|
|
McCowen Murder Trial, day 11
By Michael Iacuessa
Banner Correspondent
The actions and inactions of police came under the microscope through several witnesses Wednesday as Robert George began building Christopher McCowen's defense.
In the morning, during the closing moments of the prosecution's case, State Police Sgt. Bill Burke, the lead investigator, said he was unaware if blue and white fibers found in Christa Worthington's pubic hair were ever tested against a Nautica sweater bearing the same colors worn by Jeremy Frazier on Jan. 4, 2002.
Later in the day, Girard Smith indicated police had ignored him the past four years despite his having seen a "large dark vehicle" exiting Worthington's driveway Jan. 5, the day before her body was discovered.
Smith was unable to say whether the vehicle was a truck, van or SUV. He paid more attention to the driver but still only caught the profile of the man, who he described as Caucasian, a little dark and late 30s to mid-40s. Smith said police showed him photos of vehicles but never faces.
After the matter came up in court last Thursday Smith was contacted for the first time since 2002. However, he was unable to meet with police until later in the day, at which time the police were no longer interested in talking to him.
Smith recalled seeing the vehicle while walking down Depot Road at 1 p.m.
"All I heard was a vehicle coming down the driveway at a very high rate of speed," he said.
He said the man did not look either way as his vehicle swerved onto Depot Road.
Smith was George's fourth witness following Tim Arnold's lawyer Russell Redgate, McCowen's former employer Don Horton and, earlier, spirited testimony by Keith Amato.
Amato, an early suspect, detailed an intense three-and-a-half-hour interrogation on June 12, 2002, after which he threw up in the parking lot at the Truro police station.
Amato, Tony Jackett's ex-son-in-law, told police and maintains today, he never had a relationship with Worthington. He met her only five times in his life. None of those times was he alone with her.
State Troopers James Mawn and Christopher Mason continually told him there were inconsistencies in his story and accused him of lying.
"It got very loud," he said, describing Mawn slamming his hand down on the table at one point. "He said this is a murder investigation and if we so choose we will turn your life inside out."
Amato, who testified to having an IQ of 140, said he grew confused and had a hard time keeping his thoughts together. At one point he said he admitted to lying even though he didn't think he had.
"I did it to shut him up," he said.
Amato said the troopers also tried to link a suicide attempt he had to Worthington's murder. Since only a few people knew he tried to kill himself, he began to feel like he was being set up.
"I felt like someone had come up behind me and hit me in the head with a stick," he said.
Burke later entered the room and informed Amato that it was the time in the interview where he could opt for 25 years to life instead of life in prison.
Amato said he now gets therapy for panic attacks due to the interrogation.
His comments echoed previous testimony two weeks ago by Tim Arnold, who also described Mawn as threatening. After another interview conducted by Burke and Mason at his bedside in a mental hospital, Arnold was placed on a suicide watch.
George is trying to lay the groundwork for a defense of false confession. He wants to demonstrate McCowen was coerced and confused when he gave his statement to police that he was at Worthington's home when she was murdered.
Truro Police Sgt. David Costa, who is listed as a defense witness, may be the next target for George. Costa signed in to view Worthington's belongings at Magnum Movers the week after the murder. Burke, on Tuesday, testified it was not on direction from state police but could not speak for Truro police.
George also questioned Burke as to whether he was aware if Costa was alone in the house with Worthington's body at any time. It was shortly after raising the subject of a "missing" robe that Arnold and Jan Worthington reported seeing on her.
Burke was not at the scene until later so could not answer the questions.
Costa might make easy fodder for the defense attorney since Costa was convicted of four misdemeanors six years ago in a lobster scrubbing incident. At the time, District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said Costa's credibility was so poor he would never call him as a witness, even in a murder trial.
|
2006 local election results
McCowen murder trial, day 14
Students & parents aggrieved over sports waiver denial
In the News
McCowen murder trial, day 13
McCowen murder trial, day 12
McCowen murder trial, day 10
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 2nd, 2006