HOLLYWOOD actress Johnny Depp is receiving on a new purpose as crusader for probity this week end with an coming on a radio programme about 3 men he believes have been poorly convicted of murder. Dubbed the "West Memphis Three", Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were found guilty in 1993 of murdering and mutilating 3 eight-year-old boys in Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis, Arkansas. It was a heartless crime that done headlinADVERTISEMENTes opposite America and widely separated the southern town. There were rumours that the young kids were the victims of a eerie ritual.In an try to prominence what he believes is a premature birth of justice, the star of Pirates of the Caribbean and the new Alice in Wonderland, is looming on the loyal crime programme 48 Hours in the United States tonight. "I resolutely hold Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley are all innocent," says the publicity-shy Depp. He adds that the 3 were the victims of "a need for quick probity to assuage the fearful community".Echols is on genocide row for the attempted attempted murder of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers, all Cub Scouts. Misskelley, whose counsel says he has the mental capabilities of a five-year-old, confessed to participating in the crime, but retracted his admission and pronounced he had been coerced. He and Baldwin are portion hold up sentences.According to supporters of the convicted men, authorities rushed to crook the teenagers formed on small some-more than the actuality they ready to go in black, were amicable misfits and enjoyed complicated steel and Stephen King novels.Depp says: "I rught away associated to Damien. I come from a comparatively small locale in Kentucky. I can recollect kind of being looked on as a freak, if you will, different, since I didnt skirt similar to everyone else."From the beginning, there were allegations that the review had been bungled. All 3 of the convicted men had alibis for the times of the murders and there was small earthy justification restraining them to the victims. Crucial justification went missing.A host of celebrities have combined their await to the debate to have the box reopened together with Winona Ryder, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jams Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits and South Park co-creator Trey Parker. A good manuscript was available in 2000 and dual documentaries done about the case."They (the authorities] never unequivocally did any investigation," pronounced Echolss counterclaim lawyer, Dennis Riordan. "Its positively unusual in this case, where my customer has been since the genocide penalty, that theres not a singular square of convincing justification that links him to these crimes."Pamela Hobbs, the mom of plant Stevie Branch, and Mark Byers, the father of plant Christopher Byers, have additionally voiced doubts about either the 3 men essentially committed the crime. The relatives of the third victim, Michael Moore, hold they are guilty.The 48 Hours part is approaching to plead new DNA and genetic justification and watcher statements, along with purported juror bungle that could potentially transparent the West Memphis Three. The strange decider in the hearing has incited down steady requests for a retrial, together with one as not long ago as last month.Depps involvement has annoyed ridicule in the regressive media and between a little residents of West Memphis. One local, commenting on an online summary board, said: "These big stars should boundary out. A distressing crime was committed here and the men who did it are at the back of bars. End of story."But Depp says: "The coercion of this is Damien Echols is on his last interest and he is on genocide row. The majority bold movement that the state could right away take is to confess that they done mistakes and scold these errors."It isnt the initial time that Depp, who was not long ago voted "Actor of the Decade" at the Peoples Choice Awards in Los Angeles, has courted controversy. In January, the offbeat actress voiced fear at the detain of film-maker Roman Polanski on a 30-year-old orthodox rape charge.
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