Dixie Chicks Singer Sued For Defamation

[babsbunny]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/04/dixie-chicks-singer-sued_n_148600.html

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines is the target of a defamation lawsuit by the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys slain in 1993.

Maines spoke out for three people convicted of the slayings and alleged the stepfather was instead involved in the killings.

Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Steve Branch, who was killed in 1993 with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, filed suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Nov. 25. The suit names all three members of the Dixie Chicks, but focuses on Maines.

[Ian David]

1. And now that everyone has forgotten all about this, his name will be in the media again.

Funny how that works.

[davidinalameda]

2. I remember this case

never knew that the stepfather was possibly involved

I remember hearing how the ones convicted did it

[lady raven]

6. Terry Hobbs is not the one I bet you're thinking of...

The one who was kind of "off" during the trials- the tall one with red hair... That's not him. This is actually a different stepfather, whose DNA was found inside one of the knots with which the kids were bound.

[davidinalameda]

9. I just remember these were goth/satanist or whatever kids

and that they were found guilty

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. And they are probably not guilty of anything other than dressing weird

[davidinalameda]

12. probably

but you can't trust those goths

they'll steal all the black lipstick you have

[TexasObserver]

3. That's actually good. It means they will be able to force the stepfather to give a video deposition

When you sue anyone for defamation, you put your character into issue, because truth is always a defense to the claim of defamation. You cannot be defamed by a true statement.

If this step father puts the case to a jury, a civil jury, they will decide not by the "beyond a reasonable doubt standard," but by the much lower "preponderance of the evidence" standard.

He could end up having a verdict that essentially says "we believe you did it."


For what it's worth, I've always believed it was the step father. Those boys were targeted and scapegoated because they were teens who stood out as Satanic dabblers.

[JenniferJuniper]

5. This is a different stepfather - see my post below.

[TexasObserver]

10. thanks

[JenniferJuniper]

4. For anyone who has seen the two HBO documentaries...

note that this is NOT the stepfather who was showcased in the films. This is a different stepfather, one who was completely overlooked by the police at the time and who should have been a prime suspect right away. The police re-interviewed him last year after a hair consistent with with his mitochondrial DNA was found in the bindings of one of the other children killed along with his stepson. He has a violent history and not much of an alibi.

[lady raven]

7. Not to mention the fact that his ex wife (The mother of one of the victims) thinks he did it. n/t

http://www.wm3.org/live/newsevents/newsitem.php?news_Id=182

[JenniferJuniper]

8. Good point, although she has waffled a bit on that recently.

Poor woman is probably suffering from PTSD. She is convinced of the innocence of the three convicted, however, as now is John Mark Byers, the stepfather who once ranted and raved about their guilt.

Youtube "Terry Hobbs" and you'll find his police interview from '07 in several parts. Cop who interviewed him did an awful job, but Hobbs still manages to cast all sorts of guilt in his own direction.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. This crime was committed in 1993 and they just interviewed him last year??

Wow..justice is certainly not swift there.

[bemildred]

13. He must have OJ as a consultant. nt