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Now that there is new information and apparently new evidence in the case of the West Memphis Three, it is a good time to take another look at the HBO documentary "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills."
The 1996 documentary follows the trial of three teenagers, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, for the horrific murders of three second grade boys who were found brutally murdered, tied up and mutilated in the woods near their homes in 1993.
When the boys were found murdered, pressure was on the police to solve the case and attention was turned to the three teenagers who happened to look a little bit different than the average teenager in the small town of West Memphis.
Misskelley, an acquaintance of the other two boys who is also borderline retarded, was questioned by the police for hours before finally giving an error filled confession that fingered the other two boys for the murder.
With nothing to go off of but circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of an occult expert who obtained his degree from a mail order college and the fact that the teens listened to Metallica and wore black clothing, the boys were convicted of the murders.
Misskelley and Baldwin both received life in prison for the murders, while supposed ring leader Echols was sentenced death by lethal injection.
An execution date is yet to be set.
The most notorious in the documentary’s strange cast of small town characters is John Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the murdered boys. In the film, he seems to be the one who believes most in the teens' guilt.
He calls them devils and talks about justice. In fact, his behavior was so bizarre during and after the trial that it led many to believe that he might be the killer.
After launching so many crazy accusations at the three teenagers and believing so firmly in their guilt, even he, along with another parent of the murdered boys, now thinks that the three men are in prison for a crime they did not commit.
After viewing the film, it is difficult to comprehend that the three teenage boys are actually found guilty based on evidence that could convict a large portion of the male teenage population.
They were targeted for wearing black, drawing pentagrams on notebooks and listening to bands like Metallica. Things that seem pretty average when you look at the everyday teenager across the country made them outcasts, and eventually prime suspects for murder, in their small community.
The three teens, now men in their 30s, gained much support from people from around the country after the documentary was released and groups continue to work for their release and raise money for their defense.
This of course has garnered the attention of celebrities looking to join the cause, including Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Dixie Chick Natalie Maines.
Whatever viewers conclusion viewers might come to about the guilt of the three men who are currently still in prison, "Paradise Lost" is a well crafted documentary with good insight into the case.
But viewers must remember that they are always being manipulated no matter how great and seemingly objective a documentary seems to be.
The filmmakers have a clear opinion on the guilt or innocence of the three convicted, so it’s good to look at the facts for yourself.
This film leaves the viewer with more than a reasonable doubt about their guilt.
The tag line for the film really sums up the feelings it leaves the viewers: "It's frightening to think they did it.
It's terrifying to think they didn't."
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