Purgatory

I've followed the West Memphis Three since I was a stubborn high school sophomore who wanted everyone to know about the injustice - and needed everyone to see it my way. Thankfully, I've grown up since then. I don't want everyone to have the same opinion I do (be it about a band, a book, or a controversial court case), I just hope people are open-minded enough to check out things for themselves - listen to a song, read a paragraph, research the facts - before forming an opinion.

Sunday night was the Memphis premiere of Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory. It is easily my favorite of the Paradise Lost documentaries, and not just because of the "happy" ending. It was well-done, going back over the trials and subsequent developments just enough to make it stand alone for those completely unfamiliar with the case. The supporters who have seen the previous documentaries are not bored with repeated information, because a great deal of the footage was not used in the first two.

There were clips that made the audience boo, applaud, and laugh - even when crying would have been more appropriate. Case in point: Dale Griffis, a "cult expert," was testifying for the prosecution. The defense asked what classes he took to earn his PhD.
     "None," the expert said.
     It was already known that his PhD was a mail order degree, but to have completed it with no coursework? The defense requested he not be allowed as a witness since he was not an accredited expert like he claimed.

Judge David Burnett overruled the request.

Why? Because, according to Burnett, an expert does not need to have a degree. Someone could have a "third grade education," research the subject of their choice and be considered an expert in Arkansas courts. "I’m not sure in Arkansas or in any other state that you have to have any kind of degree to be an expert in a particular field." For the record, I am now an expert in psychology and decoupage. My degrees are in the mail.

After the screening there was going to be a Q&A with filmmaker Bruce Sinofsky, but he was ill and unable to make it to Memphis.

Instead, we got Jason Baldwin.

Jason Baldwin, producer Jonathan Silberberg, Memphis Flyer reporter Chris Davis // Photo is my own.
I can't explain how inspirational it was to hear Jason speak. He's easily the most optimistic person I've ever met, which is exponentially more impressive when you consider his circumstances.

He was sentenced to life in prison when he was a teenager, despite repeatedly proclaiming his innocence and there being no evidence linking him to the crime. He grew up in prison. He was released at 34 by pleading guilty while still maintaining innocence - only because he wanted to save his friend on death row.
     An audience member asked if he would have taken the deal if no one's life was at stake, and he said no. He compromised all he had been fighting for nearly two decades and swallowed his pride to make sure his friend would not be killed. The clip of Damien thanking Jason never fails to make me cry.


Another emotional moment happened towards the end of the Q&A session. A girl sitting in the front row asked if Jason had talked with any of the victims' families. He said he hadn't, but would like to. Everyone leaned forward, straining to hear her soft spoken voice. She went on about how there were six victims that day - the three dead boys and the three rotting in jail. Audience members looked at each other, wondering what she was rambling about, but Jason's eyes never left hers.

"My favorite color is black," she continued. "My favorite band is Metallica. My name is Amanda Hobbs [victim Steve Branch's half-sister] and I think you are innocent." She got up and left immediately after her statement; Jason's lawyer followed her out. I hope they got to speak in private after the event; I can't imagine how emotional that would be for both of them.

Jason is just now learning to drive. He thinks cell phones are something out of a science fiction movie (remember, he was locked up in 1994, in Arkansas…). He's considering colleges and thinking about law school. He's excited about seeing concerts and going to Disneyland. He may have "grown up" in prison, but now that he's back in the real world, he's sixteen again.

He wants to live life to the fullest without holding grudges or being bitter, and that inspires the hell out of me. How many times have I let spilled coffee or a flat tire ruin my day? Meanwhile, there's someone who's never experienced that, who would have loved to worry about going to a meeting with stained pants or fretted over how much a new tire would cost. Those worries are so trivial compared to wondering how much longer you'll be in jail or if the courts will actually believe you're innocent. It really puts things into perspective.

If you're interested in the case and want to learn more, I highly recommend:
WM3.org
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000)
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (filmed 2011, airing on HBO in January)
Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt (a Little Rock journalist who covered the case from the beginning and continues to do so)