Victim's Father Breaks Gag Order, Says Two of WM3 to be Released

EARLE, Ark. - Although under a court gag order, the father of one of the murder victims in the West Memphis Three case is sounding off on the alleged release of two defendants at a hearing scheduled for Friday morning.

Craighead County Circuit Judge David Laser's office on Thursday said that Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin will be in court Friday in Jonesboro. The three men were convicted in 1994 of killing Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore and leaving their bound bodies in a water-filled ditch in West Memphis.

Echols was sentenced to death while Misskelley and Baldwin received life sentences. The three have each asked for a new trial on the grounds that DNA evidence exonerates them.

Steve Branch, father of 8-year old Stevie Branch, made claims that Friday's hearing will consist of a plea deal for two of the defendants that will lead to their immediate release. Branch was later reprimanded for breaking the gag order by speaking with the media.

Late Thursday, the Arkansas Department of Corrections did confirm Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were ordered to take all their belongings with them to Crittenden County, at least for Friday's hearing. One of the murder victim's mother told FOX13 that while she was unable to comment directly on the case, she expects Friday's hearing to "bring peace" to her family.