VT - Mary Abeling, 48, beaten to death, Colchester, 28 Feb 2003

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:banghead:


]At issue is whether Mary Abeling died three years ago because she was clubbed over the head by her sister or because Abeling had taken a fatal drug overdose.

The sister is charged with murder. But Thursday her lawyers argued that Abeling may have been the victim of a drug overdose, but prosecutors failed to reveal the evidence to prove it.



What about the fact that she did this;
A year later the medical examiner ruled she was bashed on the head five times with a heavy glass decanter and it was a homicide. But there was also evidence that Abeling had ingested an undetermined dosage of a powerful psychotropic drug, Imipramine. The Medical Examiner ruled the head injuries alone caused Abeling's death and the drug was NOT a contributing factor.

So,she was drunk as a skunk but still beat over the head with a decanter.What is the problem? These defense lawyers are grasping.

I would like to see beneficial defenses for a change. But, I guess it won't happen as most of the people who do these crimes are just criminals...period. So, defense attorney's have to get creative and the creativity is less than perfect.

Colchester woman pleads guilty to killing her sister

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- A Colchester woman on Thursday admitted she killed her sister during an argument more than three years ago.


Carolyn Walters, 45, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the 2003 bludgeoning death of Mary Abeling, 48, also of Colchester.
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Carolyn Walters accidentally tripped and fell as she was brought into the courtroom in shackles. Walters was here to admit for the first time that she killed her sister. ((tape tc 23:11 Judge Michael Kupersmith/Vt. District Court:"I'm going to ask you directly: do you admit that you struck your sister Mary Abeling on the head five times on or about February 28th of 2003?" Walters:"Yes.")) Walter's admission comes three and half years after her sister Mary Abeling was found dead in her Colchester condo with severe head injuries. Walters was an immediate suspect because she was the last one with Abeling. But it took a year for police to get enough evidence to charge her with murder. She spent the last two years in prison awaiting trial for the charge that carries a potential life sentence. This week when prosecutors agreed to let her plead to a less serious charge of manslaughter. ((tape tc 23:47 Judge:"What is your plea to the amended charge of voluntary manslaughter?" Walters: "guilty."))

This just ticks me off. "We'll give you a plea bargain if you will just admit that you murdered your sister." What a darn crock. Manslaughter. What will she get... a couple years? She hit her sister in the head 5 times with a hard object. What did she think it would do...stun her?

Carolyn Walter's sentencing hearing is November 15th.

Carolyn Walters received a ten year sentence. She was given credit for the two she has already served while being held.