Three men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts were freed Friday after nearly two decades in prison and after a judge OK'd a deal with prosecutors.
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley agreed to change their pleas from not guilty to guilty in the 1993 killings in West Memphis, Ark.
They did so using a legal maneuver that lets them maintain their innocence while acknowledging prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict them.
After the closed hearings before a judge, Baldwin told reporters that he had been reluctant to plead guilty to crimes he maintains he didn't commit, but that he
went along so as to help Echols, who was on death row.
"That's not justice, however you look at it," he said of the deal.
Echols called the 18 years of prison and appeals "an absolute living hell."
"It's not perfect," he said of the deal. "It's not perfect by any means. But it at
least brings closure to some areas and some aspects. We can still bring up new evidence."
Echols said the men would continue to work to clear their names.
The three were placed on 10 years' probation and if they re-offend they could be sent back to prison for 21 years, Prosecutor Scott Ellington said.
"I believe this case is closed," Ellington added.
Echols had been sentenced to die for the brutal killings and Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life terms. Misskelley initially confessed, but defense attorneys claim police took advantage of his low IQ.
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley agreed to change their pleas from not guilty to guilty in the 1993 killings in West Memphis, Ark.
They did so using a legal maneuver that lets them maintain their innocence while acknowledging prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict them.
After the closed hearings before a judge, Baldwin told reporters that he had been reluctant to plead guilty to crimes he maintains he didn't commit, but that he
went along so as to help Echols, who was on death row.
"That's not justice, however you look at it," he said of the deal.
Echols called the 18 years of prison and appeals "an absolute living hell."
"It's not perfect," he said of the deal. "It's not perfect by any means. But it at
least brings closure to some areas and some aspects. We can still bring up new evidence."
Echols said the men would continue to work to clear their names.
The three were placed on 10 years' probation and if they re-offend they could be sent back to prison for 21 years, Prosecutor Scott Ellington said.
"I believe this case is closed," Ellington added.
Echols had been sentenced to die for the brutal killings and Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life terms. Misskelley initially confessed, but defense attorneys claim police took advantage of his low IQ.