Natalie Maines wins costs from dead man's stepfather

The never-ending churn of misery started by the death of three children in West Memphis back in 1993 continues to spin.

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks had taken part in a rally protesting the imprisonment of the "West Memphis Three", the not-entirely-securely convicted of the killings a while back, during the course of which she made some comments about one of the dead children's families.

Terry Hobbs sued for defamation - an action which was thrown out last year - and now finds he's going to have to pay the costs of Maine's defence, which runs to $17,500.

None of this legal action has got anyone closer to truth; none has got anyone closer to the release of the West Memphis Three.