Court Denies Appeal In Fashion Writer Death

BOSTON (AP) -- The highest court in Massachusetts has rejected a new trial for a trash collector convicted of raping and murdering a Cape Cod fashion writer in 2002.

Lawyers for Christopher McCowen argued that racial bias and other juror misconduct tainted deliberations during his trial in the killing of Christa Worthington. The Supreme Judicial Court rejected those arguments Friday.

McCowen, who was Worthington's trash collector, told police he and Worthington had consensual sex at her Truro home. He said his friend stabbed her after she confronted him about rifling through her belongings.

McCowen's lawyer said three jurors made racially charged comments during deliberations about McCowen, who is black.

Prosecutors said McCowen received a fair trial.

The 46-year-old Worthington had covered fashion in New York and Paris before moving to the small town of Truro.

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