‘The Alford plea’ trial closed, convicts freed

The much contentious 1993 murder trial finally came to an end, with judge finally accepting the plea bargaining of all three men guilty of killing three Cub Scouts and getting rid of the bodies in an Arkansas dump.

The longstanding ‘The Alford plea’ trial came to an end, on Friday, with the judge pronouncing the convicts’ release instantly, in the verdict.

In spite of admitting that attorneys have adequate proof against them; Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, also known to their admirers as the West Memphis Three, agreed to wage a war against the court.

The Alford plea thus took numerous turns over the years and finally helped them maintain their innocence.

Enduring trial came to an end
10 years of probation finally came to an end, which if offended could have sent the convicts to 21 years of imprisonment. Damien Echols, who was charged with death row, got acquitted of the sentence and all the three were thereby credited with the time served in imprisonment.

Prosecutor Scott Ellington breaking the silence finally uttered, "I believe this case is closed,"

‘West Memphis Three’ murder charges

Both Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin were accused of three counts of first-degree murder, while Jessie Misskelley was facing one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder.

As soon as the trials were finally over, Jason Baldwin informed media that he had been unwilling to face the charges he had not committed. But, the trio got untied till end in a bid to save Damien Echols of the death sentence.

Baldwin said, in this context, that there were various perspectives looking at the trial procedures.

Meanwhile, Echols also responded to the trial, declaring his own release as ‘overwhelming’. About the deal Echols said "It's not perfect… It's not perfect by any means. But it at least brings closure to some areas and some aspects."

However, the trio is of the opinion that the ‘West Memphis Three’ would have to work further to clear their names of any charges or misdoings.