The attorney who represented one of three teenagers accused of a brutal, ritualistic murder 15 years ago in Arkansas argues to this day that all are innocent. Dan Stidham will speak about the case widely known asThe West Memphis Threeon Monday (April 6) at West Virginia University.

The presentation is at 3:30 p.m. in Room 157 of the WVU Law Center and is open to the public.

Stidham, now a judge, was a 27-year-old lawyer when appointed to represent one of three young men accused of mutilating and killing three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Ark.

Less than one month after the crime, three teenagers allegedly involved in the assault were charged with and convicted of first degree murder. The charges were brought, in part, due to the alleged ritualistic nature of the killings and the suggestion that the murders might be associated with rites of a satanic cult.

The three accused remain imprisoned, and one awaits the death penalty. However, questions remain about the police investigative procedure and crime scene forensics, as well as new DNA evidence that is linked neither to the victims nor the accused.

Stidham argues that all were wrongfully convicted, and members of the victimsfamilies have publicly questioned the verdicts with a call for further investigation of the evidence.

TheWest Memphis Threecase has been the subject of two HBO documentaries and a book. It is also the topic of anAdvanced Criminal Lawseminar taught by Professor James R. Elkins of the WVU College of Law.