Dale Ridge church of Christ

“And again I saw under the sun a place of justice: wickedness is there; and the place of righteousness, wickedness is there” says King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:16.  

           This definitely would appear to prove true in the case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, known by many who support them as the “West Memphis Three.”  These three young men were convicted of killing three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in May of 1993 despite the lack of sufficient evidence.  Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were given life sentences while Damien Echols was sentenced to die. 

            In recent months, DNA evidence has even been provided indicating that Mr. Echols, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Misskelley did not commit these crimes.   Moreover, two other individuals have been strongly suggested as the source of DNA found on pieces of evidence from the crime scene.  

            Yet, despite this finding, the original trial judge who is the first in line in the appeals process for all three men has declined to allow a new trial to consider this DNA evidence by stating that “the Petitioner’s (referring to Mr. Echols) DNA- testing results are not compelling evidence that he would be acquitted.”  One cannot help but wonder what evidence would be “compelling” enough for this judge to allow a new trial.  

            Solomon’s words also ring true for another victim of grave injustice who lived some  2,000 years ago.  Despite this man’s innocence (2 Corinthians 5:21;  1 Peter 2:22), corrupt authorities condemned him to death.  Numerous violations were committed in the four mock trials to which Jesus of Nazareth was subjected before being brutally beaten and hung upon the cross at Golgotha.  The following pdf file is a summation of some laws violated in the trials of Jesus illegalities-in-the-trials-of-jesus. 

            We pray that justice be done in the case of the “West Memphis Three.”  The evidence clearly shows the innocence of these three.  Jesus Christ was likewise innocent of the charges laid against Him (1 Peter 1:18-19).  He now lives for ever more that we through Him might have life.

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on September 21st, 2008