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Suspect Freed In Death of Fetus

Suspect Freed In Death of Fetus

Prosecutors Have Doubts About Initial Allegations

On Christmas Day, San Jose police arrested Clifford Beene Watkins and accused him of kicking his girlfriend in the stomach, a blow they believed led to the death of her 18-week-old fetus. On Wednesday, prosecutors released Watkins from jail, offering only a cryptic explanation that the case ``is not what it appeared.''

Authorities declined to say what changed in the intervening four days to dissuade them from filing a murder charge against Watkins. But they now have serious doubts about the allegations the girlfriend first made to police, who passed that information on to the media.

``Facts were distributed,'' Assistant District Attorney Karyn Sinunu said, but an investigation revealed ``the actuality is different.''

She would not elaborate, other than to say that investigators continue to examine crime scene evidence to ``make sure it is consistent with the stories we are getting from witnesses.''

They are also awaiting medical reports on the mother to determine ``the victim's injuries, if any,'' Sinunu said.

San Jose police and paramedics responded to a call from the Capitol Hill Inn on Monterey Highway reporting an apparent case of domestic violence about 12:15 a.m. Saturday. A police press release about the incident stated that the woman, about four months pregnant, was ``badly injured in the assault.''

She reportedly told police that during an argument with Watkins he ``choked her and kicked her in the stomach.'' She went to the motel's front desk and asked them to call 911.

Paramedics took the 25-year-old woman, whose name is not being released, to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Her fetus died about 10 hours later after an emergency delivery. Watkins was arrested and accused of murder, domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon.

But on Wednesday, prosecutors announced they were releasing Watkins from Santa Clara County jail. Sinunu said that Watkins has been neither exonerated nor implicated in the death of the fetus, but as of Wednesday the investigation by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department did not merit criminal charges.

In fact, Sinunu suggested that the original story the girlfriend told police was largely bogus.

A clearer picture of what happened should emerge within two weeks as investigators continue their work, she said. In the meantime, Watkins was scheduled to be released from Santa Clara County jail Wednesday evening. He could not be reached for comment.

``We have many things to check out,'' Sinunu said.

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Posted by Editor at December 30, 2004 11:48 AM