Cape Cod Murder

Further allegations of juror bias surface in McCowen murder case

Further allegations of juror bias surface in McCowen murder case

In the letter, Manso writes that Miranda told him that Gomes, in the past, has said:
"I don't like black people";
"I don't like what black people have done to the Cape";
"Blacks are lazy";
"These niggers come down here and they think they can do what they want. They're making us look bad";
"I don't hang around with black people";
"All niggers do is rob people, kill people and deal drugs."New accusations of deep-seated racial bigotry have been lodged against a Cape Verdean juror who is at the center of an unprecedented post-verdict hearing in the case of convicted murderer Christopher McCowen, Lawyers Weekly has learned.

It is believed that Julia Miranda, the 74-year-old great-aunt of juror Eric Gomes, signed a sworn affidavit that, if true, could seriously undermine Gomes' credibility and further strengthen McCowen's bid for a new trial.

This development was brought to the court's attention by Peter Manso, a Cape Cod journalist whose yet-untitled Simon & Schuster book about the McCowen case is due out in the fall. McCowen, who is black, was convicted in 2006 of killing and raping Cape Cod fashion-writer Christa Worthington, who was white.

In a Jan. 14 letter hand-delivered to Superior Court Judge Gary A. Nickerson, defense attorney Robert A. George and Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael D. O'Keefe, Manso writes that he spoke with Miranda and another of Gomes' relatives at the courthouse on Jan. 11...  Lawyer's Weekly. 

______________________

Judge To Decide If Murderer Gets New Trial
McCowen Convicted Of Killing Fashion Writer

The man convicted of murdering fashion writer Christa Worthington is back in a Cape Cod courtroom Friday.

NewsCenter 5's Steve Lacy reported that a judge is trying to see if racism played a part in the jury's decision to convict Christopher McCowen last year. Last week, a judge questioned the 12 jurors in the case.

McCowen's attorney was expected to introduce an expert Friday witness to testify on how racial bias can affect the outcome of a trial. ... WCVB Channel 5