WEST MEMPHIS, Ark., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Attorneys for an Arkansas man convicted of murder say allegations of misconduct by the foreman of the jury that found him guilty are grounds for a new trial.
Damien Echols was one of the teenage defendants known as the West Memphis Three convicted in the 1993 murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Ark., The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported.
An affidavit by a former lawyer of jury foreman Ken Arnold claims Arnold improperly manipulated his way onto the jury, talked about the case with jurors and others before deliberations, and made up his mind to return a conviction before defense attorneys even presented Echols' case, the newspaper said.
As jury foreman, Arnold convinced others to convict based on inadmissible evidence and his belief that if you looked into Echols' eyes then "you knew he was evil," Little rock attorney Lloyd Warford alleged in the affidavit.
Echols, who is on death row, and co-defendant Jason Baldwin, who is serving a life sentence, have maintained their innocence in the three boys' deaths.
A third defendant, Jessie Misskelley Jr., was convicted at a separate trial after he confessed to helping Echols and Baldwin kill the boys during a satanic ritual, a confession he later recanted.
The Arkansas Supreme Court is considering an appeal of Echols' conviction, The Commercial Appeal reported
