Dec 04 2007
30 Days to Justice and the Death Penalty
The premise of 30 Days to Justice, the 50k novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo, is controversial. I didn’t mean for the book to make a political statement, but in the end that is exactly what happened.
The book begins like this: a woman in her early 30’s is moving back home to find herself. When she hits the state line, she hears on the radio that a man who committed a murder twenty years earlier had just been executed that morning.
The execution of his accomplice is schedule within thirty days. Through a series of events, she finds herself investigating the murder and putting into question the legal and moral issues of the death penalty.
Her missive begins: “I’m writing this letter today because I believe that three men have spend the past 13 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. On May 5th, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansa three 8 eight-year (sic) boys, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore were murdered.
Three teenage boys, Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin were convicted of murders in 1994. Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley received life sentences without parole, and Damine Echols sits on death row.”
To read the rest of her letter and plea for financial donations, click here.
I’m going to hold judgment on this matter until I see the two documentaries she mentions, Paradise Lost and Paradise Lost 2. At that time, I will blog about this case again.
You haven’t heard about the West Memphis Three yet? Wow! I thought every one had (but that could be because I’m familiar with them through Metallica’s allowing the filmmakers — who later made the Metallica movie a few years ago — to use some of their music in the film.).
Brilliant, brilliant movies. And to hear the filmmakers talk about it. Wow.
Anyway, just stopping by to say thanks for entering my contest and for helping to spread the word. Hanukkah actually begins tonight; I hope you have eight days of peace, light, and wonder, even if you don’t celebrate.
The name…West Memphis Three…makes them sound guilty.
[…] make no secret about the fact that I’m against the death penalty. As a teenager, I saw 12 Angry Men in school. One would think that the movie confirmed my belief […]
[…] death penalty and the acquittal of an innocent man, I will read it. I have written over 50,000 for 30 Days to Justice and I’m curious to see Grisham’s take on the death […]