Interview with Beau Jones of the UCA Demand Justice Student Panel Beau Jones, 22. Beau has his BS in Applied Mathematics from UCA. He is currently part-time faculty at UCA and working on his Masters in Applied Mathematics. He plans to continue with my PhD upon completion of his MS.
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How old were you in 93?
In May 1993, I was actually the same age as the murdered children, 8. I turned 9 in Sept 93. But I was 8 during the murders.
How were you introduced to the WM3 case?
I saw the documentary in 1996. I also had a friend from West Memphis, who has been upset ever since the arrests. She moved to Searcy with her family to escape the wicked police department. When Mara's book came out, my friend read it and fumed her anger in my presence. She let me borrow the book, and I read it for myself.
Were you living in Arkansas when the murders occurred?
Seacry
Do you recall anything in particular about the general attitude of those in your area at the time of the trial/investigation into the murders?
I don't recall, but my father thought the suspects were guilty because he believed the media was telling him facts about the case. He now believes these young men are innocent
What elements of the WM3 case concern you the most?
I can't believe a trail this ridiculous could have taken place. I had never heard of a more stubborn police department, judge, and prosecutors in all my life. Any lawyer in their right mind would have not trial these three young men. Even in the police report says that a murder investigation would not take place. I also can't be that the appeals are before the same judge. I would will be happy when the appeals reach the state and federal courts.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role with the Demand Justice UCA Panel?
My main goal in this panel is to educate students. I hope to see students get emotion charged with the details of the case. I want them to be as upset as I am ( and hopefully more upset). The more students are learn about this case, the more we can do to help. We can all come together and work as a larger team. I would love for a large number of college students to collect together and do something at the state capital. If our governor sees that an enormous amount of educated students demand a judicial review and that we aren't going to give up, maybe something can happen. We will show the state, the US, and the entire world, that we will not give up. We can give up, but these innocent men will still be within the prison walls.
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