Paradise Lost directors commented on West Memphis Three’s release

West Memphis Three released after 18 years

 

Paradise Lost filmmakers, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky witnessed when Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelly were freed from prison and filmed the ending for their third documentary about West Memphis Three.[googlead tip=”patrat_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”]

 

On Friday, August 19, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Judge David Laser decided to give West Memphis Three ten year suspended sentences, considering the eighteen years already served.

“To see our work culminate in the righting of this tragic miscarriage of justice is more than a filmmaker could ask for,” said Joe Berlinger.

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“Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills” was an award winning documentary in 1996. It raises doubts upon lots of details of the case against Baldwin, Echols and Misskelly. On the Satanism panic of the late 80s and early 90s town’s eccentrical figures were found guilty of murdering three little boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993, despite the fact there were little physical evidence. Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky carried forward their investigation and in 2000 “Paradise Lost 2: Revelations” was aired.

Along with “Paradise Lost” directors other celebrities has shown their support during the time, Eddie Vedder from  Pearl Jam and Johnny Depp were among the first.

The “Paradise Lost” series express the doubts regarding the validity of the West Memphis Three verdicts. In the same time they were not declared not guilty. In an Alford Plea, a defendant declare onself innocent and simultaneously accepts the ability of the prosecutor to prove the charges with present evidence. In the same time one plead innocent and admit the guilt. This might lead to the new trials.

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The directors were already working on “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory,” but with the recent change their third documentary has got a new ending.

“Eighteen years and three films ago, we started this journey to document the terrible murders of three innocent boys and the subsequent circus that followed the arrests and convictions of Baldwin, Echols and Misskelly. To see our work culminate in the righting of this tragic miscarriage of justice is more than a filmmaker could ask for.” Joe Berlinger said in an HBO statement.”

“Today, we, along with HBO, are humbled to be a part of this remarkable outcome” said Bruce Sinofsky.

“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” will recapitulate the entire story; from the arrests in 1993 to their release. Paradise Lost 3 will be presented at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2012 and will be broadcasted on HBO in January 2012.