Nov 2, 2007 6:59 pm US/Central
Man Charged With 1981 Murder Of Girlfriend
(WCCO)
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At first police thought Barbara Winn had actually killed herself but her family's had their eye on Foster all along.
CBS
Fresh developments in the 1981 murder of a Minnesota mother when a grand jury charged a former boyfriend with killing his girlfriend.
Investigators say Aaron Foster shot Barbara Winn at the home they shared in Maplewood more than 25 years ago.
At first police thought Winn had actually killed herself but her family's had their eye on Foster all along.
Tammi Halliburton was 13 years old when her mother died. Halliburton was in the house when her mother was shot and will likely testify at trial.
"Remember like it was yesterday, it's not something you can easily forget," said Halliburton.
On Friday, Foster was released from jail, without bail. His attorney said the passage of time works against Foster.
"It's difficult to defend yourself against charges 27 years old, let me tell you that," Defense Attorney Earl Gray.
Winn's loved ones say prosecution was delayed because Foster was being protected. His friend was former St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney.
Finney attended Winn's autopsy in 1981 when he was an officer but he has long denied any interference in the case.
It was an election issue when Finney recently lost the race for Ramsey County Sheriff.
On Friday he issued a brief statement saying he believes in the justice system.
Relatives are relieved that the case is now being considered a murder investigation instead of a suicide.
"How do you shoot somebody unintentionally and then run and throw the gun, doesn't fit together for me in the scheme of things," Bernadette Johnson, the victim's sister.
"It's a huge step, we've waited a long time for this day," said Patty Bruce, the victim's sister-in-law.
Prosecutors had asked for $350,000 bail. The judge let Foster go without posting any bail, saying he has demonstrated he won't flee.
Foster works at the police impound lot where he's on unpaid leave.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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