Defamation Suit Against Dixie Chicks Dismissed
By WENNThursday, December 3, 2009
A U.S. judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against country rockers the DIXIE CHICKS over comments they made about the murders of three young boys in Arkansas in 1993.
Teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin were convicted of murdering eight-year-olds Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore near their West Memphis homes.
Echols was sentenced to death, while Misskelley and Baldwin are currently serving life sentences.
Since their convictions, more evidence has surfaced casting doubt on whether the trio committed the crimes - and attracting the interest of a string of celebrity supporters.
Winona Ryder hosted a special art exhibition of Echols’ work and two benefit albums have been released, including the music of Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder, Joe Strummer and Henry Rollins.
In November 2007, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines started speaking out in support of the West Memphis 3 by appearing at rallies and providing information on the band’s websites.
Among her claims, Maines suggested Branch’s stepfather Terry Hobbs was implicated by DNA evidence found at the crime scene.
The allegation prompted Hobbs to file a lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court last year (08).
But U.S. District Judge Brian Miller ruled on Tuesday (01Dec09) Hobbs could not establish “actual malice” and threw the case out of court.
