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January 10, 2007

Prosecutors in Cape slaying deny racial bias on jury

BOSTON -- Remarks allegedly made by several jurors who convicted a black trash collector of killing a white fashion writer may have been "insensitive," but did not show racial bias on the part of the jurors, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Christopher McCowen last month submitted sworn affidavits from three jurors who claim three other jurors made disparaging racial remarks about black people during deliberations.

McCowen was convicted in November in the 2002 rape and murder of Christa Worthington, a fashion writer who was found fatally stabbed in her Cape Cod home, with her 2-year-old daughter clinging to her body. The girl was not harmed.

McCowen, 34, who was Worthington's trash collector, claimed he had consensual sex with her but said a friend of his killed her.

McCowen's attorney, Robert George, is asking a judge to hold a hearing on the allegations as part of his bid for a new trial, arguing the three jurors were biased against McCowen and their remarks may have influenced other jurors.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 1:57 PM | Permalink

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