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Arkansas Supreme Court Decision Allows New DNA Testing in Case of the ​“West Memphis Three,” Convicted of Killing Three Children in 1993

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On April 18, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court decided 4-3 to reverse a 2022 lower court decision and allow genetic testing of crime scene evidence from the 1993 killing of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis. The three men convicted in 1994 for the killings were released in 2011 after taking an Alford plea, in which they maintained their innocence but plead guilty to the crime, in exchange for 18 years’ time served and 10 years of a suspended sentence. 

Federal judge says he doubts Oklahoma can be ready for planned executions

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Judge will consider postponing executions if state, which botched execution of Clayton Lockett, proves unable to act quickly in implementing new guidelines

A federal judge said Thursday he is concerned Oklahoma will not be able to implement new guidelines and training for executions before three inmates are scheduled to die this fall.

“I’m having a hard time seeing how all of this can be done,” US district judge Stephen Friot said during a hearing in a lawsuit filed by 21 death-row inmates in Oklahoma who allege that their executions could be cruel and violate their constitutional rights.

“The timing issues become that much more prominent,” Friot said in denying the state’s motion to stay the lawsuit. He suggested the state seek a delay of executions while the lawsuit continues and said there would be an injunction hearing “pretty soon”, but did not set a specific date.

Assistant attorney general John Hadden told Friot during the hearing that he needed to consult with prison and other state officials before deciding on a course of action. Aaron Cooper, a spokesman for Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt, said in an email to the Associated Press that the office had no comment.

If the state does nothing, Friot said he will consider the inmates’ request to postpone all executions.

Oklahoma recently said it would revamp its procedures for administering lethal injections, retrain its staff and renovate its death chamber after the 29 April execution of Clayton Lockett, who writhed and moaned before he was declared dead 43 minutes after his execution began.


Source: The Guardian, Sept. 18, 2014
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