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This Week's Top Crime Stories

2009-12-05T00:01:02Z

Below are the headlines from this week's top crime stories. Find out what others are saying about these cases in the Crime & Punishment Forum and add your comments and opinions.

Roman Polanski Released on Bail
Under house arrest in luxury chalet.
The Tiger Woods Mystery
What do you think really happened?
Cop Killer's Friends Face Charges
For aiding and abetting Maurice Clemmons.
Police Seek Thanksgiving Shooter
Shot six family members, 4 killed.
Hearing Set in Elizabeth Smart Case
Competency hearing for Brian David Mitchell.

^{Photo of Roman Polanski: Getty Images}

This Week's Top Crime Stories originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 at 00:01:02.

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Weekly Crime Poll: Did the Salahis Commit a Crime?

2009-12-04T22:27:50Z

Michaele and Tareq Salahi are under investigation for allegedly crashing a White House state dinner for the visiting Indian prime minister. The couple insists they were invited. Spokepersons for the White House say they were not.

The couple did get into the White House and shake hands with the president, without being on the guest list.

Poll: If the investigation determines the Salahis were not invited, should they be charged with a crime?

Yes

Undecided

_{Photo Credit: Getty}

Weekly Crime Poll: Did the Salahis Commit a Crime? originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 22:27:50.

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Accused Serial Killer Pleads Insanity

2009-12-03T19:27:26Z

A registered sex offender who is accused of killing 11 women and keeping their decomposing bodies in his home has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Anthony Sowell pleaded not guilty to all 85 counts in his indictment.

The charges against Sowell, 56, ranged from murder, rape, assault and corpse abuse. Read more...

Accused Serial Killer Pleads Insanity originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 19:27:26.

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Cop Killer's Driver Held Without Bond

2009-12-03T00:41:21Z

The getaway driver for the man who shot four police officers at a Washington coffee shop has been ordered held without bail and may face first-degree murder charges himself. Darcus Allen served time with the shooter, Maurice Clemmons, in an Arkansas prison.

Police said Allen smoked a newly purchased cigar while waiting in his truck for Clemmons outside the coffee shop. Read more...

Cop Killer's Driver Held Without Bond originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 00:41:21.

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Police Search for Thanksgiving Shooter

2009-12-02T00:33:15Z

Police are still searching for a Miami man who attended a family Thanksgiving dinner in Jupiter, left the house, returned with a handgun and shot six and killed four of the 16 people at the gathering. All of the victims were relatives of the shooter, Paul Michael Merhige.

Investigators believe the reason more family members were not shot may be because his handgun jammed. Read more...

Police Search for Thanksgiving Shooter originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 00:33:15.

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Seattle Policeman Guns Down Cop Killer

2009-12-01T10:01:46Z

The man suspected of ambushing four police officers at a coffee shop early Sunday morning has been shot and killed by a Seattle police officer who was investigating a stolen car. Maurice Clemmons was carrying a handgun that belonged to one of the slain officers when he was shot.

Four people have been arrested for helping Clemmons elude authorities and more arrests are expected. Read more...

Seattle Policeman Guns Down Cop Killer originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 10:01:46.

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Competency Hearing Begins in Elizabeth Smart Case

2009-11-30T23:38:11Z

A federal court hearing to determine if the man accused of abducting Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 got underway after the defendant was removed from the courtroom for singing Christmas carols for 10 minutes.

The hearing will determine if Brian David Mitchell is competent to stand trial. Read more...

Competency Hearing Begins in Elizabeth Smart Case originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 23:38:11.

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4 Police Officers Ambushed in Coffee Shop

2009-11-30T00:32:52Z

Four police officers catching up on paperwork on their laptops in a Parkland, Washington coffee shop were ambushed, shot and killed by a lone gunman. Police have named a man with an extensive criminal background as a person of interest in the shootings.

Police were searching for Maurice Clemmons (pictured above), 37, who has clashed with law enforcement officers in the past. Read more...

4 Police Officers Ambushed in Coffee Shop originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 00:32:52.

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DNA Evidence Allowed in Brianna Denison Case

2009-11-30T00:26:27Z

DNA evidence collected in the case of a Reno man accused of the rape and murder of one woman and the rape of two other women can be used at his trial, a judge has ruled. James Biela faces murder charges in the death of Brianna Denison in January 2008.

Earlier, Judge Robert Perry also denied Biela's request to be tried separately in the three cases. Read more...

DNA Evidence Allowed in Brianna Denison Case originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 00:26:27.

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Drew Peterson Gets Police Notes for Trial

2009-11-30T00:23:50Z

An Illinois policeman accused of the murder of one of his wives while another is still missing will get to see the handwritten notes of police investigators as his attorneys prepare for this trial. Prosecutors agreed to turn over the notes to Drew Peterson's lawyers.

Peterson is charged with the murder of Kathleen Savio, his third wife. Read more...

Drew Peterson Gets Police Notes for Trial originally appeared on About.com Crime / Punishment on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 00:23:50.

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