The federal judge who initially sent Damien Echols’ appeal back to state courts has recused from the case. In a one-sentence order filed Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge William R. Wilson Jr. said that “some of the principals in this case are long-time acquitances and friends of mine.”

It was not immediately clear who would take over the case or if Wilson’s recusal would affect Echols’ pending appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Echols and two others were accused of killing three second graders in a Satanic-like ritual. The boys were last seen riding their bikes May 5, 1993. Their bodies were found in a ditch the next day.

This article was published Wednesday, September 24, 2008.

More stories --
Home / News / Arkansas /

SITE INDEX

Copyright © 2009, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.

Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2009, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.