Woman Changes Prostitute Murder Story 23 Years Later

WCVB-Boston ^ | 10/22/2004 | AP

[cwiz24]

Woman Changes Prostitute Murder Story 23 Years Later
Witness Says She Was Threatened Into Lying

TAUNTON, Mass. -- A woman who helped put away a Fall River, Mass., man for life for a gruesome ritualistic murder has changed her story. Carol Fletcher told a Taunton Superior Court judge that convicted killer Carl Drew wasn't there when Karen Marsden was killed. That differed from her 1981 testimony, when Fletcher said she, Drew and two others took Marsden to woods in Westport, Mass., to kill her. The hearing Thursday was held to determine if Drew should get a new trial.

Fletcher said she actually witnessed another woman, Robin Marie Murphy, begin to murder Marsden on the roof of a Fall River apartment building. She said she was threatened into lying on the stand by prosecutors and Murphy. Murphy pleaded guilty and testified against Drew. The hearing is scheduled to continue Friday.

[monday]

"either way, this poor guy got screwed"

Still, he was lucky compared to the victim, Karen Marsden. She has been dead for 23 years.

[Henchman]

Interesting case, will the real prostitute step forward?

[drhogan]

the problem with the article is that it doesn't give any real info about the case. what was going on? what was the relationship bewteen the various people? what other evidence was there against the guy who was convicted? what was his defense? would he have been convicted without the lying woman's testimony?

[Fierce Allegiance]

So does everyone have to preface every joke with a "Hey monday, this is a joke:" kind of statement? Don't you think the sarcasm of the sentence would be lost with a sarcasm tag?

Why do people have such a hard time here with sarcasm. Geez.

Note to writers of sarcasm: Keep it up, and please do not label it for the few weak-of-mind that would have a hard time figuring out the meaning of a stop sign.

[FormerLib]

Why do people have such a hard time here with sarcasm.

Two reasons, mainly. First of all, most people cannot write sarcasm well and it comes off looking as if someone's just making an incredibly outrageous statement. Secondly, a leftist disruptor with pop-up on occasion and will make the most outrageous statements that it would be easy to dismiss as a Freep being sarcastic but they mean every word of it. This also contributes to the first reason because you have a situation where these things might be said with a serious intent.

By putting in something that says "This is sarcasm" or "[wiseguy mode off]", you eliminate the possibility of being misunderstood.

[monday]

"Why do people have such a hard time here with sarcasm. Geez."

Sarcasm, to be effective, requires a tone of voice which makes it clear to those listening that you are being sarcastic. Obviously that can't be replicated using the written word.

Even this wouldn't be a problem if everyone on FR shared an identical world view. It is easy to spot sarcasm if you know the person, or if you know that that person shares your world view.

This is not the case on FR however. There are bozos who actually believe that those on death row SHOULD be executed immediately. How are we supposed to know you are not one of these people if you refuse to use the /<sarcasm tag?

I don't really care if you do or if you don't. I was just trying to be helpful in warning you how you appear if you don't.

[ApplegateRanch]

Keep it up, and please do not label it for the few weak-of-mind that would have a hard time figuring out the meaning of a stop sign.

Is that one of those red things with lot of sides that you're supposed to slow down for to see if anyone is coming, then either step on the gas or brake, depending how far away they are?

[melbell]

"This hooker ought to be put away for providing false information to the police and for perjury. How could she sleep at night?"

"As a hooker, she doesn't have to..."

I got the impression from the title that the prostitute was the one that was murdered, not the "witness" who testified against the guy.

[Fierce Allegiance]

That, or, at night, shut off your lights to see if anyone else is coming the other way, then nail the gas & hope a horse ain't coming.

[Ignatz]

How could she sleep at night?

Ummm....I'm guessing she "works" nights. Probably third "trick".

[Shryke]

TADA! WE HAVE ONE PERSON HERE THAT READS! YAY!

The hooker was murdered, people. Yeesh.

[melbell]

*bows* Thanks! :)

[beezdotcom]

Actually, the mistake WAS reading the thread, or the start of it, anyway. The poster misinterpreted the article, and everyone else just went with the poster...

[Ignatz]

Here's some background info from Carl Drew himself

[sharktrager]

Of course, it ends up in articles about the site, and is used to portray us all as dangerous radicals...