Winona Fights For Convicted Murderers

Troubled actress Winona Ryder has taken to wearing a bracelet honouring three convicted murderers that she's convinced are innocent.

The names of DAMIEN ECHOLS, Jason Baldwin and JESSIE MISSKELLEY, aka THE MEMPHIS THREE, and the dates of their arrest are etched on the bracelet she wears around her right wrist.

Ryder, who has been fighting for the convicted men's freedom along with fellow stars like Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and ex-love Johnny Depp, plans to add the trio's release date to the bangle.

She says, "They are in my hearts every day, and I will never give up until they're out."

The three men were teenagers when they were arrested for the ritualistic murder of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, in 1993, and Echols was sentenced to death.

A 1996 TV documentary, Paradise Lost: THE CHILD MURDERS AT ROBIN HOOD HILLS, raised questions about the guilt of the three men, and prompted a number of stars to fight for the release of the trio.

Ryder, who was found guilty of shoplifting a Beverly Hills store last year (02) and placed on three years probation, attended an exhibit to raise awareness for the release campaign in Los Angeles at the weekend (06SEP03).