Ark. man to ask for new trial in child deaths

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Lawyers for one of the men convicted of killing three 8-year-old Cub Scouts in West Memphis say he should be granted a new trial because of new evidence in the case.

Attorney Dennis Riordan told the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday that a witness will testify that Damien Echols was somewhere else at the time of the killings. Riordan also says the state’s DNA evidence rule is flawed. The defense says DNA tests conducted after Echols was convicted shows his DNA was not found at the scene.

Echols has maintained his innocence since he was arrested for the 1993 murders of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore.

The state Supreme Court upheld Echols’ conviction in 1996 but he has filed a new appeal.