Updated: Hearing scheduled for Dec 5-21

The evidentiary hearing dates have been scheduled, according to freethewestmemphis3.org. The hearing will begin Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the courthouse in Jonesboro. The hearing will last three continuous weeks, until Dec. 21. Following the hearing Judge David Laser will decide whether the trio should be granted a new trial.

Lorri Davis, Damien's wife released a statement saying she is pleased with the order for a hearing:

“We are very pleased that Judge David Laser has ordered a three-week continuous evidentiary hearing to review evidence of the innocence of Damien, Jason and Jessie. He clearly wants this case to move as expeditiously as possible. I am hopeful that upon a full review of the evidence there will finally be justice by years end. Every day in solitary confinement for Damien, and maximum-security imprisonment for Jason and Jessie, is a day in hell.”

Read the order here. But again, the PDF is posted upside down for some reason.

Evidentiary Hearing Dates

A Jonesboro court has scheduled the evidentiary hearing for the West Memphis Three, according to the Arkansas Times - the hearing will be held between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15 and will last up to three weeks.

Click here to read the Arkansas Times blog and view the Judge's order - although, be warned, for some reason the PDF is posted upside down. The order also contains an interesting letter from an Arkansas attorney expressing concern about waiting until the fall for the hearing.

Pamela Hobbs on MyFox Memphis

MyFox Memphis reported on the upcoming hearings last night with two packages featuring new interviews with Pam Hobbs. The reporting was a little random, since nothing new was said: they just reviewed the murders, mentioned the appeals, etc.

But what I found most interesting, again, is that Pam says she doesn't think Terry could have committed the murders - despite what she said in the Pasdar depositions.

The defense plans to point the finger at Terry Hobbs, Stevie Branch's step father and Pam Hobbs, ex-husband. They claim there are three eyewitnesses who saw Terry Hobbs with the three children shortly before their murder.

In the brief, the defense says it plans to call Pam Hobbs to testify about Terry's "extremely suspicious" actions the following days. But Pam Hobbs, despite her previous position, she doesn't think her ex-husband had anything to do with the murders.

"I don't think anyone needs to do what was done in the beginning and point fingers and say this one done it, voice our thoughts and theories, that's all they are," said Hobbs.

Here are both videos:

More Appeals Information: From Alibis to Public Reaction

The ABC affiliate in Memphis reports that Jason Baldwin's original attorney, Paul Ford, thinks Baldwin's mother and uncle could prove the young man's alibi, but that they would not have made good witnesses at the original 1994 trial. The credibility and perception of witnesses played a key part in the original trials: Jessie Miskelley's alibi witnesses were thoroughly discredited on the stand - for example, see the testimony of Josh Darby - and Damien's testimony in his trial is generally thought to have hurt, rather than help, his case.

KATV in Arkansas also ran a piece about the public's reaction to the request for more DNA testing (Click to read article and see video - which for some reason won't embed). The piece doesn't contain a ton of great information, but it does shoe how contentious the debate about the case still is, as one of the comenters wanted to remain anonymous.

Brief: More DNA Tests Requested

Attorneys for one of the Three (it doesn't specify which man) want the clothes and shoes of the the victims in the case, according to legal briefs files yesterday in court, reports the FOX affiliate in Memphis.

Briefs were due today in the case, which is due for an evidentiary hearing soon.

UPDATE: KATV in Little Rock is reporting that Jason Baldwin's attorneys mentioned this fall as a possible start date for the evidentiary hearing.

Jason Baldwin Interview with Ark. Times

Jason Baldwin gave a recent interview with the Arkansas Times. Posted below. It's amazing to see how how much he's grown from the original "Paradise Lost" days. That sounds weird, but it really makes you think about how much time these men have spent in prison so far.

Jessie Miskelley Interview

Jessie Miskelley gave an interview with Memphis' WREG-TV about his reaction to the Arkansas State Supreme Court's decision to give the trio an evidentiary hearing.