So good news about the solving of the 50-year old murder investigation. It must be a tremendous relief for the family. But the murderer's wife lied to police about his whereabouts that evening. No charges for her? She knew all this time and said nothing, knowing the family was suffering? I don't remember where, but I read in an article--someone was quoted as saying that it's not a crime to lie to police. There's no way that can be true! Isn't that accessory after-the-fact? Or is that just a thing on Law and Order?

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doctorchivago t1_jaawk02 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:43 AM

Perhaps they don't want to punish individuals coming forward with info that breaks a case because they're afraid that if they do then people won't come forward. Just a thought but not sure

[deleted] t1_jadukml wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:51 PM

[deleted]

obiwanjabroni420 t1_jaayrcv wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:00 AM

Even if it was a crime, it seems like it would be pretty easy for her to claim that she was afraid for her own life and lied to protect herself seeing as how she was living with a murderer. It would be a really hard charge to prosecute.

Key-Understanding770 t1_jab7jqv wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:12 AM

I wouldn’t turn my wife in. Just sayin’

thisoneisnotasbad t1_jaaskha wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:14 AM

It is a crime now. Not sure what the law was 50 years ago.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/13/041/01754#:%7E:text=Chapter%20041%20%3A%20False%20Alarms%20And%20Reports&text=(a)%20A%20person%20who%20knowingly,more%20than%20%241%2C000.00%2C%20or%20both

BudsKind802 t1_jab1fsc wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:21 AM

I would assume statute of limitations has run out. It only doesn't apply to:

> Murder, arson causing death, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, human trafficking, aggravated human trafficking, and manslaughter have no statute of limitations in Vermont

spriteceo t1_jaas88p wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:11 AM

Is she still alive?

sixteenandseven t1_jaduyw3 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:54 PM

False Information to a Police Officer (FIPO) is a misdemeanor with a 3 year statute of limitations. I think they're 47 years too late to charge that one.

Status_Mechanic t1_jab1x9c wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:24 AM

Spousal privilege.... Is that just a TV/movie thing or not applicable here?

Sea-Election-9168 t1_jac2pu5 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:31 AM

Spousal privilege is a rule of evidence that allows a defendant to prevent having testimony introduced regarding something that the defendant said to his/her spouse. It does not protect a false statement made to the police.

historycat95 t1_jad2r06 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:55 PM

Prevent having to testify is WAY different than giving misleading testimony.

Sea-Election-9168 t1_jae2w1j wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:44 PM

Yes, that’s exactly what I said.

zombienutz1 t1_jaasrhr wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:15 AM

I saw that too. Pretty sure Murad said that.

they_have_no_bullets t1_jac8vdp wrote on February 28, 2023 at 11:52 AM

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spousal_privilege

WikiSummarizerBot t1_jac8wcr wrote on February 28, 2023 at 11:53 AM

Spousal privilege

>In the common law, spousal privilege (also called marital privilege or husband-wife privilege) is a term used in the law of evidence to describe two separate privileges that apply to spouses: the spousal communications privilege and the spousal testimonial privilege.

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historycat95 t1_jad2npz wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:54 PM

Spousal privilidge means you don't have to answer. You can't intentionally mislead.