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Saturday May 15, 2010

Former detective revisits cult murders for documentary

Carl Drew was convicted of the 1980 ritualistic murder of Fall River teenager Karen Marsden.

Drew and Robin Murphy were both accused of dragging Marsden into the Westport woods, decapitating her and performing satanic rituals on her body.

Friday November 10, 2006

Carl Drew:

Court denies Carl Drew appeal

The Supreme Judicial Court Thursday effectively put an end to convicted cult killer Carl Drew’s 25-year quest for freedom when its judges ruled his claims of incompetence on the part of his initial trial attorney did not merit a new trial.

Saturday September 3, 2005

Carl Drew:

Justice on state’s highest court to hear Carl Drew’s appeal

BOSTON --A single justice of the state's highest court will hear the appeal of a former pimp convicted in the ritualistic slaying of a Fall River prostitute.

Tuesday April 26, 2005

Carl Drew:

Drew files final appeal

BOSTON -- After watching his motion for a new trial fall by the wayside this winter, convicted cult killer Carl Drew is making one last plea for freedom to the Supreme Judicial Court.

Tuesday February 8, 2005

Carl Drew:

Drew’s lawyer says his client in ‘good spirits’

NEW BEDFORD -- The local attorney accused by several witnesses of, in essence, rigging the judicial system to secure a conviction against one of the most notorious convicted murderers in this area’s long history said he has given up on asking why, and is just relieved the ordeal is now over.

Tuesday February 1, 2005

Carl Drew:

Victim’s sister: Drew will stay where he belongs

FALL RIVER -- The sister of Karen Marsden is breathing a little easier after learning convicted "cult murderer" Carl Drew will not be getting a new trial.

Carl Drew:

Drew denied new trial

TAUNTON — Superior Court Judge John P. Connor Jr. Monday denied convicted “cult murderer” Carl Drew’s motion for a new trial.

Thursday January 13, 2005

Carl Drew:

Ruling due any day on cult murder retrial

An attorney argues that Carl Drew deserves a retrial because witnesses who testified against Drew in 1981 have since recanted their testimonies and said the prosecutors in the case threatened them.

Saturday December 11, 2004

Carl Drew:

Drew final briefs due Monday

TAUNTON -- Final legal briefs regarding convicted cult murderer Carl Drew’s evidentiary hearings are due on Superior Court Judge John Connor’s desk Monday morning.

Thursday November 11, 2004

Carl Drew:

Drew case in judge’s hands

TAUNTON -- After 11 days of testimony from more than 20 witnesses, the fate of convicted "cult murderer" Carl Drew now rests with Superior Court Judge John Connor.

Saturday November 6, 2004

Carl Drew:

Former assistant DA says ‘cult murder’ witnesses’ claims of coercion false

TAUNTON -- Convicted "cult murderer" Carl Drew sat stoically as the man he contends unjustly secured his conviction for a brutal 1980 murder denied numerous allegations of prosecutorial misconduct leveled against him by four former trial witnesses.

Thursday November 4, 2004

Carl Drew:

State witness helps defense

TAUNTON -- Convicted cult killer Carl Drew’s original trial attorney Wednesday denied ever actually witnessing any threats made by prosecutors against his potential witnesses, but said he strongly believed the trial witnesses were lying and that prosecutorial coercion was possible.

Friday October 22, 2004

Carl Drew:

Cult killer’ story takes a turn

TAUNTON -- A former prosecution witness whose testimony at Carl Drew’s 1981 murder trial doomed the convicted "cult killer" to life in prison began telling a very different story Thursday of the events surrounding the mysterious slaying of Fall River prostitute Karen Marsden.

Thursday October 21, 2004

Carl Drew:

Cult killer witness saysprosecution made threats

TAUNTON - Maureen "Sonny" Sparda leveled thunderous claims of prosecutorial misconduct against two prominent former Bristol County prosecutors yesterday in Superior Court.

Wednesday October 20, 2004

Carl Drew:

Former detective grilled at cult trial

TAUNTON - With Robin Marie Murphy sitting silently outside the courtroom, Assistant District Attorney Stephen Gagne spent more than three hours Tuesday cross-examining former Fall River Detective Paul Carey.

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