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January 17, 2007

Prosecution rests in Fall River murder trial

TAUNTON, Mass. -- The prosecution rested its case this morning in the Superior Court murder trial of Karen Cordeiro as a DNA expert testified that he found the blood of victim Courtney Sau all over the Fall River murder scene, including on the slacks of Cordeiro.

But a lawyer for Cordeiro, 22, who is claiming self-defense, zeroed in on another DNA finding -- Cordeiro's genetic material on Sau's right stiletto-heeled boot.

Defense lawyer Francis O'Boy showed DNA expert Kevin Noppinger a photo of Cordeiro's injuries from the fight, asking if the DNA could have come from Sau kicking Cordeiro in the forehead or jaw. Noppinger said that was possible.

Sau was killed in the early morning hours of Feb. 5, 2005 after she drove from a Providence nightclub to Fall River to confront Cordeiro and her roommate over a boyfriend. Sau, who was unarmed, ended up bleeding to death after being stabbed by two steak knives from the Cordeiro apartment. One blade broke off in Sau's body.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 11:38 AM | Permalink

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