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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2003 14:14:03 GMT -6
NEWARK, N.J. -- A nurse who claims to have killed as many as 40 patients with drug overdoses was moved to a state mental hospital Thursday as investigators continued to evaluate his claims.
Charles Cullen, 43, was transferred from the Somerset County Jail in Somerville to the Anne Klein Forensic Center, a 150-bed psychiatric treatment facility in Trenton.
The move came shortly after his lawyer, public defender Johnnie Mask, told authorities Cullen would not cooperate with their probe into the deaths of dozens of patients at nine hospitals and one nursing home unless prosecutors guaranteed they would not seek the death penalty against him.
Cullen, a registered nurse from Bethlehem, Pa., was arrested Friday and questioned in a number of patient deaths at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville earlier this year.
During a six-hour interview with authorities Sunday, Cullen said he gave lethal drug injections to many critically ill patients during his 16-year career at 10 medical facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
But since taking over the case Tuesday, Mask has refused to allow any law enforcement officials to interrogate Cullen. Mask told authorities the offer must include waivers from both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which both allow the death penalty.
It was not immediately clear whether authorities needed further assistance from Cullen. Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest declined Thursday to comment on Mask's demand. Mask referred inquiries to Jeff Beach, a spokesman for the state Public Defender's office, who would not comment.
Authorities have not decided whether to seek the death penalty, and have not even decided who ultimately would prosecute the cases. The state Attorney General's Office is exploring the possibility of combining the cases under a single state prosecution.
In the meantime, authorities in four New Jersey counties continued to field calls from relatives worried that their loved ones who died at hospitals where Cullen worked might have been harmed by him.
The Morris County prosecutor's office earlier this week set up a special hotline for relatives concerned that their loved ones might have been killed or harmed by Cullen. Warren County authorities heard from at least three families with similar concerns.
Meanwhile, relatives of patients who died under Cullen's care are already planning lawsuits. Attorney Anthony Macri said he is representing several families who plan to bring legal action against Cullen and several other defendants in the near future.
"They are appalled that he was allowed to continue to move from hospital to hospital, even after being fired from several," he said.
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
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Post by GlennF on Dec 18, 2003 14:25:04 GMT -6
What I can't understand is why he is withholding information to get the more severe punishment of LWOP!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2003 14:41:34 GMT -6
You never know, he must be truly remorseful if he choosing the harsher punishment, instead of going the easy way like he did with his victims.What I can't understand is why he is withholding information to get the more severe punishment of LWOP!
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Post by edina dumb blonde on Jan 14, 2004 8:25:27 GMT -6
"Harsher Punnishment" my keister. His only remorse is he was caught. It is despicable that law enforcement would even consider making that kind of a deal al la RIdgeway. If I were the relative of one of his victims (one of the ones he's trying to barter with) I would be satisfied if he got the DP for another victim. Justice would be served then for all his victims. I realize others might not agree, but good riddance to the scum. Besides, what is everyone in an uproar about? NJ hasn't executed anyone in YEARS, so essentially it IS LWOP either way.
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Post by GlennF on Jan 18, 2004 15:03:04 GMT -6
Actually Edina this was merely a spot of irony, especially after Tim(S)'s claim that death is the easy way out. BTW, I agree with you all the way!
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