West Memphis Three and An Alford Plea

If you haven’t read the news today, there is chatter all around the Internet that the West Memphis Three may be released this afternoon.  For all of us who believe in their innocence–that’s amazing news.  But there is a glitch.  While there is a gag order on anyone speaking about the case, Forbes is reporting that the court is going to allow the three men, who were incarcerated almost two decades ago, to change their plea to an Alford plea.

If you haven’t heard of an Alford plea, you are not alone.  An Alford plea is where the defendant agrees to plead guilty, but maintains he is innocent, but he does so because he agrees that the prosecutor has enough evidence to convict him.

From Wikipedia:

According to the University of Richmond Law Review, “When offering an Alford plea, a defendant asserts his innocence but admits that sufficient evidence exists to convict him of the offense.”

Mark Byers, the father of one of the boys who were killed, said that when he talked to the prosecutors, they planned to enter a no-contest plea. He also said that he believed this was a cop-out by the state so they don’t have to admit they made a mistake.  

I’ve also read that only 2 of the 3 men will be released on time served and one will remain in prison. 

I would really like to hear from these men, if they get released.  Are they feeling immense fear after being wrongly convicted that they could be falsely convicted if they went to trial again, as the system failed them once?  Or is there truly sufficient evidence in this case that they feel could win a case against them?

I have to admit if I was railroaded once by the system, I would not take a second chance and I would get out to live my life anyway I could.  I would be jaded for a lifetime, without question, but I wouldn’t care about what anyone thought as long as I had freedom.

Imagine being set free and trying to live a life if you are these guys. Their chances of successful integration into society would be immensely difficult.

This will be interesting to watch develop.  Seeing the men speak out, if they get released, will truly be fascinating!