Depp Campaigns Over Murder Case

The Hollywood hunk has thrown his weight behind the campaign to free the West Memphis Three, a trio of men who were convicted as teenagers of beating three eight-year-old boys to death in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Depp believes the three men - Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin - never received a fair trial, and were convicted because they were fans of heavy-metal music, Stephen King novels and the occult.

The actor has filmed a special appearance for Sunday night's (28Feb10) edition of U.S. show 48 Hours Mystery, appealing for the men to be freed as soon as possible - because Echols is currently on death row.

He says, "I firmly believe Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley are totally innocent. It was a need for swift justice to placate the community. Damien Echols is on death row to be killed by lethal injection."

Depp joins a long line of supporters of the West Memphis Three - Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Metallica, Winona Ryder and the Dixie Chicks are all convinced the trio is innocent.