a possible appeal of their case, the three admitted in this plea that the prosecutors had enough evidence to convict them, yet they could still publically proclaim their innocence.
For some, such as Depp, that isn’t quite good enough. Depp, who has been a long time advocate of releasing the three, still hopes the real killer or killers can be found and said after the release that he hoped “that the investigation continues outside the courthouse.” In the meantime, he hopes Obama will consider a pardon.
The father of one of the three, Jessie Misskelley, Sr. said that while a pardon would be nice, “it wouldn’t make it right. It wouldn’t make it right. I don’t know what would make it right.” He [Misskelley, Jr.] can’t get back 18 years.”
One part of the plea said the West Memphis Three couldn’t sue the state of Arkansas for unlawful imprisonment. But, they can make money on their case, unlike some convicted felsons.
The reported ringleader of the gang, Damien Echols, has signed with Penguin to right his memoir. Echols was put in solitary confinement while waiting to be put to death and part of the reason the other two took the plea for to ensure his release. The book is expected to be released in September 2012. Right now, Echols is reportedly in New Zealand as the guest of filmmaker Peter Jackson, who is also helping fund the investigation.
