

West of Memphis
An examination of a failure of justice in Arkansas
Genres
Overview
The documentary tells the hitherto unknown story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. Told and made by those who lived it, the filmmakers' unprecedented access to the inner workings of the defense allows the film to show the investigation, research, and appeals process in a way that has never been seen before; revealing shocking and disturbing new information about a case that still haunts the American South.
Details
Budget
$0
Revenue
$318317
Runtime
150 min
Release Date
2012-11-22
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Vote Count
149
Vote Average
7.372
Damien Echols
Self
Jessie Misskelley Jr.
Self
Jason Baldwin
Self
Pam Hobbs
Self – Stevie Branch's Mother
Steve Jones
Self – Former Juvenile Officer, Crittenden County
John Fogleman
Self – Former Deputy Prosecutor
Jerry Driver
Self – Former Juvenile Corrections Officer
Sharon French
Self – Juror #9 - Echols/Baldwin Trial
Lorri Davis
Self – Damien's Wife
Mara Leveritt
Self – Author - "Devil's Knot"
Martin Hill
Self – Case Researcher
Dan Stidham
Self – Defense Attorney for Jessie Misskelley
Jessie Misskelley Sr.
Self – Jessie's Father
Steve Drizin
Self – Law Professor, Northwestern Univ. School of Law
Laura Nirider
Self – Staff Attorney, Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth
Kiki Daire
Self – Childhood Friend of Damien & Jason (as Jennifer Bearden)
David Burnett
Self – Trial Judge
Stephanie Dollar
Self – Defense Witness - Misskelley Trial
Dennis Carter
Self – Defense Witness - Misskelley Trial
Dennis Riordan
Self – Damien Echols' Attorney
Eddie Vedder
Self – WM3 Supporter
Henry Rollins
Self – WM3 Supporter
Peter Jackson
Self – WM3 Supporter
Michael Carson
Self – Former Juvenile Inmate
Joyce Cureton
Self – Director of Juvenile Detention, Retired
John Douglas
Self – FBI Profiler, Retired
John Mark Byers
Self – Adoptive Father of Christopher Byers
Vicki Hutcheson
Self – Prosecution Witness
Vincent J.M. Di Maio
Self – Forensic Pathologist
Joseph Garner
Self – Neighborhood Friend of the Byers Family
Carlos Seals
Self – Neighborhood Friend of the Byers Family
Jamie Ballard
Self – Neighbor of Stevie Branch
John Richards
Self – Turtle Breeder
Rachael Geiser
Self – Private Investigator
Amanda Hobbs
Self – Stevie Branch's Sister
Robert Heath Meeks
Self – Therapist
Erin Moriarty
Self – Journalist
Don Horgan
Self – Damien Echols' Attorney
Barry Scheck
Self – The Innocence Project
Johnny Depp
Self – WM3 Supporter
Patti Smith
Self – WM3 Supporter
Natalie Maines
Self – WM3 Supporter
Mildred French
Self – Neighbor of Terry Hobbs
Judy Sadler
Self – Stevie Branch's Aunt
Marie Hicks
Self – Stevie Branch's Grandmother
Cindy Hobbs
Self – Terry Hobbs' Sister
David Jacoby
Self – Friend of Terry Hobbs
Sheila Muse
Self – Stevie Branch's Aunt
Stephen Braga
Self – Damien Echols' Attorney
Blake Sisk
Self – Witness #1 - Interview with Rachael Geiser
Cody Gott
Self – Witness #2 - Interview with Rachael Geiser
Capi Peck
Self – Arkansas Take Action
Patrick Benca
Self – Damien Echols' Attorney
Scott Ellington
Self – District Prosecuting Attorney, 2nd JD Arkansas
Holly Ballard
Self – Friend of Jason Baldwin
Gail Grinnell
Self – Jason Baldwin's Mother
Gary Gitchell
Self – West Memphis Police Department (archive footage)
Terry Hobbs
Self – Stevie Branch's Stepfather (archive footage)
Richard Souviron
Self – Forensic Odontologist (archive footage)
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