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Highlighting News Stories for Our Town for the week of October 20, 2003

Previous Newsbreak Archive

Newsbreak for Walpole

The Week – Oct. 20

The Year – 2003

Bird Park Homicide Unsettled

Nearly five years ago, on Dec. 1^st, 1998, local police and state police, working with the District attorney of Norfolk County, began an intensive investigation into the murder of Irene Kennedy.

The case captured the attention of the entire town and the media for many weeks. Ten days after the homicide, Edmund Burke, whose house was adjacent to the area in Bird Park where the incident took place, was arrested and arraigned in Wrentham District court.

Burke was in jail for some 41 days, until the new District attorney determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring the case to trial.

At this stage, another suspect has been charged with the murder, and that investigation is proceeding.

Given the above, Burke filed suit four years ago asserting that he was falsely arrested, imprisoned falsely, and his civil rights were violated.

Over this time, the civil suit has been in process, with depositions and statements filed by Burke’s lawyers.

A federal judge magistrate has been hearing the case and just recently made a determination that the civil suit should be dismissed.

Burke’s lawyers will appeal.

Questions still remain.

1.        What recourse does Burke have to clear his name and reputation that was so damaged by the forty days during which he was in jail, held on specious evidence?

2.        Were reasonable efforts made to determine that Burke should have remained in jail, once the evidence was shown to be inconclusive?

And, the investigation of the current suspect, in jail for another crime, remains a work in progress.

Stay tuned for the eventual conclusion to this tragic case.