Monday, January 23, 2012
West Memphis Three Mother of West Memphis 3 victim asks for reopening of case
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 4:13 PM
Pam Hobbs, mother of Steve Branch, one of three eight-year-olds killed in the 1993 West Memphis slayings that became the West Memphis 3 case, says new information unearthed in a new documentary, "West of Memphis," has persuaded her to call for the state of Arkansas to reopen the case.
Some of the information pertains to hearsay relating to remarks allegedly made by Branch's stepfather and Pam Hobbs' ex-husband, Terry Hobbs. He's steadfastly denied any involvement in the death of the children and some of his denials, as well as statements from others that contradict some of his accounts, are included in the recent HBO documentary, "Paradise Lost: Purgatory."
"West of Memphis" is yet another documentary, screened Friday at the Sundance festival, with more information in the case. It includes some of the same information about overheard statements. But a spokesman for Pam Hobbs also said the filmmakers have information about testing of knives she supplied. UPDATE: i am now informed that this is incorrect. There is no reference to such evidence in the film. Pam Hobbs is not accusing anyone else of the crimes, in any case, but thinks the weight of what has been produced is sufficient for the state to reopen the case.
Jonesboro Prosecutor Scott Ellington had said in agreeing to release of West Memphis 3 defendants for time served that their guilty pleas closed the case. But he also said he'd be willing to review anything produced by those seeking to prove their innocence. He told me earlier today, before I received Hobbs' statement, that he had not yet received the promised package of affidavits about overheard remarks.
Hobbs' statement today:
"Please allow me to begin by thanking the everyone for their loving support and for all the effort they have done to see that justice is served for my son, Steve Branch, and his two best friends, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers. I would not be as strong as I seem without it.
I am content in my heart that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Miskelley did not murder my son.
I had the opportunity to meet Damien Echols and Lorri Davis in Utah at the Sundance Festivial. To me they are truly amazing wonderful people with true love that overwhelms me.
The documentary film "West of Memphis" is the best coverage of this case that I have viewed, myself. I thank director Amy Berg along with producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh for the amazing job they did with West of Memphis.
I viewed crucial new DNA evidence in the doc that I am told has been given to the State of Arkansas and I am asking as the mother of Steve Branch and as a citizen of Arkansas that the State reopen this case and let justice prevail for my son Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers."
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Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
One cannot help noting, whilst buffing one's nails, that no A-T bloggers seem interested in REAL justice (i.e., finding and prosecuting the killer / killers of those three boys in West Memphis), but the killed kitty draws 68 comments, and counting.
Guess the WM3 case is old news. Everybody just wishes it would go away.
like
dislike
I am intrigued by this "new" development. In fact, the murderer might as well have murdered three additional children whose deaths were never even investigated.
However, I don't comment often.
Where is Terry Hobbs now? I would just love to know where that sicko is hiding at...
No point in re-opening the investigation. The three pleaded guilty to get out of prison. They did it. Case closed.
HolyGuano,
Your ignorance should get a round of applause *clap clap clap clap* . You obviously have NO CLUE what an Alfred Plea is (Google it, you might learn something). These men were railroaded by a corrupt justice system, they are innocent, and any INTELLIGENT person would recognize this. Congratulations; you are an idiot. Perhaps you should go comment on the Killed Kitty article?
i was pregnant with my first son,8 months, when this all took place,i just like all believed in the justice system,and how they portrayed Damion,Jason,and Jessie,and because of the whole situation,it has affected my life and my sons,so much hard to explain,i don't let my boys go anywhere out of my sight.at that time i as well wanted those three boys to suffer for what they "didn't" do to those three kids.now i have seen all,wow thank you HBO.the judge and the prosecutor knew those boys were innocent,and threw them under the bus.i have prayed to God to forgive me for my thought i had of them,we all should.i live very close to where this all took place.and i have a few connections myself.and i found out yesterday,because i was so over whelmed about it all ,that a friend of the prosecutor told some one i know very dearly,that at the end of the first trail,he was not happy how it ended,and said a few other things,because he knew they didn't do it.well shame on you mr. prosecutor,,and shame shame on that judge,remove him from senate,and make him spend 18 years in jail,it was all a set up on those three innocent boys,to cover their no training as real officers period!!!
That's the worst part of all of this, Ms. Hubbard - there is at least one (possibly more) person out there who killed three children, and that person has NEVER spent a day in prison for that crime. There has never been any justice for Stevie, Christopher, and Michael, as long as people think as simply and inanely as our buddy HolyGuano up there.
gonna also say i hate that pam hobbs is getting so much attention,,wow,a woman that actually laughed,cause she was gonna be on TV,RIGHT after her son was murdered!!!and couldn't even stand still,simply drugs,if the woman would not have been on drugs and with any man that would support her drug habbits,like the SOB she married,all of them would be alive.time to wake up Arkansas and get the real killer,and pam hobbs,,you know i am telling the truth,time for you to back down,stop seeking attention off you sons death.you knew he did it,,and you let those boys go to prison.freaking sick mom.hey tell your ex to come see me,,i'll give the boys justice!
It's wrong to attack any parent. Pam Hicks (she has changed her name back to her maiden name) lost her CHILD. That is THE WORST thing that can ever happen to a parent.
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